I love earning points and miles to help offset the cost of travel. One of the best strategies to earn a lot of points fast is by opening a credit card with a great sign-on bonus.
Here are the credit cards that I use and recommend. If you sign up for a card through one of my referral links, I’ll earn some bonus points at no additional cost to you. This is a great way to help support the blog to keep the free information coming…you know — a win-win!
If you don’t see the link you’re looking for here, feel free to email me as I have links for lots of additional cards.
This post contains credit card referral links. If you choose to apply for a card through one of these links I may earn bonus points, at no cost to you! Thanks for your support.
Capital One Card Offers
The newest addition to my wallet is the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card. In addition to transferring points to airline and hotel partners, you can purchase travel through the Capital One portal or erase travel purchases with your CapOne points.
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card – Earn 75,000 bonus miles (worth $750+)
- Earn 10x miles on hotels and cars booked through Capital One Travel
- Earn 5x miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel
- Earn 2x miles on everything else
- $300 annual travel credit for Capital One Travel
- 10,000 bonus anniversary miles each year
- TSA PreCheck or Global Entry application credit
This card is ideal for those who want to keep things totally simple.
Chase Credit Card Offers
Here are the Chase credit cards that I use and recommend along with just a few of each card’s benefits. Click each card’s link for more information.
Chase Ultimate Rewards Credit Cards
These cards earn Chase Ultimate Rewards points — my favorite type of point! They can be used to purchase travel through the Chase Travel Portal or they can be transferred to hotel and airline partners.
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card – Earn 60,000 bonus points (worth $750!)
- BEST CARD FOR BEGINNERS
- $50 hotel credit for the Ultimate Rewards travel portal
- Earn 5 points per $1 on travel booked through Chase
- Earn 3 points per $1 for online grocery, streaming services, and dining
- Earn 2 points per $1 on all other travel
If you’re not sure where to start, it’s hard to go wrong with this card. It’s the first travel rewards credit card I applied for and it’s still a favorite among many points and miles lovers. That’s why it’s generally regarded as the BEST CARD FOR BEGINNERS in the points and miles hobby.
Chase Sapphire Reserve® – Earn 60,000 bonus points (worth $900!)
The Chase Sapphire Reserve card is one of my favorite travel rewards credit cards and one that I keep in my wallet year after year.
- $300 annual travel credit
- TSA PreCheck ($78) or Global Entry ($100) application fee credit
- Priority Pass Membership (includes access for 2 guests)
- Earn 3 points per $1 spent on all travel purchases
- Earn 3 points per $1 spent on dining and restaurants
- Earn 10 points per $1 spent on hotels and car rentals through Chase Travel
- Points are worth 1.5 cents each for travel through Chase Travel
Chase Freedom Flex Credit Card – Earn a $200 bonus with no annual fee!
- No annual fee
- Earn 5% cash-back on quarterly rotating bonus categories
- Earn 5% cash-back on travel booked through the Chase travel portal
- Earn 3% cash-back on dining and drugstore purchases
- Turn your cash-back into Ultimate Rewards points if you also have a premium card (any Chase Sapphire or Ink card that has an annual fee)
I earn tons of Chase Ultimate Rewards points using the rotating categories on this card. Since it doesn’t have an annual fee, this one is a no-brainer.
Chase Freedom Unlimited – Earn a $200 bonus with no annual fee!
- No annual fee
- Earn 5% cash-back on travel booked through the Chase travel portal
- Earn 3% cash-back on dining and drugstore purchases
- Earn 1.5% cash-back on all other purchases
- Turn your cash-back into Ultimate Rewards points if you also have a premium card (any Chase Sapphire or Ink card that has an annual fee)
Chase points are my favorite so if I’m making a purchase that doesn’t fall into a bonus category, this is the card I usually reach for.
Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card – Earn 100,000 bonus points (worth $1,250!)
- Earn 3 points per $1 spent on shipping, advertising, internet, cable, phone, and travel
- Points are worth 1.25 cents through the Chase Travel Portal
Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card – Earn a $750 cash-back bonus with no annual fee!
- No annual fee
- Earn 1.5% cash-back on all purchases
Ink Business Cash® Credit Card – Earn a $750 cash-back bonus with no annual fee!
- No annual fee
- Earn 5% cash-back at office supply stores and on internet, cable, and phone services
- Earn 2% cash-back at gas stations and restaurants
World of Hyatt Credit Cards
These cards earn World of Hyatt points which can be redeemed for hotel stays at any of Hyatt’s brands.
The World of Hyatt Credit Card
- Earn 4 points per $1 spent on Hyatt purchases
- Earn 2 points per $1 spent at restaurants, on airline tickets purchased directly from the airline, on local transit, and on fitness memberships and gyms
- Automatic Hyatt Discoverist status
- Earn 2 elite night credits for every $5,000 spent
- Free category 1-4 free night certificate each year
Hyatt is my favorite hotel program because the redemptions are awesome! This card has a permanent spot in my wallet since the free night certificate that you get each year far outweighs the annual fee.
Southwest Rapid Rewards Credit Cards
Having at least 1 Southwest Rapid Rewards credit card is key to earning the Southwest Companion Pass quickly.
Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card – Earn 50,000 Southwest points!
- Earn 2 points per $1 spent on Southwest purchases
- Earn 2 points per $1 spent on local transit/commuting and internet/cable/phone/streaming
- 3,000 yearly bonus points
Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card – Earn 50,000 Southwest points!
- Earn 3 points per $1 spent on Southwest purchases
- Earn 2 points per $1 spent on local transit/commuting and internet/cable/phone/streaming
- 6,000 yearly bonus points
- 2 Early Bird Check-Ins each year
Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card – Earn 50,000 Southwest points!
- Earn 3 points per $1 spent on Southwest purchases
- Earn 2 points per $1 spent on local transit/commuting and internet/cable/phone/streaming
- 7,500 yearly bonus points
- $75 annual Southwest credit
- 4 upgraded boardings per year
Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Business Credit Card – Earn 80,000 Southwest Points!
- Earn 3 points per $1 spent on Southwest purchases
- Earn 2 points per $1 spent on Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partners
- Earn 2 points per $1 spent on local transit/commuting
- 6,000 yearly bonus points
- 2 Early Bird Check-Ins each year
Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business Credit Card – Earn 80,000 Southwest Points!
- Earn 4 points per $1 spent on Southwest purchases
- Earn 3 points per $1 spent on Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partners
- Earn 2 points per $1 spent on local transit/commuting
- Earn 2 points per $1 spent on social media/search engine advertising, and cable/internet/phone
- 6,000 yearly bonus points
- Global Entry or TSA PreCheck fee credit
IHG Rewards Club Chase Card
This card earns IHG Rewards Club points which can be used for stays at any IHG property worldwide.
IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card – Earn 4 free nights!
- Earn 10 points per $1 spent at IHG hotels
- Earn 2 points per $1 spent at gas stations, grocery stores, and restaurants
- Free yearly anniversary hotel night
- Automatic IHG Platinum Elite Status
- Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit
For an alternative with no annual fee, check out the IHG One Rewards Traveler Card.
American Express Credit Card Offers
Here are the American Express credit cards that I use and recommend along with just a few of each card’s benefits. For American Express cards, use this link and then navigate to the card you’re interested in.
Amex Membership Rewards Earning Cards
These cards earn American Express Membership Rewards points which can be transferred to hotel and airline partners.
The Platinum Card from American Express
- Earn 10 points per $1 spent on restaurants and small businesses for the first 6 months
- Earn 5 points per $1 spent on prepaid hotels booked through Amex Travel
- Earn 5 points per $1 spent on flights booked directly with the airline
- $200 airline fee credit
- $200 Uber credit
- Free Walmart+ membership
- $240 digital entertainment credit
- $200 hotel credit for Fine Hotels & Resorts or The Hotel Collection
- Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status and Hilton Honors Gold status
- TSA PreCheck or Global Entry fee credit
This is a good card to get for all of the perks and benefits it comes with, but it’s not great for ongoing points earning.
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express – Earn 120,000 Amex Membership Rewards points!
American Express Gold Card – Earn 60,000 points!
- Earn 4 points per $1 spent at restaurants and grocery stores
- Earn 3 points per $1 spent on flights booked directly with the airline
- $120 Uber Cash
- $120 yearly dining credit
I love this card because it earns 4x points at grocery stores and that’s one of my biggest spending categories.
The Amex EveryDay Credit Card
- No annual fee
- Earn 2 points per $1 spent on groceries
- Earn 2 points per $1 spent on travel purchased through Amex Travel
- Earn 20% more points when you use your card 20+ times in a billing period
If you’re looking for a no-fee American Express card that earns Membership Rewards points, this one is a good option.
Hilton Honors Amex Credit Cards
These cards earn Hilton Honors points which can be used for hotel stays at any Hilton property. For American Express cards, use this link and then navigate to the card you’re interested in.
Hilton Honors American Express Card – Earn 80,000 Hilton points with no annual fee!
- No annual fee
- Earn 7 points per $1 spent at Hilton hotels
- Earn 5 points per $1 spent at restaurants, grocery stores, and gas stations
- Earn 3 points per $1 spent on all other purchases
- Automatic Hilton Honors Silver status
This is a good way to earn Hilton points without paying an annual fee.
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card
- Earn 12 points per $1 spent at Hilton properties
- Earn 6 points per $1 spent at restaurants, grocery stores, and gas stations
- Earn 3 points per $1 spent on all other purchases
- Automatic Hilton Honors Gold status
Marriott Bonvoy American Express Cards
This card earns Marriott Bonvoy points which can be used for Marriott hotel stays or can be transferred to airline partners. For American Express cards, use this link and then navigate to the card you’re interested in.
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card
- Earn 6 points per $1 spent at Marriott properties
- Earn 3 points per $1 spent on dining and flights booked directly with the airline
- $300 dining credit
- Marriott 85k point free night certificate
- $100 property credit for Ritz-Carlton or St. Regis hotels
Delta SkyMiles American Express Cards
These cards earn Delta SkyMiles, which can be redeemed for flights on Delta and its partners. Use this link and then navigate to the card you’re interested in for more information and to apply.
Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card
- Earn 2x points on Delta purchases
- Earn 2x points at restaurants, grocery stores, and gas stations
- 1st free checked bag on Delta flights
- $100 Delta flight credit if you spend $10,000 on the card in a year
Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card
- Earn 3x points on Delta purchases and hotels
- Earn 2x points on dining and groceries
- 1st free checked bag on Delta flights
- Annual companion certificate
- TSA PreCheck or Global Entry fee credit
