Credit Cards Archives - Easy Travel Points https://easytravelpoints.com/category/credit-cards/ Fri, 04 Jul 2025 23:52:22 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://easytravelpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/cropped-ETP-Favicon-32x32.png Credit Cards Archives - Easy Travel Points https://easytravelpoints.com/category/credit-cards/ 32 32 Credit Card Points & Miles Crash Course https://easytravelpoints.com/crash-course/ https://easytravelpoints.com/crash-course/#respond Fri, 04 Jul 2025 23:51:50 +0000 https://easytravelpoints.com/?p=115481 Are you ready to travel for (almost) free? Here’s the beginner-friendly points and miles crash course you’ve been waiting...

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]]> Are you ready to travel for (almost) free? Here’s the beginner-friendly points and miles crash course you’ve been waiting for.

landscape of Santorini Greece

You can Do it too

If you’ve ever scrolled social media while sitting at home and wondered how that person is always on vacation without a trust fund, we’ve got your answer: it’s points and miles.

No, it’s not magic. Yes, it can be confusing at first. That’s why I created the Points & Miles Crash Course — a no-fluff, beginner-friendly guide to turning your everyday spending into free flights, hotel stays, and the occasional bougie airport lounge experience.

Because here’s the truth: If you’re using a debit card, you’re missing out. Like, big time.

What you’ll Learn

Here’s what you’ll learn (aka how to outsmart the system…legally) in our budget-friendly 3 hour video crash course.

This isn’t some 50-page eBook that collects digital dust in your inbox. This is a practical, easy-to-follow course that walks you through:

  • How to avoid rookie mistakes like using points on toasters instead of travel (please don’t)
  • The best starter credit cards for earning rewards
  • Strategies for ways to earn more points without spending more money
  • The difference between cash back, airline miles, and flexible points — and why that matters
  • Real-life examples of how I book free trips for my family (yes, with 5 kids in tow) and step-by-step guides for earning the points you need and how to redeem them for trips to both Hawaii and Europe

This course was designed for normal people — no spreadsheets, no 3 a.m. award searches, and definitely no math degree required. And the best part, it’s only $19!

Why You need this course

Because if you’re going to spend money anyway (hi, groceries and gas), you might as well get rewarded for it. Whether you’re dreaming of a week in Europe, a beach vacay in Hawaii, or just want to take the sting out of your travel budget — this system works.

I’ve personally used points to cover over $100k in airfare, hotel stays and other travel expenses. The best part? Once you understand the basics, the rewards just keep coming. It’s like playing Monopoly, but instead of fake money, you’re earning free vacations.

Who is this course for

  • Total beginners who want to learn the right way to start
  • Busy moms and dads who don’t have time for Reddit deep dives
  • Budget travelers who want luxe experiences without the luxe price tag
  • Anyone who’s tired of watching others travel while they stay home and pay full price for everything

Let’s Be Real…

The points game can feel like trying to learn a new language. Chase Ultimate Rewards? 5/24? Transfer partners? Player 2? If it makes your eyes glaze over, you’re not alone.

But that’s exactly why I made this course. It breaks down everything you actually need to know to start earning travel rewards today — without the overwhelm. And you won’t need to take out a second mortgage to pay for it.

So if you’re ready to stop leaving free travel on the table, click here to enroll in the Points & Miles Crash Course. Your next vacation (and smug airport selfie) is closer than you think.

Let’s turn your everyday spending into epic adventures together — no coupon clipping required. I promise, this will be the best $19 you spend all year!

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]]> https://easytravelpoints.com/crash-course/feed/ 0 Things To Do Before Cancelling A Credit Card https://easytravelpoints.com/cancel-a-credit-card/ https://easytravelpoints.com/cancel-a-credit-card/#respond Sat, 24 May 2025 03:30:00 +0000 https://easytravelpoints.com/?p=1765 Cutting up a credit card only takes a few seconds.  However, deciding when it’s time to cancel one of...

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]]> Cutting up a credit card only takes a few seconds.  However, deciding when it’s time to cancel one of your card accounts should be a more thoughtful process.  Before you decide to cancel a credit card, here is everything you should consider before making the decision.

cancel a credit card by cutting it

It’s always important to take a minute and periodically evaluate your financial situation.  As circumstances around us change, so do our goals and needs.  Being a points enthusiast, these changes can sometimes affect which credit cards we carry in our wallet.

Generally, I recommend keeping your credit card accounts open when possible.  Especially if the card doesn’t carry an annual fee.  In that case, you’re almost always better off just sticking it in your sock drawer and just making a purchase or two each year to keep the account active.  However, if you still feel you need to close the account, please consider the following before you do.

Should I Cancel A Credit Card

Being Responsible – There are some circumstances the necessitate closing the account regardless of any other consideration.  One of our credit card ground rules for participating in the points and miles hobby is that you pay off your credit card balance IN FULL every month.  If you’ve found that this has become an issue for you, then YES, close your account and pay your balance as quickly as possible.

Has It Been A Year – I would never recommend closing a credit card before having it for at least 1 year.  This is especially true if you received a welcome bonus for opening the account.  Card issuers don’t like it when you open an account, earn the bonus and then close it.

They’re trying to create mutually beneficial relationships with consumers, so this can affect your ability to open a new account in the future.  In fact, American Express explicitly states that if you “abuse” or “game” the welcome offer, they will take back the bonus points.  Besides, it’s difficult to know if a card is right for you if you only have it for a short time.

Evaluate The Card’s Benefits

Typically the reason you begin to question if you should cancel a credit card is when the annual fee is charged to your account.  Most cards that charge an annual fee will give you various benefits for being a cardmember.  In my opinion, if you can get more value from a card than what they charge as an annual fee, keep it.  Here are a couple of examples.

Free Nights – Most hotel co-branded credit cards, give you a free night after each anniversary year.  Most cards like this charge around a $100 annual fee, but a free night is easily worth more than the fee.  Especially when you consider you don’t pay room tax on an award night and some programs don’t charge resort fees on redemptions.

Bonus Categories – A lot of cards give you bonus points for spending in specific categories. The card_name gives you a whopping 4x Membership Rewards points at US supermarkets (on the first $25,000 spent each year) and restaurants worldwide. Terms apply.  AMEX values their points at 1 cent per point.

If you were to spend $10,000 in these categories each year, the points you would earn are worth at least $400 (10,000 x .01 x 4), which is more than the $250 annual fee, see rates and fees.  And that’s before consider the statement credits that come with this card.

Statement Credits – Cards like the Capital One Venture X come with statement credits each year.  Yes, the card comes with a $395 annual fee but it also has an annual $300 credit towards travel purchases made through Capital One Travel.  The travel credits are pretty easy to use so it makes getting a lot of value from the card with the other benefits simple to do.

card_name

Learn How To Apply

Retention Offer

The next step in the processing should be to contact your credit card company to see if they have any retention offers for you.  Credit card companies don’t like to lose good customers, so frequently they’ll offer you an incentive to stay with them by offering you an incentive.

Retention offers can take on several forms.  Some of the most common offers are offering to waive the annual fee or giving you a statement credit or bonus points if you spend a specified amount in a specified period of time.  I have received all three of these types of offers.  Sometimes the offers were worth keeping the card for another year and sometimes it still didn’t make sense for me.

To find out if you’re eligible for an offer, contact the bank’s customer service by phone or secured message in your online account.  Be honest with them.  Tell them you’re thinking of closing your account and wanted to see if you were eligible for a retention offer.  The worst thing that can happen is they say “no”.

Credit Score Considerations

Closing a credit card can have a negative impact on your credit score.  The way companies calculate your score is confidential, so it’s hard to know just how much it will impact you.  However, here are the two reasons why it will.

Average Length of Credit – One factor of your credit score is the average length of all of your credit accounts.  The longer your accounts are open, the higher the average age of your accounts is.  Companies that extend credit like to see a longer average age of your accounts.  If you cancel one of your credit card accounts, this will low your average and decrease your score.

Credit Utilization – This calculation shows how much of the credit you use based on what you’ve been given.  In this case, the lower the utilization, the better.  For example, let’s assume you have 3 credit cards and each card gives you a credit limit of $10,000.  If you spend $3,000 per month combined each month on your credit cards your utilization rate is 10% ($3,000 / $30,000 = 10%).  If you decide to cancel on of your credit cards, your utilization rate will immediately increases to 15% ($3,000 / $20,000 = 15%).

This is where I will generally recommend leaving your account open if the card doesn’t have an annual fee.  If there’s no annual fee, it won’t cost you anything to keep it in your sock drawer.  This way it will help both your average length of accounts and your utilization rate.  Just remember to take it out once or twice a year and make a small purchase with it.  This will keep your account active so the bank doesn’t close it thinking you don’t need it any more.

Protect Your Points

After all of these considerations, if you still decide you want to cancel your credit card be sure to protect the points you’ve already earned.  This isn’t a problem if you’re closing a co-branded airline or hotel credit card.  Those points are automatically deposited into your loyalty accounts each month.

You won’t lose these when you close your account but they are subject to the respective program’s expiration policy.  The points for some programs never expire but others do.  Make sure you understand how to keep your points active so you don’t lose them.

Cards that earn points with the bank’s own program are at risk of disappearing once you close your account.  These programs include but are not limited to, American Express Membership Rewards, Capital One Venture Miles and Citi ThankYou points.  If you have a card like the Capital One Venture Rewards credit card, have a plan in place before cancelling your card.

Each program is a little different.  Some will let you transfer your points to another card, while others will let you keep them if you have another card that earns those points.  If neither of these is an option, there are other options to redeem your points.  You can transfer them to a partner program, redeem them for gift cards, cash or statement credits.  Regardless, just make sure you redeem them prior to cancelling your account so you don’t lose any.

Final Thoughts

Before you cancel a credit card, spend a few minutes going through each of these steps. There are many times it makes sense to close your account.  However, I think you’ll be surprised how often it’ll be more beneficial to leave the account open.  No matter what you decide, following these steps can help you avoid a costly mistake.

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]]> https://easytravelpoints.com/cancel-a-credit-card/feed/ 0 Chase Sapphire Reserve® Credit Card https://easytravelpoints.com/csr/ https://easytravelpoints.com/csr/#respond Thu, 21 Nov 2024 16:42:36 +0000 https://easytravelpoints.com/?p=115435 card_name Learn How To Apply My Take – I think the card_name is perfect for those who travel frequently. This...

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]]>
card_name
card_name
Learn How To Apply

My Take – I think the card_name is perfect for those who travel frequently. This card has a lot of great travel benefits that help make life on the road easier. Plus, the travel credit this card comes with can be used on a lot of things so it should be super easy to use. You’re also able to earn extra points on dining and travel purchases, so if you’re on the road a lot, these points will add up quickly.

Bonus –bonus_miles_full

Highlights – Receive up to an annual $300 credit towards travel purchases each year.  Plus, every 4 years you’ll receive up to a $120 statement credit for either TSA Pre Check, Global Entry or NEXUS fees.  If redeemed for travel through the Chase travel portal, these points are worth $900!  These points can also be transferred to one of Chase’s travel partners. 

You’ll also receive a complimentary Priority Pass membership for participating airport lounges as long as you hold the card. Chase has also started opening Sapphire lounges at a few domestic airports that I really love! And this card will get you and up to 2 guests into these lounges for free.

Annual Fee – annual_fees

Final Thoughts

Don’t let the high annual fee scare you away from the card_name. This card has a lot of fantastic benefits and can be an excellent option for a lot of people.  If you travel frequently, I would definitely recommend this card. With the bonus categories and increased travel benefits, you’ll be able to extract a lot of extra value from this card.

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]]> https://easytravelpoints.com/csr/feed/ 0 Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card https://easytravelpoints.com/ibu/ https://easytravelpoints.com/ibu/#respond Sat, 07 Sep 2024 21:09:52 +0000 https://easytravelpoints.com/?p=115402 card_name Learn How To Apply My Take – I love this card because it comes with a large welcome bonus...

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]]> card_name
card_name Learn How To Apply

My Take – I love this card because it comes with a large welcome bonus and has no annual fee. And if you want a simple earning structure, this card is perfect for you. I also love that this card is a great compliment to other Chase cards, so it’s easy to get more out of all the points you be earning.

Bonus – bonus_miles_full

Highlights – You can pair this card with another one of Chase’s premium cards in order to redeem these points in other ways like transferring them to one of Chase’s travel partners.  You also earn an unlimited 1.5 points for every dollar you spend with this card.  In addition, cards for employees are free.

This card also comes with some great consumer protection benefits, like extended warranty protection, purchase protection and auto rental collision damage waiver coverage.

Annual Fee – annual_fees

Final Thoughts

There are many different small business cards to choose from but I think the card_name is a great one to have. Not only do you get a large welcome bonus but the card also comes with some really great benefits and perks without having to pay an annual fee. 

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]]> https://easytravelpoints.com/ibu/feed/ 0 American Express® Gold Card Review https://easytravelpoints.com/american-express-gold-credit-card-review/ https://easytravelpoints.com/american-express-gold-credit-card-review/#respond Thu, 25 Jul 2024 14:45:00 +0000 https://easytravelpoints.com/?p=1434 card_name is perfect for anyone who enjoys food.  Whether you prefer dining out or cooking at home, you can...

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]]> card_name is perfect for anyone who enjoys food.  Whether you prefer dining out or cooking at home, you can earn points quickly when using this card.

American Express Gold credit card art

American Express’ Membership Rewards program has one of the most valuable point currencies you can earn. They rank high on my list of points to earn because they can be used in so many different ways. In a world where airlines and hotels are constantly devaluing their points, the more options you have to use them, the better.

card_name charges a annual_fees annual fee, see rates and fees.  To offset that fee, the card comes with a good welcome offer, excellent bonus categories and a couple annual credits that are designed with the foodie in mind.  If you’ve been eyeing this card, let’s take a look and see if it’s right for you.

Welcome Offer

Currently, the card_name comes with a valuable welcome offer. bonus_miles_full Terms apply.

If you don’t want to hassle with transfers, the welcome offer for these points can be quickly redeemed for $600 dollars in free travel.  Although I would never recommend you do that, it does give you an idea of what these points can be worth. If you transfer the points to one of American Express’ 22 transfer partners (see below), you can easily unlock even more value.

card_name

Earning Points

When you make purchases with the card_name you’ll earn Membership Rewards points on every qualifying purchase.  These points are arguably some of the best transferable points currencies out there.  Fortunately, this card has some great bonus categories so you can earn them quickly if you spend a lot in those categories.

Dining – This is where the card shines.  You’ll earn 4x points on purchases made at restaurants worldwide.  The bonus points earned on restaurant purchases are limited to the first $50,000 you spend each year.  Regardless, that’s a lot of potential bonus points.

U.S. Supermarkets – You’ll also earn 4x points on purchases made at supermarkets within the U.S.  The bonus points on U.S. supermarket purchases are limited to the first $25,000 you spend each year.  Again, that’s still a lot of potential bonus points.

Flights – You’ll earn 3x points on all flights purchased directly from an airline or if you book your flights through amextravel.com.

Prepaid Hotels – You will also earn 2x points on all prepaid hotel reservations made through Amextravel.com.

Other Purchases – You’ll ear 1 point for every dollar spent on all other qualifying purchases.

Card Perks

The card_name also comes with several benefits just for having the card.  Included in these benefits are two credits that can help offset the annual_fees annual fee.  This is where you’ll be able to quickly determine if this card is right for you.

Dining Credit – Each month you can earn up to a $10 credit for purchases made with the card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com and Five Guys locations, enrollment required.  If you maximize these credits, that can save you $120 per year.

Hotel Collection Credit – If you book a stay (minimum of 2 nights) through the AMEX Hotel Collection, you can get a $100 credit towards spa treatments or dining at the resort.  Plus, you’ll earn 2x points on those hotel stays.

Dunkin Donuts Credit – Each month you can up to a $7 statement credit for purchases made using the card at Dunkin Donuts locations, enrollment required.

Resy Credit – You can also get up to $50 back semi-annually in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with your card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases, enrollment required.

Trip Delay Insurance – This is a new benefit I really like that was added to the card in 2020.  Up to $300 per Covered Trip that is delayed for more than 12 hours; and 2 claims per Eligible Card per 12 consecutive month period. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.

Extended Warranty Coverage – How many times have you had something break soon after you buy it or stop working right after their warranty expires?  If you purchased it with this card, you don’t have to worry about it.  Your purchases are covered by the purchase protection and extended warranty coverage.  I’ve used this benefit repeatedly and this alone has more than covered the cost of the annual fee.

When an American Express® Card Member charges a Covered Purchase to an Eligible Card, Extended Warranty§ can provide up to one extra year added to the Original Manufacturer’s Warranty. Applies to warranties of five (5) years or less. Coverage is up to the actual amount charged to your Card for the item up to a maximum of $10,000; not to exceed $50,000 per Card Member account per calendar year. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.

No Foreign Transaction Fees – You will not be charged any purchases made with the card worldwide, See Rates and Fees.

Baggage Insurance – If you purchase your ticket with the card_name, you are eligible for baggage insurance.  Baggage Insurance Plan coverage can be in effect for Covered Persons for eligible lost, damaged, or stolen Baggage during their travel on a Common Carrier Vehicle (e.g. plane, train, ship, or bus) when the Entire Fare for a ticket for the trip (one-way or round-trip) is charged to an Eligible Card. Coverage can be provided for up to $2,000 for checked Baggage and up to a combined maximum of $3,000 for checked and carry-on Baggage, in excess of coverage provided by the Common Carrier. The coverage is also subject to a $3,000 aggregate limit per Covered Trip.  For New York State residents, there is a $2,000 per bag/suitcase limit for each Covered Person with a $10,000 aggregate maximum for all Covered Persons per Covered Trip.

Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.

Redeeming Chase Points

Membership Rewards points are one of my favorite point currencies because there’s so many ways to use them.  I would only recommend transferring them to one of AMEX’s travel partners because that’s where you’ll get the most value.  However, there are a few other ways that are easy and straightforward.  Here’s a quick breakdown of the different options.

Shopping – You can redeem your points for one of several different store gift cards.  You can also redeem your points for purchases while shopping at Amazon.com or BestBuy.com.

AMEX Travel – You can use your points to pay for travel purchases made directly through American Express Travel.  You use your points for travel with almost any airline or hotel.

Travel Partners – This is where you can unlock some excellent value with your points.  You can use Avios points to book flights to Hawaii from the West Coast, Mexico or short domestic flights, all on American Airlines.  Delta frequently offers flash sales around the globe and AMEX is the only way you can transfer points to Delta.  There are so many other great options but this should give you an idea of what’s possible.

Transfer Partners

As I mentioned above, here is a list (in alphabetical order) of the travel partners you can transfer your Membership Rewards points to.  Except where noted below, your MR points will transfer to these programs at a 1:1 ratio.

Airline Partners

  • Aer Lingus
  • Aeromexico – Transfer Ratio 1:1.6
  • Air Canada
  • Alitalia
  • All Nippon
  • British Airways
  • Cathay Pacific
  • Delta
  • El Al – Transfer Ratio 50:1
  • Emirates
  • Flying Blue (Air France/KLM)
  • Hawaiian Airlines
  • Iberia
  • JetBlue – Transfer Ratio 1.25:1
  • Singapore Airlines
  • Virgin Atlantic

Hotel Transfer Partners

  • Choice Hotels
  • Hilton – Transfer Ratio 1:2
  • Marriott

Which Cards Are Similar To The AMEX Gold

It’s hard to compare the card_name to just one other card.  It’s unique in that the annual_fees annual fee is higher than other entry level travel cards.  Along with the higher annual fee comes a few credits those cards don’t offer.  Then, when you compare the benefits of the Gold card to a premium card, they don’t quite measure up .  However, those premium cards also charge a much higher annual fee than the card_name.  While there’s no great comparison, here are a few options to consider.

card_name – This is one of my favorite entry level travel cards to recommend.  The card has a low annual fee but doesn’t have any annual statement credits.  You do earn 2x points on travel and dining purchases.  It also comes with a solid welcome offer. bonus_miles_full  You can read all about the card here.

card_name – This is another good travel card for beginners.  bonus_miles_full You can learn more about the card here.

card_name – This card is a great premium card option.  bonus_miles_full The Sapphire Reserve has a $550 annual fee but comes with a $300 annual credit for travel purchases.  Plus, it comes with a credit for one TSA PreCheck or Global Entry application fee every 4 years.  You will earn 3x on all dining and travel purchases.  Here’s more information on this card.

card_name – The AMEX Platinum card is another great option for a premium travel card.  This one also has a $695 annual fee, see rates and fees.  bonus_miles_full  Terms apply. Each year you can get up to a $200 airline fee credit and a $100 credit to Saks Fifth Avenue (enrollment required).  You’ll also get access to the Global Lounge Collection, enrollment required, which includes The Centurion Lounge and Delta Sky Clubs.

Final Thoughts

If you love eating out or spend a lot of money at grocery stores, the card_name could be an excellent option for you.  Membership Rewards points are a great point currency to earn and you can earn them quickly with this card.  The one thing I don’t like about this card, is the credits are very focused so they can be inconvenient and sometimes difficult to use.  Therefore, if you are able to take full advantage of these credits, then maybe it deserves a spot in your wallet.

For rates and fees of the American Express® Gold Card, See Rates and Fees

For rates and fees of the The Platinum Card® From American Express, See Rates and Fees.

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]]> https://easytravelpoints.com/american-express-gold-credit-card-review/feed/ 0 Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card https://easytravelpoints.com/venture/ https://easytravelpoints.com/venture/#respond Wed, 24 Jul 2024 04:20:33 +0000 https://easytravelpoints.com/?p=115374 card_name Learn How To Apply My Take – I like card_name because it comes with a valuable welcome bonus, a...

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]]> card_name
card_name Learn How To Apply

My Take – I like card_name because it comes with a valuable welcome bonus, a low annual fee and is packed with some great benefits. I think everyone should have TSA PreCheck, so why not get it for free?

Plus, there are some very easy ways to use your miles, so redeeming them on a fun vacation should be a breeze. You can transfer your points to one of Capital One’s several airline or hotel partners. Or you can simply redeem them for a statement credit on any travel purchase.

Bonus – bonus_miles_full

Highlights – These points can be redeemed for $750 in travel or the miles can be transferred to one of Capital One’s travel partners.  You’ll receive up to a $100 fee credit for either TSA PreCheck or Global Entry every 4 years.  There are no foreign transaction fees on purchases made with this card.

Annual Fee – annual_fees

Final Thoughts

The card_name is a fantastic option for just about everyone.  Whether you’re just learning how to redeem your miles or you’ve traveled the world for free, this card will help you go more places. 

When you consider the huge welcome bonus, low annual fee and the Precheck credit, there’s really no risk to trying this card out for a year.  Capital One is really making this decision a whole lot easier.If you’d like to read more about this card, I have written an extensive review of the card here.

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]]> https://easytravelpoints.com/venture/feed/ 0 Best Credit Card Offers For Students https://easytravelpoints.com/best-credit-card-offers-for-students/ https://easytravelpoints.com/best-credit-card-offers-for-students/#respond Wed, 26 Jun 2024 20:52:41 +0000 https://easytravelpoints.com/?p=115341 Making the decision to get your first credit card is a significant one. This will be one of the...

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]]> Making the decision to get your first credit card is a significant one. This will be one of the first steps you take on your financial journey. It will help you begin to establish a credit history and lay a foundation to help you with future financial decisions. Let me help you narrow down the choice to a few options that I think are worth considering.

someone holding a credit card while typing on a laptop

Recently, my oldest son wanted to get his first credit card. So, the two of us sat down, had a conversation about credit, then reviewed several of the options out there. Since that day, I’ve had several friends ask me which card I would recommend for their kids to get as their first credit card.

I’ve decided to put all of my “fatherly advice” and my recommendations into this post. I’m sure there are countless others in this same situation so I hope you find this helpful.

Credit Card Ground Rules

Making the decision to open your first credit card is an important one. If used wisely, this can help you establish your credit and get better rates in the future on auto and home loans. However, if you use a credit card incorrectly, it can make your life more difficult. With that said, here’s my advice to you if this will be your first credit card.

Pay In Full – Pay your credit card balance in full EVERY month. In my opinion, credit cards are for convenience and security. This is NOT free money to go buy something you can’t afford. If you aren’t able to pay your balance in full each month, STOP using your credit card!

Pay On Time – One of the biggest things that can affect your credit score is paying your bill late. Set up autopay, email/text alerts or any other system you can come up with to pay your bill on time. Don’t ruin your credit score because you’re forgetful.

Get Help – If you ever find yourself getting behind on your bills, get help. I don’t mean, just ask people for money. I mean, talk to a friend, parent or someone else you trust who is GOOD with money and ask them for advice. Don’t let a bad situation snowball into a terrible situation because you were too embarrassed to ask for help.

With all that said, here are my recommendations for your first card.

card_name

My Take – This is the card that I ultimately recommended my son get. This card is geared towards students, so the probability you’ll get approved is higher even though you likely don’t have any credit history.

Welcome Bonus – bonus_miles_full

Highlights – I really like this card because it comes with a small bonus, no annual fee and bonus earning categories on things students typically purchase. Plus, you can earn an unlimited 3% cash back on things like dining, entertainment, popular streaming services and grocery stores (excluding Target and Walmart), and 1% on all other purchases. It also doesn’t charge any foreign transaction fees.

Annual Fee – annual_fees

card_name

Learn How To Apply

card_name

My Take – This card is very similar to the one above. This is also a credit card that is designed for students with no annual fee. There aren’t a lot of frills but that’s not what should be driving this decision.

Welcome Bonus – bonus_miles_full

Highlights – I like this card as well because it comes with a small bonus and no annual fee. You’ll earn a flat 1.5% cash back on all eligible purchases. I also love that this card doesn’t charge any foreign transaction fees if you’re traveling abroad.

Annual Fee – annual_fees

card_name

Learn How To Apply

card_name

My Take – This card is not specifically marketed as a “student” card but it is for those who are trying to build their credit. In case you are declined by Capital One, I wanted to give you another option with a different bank. I love Chase for their travel rewards cards, so starting and maintaining a good relationship with Chase is never a bad thing in my book.

On the Chase website, it does say that if you have at least $250 in any Chase checking or savings account, it can increase your chances of being approved for the card. So if you already have an account with them, this could be a good option for you.

Welcome Bonus – bonus_miles_full

Highlights – I like this card as well because it comes with a small bonus and no annual fee. You’ll earn a flat 1.5% cash back on all eligible purchases.

Annual Fee – annual_fees

card_name

Learn How To Apply

Final Thoughts

I just wanted to wish you the best as you begin your financial journey. Remember, credit cards can be a very useful tool if used correctly. Take time your time and go slow. And if you have any questions along the way, leave me a comment below and I’d be happy to answer them.

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]]> https://easytravelpoints.com/best-credit-card-offers-for-students/feed/ 0 Chase Sapphire Preferred® Credit Card https://easytravelpoints.com/csp/ https://easytravelpoints.com/csp/#respond Mon, 18 Mar 2024 00:21:05 +0000 https://easytravelpoints.com/?p=115311 card_name Learn How To Apply My Take – While the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card isn’t co-branded with a specific airline, you can transfer...

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card_name
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Learn How To Apply

My Take – While the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card isn’t co-branded with a specific airline, you can transfer the points earned with this card to several airlines and hotels.  With the flexibility this card provides, it’s my top choice for the best travel credit card for beginners. 

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is my favorite starter card. If you’re just starting out, I would recommend you start with this card 95% of the time. The points are easy and straightforward to redeem so it makes that first award redemption as easy as it gets.

Welcome Bonus – bonus_miles_full This welcome bonus is higher than it usually is, so this really is a phenomenal offer!

Highlights – These points can easily be redeemed through the Chase travel portal.  If you want to unlock more value, you can also transfer the points to one of several airlines and take advantage of some of the redemption sweet spots like this for flying to Hawaii. Each anniversary year you’ll also earn a $50 statement credit on a hotel booked through the Chase Ultimate Rewards travel portal.

This card also offers great travel delay insurance that covers a lot of those unexpected events that come up while traveling. You also get free primary rental car insurance and extended warranty coverage when you use the card.

Annual Fee – $95 (not waived during the first year). In my opinion, this is a very reasonable annual fee when you consider the welcome bonus and all of the free benefits that come with just having the card.

Final Thoughts

In my opinion, this card_name is perfect for anyone who is looking to get started in the points hobby.  I think Chase Ultimate Rewards points are the most valuable and easiest to use of any card issuer.  If you are just starting to earn travel rewards points, you should strongly consider having this card in your wallet.

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]]> https://easytravelpoints.com/csp/feed/ 0 The Best Credit Card Offers Right Now https://easytravelpoints.com/best-credit-card-offers/ https://easytravelpoints.com/best-credit-card-offers/#comments Fri, 16 Jun 2023 15:00:00 +0000 https://easytravelpoints.com/?p=640 Credit card companies routinely change the bonuses they offer you to sign up for a new card.  I get...

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]]> Credit card companies routinely change the bonuses they offer you to sign up for a new card.  I get it, you have a lot going on in your life and you don’t have time to track each offer you see.  Don’t worry, let Easy Travel Points do the work for you.  I will update this page with all of the best credit card offers currently available to everyone.

several different credit cards in two parallel lines

All you need to do is bookmark this page and you will have all of the best credit card offers at your fingertips anytime you need them.  Without further ado, here are my favorite options right now.

card_name

My Take – While the card_name isn’t co-branded with a specific airline, you can transfer the points earned with this card to several airlines.  With the flexibility this card provides, it’s my top choice for the best airline credit card.  You can read why this is the card I recommend most often here.

The card_name is my favorite starter card. If you’re just starting out, I would recommend you start with this card 99% of the time. The points are easy to redeem so it makes that first award redemption a slam dunk.

Welcome Bonus – bonus_miles_full This welcome bonus is higher than it usually is, so this really is a phenomenal offer!

Highlights – These points can easily be redeem through the book through the Chase travel portal.  If you want to unlock more value, you can also transfer the points to one of several airlines and take advantage of some of the redemption sweet spots like this for flying to Hawaii.  This card also offers great travel insurance that covers a lot of those unexpected events that come up while traveling.

Annual Fee – $95 (not waived during the first year)

card_name

Learn How To Apply

card_name

My Take – Capital One recently launched a brand new premium card with a great offer. With the recent improvement of their redemption ratio, and the addition of some great travel partners like Turkish Airline’s Miles & Smiles, the card_name definitely warrants some serious consideration.

This card comes with some solid benefits like lounge access and Hertz elite status that I use all the time. For anyone who is a frequent traveler, you should definitely give this card a closer look.

Bonus – bonus_miles_full

Highlights – Get up to a $300 annual travel credit on bookings made through Capital One Travel. Cardmembers will also get get a Priority Pass membership and access to Capital One lounges. You also get complimentary access to Hertz President’s Circle which allows you to skip the line and pick your car. Plus, get up to a $120 credit towards TSA PreCheck or Global Entry. On top of all of that, you’ll 2x miles on all other purchases.

Annual Fee – $395 (not waived during the first year)

card_name

Learn How To Apply

card_name

My Take – I love this card because it comes with a large welcome bonus and no annual fee. Plus, it has a few great bonus categories that can help you earn points quickly. I also love this card because it pairs great with other Chase cards, so it’s easy to get more out of the points you earn.

Bonus – bonus_miles_full

Highlights – This business card earns 5% back on the first $25,000 spent on combined purchases at office supply stores and internet, phone and cable companies each anniversary year. Plus, earn 2% cash back on the first $25,000 in combined restaurant and gas station purchases each anniversary year.

Annual Fee – $0

card_name

Learn How To Apply

card_name

My Take – I like this card because it comes with a valuable welcome bonus, a low annual fee and is packed with some great benefits. I think everyone should have TSA PreCheck, so why not get it for free? Plus, there are some very easy ways to use your miles, so redeeming them on a fun vacation should be a breeze.

Bonus – bonus_miles_full

Highlights – These points can be redeemed for $750 in travel or the miles can be transferred to one of Capital One’s travel partners.  You’ll receive up to a $120 fee credit for either TSA PreCheck or Global Entry every 4 years.  There are no foreign transaction fees on purchases made with this card.

Annual Fee – $95 (not waived during the first year)

card_name

Learn How To Apply

card_name

My Take – I love this card because it comes with a large welcome bonus and no annual fee. And if you want a simple earning structure, this card is perfect for you. I also love that this card pairs great with other Chase cards, so it’s easy to get more out of all the points you be earning.

Bonus – bonus_miles_full

Highlights – This business card earns an unlimited 1.5% cash back on all eligible purchases made with the card. The cash back is awarded using Ultimate Rewards points. If you have one of Chase’s premium cards, you can combine all of your Chase points together to unlock even more value.

Annual Fee – $0

card_name

Learn How To Apply

card_name

My Take – I think this card is perfect for those road warriors out there. This card has a lot of great travel benefits that help make life on the road easier. Plus, the travel credit this card comes with can be used on a lot of things so it should be super easy to use. You’re also able to earn extra points on dining and travel purchases, so if you’re on the road a lot, these points will add up quickly.

Bonus – bonus_miles_full

Highlights – Receive up to an annual $300 credit towards travel purchases each year.  Plus, every 4 years you’ll receive up to a $120 statement credit for either TSA Pre Check, Global Entry or NEXUS fees.  If redeemed for travel through the Chase travel portal, these points are worth $900!  These points can also be transferred to one of Chase’s travel partners.  You’ll also receive a complimentary Priority Pass membership for participating airport lounges as long as you hold the card.

Annual Fee – $550 (not waived during the first year)

card_name

Learn How To Apply

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My Take – This card is a simple and easy to use card for everyday spending that has no annual fee. If you’re looking for a cash back card, I think this is an excellent option. I’ve had the card for years and use it all the time.

Bonus – bonus_miles_full

Highlights – This card is one of my favorites for everyday spending that isn’t part of a bonus category. This card is a great companion to use with other Chase cards.

Annual Fee – $0

card_name

Learn How To Apply

card_name

My Take – I think this card is excellent if you love American Express Membership Rewards® points. What I love most about this card is the ability to earn extra points at U.S. supermarkets. Having a large family, I earn a lot of points with this card.

Bonus – bonus_miles_full Terms apply. I love that American Express is giving you twice the normal amount of time to hit the spending threshold to qualify for the bonus!

Highlights – You will earn 4x Membership Rewards® Points at restaurants (limited to the first $50,000 in purchases). You will also earn 4x points on purchases made at U.S. supermarkets (limited to the first $25,000 in purchases). This card also comes with annual dining credits, enrollment required, and airline fee credits. You can read my full review of the American Express Gold card here.

Annual Fee – annual_fees See rates and fees.

card_name

Learn How To Apply

card_name

My Take – I think this card is perfect for those who love staying at IHG hotels. This card comes with a great welcome bonus and you get a free award night each year. This award night you get each year easily offsets the cost of paying the annual fee, in my opinion. Add in the complimentary elite status and this one becomes an easy decision for IHG loyalists.

Bonus – bonus_miles_full

Highlights – You’ll earn a free award night after each card anniversary year at eligible properties.  This card also comes with up to a $120 statement credit on TSA PreCheck, Global Entry or Nexus application fees.  You’ll also earn 26 points per dollar spent at IHG hotels.  Plus, you get complimentary IHG platinum elite status with this card.

Annual Fee – $99 (not waived during the first year)

card_name

Learn How To Apply

card_name

My Take – I think the Bilt Mastercard is a great option for those who pay rent. Living expenses are typically our highest expense each month and normally you can’t earn any points paying your rent without being charged a fee. This is a great way to earn a lot of points for expenses you already incur.

Plus, in my opinion, Bilt has the best list of transfer partners than any other bank out there. There are so many great options that you can really get some amazing redemptions for your hard earned points. Plus, with monthly “Rent Day” promotions (see below), there is a lot of value you can get from this card.

Bonus – This card does not offer a welcome bonus for new cardmembers.

Highlights – bonus_miles_full. Plus, on the first of every month is “Rent Day” and they offer some great promotions on that day. Some of the past promotions have included higher than normal transfer bonuses to some of their amazing travel partners. Plus, on the first of every month, you number of points you earn on each qualifying purchase is doubled.

card_name

Learn How To Apply

card_name

My Take – This card is another great option if you love American Express and you travel a lot. The travel perks that come with this card are top-notch, in my opinion. Yes, the annual fee is higher than most, but the benefits you get can easily offset the cost. Add in the welcome bonus you can earn and I think this is a great option for those who travel a lot.

Bonus – bonus_miles_full Terms apply.

Highlights – You’ll receive an annual credit of up to $200 towards baggage fees on one airline of your choice.  Access to Global Lounge Collection airport lounges throughout the world.  Receive an annual credit of up to $100 for purchases made at Saks Fifth Avenue (enrollment in the offer is required).  Receive up to a $120 credit every 4.5 years for the TSA PreCheck® application fee (when applying through a TSA official enrollment provider) and every 4 years for the Global Entry application fee.

Annual Fee – $695 See rates and fees.

card_name

Learn How To Apply

card_name

My Take – This is a great card for those who love to fly Southwest Airlines. Especially if you’re traveling as a family. The thing I love most about Southwest’s programs, is the points are super easy to use. As long as there’s an open seat on the flight, you can book it with your miles. So when you’re traveling as a family, you don’t need to worry about trying to find enough award seats for everyone.

Bonus – bonus_miles_full

Highlights – Earn 2x on Southwest purchases, internet, cable and phone purchases. Earn 3,000 bonus points each anniversary year. Plus get 2 free Early Bird check-ins each year.

Annual Fee – $69 (not waived during the first year)

card_name

Learn How To Apply

card_name

My Take – The card_name is a great card for those who fly Air Canada frequently or those who like to redeem their Aeroplan miles to fly on other Star Alliance airlines. There are some great redemption options that are available on their partner airlines. For example, I recently booked a Singapore Airlines flight from Singapore to Houston in business class for 87,500 miles plus fees!

Bonus – bonus_miles_full

Highlights – Earn 3x points on every dollar spent when you use this card at grocery stores, restaurants and purchases made directly with Air Canada. Plus, you can earn a bonus 500 points for every $2,000 you spend on this card in a calendar month (limited to 1,500 bonus miles per month).

Annual Fee – annual_fees

card_name

Learn How To Apply

Final Thoughts

There are other offers out there but in my opinion, these are the best credit card offers on the market.  I know there’s not a single credit card that’s perfect for everyone.  If you have any specific questions, don’t hesitate to leave a comment below or email me with a specific question.

For rates and fees of the American Express® Gold Card, See Rates and Fees.

For rates and fees of The Platinum Card® From American Express, See Rates and Fees.

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]]> https://easytravelpoints.com/best-credit-card-offers/feed/ 2 Capital One Venture X Credit Card Review https://easytravelpoints.com/capital-one-venture-x-review/ https://easytravelpoints.com/capital-one-venture-x-review/#respond Tue, 23 May 2023 01:56:00 +0000 https://easytravelpoints.com/?p=114668 The card_name is one of my favorite travel rewards cards. This card comes with several great benefits, the miles...

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]]> The card_name is one of my favorite travel rewards cards. This card comes with several great benefits, the miles are easy to redeem and the annual fee is very reasonable. This is why the card is one of my favorites to recommend to most people.

Capital One branch store front

In 2021, Capital One stepped into the premium travel card space when it launched the card_name. This card directly competes with card_name and the card_name. In my opinion, it’s definitely giving both of these cards a run for their money.

Welcome Bonus

Currently, the card_name comes with a solid welcome bonus. bonus_miles_full

These miles can be worth $750 if you redeem them for travel directly through Capital One. However, these miles can be worth significantly more if you transfer them to one of Capital One’s travel partners. I’ll list our the transfer partners down below.

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Annual Fee

This card comes with a $395 annual fee. This is significantly less than other premium rewards cards and comes with comparable benefits. Like all cards with annual fees, you should be getting more in benefits than the cost of the fee. So let’s get into the benefits.

Venture X Benefits

This card_name comes with some fantastic benefits. This isn’t a comprehensive list but here are several of my favorite benefits.

Travel Credit – You will get up to $300 in statement credits each year for travel booked directly with Capital One Travel. In my opinion, getting the full $300 credit is super easy to do.

Anniversary Bonus – Starting on your first card anniversary, you’ll get 10,000 bonus miles each year. If you use these miles as a statement credit, their worth $100.

Lounge Access – With this card, you’ll get a free Priority Pass membership to airport lounges around the world and Capital One lounges. This give access for both you and 2 guests. of all the lounges I’ve visited, the Capital One lounge in DFW is by far my favorite!

Hertz Status – You’ll get free Hertz President’s Club status just by having the card. I love this benefit! When you rent with Hertz, you can pick any car from the President’s Circle row when you rent a midsize car or above. Plus, you can skip the rental counter and go straight to your car which can save so much time!

Global Entry/TSA PreCheck – You get up to a $120 statement credit for your Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee.

Cell Phone Protection – If you pay your monthly wireless phone bill with your card_name, you’re eligible for up to $800 in coverage per claim with a maximum of two claims and $1,600 per 12-month period. There is a $50 deductible applies per occurrence.

There are other free benefits, like trip delay insurance, primary car rental insurance and extended warranty coverage and others as well.

Earning More Miles

Earning more miles with the card is pretty straightforward. You can earn more miles with the card_name in the following ways:

10X – You’ll earn 10 times the miles on every dollar you spend on hotels and car rentals when booked directly with Capital One Travel.

5X – You’ll also earn 5 times the miles on all airfare purchases made directly with Capital One Travel.

2X – Finally, you’ll earn 2x miles on all other purchases you make with the card.

Redeeming Your Miles

Transferring Miles – Capital One has several fantastic travel partners you can transfer your miles to. Typically, this is the best way to get the most value out of your miles.

Statement Credits – You can also redeem your miles to offset travel purchases via statement credits. You can offset any purchase the codes as travel using your miles at a rate of 1 cent per point. This is a simple way to redeem your miles.

Future Travel – You can book travel directly with Capital One Travel and use your miles to pay for it. Again, you can redeem your points at a flat 1 cent per point for this as well.

Gift Cards – You can redeem your miles for a variety of gift cards at a rate of 1 cent per point.

Cash Back – If you want straight cash back, you can request it at a rate of 0.5 cents per point. Please don’t do this. If you want the cash, just get a bunch of gift cards to stores where you shop.

Capital One Transfer Partners

All miles transfer at a 1:1 ratio with the respective partners, with the exceptions noted below. You can transfer the miles you earn with the card_name to the following travel partners:

  • Aeromexico Club Premier – Miles transfer instantly
  • Air Canada Aeroplan – Miles transfer instantly
  • Air France/KLM Flying Blue – Miles transfer instantly
  • Avianca LifeMiles – Miles transfer instantly
  • Accor Live Limitless (2:1) – Miles transfer in 1 day
  • British Airways – Miles transfer instantly
  • Cathay Pacific Asia Miles – Miles transfer in 5 days
  • Choice Privileges – TBD Transfer Time
  • Emirates Skywards – Miles transfer instantly
  • Etihad Guest – Miles transfer within 24 hours
  • Eva Infinity MileageLands (2:1.5) – Miles transfer within 36 hours
  • Finnair Plus – Miles transfer instantly
  • Qantas Frequent Flyer – Miles transfer within 24 hours
  • Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer – Miles transfer within 36 hours
  • Tap Portugal – Miles transfer instantly
  • Turkish Airlines – Miles transfer instantly
  • Virgin Atlantic Red – Miles transfer instantly
  • Wyndham Rewards – Miles transfer instantly

Some of my favorite ways to use my Capital One miles are to transfer to Turkish Airlines Miles & Smiles program to take advantage of their sweet spots. I also like us British Airways for flights to Mexico and nonstop domestic routes.

Final Thoughts

The card_name is one of my favorite travel rewards cards. In fact, both my wife and I have this card in our wallets. I think the benefits are top-tier and easy to use. I think most people can easily get enough value out of this card to make it worth paying the annual fee each year. If you don’t have this card, I would strongly recommend you taking a closer look to see if it’s right for you.

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