Easy Travel Points

Everything You Need To Know About Buying Groups

Rob Dulgarian — Wed, 22 Oct 2025 16:41:32 +0000

Buying groups are a great way to earn extra credit card points. While they do take some effort and you need to be organized, they can be very beneficial. I’m going to show you everything you need to know about them and how to use them successfully.

I have been using buying groups for several years as part of my points earning strategy. They can especially come in handy when I’m trying to meet the minimum spend requirement for a new card.

Buying groups have some nuance to them, but this simple guide will teach you everything you need to know about buying groups and how to successfully use them.

What Are Buying Groups

Buying groups are companies that purchase various goods from people like you and me and pay them a predetermined rate for those items. These types of transactions require a fair amount of trust because you are basically purchasing these goods with the understanding that you will be paid once the item is delivered to the buying group’s warehouse.

I’ve done business with several of them, and my favorite is The Buying Group. They have been the one group that has consistently paid within a reasonable amount of time. I’ve also had very few issues with deliveries but when I do, they get resolved quickly.

How Do Buying Groups Work

All of the buying groups I’ve worked with have a very similar process. As an example, I will outline the process specifically for The Buying Group.

Sign Up – First, you need to sign up for an account with the respective group. You can sign up for The Buying Group here. At the end of the signup process you’ll be given an ID number, which you’ll need later.

Deals – Once you have an account, you can purchase items the buying group is requesting. On the left side of the dashboard there’s a tab that says “Deals”. Here is a list of all the deals they are currently buying along with the price they’re paying for each item.

Please note that some buying groups will frequently offer prices that are BELOW COST, so you might actually lose money on the purchase. (They do this for various reasons that we won’t go into.) But one big reason that I work with The Buying Group is that they offer a good amount of deals that payout full retail price and sometimes they even pay you a small commission, too. Please ensure you read each deal carefully before making a purchase.

Commitment – If you see an item you’d like to buy, you will need to enter a “commitment”. Simply click on the “Commit” button and enter the number of items you purchased. You can update this number at any time. This allows the buying groups to limit and track how many items are purchased.

Sometimes they’ll cap the number of items they’ll buy, so if the deal is “full”, don’t purchase that item. In all cases, if you send them an item that you don’t have a commitment for, they can refuse to accept the item.

Delivery – Each buying group will have specific addresses you need to have the items sent to. They will always have at least one address in a state that is sales tax exempt. Almost all deals will not pay you for sales tax or shipping costs, so be careful where you ship the item to and what shipping method you use.

Tracking – Once the items ship, the retailer will send you a tracking number. You will need to enter this tracking number into the buying group’s portal so they know which shipment is yours. You will enter this on the “Tracking Management” tab within the dashboard.

In addition, you will need to add your buying group ID number to your shipping address when making your purchase. This is an additional way for them to know which items belong to you. For example, if my buying group ID is 1234, I will enter my name as John Doe 1234 when filling out the shipping address for my purchase.

Receiving – Once the item arrives at the buying group’s warehouse, they will “check in” the item. Once this is done, you will be emailed a receipt showing what they received and how much you were paid. The amount paid for that item will then be added to your account.

Timing – Once an item is delivered to the warehouse, it can take a couple days for it to show in your dashboard as “received”. The timing will vary by group and the time of the year. Peak times like Black Friday can take longer. Another reason I like Buying Group is that they are generally very quick to check things in. My first few orders were checked in the day it arrived. On average though, it typically takes 2-3 days.

Payment – Once you have a balance in your account, you can request an e-check for your balance or an ACH payment. Buying Group typically sends your payment in about a week, but again can vary based on the time of year and the number of deals they’re buying. Once the check is generated, you can print the check from your account and then deposit it into your bank account.

Stay Organized

If you want to give buying groups a try, my biggest piece of advice is to STAY ORGANIZED. It is critical to keep track of everything you buy and the details of each purchase. The last thing you want to do is send an item to a buying group, forget to track it and then not get paid for the item.

I keep all of this information in a spreadsheet. It’s an easy way to keep track of everything and make sure you get paid appropriately. And if something goes wrong, you’ll have everything at your fingertips to get it resolved.

Along the lines of staying organized, I would recommend starting slow. Pick a small, inexpensive item to start with. Then go through and learn the entire process. That way, if you make a mistake with a $19 Fire Stick, you won’t lose any sleep while you’re resolving the issue.

What If Something Goes Wrong

I know this all sounds nice and easy. But what if something goes wrong? To date, I have purchased hundreds of items and spent over $100k with buying groups. While infrequent, problems do arise and it can take some time and effort to get things resolved.

If something doesn’t go perfectly, don’t freak out. Keep in mind, all buying groups have a support ticket system where you’ll handle most of these issues.

Here are some of the main issues I’ve run into and how to solve them –

Paid The Wrong Amount – Prices for deals can change from one day to the next. Sometimes when an item is checked in, the wrong amount is paid out. When this happens, I create a ticket with information about the order and it has always been corrected.

Item Not Received – Each group is usually very good about keeping you informed as to their progress of checking in items. But what happens if they say they’ve checked in everything received by a certain day and yours was delivered in that time frame?

I’ve had this happen a couple of times. In all cases, I’ve opened a ticket and sent them the order details, including the item’s serial number if applicable. They will investigate the items and in all cases but one, they have found it and then credited my account.

The one time it wasn’t found, I was able to contact the retailer and they issued me a refund. YMMV with the retailer if this happens to you, but this was my experience.

Damaged Item – Only once has an item I ordered been delivered damaged. When this happened, the buying group contacted me and I processed a return with the retailer. I then emailed them the return shipping label and documents and they sent the item back on my behalf.

Other Buying Groups

I’ve tried out most of the buying groups that are out there and they all follow a very similar process to the one I’ve outlined above. Each buying group has their own pros and cons. Based on my experience, I would recommend the following groups.

Closeout NJ
PFS Buyers Club (This one focuses on infrequent coin deals from the US Mint)
Buy For Me Retail

Once you get the hang of one buying group and want access to more deals, I would definitely give these others a look.

Maximizing Your Buying Group Spend

In addition to the credit card spend and small commissions, there are other ways to maximize your benefit from buying group purchases. My favorite way is to use shopping portals and cash back portals when making any purchases.

New Card Bonus – Buying groups are a great way to hit the minimum spend requirement on a new card. While I wouldn’t depend on them to meet the requirement, they can definitely make it easier.

TopCashBack – TopCashBack is a fantastic portal to use when buying Amazon devices. These are items buying groups need frequently. When you go thru TopCashBack, they give you 2% cash back on all Amazon devices purchases.

Rakuten – I also like using the Rakuten shopping portal when making purchases from stores other than Amazon. I prefer Rakuten because you can earn AMEX Membership Rewards points instead of cash back.

Final Thoughts

I think buying groups can be a great way to earn extra credit card points. If you are willing to put in the effort and stay organized, they can be a great piece of your points earning strategy. If you decide to give them a shot, I would definitely recommend starting with Buying Group.

As with everything, if you have any questions, just leave me a comment below and I’ll be happy to help.

The post Everything You Need To Know About Buying Groups appeared first on Easy Travel Points.

Credit Card Points & Miles Crash Course

Rob Dulgarian — Fri, 04 Jul 2025 23:51:50 +0000

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

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!

The post Credit Card Points & Miles Crash Course appeared first on Easy Travel Points.

Things To Do Before Cancelling A Credit Card

Rob Dulgarian — Sat, 24 May 2025 03:30:00 +0000

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.

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.

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.

The post Things To Do Before Cancelling A Credit Card appeared first on Easy Travel Points.

Chase Sapphire Reserve® Credit Card

Rob Dulgarian — Thu, 21 Nov 2024 16:42:36 +0000

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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How To Get The Hyatt Family Plan Rate

Rob Dulgarian — Wed, 25 Sep 2024 23:33:29 +0000

Did you know Hyatt offers a discount on a second room when you’re traveling with your children? It’s called the Hyatt family rate. Here’s everything you need to know to take advantage of this discount the next time you’re on a family vacation.

Traveling as a family can get expensive fast. So any discount I can find to help lower the cost is a pleasant surprise. About a year ago I heard about Hyatt’s family rate discount. Because we stay at Hyatts so often, I thought this was going to save me a ton of money. Unfortunately, that wasn’t exactly the case.

With that said, here’s everything you need to know about the family rate discount and my experience trying to take advantage of it over the past year.

What Is The Discount

Hyatt will give you up to a 50% discount on a second room when you’re traveling with children under 18 years of age. The exact discount will vary by property, but it can be up to 50% off the daily rate.

While you can book the first room using either cash or points, the second room has to be paid for with cash.

For example, this week I booked two rooms at the Hyatt House Nashville at Vanderbilt over the Thanksgiving weekend. I paid for the first room using 9,000 Hyatt points. The cash rate for that night was $148 (plus tax). The family rate I was offered for that night was $92.50 (plus tax), which is a 38% discount. Not quite 50% but still an excellent rate.

The other nice thing about this rate, is that it’s not an advance purchase rate, so you can cancel (within the properties terms) without a penalty if your plans change.

Is This Rate Available At All Hyatt Properties

Unfortunately, it’s not. Based on my experience, it’s actually not available at a lot of Hyatt properties. Over the past year, I’ve called around a dozen properties in the U.S. and Europe and this was the first hotel that offered it.

I hope you have better luck than me. But I wouldn’t get my hopes up that this rate will be easy to take advantage of.

Based on message I’ve received, and my own experience, here is a list of properties that should offer the family rate. I will continue to update the list as I learn more.

Hyatt House Nashville at Vanderbilt
Hyatt Place Waikiki
Hyatt Regency Vancouver
Hyatt Regency Orlando
Great Scotland Yard Hotel in London
Hyatt Regency London Churchill
Hyatt Centric Portland
Park Hyatt Bangkok
Andaz Munich
Hyatt Regency Etoile Paris
Andaz Prague
Grand Hyatt Playa del Carmen
Hyatt Regency Tokyo
Hyatt Regency Chicago
Hyatt Grand Washington D.C.

How To Get The Hyatt family Rate

You won’t be able to get this discount by booking the room online. You will need to contact Hyatt directly. I booked the first room online and then called Hyatt to ask if the family rate was available at the hotel. They were able to just add the second room to the reservation and apply the discount.

You can also book the second room via the chat function on Hyatt’s website but my preference is to call. The chat function is an easy way to see if the hotel you’re looking at offers the family rate. But when it comes to making the reservation, I think it’s easier to call.

You may interact with an agent who isn’t familiar with the family rate discount. Frankly, I’ve talked to multiple agents who had no clue what I was talking about and told me there was no such rate. If this happens, simply thank them for their time and then call again and speak with someone new.

In fact, when I talked to an agent via the chat for our hotel in Nashville, they told me the rate wasn’t offered. But when I called in, the agent I spoke with said they did have it. Just goes to show, it’s always worth asking at least twice.

Using Points To Book Hyatt Hotels

Hyatt hotels are so easy to book using credit card points. In fact, it’s my favorite way to redeem my Chase points. If you’re new to the world of points and miles and would like to learn more about it, I created a master class that will teach you everything you need to know to book your first trip using credit card points.

But my favorite card to recommend for beginners is the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card. It’s such a great card to start with because the points are super easy to use, especially at Hyatt! Or you can check out my best offers page, that has other great card offers.

card_name

Learn How To Apply

Final Thoughts

The Hyatt family rate discount is a great way to save money when traveling with your kids…if you can find it. While it’s not as widely available as I would like, it’s definitely worth the 5 minutes contacting Hyatt to see if it’s available where you’re going. If you find a hotel that offers this rate, please leave a comment below with the hotel that offered it. Let’s crowdsource a list for everyone to use!

The post How To Get The Hyatt Family Plan Rate appeared first on Easy Travel Points.

Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card

Rob Dulgarian — Sat, 07 Sep 2024 21:09:52 +0000

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.

The post Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card appeared first on Easy Travel Points.

American Express® Gold Card Review

Rob Dulgarian — Thu, 25 Jul 2024 14:45:00 +0000

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’ 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.

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.

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.

The post American Express® Gold Card Review appeared first on Easy Travel Points.

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Rob Dulgarian — Wed, 24 Jul 2024 04:20:33 +0000

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.

The post Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card appeared first on Easy Travel Points.

Best Credit Card Offers For Students

Rob Dulgarian — Wed, 26 Jun 2024 20:52:41 +0000

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.

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

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

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

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.

The post Best Credit Card Offers For Students appeared first on Easy Travel Points.

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Credit Card

Rob Dulgarian — Mon, 18 Mar 2024 00:21:05 +0000

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 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.

The post Chase Sapphire Preferred® Credit Card appeared first on Easy Travel Points.

Easy Travel Points

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Best Credit Card Offers For Students

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