Category Archives: Ritz-Carlton

Which Credit Cards Do NOT Charge a Foreign Transaction Fee?

Posted on January 10, 2013 by | 55 Comments

[Disclosure:  Emily and I get a referral for all cards in the post except for the Southwest Premier, Chase Priority Club, Chase Fairmont, Chase United Club, Citi Thank You Premier (better than my affiliate link), Citi American Airlines Executive, and the American Express Mercedes-Benz Platinum]

No Foreign Transaction Fee CArds

Readers often ask which credit cards do not charge the 1% to 3% foreign transaction fee for using the card for transactions in foreign currency.  Most credit cards will charge you a fee for purchases in a foreign currency.

So I’ve made a new page on the Travel Credit Cards tab for No Foreign Transaction Fee cards!

No-Foreign-Transaction-Fee-Cards

No Foreign Transaction Fee Tab!

The cards listed on that page do NOT charge a foreign transaction fee if you use them for transactions in foreign currencies.

My favorite no-foreign transaction fee card is the Chase Sapphire Preferred which offers double points for travel (airfare, hotel, car rental, parking etc.) and dining.  And you almost certainly are spending most of your money on travel and dining when you’re on vacation! Continue reading →

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Posted in American Airlines, American Express, British Airways, Business Credit Cards, Chase, Citibank, Credit Cards, Delta Skymiles, Foreign Transaction Fees, Foreign Transaction Fees, Hilton HHonors, Hyatt, Marriott, Priority Club, Ritz-Carlton, Southwest, Uncategorized, United Airlines

Big Spenders: Spend Your Way to Hotel Elite Status

Posted on July 23, 2012 by | 28 Comments

Disclosure: Emily and I get a referral for the links to the SPG personal and business card in this post. 

BIG SPENDER SERIES:

Hotel Elite Status via Credit Card Spending

The following cards give you extra hotel elite points once you cross a certain amount of spending on the card.

In my opinion, the best deal is spending $40,000 within a calendar year on the Citi Hilton Reserve card or the American Express Hilton Surpass card and earning top-tier Hilton Diamond status which gets you room upgrades, free breakfast and internet, and other perks of being a top-tier elite member.

You will also get 120,000 Hilton redeemable points for spending $40,000 on both cards.  However, you will get 1 free night for spending more than $10,000 on the Citi Reserve card.

If you spend the $40,000 on the American Express Hilton card you will get access to the AXON awards where you only need 145,000 Hilton points (instead of 200,000 points) to book 4 nights at a top category 7 Hilton using an AXON award.

Spending $30,000 for Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG) Gold status seems like a waste to me, especially since you can get SPG Gold status for free with the American Express Platinum card.

I also wouldn’t spend $20,000 on the American Express Surpass card just to get Hilton gold status, when I can get it for just a $95 annual fee with the Citi Hilton Reserve card.

Continue reading →

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Posted in American Express, Barclays, Big Spenders, Chase, Citibank, Hilton HHonors, Marriott, Ritz-Carlton, Starwood (SPG)

Odds & Ends: 5% Chase Freedom Categories, Club Carlson 25% Discount, Ritz Carlton Credit Card with $395 Fee Waived, Citi American Airlines Reduced Mileage Awards & Free Hertz Points

Posted on June 14, 2012 by | 17 Comments

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1.  Activate Chase Freedom Categories.  Today’s the last day to activate the 5% quarterly bonus on groceries and movie theaters by using your Chase Freedom credit card.

Activating the quarterly bonus is retrospective retroactive meaning that you will earn 5% (up to $1,500 or 7,500 Ultimate Rewards points) for all grocery store and movie theater purchases made in April, May, and June.

If you’ll be buying groceries in the next few months, it doesn’t hurt to buy grocery store gift cards or gift cards to other stores from your grocery store before June 30 with your Chase Freedom to earn the 5% bonus. Continue reading →

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Posted in American Airlines, Chase, Club Carlson, Marriott, Rental Cars, Ritz-Carlton