Disclosure: Emily & I get a referral if you’re approved for a card using our links. But our referral links aren’t the best links for some cards, so I always post the better offer even if it doesn’t earn me a referral. Please comment if you find link to a better offer so that I can post it here!
Emily and I are very grateful to readers who apply using our links!
1. Bank Points Credit Cards
CHASE SAPPHIRE PREFERRED
- Earn 40,000 Ultimate Rewards points after spending $3,000 within the 1st 3 months on the Chase Sapphire Preferred Visa
- Points can be transferred to United Airlines, Virgin Atlantic, British Airways, Hyatt, Marriott, Priority Club, Ritz-Carlton, Korean Air, Southwest, and Amtrak at a 1:1 ratio.
- $800 – $2,000 value if transferred to airline or hotel partners; $500 value if used for travel; $400 value if used for gift cards
- $95 annual fee waived for 1st year; No foreign transaction fee
- Earn 2 Ultimate Rewards points per $1 on dining and travel & 1 Ultimate Rewards point per $1 for everything else.
- My detailed review of the Chase Sapphire Preferred & how to get the best value from it
CHASE INK BOLD (BUSINESS)
- Up to June 22, 2013: 60,000 points after spending $5,000 within the 1st 3 months with the Chase Ink Bold
- Points can be transferred to United Airlines, Virgin Atlantic, British Airways, Hyatt, Marriott, Priority Club, Ritz-Carlton, Korean Air, Southwest, and Amtrak at a 1:1 ratio.
- $800 – $2,000 value if transferred to airline or hotel partners; $750 value if used for travel; $600 value if used for gift cards
- Earn 1 Ultimate Rewards points per $1 spent; 2x on hotels and gas, and 5x on office supply stores and telecom
- 2 free lounge passes each year
- $95 annual fee waived for 1st year; NO foreign transaction fee
- My detailed review of the Chase Ink Bold
CHASE INK PLUS (BUSINESS)
- Up to June 22, 2013: 60,000 points after spending $5,000 within the 1st 3 months with the Chase Ink Plus
- Points can be transferred to United Airlines, Virgin Atlantic, British Airways, Hyatt, Marriott, Priority Club, Ritz-Carlton, Korean Air, Southwest, and Amtrak at a 1:1 ratio.
- $800 – $2,000+ value if transferred to airline or hotel partners; $750 value if used for travel; $600 value if used for gift cards
- Earn 1 Ultimate Rewards points per $1 spent; 2x on hotels and gas, and 5x on office supply stores and telecom
- 2 free lounge passes each year
- $95 annual fee waived for 1st year; NO foreign transaction fee
- My detailed review of the Chase Ink Plus
AMERICAN EXPRESS MERCEDES-BENZ PLATINUM
- Earn 50,000 American Express Membership Reward points after spending $1,000within the first 3 months on the American Express Mercedes Benz Platinum card
- $475 annual fee NOT waived for 1st year; No foreign transaction fee
- Membership Reward points transfer to Delta, British Airways, Air Canada’s Aeroplan and other hotels and airlines
- Lounge access to Delta, American Airlines, & US Airways (worth $300 to $500)
- $200 credit towards airline fees such as baggage charges, lounge membership, etc.
- Earn 5 points per $1 spent at Mercedes Benz & 1 point per $1 elsewhere
- My detailed review of the American Express Mercedes Benz credit card
- Tip: This is a good card if you separately purchase lounge access
THE BUSINESS PLATINUM CARD® FROM AMERICAN EXPRESS OPEN
- Enroll and select an airline to receive up to $200 annually in statement credits for incidental fees such as checked bags, in-flight refreshments, and change fees* with the Business Platinum Card from American Express Open.
- 20% Travel Bonus when redeeming with Membership Rewards® Pay with Points
- Complimentary airport club access to 600+ partner lounges, a $950/yr value; No foreign transaction fee
- Terms & Restrictions Apply
The Platinum Card® from American Express
- Earn 25,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $2,000 during your first three months of Card membership
- Premium travel benefits: access over 600 lounges worldwide when you enroll in Priority Pass™ Select, no foreign transaction fees
- Receive up to $200 annually in a statement credit with the airline of your choice to use towards baggage fees, flight-change fees, in-flight food and beverage purchases and more
- 24/7 Platinum Card® Concierge service for assistance with reservations, travel, gifts, and more
- Entertainment benefits: get Advance Tickets before the public and access once in a lifetime events with By Invitation Only®
- Terms and restrictions apply
CAPITAL ONE VENTURE REWARDS
- Earn 10,000 Venture Rewards points after 1st purchase on the Capital One Venture Rewards card
- $59 annual fee waived for 1st year; No foreign transaction fee
- Earn 2 points per $1 spent (effectively 2% cash back redeemable towards travel)
CITI THANK YOU® PREMIER
- 30,000 Thank You points after spending $2,000 within the 1st 3 months on the Citi Thank You® Premier card
- 2X points for dining & travel for 12 months
- Annual complimentary domestic companion ticket (within the contiguous USA) and a15% discount when booking air travel through Spirit Incentives
- $125 annual fee waived for 1st year; No foreign transaction fee
BARCLAYS ARRIVAL
- 40,000 Miles after spending $1,000 within 3 months on the Barclays Arrival card
- 1 mile can be redeemed for 0.5 cent in statement credits or 1.1 cents towards travel, so 40,000 miles is worth $200 or $440 if redeemed for travel.
- $89 annual fee waived for 1st year; No foreign transaction fee
- Earn 2 miles per $1 on all purchases
BARCLAYS ARRIVAL – NO ANNUAL FEE
- 20,000 Miles after spending $1,000 within 3 months on the Barclays Arrival card
- 1 mile can be redeemed for 0.5 cents in statement credits or 1.1 cents towards travel, so 20,000 miles is worth $100 to $220
- No annual fee; No foreign transaction fee
- Earn 2 miles per $1 on dining and travel and 1 mile per $1 on everything else
2. Airline Credit Cards
CHASE UNITED EXPLORER
My thoughts on the United Explorer Card:
Sign-Up Bonus: 30,000 United miles with the Chase United MileagePlus Explorer card after spending $1,000 within 3 months
Fees: $95 annual fee waived for the first year; NO foreign transaction fee
Anniversary Bonus: 2 free United club passes a year (~2 months after opening card)
Spending Bonus: 10,000 additional United miles after spending $25,000 within a calendar year
Other Perks: 1 free checked bag ($50 value) & priority boarding
Daraius’ Tip: A possible targeted offer for 50,000 United miles + $50 statement credit after spending $1,000 within 3 months if you have a few United miles in your account! A business United Explorer is also available with some offers of 50,000 miles.
Chase British Airways
My thoughts on the British Airways card:
Sign-Up Bonus: 50,000 Avios points after spending $1,000 within 3 months on the Chase British Airways card
Fees: $95 fee NOT waived for first year; NO foreign transaction fee
Other Perks: Free companion ticket valid on award tickets after spending $30,000 within a calendar year
Daraius’ Tip: My review of the British Airways card and my post on how to use British Airways Avios points
CITI EXECUTIVE AADVANTAGE CARD
- 30,000 AAdvantage miles after spending $1,000 on the Citi AAdvantage Explorer within 3 months
- Free AA Admiral’s club lounge membership, no foreign transaction fee, 1 free checked bag for domestic travel, and priority AAccess
- Earn 10,000 elite qualifying miles after spending $40,000 in a calendar year
- $450 annual fee NOT waived; No foreign transaction fee
- High fee makes card less attractive unless you otherwise purchase Admiral’s Club access ($350 to $500). Sign-on bonus could be better too.
- All miles earned on credit card up to December 1, 2012 will count towards lifetime AA status if you received the card before December 1, 2011.
CHASE SOUTHWEST RAPID REWARDS PREMIER
My thoughts on the Southwest Premier Card:
Sign-Up Bonus: 25,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 within 3 months with the Chase Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier (Personal) & Chase Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier (Business) credit card.
Fees: $99 annual fee NOT waived for the first year; NO foreign transaction fee
Anniversary Bonus: 6,000 point bonus on card anniversary
Daraius’ Tip: The Southwest Companion Pass is one of the best travel perks available!
3. Hotel Credit Cards
CITI® HILTON HHONORS ™ RESERVE CARD
- Earn 2 free weekend nights after spending $2,500 within 4 months on the Citi Hilton Reserve card
- Free Hilton Gold elite status for as long as you have the card (free internet & breakfast!) makes you eligible for discounted Hilton VIP award redemptions
- 1 free weekend night after spending $10,000 each year
- $95 annual fee NOT waived for 1st year; NO foreign transaction fee
- Earn Diamond elite status after spending $40,000 in a calendar year
- Earn 10 Hilton points per $1 spent at Hilton hotels, 5 points per $1 on airlines or car rentals & 3 points per $1 for everything else
CHASE HYATT VISA
My thoughts on the Hyatt card:
Sign-Up Bonus: 2 free nights at any Hyatt after spending $1,000 within 3 months with the Chase Hyatt Visa. Existing Diamond members get the 2 free nights in a suite; Existing Platinum members get 2 suite upgrade certificates for paid stays
Fees: $75 annual fee NOT waived; NO foreign transaction fee
Annual Bonus: 1 free night in any category 1 to 4 Hyatt every anniversary potentially making up for the annual fee
Other Perks: Free Hyatt Gold Passport Platinum status (free internet!)
Earning: Earn 3 Hyatt points per $1 spent at Hyatt, 2 Hyatt points per $1 spent at restaurants, car rental agencies and airline tickets purchased directly from airlines & 1 Hyatt point per $1 for everything else
Spending Bonus: 2 stay & 5 nights credits toward elite status after spending $20,000 in a calendar year. Total of 5 stay & 10 nights credit towards elite status for spending $40,000 in a calendar year.
Daraius’ Tip: Another offer with a $50 statement credit when you try to make a Hyatt reservation. Not my link, so take a screenshot before applying. 2 free nights are valid for 12 months at ANY Hyatt, but are an amazing value ($1,000 +) at top Park Hyatt’s in Paris, Maldives, or other locations!
CHASE PRIORITY CLUB VISA
My thoughts on the Priority Club card:
Sign-Up Bonus: 80,000 bonus points through this link on FlyerTalk after spending $1,000 within 3 months OR 60,000 bonus points with the Chase Priority Club Visa after spending $1,000 within 3 months
Fees: $49 annual fee waived for 1st year; NO foreign transaction fee
Annual Bonus: 1 free night certificate every anniversary potentially making up for annual fee
Other Perks: Free Priority Club Platinum elite status as long as you have the card; 10% rebateon Priority Club award redemptions
Earnings: 5 Priority Club points per $1 spent at Priority Club hotels, 2 points per $1 on gas, groceries, & dining & 1 point per $1 for everything else
CHASE MARRIOTT REWARDS PREMIER VISA
- 50,000 bonus points + 1 free night after spending $1,000 within 3 months on the Chase Marriott Premier credit card
- $85 annual fee waived for 1st year; No foreign transaction fee
- Get 1 free night in any category 1 to 5 Marriott every anniversary (up to $150 value) making up for the annual fee
- 15 nights credit toward elite status every year on account anniversary; 1 night elite credit for every $3,000 spent
- Earn 5 Marriott points per $1 spent at Marriott, 2 points per $1 on dining, airline, and rental cars, & 1 point per $1 for everything else
CHASE RITZ-CARLTON VISA
My thoughts on the Ritz Carlton card:
Sign-Up Bonus: 70,000 points with Chase Ritz-Carlton Visa after spending $2,000 within the 1st two months
Fees: $395 annual fee NOT waived for 1st year; NO foreign transaction fee
Annual Bonus: Gold elite status for 1st year (free internet!)
Other Perks: $200 airline credit each year for incidentals; $100 credit for hotel activities (no alcohol) for each 2+ night stay 3 upgrades to Ritz-Carlton Club level each year
Earnings: 5 points per $1 spent at Ritz-Carlton hotels, 2 points per $1 on airfare, car rental, & dining & 1 point per $1 for everything else
Daraius’ Tip: High annual fee makes this a good deal only if you regularly stay & spend money at Ritz-Carlton hotels
I have earned and redeemed millions of airline miles and hotel points to travel the world for free. Now I'm blogging to help more people do the same! 
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It’s also important to understand the culture of the country when traveling internationally. For instance, within China they are likely to outright refuse acceptance of a credit card once they determine it was not issued within China, especially as you travel more inland (but also true in Shanghai and Beijing).
You can have a US issued MasterCard and a Chinese issued MasterCard which have the same approval process, but many stores will accept the Chinese MasterCard version and reject the US version.
In China, you should take a discover card because those are accepted virtually everywhere. Discover has a reciprocity agreement with UnionPay. Just search it and it’s good to understand the general customs of a society. Obviously it’s wise to travel with more than one card type in case there are any surprises like this.
@JonCski – That’s a very good reminder, because many places still don’t like to accept credit cards or charge a higher rate for doing so.
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Barclays arrival free version says “No annual fee waived for 1st year”
@Samuel – Thanks! Duh.