When you’re new to miles & points, it can be overwhelming to hear about the many types of credit card rewards you can earn. And there are so many different travel cards available that selecting one can seem like a daunting task!
To set Big Travel goals, like Emily’s recent trip to Tokyo, you’ll have to invest time and have patience to learn the secrets of booking award travel.
But if you’re looking for a quick way to save money on travel, there are plenty of fantastic cards that earn easy to use miles or points.
I’ll share the 6 best credit cards for easy travel awards!
Earn Easy to Use Miles & Points With These Travel Credit Cards!
Link: Best Card Strategy for Beginners in 2017
I recommend applying for Chase credit cards before you sign-up for cards from other banks. Especially cards that earn my favorite Chase Ultimate Rewards points.
Because Chase has some of the most valuable credit cards for getting Big Travel with Small Money! But the bank has strict application rules, which make it harder to get approved for many of them if you apply for other cards first.
That said, you should choose the card that works best for you! Here are 6 cards that offer easy to use travel rewards.
1. Chase Sapphire Preferred
Link: Chase Sapphire Preferred Card
Link: My Review of the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card
When you sign-up for the Chase Sapphire Preferred and spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months of opening your account, you’ll earn 50,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points. This is the #1 card I recommend for beginners!
At a minimum, the sign-up bonus is worth $500 in cash back. But it’s worth 25% more ($625) when you book any flight, hotel stay, or car rental through the Chase travel portal. The site is super easy to use and allows you to book travel anywhere without having to worry about blackout dates!
With the the Sapphire Preferred, you’ll also get:
- 2X Chase Ultimate Rewards points on travel & dining purchases
- 1X Chase Ultimate Rewards points on everything else
- No foreign transaction fees
The card has a $95 annual fee, which is waived the first year. So you can try the card for ~10 months to see if you like it. Then, decide if you want to keep, cancel, or downgrade!
Million Mile Secrets team member Scott has kept the Chase Sapphire Preferred for many years because he likes earning 2X points at restaurants overseas with no foreign transaction fees!
And this card also makes the points you earn with no annual fee cards like the Chase Freedom and Chase Freedom Unlimited more valuable. Because you can move points to your Sapphire Preferred account and transfer points directly to travel partners like Hyatt and United Airlines. That’s how Emily and I love to use these flexible points to get Big Travel with Small Money!
2. Capital One Venture
Link: Capital One® Venture® Rewards Credit Card
Link: My Review of the Capital One Venture Card
Lots of folks love how simple it is to earn and redeem miles with the Capital One Venture card. Million Mile Secrets reader Dawn recently commented and said this card is overlooked in the miles & points world.
The Capital One Venture card offers 40,000 Venture miles (worth $400 in travel) after spending $3,000 on purchases within the first 3 months.
Venture miles are worth 1 cent each toward just about all travel purchases, including airfare, hotels, Uber, and more. To redeem miles, just pay for a travel purchase with your card. Then, you have 90 days to sign-in to your online account, find the travel purchase, and “erase” it with your miles!
With this card, you’ll also get:
- 2 Venture miles per $1 you spend on all purchases
- NO foreign transaction fees
The card has a $59 annual fee, which is waived the first year. Team member Keith tried this card for ~1 year. Then, downgraded to the no annual fee Capital One® Quicksilver® Cash Rewards Credit Card.
3. Barclaycard Arrival Plus
Link: Barclaycard Arrival Plus World Elite Mastercard
Link: My Review of the Barclaycard Arrival Plus
With the Barclaycard Arrival Plus, you’ll earn 50,000 Barclaycard Arrival miles after spending $3,000 on purchases within the first 90 days of opening your account.
Similar to the Capital One Venture card, you can pay all types of travel with this card, like an Airbnb stay or cruise. Then, use Arrival miles to offset charges.
The sign-up bonus is effectively worth $525 in statement credits. Because you’ll receive 5% of your miles back when you redeem them for travel. But keep in mind, the minimum redemption for travel purchases is $100.
With this card, you’ll also get:
- 2X Barclaycard Arrival miles per $1 you spend on all purchases
- No foreign transaction fees
This card has an $89 annual fee, which is waived the first year. This means you can keep the card for ~10 months and then decide if the card is worth the annual fee.
4. Chase Hyatt
Link: The Hyatt Credit Card
Link: My Review of The Hyatt Credit Card
Hyatt has my favorite hotel points program. Because you can book free nights at fantastic hotels for between 5,000 and 30,000 Hyatt points, depending on the category.
And Hyatt has no blackout dates! As long as a standard room is available, you can book using points!
You can earn Hyatt points directly with the Chase Hyatt card. When you sign-up, you’ll earn 40,000 Hyatt points after spending $2,000 on purchases within the first 3 months of account opening.
You can redeem the sign-up bonus to stay free at the high-end, all-inclusive beachfront Hyatt Zilara resort hotel in Cancun. Team members Harlan and Scott each found it simple to use Hyatt points for unforgettable stays at this hotel. Plus, there are in-room jacuzzis, a balcony hammock, top-shelf liquor, delicious food, and a white sand beach you can parasail over!
With this card, you’ll also get:
- 3 Hyatt points per $1 spent at Hyatt hotels, which includes Andaz, Grand Hyatt, Hyatt, Hyatt Place, Hyatt Regency, Hyatt Resorts, Hyatt House, Miraval Resorts, and Park Hyatt brand hotels
- 2 Hyatt points per $1 spent at restaurants, on airline tickets purchased directly from airlines, and at car rental agencies
- A free night at a Hyatt Category 1 to 4 hotel each cardmember anniversary
- Automatic Hyatt Discoverist elite status
This card has a $75 annual fee, which is NOT waived the first year. But the free night each cardmember anniversary can easily offset the annual fee.
5. Chase IHG
Link: Chase IHG Card
Link: How to Get Big Travel With the Chase IHG Card
If you like staying at IHG hotel brands, you might consider the Chase IHG card.
You can earn 80,000 IHG points after spending $1,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening. And it’s relatively simple to use points to book free nights. Team member Keith used IHG points to book free stays at 4 hotels in New Zealand for an upcoming trip.
And Million Mile Secrets team member Scott found it easy to use his IHG points to book his parents a beautiful room at the InterContinental Times Square in the Broadway Theater district, even during the popular summer tourist season in New York City.
With this card, you’ll also get:
- 5 points per $1 spent at IHG hotels
- 2 points per $1 spent at gas stations, grocery stores, and restaurants
- 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
- 5,000 bonus IHG points adding an authorized user and making a purchase within the same 3 month period
- Free night at ANY IHG hotel after each cardmember anniversary
- Platinum Elite Status as long as you have the card (50% bonus points, complimentary room upgrades if available, priority check-in)
- 10% points rebate (up to 100,000 points back per year)
- No foreign transaction fees
The card has a $49 annual fee, but it’s waived the first year. But the free night on your cardmember anniversary can easily offset the fee. That’s one reason I keep this card in my wallet year after year!
6. AMEX Starwood
Link: Starwood Preferred Guest® Credit Card from American Express
Folks who like Starwood hotels can earn points for free stays directly with the AMEX Starwood card. And because of the Starwood-Marriott merger, you can instantly and easily move points from your Starwood account to Marriott or Ritz-Carlton loyalty account and book free stays at these hotel chains.
With the AMEX Starwood card, you earn 25,000 Starwood points after spending $3,000 on purchases within the first 3 months.
With this card, you’ll also get:
- 2 Starwood points per $1 you spend at Starwood, Marriott, and Ritz-Carlton hotels
- 2 stay credits or 5 night credits toward Starwood elite status
- No foreign transaction fees
- Access to AMEX Offers, which can save you money on everyday purchases
- Free in-room internet at participating Starwood hotels
And the $95 annual fee is waived for the first year!
Bottom Line
Earning easy to redeem miles or points with a travel credit card can be a terrific way to get started in miles & points hobby! These 6 cards are my top picks with simple rewards programs:
- Chase Sapphire Preferred
- Capital One Venture
- Barclaycard Arrival Plus World Elite MasterCard
- The Hyatt Credit Card
- Chase IHG Card
- Starwood Preferred Guest® Credit Card from American Express
With any of these cards, you don’t have to waste time learning complicated points systems. And they all offer lucrative sign-up bonuses, which can save you lots of money on travel!
What’s your favorite card for a simple rewards program?