Credit Cards
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Recommended Starter Card
Although everyone’s travel goals and strategy are different we typically recommend the
as the best card for getting started in points and miles.
If you want more information, download our FREE Beginners Guide To Points and Miles
This page does not contain links to all the available credit cards. If there is a card you are interested in obtaining that isn’t listed below, please email us at TravelMore@360TravelTips.com. With some of the offers shown below, we’ll earn a commission if you click through and are approved for the card. Thank you very much for supporting our efforts. Any opinions below belong to 360 Travel Tips and not the credit card companies.
We make every effort to update this page to reflect current information, but welcome offers and benefits are subject to change. Descriptions below do not contain all benefits, and we recommend reading the terms and conditions for each card before applying. Please email us if a link does not take you to the correct page TravelMore@360traveltips.com
Recommended American Express Cards
PERSONAL American express cards
American Express Platinum
Welcome Offer:
- As high as 175,000 Membership Reward Points after $8,000 spend in the first 6 months of membership.
Other benefits:
- $200 annual airlines credits
- $240 annual digital entertainment credit
- Global Airport Lounge access
- $100 annual credit to Saks
- Walmart+ membership
- $200 annual Uber credits
- $300 annual Equinox credit
- $189 Clear credit
- 5x points on flights and hotels booked on Amex Travel.
Annual Fee: $695
American Express Gold
Welcome Offer:
- Up to 100,000 Membership Reward Points after $6,000 spend in the first 6 months of membership.
Other benefits:
- $120 annual dining credit to select restaurants
- $10 monthly Uber credit
- 4X points at restaurants and supermarkets
- 3X points for flights booked directly with airlines or on Amextravel.com
- $7 monthly Dunkin credit
- $100 annual Resy credit
Annual Fee: $325
American Express Everyday
Note: Scroll down the linked page to find the offer for this card
Welcome Offer:
- Earn 10,000 Membership Rewards® Points after $2,000 spend in qualifying purchases on the Card within first 6 months of Card Membership.
Other benefits:
- Use your Card 20 or more times on purchases in a billing period and earn 20% extra points on those purchases less returns and credits
- Earn 2X Points at U.S.
- Supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1x) 2X Membership Rewards® Points at AmexTravel.com
- You can earn double Membership Rewards® points on every dollar of eligible travel purchases—such as prepaid (booked and paid in advance) hotel stays, vacation packages and cruises—when you use your Card to book your trip through AmexTravel.com.
Annual Fee: No annual fee
BUSINESS american express cards
Blue American Express Business Plus
Welcome Offer:
- 15,000 Membership Rewards® Points after $3,000 in qualifying purchases on the Card within your first 3 months of Card Membership
Other benefits:
- 0.0% introductory APR on purchases for 12 months from the date of account opening. After that your APR will be a variable rate, 18.49% – 26.49%, based on your creditworthiness and other factors as determined at the time of account opening
- 2X POINTS On Purchases
- Up to $50K Per Calendar Year With no category restrictions
- 1X POINTS On Purchases thereafter
Annual Fee: No annual fee
American Express Business Platinum
Welcome Offer:
- 150,000 Membership Rewards® Points after $20,000 in qualifying purchases on the Card within your first 3 months of Card Membership
Other benefits:
- $200 annual airlines credits
- $189 CLEAR Plus Credit
- Global Lounge Collection access
- 5x points on flights and hotels booked on Amex Travel
- 1.5X points on key business categories and on purchases of $5k or more
- $400 in statement credits per year (up to $200 back semi-annually) toward U.S. purchases with Dell Technologies
- $360 in statement credits per year (up to $90 back per quarter) for purchases with Indeed
- $150 in statement credits per year for eligible annual prepaid business plan purchases with Adobe on Creative Cloud for teams or Acrobat Pro DC with e-sign for teams on the Card
- $120 in statement credits per year (up to $10 back per month) for wireless telephone service purchases made directly with a wireless provider in the U.S.
- Complimentary concierge service.
Annual Fee: $695
American Express Business Gold
Welcome Offer:
100,000 Membership Rewards® points after 150,000 in spend in eligible purchases within the first 3 months of Card Membership
Other benefits:
- 4X points on 2 Select Categories Where Your Business Spends the Most Each billing cycle up to $150,000 each calendar year
Annual Fee: $295
Recommended Chase Cards
PERSONAL CHASE cards
Chase Sapphire Preferred
Welcome Offer:
- 60,000 Ultimate Reward Points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months from account opening
Other benefits:
- Earn up to $50 in statement credits each account anniversary year for hotel stays purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards
- Earn 5x total points on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, excluding hotel purchases that qualify for the $50 Anniversary Hotel Credit $50 Annual Ultimate Rewards® Hotel Credit
- Earn 5x total points on Lyft rides through March 31st, 2025
- 3x points on dining at restaurants worldwide
- Earn 3x points on select streaming services and some online grocery purchases
- Earn 2x points on all other travel purchases.
- No foreign transaction fees.
Annual Fee: $95
Chase Sapphire Reserve
Welcome Offer:
- 60,000 Ultimate Reward Points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months from account opening
Other benefits:
- $300 travel credit each anniversary year
- Earn 10x total points on hotels and car rental purchased through Chase Travel
- Global Entry, TSA Pre-Check or NEXUS fee credit
- 3x points on dining at restaurants worldwide
- Earn 10x points Lyft
- Elevated travel protection benefits
- No foreign transaction fees.
Annual Fee: $550
Chase Freedom Flex
Welcome Offer:
- $200 bonus (can be converted to 20,000 Ultimate Reward Points if you have a Sapphire card) after spending $500 on purchases in your first 3 months
Other benefits:
- Earn 5% cash back on different categories like gas stations, grocery stores (excluding Target® and Walmart®) and select online merchants on up to $1,500 in total combined purchases each quarter you activate
- 5% on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
- 3% on dining at restaurants
- 3% on drugstore purchases
- 5% on combined gas and grocery store purchases up to $12,000 spend in first year (excludes Target and Walmart)
- 1% on all other purchases
Annual Fee: No annual fee
Chase Freedom Unlimited
Welcome Offer:
- $250 bonus (can be converted to 25,000 Ultimate Reward Points if you have a Sapphire card) after spending $500 on purchases in your first 3 months
- Increased 1.5% cash back/points on bonus categories up to $20,000 spend in first year
Other benefits:
- 3% on dining at restaurants
- 3% on drugstore purchases
- 1.5% on all other purchases
Annual Fee: No annual fee
BUSINESS CHASE cards
Ink Business Cash
Welcome Offer:
- 75,000 bonus points after $6,000 spend within the first 3 months
Other benefits:
- 5% Cash Back rewards total for each $1 of the first $25,000 spent each account anniversary year on combined purchases in the following rewards categories: office supply stores; internet, cable, and phone services (4% additional Cash Back rewards on top of the 1% Cash Back rewards earned on each purchase)
- 2% Cash Back rewards total for each $1 of the first $25,000 spent each account anniversary year on combined purchases in the following rewards categories: gas stations and restaurants
Annual Fee: No annual fee
Ink Business Unlimited
Welcome Offer:
- 75,000 bonus points after $6,000 spend within the first 3 months
Other benefits:
- 1.5X Points on all purchases
Annual Fee: No annual fee
Ink Business Preferred
Welcome Offer:
- 90,000 Ultimate Rewards points after $8,000 spend within the first 3 months of account opening
Other benefits:
- 3X points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent in combined purchases in the following categories each account anniversary year: Shipping, Advertising on social media sites and search engines, internet, cable and phone services, travel
Annual Fee: $295
Recommended CapitalOne Card
CapitalOne Venture X
Welcome Offer:
- 75,000 points after $4,000 spend in the first 3 months
Other benefits:
- $300 annual credit for bookings through Capital One Travel
- 10,000 bonus points every year, starting on your first anniversary
- $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck
- Unlimited complimentary access for you and two guests to 1,300+ lounges, including Capital One Lounges and the Partner Lounge Network
- 10X points on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- 5X points on flights booked through Capital One Travel
- 2X points on all other purchases
Annual Fee: $395
Recommended Card for Paying Rent
BILT
Welcome Offer:
- None
Other benefits:
- 1X points on rent payments without a transaction fee (up to 100,000 points per calendar year)
- 2X points on travel
- 3X points on dining
- Earn more points on Rent Day (the first of each month) with 6X on dining, 4X on travel, and 2X on other purchases
- “Rent Day” promotions on the first day of each month
Annual Fee: No annual fee
Recommended Airline Cards
SOUTHWEST AIRLINE CARDS
Southwest Airline cards can be strategically used to obtain the coveted Companion Pass for almost 2 full years. Please review our article here for more information.
Southwest Airlines – Personal Premier
Welcome Offer:
- 50,000 points after $1,000 spend in the first 3 months
Other benefits:
- 3X points on Southwest purchases
- 2X points with Rapid Rewards(R) hotel and car partners
- 2X points on local transit and rideshare
- 2X internet, cable, phone services, and select streaming
- 1X on all other purchases
- 6000 bonus points each year upon card renewal
- 2 EarlyBird Check-Ins each year
- 10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points each year
Annual Fee: $99
Southwest Airlines – Performance Business
Note: This link takes you to all of the Southwest Airline cards.
Welcome Offer:
Earn 80,000 points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening and an additional 60,000 points when you spend $15,000 in 9 months
Other benefits:
- 4X points on Southwest purchases
- 3X points with Rapid Rewards(R) hotel and car partners
- 2X points on local transit and rideshare
- 2X internet, cable, phone services, and select streaming
- 1X on all other purchases. 6000 bonus points each year upon card renewal
- 4 EarlyBird Check-Ins each year. 9,000 Companion Pass qualifying points each year
- Earn 1,500 tier qualifying points (TQPs) toward A-List status for every $5,000 spent in purchases annually
Annual Fee: $199
Recommended Hotel Cards
HYATT
World of Hyatt Business Credit Card
Welcome Offer:
- 60,000 points after $5,000 spend in the first 5 months
Other benefits:
- 4 World of Hyatt Bonus Points for each $1 USD spent on purchases made at Hyatt hotels and resorts (including at participating restaurants and participating locations that are owned, managed, franchised or licensed by Hyatt Corporation or its subsidiaries or affiliates), on FIND experiences purchased directly at hyatt.com/FIND, at participating SLH properties, and on Lindblad Expedition experiences purchased directly through the World of Hyatt Program
- 2X Points for each $1 USD spent on fitness club and gym memberships
- 2x Points on your top categories each quarter
- Up to $100 Annual Hyatt Credit
Annual Fee: $199
Hilton
Hilton Surpass Credit Card
Welcome Offer:
- LIMITED TIME INCREASED OFFER (expires 1/8/25): 165,000 Hilton points after $3,000 spend in the first 6 months
Other benefits:
- 12X points on hotels & resorts for eligible purchases at hotels and resorts in the Hilton portfolio
- 6X points on dining at U.S. restaurants, including takeout and delivery
- 6X points on groceries at U.S. supermarkets
- 6X points on gas at U.S. gas stations
- 3X points for each dollar spent on other eligible purchases
- Earn a free night reward from Hilton Honors after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases on your card in a calendar year
- 10 complimentary airport lounge visits each Priority Pass Membership year. Enjoy complimentary Hilton Honors Gold status
- No fees for foreign transactions.
Annual Fee: $150
Hilton Aspire Credit Card
Welcome Offer:
- LIMITED TIME INCREASED OFFER (expires 1/8/25): 175,000 Hilton points after $6,000 spend in the first 6 months
Other benefits:
- 14X points on Hilton hotels and resorts
- 7X points on flights booked directly with airlines or amextravel.com; on car rentals booked directly from select car rental companies; at U.S. restaurants
- 3X points for each dollar spent on other eligible purchases.
- Complimentary Hilton Diamond status
- $400 annual Hilton Resort Statement Credit ($200 bi-annually)
Annual Fee: $550
MARRIOTT
There are several options for Marriott co-branded credit cards and some complicated rules about Welcome Bonus eligibility. If you aren’t sure which one is right for you, please email us and we will help guide you: Travelmore@360TravelTips.com
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless
Welcome Offer:
- 3 Free Night Awards (each valued up to 50,000 points) after $3,000 spend in first 3 months
Other benefits:
- Earn up to 17X total points for every $1 spent at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy
- 3X points per $1 on the first $6,000 spent in combined purchases each year on gas stations, grocery stores, and dining
- 2X points per $1 spent on other travel purchases
- 2X points per $1 spent on all other purchases
- 15 Elite Night Credits per calendar year
- Automatic Silver Elite status each account anniversary year as a cardmember
- One Elite Night Credit toward Elite status for every $5,000 you spend
- Free Night Award every year after your account anniversary (valued up to 35,000 points)
- No foreign transaction fees
Annual Fee: $95
Marriott Bonvoy Bold
Welcome Offer:
- 30,000 bonus points after $1,000 spend in first 3 months
Other benefits:
- Earn up to 14X total points for every $1 spent at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy
- 2X points per $1 spent on other travel purchases
- 1X points per $1 spent on all other purchases
- 15 Elite Night Credits per calendar year
- Automatic Silver Elite status each account anniversary year as a cardmember (through 7/10/24 – new enhancements coming soon)
- No foreign transaction fees
Annual Fee: No annual fee
Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful
Welcome Offer:
- 85,000 bonus points after $4,000 spend in first 3 months
Other benefits:
- Earn up to 18.5X total points for every $1 spent at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy
- 1000 bonus points per stay at participating hotels
- 4X points per $1 on the first $15,000 spent in combined purchases each year on grocery stores and dining.
- 2X points per $1 spent on other travel purchases
- 2X points per $1 spent on all other purchases
- 15 Elite Night Credits per calendar year
- Automatic Gold Elite status each account anniversary year as a cardmember
- Free Night Award each calendar year, after $15,000 in spend (valued up to 50,000 points)
- No foreign transaction fees
Annual Fee: No annual fee
IHG
IHG One Rewards Premier
Welcome Offer:
- 4 Free Nights (each Free Night valued up to 40,000 points) after $3,000 spend in first 3 months
Other benefits:
- Earn up to 26X at IHG Hotels & Resorts
- 5X points for every $1 spent on travel and hotels, gas stations and restaurants
- 3X points for every dollar spent on all other purchases
- Automatic Platinum Elite Status
- Redeem 3 nights, get 4th night free when you redeem points for a consecutive four-night IHG® hotel stay
- Anniversary Free Night certificate (valued up to 40,000 points)
- Trip cancellation / Interruption insurance
- Global Entry, TSA PreCheck® or NEXUS Statement Credit, up to $100 every four years
- Up to $50 United® Airlines. Travel Bank Cash each year
- No foreign transaction fees.
Annual Fee: $99
IHG One Rewards Traveler
Welcome Offer:
- 80,000 bonus points after $2,000 spend in first 3 months
Other benefits:
- Earn up to 17X at IHG Hotels & Resorts
- 3X points for every $1 spent on utilities, internet, cable, and phone services and select streaming services, gas stations and restaurants
- 2X points for every dollar spent on all other purchases
- Automatic Silver Elite Status
- Redeem 3 nights, get 4th night free when you redeem points for a consecutive four-night IHG® hotel stay
- No foreign transaction fees.
- 10,000 bonus points after spending $10,000 each calendar year.
Annual Fee: No annual fee
IHG One Rewards Premier Business
Welcome Offer:
- 140,000 bonus points after $4,000 spend in first 3 months
Other benefits:
- Earn up to 26X at IHG Hotels & Resorts
- 5X points for every $1 spent on travel and hotels, gas stations, social media, search engine advertising, and office supply stores and restaurants
- 3X points for every dollar spent on all other purchases
- Automatic Patinum Elite Status
- Redeem 3 nights, get 4th night free when you redeem points for a consecutive four-night IHG® hotel stay
- No foreign transaction fees.
- Anniversary Free Night certificate (valued up to 40,000 points)
- Global Entry, TSA PreCheck® or NEXUS Statement Credit, up to $100 every four years
- $100 statement credit and 10,000 bonus points after spending $10,000 each calendar year.
Annual Fee: $99