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Last Updated: February 14, 2024

Every Credit Card I Use to Travel For (Almost) Free

I’m breaking down every single credit card I use for award travel, including: the ones I currently have, the ones I’ve canceled, the ones I plan to cancel, and why. I’m also talking about how I strategically use these cards to earn the most amount of points possible plus the two cards I can’t wait to add to this line up.

Since I began using credit cards to earn points for travel in 2019, I’ve applied for 10 credit cards. I started off pretty slowly and applied for one credit card per year in 2019, 2020, and 2021. In 2022, I upped my velocity to 2 cards per year and in 2023 I applied for 3 cards. I see myself increasing my velocity even more in 2024 and beyond. Why? Because the more I learn about award travel, the more trips I want to take! And the more credit cards I apply for, the more points I earn, the more trips I can take.

I often get asked if I continue to use my cards after I’ve met the minimum spend requirement and earned my sign-up bonus. The answer is, most of the time, yes! If I’m not working on a sign-up bonus, I use my cards strategically to maximize the amount of points I earn. For example, whatever card earns me the most points on gasoline, I use that card for gasoline purchases.

Ok, so now on to the cards themselves. Here they are, in the order I applied for them:

Credit Card #1 - The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is the first credit card I applied for once I decided to start using credit cards to earn points and miles for practically free travel. It’s also the first card I recommend to anyone who wants to get started using points and miles. The card earns Chase Ultimate Rewards Points, which can be used to book flights, hotels, rental cars, and even tickets to area attractions like Universal Orlando and Disney. Chase points are my favorite points to earn because they are so valuable and so versatile. You earn Chase Ultimate Rewards points with the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card like this:

5X Points on travel booked through the Chase portal

3X Points on restaurants, streaming services, and online groceries

2X Points on travel booked outside the Chase portal

1X Points on all other spending

This card should be in every traveler’s wallet. I applied for this card in 2019 and finally downgraded it to a Chase Freedom Flex℠  in 2024. You can also downgrade this card to a Chase Freedom Unlimited®, neither of which has an annual fee. When the sign up bonus is increased again on the Chase Sapphire Preferred, I’ll sign up for it again because you can earn another sign up bonus on this card as long as you aren’t a current cardholder and more than 48 months have passed since you last received a bonus on this card (not since you last applied for the card).

I always recommend downgrading the card you’ve had the longest (rather than canceling it) to keep that credit history alive and boost your credit score.

I will always have this card as part of my points & miles strategy and will also probably always downgrade it to a Chase Freedom Flex℠ or Chase Freedom Unlimited® in the future just so I can continue to reapply and earn sign up bonus after sign up bonus on it.

A word of caution: You will lose whatever Chase points you have when you cancel the card. So, if you’re thinking about canceling, be sure to transfer the points to a spouse or family member or to one of Chase’s transfer partners before you cancel your Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card.

Find my complete review of this card here.

Credit Card #2 - The Chase Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card

Confession: I absolutely freaking love Southwest Airlines. It is the only airline I fly if I can help it. A few reasons Southwest is my fave airline: Companion Pass, Rapid Rewards points that never expire, flight credits that never expire, no change fees or cancellation fees, 2 bags fly free, super affordable fares, excellent customer service—I mean I could go on and on.

Southwest has 3 personal credit cards, all of which earn Rapid Rewards points, but the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card is my favorite because it’s the only one that offers an annual $75 travel credit. I use the travel credit to reimburse myself taxes paid on flights booked with points. When you book a domestic flight on Southwest with points, all you have to pay are taxes of $5.60 per flight or $11.20 roundtrip. This card will automatically reimburse those fees up to $75/year. I can’t tell you how many totally free or $11 flights I’ve taken thanks to this card.

You earn Rapid Rewards® points with the Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card like this:

3X Points on all Southwest Purchases

2X Points on local transit and commuting (including Uber and Lyft)

2X Points on internet, cable, phone services, and select streaming services

1X Points on all other purchases

I applied for this card in 2020 and canceled it in 2023. I plan to reapply again when I want to earn another Companion Pass. You can cancel this card any time and not risk losing your Rapid Rewards® points. That’s because your points are tied to your Rapid Rewards® account—not your credit card.

Credit Card #3 - The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card

The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card, which earns Hilton Honors Bonus points, is an appealing credit card for many reasons - including complimentary Hilton Honors Gold Status, airport lounge access, and bonus points for using the card at U.S. supermarkets, restaurants, and gas stations.

I applied for this card in 2021. Most American Express cards offer a once-per-lifetime welcome offer on their credit cards, so canceling and signing up later to earn the welcome offer again is generally not an option, (though data points suggest that once per lifetime really means once every 7-10 years). I canceled this card is 2024 because we typically don’t stay at many Hiltons and I wasn’t getting value out of the annual fee. I may apply for it years for this card again years from now or another Hilton card if we ever decide there’s a Hilton property we just absolutely have to visit. You can earn Hilton Honors Bonus points with the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card like this:

12X Points for each dollar of eligible purchases charged on your card at Hilton properties.

6X Points for each dollar of eligible purchases charged on your card at U.S. supermarkets, restaurants, and gas stations.

3X Points for all other eligible purchases on your card.

For my complete review of this card, click here.

Credit Card #4 - The Chase Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card

I love this card, which earns Marriott Bonvoy® points, because as a perk of being a cardholder, you get automatic Silver Elite status and earn one Free Night Award each year on your cardholder anniversary. My husband has this same card, so just by continuing to be cardholders, we get 2 free nights each year. Perfect for a little weekend getaway every single year! (We love to use our free nights at the Sheraton Park Hotel at the Anaheim Resort—walking distance to Disneyland!)

Because of the automatic Silver Elite Status and annual Free Night Award, I see myself keeping this card for a long time and only canceling it just to open it up and earn the sign up bonus again!

You earn Marriott Bonvoy® points with the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card like this:

Up to 17X Points at Marriott:

• 6X Points on every dollar of spend at Marriott hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy.®

• Plus 10X Points for being a Bonvoy® member

• Plus 1X Points from Marriott with Silver Elite status (you get automatic Silver Elite status by being a cardholder)

3X Points on every dollar of spend for the first $6,000 in purchases at grocery stores, gas stations, and restaurants.

2X Points on every dollar of spend on all other purchases.

Find my complete review of this card here.

Credit Card #5 - The Chase Ink Business Cash® Credit Card

I opened this card in September 2022, and it was my first business card. It earns Chase Ultimate Reward Points (my favorite points). I’d been really wanting to add this one to my arsenal because of the 5X points earning categories. And because it doesn’t count against my 5/24 status. One of the best tips I’ve learned is to use this card to purchase gift cards (Visa, Amazon, Target, Starbucks, you name it) at office supply stores, so you can earn 5X points on purchases that you’d normally otherwise only earn 1X points on. Talk about a way to maximize those points!! You earn Chase Ultimate Reward points with the Chase Ink Business Cash® Credit Card like this:

5X Points on purchases at office supply stores and on internet, cable, and phone services (up to the first $25,000 spent)

2X Points on gas stations and restaurants (up to the first $25,000 spent)

1X Points on all other purchases

This card is also a keeper because it earns my absolute favorite points, has such incredible bonus categories, and has $0 annual fee. I don’t see myself ever getting rid of this one.

Credit Card #6 and #9 - The Chase Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card

I applied for this card in January 2023 and again in January 2024 since you can hold multiples of this card at one time. It’s another business card with a $0 annual fee, which does not count toward my 5/24 status. This card also earns my favorite points—Chase Ultimate Rewards. I love this card because it earns 1.5X points per every dollar of spend. It’s a great way to maximize earning Chase points when my spending doesn’t fall into a bonus category.

This card is a keeper because it earns my absolute favorite points and has $0 annual fee. I don’t see myself ever getting rid of this one.

Credit Card #7 - The Capital One Venture Rewards Card

I applied for this card in April 2023. One of the perks of this card is that it comes with a $100 fee credit for Global Entry or TSA Pre-Check. Since we travel internationally, and since Global Entry includes TSA Pre-Check, I used this perk to apply for Global Entry.

I love this card because you earn 2X points on anything, so it’s a great default card to use when your spending doesn’t fall into a bonus category.

But the best part of this card is that you can cover ANY expense that codes as travel on your credit card statement with your points. We purchased tickets to Disneyland through Undercover Tourist so the charge would code as travel and used these points to cover the purchase. Free tickets to Disneyland! (This trick doesn’t work if you buy directly from Disney because the ticket purchase won’t code as travel if you buy direct). So this card really expands the possibilities of what you can use points to pay for when traveling! I see myself keeping this card around for a long time!

Credit Card #8 - The Chase Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

I applied for this one in September 2023. It a business card with a $95 annual fee that earns—you guessed it!—my favorite points. This one is a keeper for now because it allows me to transfer my Chase points to Chase’s travel partners. (In order to transfer to travel partners, you need a Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, a Chase Sapphire Reserve®, or a Chase Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card). Because I downgraded my Chase Sapphire Preferred to a Chase Freedom Flex℠, I need this one in my arsenal at least until I apply for another Chase Sapphire Preferred. When that happens, I may cancel this one to get rid of the $95 annual fee.

Credit Card #10 - The World of Hyatt Credit Card

I signed up for the The World of Hyatt Credit Card in 2024. It rarely has a good sign up bonus, but it does give you an annual free night certificate each year for being a cardholder. Plus, it gives you 5 qualifying nights that you can use toward obtaining Hyatt status. (You can’t book stays with those nights, but it does help you reach the number of nights per year needed with Hyatt to earn status). I’m hoping to earn status to I can take advantage of Suite Upgrade Awards and Club Access Awards.

I’ll be sure to update this blog post as we add more cards to our arsenal.

Vacations We’ve Taken With These Cards

With these cards, I have taken so many vacations—including places like Cancun, Greece, Grand Cayman, the Bahamas, New York (several times!), Miami, Legoland Florida, Disneyland, & Universal Studios Hollywood. And I’ve got more vacations planned! Coming up in 2024? Disneyland (two more trips!) and Florida! And in 2025, we’re thinking Paris and London. Plus, we’ve done several staycations at local resorts thanks to the points we’ve earned from these cards.

Bottom Line

Once you finally learn how to fly for free (or $11 roundtrip) and stay at hotels for free, you can travel pretty much anywhere you want. You just need to figure out which credit card welcome offers will help you earn the points to make those travel dreams a reality! Once you’ve built up your credit card arsenal, be sure to use those cards strategically to earn the most possible points!

For the complete list of all my favorite travel cards, click here.

Questions on which card you should apply for next? Or how to make your travel dreams a reality with credit card points & miles? Just send me a DM on Instagram (@thatdebtfreelife) and I’ll be happy to help!

Happy travels!

XOXO, Kate

Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.

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