ctroum

what credit cards do you use for airline and hotel rewards? seems like starwood amex is the best card if you want both air and hotel points. i'm thinking of starwood amex and hilton visa (for the times amex is not accepted). any thoughts?

ccolor

We like Chase Freedom since they give money back and it can be used on anything. You get a percentage for money spent on the card and your rewards can start at only $50.00. If you wait till it gets to $200.00, they give you a $50.00 bonus for $250.00.

Anonymous

Why limit yourself to "points" when so many cards give outright cash rebates? My American Express card (Costco Business membership) gives a 5% rebate on gas, 3% on restaurants, 2% on travel, and 1% on everything else.

MomDDTravel

ctroum - I travel mainly "on points" and have found the best card to be the starwood Amex. I also have a Platinum Amex that I believe we will be letting go of next year - I also use the Hilton Amex and Delta Amex. I will be closing the Hilton Amex after the year is up as well as the Delta. I opened both for the spiffs they offered to open the card (I got almost 25,000 Delta miles and I believe around 40,000 Hilton points to open the cards).

We have a AA citibank for the times when Amex is not accepted. That works well for us.

express3

i peronally like the Chase Freedom as well...i had no idea they give u a $50.00 bonus if u wait till it gets to 200..thanks ccolor for the tip!

AA citibank is good as well...they're having a promotion that u rec about 20,000 or 25,000 miles if u open up a card and spend a certain amount...which in fact is equivalent to a free airline ticket...so u might want to look into that.

abram

I like the Rewards program from M&I Bank. Points can be redeemed for cash or hotel stays, but we always use them for flights because there are no black out days or capacity control limitations (besides there actually being seats) and the points can be used on any airline.

ncounty

I also like Chase Freedom. My other favorite card is my Premiere Pass mastercard. You actually get rewards for miles flown on any airline in addition to the credit you get separately on those airlines.

spirobulldog

I use two credit cards. The expedia card and GM card. The 5% on GM is by far the best deal on any card, but it does force you to always buy a GM car.

NeoPatrick

I don't use cash rewards cards because they can't begin to match the value we get from our AA Citibank cards. We've done a lot of Business Class Trips -- to Europe a lot, also to Australia/New Zealand and to Asia. When you get a $7000 plus ticket for 90,000 miles, you'll understand why I shun the cash back cards.

And frankly I'm happy putting "all our eggs in one basket" just getting AA miles. To me they go further that way than splitting them up -- and much better than those awards that let you convert cash to miles and tickets which don't go nearly as far.

spirobulldog

I split mine up for two reasons. I have a old GM Card. The limit on it is $3500 and you can only collect $500 per year. The newer cards are limited to $1000 normally. My expedia card I run thru my business. I like to have two because I can keep things seperated much easier. THe $500 gm card I can usually reach my max in a few months. I refuse to pay yearly fee for any card.

spirobulldog

My dad has an AA card and always has a heck of a time just trying to be able to use it. He, my mom, my daugher and wife are all going to Europe this next summer on his, so that is good. They are going to be gone to long or I would go as well.