Category: Hotel Credit Cards

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Cards That Earn Bonus Rewards On Every Dollar Spent

There are plenty of options for cards that earn bonus rewards for spending. These are cards that offer you either cash back or points on each purchase you make. Some of the most popular rewards credit cards will give you bonus points or bonus cash back. The Discover It, for example, offers bonus cash back on rotating categories. The idea of rotating categories is that the categories will switch quarterly. You will earn 5% cash back (or 5% points, depending on the card) for that quarter.

Popular categories for the bonus rotating categories include purchases made at gas stations, grocery stores, dining, online shopping, home improvement stores, and department stores. They can be anything that the credit card company chooses and thinks that their customers will enjoy. Typically there is a cap on the spending in the bonus categories. Going back to the Discover It example, it has a $1,500 spending cap for their rotating bonus categories.

Fixed bonus categories would refer to cards that offer bigger bonuses on certain categories all the time. For example, the Barclaycard Rewards MasterCard offers two points per dollar spent on all gas station, grocery store and utility purchases. This is offered year round with no spending cap. With no annual fee, cardholders get great rewards at a fixed rate all year long.

What if I don’t like rotating categories?

If rotating categories are not for you and you would prefer to get great rewards all year long on all purchases, you are in luck. We have put together a great list of options for you. Each of these cards offers greater than 1% cash back on all purchases. Take a look and see if any of them are right for you!

Citi Double Cash

Want to earn cash back—twice? The Citi Double Cash card lets you do just that. Earn 1% cash back on every purchase, plus earn another 1% cash back for every payment that you make. In addition to the great cash back offer, the Citi Double Cash card offers a 0% introductory rate for the first 15 months that you have the card.

After that, the card offers a competitive APR of 12.99-22.99%, based on your creditworthiness. There is no annual fee for the Citi Double Cash card, so you have nothing to lose with this gem. No worries about spending in certain categories, or registering for rotating rewards. You get the same rewards year round, with no spending cap other than your credit limit. There is no limit to the cash back that you can earn with this card.

Capital One Quicksilver Card

Unlimited cash back is the name of the game with the Capital One Quicksilver Card. You will earn 1.5% cash back on every purchase you make using this card with no limit to the cash back you can earn. There are no specific spending categories or bonus categories to think about. Just use this card for any purchase and get the full reward. Capital One Quicksilver also offers you a $100 cash back reward after you spend $500 in the first three months that you have the card. This is a substantial bonus right off the bat for new cardholders, at 20% cash back!

The cash back rewards are easy and flexible to redeem. You can redeem them at any time for a check, gift card(s), statement credit, or even merchandise. There is no annual fee for this card. You can also enjoy a 0% introductory APR for a limited time on all purchases and balance transfers made using the Capital One Quicksilver card. After the introductory period, the APR will be 12.9-22.9% on purchases and all balance transfers. Another great perk is being able to track your credit score for free so that you can stay on top of any changes right as they occur.

Capital One BuyPower Card

Are you in the market for a new vehicle? The Capital One BuyPower Card might be just the answer. This card offers you 5% cash back rewards on the first $5,000 you spend each year, and 2% on all purchases you make after that. This is a huge reward. You can use the cash back rewards toward the purchase of a new Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, or Cadillac.

The earnings never expire, as long as you have the card. You can really rack up a lot of cash back toward your next vehicle with this card. Because there are no rotating categories, you can use this card for any and all purchases, and watch your cash back rewards add up. Also, Capital One BuyPower card offers an introductory 0% APR for the first 12 months that you have the card, for all purchases and balance transfers. When the introductory period ends, you will pay 11.90, 15.90, or 19.90% variable APR, depending on your creditworthiness.

Looking For Travel Rewards?

Rewards cards come in many shapes and forms. Some offer cash back or credit toward a new vehicle, like the cards listed above. Others will offer some pretty tremendous travel rewards for those who really want to maximize their rewards. Travel rewards are some of the best in the credit card world, since you can often get more than $1 for each point or mile earned. Here are a few of the best ones we can find for you.

Barclaycard Arrival Plus

Super value can be found for travelers when they have the Barclaycard Arrival Plus card. You can earn 40,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 in the first 90 days that you have the card. Earn 2 points for every dollar spent on travel purchases or earn one point for every dollar spent on every other purchase. One of the biggest perks of this card is that cardholders get an extra 10% rewards when booking their travel through Barclaycard or anytime they redeem their miles for statement credits.

The Barclaycard Arrival Plus also offers a 0% introductory APR for the first 12 months on purchases and balance transfers. After that, the APR will be either 14.99% or 18.99%, depending on your creditworthiness. There is an $89 annual fee for this card, but that is waived for the first year.

Capital One Venture Rewards Card

Earn travel rewards fast at a rate of 2 points per dollar spent on every purchase you make with the Capital One Venture Rewards Card. Earn an additional 40,000 points when you spend $3,000 in the first three months of having the card. Cardholders will get a 0% introductory APR rate for the first 12 months after approval on purchases and balance transfers, with a 13.9-20.9% APR after that period ends.

The miles that you earn using the Capital One Venture Rewards card can be flexibly redeemed for flights, hotel, rental cars, and other travel benefits. There are no blackout dates or restrictions on airlines if you book through Capital One. If you prefer to book through your travel agent, the Purchase Eraser feature will allow you to redeem your miles and get credit within 90 days of making a travel purchase using your Capital One Venture Rewards card. Track your credit simply, with your credit score being available every month on your statement or through the online access. There is a $59 annual fee, which is waived for the first year.

BankAmericard Travel Rewards Card

With the BankAmericard Travel Rewards Card, you will earn 1.5 points per dollar spent on all purchases made with the card. There is no limit to the number of points that you can earn. Apply online and earn an additional 10,000 points by spending $500 within the first three months. This adds up to a $100 statement credit when you book any travel rewards.

Conveniently, there are no blackout dates and no restrictions on your travel rewards. There is no annual fee for the BankAmericard Travel Rewards card. Cardholders will enjoy a 0% introductory APR for the first 12 months on purchases and balance transfers when they are approved for the card. After that, an APR of 14.99-22.99% will apply. There are no foreign transaction fees for this card.

Wyndham Rewards Visa

The Wyndham Rewards Visa is a great card for those who love to travel and want to earn free nights at Wyndham hotels and participating partners. Earn 5 points for every dollar spent on participating hotel stays, and earn 2 points for every dollar spent on all other purchases.

You can earn an additional 30,000 points after making your first purchase using the Wyndham Reward Visa card, and another 5,500 bonus points each year. That is enough for a one night stay at any participating hotel. This card has a $69 annual fee, which is not waived for the first year. The APR is 15.24% or 19.99%, depending on your credit history.

Citi Hilton HHonors Reserve

With the Citi Hilton HHonors Reserve card, you will quickly build up plenty of points toward your next vacation at any Hilton hotel or participating partner. You can earn 10 HHonors points for every dollar spent on hotel stays at participating hotels. Or earn 5 HHonors points for other travel purchases, including flights and rental cars. Earn 3 HHonors points on all other purchases made using the card.

Cardholders will enjoy Gold Elite status with HHonors, which will be upgraded to Platinum status if you spend $40,000 in one calendar year. Spend $10,000 per year and earn a free weekend night each year on your anniversary. Earn two free weekend night certificates after spending $2,500 within the first 4 months after being approved for the card. This card has a $95 annual fee. There is a variable 15.24% APR for this card.

Final Thoughts

As you can see, there are a variety of rewards cards available right now, with more being added frequently. One of them is right for you. Some people prefer rewards cards with straight cash back rewards options, but if you are not a fan of rotating categories and just want to earn tons of points, or you are a frequent traveler (or want to become one), then choosing one of the awesome travel rewards cards that are available will help you quickly earn points toward your next travel adventure!

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Hyatt Visa Hotel Card from Chase Bank

For those who travel with a degree of frequency, having the right travel rewards credit card is a must. Watching frequent flyer miles, free or discounted hotel stays and travel necessity discounts rack up is part of the fun of hitting the road or the skies, but not all travel cards offer the same benefits. Some travel cards focus on a specific airline or hotel group alone, while others have partners that allow more robust rewards redemption options. The Hyatt Visa Hotel card offered through Chase Bank is a smart choice for travelers with a penchant for staying at the Hyatt when they get away.

 

hyatt_card

 

Card Basics

The Hyatt Visa Hotel card from Chase Bank is a premiere travel card that gives the most bang for each buck in terms of rewards. For every dollar spent on purchases at Hyatt properties with the card, account holders earn three rewards points; for every dollar spent on purchases at restaurants, airline tickets bought directly from the airline or car rental agencies, two rewards points are earned. All other purchases made with the Hyatt Visa Hotel card earn account holders one rewards point per dollar spent. Like most rewards credit cards, one point is equal to $0.01, meaning 1,000 points translates to $10 in rewards.

For individuals new the Hyatt Visa Hotel card from Chase Bank, meaning they have no held the card in the previous 24 months, bonus offers are available for a limited time. First, account holders who spend no less than $1,000 on purchases within the first three months after account opening receive two free nights at participating Hyatt properties. On top of the bonus nights, cardholders who add an authorized user to the account within the first three months earn an additional 5,000 points. The added user must make a purchase during that time frame, however.

Rewards points earned by utilizing the Hyatt Visa Hotel credit card can only be redeemed for free nights at Hyatt properties. Cardholders must have accumulated a minimum of 5,000 rewards points before a free night can be obtained.

Additional Card Benefits

In addition to the rewards program built in to the Hyatt Visa Hotel card, cardholders have unique perks that come with card ownership. First and foremost, one free night at any Hyatt property that falls within the category range of 1 through 4 is obtained every year after the cardholder’s anniversary. Also, cardholders earn different statuses through the Hyatt Passport program which equates to even more perks. Accountholders in good standing can upgrade to the Hyatt Gold Passport Platinum membership category, and are able to maintain that status for as long as the card remains open. The Platinum status under the Hyatt rewards program includes a 15% rewards point bonus on eligible purchases, not to mention complimentary in-room Internet access, and late checkout upon request. All the benefits available through the Hyatt Passport program are detailed within the program’s membership agreement.

Card members can also move up the status ranks by utilizing the Hyatt Visa Hotel credit card on a consistent basis. Account holders receive two stay credits and five night credits toward the Elite Diamond status when $20,000 or more is spent in each calendar year. An additional three stay credits and five night credits can be earned when $40,000 or more is spent throughout the year. These added credits lead to free nights quickly, making the card an attractive solution for those who regularly stay with Hyatt properties when traveling.

Card Member Costs

As with most travel rewards credit cards, the Hyatt Visa Hotel card comes with card member fees that should be reviewed prior to applying for and subsequently utilizing the card. First, an annual fee of $75 is charged each card member anniversary, although for new card members, the annual fee is waived for the first year. The Hyatt Visa is reserved for applicants with exemplary credit, as only one purchase APR is assigned at the time the card is opened to qualified borrowers. The initial interest rate is 16.24% for purchases, but it is tied to the Prime Rate and may fluctuate over time. Balance transfers receive the same APR as purchases, and no promotional interest rate is available at this time.

Cash advances cost card members more than purchases or balance transfers, with a standing APR of 25.24%. Currently, fees associated with cash advances or balance transfers are not available, nor are charges assessed for late payments or returned payments. International travelers or shoppers do not have to worry about additional charges with the Hyatt Visa Hotel credit card, as no foreign transaction fees are imposed.

Final Thoughts

As a travel rewards credit card, the Hyatt Visa Hotel card is a smart choice for individuals who plan to stay in Hyatt properties either domestically or during international travel. The bonus nights earned through the current promotion are available at a relatively low spending barrier within the first three months, and the bump to Diamond status through the Hyatt Passport rewards program is attractive to frequent travelers. The authorized user bonus rewards offer and the anniversary free night stay also adds to the overall benefit of carrying the card.

Hyatt Visa Hotel credit card members have the added benefit of earning rewards on more than just hotel stays. Enhanced rewards points earning potential with certain categories helps account holders earn more nights quickly, as does the standard one rewards point for all other purchases that fall outside the confines of bonus categories. Having the ability to utilize the card for everyday purchases without foreign transaction fees, and the ability to redeem rewards with as few as 1,000 points accumulated help make this card a strong contender in the travel category. The waived annual fee for the first year and comparably low annual fee of $75 thereafter doesn’t hurt either.

Individuals who do not travel often, or those who prefer to stay at hotels ore resorts not associated with Hyatt property management will want to select a different travel rewards card for their wallets. The Hyatt Visa Hotel credit card is best suited for travelers who spend quite a bit on hotel stays with Hyatt throughout the year.

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Marriott Premier Hotel Credit Card Review

Easily one of the largest hotel brands in the world, Marriott has over 4000 properties in as many as 80 countries. Travel to any part of the world and you’ll find a Marriott there!

If you’re a business traveler who prefers staying at Marriott hotels every time he/she’s on a tour, or a leisure traveler who loves the comfort of Marriott properties, there’s no way you can give this one a miss! This card will give you an Elite status and free night stays at Marriott hotels; that apart from earning you plenty of reward points under the Marriott Rewards program. It’s issued by JP Morgan Chase and gets you rewards much faster than being simply enrolled into the Marriott Rewards program, especially when it’s used for stays at Marriott properties.

 

Marriott Premier Hotel Credit Card

 

Let’s find out if it’s the right card for you or not.

The Pros

Excellent signup bonus

As of now, at the time of writing this review, the card is offering 80,000 reward points to the new applicants who spend a minimum of $3,000 in the first 3 months of opening an account. This is a big deal for people who travel on a regular basis, or are wanting to plan a vacation. The accumulated 80,000 points can get you plenty of freebies. You can earn an additional 7,500 reward points by adding an authorized user to your card and making your first purchase inside the first 3 months with the card.

Free one night stay

You get an absolutely free-of-cost one night stay at any of the category 1 to 5 Marriott properties world-over, after your account anniversary each year. This free one night stay more than makes up for the $85 annual fee of the card.

No foreign transaction fee

Marriott knows their target market pretty well! Every time you travel outside of the United States, either for vacation or business purposes, you’ll  pay no foreign transaction fee on your purchases (in foreign currency) with your Marriott Premier Hotel credit card.

Attractive reward points on your spends

Every $1 you spend at any of the 4,000 Marriott properties throughout the world earns you 5 reward points on your card. Hence, this card is the best for you if you love staying at Marriott chain of hotels during your travels. Apart from that, you can earn 2 reward points for every $1 spent on air fare, car rentals and dining. If that’s not enough, you make 1 reward point for every $1 spent on eligible purchases at all other places!

Foolproof technology

The Marriott Premier Hotel Credit Card uses the new-age Chip and Signature technology that is far more secure than the conventional magnetic stripe cards, as it’s much more difficult to clone the card for fraudulent usage.

Elite credits

You receive 15 Elite credits after every anniversary with the card. Thereafter, every $3,000 spent using the card earn you 1 Elite credit. And there’s no limit on the number of Elite credits you can accumulate! These Elite credits can help you achieve the Silver Elite status and then possibly the Gold and Platinum Elite Status at Marriott locations. Please note, the Silver Elite status requires 10 Elite credits; so you’re automatically bumped to that status after your anniversary with the card!

Some of the perks of achieving such status are 20% bonus on base points, 10% discount on normal rates, priority late checkout, private reservation line only for Elite members and many other privileges.

Visa Signature benefits

This is a Signature-level Visa card, meaning that you get many additional benefits at no added cost! For instance,

  • 24/7 concierge service, helpful in restaurant selections, reservations, finding event locations and many other chores.
  • Purchase protection for 120 days from the transaction date, up to $500 per-claim and a maximum of $50,000, in case your purchased item gets damaged because of certain mishaps and/or natural disasters.
  • Extended warranty protection, providing you 1 year added coverage on all eligible US warranties (of 3 years or less) for eligible purchases.
  • Other benefits like emergency cash disbursement, lost luggage reimbursement, travel accident insurance, emergency card replacement and more.

Easy redemption of points for Marriott hotel stays

The reward points you earn with your Marriott Premier Hotel credit card can be redeemed for stays at any of the Ritz-Carlton or Marriott hotels worldwide. However, please note that the exact number of points needed for per-night stay may vary from location to location. For instance, 7,500 Marriott reward points can get you 1 night stay at any of the category 1 locations. On the other hand, if you spend 45,000 Marriott reward points you can get a free night stay at any of the category 9 locations of Marriott. There are 9 location categories in total. Visit this page on the Marriott’s official website to learn more about these categories.

Easy redemption of points for airline miles

You can also use your Marriott reward points for availing free airline travels. For instance, 8,000 Marriott reward points get you 2,000 mileage plus miles with the United, 10,000 Marriott reward points get you 1000 Elevate or TrueBlue points with Virgin America and JetBlue Airways. You can visit this page on the Marriott’s official website for more details on the exact exchange rates.

No capping on the points you can earn

There’s no capping on the reward points you can earn with your Marriott Premier Hotel credit card. The more you spend with the card, the more reward points you accumulate!

 

The Shortfalls

Steep Annual Fee

Who likes paying an annual fee on their cards?! No one! Although the $85 annual fee on this card is a put-off for many, the rewards and free annual stays you get with this card more than make up for the fee.

Delay in accrual of rewards

It takes anywhere around 6-8 weeks for the rewards, bonus points and certificates to get added to your account. So, you don’t get them instantly after making your purchase/s and need to plan ahead – something that may not be possible for everyone.

Not for someone who doesn’t stay at Marriott often

This card is not for travelers who don’t wish to redeem their points for Marriott stays. You may want to look at other travel cards like the Chase Sapphire Preferred.

 

The Bottom Line

Do you stay at Marriott properties frequently and are also enrolled into their Rewards program? Then it’s a no-brainer that you must apply for the Marriott Premier Hotel credit card too, and take your Marriott rewards’ earnings to an altogether new high!

This is by far the best travel card for Marriott loyalists. It gives you loads of benefits at a relatively low $85 annual fee. Not only do you save on your hotel stays, you enjoy various perks that come with the Elite status. Leaving everything aside, the highlight is – this bad boy is made of Pure Metal! Who wouldn’t want it considering that it costs you almost $5,000 less than the American Express ‘Black Card’?!

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Top 10 Points Credit Cards for Everyday Spending Bonuses

When it comes to everyday spending bonuses, you have plenty of cards to choose from. We’ve selected the top ten credit cards for everyday spending, meaning you can get more than a 1% rewards rate on more than one “everyday spending” category, such as gas or groceries.

In this post, we’re focusing on credit cards that earn points or miles in a rewards program. Take a look and see if any of these capture your interest!

1. Citi ThankYou Cards

There are 3 different versions of this card, and each one offers some great bonuses.

The Citi ThankYou Preferred card offers a 20,000 point sign on bonus after spending $1,500 in the first three months. Earn two points for every dollar spent on dining, travel and entertainment, one point on every dollar spent in other categories. There is no annual fee for this card. There is a 12 month 0% introductory APR on purchases and balance transfers. You can redeem your points for cash, statement credit or gift cards. There is a separate offer for the Citi ThankYou Preferred card which also has no annual fee and offers a 15-month 0% introductory APR with no annual fee, and no sign on bonus.

The Citi ThankYou Premier credit card has a 20,000 point bonus after spending $2,000 in the first three months, and an additional bonus of 30,000 points after spending another $3,000 in the first three months of the second year you have the card. Earn 3 points for every dollar spent on dining, travel and entertainment, one point on all other purchases. There is no annual fee. Redeem for cash, statement credit, travel rewards and gift cards.

The Citi ThankYou Prestige offers 30,000 ThankYou points after spending $2,000 in the first 3 months of card membership. Earn 3x points on Air Travel and Hotels, 2x points on Dining at Restaurants and Entertainment and 1 ThankYou Point per $1 spent on other purchases.

2. Barclaycard Arrival World Mastercard

Earn 20,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 in the first three months. Earn two miles per dollar spent on all dining and travel purchases, one point per dollar on all other purchases. There is an introductory APR of 0% for the first 12 months that you have this card. Redeem for cash back or travel rewards; when redeeming for travel rewards you earn an additional 10% bonus on the travel purchases. There is no annual fee for this card.

Apply Now: Barclaycard ArrivalTM World MasterCard®

3. Chase Sapphire Preferred

Earn 40,000 bonus points when you spend $3,000 in the first three months that you have the card. Earn an additional 5,000 points for adding another authorized user in the first three months. Earn two points for every dollar spent on dining and travel purchases, and one point for every dollar spent in other categories. Redeem for cash, travel, gift cards and more. There is no annual fee for the first year, after that the annual fee will be $95.

4. Barclaycard Rewards Mastercard

Although there is no sign on bonus for this card, you will earn two points for every dollar spent on gas, groceries, and utilities. Earn one point for every dollar spent in other categories. There is no introductory APR for this card. Redeem your points for travel, cash back, or gift cards. There is no annual fee for this card.

Apply Now:

Barclaycard® Rewards MasterCard® – Excellent Credit

Barclaycard® Rewards MasterCard® – Average Credit

5. American Express Premier Rewards Gold Card

Earn 25,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $2,000 in the first three months you have the card. Earn three points for every dollar spent on flights, two points for every dollar spent at gas stations and grocery stores, and one point for every dollar spent in other categories. There is no annual fee for the first year, after that the annual fee will be $175. Redeem your points with flexible options through many travel partners or gift cards.

6. Amex Everyday Preferred Card

Earn 15,000 points, plus a one year membership to Amazon Prime (worth $99 per year) after spending $1,000 in the first three months that you have the card. Earn a 50% bonus on all points when you make at least 30 purchases per month using the card. Earn three points for every dollar spent at grocery stores, up to $6,000 annually. Earn two points for every dollar spent at gas stations. Earn one point for every dollar spent on all other purchases. There is an introductory APR of 0% for the first 15 months. Use your Membership Rewards to pay for flights and hotel stays. The annual fee for this card is $95.

7. Citi Hilton HHonors Visa Signature Card

Earn 40,000 bonus sign on points after spending $1,000 in the first three months you have the card. Earn six points for every dollar spent at Hilton hotels. Earn three HHonors points for every dollar spent at grocery stores, gas stations and drug stores. Earn two HHonors points for every dollar spent on all other categories. There is no annual fee for this card. Redeem your HHonors points for hotel stays at participating Hilton group hotels and other travel.

8. Playstation Card from Capital One

Earn 5,000 bonus points after you make your first purchase in the first 90 days that you have the card. Earn 10 points for every dollar spent on Playstation Store purchases. Earn three points for every dollar spent on Playstation purchases at Sony Stores. Earn three points for every dollar spent on quick serve restaurants, movie theaters and mobile phone service. Earn one point for every dollar spent in other categories. There is a 0% introductory rate until September 2015 on purchases and balance transfers. Redeem your points for Sony products, movies, music and more. There is no annual fee for this card.

9. USAA Rewards Amex

Earn two points for every dollar spent on gas station and grocery store purchases. Earn a 2,500 point bonus after making your first purchase within the first three months you have the card. Redeem your points for cash, gift cards, travel and more. There is no annual fee for this card.

Apply Now: USAA Rewards™ American Express®

10. PayPal Mastercard and eBay Mastercard

Earn three points for every dollar spent at gas stations and restaurants. Earn two points for all PayPal and eBay transactions. Earn one point for every dollar spent in other categories. There is no annual fee for this card.

Each of these cards has something special to offer when it comes to earning rewards for your every day spending. Any time you can earn more than one point for every dollar you spend, it is worth taking a look at the options!

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Marriott Rewards Premier Card Now Offers 70,000 Points

One of the more popular hotel rewards cards, the Marriott Rewards Premier Card, is well known for allowing you to earn great rewards that can be redeemed at Marriott hotels and resorts around the world. This card is a step up from the standard Marriott Rewards credit card, and one you might consider. Especially since the sign-up bonus was recently increased to 70,000 points for a limited time. Let’s review the limited time offer as well as some of the great features of this card to help you decide if it’s the one for you!

No Annual Fee for the First Year

The Marriott Rewards Premier Credit card usually has an annual fee if $85, but it is waived for the first year and you pay nothing!

Huge Bonus Points!

For a limited time, you can earn a huge bonus of 70,000 points after spending only $2,000 in the first three months that you have the card. This is a huge reward, one that can get you rewards of up to 9 nights in certain Marriott hotels, specifically category 1 sites. The standard Marriott Rewards card gives you only 30,000 points as the bonus, which is still a great reward worth up to 4 nights.

Free Hotel Stay

Upon opening your Marriott Rewards Premier Credit Card, you will get an immediate reward of one free night at eligible hotels worldwide, ranging from category 1-4. When you combine this bonus with the bonus points, you can actually earn up to 10 free nights, just by opening the account and spending what is really a minimal amount in the first three months! You only have 6 months after the date of issue to use your free hotel stay, so pay attention to the expiration date and make sure to take advantage of it.

Earn a free night each year on your anniversary, good at a category 1-5 Marriott location with the Marriott Rewards Premier Credit Card. This is a big perk, and is well worth the annual fee alone!

Keep Earning Bonus Rewards

Earn one free Elite category night for every $3,000 you spend. These Elite certificates continue to accumulate for each $3,000 you spend and there is no limit. You will become either a Gold, Silver or Platinum Elite member, which will allow you various perks at Marriott locations. Each year on your anniversary, you will earn an additional 15 Elite nights that can be used at Marriott locations around the world. The standard Marriott Rewards card gives you 10 Elite nights per year on your anniversary.

Extra Earning Power at Marriott Locations

For every dollar you spend at Marriott locations using your Marriott Rewards Premier Credit Card you will earn 5 points. The standard Marriott Rewards card gives you 3 points for every Marriott dollar spent.

Great Standard Rewards Points

You will earn one point for every dollar you spend using the Marriott Rewards Premier Credit Card on all of your regular purchases, and two points for every dollar spent on travel, dining, airfare and car rentals. This double point earning potential, combined with the super bonus with any Marriott spending helps you to build up points quickly. The standard Marriott Rewards card does not offer the double points on travel spending. There is no limit to the number of points that you can earn with this card.

Easy to Redeem for Hotel Stays or Airfare

The Marriott Rewards Premier Credit Card makes it easy for you to redeem your points for hotel stays at Marriott and Ritz-Carlton locations. You can also use your points at the SkyMall online portal. If you prefer, redeem your points for car rentals, cruises or other benefits.

Chip and Signature Technology

The Marriott Rewards Premier Credit Card has chip and signature technology, which is the latest credit card security feature and offers you terrific protection from fraud. Only you can use the credit card.

No Foreign Transaction Fees

Because Marriott locations are all around the world, you want to be able to use this card everywhere you go. There are no foreign transaction fees, which helps keep costs of using this card outside of the country low.

Is This the Card for You?

We think this card is great for Marriott lovers. Sure, it does have an annual fee, but this really pays for itself many times over with the tons of free nights that you can get.  This card does commit you to the Marriott chain or Ritz-Carlton chain, but these hotels are in most places now.

Overall, this card has a lot of great perks, but just not a lot of flexibility when it comes to where you can use your rewards if you don’t want to stay at a Marriott location. Marriott does give you the option of hotel+air packages for flights and hotels, which you can view here, as well as the option to transfer your points to many airlines. However, the transfer rate isn’t the best, so we don’t suggest using your Marriott points this way.

For those looking for more flexible travel rewards, consider a card that earns transferable points, like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card,which can be transferred to 11 Ultimate Rewards travel partners. Or for those who want the simple earning and travel redemptions, consider the Barclaycard Arrival PlusTM World Elite MasterCard®, which earns 2 points per dollar that can be redeemed for any travel expense!

 

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Get 60,000 Points with Citi Hilton HHonors Card

Another sign-up bonus boost?  Say it is so!  Usually, a successful application to the Citi Hilton HHonors nets you 50,000 Hilton HHonors points after meeting the spend requirements, but not so today!  Now, you’ll earn 60,000 Hilton HHonors points at sign-up.  What else is available on the card?  Let’s check out the benefits below!

 

The Benefits

Sign-Up Bonus

For this card, you’ll receive 60,000 HHonors Bonus points after spending $1,000 in four months.  That means you’ll be able to spend those for a free night at a pretty decent Hilton property (you can always check out this site for what a specific Hilton hotel will cost you).

Bonus Points

You will have plenty of opportunities to earn bonus points when using the Citi Hilton Visa Signature Card.  When you spend money at a Hilton property, you’ll earn six points for every dollar spent (that includes room rate and on-property spending, so spend away at that mini-bar!).  Furthermore, every dollar spent at supermarkets, drugstores, and gas stations will earn 3 bonus points.  This point value for these categories are found on other cards, but it’s great to see here as well.  Every other dollar spent will earn two points per dollar.

Status

You’ll receive Silver status automatically by owning this credit card (the fee-based Citi Hilton Reserve card gets you Gold status automatically).  Benefits include a 15% bonus on base points when staying at a Hilton and complimentary health club access.

Plus, if you stay four times at a Hilton in the first four months of card membership, you’ll be placed with Gold status, which gets you room upgrades, free breakfast, and more bonus points.  I’d recommend doing this, as the free breakfast and room upgrades I’ve received as a gold member at Hilton are outstanding!

Annual Fee

Another great benefit of this card over other Hilton cards is the fact that it does not have an annual fee, making cost of card membership free if you pay your bills on time and in full!

 

The Nitty Gritty

This card’s APR is 14.24%, and balance transfers of 14.24% APR as well.  Cash advances carry a stiff 25.24% fee, and a penalty APR of 29.99% applies if you make a late payment or have a returned payment.

Transaction fees are stiff as well, with foreign transaction fees racking up 3% of every purchase, balance transfers at 3% or $5, whichever is greater, and cash advances at $10 or 5%, whichever is greater.  Penalty late fees are up to $35.

 

Conclusion 

The new sign up bonus associated with this credit card, at 60,000 miles, makes this a no brainer for anyone in the market for a hotel branded credit card.  The no annual fee and low spend requirement makes it a great deal!  Also, free silver status with Hilton ain’t so bad either.

I would take advantage of the Gold status, 4-stay offer, since the benefits of this mid-level status are better than most other similar levels in the hotel space.  The breakfasts that I’ve had with this status are absolutely amazing, and my recent ‘double upgrade’ at the Waldorf Astoria Berlin to a junior suite was a welcome, awesome surprise!  Are you applying? Let us know below!

 

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SPG Card by Amex Increases Sign-Up Bonus

Everyone loves an ‘offer boost’ for that credit card they’ve been watching.  Boy, have the past two months been full of those!  The latest to offer up a little more to ‘sweeten the points pot’ is the Starwood Preferred Guest Credit Card by American Express.  Usually, the sign-up bonus is 25,000 points, but now, for a limited time, it is 30,000 Starpoints, and that’s for both the personal and business credit cards!

And, as a bonus for those of you that hold the card already, you can receive 5,000 points for referring people!  Receive 5,000 points for every card approval (up to 55,000 Starpoints per year).  Let’s dig into the details below, and check out some other features of the card!

 

 

Sign-up Bonus

Starwood points are some of the most valuable out there in the points and miles world.  The transfer partners in the airline space and the great hotels that Starwood has around the world makes this so.  With this credit card now, you’ll earn 10,000 SPG points on first purchase.  After that, you’ll receive 20,000 more points for spending $5,000 in the first six months of cardmembership.  These offers are identical for the personal and the business credit cards.

 

Annual Fee 

The regular annual fee for this SPG credit card is $65, but for the first year, the fee is waived.  So, the cost of cardmembership could be $0 during the first year!

 

Earning Starpoints 

As a co-branded credit card, you’ll receive bonus Starpoints for spend at Starwood hotels.  For all purchases at Starwood’s brands, including spend charged to the room, you’ll receive two points per dollar.  All other purchases will receive one point per dollar.

 

Gold Status with Spend

One major benefit for the Starwood Preferred Guest Business Credit Card is the ability to earn automatic Starwood Gold Status when you spend $30,000 on the card in a calendar year.  Gold status nets you upgraded rooms, late checkout at 4 p.m., and a choice of free Starpoints, wifi, or a free beverage at check-in.

You’ll also receive three points per dollar spent during your Starwood stays, instead of two.

 

Two Stay credits 

For those that can’t spend $30,000 per year on a credit card, the credit card does offer you two stays and five nights credited toward elite status.  That means, you’ll only have to have 8 stays or 20 nights to receive gold status.   And, if you have both the personal and business card versions, you’ll only have 6 stays or 15 nights to receive gold status.

 

Benefits of Starpoints 

Starpoints are particularly useful for the frequent traveler because they can be transferred to a number of airline partners across multiple alliances.  And, when you transfer in 20,000 mile increments, you’ll receive a 5,000 mile bonus in whatever program you transfer to.

 

The Nitty Gritty

APR is between 15.24% and 19.24%, with APR for cash advances at 21.24%.  Penalty APR is 27.24%.  Foreign transaction fees are 2.7%, and for cash advances, you’ll also pay a fee of $5 or 3%, whichever is greater.  If you miss a payment, you’ll also pay a $35 fee.

 

Conclusion 

The new bonus of 30,000 Starpoints at sign up is an excellent offer, and the new referrals make life a little better for loyal cardmembers.  Has this post convinced you that now is the time to apply?  Let us know below!

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Amex Hilton HHonors Credit Card Review

Many other cards from Hilton have been covered on this site.  It seems a little ridiculous that there are four Hilton credit cards spread over two different credit card issuing banks, but this is the world we live in.  This article is aimed at reviewing the most basic of Hilton credit cards issued by American Express, the Hilton HHonors Card from American Express (clever name, right?).  Let’s dig into the details and see if this card earns a spot in your wallet!

 

Benefits

The first thing that most people want to know when they are applying for a credit card is “What’s the sign-up bonus?”  Well, the sign up bonus for this credit card is 40,000 Hilton HHonors points, which can be used for any Category 1-8 hotel in the Hilton lineup (hotels like the Arizona Biltmore, Conrad Chicago, and Conrad Miami are some examples).  These points are granted to you when you make $750 in purchases within the first three months of cardmembership.

Furthermore, you’ll earn a ton of bonus points when you use this credit card, especially if you are using it on Hilton purchases.  For all Hilton HHonors purchases you make, you’ll earn seven points per dollar spent.  This includes any money spent on reservations, onsite spend, and other purchases on the Hilton website.  Furthermore, you’ll receive five points for every dollar you spend at restaurants, gas stations, and supermarkets.  Finally, you’ll receive three points per dollar spent on everything else.

A great feature of the card is all of these benefits come with an annual fee of zero dollars.  That’s right.  This card has no annual fee!  Furthermore, you’ll receive HHonors Silver Status as long as you are a cardmember.  This comes with a 15% bonus on all base points earned.  And, if you are a big spender (I’m talking $20,000 per calendar year), you’ll receive HHonors Gold Status, which comes with room upgrades and free breakfast.  It’s a great mid-level status to have (I’ve been upgraded to suites in the past!).

Finally, there are some other miscellaneous benefits that come with most American Express credit cards, including rental car protection, great customer service, and purchase protection.  Your APR depends on your credit score, and will be either 15.24, 17.24, or 19.24 percent.  APR for cash advances is 25.24%.

 

Conclusion

As a frequent guest of Hilton, you have many options when it comes to credit cards.  One of the biggest factors for this card is that it offers a similar sign up bonus as the other cards, but with no annual fee.  The opportunity to earn Gold status for $20,000 in spend in a year is attractive, since that is less than $2,000 in spend in month (easy for a family of four to hit!).

Furthermore, the sign up bonus gets you in the door of a seriously aspirational Hilton property, available worldwide!  Or, if you’d prefer, you can split the points over multiple nights at a lower category hotel.  The possibilities are endless.  So, is this card a fit for your wallet?  If so, apply away!

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Earn More Points & Miles with Dining Programs

Some think that dining out is an unnecessary splurge, and that it should be avoided. While it is true that dining out can get pretty pricey, especially if you are drawn to the higher-end restaurants, when you use a credit card associated with a dining program that helps you accrue points for cash back or travel, then it helps make it a little bit easier to swallow—no pun intended!

Many cards that offer cash back and points rewards systems will offer double miles on restaurants, some as rotating categories, like Discover it, and others all the time, like Chase Sapphire Preferred. So, you get two points for every dollar you spend. Even a burger and beer can get you a bunch of points. You can imagine how a nice steak dinner and bottle of wine can help you grow your rewards account!

 

Airline and Dining Program Rewards

In addition to the cash back rewards or points that you earn from your credit card’s program, you can sign up for dining point programs that help you earn even more points and miles. In general, these programs are intended to help restaurants advertise to their target market, and help you get benefits in return for sharing some of your personal information.

Don’t worry, most of the information is fairly benign, but you will probably start getting some emails heading your way. Some may be annoyed by this, but for those who enjoy dining out and getting good bargains, then this is definitely something to look forward to. There are even mobile apps for those who like to be able to scan on the run for a great place to go.

Most of the major airlines have their own dining rewards programs, though they are all connected through one company, called Rewards Network. This is a company that is considered to be reputable, at least according to the Better Business Bureau, so you should be able to share some of your personal information without too much worry that it could be compromised or shared further.

Earning points is really easy once you join your airline rewards program. Not only will you earn points for each dollar you spend (sometimes double or triple points, even up to five times the points!), but you will earn points each time you visit, each time you write a review, or dine as a new member at a restaurant. When you use the airline rewards dining program, you can use up to 5 different credit or debit cards (though using the one with the best points benefits is usually the way to go).

 

Choose How Much Contact You Want

When it comes to getting too many emails, you can opt to be removed from the email list. Just take note—those who remain on the list are often given double or triple points, as well as special offers, while those who opt out will usually only earn one point for every two dollars spent.

 

Free to Join, Simple to Use

There are plenty of good reasons to join the dining rewards program associated with your favorite airline, and one of those reasons is that it is free. It costs you nothing to enjoy the many perks that are offered to you. There are no special identification cards necessary to use the program. You earn points simply by using the cards that you have registered to the account. This eliminates the possibility that you would leave your membership card at home or in your other purse! How many times have you gone somewhere and forgotten to bring that great coupon? Won’t happen with this program!

 

Flexible Options

Nearly every major airline is included in these dining programs, and there are other travel rewards that are associated, like hotel benefits. After using the card 10 times, you will achieve VIP status, and start to earn even more miles per dollar, up to 5 miles/points per dollar spent. You will be on vacation in no time!

It makes perfect sense to try and squeeze a few more benefits out of your credit cards! When you join a dining rewards program and use it in conjunction with your rewards credit card, you can really accelerate your earnings! Let’s go out for dinner tonight!

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A Beginner’s Guide To Points and Miles

Are you a newbie to rewards travel?  It’s a little intimidating, diving into this whole ‘points and miles’ thing.  I know when I first heard about this hobby/lifestyle/obsession, I had a difficult time grasping just where to start my search for information.  Well, if you are like I was at that moment, you’re probably pretty lost.  This post is aimed to give you a great primer on earning points and miles to help you travel the world a little cheaper!  Let’s dive in, shall we?

1. Where Do You Want To Go?

This seems like a ‘no-brainer,’ but it’s an important step, y’all!  Knowing where you want to go not only lets you assess how many points it will take to get to that destination, but you’ll also have a goal in mind, something to strive for.  Goal-oriented traveling is a great way to make sure that you actually go on the vacation that you planned for!  So, you want to go to the Maldives?  Great!  It’s totally possible (though it may take a little longer to save for, than, say, Cabo San Lucas).

 

2. What’s Your Score?

If you’re going to use credit cards to get to your destination of choice (and you should, since it’s the quickest way to rack up points and miles), you’ll need to know your FICO score.  If you already have a Discover it® credit card or a Barclaycard Arrival™ World MasterCard®, you’ll have that score on your credit card statement already.  But, if you don’t have those already, you can receive a free report from each of the credit reporting agencies for free once per year at annualcreditreport.com.

If you don’t want to go that route, you can visit Credit Karma and Credit Sesame, which do a great job of estimating your credit score.  Most of the ‘big boy’ reward credit cards will require a score above 600-650, so keep that in mind when applying.

 

3. Apply for A Card

One of the most fun parts of this equation!  Now, you’ll want to decide which cards to apply for.  For me, I like my first card to be as versatile as possible.  The Chase Sapphire Preferred and the American Express Gold or Platinum credit cards offer up many transfer partners with their points programs, and have a slew of benefits that come along with them.

Other cards that are more specific to a program, like the Chase Southwest RapidRewards Credit Card, are tied to that airline and are less versatile.  However, if you plan on just flying that airline or staying in that hotel chain, by all means, apply for those!

 

4. Never Use Cash Again

My friends all laugh at me, but I don’t use cash for anything I don’t have to.  Got a group dinner?  Take all your friend’s cash and pay for the tab on your card.  Those are FREE POINTS AND MILES, people.  And they rack up (especially if your card gives you bonus points for dining).

 

5. Use Your Points

This step will differ depending on the card that you applied for, but whether you a redeeming for a travel purchase on your credit card statement, or transferring to an airline partner of the credit card, you’ll want to use your points when you’re ready for your vacation!  The general rule is the further out you are planning, the more award availability, but that changes airline to airline.

 

Conclusion

That’s a primer for points and miles.  Did I miss anything?  Did you take a different path to points prowess?  Let me know in the comments!