Credit Card Recommendations
Credit cards can be a powerful tool for personal finance when used responsibly. Credit cards can help you build your credit and reward you for your every day spending. My favorite thing about the, is that I’ve used credit card rewards to travel the world! I've booked free flights to places like Japan and London, and stayed in amazing hotels like the Park Hyatt Seoul, all by maximizing credit card points. I'm here to show you how you can do the same. On this page, I share my top credit card recommendations, along with affiliate links and referrals. These help support my content, and I only suggest cards that I personally use and love for travel rewards!"
My first premium travel card was the Chase Sapphire Reserve, and it completely changed how I experience travel. From the moment I signed up, I was impressed. The large sign-on bonus was a fantastic start, and the rewards program is truly rewarding, offering excellent earning rates across various spending categories. One of my favorite perks was access to airport lounges – a welcome escape during long layovers. While the annual fee is $550, you effectively recoup $300 of that with the annual travel credit, making it an incredibly valuable card. These are just a few of the many benefits the Sapphire Reserve offers.After enjoying the perks of the Chase Sapphire Reserve for a few years, I decided to downgrade and now use the Chase Sapphire Preferred as my primary card. It's a fantastic option for anyone looking for a rewarding card for everyday spending, without the hefty annual fee of a premium travel card. I made the switch because I'm planning to explore other premium card options soon. With a reasonable $95 annual fee, it unlocks access to Chase's valuable transfer partners – a feature you won't find with the no-annual-fee Chase cards. This makes the Sapphire Preferred a powerful tool for maximizing your rewards on everyday purchases.After building my credit with a Discover it Secured card, my first foray into the world of annual-fee credit cards was the United Explorer Card. The sign-on bonus was generous – enough to snag a free round-trip flight to Japan! Plus, the free checked bags on every United flight were a fantastic perk, saving me around $40 per trip. I used this card as my primary travel companion until I upgraded to the Chase Sapphire Reserve. If you're a frequent flyer of a certain airline and value the convenience and savings that come with sticking to one airline, an airline-specific credit card is definitely worth considering.