Best credit cards: These 4 keep me on the go about 180 days a year

Points, miles and credit card bonuses are what lit the travel flame for me once I entered my mid-30s and decided to prioritize travel in my life.

I have more than two dozen credit card accounts on my credit report, which have fed my travel addiction and enabled me to fly in the front of the plane all over the world. Since I started at TPG more than five years ago, my credit card habit has only grown.

But the biggest transformation for me has been in seeing how credit card bonuses can unlock the world of travel for everyone.

No matter if you want to fly business class to Asia or are eager to see your loved ones for Christmas for free, there is a credit card that can empower you, too.

These are my picks for the best credit cards that unlock amazing travel experiences thanks to points and miles.

Comparing my top picks for the best credit cards

Here’s how my top recommendations for the best credit cards stack up against each other.

Chase Sapphire Preferred Card

Standout benefits: The Sapphire Preferred offers lucrative earning rates and is one of the best beginner credit cards. I often recommend this card to newbies who are ready to get into the world of credit card rewards.

That being said, the Sapphire Preferred isn’t just for beginners. I consider myself an expert, and it’s a card I use again and again because of its lucrative earnings and — the best part — its roster of more than a dozen stellar Chase transfer partners.

If you’re looking for a product that offers several lifestyle credits, excellent travel perks and is still within the Chase family, consider the recently refreshed Chase Sapphire Reserve® (see rates and fees).

Both Chase Sapphire cards let you transfer points directly to World of Hyatt and Air France-KLM Flying Blue, where you can book hotel rooms and flights that provide maximum value. Over the years, I’ve used Chase points to book stays at some of the nicest hotels in the world, including the Park Hyatt Paris-Vendome.

I’ve also used my Chase points to transfer to Air France for some amazing redemptions in business class. This allows me to get even higher value when redeeming my points.

Of course, leveraging transfer partners may not be for everyone. If this is you, the easiest way to use your stash of points may very well be through Chase Travel.

I love the points-earning power of my Chase Sapphire Preferred. I also manage to use the $50 Chase Travel hotel credit every year, which helps offset more than half of the $95 annual fee. If you are looking for a great card with a low annual fee and lots of perks, the Sapphire Preferred is an excellent place to start.

For more information, check out our review of the Chase Sapphire Preferred.

Apply here: Chase Sapphire Preferred

Bilt Mastercard

Standout benefits: The best benefit of the Bilt card is the ability to earn points on paying rent without a transaction fee (see rates and fees).

As long as you make at least five purchases with the card each statement period, you can earn reward points on your rent payments — an incredible proposition for renters (since rent is typically a person’s largest monthly bill).

As a renter in New York City, the Bilt card is a must-have in my wallet. What’s even better is that this card offers the ability to make transaction fee-free rent payments without charging cardholders an annual fee (see rates and fees). Even if your landlord only takes checks, Bilt can send checks and automated clearing house direct deposits so you can earn points on the transactions (up to 100,000 points per year).

But that’s not the card’s only selling point. I also earn a large number of points on dining and pharmacy purchases every month. I use my Bilt card at Walgreens, where Bilt Rewards members can earn extra Bilt Points on purchases, no matter what credit card they use.

I earn 1 point per dollar spent on all Walgreens purchases, 2 points per dollar spent on Walgreens-branded items and 100 points per prescription refill (subject to certain exclusions). This specific perk alone has netted me thousands of points.

Dining is another solid Bilt reward-earning category. I earn 3 points per dollar spent on dining and 2 points per dollar spent on travel purchases. But on the first day of every month (aka “Rent Day”), these earnings double (excluding rent, up to 1,000 points).

Here’s an example of how those earnings can add up. On May 1, I spent $7.65 at the Chicago Athletic Association, $24.31 at Shake Shack and $20 at Starbucks. Because it was a Bilt Rent Day, I earned 22 points for dining on that $7 purchase, plus another 22 points for Rent Day. Shake Shack earned me 144 points, and Starbucks got me 60 points. That’s 248 points on just $51 in purchases.

With Bilt Rewards, the points really add up. The best feature, I think, is that Bilt often runs transfer bonuses to one or more of its 21 transfer partners. For example, back in January 2024, Bilt ran a 100% transfer bonus to Air France-KLM Flying Blue. I transferred 32,000 Bilt points to Air France, and, thanks to that transfer bonus, 32,000 points became 64,000 miles in my Flying Blue account — a truly stellar deal.

The Bilt card doesn’t currently feature a welcome bonus, but it is still worth getting if you’re a renter like me.

For more information, check out our review of the Bilt Mastercard.

Apply here: Bilt Mastercard

Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card

Standout benefits: I’ve written extensively about the Delta SkyMiles Reserve Amex over the years, and while the benefits have changed, it continues to hold a place in my wallet despite a high $650 annual fee.

The card gives some valuable statement credits (several of which require enrollment), including an up to $20 monthly Resy credit (up to $240 each calendar year) to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants. I’ve been able to use this credit at local Upper West Side neighborhood restaurants.

I’ve also been able to maximize the up to $10 per month credit for ride-hailing services (up to $120 each calendar year) with eligible providers within the U.S. I usually use it to get a Revel car service ride at least once a month.

The card also comes with an up to $200 annual Delta Stays statement credit. Last year, I was able to use it to save some cash on an Atlanta hotel reservation.

I like the annual companion certificate benefit as well. It lets you bring a companion with you on a round-trip ticket within the continental U.S. or to Mexico, the Caribbean or Central America for the cost of taxes and fees. This can even be used for domestic first-class tickets.

Then there’s the TakeOff 15 benefit, which I think is one of the Delta Reserve’s standout features, as it gives you a 15% discount on all Delta award tickets.

For more information, check out our review of the Delta SkyMiles Reserve.

Apply here: Delta SkyMiles Reserve Amex

Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card

Standout benefits: The Hilton Honors Aspire is another of my favorite credit cards. It comes with automatic top-tier Hilton Honors Diamond status, which has come in handy during multiple stays over the years I have held the card.

That status means you’re eligible for suite upgrades and get automatic executive lounge access (where there’s a lounge). You’ll also sometimes be granted early check-in or late checkout. No other hotel chain offers top-tier status just for keeping its branded card.

I recently got access to the swanky lounge at the Conrad Seoul in South Korea just for having Diamond status, saving me hundreds of dollars on food.

The card also has valuable bonus categories where you can really rack up the Hilton Honors points. Among the bonus categories are 14 points per dollar spent at hotels within the Hilton portfolio, 7 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or through amextravel.com, 7 points per dollar spent on select dining at U.S. restaurants and 3 points per dollar spent on all other purchases.

As a Hilton Diamond, you also get a 100% points bonus at most Hilton properties.

You’ll get a bunch of statement credits to boot as well. These include up to $200 a year in airline incidental credits (broken up as up to $50 per quarter statement credits for eligible flights made directly with an airline or through amextravel.com) and another up to $400 in Hilton resort credits (broken up as up to $200 semiannually).

Finally, and potentially most lucratively, the card gets you a free night award that can be used at almost any Hilton property in the world. I’ve used mine over the years at the Niepce Paris Hotel, Curio Collection by Hilton; the Waldorf Astoria Chicago; and the incredible Rome Cavalieri, A Waldorf Astoria Hotel.

Apply here: Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card

How I chose my top four cards

To decide which cards are well-suited to my lifestyle, spending and travel habits, I consider the following criteria:

• The type of rewards a card earns
• The current welcome bonus a card is offering
• How much a card’s annual fee will cost me

If I want simplicity, I might eye a cash-back card since there are typically few limitations on how cash back can be used. I generally prefer to earn transferable currency like points and miles, though. Because of this, I’ll usually look into cards that earn American Express Membership Rewards or Chase Ultimate Rewards.

Then I compare welcome bonuses to see which spending requirements make the most sense for my current spending needs. Earning a big welcome bonus means receiving a nice boost to your rewards balance. Just be sure to review each issuer’s eligibility requirements, and remember to account for your typical spending habits.

For example, if you spend a lot at restaurants, get a card that rewards you when making dining purchases. If you have a significant commute, pick up a card that rewards you for gas or transit expenses. With the right combination of cards, you can easily double or even triple your earning rates for many purchases.

Finally, consider the out-of-pocket cost of any new card on your radar. While some have no annual fee (or skip the annual fee for the first year), others have hefty ones, as you saw in the list above.

In the first year, almost every card with a solid welcome offer will pay for itself (and then some), but you should take some time before you apply to make sure you can truly take advantage of that card’s benefits, both now and in the future.

My methodology

I combine TPG’s methodology and the factors outlined above to compare and choose which cards are worth the investment. This approach has personally allowed me to build a card portfolio that has earned me tens of thousands of dollars worth of rewards over the years.

Bottom line

My journey through the world of travel has been fueled by credit card bonuses and rewards. I always tell people that since they are going to be spending money anyway, they might as well earn points and miles on every charge and get something back.

Sometimes, the things we get back can be a whole lot better than just getting 1% to 2% cash back.

Weigh the pros and cons of each card before deciding which ones might work best for your unique spending patterns. And remember, if you’re unable to pay off your card balances every month, then opening a new card with a higher spending requirement to earn a welcome bonus may not be the best call. Instead, consider starting with a product that features a manageable spending threshold — and that you’ll use responsibly. The value of your credit card rewards significantly decreases if you accrue high-interest debt to earn them.

For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles Reserve Amex, click here.
For rates and fees of the Hilton Honors Aspire Card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Bilt Mastercard, click here.
For rewards and benefits of the Bilt Mastercard, click here.