Ready to take the plunge? The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is my go-to recommendation for beginners and seasoned travelers alike. With a generous welcome bonus, user friendly redemption options and amazing perks, it’s the perfect card to start your travel rewards journey. You can find all my favorite travel cards in the Main Menu!
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If you and your spouse or partner are both interested in the same card, you can refer each other to "double dip" on welcome bonuses. Have one person (Player 1) apply first, then use their referral link to sign up Player 2. This way, Player 1 earns a referral bonus, and Player 2 gets the welcome offer! It's an easy way to earn even more points as a team.
Some credit card points are more valuable when transferred to travel partners. Learn which airlines and hotels partner with your favorite card and how to maximize the value of your points. For instance, transferring points from Chase to Hyatt will almost always require less points for a free night than booking in the bank travel portal.
If you're just starting out, pay attention to how many cards you open in a short period. Some banks, like Chase, will stop approving your for credit cards once you've opened five new credit cards from any bank in 24 months. Prioritize cards on my "First Cards You Should Open" list found in the main menu. And take advantage of free apps like Travel Freely to keep track of these important stats!
Save time and frustration by using free award search tools like PointsYeah or Roame.travel to find flights that can be booked with points. These tools make it easy to search across multiple airlines and uncover hidden availability, helping you book your dream trip without the hassle of manually checking each airline’s site.
Always combine deals, discounts, and bonuses. For example, use shopping portals or cash-back sites, pay with a rewards card, and use any eligible coupons. This "stacking" approach maximizes every dollar spent. My favorites are Rakuten and the American Airlines shopping portal, but you can check CashBackMonitor.com for the best rebate deals.
Thank you for visiting Vacation Pointers. I can’t wait to help you turn your travel dreams into reality! If you have any questions or want personalized recommendations, don’t hesitate to reach out on Instagram @vacation_pointers or email me at kim@vacationpointers.com. Happy travels! – Kim
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