My Cards & Referral Links
Every card I personally carry, why I have it, and a referral link so we both benefit when you apply.
Disclosure: Some links on this page are referral links. If you apply and are approved, I may receive a bonus at no extra cost to you. I only recommend cards I personally use and believe in.
Transferable Points Cards
These are the most flexible and highest-value cards in any travel stack. Points earned here can be transferred to airlines and hotels or used directly on travel portals.
Capital One Venture X
My top pick for all-around value. Earns 2x miles on every purchase, 10x on hotels and rental cars through Capital One Travel, and 5x on flights. The $395 annual fee is effectively offset by a $300 annual travel credit and 10,000 bonus miles each anniversary. Miles transfer to 15+ airline and hotel partners.
Best for: Anyone who wants one premium card that does everything
Amex Platinum
The gold standard for travel perks. Earns 5x Membership Rewards on flights booked directly with airlines and 5x on prepaid hotels through Amex Travel. The $695 annual fee comes with $200 airline fee credit, $200 hotel credit, $189 CLEAR credit, lounge access (Centurion, Priority Pass, Delta Sky Club), and Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit. Points transfer to 20+ partners including Air France/KLM, ANA, and Virgin Atlantic.
Best for: Frequent flyers who want lounge access and premium travel perks
Amex Gold
The best card for dining and groceries, full stop. Earns 4x Membership Rewards at restaurants worldwide and 4x at U.S. supermarkets (up to $25k/year), plus 3x on flights. The $250 annual fee is offset by $120 in dining credits and $120 in Uber Cash annually. A powerhouse earner for everyday spending that feeds directly into Amex’s premium transfer partner network.
Best for: People who spend heavily on food and want transferable points
Chase Sapphire Preferred
The best starter travel card and still one of the best overall. Earns 3x on dining, 3x on online groceries, 2x on all other travel, and 5x on travel booked through Chase Travel. The $95 annual fee is easy to justify, and Chase Ultimate Rewards points transfer to 14 partners including Hyatt, United, Southwest, and British Airways. Points are worth 25% more when redeemed through Chase Travel portal.
Best for: First travel card or anyone wanting Chase’s transfer partner network
Citi Strata Premier
An underrated card in the transferable points space. Earns 3x on air, hotels, restaurants, supermarkets, and gas stations — one of the broadest earning categories of any travel card. The $95 annual fee is offset by a $100 annual hotel credit on stays of $500+. Citi ThankYou Points transfer to 18 partners including Turkish Airlines, Air France/KLM, and Avianca — some of the best partner redemption values available.
Best for: Maximizing everyday earning with a low annual fee
Hotel Cards
Co-branded hotel cards that earn points within a specific loyalty program. Best used when you stay frequently with one brand and want elite status perks.
World of Hyatt Visa
Hyatt has the best points value of any hotel loyalty program — and this card is the front door to it. Earns 4x at Hyatt properties, 2x on dining, local transit, and gyms. The $95 annual fee comes with a free night certificate (valid at Category 1–4 properties) and automatic Discoverist status. Hyatt points routinely redeem at 1.5–2.5 cents each, making this one of the highest-value hotel cards available.
Best for: Anyone who wants the best value per hotel point
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless
Access to the world’s largest hotel footprint through Marriott Bonvoy. Earns 6x at Marriott properties and 3x on dining, gas, and groceries. The $95 annual fee includes a free night certificate each year worth up to 35,000 points, which easily covers the fee at thousands of properties. Automatic Silver Elite status included, with a path to Gold at 25 nights.
Best for: Marriott loyalists and travelers who want a massive hotel network
No-Fee & Everyday Cards
These cards round out the stack by earning on categories your premium cards miss, with no annual fee eating into the returns.
Chase Freedom Unlimited
A no-annual-fee card that earns 1.5x Chase Ultimate Rewards on every purchase, plus 3x on dining and drugstores. The real power here is that those points combine with your Sapphire Preferred balance — meaning you’re earning transferable UR points with no fee. An essential complement to any Chase card in your wallet.
Best for: Filling in the gaps in your Chase earning with no annual fee
Amex Blue Cash Everyday
A no-annual-fee cash back card that earns 3% at U.S. supermarkets (up to $6k/year), 3% at U.S. gas stations, and 3% on U.S. online retail. A solid everyday earner for non-travel spending categories, and useful for keeping your Amex account active without paying a fee. Cash back is received as Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit.
Best for: Everyday cash back on groceries, gas, and online shopping
Flying Resources 