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Wondering which travel credit card to get first, or which welcome bonuses are worth applying for? I’ve been using credit card points to help my family travel for over 12 years.
Here are the cards I recommend for beginners, my favorite current travel credit card offers, and the strategies Dan and I use to earn more points from expenses we already have. I update this page as offers change, so you can keep coming back when you’re ready for your next card.
New to cards and points? Start with my first five cards below. Do you already have some of the beginner cards? Jump to the current best offers.
POINTS FOR FAMILY TRAVEL
Best Travel Credit Card Offers
You don't need a wallet full of credit cards to start traveling with points. You need a plan and a good welcome bonus.
These are the cards I'd consider first and my favorite current travel credit card offers. I've used points to help my family travel for over 12 years, and I'm sharing what's worked for us.
Updated October 2026
Your first five cards: where I'd start
The order matters because of Chase's 5/24 and business-card application rules. Here's where I'd start, choosing cards that fit your travel plans and applying when the welcome offers are high.
Chase Sapphire Preferred or Chase Sapphire Reserve
The Chase Sapphire Preferred is a great card for beginners, with some of my favorite transfer partners, including Hyatt, United, and Southwest.
The Chase Sapphire Reserve has a higher welcome offer and perks that can help offset its higher annual fee, including participating airport lounge access for the primary cardholder plus two guests.
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
This is a great beginner card. It earns 2x miles per dollar, so miles add up fast! Plus, it has some of my favorite transfer partners, like Air Canada for Star Alliance flights and Air France.
Chase Ink Business Cash Credit Card
My pick from the Chase Ink cards: no annual fee and 0% introductory APR on purchases for the first 12 months.
You may already have a qualifying business. Blogging, reselling on eBay or Facebook Marketplace, tutoring, driving for Uber, coaching, and dog walking are all examples of side hustles that can qualify.
A Chase co-branded airline card
Consider a card for an airline you fly, like United Explorer Card for better award rates and availability, or Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business Credit Card. I like to apply when the welcome bonus is elevated.
A Chase co-branded hotel card
Hotel cards are keepers in my opinion. An annual free night can often be worth more than a $95 annual fee.
Consider the World of Hyatt Credit Card, IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card, or Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card based on where you want to stay. I like to get these when the welcome offers are at their highest.
Further along in your points journey or already over 5/24? There are more options below, including Hilton and American Express cards.
My favorite current credit card offers: October 2026
These are the welcome offers I’m watching right now. Browse personal, business, hotel, and airline cards below.
I may earn a commission if you apply through my Capital One affiliate links.
Best Personal Credit Card Offers
Chase Sapphire Preferred
Earn 75,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Annual fee: $95
A great card for beginners, with some of my favorite transfer partners, including Hyatt, United, and Southwest.
View offer
Chase Sapphire Reserve
Earn 100,000 bonus points after spending $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Annual fee: $795
A higher welcome offer and perks that can help offset the higher annual fee. Participating airport lounge access includes the primary cardholder plus two guests.
View offer
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, plus a limited-time $300 Capital One Travel stays credit.
Annual fee: $95
This is a great beginner card. It earns 2x miles per dollar, so miles add up fast! Plus, it has some of my favorite transfer partners, like Air Canada for Star Alliance flights and Air France.
View offer
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Annual fee: $395
My pick for a lower-cost premium lounge card. Get a $300 Capital One Travel credit each year, 10,000 anniversary miles, and up to $120 toward TSA PreCheck or Global Entry.
View offer
American Express® Gold Card
As high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® points after spending $8,000 on purchases in the first 6 months of Card Membership.
Annual fee: $325
Earn transferable Membership Rewards points, including 4x at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets, subject to annual spending caps. I would consider this once you are over 5/24.
View offer
Chase Freedom Flex
Earn a $250 bonus (25,000 points) after spending $500 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Annual fee: $0
A great beginner card. Earn 5% cash back, or 5x points, on activated rotating categories, plus 3x on dining and drugstores.
View offerBest Business Credit Card Offers
Chase Sapphire Reserve for Business
Earn 200,000 bonus points after spending $30,000 on purchases in the first 6 months from account opening.
Annual fee: $795
A premium option for business owners who can meet the higher spending requirement.
View offer
Capital One Venture X Business
Earn 150,000 bonus miles after spending $30,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Annual fee: $395
Get a $300 annual credit for bookings through Capital One Business Travel, 10,000 anniversary bonus miles, and lounge access. A good fit if your business can meet the higher spending requirement.
View offer
Chase Ink Business Preferred Credit Card
Earn 100,000 bonus points after spending $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Annual fee: $95
A big Chase points welcome offer with a lower annual fee.
View offer
American Express® Business Gold Card
As high as 200,000 Membership Rewards® points after spending $15,000 on purchases in the first 3 months of Card Membership.
Annual fee: $375
An option for business owners looking to earn transferable Membership Rewards points.
View offer
Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business Credit Card
Earn 80,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Annual fee: $299
A great option if you fly Southwest: get your first checked bag free and select a Preferred seat at booking.
View offerBest Hotel Credit Card Offers
Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card
Earn 200,000 Hilton Honors bonus points after spending $6,000 on purchases in the first 6 months of Card Membership.
Annual fee: $550
This is the offer we have been waiting for. Dan and I will both try to get it. Includes Hilton Diamond status, 14x points at Hilton, 7x at U.S. restaurants, up to $219 in CLEAR Plus credit, and up to $400 in Hilton resort credits. Offer ends January 13, 2027.
View offer
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card
Earn 130,000 Hilton Honors bonus points + a Free Night Reward after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 6 months of Card Membership.
Annual fee: $150
A fantastic offer. The bonus Free Night Reward can cover an eligible standard room, even one that would cost 200,000 points for a night. Offer ends January 13, 2027.
View offer
Hilton Honors American Express Business Card
Earn 150,000 Hilton Honors bonus points + a Free Night Award after spending $8,000 on purchases in the first 6 months of Card Membership.
Annual fee: $195
A limited-time Hilton offer that combines bonus points with a free night.
View offer
World of Hyatt Business Credit Card
Earn 70,000 bonus points after spending $7,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Annual fee: $199
Comes with Hyatt Discoverist status. Important to know: this card does not include an annual free Hyatt night award.
View offer
IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card
Earn 180,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Annual fee: $150
Up to 24x total points at IHG Hotels & Resorts; 5x on airlines, car rentals, grocery stores, dining, and gas; 3x on all other purchases. Automatic Gold Elite status.
View offer
IHG One Rewards Premier Select Credit Card
Earn 200,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Annual fee: $350
Up to 28x total points at IHG Hotels; 6x on dining and all other travel, including rideshare; 3x on all other purchases. Automatic Platinum Elite status.
View offer
IHG One Rewards Business Credit Card
Earn 190,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Annual fee: $200
A large IHG points offer for business owners planning hotel stays.
View offerBest Airline Credit Card Offers
United Business Card
Earn up to 100,000 bonus miles. Purchase requirement: $5,000 in the first 3 months from account opening.
Annual fee: $150
Free first checked bag, two United Club one-time passes, savings of 10% or more when booking with miles, and the opportunity to earn a $125 United travel credit.
View offer
United℠ Explorer Card
Earn 80,000 bonus miles after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Annual fee: $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150
Includes a free first checked bag and two United Club one-time passes.
View offer
Atmos™ Rewards Summit Visa Infinite® Card
Earn 70,000 bonus points + a 25,000-point Global Companion Award after spending $3,000 on purchases within the first 90 days from account opening.
Annual fee: $395
The welcome offer includes both bonus points and a Global Companion Award.
View offer
Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®
Earn 125,000 AAdvantage® bonus miles after spending $15,000 on purchases in the first 5 months.
Annual fee: $695
A limited-time offer with unlimited Admirals Club access for the cardholder plus two guests.
View offerStacy’s Tips: Before You Apply
Have a plan for Chase cards. Get the Chase cards you want early because of 5/24: if you’ve opened five or more personal credit cards in the past 24 months, Chase won’t approve you for another card.
Keep the business card rules in mind. Based on the data points I’m following, Chase is limiting business card approvals to applicants under 3/24 and a maximum of three Chase business cards. Applications through an LLC appear to be an exception.
Wait for a great welcome offer. I don’t apply just because I want a card. I want the bonus to be worth it, especially with cards that limit how often you can earn one.
Refer each other. I get a card and earn the bonus, then Dan applies through my referral link. That gives us his welcome bonus plus my referral points!
Think twice before adding an authorized user. Dan and I keep our applications separate. An authorized user account can count toward 5/24, so adding each other can get in the way of our next cards.
Make your regular spending work for you. Choose a spending requirement you can meet with expenses you already have, and pay your balance in full each month. Interest charges eat into the value of those points.
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Happy Travels!