💳Our Top Picks for Credit Card Travel Point Rewards Hack
- cruisinwithchewy
- Apr 26
- 6 min read
In past posts, we’ve shared how we’ve used credit cards with generous intro offers to help fund our travels—buying Groupons or travel packages while taking advantage of 0% APR for 12 months. While current financial conditions have made these 0% APR + bonus points deals harder to find, they’re not gone completely. With a little planning and the right timing, you can still snag offers that give you big points and favorable terms.
Even though some of the best 0% APR deals aren’t as common right now, we still wanted to share some of the cards we personally use and how we’ve benefited from them. These cards have helped us earn thousands of points that we’ve redeemed for flights, hotel stays, and more.
But credit cards aren’t just about the rewards. If used responsibly, they can also help you build your credit, increase your overall credit limit, and improve your financial flexibility over time. By making smart moves—like paying off balances in full and on time—you can enjoy both travel perks and a stronger credit score. Check out our More than Just Perks post for more on this subject.
If you’re shopping for a rewards card, it’s important to look at both the perks and the current interest rates. Below, we’ve broken down four popular cards that we use ourselves, including their bonuses, fees, and why we love them. These cards have helped us unlock amazing experiences, and they can help you too.
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Chase Sapphire Preferred® is a traveler’s favorite, offering a huge points bonus and elevated rewards on dining and travel. It’s an excellent mid-tier card for those who want premium perks without a premium fee, and its points are extremely versatile for travel redemptions.
Sign-Up Bonus: Earn 100,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 in the first 3 months. That’s worth $1,250 toward travel when redeemed through Chase Ultimate Rewards.
Key Perks:
Earn 5× points on travel booked through Chase Travel℠(Chase’s booking portal), plus an annual $50 hotel credit for bookings made via the portal.
Earn 3× points on dining (including eligible delivery and takeout), select streaming services, and online grocery shopping.
Earn 2× points on other travel purchases and 1× on all other spending.
Points are flexible: get 25% more value when redeeming through Chase’s travel portal (e.g. 100k points = $1,250) or transfer points to airline and hotel partners for potentially even higher value.
Travel protections are included (trip delay insurance, primary rental car coverage, etc.), and no foreign transaction fees apply.
Annual Fee: $95
APR (as of April 2025): 19.99% – 28.24% (Variable) for purchases, based on creditworthiness.
Why We Love It: This card consistently ranks as one of the best travel reward cards due to its outsized welcome bonus and generous rewards structure. The ability to earn 3-5× points on common expenses and then boost their value for travel redemptions makes it easy to offset the modest $95 fee many times over. In short, the Sapphire Preferred offers tremendous value for travelers who want flexible, high-value points without a luxury card price tag.
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Capital One Venture Rewards is all about simplicity and solid rewards. With this card, every purchase earns travel miles at a flat rate, and the current offer even adds a hefty travel credit. It’s a great choice if you want easy-to-redeem rewards for any travel without being tied to a single airline or hotel.
Sign-Up Bonus: 75,000 miles after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months, plus a $250 travel credit for Capital One Travel in your first year (limited-time offer). That’s worth up to $1,000 in travel when combined.
Key Perks:
Earn 2× miles on every purchase, every day, unlimited. No need to juggle bonus categories – a straightforward 2% equivalent back toward travel on everything.
Earn 5× miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, allowing you to rack up rewards faster when you plan trips.
Miles are very flexible: redeem miles for any travel purchase as a statement credit (erase travel expenses) or book travel through Capital One’s portal. You can also transfer miles to 15+ airline and hotel partners for potentially higher value.
Get reimbursed for your application fee for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry (credit up to ~$100) to speed through security lines.
No foreign transaction fees, so you won’t incur extra charges when using the card abroad.
Annual Fee: $95
APR (as of April 2025): 19.99% – 29.24% (Variable).
Why We Love It: The Venture card makes earning and using rewards incredibly easy – 2x miles on everything means no thinking about categories. We also love that its welcome offer (worth hundreds in travel) and annual $250 travel credit can essentially cover the $95 fee for several years. It’s clear why the Venture is so popular: it offers big travel value with minimal effort – perfect for travelers who want flexibility and simplicity in a rewards card.
Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card
The Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card is an excellent choice for frequent Delta flyers seeking valuable travel perks without a hefty annual fee.
Sign-Up Bonus: Earn 50,000 bonus miles after spending $2,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of card membership.
Key Perks:
2x miles on Delta purchases, at restaurants worldwide, and at U.S. supermarkets.
1x mile on all other eligible purchases.
First checked bag free on Delta flights—a savings of up to $60 per round trip.
Priority boarding on Delta flights.
15% savings on award travel booked with miles through Delta.com or the Fly Delta app.
$200 Delta flight credit after spending $10,000 in purchases on your card in a calendar year.
No foreign transaction fees, making it ideal for international travel.
Annual Fee: $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150.
APR (as of April 2025): 20.24% to 29.24% variable APR on purchases.
Why We Love It: This card offers substantial value for Delta travelers, with perks like a generous welcome bonus, free checked bags, and priority boarding. The 15% discount on award travel and the potential for a $200 flight credit further enhance its appeal. Plus, the absence of foreign transaction fees makes it a solid companion for international trips.
JetBlue Mastercard (Barclays)
The JetBlue Card from Barclays is a no-annual-fee airline card that still packs in solid rewards for everyday spending. It’s a perfect starter card for JetBlue flyers or anyone looking to earn free flights without paying a fee. While it’s a more basic card, it offers a taste of airline perks and ongoing value, all for $0 per year.
Sign-Up Bonus: 10,000 TrueBlue points after spending $1,000 in the first 90 days. That’s enough for a short one-way flight or to jumpstart your TrueBlue balance.
Key Perks:
Earn 3× points per $1 on JetBlue purchases (including JetBlue Vacations and Paisly bookings).
Earn 2× points per $1 at restaurants and grocery stores – useful for racking up points on everyday dining and food shopping.
Earn 1× point on all other purchases.
50% inflight savings on JetBlue-operated flights: get half off eligible inflight purchases like snacks, meals, and alcoholic beverages when you pay with the card. This makes those onboard treats much more affordable.
Points pool sharing: JetBlue allows you to pool points with family or friends, making it easier to collectively redeem for flights. And JetBlue points don’t expire, so you can save up as long as you need.
No foreign transaction fees, which is somewhat rare for a no-annual-fee card – feel free to use it abroad on your travels.
Annual Fee: $0
APR (as of April 2025): 20.24% – 29.99% (Variable).
Why We Love It: It’s hard to beat earning airline miles with a $0 annual fee. The 3x on JetBlue and 2x on groceries/dining mean this card earns rewards on both travel and everyday life. We love that JetBlue fans get a nice head start on points (10k bonus) and enjoy perks like the 50% inflight savings – your in-air drinks and snacks are half-price, which makes flying JetBlue even more enjoyable. Overall, the JetBlue Card is a no-cost way to chip away at the cost of travel – every swipe brings you closer to your next vacation, with no annual fee eating into your value.
Reminder: APR ranges can change over time, as they’re often tied to the Prime Rate. The “APR as of April 2025” noted above is current now, but always double-check the official card issuer’s page for the most up-to-date rates and terms before applying. Happy card hunting!
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