Stefan’s Travel Rewards Card Picks

I’ve partnered with Upgraded Points because the site has the most detailed, user-friendly online miles and points guides that they keep regularly updated. I frequently advise on content and contribute to improve and update articles for beginner to advanced audiences.

I write the blog Rapid Travel Chai, founded the Facebook group Every Passport Stamp, and speak on travel and frequent flyer programs at conferences and events around the world.

Always on the Lookout for More Rewards and More Travel

Smart investment of time to maximize rewards on personal and business spend can pay off in ‘once in a lifetime’ trips again and again!

Chase Ultimate Rewards

The most valuable credit cards for me have flexible rewards programs like Chase Ultimate Rewards that have both airline & hotel transfer partners, and solid points for cash travel awards.

My Ultimate Rewards points go to:

• Star Alliance carrier flights for my country collecting, booked with United MileagePlus
• Business class flights for my wife on Korean Air (her favorite airline)
• Romantic stays at Hyatts

I pool points earned from my personal and business Chase cards, maximizing category bonuses such as:

• 3x travel on the Chase Sapphire Reserve and Ink Business Preferred
• 5x category bonuses of the Chase Freedom and Ink Business Cash
• 1.5x everywhere ease of the Chase Freedom Unlimited and Ink Business Unlimited

My Recommended Chase Personal Cards

CHASE PERSONAL CARD	BENEFITS & INFO
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card	Biggest Bonus Ever! Earn 60,000 bonus points 2X points on travel and dining. Good to Excellent Credit Recommended (670-850) Annual Fee: $95
Chase Freedom Unlimited®	Earn 3% cash back on all purchases in your first year up to $20,000 spent. After that, unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases. 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases & balance transfers, then a variable APR of 17.24% - 25.99%. Annual Fee: $0

My Recommended Chase Business Cards

CHASE BUSINESS CARD	BENEFITS & INFO
Ink Business Cash℠ Credit Card	Earn $500 bonus cash back Earn 5% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at office supply stores and on internet, cable and phone services Earn 2% cash back on the first $25,000 (combined) spent at gas stations and restaurants each year 0% introductory APR for 12 months on purchases, then a variable APR of 15.49% - 21.49% $0 Annual Fee
Ink Business Preferred℠ Credit Card	Earn 80,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months That's $1,000 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards® Points are worth 25% more when you redeem for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards® Earn 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent in combined purchases in the following categories each account anniversary year: Travel, Shipping purchases, Internet, cable and phone services, Advertising purchases with social media sites and search engines. Get up to $600 per claim in Cell Phone Protection against covered theft or damage for you (and your employees listed on your monthly cell phone bill) when you pay it with your Chase Ink Business Preferred credit card. Annual Fee: $95

American Express Membership Rewards

The American Express Membership Rewards program is also great value for me:

• Delta is my primary airline and there are hidden gems with Delta SkyMiles when you know where to look
• Virgin Atlantic Flying Club is useful for awards on Delta that can be much cheaper than Delta charges
• ANA Mileage Club is an underrated Star Alliance program
• Air Canada Aeroplan works great for Star Alliance, too, on airlines where surcharges are not added
• British Airways Executive Club is great for short-distance flights on Oneworld airlines and Alaska Airlines
• Choice Privileges are a sleeper value for stays in Europe with breakfasts often included

The new American Express® Gold Card is incredible for spend at US Restaurants as well as US Supermarkets. See the details below!

AMEX CARD

BENEFITS & INFO

American Express® Gold Card

Earn 35,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $2,000 on eligible purchases with your new card within the first 3 months. Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points at restaurants worldwide. Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points at US supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per year in purchases, then 1X). Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com. $100 Airline Fee Credit: up to $100 in statement credits per year for incidental fees at one selected airline. Annual Fee: $250 For rates and fees of the Gold Card, click here.

Delta Elite Status

I love Delta Diamond Medallion status and the Medallion Qualification Mile (MQM) Boosts of the American Express Delta Platinum and American Express Delta Reserve get me closer to soon reaching 2 million lifetime miles!

I prefer the business versions of these cards because monthly spend does not show on credit reports. I frequently spend a lot on these cards and would not want my reported credit utilization to increase.

CREDIT CARD	CARD INFO
Gold Delta SkyMiles® Business Credit Card from American Express	Earn 30,000 bonus miles after you spend $1,000 in purchases within the first 3 months. Earn a $50 statement credit after you make a Delta purchase with your new Card within your first 3 months. Annual Fee: $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $95. For rates and fees of the Gold Delta SkyMiles® Business Credit Card from American Express, please click here.
Platinum Delta SkyMiles® Business Credit Card from American Express	Earn 35,000 bonus miles and 5,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) after you spend $1,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 3 months. Earn a $100 statement credit after you make a Delta purchase with your new Card within your first 3 months. Annual Fee: $195. For rates and fees of the Platinum Delta SkyMiles® Business Credit Card from American Express, please click here.

New from Hilton

The refreshed lineup of Hilton cards is worth a look, especially the Hilton Honors Ascend Card from American Express or the Hilton Honors American Express Business Card for giving Hilton Honors Gold status and their earning potential.

A ‘No Brainer’ Card for Businesses

For business owners, the American Express Blue Business℠ Plus earns 2x points everyone up to $50,000 per year and has no annual fee, yet can transfer to all Membership Rewards partners. An incredible value!

For those who prefer cash back, the American Express® Blue Business Cash Card is a great small business option with a simple earning structure of 2% cash back on all eligible purchases on up to $50,000 per calendar year, then 1.

My Travel

I travel America and the world for business and pleasure. I got into rewards credit cards to achieve my goal of traveling to every country in the world – I’ve been to 190 and have 3 to go.

I am decades ahead of where I thought I would be before I learned the value of miles and points.

Miles and points mean that when my wife wants to celebrate her birthday in Hong Kong, a bit of nostalgia from when we were living in Asia and dating, we can do it in style. Or I can bring my family in for my father’s 70th birthday celebration this year during peak summer travel season.