Capital One Venture seems like a no grainer to me.
Basically 2% back on ANYTHING and redemeable towards anything related to travel at all.
No mins , no max.
Obviously you travel.
comes in Signature Visa form with chip.
@celluloid17 wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
but costco is a warehouse store so you have to keep in mind it'll be hard to get more than 1%. but, in actuality, for how low of spend you claim to do the extra 1% really won't be worth the trouble. i understand wanting to maximize rewards but if you're already spreading thin with a few cards then 1 whole percent won't add up to much at all. maybe $50 a year? and is that worth a HP?I would utlimately like to limit myself to three or four cards max, so I'm looking for something that will serve multiple functions so I can eliminate some of the others. I have hardly any inquiries on any of my reports so I don't mind incurring one or two for something that will meet my desired criteria (a long shot, I know!).
OP, you need to get a Capital One Quicksilver no AF card. The difference of 0.5% between this 1.5% and your dream of 2%, if this is used for remainder spend of $3k per year, works out to $15 for the year, about $1 per month, for a fairly high level of angst you seem to have about the 0.5% 
You will benefit more by making sure your higher cost factors, no AF, no FTF, are taken care of, because these, in the long run, will outweigh the 0.5%.
You also forgot another benefit, no BT fees, which is a feature of Capital One cards, and which you may find yourself wanting to have on hand at some point in the future for the ability to quick-park some funds on the Capital One card.
@celluloid17 wrote:I'm looking for a general spend card that gives 2% back for all spend, that's a Visa, has a low or no redemption threshhold ($25 or less to redeem cash back), and no foreign transaction fees?
I think the only thing that comes close is Quicksilver, but I'm wondering if there are any credit products out there that meet this criteria and surpass 1.5% cash back?
ETA: ...and no annual fee!
http://www.doctorofcredit.com/capital-one-spark-with-no-annual-fee-in-branch-offer/
@celluloid17 wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
@celluloid17 wrote:I'm looking for a general spend card that gives 2% back for all spend, that's a Visa, has a low or no redemption threshhold ($25 or less to redeem cash back), and no foreign transaction fees?
I think the only thing that comes close is Quicksilver, but I'm wondering if there are any credit products out there that meet this criteria and surpass 1.5% cash back?
ETA: ...and no annual fee!
I felt compelled to say ... BofA Travel Rewards with Platinum or Platinum Honors.
Minimum redemption is 25 dollars for travel credit (1 to 1 ratio).
2.625% effective cashback, no annual fee, zero foreign transaction fee, and it's a Visa.
I've thought about that one a lot, but I don't have a banking relationship with BOA and it's a tad limiting in terms of redemption. On the other hand, I think it's an underrated travel specific card.
You can do what I've occasionally considered, and just throw some index fund / ETF shares into an account there to sit.
I don't suggest moving cash to BofA just for the card, since BofA's interest rates on savings were lousy last I checked.
@NRB525 wrote:
@celluloid17 wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
but costco is a warehouse store so you have to keep in mind it'll be hard to get more than 1%. but, in actuality, for how low of spend you claim to do the extra 1% really won't be worth the trouble. i understand wanting to maximize rewards but if you're already spreading thin with a few cards then 1 whole percent won't add up to much at all. maybe $50 a year? and is that worth a HP?I would utlimately like to limit myself to three or four cards max, so I'm looking for something that will serve multiple functions so I can eliminate some of the others. I have hardly any inquiries on any of my reports so I don't mind incurring one or two for something that will meet my desired criteria (a long shot, I know!).
OP, you need to get a Capital One Quicksilver no AF card. The difference of 0.5% between this 1.5% and your dream of 2%, if this is used for remainder spend of $3k per year, works out to $15 for the year, about $1 per month, for a fairly high level of angst you seem to have about the 0.5%
You will benefit more by making sure your higher cost factors, no AF, no FTF, are taken care of, because these, in the long run, will outweigh the 0.5%.
You also forgot another benefit, no BT fees, which is a feature of Capital One cards, and which you may find yourself wanting to have on hand at some point in the future for the ability to quick-park some funds on the Capital One card.
Another plus of the Quicksilver is the easy sign-up bonus, which isn't a necessity for me, but it's a plus!
As far as the Venture and Spark cards go, even though I'm looking for a card without FTF, I don't travel enough to justify a travel oriented card specifically. I like the versatility of a cash back card.
I just want to add that I really appreciate all of the thoughtful replies and responses to this thread. Thank you all so much!
@celluloid17 wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
@celluloid17 wrote:I'm looking for a general spend card that gives 2% back for all spend, that's a Visa, has a low or no redemption threshhold ($25 or less to redeem cash back), and no foreign transaction fees?
I think the only thing that comes close is Quicksilver, but I'm wondering if there are any credit products out there that meet this criteria and surpass 1.5% cash back?
ETA: ...and no annual fee!
I felt compelled to say ... BofA Travel Rewards with Platinum or Platinum Honors.
Minimum redemption is 25 dollars for travel credit (1 to 1 ratio).
2.625% effective cashback, no annual fee, zero foreign transaction fee, and it's a Visa.
I've thought about that one a lot, but I don't have a banking relationship with BOA and it's a tad limiting in terms of redemption. On the other hand, I think it's an underrated travel specific card.
You don't need to have a banking relationship with BoA to be approved for one of their cards.
@beautifulblaquepearl wrote:
@celluloid17 wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
@celluloid17 wrote:I'm looking for a general spend card that gives 2% back for all spend, that's a Visa, has a low or no redemption threshhold ($25 or less to redeem cash back), and no foreign transaction fees?
I think the only thing that comes close is Quicksilver, but I'm wondering if there are any credit products out there that meet this criteria and surpass 1.5% cash back?
ETA: ...and no annual fee!
I felt compelled to say ... BofA Travel Rewards with Platinum or Platinum Honors.
Minimum redemption is 25 dollars for travel credit (1 to 1 ratio).
2.625% effective cashback, no annual fee, zero foreign transaction fee, and it's a Visa.
I've thought about that one a lot, but I don't have a banking relationship with BOA and it's a tad limiting in terms of redemption. On the other hand, I think it's an underrated travel specific card.
You don't need to have a banking relationship with BoA to be approved for one of their cards.
This is true, however to get this, one needs a banking relationship, otherwise it's just 1.5%.
Just get both the citi DC and qs. 0 af, 2% back and when you travel use the qs. QS will be visa and DC MC. You'll be fine with those two. If you are worried about ftf you obviously travel and a travel card would be better.
@NRB525 wrote:
@beautifulblaquepearl wrote:
@celluloid17 wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
@celluloid17 wrote:I'm looking for a general spend card that gives 2% back for all spend, that's a Visa, has a low or no redemption threshhold ($25 or less to redeem cash back), and no foreign transaction fees?
I think the only thing that comes close is Quicksilver, but I'm wondering if there are any credit products out there that meet this criteria and surpass 1.5% cash back?
ETA: ...and no annual fee!
I felt compelled to say ... BofA Travel Rewards with Platinum or Platinum Honors.
Minimum redemption is 25 dollars for travel credit (1 to 1 ratio).
2.625% effective cashback, no annual fee, zero foreign transaction fee, and it's a Visa.
I've thought about that one a lot, but I don't have a banking relationship with BOA and it's a tad limiting in terms of redemption. On the other hand, I think it's an underrated travel specific card.
You don't need to have a banking relationship with BoA to be approved for one of their cards.
This is true, however to get this, one needs a banking relationship, otherwise it's just 1.5%.
yeah and have like 50k in the bank too
OP - how much do you charge per month?
More than $1000 = Venture - 2% travel credit $59 AF but $400 sign up bonus.
Less than $1000 = QuickSilver - 1.5% cash back no AF and $100 sign up bonus.
No brainer to me.