topic Re: Need help with Strategy in Credit Cards

Need help with Strategy

BootStraps — Thu, 10 Apr 2014 19:29:58 GMT

Hi Folks...

My partner and I getting married in September, and we will be taking a week in Sedona AZ after the wedding. I am trying to figure out which card would be most adventageous for using this trip to contribute to future vacations and adventures. We don't travel much but want to be able to use points/miles to pay for most of a flight/hotel for next year's vacation (or two years as finances allow).

Even as infrequent travelers, I suspect that having a travel card might benefit us.

My current lineup includes Discover, NFCU Rewards Visa/MC/LOC, walmart/Amazon/lowes, USAA Amex&MC, VS, HD, Amex Gold - util 19%

Right now, I'm trying to decide among Barclay's Arrival, Blue Sky Preferred (BSP) and Chase Sapphire Preferred (CSP)... what is the most generally useful for building travel points? Is there a more appropriate card that I should be thinking considering?

Suggestions?

Re: Need help with Strategy

Anonymous — Thu, 10 Apr 2014 19:35:18 GMT

I'd first tie down what you mean by "travel points".

True travel points tend to be MR/UR points from Amex/Chase.

The inherent problem with these is that they often don't make sense for low spend / occasional travel scenarios, and the same is true of AF travel cards in general.

If you do travel a lot, and are skillful in using these points, it can be a good deal.

The alternative is cashback cards like the Fidelity Amex 2% one.

Re: Need help with Strategy

plasectomy — Thu, 10 Apr 2014 19:43:50 GMT

Personally, I would not want to worry about which card I'm using during my honeymoon, so I would go with the Arrival for its simplicity. No guesswork rewards, no card shuffling, and MC acceptance.

Re: Need help with Strategy

BootStraps — Fri, 11 Apr 2014 12:36:35 GMT

Thanks for the feedback.

Does anyone know if CSP considers "commuter rail" as travel for their rewards? Things like NYC subways and Long Island Railroad?

Re: Need help with Strategy

BootStraps — Fri, 11 Apr 2014 13:06:42 GMT

Actually, nevermind. It looks like the Arrival might be the best, no hassle fit.

Barclay has a reputation for being both fickle and finicky so I don't have any of their cards, but I'll give them a shot..