Best Credit Card to apply for?

[natasjlp]

I have only 2 major credit cards and just got an auto loan. I want to apply for a credit card before my credit possibly takes a hit (according to myFICO.com score simulator) and the loan appears on my credit report.

The type of cc I am looking for with have the best base rewards that do not expire and can be used/redeemed in the widest array of options, i.e. hotels, flights etc... and by the most types of airlines and hotels.

Capital One looks like they have a few interesting cards like a few different versions of the 'Venture'... I don't care about things like APR because I will be paying these off every month either way...

[Anonymous]

I'm not sure how far you can get with multiple types of rewards with just 1 card.  Perhaps you should consider the AMEX Blue.  I think it's the best straight cash back card out there right now. 

[Guava]

Rewards in the widest array? Citi Thankyou and Chase Sapphire come to my mind. 

[Creditaddict]

We need to know where you spend your money.... My friend eats out almost all meals and buys groceries, that's pretty much all he does, so...

American Express Blue Plus something... new card offers 6% at grocerie

Citi Forward = 5% at restaurants

Can't beat those!!

[Walt_K]

Venture is basically a cashback card that is restricted to travel based redemptions.  It can be a good option if you only want to redeem for domestic coach travel.

If you're looking for premium travel, like business/first class international tickets, you want something like an Amex PR Gold card or Sapphire Preferred card where you can exchange your points for FF miles/hotel reward points (though Chase's Sapphire card transfers better to hotel points than does Amex's Membership Rewards program).  The Amex SPG card is also a good option because of the many different airline options and the hotel rewards. 

[natasjlp]

ok, I will look into the AMEX and Sapphire Preferred. I saw on a few different sites that suggested the Starwood Preferred Guest. any thoughts on this one?

I'll have to look deeper into the Venture about the limited transfers. The one thing I did like about the Venture is the base is 1.25 points per dollar and the other Venture is like 2 points per dollar!

Also not overly excited about paying an annual fee. the Venture with 1.25 has no annual fee. I saw the Platinum AMEX was like $500!! yikes

[natasjlp]

also saw the 

Citi® Hilton HHonors™ Visa Credit Card

looks like a 40K bonus point offer and base 2 points for $1 spent.. it says you can transfer points into miles with partners - haven't found their partners yet and not sure if they do intl etc.. 

[tntexans72]

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@natasjlp wrote:

ok, I will look into the AMEX and Sapphire Preferred. I saw on a few different sites that suggested the Starwood Preferred Guest. any thoughts on this one?

I'll have to look deeper into the Venture about the limited transfers. The one thing I did like about the Venture is the base is 1.25 points per dollar and the other Venture is like 2 points per dollar!

Also not overly excited about paying an annual fee. the Venture with 1.25 has no annual fee. I saw the Platinum AMEX was like $500!! yikes

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@I have the SPG & just got the Sapphire Preferred (50,000 pts) signup. The Sapphire Preferred will be use mainly for over-sea travel - which I do 2 times a year. I spend roughly $5000 each year abroa and the Sapphire Preferred has no FTF. That will save me about $150 in FTF @ 3% rate therefore it justify me getting the Sapphire Preferred. Plus I fly mainly CO so the Preferred allows me to transfer to CO at 1:1 rate in additions to 7% dividend return on pts and 2 for 1 if I book my travel through the Ultimate rewards.

SPG allow a once a year vacation for my wife/daughter to one of their resorts.

I guess you got to figure what you want in a card as there are alot to choose from, but you can't beat the Sapphire Preferred signup right now. Gonna use the card for 1 yr (AF waived) and see where I go from there (keep it or cancel).

Not to mention..the Sapphire Preferred will go 25% extra in pts if you book through Ultimate Rewards.

[Walt_K]

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@natasjlp wrote:

also saw the 

Citi® Hilton HHonors™ Visa Credit Card

looks like a 40K bonus point offer and base 2 points for $1 spent.. it says you can transfer points into miles with partners - haven't found their partners yet and not sure if they do intl etc.. 

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I'm pretty sure the Amex HHonors card earns better points.  3 points per dollar instead of 2, more if you get the Surpass card (but that has an AF).  HHonors points do not transfer to airline miles very favorably.

The point about the Venture card and restricted redemptions is that they call them miles, but they're really just cents.  1 point equal 1 cent, period.  So it's at best a 2% cashback card, except that you can only redeem for travel.  25000 points is going to get you a $250 plane ticket.  Whereas 25000 FF miles may get you a domestic ticket that costs $600. 

I don't have the card, so I could be wrong, maybe you can convert those points to a statement credit, but I thought it was only for travel.  Even so, it's still essentially a cashback card.