I'm looking for the best travel credit card for non-travellers. I travel maybe once or twice a year and usually I don't fly (but I might some day). So I'm looking for a travel card that can make the most with the amount of spend I can put on it.
The forums have(/had) me interested in Chase Sapphire Reserve/Preferred (and I have Freedom and Freedom Unlimited) but I don't think I can make the cards work for me in a way that compensates for those hefty AF's (and hard to hit sign up bonus). I understand that CSR pays a chunk of it's AF off with it's perks but if I don't use them one year (as I might do), then I see it as a huge loss financially. I like the idea of being able to use these cards for many different partners for travel.
The forums have me interested in First National Bank Travelite as it has no AF, a decent sign up bonus (hard to hit spend imo but I think I can swing it). This card having that plus paying for Global Entry really is a treat...but it also has a wonderful sounding $100 credit for hotel upgrades (the one I'm most likely to use), baggage, etc when you register for the program. I don't know how that works...do I just show up to a hotel and ask for an upgrade if one is available and FNBO/Amex will automatically know it's that type of spend? If it's easy enough, I can see this being the card for me as I could comfortably not use it (except for the occasional dining for 3X points) to accumulate points...which I think can only be used for CB? Which I'm fine with...although I do dislike the Amex $25 redemption minimum. I like the idea of being able to use for travel spend.
These 3 cards have been swirling around in my head lately. I won't do anything soon but definitely within a year I would like to have a card that fits this niche for me. I'm open to other options.
Must garden until 2/1/2022 to hit my goal AAOA. 
Discover Miles 
@Loquat wrote:BankAmericard Travel Rewards. 1.5 points/$1 plus a 20,000 ($200) bonus after $1k spend within 3 months. No annual fee and if you have a BOA account then you'll get an extra 10% bonus making it a 1.65 point/$1 card. But to simplify this...this card is labeled "travel" but it's nothing short of a 1.5% cash back card with a $200 spend bonus. Kick it up a little more if you have certain accounts with BOA.
Honestly, if you're going to go this route you can also take a look at the Discover IT Miles (same concept as BOA) or just a flat cash back card like the Citi Double Cash which is your standard 2% cash back card. There are also other players in the 2% game such as Blispay which I would rather have over any of these "travel" labeled cards.
Thank you all for your feedback. I appreciate it. I still think the FNB Travelite has a leg up because it's basically the same as the BOA Travel or Discover It Miles but it gives you 3X points when using it on travel...plus that $100 annual credit and global entry credit. If it's the same 1.5...I might as well get the best bang for my buck, shouldn't I?
Adding: I have considered not getting one but is there a con to just getting one of the aforementioned cards and holding onto them? I drop a few points and recoup them in a year or less. Just wondering.
PC your Capital One Platinum to Quicksilver. No HP, no FTF, no AF, 1.5% easy rewards to use as you like when you like..
Also consider hotel cards like Chase Marriorr with the free annual night. The issue here is the points on regular spend are not good. Hyatt is better, but availability of Hyatt hotels is limited.
If if you don't travel regularly, the AF on travel cards is going to hurt your earnings from spend. Using 5% category cards, or QS, is going to be much easier.
