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@CreditScholar wrote:
As a general rule cash back cards are good for light travelers, but you may also want to look into a card with <$100 AF like the United Explorer. If you travel even 4 times a year, the free checked bags will already save you more than the AF. Delta and American have similar cards as well, so if you use one airline consistently you might want to look into this. Also the Hilton Reserve by Citi will offer free breakfast and Internet, which can easily run $25-40 per night depending on what property you stay at. Yes it has an AF, but it could be worth it if you're brand-loyal.
Thanks, I will look into these cards.
Looks like a spreadsheet is needed to compare benefits vs AFs.
@FocusedAndDetermined wrote:
@CreditScholar wrote:
As a general rule cash back cards are good for light travelers, but you may also want to look into a card with <$100 AF like the United Explorer. If you travel even 4 times a year, the free checked bags will already save you more than the AF. Delta and American have similar cards as well, so if you use one airline consistently you might want to look into this. Also the Hilton Reserve by Citi will offer free breakfast and Internet, which can easily run $25-40 per night depending on what property you stay at. Yes it has an AF, but it could be worth it if you're brand-loyal.Thanks, I will look into these cards.
Looks like a spreadsheet is needed to compare benefits vs AFs.
You may also want to look at some of the hotel cards that offer a free night annually. This will easily compensate for the AF and then some. Chase's Marriott Premier, Hyatt and Priority Club all fall into this space. US Bank's Club Carlson offers 40k points annually upon renewal, which essentially does the same thing.
Consider the chase Hyatt card. I've had the chase hyatt card for about a year now. There are two free nights, plus 2 free upgrades, and a free room once a year (anniversary). That makes up for the $75 AF.
As far as the perks, whenever I've given my hyatt number to the hotels, I've literally always been given a free room upgrade. On New Years, I received an upgrade at the downtown hyatt hotel in Chicago, to a junior sweet for free. Don't be afraid to ask for upgrades to rooms!
I'm a "lite" traveller too. In fact, most of my hyatt stays have been with my girlfriend for weekend getaways in the city.
If your scores are super good, I would recommend PenFed Travel Rewards. I'm a pretty light traveler (fly maybe 2-3 times a year) and I love it. 5X points on flights. I used the sign up bonus for a r/t flight NY->FL two years ago (which also covered taxes and fees!), and I almost have enough points for another free flight. $0 AF too.