One card to rule them all...

[MaisCher]

So the last few weeks I've been trying to plan our family vacation and this points game is driving me nuts. If I can combine all my cards/rewards we're good but I can't book the entire trip with rewards from any one card. That's frustrating for me. I want to maximize my rewards but trying to remember what card to use when and for what is not working well for me.

I'm thinking I'd really like to just get to the point of using just 1 or 2 cards. Here is what I'm weighing...

Sallie Mae - I use this card for all my Amazon purchase, Gas, and groceries. I'm good with keeping this as a regular because of the 5%

Venture - I rarely use this one but when I visited the travel/rewards site I realized the resort in Destin we vacation in every year was an option. That's a huge expense and if we can book that whole stay on point that would be awesome. Not to mention I liked not being limited to one type of hotel. * Really considering making it my main card.

Marriott - This is my main card right now. I llove the look, Marriott hotels aren't terrible, and Chase just gave me another CLI. That being said, 1 pt per dollar (2 for restaurants) isn't exciting and being limited to just Marriott isn't as feasible as I thought it would be. My sons bball team travels and it now seems some tournaments assign you a hotel. It isn't always the Marriott. Last weekend it was Hilton and I feel like I missed out on earning lots of points for that $500 dollar weekend had it been a Marriott.

Freedom - I try to use it for the 5% catagories but unless it's restaurants like now, I don't see it getting much use. **I just found out that I could transfer UR points to Marriott IF I had the CSP. I may have to app for that one during my next spree.

Amex Delta/ Green/ NFCU - Don't really use

I'm thinking I'd get more bang for my buck with the Sallie Mae/Venture combo. Opinions please!!

[kdm31091]

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@MaisCher wrote:

So the last few weeks I've been trying to plan our family vacation and this points game is driving me nuts. If I can combine all my cards/rewards we're good but I can't book the entire trip with rewards from any one card. That's frustrating for me. I want to maximize my rewards but trying to remember what card to use when and for what is not working well for me.

I'm thinking I'd really like to just get to the point of using just 1 or 2 cards. Here is what I'm weighing...

Sallie Mae - I use this card for all my Amazon purchase, Gas, and groceries. I'm good with keeping this as a regular because of the 5%

Venture - I rarely use this one but when I visited the travel/rewards site I realized the resort in Destin we vacation in every year was an option. That's a huge expense and if we can book that whole stay on point that would be awesome. Not to mention I liked not being limited to one type of hotel. * Really considering making it my main card.

Marriott - This is my main card right now. I llove the look, Marriott hotels aren't terrible, and Chase just gave me another CLI. That being said, 1 pt per dollar (2 for restaurants) isn't exciting and being limited to just Marriott isn't as feasible as I thought it would be. My sons bball team travels and it now seems some tournaments assign you a hotel. It isn't always the Marriott. Last weekend it was Hilton and I feel like I missed out on earning lots of points for that $500 dollar weekend had it been a Marriott.

Freedom - I try to use it for the 5% catagories but unless it's restaurants like now, I don't see it getting much use. 

Amex Delta/ Green/ NFCU - Don't really use

I'm thinking I'd get more bang for my buck with the Sallie Mae/Venture combo. Opinions please!!

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Honestly, if you do not want to hassle with points/miles, there's little point in paying for an AF travel card.

You have a Quicksilver, right? Is it the no AF version? I'd just use that and your Sallie. That's a great combo that covers general spending at 1.5% and groceries/gas at 5%. A simple effective combo. You can build up the cash on the QS and use it for whatever you want, and not be restricted to just Marriott or whatever. The Freedom is not really a "necessary" card IMO; groceries and gas after all are two of the categories it will cover during the year so you don't really need it unless your dining spend is huge (and even then, really, calculate how much more you are getting out of it with your spend).

Travel cards/points etc work for a lot of people but for those who want a simpler existence that's what I'd recommend.

[Anonymous]

I would recommend the CSP/Freedom combo.

It utilizes both CC's rewards categories and allows you to combine them both together.

Plus its signup bonus, providing you meet the spending requirement/add AU bonus, allows you to rack up ~$600 worth of travel points in the first 3 months. 

This is what is paying for my flight roundtrip to Scotland from Detroit next year. Plus, these are transferrable to Marriott and some other airlines and hotel companies etc.

It also has a metal core just like the Marriott

[MaisCher]

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@kdm31091 wrote:

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@MaisCher wrote:

So the last few weeks I've been trying to plan our family vacation and this points game is driving me nuts. If I can combine all my cards/rewards we're good but I can't book the entire trip with rewards from any one card. That's frustrating for me. I want to maximize my rewards but trying to remember what card to use when and for what is not working well for me.

I'm thinking I'd really like to just get to the point of using just 1 or 2 cards. Here is what I'm weighing...

Sallie Mae - I use this card for all my Amazon purchase, Gas, and groceries. I'm good with keeping this as a regular because of the 5%

Venture - I rarely use this one but when I visited the travel/rewards site I realized the resort in Destin we vacation in every year was an option. That's a huge expense and if we can book that whole stay on point that would be awesome. Not to mention I liked not being limited to one type of hotel. * Really considering making it my main card.

Marriott - This is my main card right now. I llove the look, Marriott hotels aren't terrible, and Chase just gave me another CLI. That being said, 1 pt per dollar (2 for restaurants) isn't exciting and being limited to just Marriott isn't as feasible as I thought it would be. My sons bball team travels and it now seems some tournaments assign you a hotel. It isn't always the Marriott. Last weekend it was Hilton and I feel like I missed out on earning lots of points for that $500 dollar weekend had it been a Marriott.

Freedom - I try to use it for the 5% catagories but unless it's restaurants like now, I don't see it getting much use. 

Amex Delta/ Green/ NFCU - Don't really use

I'm thinking I'd get more bang for my buck with the Sallie Mae/Venture combo. Opinions please!!

---

Honestly, if you do not want to hassle with points/miles, there's little point in paying for an AF travel card.

You have a Quicksilver, right? Is it the no AF version? I'd just use that and your Sallie. That's a great combo that covers general spending at 1.5% and groceries/gas at 5%. A simple effective combo. You can build up the cash on the QS and use it for whatever you want, and not be restricted to just Marriott or whatever. The Freedom is not really a "necessary" card IMO; groceries and gas after all are two of the categories it will cover during the year so you don't really need it unless your dining spend is huge (and even then, really, calculate how much more you are getting out of it with your spend).

Travel cards/points etc work for a lot of people but for those who want a simpler existence that's what I'd recommend.

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I have a crappy QS1 with a $600 thats a decade old and they refuse to up the limit. I did see a prequal for a QS1 last time I checked and I'm sure if I app'd now the limit would be better but those 3 bureaus pulls are terrible. 

I don't have a problem with the points per say, I just want them all in one place lol

[MaisCher]

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@Anonymous wrote:

I would recommend the CSP/Freedom combo.

It utilizes both CC's rewards categories and allows you to combine them both together.

Plus its signup bonus, providing you meet the spending requirement/add AU bonus, allows you to rack up ~$600 worth of travel points in the first 3 months. 

This is what is paying for my flight roundtrip to Scotland from Detroit next year. Plus, these are transferrable to Marriott and some other airlines and hotel companies etc.

It also has a metal core just like the Marriott

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That's a good idea, but I think the SM needs to be in the mix somewhere. Umm, maybe a 3 card combo.  So many choices. I remember the days when I just "wanted one prime card with a 5K limit for emergencies" 

[kdm31091]

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@MaisCher wrote:

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@kdm31091 wrote:

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@MaisCher wrote:

So the last few weeks I've been trying to plan our family vacation and this points game is driving me nuts. If I can combine all my cards/rewards we're good but I can't book the entire trip with rewards from any one card. That's frustrating for me. I want to maximize my rewards but trying to remember what card to use when and for what is not working well for me.

I'm thinking I'd really like to just get to the point of using just 1 or 2 cards. Here is what I'm weighing...

Sallie Mae - I use this card for all my Amazon purchase, Gas, and groceries. I'm good with keeping this as a regular because of the 5%

Venture - I rarely use this one but when I visited the travel/rewards site I realized the resort in Destin we vacation in every year was an option. That's a huge expense and if we can book that whole stay on point that would be awesome. Not to mention I liked not being limited to one type of hotel. * Really considering making it my main card.

Marriott - This is my main card right now. I llove the look, Marriott hotels aren't terrible, and Chase just gave me another CLI. That being said, 1 pt per dollar (2 for restaurants) isn't exciting and being limited to just Marriott isn't as feasible as I thought it would be. My sons bball team travels and it now seems some tournaments assign you a hotel. It isn't always the Marriott. Last weekend it was Hilton and I feel like I missed out on earning lots of points for that $500 dollar weekend had it been a Marriott.

Freedom - I try to use it for the 5% catagories but unless it's restaurants like now, I don't see it getting much use. 

Amex Delta/ Green/ NFCU - Don't really use

I'm thinking I'd get more bang for my buck with the Sallie Mae/Venture combo. Opinions please!!

---

Honestly, if you do not want to hassle with points/miles, there's little point in paying for an AF travel card.

You have a Quicksilver, right? Is it the no AF version? I'd just use that and your Sallie. That's a great combo that covers general spending at 1.5% and groceries/gas at 5%. A simple effective combo. You can build up the cash on the QS and use it for whatever you want, and not be restricted to just Marriott or whatever. The Freedom is not really a "necessary" card IMO; groceries and gas after all are two of the categories it will cover during the year so you don't really need it unless your dining spend is huge (and even then, really, calculate how much more you are getting out of it with your spend).

Travel cards/points etc work for a lot of people but for those who want a simpler existence that's what I'd recommend.

---

I have a crappy QS1 with a $600 thats a decade old and they refuse to up the limit. I did see a prequal for a QS1 last time I checked and I'm sure if I app'd now the limit would be better but those 3 bureaus pulls are terrible. 

I don't have a problem with the points per say, I just want them all in one place lol

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Gotcha. As the poster above said you could consider the CSP/Freedom combo, but be careful. The CSP takes a pretty decent amount of spend to justify after the bonus year with the AF and the fact that you only get 2% on dining/travel, the rest 1%.

[ddemari]

I have lots of points/ miles cards and cash back cards. The points/ miles ones as others have said dont work for everyone. I like the quicksilver visa, easy structure no af. A lot of my other mile points cards require hefty spend to equal out in value. Sallliemae is good too. Ive found chase amazon the most lucrative for even though its points im getting at least 2% on all my daily spends and no af.

[Anonymous]

Well, yes, you do need to spend a fair amount to justify the AF on travel cards.

But that is why it is marketed towards people who travel, and travel is not usually cheap; so it never makes much sense to me why people apply for these sort of cards that don't actually travel or at least dine out a lot...

I fly to back to England/Europe at least once a year to visit family, so for myself, along with dining out (includes starbucks) and the 'Shop Through Chase' portal it makes more than enough sense. You just have to work out if what you spend your money on/how much you spend makes it all worth it.

If not, apply and close before the first year...

[Anonymous]

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@MaisCher wrote:

So the last few weeks I've been trying to plan our family vacation and this points game is driving me nuts. If I can combine all my cards/rewards we're good but I can't book the entire trip with rewards from any one card. That's frustrating for me. I want to maximize my rewards but trying to remember what card to use when and for what is not working well for me.

I'm thinking I'd really like to just get to the point of using just 1 or 2 cards. Here is what I'm weighing...

Sallie Mae - I use this card for all my Amazon purchase, Gas, and groceries. I'm good with keeping this as a regular because of the 5%

Venture - I rarely use this one but when I visited the travel/rewards site I realized the resort in Destin we vacation in every year was an option. That's a huge expense and if we can book that whole stay on point that would be awesome. Not to mention I liked not being limited to one type of hotel. * Really considering making it my main card.

Marriott - This is my main card right now. I llove the look, Marriott hotels aren't terrible, and Chase just gave me another CLI. That being said, 1 pt per dollar (2 for restaurants) isn't exciting and being limited to just Marriott isn't as feasible as I thought it would be. My sons bball team travels and it now seems some tournaments assign you a hotel. It isn't always the Marriott. Last weekend it was Hilton and I feel like I missed out on earning lots of points for that $500 dollar weekend had it been a Marriott.

Freedom - I try to use it for the 5% catagories but unless it's restaurants like now, I don't see it getting much use. **I just found out that I could transfer UR points to Marriott IF I had the CSP. I may have to app for that one during my next spree.

Amex Delta/ Green/ NFCU - Don't really use

I'm thinking I'd get more bang for my buck with the Sallie Mae/Venture combo. Opinions please!!

---

No offense here seriously, and yes I would gladly take one, but Sallie Mae is not that great. Annoying caps for rewards. Geared for students.

Why not a discover card for the double cash back?

Seems to me the SPG has the highest point value....

[MaisCher]

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@Anonymous wrote:

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@MaisCher wrote:

So the last few weeks I've been trying to plan our family vacation and this points game is driving me nuts. If I can combine all my cards/rewards we're good but I can't book the entire trip with rewards from any one card. That's frustrating for me. I want to maximize my rewards but trying to remember what card to use when and for what is not working well for me.

I'm thinking I'd really like to just get to the point of using just 1 or 2 cards. Here is what I'm weighing...

Sallie Mae - I use this card for all my Amazon purchase, Gas, and groceries. I'm good with keeping this as a regular because of the 5%

Venture - I rarely use this one but when I visited the travel/rewards site I realized the resort in Destin we vacation in every year was an option. That's a huge expense and if we can book that whole stay on point that would be awesome. Not to mention I liked not being limited to one type of hotel. * Really considering making it my main card.

Marriott - This is my main card right now. I llove the look, Marriott hotels aren't terrible, and Chase just gave me another CLI. That being said, 1 pt per dollar (2 for restaurants) isn't exciting and being limited to just Marriott isn't as feasible as I thought it would be. My sons bball team travels and it now seems some tournaments assign you a hotel. It isn't always the Marriott. Last weekend it was Hilton and I feel like I missed out on earning lots of points for that $500 dollar weekend had it been a Marriott.

Freedom - I try to use it for the 5% catagories but unless it's restaurants like now, I don't see it getting much use. **I just found out that I could transfer UR points to Marriott IF I had the CSP. I may have to app for that one during my next spree.

Amex Delta/ Green/ NFCU - Don't really use

I'm thinking I'd get more bang for my buck with the Sallie Mae/Venture combo. Opinions please!!

---

No offense here seriously, and yes I would gladly take one, but Sallie Mae is not that great. Annoying caps for rewards. Geared for students.

Why not a discover card for the double cash back?

Seems to me the SPG has the highest point value....

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No offense taken, I don't own the company  Sallie Mae works for me, for now...

I want a discover, but they denied me twice earlier this year. I'm salty but I might try again next year. Right now CSP and Discover are the two on my want to have list.