high limit card? long intro period?

[SantaMar]

i make 47k a year.  i just closed on my first house in in june (about 9 months ago).  that was my last inquiry.  i have been on point with my mortgage for the past 9 months.  i have three credit cards.  0/2600.  200/5000. 1500/10,000.  literally today i paid off all my CC.  at this moment i have 0 balances with 17600 in available credit.   all of my cards are well out of their intro period.  my oldest card is close to 7 years.  my 5k card is about 3 years and my 10k card is about 2.5 years.  i think my last statement to cut will be april 8th.  i dont plan on to app until after april 8th.  i dont want to show any balances on my report when i app.  or should i show some balance?  is zero balances on all cards better then a little balance on cards?? 

im not a shopper or a traveler.   however, i am going away for a long vacation.  i would rather go away with a credit card than a debit card.  i woul duse my above listed cards but i have a feeling i could spend 3k this trip and i dont want to get raped with interest.  i dont plan to pay in full when i get back, rather absorb my monthly budget and allot as much over my minimum payment as possible.  that being said and based on my above profile, what would you suggest i app for?  i have been getting solicited over the past months from chase and citi and discover.  im not much of an awards junky.  im more concerned with a credit card in the limit of 3-5k and an intro period of about 18 months of 0% apr....

[2011beginnings]

Citi diamond preferred
0% apr for 18 months

[09Lexie]

Chase, Citi and Discover have offers of 0% APR. Assuming your FICOs are good-excellent you shouldn't have a problem with approvals. For Chase, Freedom (CSP does not have an intro 0% APR but is excellent for dining/travel, etc); Citi TY or Citi Diamond Preferred if you go for Citi. Diamond Preferred has the longest intro at 18 mos. Citi gives generous limits but they also like to see balances on your CR's. Discover is good too but depending on where you are traveling- you might want a Visa/MC.

Are you a member of a CU? Also, which lender gave the $5-$10k limits?

[yellowcake]

I wouldn't get the Diamond preferred, it's a dead-end card after the intro 0% period expires.

My suggestions:

Chase Freedom: 1% cashback, 5% rotating categories, $100 sign-up bonus after spending $500 in first 3 months

Amex BCE: 3/2/1% cashback on groceries/gas/everything else. $100 bonus for $1000 in first 3 months

Bank of America 1-2-3: Similar to Amex BCE, but switch gas and groceries. $100 bonus for $500 in first 3 months

CapitalOne Cash: 1.5% cashback on everything, $100 bonus after spending $500 in first 3 months

I was recently approved for all 4 of these cards with limits ranging from $3,000 to $6,000 with a 757 Eq, 745 experian, 4% util, and 4 year AAoA.

Also, if you get approved for a limit greater than $5,000, the Bank of America and CapitalOne cards are Visa Signature cards.  I got $5,000 from BofA, but only $3,000 from CapitalOne. 

All these cards offer a 0% intro period of at least 12 months.

[youngandcreditwrthy]

Get Amex BCE now, and in 61 days you could get a 3xcli plus cashback while you're traveling.

Or Chase Freedom imo.

[ryanbush]

are you traveling inside the US or internationally?

[SantaMar]

My credit union gave me the 10k. Wells Fargo have me a 5k visa. I am traveling to hawaii.

[mirachi]

I think Capital One Venture One Rewards (the one for excellent credit) is the only one with no foreign transaction fees and 0% APR (until April 2014). 

Otherwise, maybe the Chase Freedom (0% for 15 mo but has a 3% FTF) or Citi Simplicity (0% for 18 mo but also has 3% FTF)?

EDIT: oops spent too long editing!