This month marks 12 months that I’ve been on this points and miles journey. It has been a year filled with lots of learning and lots of priceless memories. Within this year I earned 1.5 million credit card points, paid $1,246 in credit card annual fees, and booked OVER $15,000 in free travel. In this first year I was able to take my family to:
- Sacramento, CA
- San Jose, CA
- Las Vegas, NV
- Seattle, WA
- Maui, HI
- New York, NY
- Nayarit, MX
- Disneyland Hotel, CA
And booked for this coming year:
- Atlanta, GA
- Glendale, AZ
- Paris
- London
- Lodging and airfare to Florida for a Disney Cruise to the Bahamas
- Another Las Vegas getaway
- Salem, MA
None of this would have been possible without opening the credit cards I have opened for the welcome bonuses AND using them strategically.
Here Are My Cards AND How I use them
- American Express Personal Gold charge card
- This is the card I use for all dining purchases, restaurant and fast food, because it pays 4x the points per dollar spent
- I also use this card exclusively when paying for groceries because it also pays 4x the points per dollar spent
- I use this card when booking cash airfare directly with the airline because it pays 3x the points per dollar spent
- I also love this card because it allows me to link it with my Rakuten account and earn extra points on my online purchases. When you have an American Express card that earns American Express points, you can link it to your Rakuten account and choose to be paid in points instead of in cash. You want this because points are way more valuable than cash when used for travel. You simply shop through the portal and pay with ANY card you want, it does not have to be your American Express. This will earn you points for your purchases on the card you paid with, AND American Express points in your Rakuten account.
- Lastly, this card allows me to send my Amex points to transfer partners to stretch my points even further when booking travel.
- Chase Ink Business Cash card
- This card earns 5x the points at office supply stores.
- 5x the points when used to pay your internet and phone bill
- 2x the points on gas
- Chase Sapphire Preferred
- This card is NEEDED because it is the card that allows you to transfer your Chase points to travel partners. This stretches your points even further. This card is the reason I’ve been able to book so much travel. You should transfer all of your Chase points earned through the Ink cards to your Sapphire when booking trips.
- Pays 3x the points for dining. You can decide whether to use this card or an Amex Gold card for dining depending on what travel goals you have.
- Pays 2x the points when booking travel related items
- Capital One Venture Card
- Earns me 2x the points on all other categories. Great for any other category that is not covered above since those cards will only give me 1x point per dollar spent. I like using these points to transfer to airline partners
- Chase Ink Business Unlimited Card
- Pays a flat rate of 1.5x the points for every dollar spent on every category. I like using this card when trying to earn points for Hyatt stays
The Venture card and the Ink Unlimited card are interchangeable to me. I use them based on what my travel end goal is. If I’m trying to earn free flights, then I use the Venture card because it pays 2x the points on categories other credit cards only pay 1x point for. I use the Ink Unlimited Card when I’m trying to earn enough points to get free hotel stays at Hyatt. Capital One Venture miles do not transfer over to Hyatt, that is why I say I use these interchangeably depending on my travel goal.
If you plan on opening any of these cards please use my referral link located at the top right of my webpage. It is a no cost to you way to support my page and content.
Happy travels! Reach out to me through Instagram @mamitravelswithpoints with any questions you might have
