We all have bills to pay. Why not use the right credit cards to maximize your earnings and rewards for travel?
Join me and we'll dive into the world of credit cards and using the best payment methods to unlock incredible real-life travel redemptions.
I'll share my experiences and hopefully help you create your own.
Get ready to discover the strategies and tips that will take your credit card rewards game to the next level, enabling you to explore the world for less.
≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ Some of my most used cards today (Referral Links Below):
AMEX Gold & Platinum Capital One Venture X Marriott Chase Ritz Carlton Chase Trifecta Chase Ink Trio
The movie cuts do not make this a different video. After the third I had to stop watching. Take it for what it’s worth. Was interested in the actual theme
Second question. If you really value American status and use AA’s shopping portal, etc., why do you also have the Platinum card? Biggest benefit is probably the Platinum’s lounge access, but you would have the Admiral’s club’s through the AA card. I know the Centurion lounges are better than the Admirals Club lounges, but still. Just curious what you are using the Platinum card for.
Appreciate the question. Def one of biggest reasons is the Centurion lounge access + the credits that I use often. Not a big fan of the Admirals Clubs - especially after experiencing Chase and C1 lounges.. I use the Platinum for all paid flights, since I still earn a good bit of AA miles/LP's but I'm also earning a more diverse currency. Also, I fly Delta a decent amount. Hope that makes sense
Nice video Beau. I’m relatively new to the points and miles game, so I currently have setups from all the big players and am messing around with different setups to see what works for me. One thing with Chase that I am currently trying is to use the CSR for 3x on dining and then using the USBAR for grocery stores. I find pretty much everywhere I shop for groceries has Apple Pay
New to the game, with those 2 cards?? Seems like you know what you’re doing, however I get outsized value with transfer partners..that’s my only issue with the USBAR. Appreciate the comment!
Great overview Beau. Since you are in Tampa, you probably have a Publix at every other corner 😂. If you load the Chase Sapphire Preferred to the Publix App and pay with the Publix App in store it codes as “online grocery”. This also works with Harris Teeter, Whole Foods etc. but has obvious gaps in places like Trader Joe’s that don’t even have an App. Glad all was ok with the hurricane!
@@beaunoonan510, I really just mean in terms of popularity. Chase is one of, if not the, most reputable issuer(s) for team travel (especially pertaining to their vast array of transfer partners as you previously mentioned). Nevertheless, every individual must decide which setups best suit their own, unique strategy. I myself prefer to adopt a hybrid approach in this respect (albeit given that my needs and aspirations are fairly atypical of both average and avid credit card users). Thus, the more unique a card's offerings are, the more likely I myself am to acquire one.
Agree that the Unlimited is below industry standard. It needs just a little boost. 2x would be nice, but even making a no foreign transaction card would be amazing.
I think for most periodic travelers 1 premium travel card is sufficient. In my case the AmEx Platinum + Sapphire Preferred + Savor 1 is the perfect combo for our international trips! Just got back from a London trip. Since we flew Detla, i Used my Biz Platinum to get the fam into a Delta Sky club & the airline credit covered the cost for my guests. The CSP covered all dining & transit expenses. Can also be used for hotel or lodging, although i had a marriott business card for our stay. The Cap1 Savor 1 covered all entertainment, like tours, museums, shows, etc. It also covered all the convience stores we hit for snacks which coded as "grocery".
Either one is okay if you stay within the borders of the United States. But if you're really going to travel...and see the world... drop the Platinum Card,. Choose either of the other two and add the Citi Strata Premier + Navy Federal CashRewards+. You'll do just fine.
The real “superpower” for Hilton is 4 reward nights booked gets a 5th free. I have Honors and Surpass. My next step will be to get Aspire…1 anniversary free night + 1 for $30k spend). So 30k spend on Aspire + 15k on Surpass = 3 free nights. Pay for the 4th with pts from the 45k spend and you have 5 free nights. If you can do the spend then I think it’s a great % return. Prob over 10% return
I think for the average person the US Bank Altitude Reserve is the best. You don't need to play around with transfer partners which honestly for me I struggle with. You get a guranteed 1.5cpp, 3x on all apple pay usage and also 8 free priority pass lounge visits and Tsa Precheck. If there's a credit card lounge at your home airport or an airport you fly into and out of a lot you can pick up that card too, but for the average person I think the Altitude Reserve gives the most value.
We just have all three 👍 CSR just added maple leaf lounges and 20 dollars in DoorDash credits every month. COVX is our catch all and got us cheap T swift tickets, and the platinum… where do I start 😊 Amex offers are underrated. Including those and valuing the other credits we use at half, still come out ahead.
My problem with the CSR is there's no online grocery category that the CSP has. Yeah that's a small category but if you shop at Kroger and Whole Foods you can use the app to pay which I do, so the CSP is like a mini Amex Gold card. Also no United lounge access, if they added that to the CSR I would upgrade my CSP in a second.
@@TheZombaslaya valid. I use it for spending on travel and flights(best flight delay insurance, even works for one way reward flights). I feel a lot better since they added the DashMart credits(my wife and I like snack delivery lol) and I can usually find offers like Turo and most recently chase travel credit(100 off 500 or more). Other than that it doesn’t offer much more than lounge access Austin Texas(more lounges to come by the way) terrace and now Air Canada! We will traveling air Canada coming up so this is great timing for us. We also use Lyft(10x back) and Instacart(15/m vback and also got a 10 percent off offer up to 60 dollars this quarter).
That Lyft 10x is very underrated! I’ve debated adding the CSR because of that, Instacart credits and the travel credit. Only reason I haven’t, too much overlap in the protections/lounge access since I have the Ritz.
@@beaunoonan510 im in a Lyft right now lol as I text this 😂 wonder how the protections compare to the ritz, I watched a Sebby video a while back where he talks about trip delay insurance. The Reserve is 6 hours(most luxury cards are) but it also doesn’t have any rules. For example the Amex Platinum requires it be a round trip and that it is paid for with cash to kick in. It doesn’t matter with the reserve, could be a one way award flight and you’ll still get the insurance.
I have the Venture X currently but I’m relocating and my new home terminal will have a Centurion lounge so ima have to pick up the Platinum. I will still keep the Venture X though as it’s an easy justifies keeper card for me.
I had CSR then canceled after 48 months. Did that a 2nd time. Third time I got CSP...250K UR pts. I am on my 2nd Amex Plat...200K MR pts. P2 got C1 VX last month...we love the DEN and DFW C1 lounges but haven't redeemed pts yet...maybe AC or AV.
@@beaunoonan510 I prefer a direct flight, and spending as little time as possible at the airport. I know lots of people prefer the Lounge Lizard approach-show up early and treat the airport as a leisure destination, which is fine. But most would agree neither OHare nor Midway are pleasing airports to be in. Thanks for the video, I enjoy your straight to the point content!
Beau - I find your video "clip-ins" hilarious😅 I have the 3 premium ccs. Just test driving the VX for a year to see if I could do away with my CSR. Pblm is however, I just do not see the value in C1 miles that I see in MR or UR points systems. In the end will likely swap my CSR for the Chase RC, and use my CIP for the 3x all travel. My C1 duo (VX & S1) will likely remain due to cost efficiency and usability in the Int'l space. Great contend!👍🏾
Currently running the CSP/Ritz combo alongside ink business cash and Amex gold. Wondering if the Venture X would be a good addition since we’re running up a ton of random spend on our 2 year old like daycare, target, and Amazon.
Currently have AMEX Business Platinum for the sign up bonus of 250k. Will switch in 2025 to either the Delta Reserve or personal Platinum. Trying to stay within Chase and AMEX vs Capital One based on preferred travel partners
Totally get it. C1 on the surface, does not have as valuable of transfer partners, but there’s still some good ones. As long as you have a plan, that’s what matters!
I am just discovering the world of hotel CC's. As an AMEX platinum card holder, I have gold status with Hilton & Marriott. My question is; do you think it's worthwhile to obtain a Hilton or Marriott CC, or would doing so simply be "redundant?'
Depends on a lot of factors. Would diamond & platinum status mean something to you? If so, the hilton aspire and/or bonvoy brilliant should be considered.
