The 5 Travel Rewards Cards We Actually Use
If you've ever wondered which credit cards we actually keep in our wallets, these are the five that play the biggest roles in our points and miles strategy.
One of the questions we get asked more than almost anything else is:
What travel rewards card do you use most?
The answer is...it depends. 😂
We don't believe there is one magical travel credit card that is perfect for everyone. The cards we use have different jobs in our travel strategy.
Some help us earn flexible points. Some have benefits that make our travel days better. Some are cards that come up often in conversations with people who are just getting started.
Here are the travel rewards cards that currently play the biggest roles in our family's strategy.
Referral Disclosure: We may receive referral points if you apply and are approved through one of our personal referral links. The offer available through our link may not always be the highest available offer, so we encourage you to compare current publicly available offers before applying.
1. Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
If someone is new to points and miles, this is one card that often comes up in conversations with beginners.
One reason we like this card is... it earns flexible Chase Ultimate Rewards® points, which gives us options when it's time to plan a trip.
That's important to us because we aren't loyal to one airline or hotel chain for every trip. We want to be able to look at our destination and then decide how our points can help us get there.
Why we like it:
earns flexible points;
offers the ability to transfer points to participating travel partners, subject to program terms.
has a lower annual fee than many premium travel cards;
can be a more approachable starting point for someone learning points and miles.
Our perspective: If you're just getting started with travel rewards, the right card depends on your travel goals, spending habits, and the benefits you'll realistically use.
2. Chase Sapphire Reserve®
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® is the more premium option of the two Sapphire cards.
This card can make sense for someone who travels frequently enough to get real value from travel-related benefits. But this is where we always tell people to do the math.
A long list of benefits doesn't automatically make a card valuable to you.
Before paying a higher annual fee, we look at which benefits we would actually use naturally—not which ones we could force ourselves to use just to justify keeping a card.
Why we like it:
flexible Chase Ultimate Rewards® points;
travel-related benefits;
travel protections and other travel-related benefits, subject to the card's terms.
ability to transfer points to participating travel partners, subject to program terms.
Our perspective: This isn't automatically “better” than the Preferred just because it's more expensive. The better choice depends on how you travel and which benefits you'll actually use.
3. Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
The Capital One Venture X has become part of our overall travel strategy because we like having access to more than one flexible points currency.
When you're trying to find award availability for an entire family, flexibility matters.
A flight that works perfectly for two people might not have enough award seats for four—or, in our case, sometimes we're planning travel with an even bigger group.
Having different types of flexible points gives us more options when we're putting those trips together.
Why we use it:
flexible Capital One Miles;
travel benefits we can actually use;
another transferable rewards program;
benefits that can make frequent travel more comfortable.
Our perspective: We don't think everyone needs multiple premium travel cards. We keep cards when the overall value makes sense for how we actually travel.
4. American Express® Gold Card
The American Express® Gold Card has a very different role in our strategy.
While some travel cards are mostly about travel benefits, we think about this one primarily in terms of earning points from everyday spending.
And that's something we want beginners to understand:
You don't need to travel constantly to earn travel rewards.
A huge part of points and miles is learning how to earn rewards from expenses that are already part of your normal life.
Why we use it:
earns American Express Membership Rewards® points;
helps us build another flexible points currency;
fits into our strategy for earning rewards on everyday spending.
Our perspective: Before choosing any card, look at where your household actually spends money. The card your favorite travel creator loves isn't necessarily the card that best matches your spending.
5. American Express Platinum Card®
The Amex Platinum is one of our premium travel cards, and we use it differently from the Gold Card.
For us, this card is more about the travel experience and benefits than being the card we automatically reach for on every everyday purchase.
We travel internationally multiple times a year, spend a lot of time in airports, and genuinely use travel benefits. That makes our calculation different from someone who takes one trip every few years.
Why we keep it:
travel-related benefits;
access to participating airport lounge programs, subject to eligibility and program terms;
earns American Express Membership Rewards® points;
travel-related benefits and credits that may provide value depending on how the card is used.
Our perspective: Never get a premium card just because you saw someone using a lounge on Instagram. 😂 Look at the annual fee, read through the current benefits, and be realistic about what you will actually use.
So Which One Is Our Favorite?
We know this is an annoying answer, but...
It depends on what we're trying to do.
If we're talking to someone who is completely new to points and miles, our conversation is going to be very different than it would be with someone who already understands transfer partners and travels internationally several times a year.
Before choosing a card, we think you should ask yourself:
Where do I actually want to go?
How many people am I trying to take?
What airports and airlines do I realistically use?
What do I spend money on already?
Can I comfortably meet any spending requirement with normal expenses?
Will I actually use the benefits I'm paying for?
We don't start with:
What's the best credit card?
We start with:
Where do we want to go, and what points can help us get there?
That mindset is one of the biggest things that changed travel for our families.
One Very Important Rule
We don't spend extra money just to earn points.
We use credit cards for expenses we already have and pay our balances in full and on time.
Points and miles aren't worth credit card debt.
The goal is to make the money you're already spending work harder—not to spend more money because you're chasing a reward.
Want to Learn How We Actually Do This?
The credit card is only one piece of the puzzle.
Learning which points to earn, how to transfer them, how to find award availability, and how to actually book a trip is where everything starts coming together.
At Moms Chasing Miles, we teach the points and miles strategies that have worked for our family. Every family's financial situation, travel goals, and spending habits are different. The cards that work well for our family may not be the right fit for everyone.
If you're considering a travel rewards card, review the current rates, fees, benefits, eligibility requirements, and terms directly with the card issuer before making a decision.
Editorial Disclosure
Opinions expressed here are the authors' alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within this post.
