Which Travel Rewards Credit Cards to Look at Right Now (February 2021)

After getting requests in the Facebook Group, I’ve begun putting together a monthly list of what I think are the best credit card offers available right now. 

If you’re brand new to miles and points, make sure you understand Chase’s 5/24 rule and the first cards to get because of it. 

You can learn more about the fundamentals in my free miles and points basics course, as well. 

As always when applying for credit cards, think of your travel goals. Look not only at the card’s welcome bonus but also the bonus categories. Do they match up with your spending habits?

And, are there other credit card perks that come with the card, like lounge membership or hotel status that make sense for what you’re looking for in a travel rewards credit card?

Finally, know how you’re going to meet the minimum spend to earn the welcome offer. Travel rewards credit cards can add a ton of long-term value to your wallet but, initially, there’s no denying how lucrative a welcome bonus can be, particularly when the offer is increased or notable in some way.

Which Travel Rewards Credit Cards to
Look At Right Now (February 2021)

American Express Gold Card

Current Welcome Bonus: 60,000 points after spending $4,000 in the first 6 months from your account opening

Favorite Card Features: 

• 4x on restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets
• 3x on flights booked with an airline directly or through Amex Travel
• $120 statement credits ($10 per month) for select food delivery services and merchants like Boxed
• $120 statement credits ($10 per month) in Uber Cash for rides or Uber Eats
• No foreign exchange fees
• Transfer Membership Rewards points to airline and hotel partners like Delta, Eithad, and Aeroplan.

Annual Fee: $250

Reasons to Consider it:

This is one of the best ever offers on the American Express Gold card, especially given the generous 6-month time-frame to satisfy the minimum spend requirement. It will add to your 5/24 count.

The card earns flexible Membership Rewards points that can be transferred to a variety of Amex airline and hotel transfer partners. These partners include airlines like Aeroplan, ANA, Delta, British Airways, Flying Blue, Virgin Atlantic, and more.

American Express also offers periodic bonus transfers upwards of 40% for specific airline partners, further increasing the value of points earned with this card. Additionally, American Express cards come with Amex Offers, which allow you to add promotions and deals to your card for extra statement credits and/or bonus points.

The American Express Gold card is arguably one of the best travel rewards cards available given the fantastic bonus categories, the high-value of Amex Membership Rewards points, and the strong line-up of available airline transfer partners.

Chase Sapphire Preferred

Current Welcome Bonus: 60,000 points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months from your account opening; plus get up to a $50 statement credit on supermarket purchases.

Favorite Card Features: 

• 2x on travel and dining
• No foreign exchange fees
• Transfer Ultimate Rewards points to airline and hotel partners like United, Flying Blue, and Hyatt
• 1.25 cents per point value if you redeem points for travel in the Chase Ultimate Rewards Portal

Annual Fee: $95

Reasons to Consider it:

This (or the Sapphire Reserve) should be one of the first cards anyone new to miles and points considers adding to their wallet. It’s subject to the 5/24 rule and will add to your overall card count.

But, Chase Ultimate Rewards points are a flexible currency that can be transferred at a 1:1 ratio to airline and hotel transfer partners for high-value redemptions. In addition, when you pay for a car rental with the Sapphire Preferred, you get primary collision damage waiver coverage.

Sapphire Preferred is arguably one of the best travel rewards credit cards out there and a perfect starter travel rewards card with a knock-out offer!

The Platinum Card by American Express

Current Welcome Bonus: 75,000 points after spending $5,000 in the first 6 months from your account opening. Plus, earn 10x for U.S. gas and grocery purchases up to $15k during your first 6 months as a cardholder.

Favorite Card Features: 

• Get Uber VIP Status + $200 each year in Uber rides & eats with monthly statement credits
• 5x on flights booked with an airline directly or through Amex Travel
• 5x on prepaid hotels with Amex Travel
• Statement credits for things like airline incidentals, Uber, and Saks Fifth Avenue
• Lounge privileges with Priority Pass, Centurion, and others around the globe
• No foreign exchange fees
• Transfer Membership Rewards points to airline and hotel partners like Delta, Air France/KLM Flying Blue, and Choice.

Annual Fee: $550

Reasons to Consider it:

The Platinum card earns Membership Rewards points and has access to the same transfer partners as mentioned above with the Gold card. The ability to earn 10x the points on U.S. gas and grocery purchases up to $15k in the first 6 months is an outstanding value. To put that in context, even if you only reached half of that $15k in spending, you’d earn 75k Amex points…in addition to the welcome bonus!

With the Platinum Card, you get access to the Global Lounge Collection which includes American Express Centurion Lounges. Card benefits like the $100 Saks Fifth Avenue credit and $200 in Uber/Uber Eats credits help to offset the card’s annual fee.

Plus, American Express has remained highly competitive with their temporary credits to account for card use changes during the pandemic. For the first 6 months of 2021, Platinum cardholders will get $30 PayPal credits each month for up to $180 in value.

I love using American Express Membership Rewards points to redeem for award flights. I’ve used them to fly to Europe and Asia and especially love when I can combine a redemption with an airline partner transfer bonus. With this stellar Platinum Card offer, you can do the same!

Chase Freedom Flex

Current Welcome Bonus: $200 after spending $500 in the first 3 months after opening your account.

Favorite Card Features: 

• 5% on rotating bonus categories up to $1,500 each quarter
• 5% on travel booked through the Chase Travel Portal
• 3% on drug store purchases and dining (including delivery and takeout)
• 1% on all other purchases
• Paired with a Sapphire Preferred, Sapphire Reserve, or Ink Preferred, cashback rewards points can be combined to become transferrable Ultimate Rewards points

Annual Fee: $0

Reasons to Consider it:

The Freedom Flex is a brand new card that replaces the original Freedom card with new bonus categories and sporting the Mastercard logo instead of the Visa logo.

The Freedom Flex keeps the 5% on rotating bonus categories like the old Freedom card. But the Freedom Flex comes with shiny new bonus categories, too!

You’ll earn 3% on dining and drug stores, as well as 5% on travel booked through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal. I love the drug store bonus category because it’s pretty unique among travel rewards cards.

The Ultimate Rewards earned with the Freedom Flex can be redeemed as cashback or at a fixed 1 cent per point value in the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal. On their own, these Ultimate Rewards points don’t have access to Chase’s airline and hotel transfer partners. 

But, if you have a Sapphire Preferred or Reserve or the Ink Preferred, you can combine your Freedom Flex rewards points with your Ultimate Rewards balance for a better redemption value (>1 cpp) and the ability to transfer to partners.

Chase Freedom Unlimited

Current Welcome Bonus: $200 after spending $500 in the first 3 months after opening your account.

Favorite Card Features: 

• 5% on travel booked through the Chase Travel Portal
• 3% on drug store purchases and dining (including takeout and delivery)
• 1.5% on all other purchases, with no spending cap or time limit
• Paired with a Sapphire Preferred, Sapphire Reserve, or Ink Preferred, cashback rewards points can be combined to become transferrable Ultimate Rewards points

Annual Fee: $0

Reasons to Consider it:

This 1.5% earn rate for everyday purchases makes Freedom Unlimited a great card to have in your wallet for non-bonus spending.

Freedom Unlimited has new bonus categories, too! You’ll earn 3% on dining and drug stores, as well as 5% on travel booked through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal.

The Ultimate Rewards earned with the Freedom Unlimited can be redeemed as cashback or at a fixed 1 cent per point value in the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal.

Just as with Freedom Flex Ultimate Rewards, they don’t have access to Chase’s airline and hotel transfer partners. 

But, if you have a Sapphire Preferred or Reserve or the Ink Preferred, you can combine your Freedom Unlimited rewards points with your Ultimate Rewards balance for a higher redemption value (>1 cpp) in the travel portal and get access to the Ultimate Rewards transfer partners.

Southwest Rapid Rewards Personal Cards

Current Welcome Bonus: Earn the Southwest Companion Pass until 2/28/22 plus 30k Southwest points when you spend $5,000 in the first 3 months of being a cardholder. The Southwest Companion Pass lets you bring a companion every time you fly, paying just the tax on the ticket!

Favorite Card Features:

• All 3 Southwest personal cards earn 2x on Southwest purchases, Rapid Rewards hotels, and car rental partner bookings. Plus, 1x on all other purchases.

Southwest Personal Card Differences:

• Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus has a $69 annual fee and earns 3k Rapid Rewards Points each year on your card anniversary.
• Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier has a $99 annual fee, no foreign exchange fees, and earns 6k Rapid Rewards Points on your card anniversary.
• Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority comes with a $149 annual fee, no foreign transaction fees, a $75 Southwest travel credit, and up to 4 upgraded boarding positions every year. In addition, cardholders earn 7.5k Rapid Rewards Points each year for their card anniversary.

Reasons to Consider these cards:

Southwest Rapid Rewards points are always useful for domestic travel, as well as for those trips to Mexico, the Caribbean, Costa Rica, and Hawaii. Award pricing is tied to the cash price so when Southwest has a fare sale, award flights can be booked for as little as a few thousand points.

Southwest doesn’t cap award seat availability, either. So, if there’s a seat available on the flight, you can book it with your Rapid Rewards points. Southwest doesn’t charge change or cancel fees and lets you fly up to 2 bags for free.

Each of these 3 cards comes with its own tier of benefits but if you’re planning domestic travel and Southwest operates from your home airport, it’s worth adding either the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus, Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority, or the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier to your travel rewards-earning wallet.

Marriott Bonvoy Boundless

Current Welcome Bonus: Earn 75,000 Marriott Bonvoy points after spending $3,000 in the first 3 months. 

Favorite Card Features: 

• 6x on Marriott purchases
• 2x on all other purchases
• Earn a free night each year at hotels up to 35k points per night for your account anniversary
• Silver Elite Status
• Trip protection for delays and lost baggage
• No foreign Exchange Fees

Annual Fee: $95

Reasons to Consider it:

This is a solid offer on the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless card.

After meeting the minimum spend, your 75k Marriott points can help you book award nights domestically and in places around the globe. You can also transfer your Marriott points to over 40 airlines, including valuable partners like American Airlines and Alaksa Airlines at a 3:1 ratio and a 5k point bonus for every 60k Marriott points transferred.

Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express

Current Welcome Bonus: $300 after spending $3000 in the first 6 months after opening your account

Favorite Card Features: 

• 6% on grocery spending up to $6k per year (1% thereafter)
• 6% on select streaming services
• 3% on gas and transit spending (trains, buses, rideshares, parking, etc)
• 1% on all other purchases

Annual Fee: $0 the first year; $95 thereafter

Reasons to Consider it:

Earn cashback rewards on your everyday spending that can then be redeemed as statement credits. Use your Blue Cash Preferred to pay for bills and expenses and then redeem your Reward Dollars to erase the charges from your statement.

Cashback rewards offer a fixed value return-rate of 1 cent per point but offer simplicity. As you earn Reward Dollars in these high-value bonus categories with the Blue Cash Preferred, you can use the rewards to offset travel expenses without the hassle of understanding airline award charts. You can also redeem your cashback rewards for non-travel expenses, too.

Hilton Honors American Express Surpass

Current Welcome Bonus: 150,000 Hilton Honors points after spending $2,000 in the first 3 months from your account opening. Plus, get a $150 statement once you make your first purchase with the card.

Favorite Card Features:

• 12x on Hilton purchases
• 6x on U.S. gas stations, restaurants, and grocery stores
• 3x on all other purchases
• No foreign exchange fees
• Free Weekend Night when you spend at least $15k on your card in a calendar year
• Automatic Gold Status, with an upgrade to Diamond Status after spending $40k in a calendar year

Annual Fee: $95

Reasons to Consider it:

Among the line-up of American Express Hilton cards, the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass stands out for its grocery and gas bonus categories. Earning 6x the Hilton points on these categories makes a lot of sense for most people. 

Hilton Hotel brands include Hampton by Hilton, DoubleTree, Embassy Suites, Waldorf Astoria and Conrad, to name a few. Hilton has a large geographic footprint so it’s likely wherever you’re traveling, you’ll find a Hilton property.

With the Surpass, you’ll get instant Hilton Gold status, which allows you to earn even more per dollar for paid Hilton stays, potential upgrades, free breakfast, and the 5th night free on award stays.

Other card benefits include 10 Priority Pass Lounge passes. For infrequent travelers who want to avoid the higher annual fee cards that come with unlimited lounge access, the Surpass offers a happy medium for those who still want lounge access.

The free weekend night can be redeemed at nearly any Hilton Hotel worldwide, which can be a fantastic deal. At a minimum, you’d earn 45k Hilton points on that $15k in spending, plus earn a free night on a hotel that would have cost hundreds of dollars or 100k+ points per night.

The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass packs a lot of value and the $150 statement credit means you can get all of the card’s benefits while completely offsetting the annual fee!

Hilton Honors American Express Card

Current Welcome Bonus: 100,000 Hilton Honors points after spending $1,000 in the first 3 months. Plus, get a $100 statement credit once you make your first purchase with the card.

Favorite Card Features: 

• 7x on Hilton purchases
• 5x on grocery and gas spending,
• 3x on all other purchases
• Hilton Silver status
• No foreign Exchange Fees

Annual Fee: $0

Reasons to Consider it:

This a top-notch welcome offer for a no-fee hotel credit card! The 100k Hilton points + the $100 statement credit after making your first purchase with the card amounts to an absolute no-brainer of a decision if you’re planning a stay at a Hilton property.

Hilton Hotel brands include Hampton by Hilton, DoubleTree, Embassy Suites, Waldorf Astoria, and Conrad, to name a few. Hilton has a large geographic footprint so it’s likely wherever you’re traveling, you’ll find a Hilton property.

So, let’s put the100k Hilton Honors points into context. 100k Hilton Honors points are enough for at least 3 award nights at over 2k properties around the globe…all with a no-fee card that comes with a $100 statement credit!

Just like with the Hilton Honors Surpass, the Hilton Honors American Express Card stands out for its grocery and gas bonus categories. Earning 5x the Hilton points on these categories makes a lot of sense for most people. 

With the Hilton Honors card, you’ll get instant Hilton Silver status, which allows you to earn even more per dollar for paid Hilton stays and the 5th night free on award stays.

This Hilton Honors American Express Card offer is an excellent deal for a no-fee hotel card!

IHG Premier

IHG launched its highest ever offer on the IHG Premier card. Here are the details.

Current Welcome Bonus: 140,000 IHG points after spending $3,000 in the first 3 months. 

Favorite Card Features: 

• Earn a free night each card anniversary at eligible hotels up to 35k points per night
• 25x on IHG purchases
• 2x on restaurants, gas, and grocery spend, 1x on all other purchases
• 4th night free on award stays
• Platinum Elite status
• No foreign Exchange Fees

Annual Fee: $89

Reasons to Consider it:

This is the absolute best welcome bonus ever offered for this IHG card! This combined with the earnings for paid IHG stays and the free anniversary night every year means this card deserves a spot in your wallet.

IHG hotels include brands like Holiday Inn Express, Crowne Plaza, & InterContinental. This IHG Premier card is subject to and will add to your 5/24 count. However, it’s totally worth one of those slots!

I stayed at the Holiday Inn Express in Springdale, Utah for a trip to Zion National Park. Especially in peak National Park season, IHG redemptions can help save a ton. This Holiday Inn Express is nearly $300 a night in summer!

Business Credit Cards

Applying for a business credit card is another great way for business owners to earn miles and points. The great thing about business credit cards, aside from the additional earnings, is they don’t add to your 5/24 count. So if you’re 4/24 and you get approved for a business credit card with Chase or another bank, you’ll still be 4/24 even after getting the card.

Most people wonder, though, if they can even apply for a business credit card. The biggest thing to understand is a business can be a side hustle. It doesn’t need to be your primary source of income. This might include teachers who tutor, anyone who consults or sells a service, selling on eBay, and even someone who bakes and sells trays of cookies from home.

However, the economic climate of 2020 has made business cards harder to be approved for as banks have tightened credit lending.

You can apply for a business credit card as a sole proprietor, using your name as the business name. A social security number is fine to use if you don’t have an EIN.

Business cards are even for new businesses whose earnings just starting, although newer businesses right now may need to answer additional questions or wait until they can show enough revenue.

Use this guide to answer all your questions about how to apply for a business credit card.

Just remember to be honest about your business. If it’s your first time applying for a business credit card, a bank may naturally have some additional questions for you about your application. 

Chase Ink Business Preferred

Current Welcome Bonus: 100,000 Ultimate Rewards points after spending $15,000 in the first 3 months from your account opening.

Favorite Card Features:

• 3x on travel, shipping costs, internet, phone & cable services, and advertising with social media sites and search engines on the first $150k in combined category spending
• No foreign exchange fees
• Transfer Ultimate Rewards points to airline and hotel partners like United, Flying Blue, and Hyatt
  1.25 cents per point value if you redeem points for travel in the Chase Ultimate Rewards Portal

Annual Fee: $95

Reasons to Consider it:

This top-notch welcome bonus on the Ink Preferred can return at least $1,250 in value for your travel redemptions.

It has the same 1:1 transfer to airline and hotel transfer partners like the Sapphire Preferred. These transfer partners can help you redeem for award travel all over the globe whether you’re dreaming of Rome or an African Safari.

In addition, the Ink Preferred comes with solid cell phone protection. Get up to $600 per claim for cell phone theft or damage when you use your card to pay for your phone bill.

The Ink Preferred, like all Chase business credit cards, is subject to 5/24, but it won’t add to your overall count. If you’re a business owner who’s new to miles and points, the Ink Preferred should be one of the first credit cards you consider.

Chase Ink Business Cash

Current Welcome Bonus: $500 after spending $3,000 in the first 3 months from your account opening.

Favorite Card Features:

• 5% on office supply stores and internet, phone & cable services on the first $25k in combined category spending
• 2% on gas stations and dining on up to a combined $25k in spending
• Paired with an Ink Preferred or Sapphire, the $500 welcome bonus becomes 50k Ultimate Rewards points that have access to valuable airline and hotel transfer partners like United, British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, and Hyatt.

Annual Fee: $0

Reasons to Consider it:

This no-fee business card is offering its highest welcome bonus ever. Ink Cash Ultimate Rewards points can be combined with Ultimate Rewards earned with cards like the Ink Business Preferred or a Sapphire card. Pairing an Ink Cash with one of these cards also gives you access to Chase’s airline and hotel transfer partners.

The 5%/5x back on internet, cable, and phone, and office supply expenses up to $25k each year offers the opportunity to earn 125k Ultimate Rewards annually, which puts the Ink Cash at the top of the list of small business cards to add to your wallet.

Chase Ink Buisness Unlimited

Current Welcome Bonus: $500 Ultimate Rewards points after spending $3,000 in the first 3 months from your account opening

Favorite Card Features:

• 1.5x on all purchases with no spending cap.
• Paired with an Ink Preferred or Sapphire, the $500 welcome bonus becomes 50k Ultimate Rewards points that have access to valuable airline and hotel transfer partners like United, Flying Blue, Virgin Atlantic, and Hyatt.

Annual Fee: $0

Reasons to Consider it:

Another no-fee business card that is offering its highest welcome bonus ever. The Ink Unlimited is a great card for everyday purchases earning 1.5%/1.5x for every dollar spent with no annual limit.

Like with the Ink Cash, Ultimate Rewards points can be combined with Ultimate Rewards earned with cards like the Ink Business Preferred or a Sapphire card. An Ink Unlimited with one of these cards also gives you access to Chase’s airline and hotel transfer partners.

The Ink Unlimited is a great addition for small business owners looking to target all categories of their spending in order to earn Ultimate Rewards points.

Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business

Current Welcome Bonus: Earn up to 100,000 Southwest Rapid Rewards Points; 70,000 Southwest Rapid Rewards points after spending $5,000 in the first 3 months from your account opening and another 30,000 Southwest points when you spend $25k during the first 6 months of card membership.

Favorite Card Features:

• 3x on Southwest purchases
• 2x on internet, cable, and cell phone costs, as well as advertising purchases for social media and search engines
• Perks include a Global Entry fee credit and 4 upgraded boarding positions
• Get 9k Rapid Rewards points each year you renew your card

Annual Fee: $199

Reasons to Consider it:

The ability to earn up to 100k Southwest Rapid Rewards points from the welcome offer, in addition to the spending you need to complete the minimum spend, would earn you the Southwest Companion Pass for 2 years.

The way it works is you’d need to meet the first and second spending tiers after your December statement closes but before the first 3 months of being approved for the card. The 125k Southwest Rapid Rewards points you could potentially earn from this offer need to hit your Southwest account in the same calendar year to earn the companion pass.

Southwest flies domestically and also to destinations in the Caribbean, Mexico, and Central America. They also fly to several Hawaiian islands.

You can book Southwest award flights for as little as a few thousand points and there are no blackout dates or award seat caps. If there’s an available seat on the flight you want, the points you earn with your Southwest Performance Business Card can help you book it.

Hilton Honors American Express Business Card

Current Welcome Bonus: 150,000 Hilton Honors points after spending $2,000 in the first 3 months from your account opening. Plus, get a $150 statement credit with your first purchase on the card.

Favorite Card Features:

• 12x on Hilton purchases
• 6x on U.S. gas stations, restaurants, cell phone service, shipping costs, flights booked with the airline directly and rental cars booked with the car rental company directly.
• No foreign exchange fees
• Automatic Gold Status, with an upgrade to Diamond Status after spending $40k in a calendar year.

Annual Fee: $95

Reasons to Consider it:

This is one of the best welcome offers we’ve seen for this card. Having Hilton Gold status allows you to earn even more per dollar for Hilton stays, potential upgrades, free breakfast, and the 5th night free on award stays.

If you spend $15k in a calendar year, your Hilton weekend night reward is valid for a Friday, Saturday, or Sunday stay and can be used at just about any Hilton property. Hilton has hotels all over the globe, so you’re likely to find a Hilton no matter where you travel.

Remember, American Express limits you to 1 welcome offer on individual credit cards to per lifetime, so be sure you’re taking advantage of the best possible offer. 

Blue Business Plus Credit Card

Current Welcome Bonus: None

Favorite Card Features:

• 2x American Express Membership Rewards points for up to $50k a year
• Add Amex Offers to the card to earn bonus points and statement credits for qualifying purchases
• Transfer Membership Rewards points to valuable airline and hotel transfer partners including Delta, Aeroplan, Virgin Atlantic, and ANA

Annual Fee: $0

Reasons to Consider it:

This no-fee powerhouse credit card is always in my wallet! Earn 2x the Amex Membership Rewards points on up to $50k in spending each year. The points earned can be transferred to Membership Rewards transfer partners for award flights and hotel nights.

The Blue Business Plus has never come with a super high welcome bonus. The highest I’ve seen is 20k Membership Rewards Points to complete a few thousand dollars in minimum spend and this is infrequent at best. 

If you’re looking to earn Membership Rewards Points and/or want an everyday spending card for your business, wait not another moment and look no further than this powerhouse of a card!

Bottom Line

Which travel rewards credit card is right for you depends on your travel plans and whether you’re just starting out with miles and points or not. Applying for new credit cards helps you earn valuable miles, points, and perks that’ll up your travel game.

Just remember, to pace yourself according to which credit card offers make sense for your travel goals. And, always pay off that bill in full at the end of the month to avoid high-interest fees that’ll negate the value of the miles and points you’re earning.

So, which travel rewards credit card offers do you think are the best right now?

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