A beginners guide to booking cheap or free travel deals with credit card rewards

Our experts answer readers' credit card questions and write unbiased product reviews (here's how we assess credit cards). In some cases, we receive a commission from our partners; however, our opinions are our own. Terms apply to offers listed on this page.

The information for the following product(s) has been collected independently by Business Insider: Amex EveryDay® Preferred Credit Card, Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card†, Capital One Spark Miles for Business†, Chase Freedom Flex℠, Citi Rewards+ Student Card, Citi Prestige® Card, Alaska Airlines Visa® Credit Card, Alaska Airlines Business Credit Card, Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card, Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®, American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp®, AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard®, JetBlue Card, JetBlue Plus Card, JetBlue Business Card, United Club℠ Business Card, Choice Privileges Visa Signature Card, Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card, Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card, Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card, Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Card, Wyndham Rewards® Earner Card, Wyndham Rewards® Earner Plus Card, Wyndham Rewards® Earner Business Card. The details for these products have not been reviewed or provided by the issuer.

The general consensus is that credit card rewards are convoluted and hard to use.

That's not true. Credit card rewards are nearly effortless to use. It's easy to get free hotel stays, rental cars, and airfare. The only convoluted part is finding ways to squeeze every last drop of value from them. 

In this guide, we'll give you a crash course on how to quickly earn rewards from the best credit cards and book free travel. We'll also share the knowledge you need to find amazing deals for yourself. We'll even cover some jaw-dropping sweet spots which, while not always the easiest to book, exhibit the power of credit card points and miles. You'll be booking $20,000 flights before you know it.

We're focused here on the rewards and perks that come with each card. These cards won't be worth it if you're paying interest or late fees. When using a credit card, it's important to pay your balance in full each month, make payments on time, and only spend what you can afford to pay.

Nearly free travel is possible

My first award flight was to the Philippines in 2014. I paid 40,000 United Airlines miles and $5.60 in taxes and fees. That's right — I paid more for gas to drive to the airport than I paid for my flight.

After my trip, all I wanted to talk about was how I flew to Asia for $5.60. I had proved to myself a new travel strategy that could take me anywhere I wanted to go for practically free. I told friends and family how I did it — how easy it was to earn the rewards just by achieving a single credit card welcome bonus.

I could not keep anyone's interest for long. The prospect of free travel is one of those things that most people totally ignore because it sounds fishy.

To all my friends and family that are suspicious of free travel, thank you. If everyone in the world expertly utilized credit card rewards to travel for free, there wouldn't be such amazing travel opportunities out there. The fact that 99% of travelers are apprehensive to jump into the world of free travel benefits those of us who have learned the tricks of the trade.

I estimate that I get about $30,000 in free travel per year — and that's just from taking three or four trips annually. I've used them for lie-flat business class seats and five-star hotels in places like Barbados, Dubai, Ireland, Maui, the Maldives, Peru, South Africa, St. Lucia, Switzerland, and many more.

I also frequently use points for roadside hotels when road-tripping and for quick flights to visit family. You can do it, too.

Identify your travel goals

Before you begin collecting credit card rewards, you should first identify your travel goals. Not all credit card rewards can accomplish the same thing, after all. For example:

• If you want free airfare, you should collect airline miles
• If you want free hotel stays, you should collect hotel points
• If you want free food, you should collect cash back
• If you have mixed goals, you should collect flexible or transferable points (we'll get into these in a minute)

Here are some common travel goals with which you might identify, along with the top 10 rewards currencies that will help you achieve those goals. If more than one of the below goals describes you, determine which currencies overlap the most and collect those.

You want to visit grandma for the holidays

1. American Airlines miles
2. Amex Membership Rewards points
3. British Airways Avios points
4. Capital One miles
5. Chase Ultimate Rewards points
6. Citi ThankYou points
7. Delta miles
8. Marriott points
9. Southwest points
10. United Airlines miles

You like traveling off the beaten path

1. American Airlines miles
2. Amex Membership Rewards points
3. Bank of America Premium Rewards
4. British Airways Avios points
5. Capital One miles
6. Chase Ultimate Rewards points
7. Citi ThankYou points
8. Delta miles
9. United Airlines miles
10. U.S. Bank Altitude/FlexPerks Rewards

Your main goal is domestic travel

1. American Airlines miles
2. Amex Membership Rewards points
3. British Airways Avios points
4. Capital One miles
5. Chase Ultimate Rewards points
6. Citi ThankYou points
7. Delta miles
8. JetBlue points
9. Southwest points
10. United Airlines miles

You want to travel in luxury

1. Air Canada Aeroplan points
2. American Airlines miles
3. Amex Membership Rewards points
4. Avianca miles
5. Capital One miles
6. Chase Ultimate Rewards points
7. Citi ThankYou points
8. Hyatt points
9. Marriott Bonvoy points
10. Virgin Atlantic Points

You prefer road trips

1. Amex Membership Rewards points
2. Capital One miles
3. Chase Ultimate Rewards points
4. Choice Privileges points
5. Citi ThankYou points
6. Hilton Honors points
7. Hyatt points
8. IHG Rewards points
9. Marriott Bonvoy points
10. Wyndham Rewards points

You travel with a large family

1. Amex Membership Rewards points
2. British Airways Avios points
3. Capital One miles
4. Chase Ultimate Rewards points
5. Choice Privileges points
6. Citi ThankYou points
7. Hilton Honors points
8. JetBlue points
9. Marriott Bonvoy points
10. Southwest points

Of course, there are many hundreds of specific travel styles for which a different mix of rewards would be better suited.

How to earn credit card points

The fastest way to accumulate rewards is by earning credit card welcome bonuses. Most rewards credit cards come with a chunk of either points, miles, or cash that will deposit into your account after you meet minimum spending requirements.

For example, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card offers Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card. 

There are dozens and dozens (and dozens) of credit card sign-up bonuses out there — quite literally millions of points and miles to be earned — if you're willing to open credit cards and earn their bonuses.

Many rewards credit cards also provide bonus points when spending in certain categories. You'll earn points for your everyday purchases exponentially faster if you take the time to find a handful of credit cards that offer bonus categories for your spending habits.

Opening multiple credit cards is not a bad thing

You've probably been conditioned to believe that opening multiple credit cards is bad for your financial health. It's not — at least, there's nothing intrinsically irresponsible about it. As long as you don't spend beyond your means and pay off your card in full every month, credit cards are a valuable financial (and travel) tool.

If you use your credit responsibly, your credit score will actually increase after opening credit cards. You can read our guide on how to get an excellent credit score if you're really concerned.

Many of us that are deeply entrenched in the world of credit card rewards (myself included) have well over 20 active credit cards. That sounds totally wild to most people — but they've earned me millions of rewards totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars in travel.

For example:

• I have seven hotel credit cards because they come with things like annual free night certificates, anniversary points bonuses, automatic elite status, and more (one of which saved me $8,000 on a hotel stay in the Maldives)
• I have three of The Platinum Card® from American Express, which gives me literally $3,000+ in value each year
• I have credit cards that I specifically use to book airfare and rental cars because they come with travel insurance that has saved me many thousands of dollars over the years
• I have credit cards that come with varying airport lounge access
• I have multiple American Express cards which come with different Amex Offers** that I'm able to use to save hundreds of dollars each year on my everyday spending

As long as you're getting more back than you're paying in annual fees, the cards are worth keeping (provided you can afford those annual fees!).

Don't collect credit card rewards if you can't keep your spending down

If you don't have the best track record with credit, or if you simply don't think you're responsible enough to open lots of credit cards, don't do it. Rewards credit cards come with outlandish interest rates. In other words, unless you're able to pay your credit card in full each month, you'll pay out the nose in fees. And accruing debt on a rewards credit card isn't easy to overcome.

It's also a good rule of thumb to keep from jumping into credit card rewards until you have a credit score of at least 700. This will give you the best chance of being approved for pretty much any card you want.

Earning flexible points

There are four real powerhouse points currencies in the flexible rewards space. These are the most popular points among travelers for two reasons:

1. They are extremely easy to earn. Each flexible points currency can be earned on at least five different credit cards (and some can be earned on 10+ cards).
2. They can each be transferred to more than a dozen different valuable airline and hotel partners. This is helpful if you've got multiple travel goals that you want to achieve, and you don't want to collect a single airline or hotel currency. For example, if you want to stay at both Hilton and Marriott for free, you could collect Amex Membership Rewards points, which transfer to both programs.

Here we'll look at the top five credit cards to earn each points currency, along with their current bonuses (if they offer one).

Amex Membership Rewards points

• The Platinum Card® from American Express — The Platinum Card® from American Express
• The Business Platinum Card® from American Express — The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
• American Express® Gold Card — American Express® Gold Card
• American Express® Business Gold Card — American Express® Business Gold Card
• Amex EveryDay® Preferred Credit Card — Amex EveryDay® Preferred Credit Card

Capital One miles

• Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card — Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
• Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card — Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
• Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card — Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card
• Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card — Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card
• Capital One Spark Miles for Business — Capital One Spark Miles for Business

Note: Some Capital One cash-back cards, such as the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card, don't technically earn Capital One miles. But if you also hold a Capital One miles-earning card, you can convert your cash back into Capital One miles at a rate of 1 cent per mile.

Chase Ultimate Rewards points

• Chase Sapphire Reserve® — Chase Sapphire Reserve®
• Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card — Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
• Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card — Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
• Chase Freedom Flex℠ —Chase Freedom Flex℠
• Ink Business Cash® Credit Card — Ink Business Cash® Credit Card

Note: No-annual-fee Chase Ultimate Rewards points-earning cards such as the Chase Freedom Flex℠ do not allow you to transfer your points to airline and hotel partners unless you also hold an annual fee-incurring Ultimate Rewards card, such as the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card.

Citi ThankYou points

• Citi Premier® Card — Citi Premier® Card
• Citi Custom Cash℠ Card — Citi Custom Cash℠ Card
• Citi® Double Cash Card — Citi® Double Cash Card
• Citi Rewards+® Card — Citi Rewards+® Card
• Citi Rewards+ Student Card — Citi Rewards+ Student Card

Note: Unless you hold the Citi Premier® Card or the Citi Prestige® Card (not available to new applicants), you will not be able to transfer your rewards to the full list of Citi ThankYou travel partners.

Earning airline miles

Below are the most popular airline loyalty programs — and the top five credit cards to open and use to quickly rack up your mileage balance.

Air Canada Aeroplan points

• Aeroplan® Credit Card — Aeroplan® Credit Card
• Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card — Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
• The Platinum Card® from American Express — The Platinum Card® from American Express
• Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card — Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
• Bilt Mastercard® — Bilt Mastercard®

Note: You can transfer Amex Membership Rewards points, Chase Ultimate Rewards points, Capital One miles, and Bilt Rewards to Aeroplan at a 1:1 ratio.

You can also transfer Marriott points at a 3:1 ratio. And you'll receive 25% bonus miles when transferring 60,000-point increments. In other words, 60,000 Marriott points will net you 25,000 Aeroplan miles.

Alaska Airlines miles

• Alaska Airlines Visa® Credit Card — Alaska Airlines Visa® Credit Card
• Alaska Airlines Business Credit Card — Alaska Airlines Business Credit Card
• Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card — Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card
• Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card — Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card
• Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card — Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card

Note: You can transfer Marriott points to Alaska Airlines at a 3:1 ratio. You'll also receive 25% bonus miles when transferring 60,000-point increments. In other words, 60,000 Marriott points will net you 25,000 Alaska Airlines miles.

American Airlines miles

• Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® — Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®
• Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® — Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®
• CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Mastercard® — CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Mastercard®
• American Airlines AAdvantage MileUp℠ Mastercard — American Airlines AAdvantage MileUp℠ Mastercard
• AAdvantage® Aviator® Red Mastercard® — AAdvantage® Aviator® Red Mastercard®

Note: You can transfer Bilt Rewards to American Airlines at a 1:1 ratio and Marriott points at a 3:1 ratio.

British Airways Avios points

• British Airways Visa Signature® Card — British Airways Visa Signature® Card
• Iberia Visa Signature® Card — Iberia Visa Signature® Card
• Aer Lingus Visa Signature® Card — Aer Lingus Visa Signature® Card
• Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card — Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
• American Express® Gold Card — American Express® Gold Card

Note: You can transfer Amex Membership Rewards points, Chase Ultimate Rewards points, Capital One miles, Iberia Avios, Aer Lingus Avios, and Qatar Airways Avios at a 1:1 ratio.

You can also transfer Marriott points at a 3:1 ratio. And you'll receive 25% bonus miles when transferring 60,000-point increments. In other words, 60,000 Marriott points will net you 25,000 British Airways Avios points.

Delta Air Lines miles

• Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card — Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card
• Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card — Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card
• Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card — Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card
• Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card — Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card
• Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card — Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card

Note: You can transfer Amex Membership Rewards points to Delta at a 1:1 ratio and Marriott points at a 3:1 ratio.

JetBlue points

• JetBlue Card — JetBlue Card
• JetBlue Plus Card — JetBlue Plus Card
• JetBlue Business Card — JetBlue Business Card
• Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card — Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
• Citi Premier® Card — Citi Premier® Card

Note: You can transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points and Citi ThankYou points at a 1:1 ratio and Amex Membership Rewards points at a 5:4 ratio.

Singapore Airlines miles

• The Platinum Card® from American Express — The Platinum Card® from American Express
• Chase Sapphire Reserve® — Chase Sapphire Reserve®
• Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card — Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
• Citi Premier® Card — Citi Premier® Card
• Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card — Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Note: You can transfer Amex Membership Rewards points, Chase Ultimate Rewards points, Citi ThankYou points, and Capital One miles to Singapore Airlines at a 1:1 ratio.

You can also transfer Marriott points at a 3:1 ratio. And you'll receive 25% bonus miles when transferring 60,000-point increments. In other words, 60,000 Marriott points will net you 25,000 Singapore Airlines miles.

Southwest points

• Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card — Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card
• Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card — Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card
• Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card — Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card
• Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card — Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card
• Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card — Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card

Note: You can transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points to Southwest at a 1:1 ratio.

You can also transfer Marriott points at a 3:1 ratio. And you'll receive 25% bonus miles when transferring 60,000-point increments. In other words, 60,000 Marriott points will net you 25,000 Southwest points.

United Airlines miles

• United Gateway℠ Card — United Gateway℠ Card
• United℠ Explorer Card — United℠ Explorer Card
• United Quest℠ Card — United Quest℠ Card
• United Club℠ Infinite Card — United Club℠ Infinite Card
• United Club℠ Business Card — United Club℠ Business Card

Note: You can transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points and Bilt Rewards to United Airlines at a 1:1 ratio.

You can also transfer Marriott points at a 3:1 ratio. And you'll receive 25% bonus miles when transferring 60,000-point increments. In other words, 60,000 Marriott points will net you 25,000 United Airlines miles.

Virgin Atlantic

• The Platinum Card® from American Express — The Platinum Card® from American Express
• American Express® Gold Card — American Express® Gold Card
• Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card — Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
• Citi Premier® Card — Citi Premier® Card
• Bilt Mastercard® — Bilt Mastercard®

Note: You can transfer Amex Membership Rewards points, Bilt Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards points, Citi ThankYou points, and Capital One miles to Virgin Atlantic at a 1:1 ratio.

You can also transfer Marriott points at a 3:1 ratio. And you'll receive 25% bonus miles when transferring 60,000-point increments. In other words, 60,000 Marriott points will net you 25,000 Virgin Points.

Earning hotel points

Below are the most popular airline loyalty programs — and the top five credit cards to open and use to quickly rack up your mileage balance.

Choice Privileges points

• Choice Privileges Visa Signature Card — Choice Privileges Visa Signature Card
• Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card — Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
• Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card — Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
• Citi Premier® Card — Citi Premier® Card
• American Express® Gold Card — American Express® Gold Card

Note: You can transfer Amex Membership Rewards points and Capital One miles to Choice Privileges at a 1:1 ratio. You can transfer Citi ThankYou points for a ratio as favorable as 1:2, depending on which card you have.

Hilton Honors points

• Hilton Honors American Express Card — Hilton Honors American Express Card
• Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card — Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card
• Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card — Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card
• The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card — The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card
• The Platinum Card® from American Express — The Platinum Card® from American Express

Note: You can transfer Amex Membership Rewards points to Hilton at a 1:2 ratio. You can transfer Virgin Points at a 2:3 ratio.

World of Hyatt points

• The World Of Hyatt Credit Card — The World Of Hyatt Credit Card
• World of Hyatt Business Credit Card — World of Hyatt Business Credit Card
• Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card — Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
• Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card — Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
• Bilt Mastercard® — Bilt Mastercard®

Note: You can transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points and Bilt Rewards to Hyatt at a 1:1 ratio.

IHG One points

• IHG® Rewards Traveler Credit Card — IHG® Rewards Traveler Credit Card
• IHG® Rewards Premier Credit Card —  IHG® Rewards Premier Credit Card
• IHG® Rewards Premier Business Credit Card — IHG® Rewards Premier Business Credit Card
• Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card — Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
• Bilt Mastercard® — Bilt Mastercard®

Note: You can transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points, Bilt Rewards, and Virgin Points to IHG at a 1:1 ratio.

Marriott Bonvoy points

• Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card — Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card
• Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card — Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card
• Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card — Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card
• Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card — Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card
• Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Card — Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Card

Note: You can transfer Amex Membership Rewards points and Chase Ultimate Rewards points to Marriott at a 1:1 ratio.

United Airlines elite members can also transfer United miles to Marriott at a 1:1 ratio.

Wyndham Rewards points

• Wyndham Rewards® Earner Card — Wyndham Rewards® Earner Card
• Wyndham Rewards® Earner Plus Card — Wyndham Rewards® Earner Plus Card
• Wyndham Rewards® Earner Business Card — Wyndham Rewards® Earner Business Card
• Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card — Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
• Citi Premier® Card — Citi Premier® Card

Note: You can transfer Capital One miles and Citi ThankYou points to Wyndham at a 1:1 ratio.

Recommended credit card strategies for beginners

The best practice for anyone new to credit card rewards is to invest in flexible points. Again, these points can be used for all kinds of things — from airfare to hotel stays to rental cars to cash back.

Let's take a look at some strategic credit card pairings to turn yourself into a points-earning behemoth. These cards will help you to earn the maximum amount of rewards on all spending.

The Amex Trifecta

1.  Use The Platinum Card® from American Express for travel

The card earns:

• 5 points per dollar on airfare purchased directly through the airline or through Amex Travel (on up to $500,000 per calendar year)
• 5 points per dollar on hotels booked through Amex Travel 
• 1 point per dollar on all other eligible purchases

2. Use the American Express® Gold Card for dining and groceries

The card earns:

• 4 points per dollar at restaurants
• 4 points per dollar at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 in spending per calendar year, then 1 point per dollar)
• 3 points per dollar on flights booked directly through the airline or Amex Travel
• 1 point per dollar on everything else

3. Use The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express for everything else

The card earns a flat 2 points per dollar on the first $50,000 in purchases each year (then 1 point per dollar). You'll have to operate a small business to qualify for this card, but even things like DoorDash delivery or freelance writing can qualify for this.

The Chase Trifecta

1. Use the Chase Sapphire Reserve® for travel and dining

The card earns:

• 10 points per dollar on Lyft rides through March 2025 and on Chase Dining purchases through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
• 10 points per dollar on hotel stays and car rentals purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards
• 5 points per dollar on air travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards
• 3 points per dollar on other travel (after earning the $300 travel credit) and on dining
• 1 point per dollar on everything else

2. Use the Chase Freedom Flex℠ for various everyday purchases

The card earns:

• 5% cash back (5 points per dollar) on travel purchased through Ultimate Rewards
• 5% cash back (5 points per dollar) on up to $1,500 in purchases each quarter (then 1x) in rotating bonus categories when you activate. This can include things like Amazon, gas stations, supermarkets, and more.
• 3% cash back (3 points per dollar) on dining and drugstore purchases
• 1% cash back (1 point per dollar) on everything else

3. Use the Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card for everything else

The card earns a flat 1.5% cash back (1.5 points per dollar) on all purchases. You'll need to be a small business owner to qualify for this card — but if you do things like sell on Etsy, walk dogs for money, tutor, or drive for Uber, you can qualify for this card.

The Citi Trifecta

1. Use the Citi Premier® Card for groceries, gas stations, dining, and travel

The card earns:

• 3x points on air travel, gas stations, restaurants, supermarkets, and hotels
• 1 point per dollar on everything else

2. Use the Citi Custom Cash℠ Card for your most common monthly expense

The card earns 5% back (5 points per dollar) on up to $500 spent per billing cycle (then 1 point per dollar) for your top spending category. Eligible categories include:

• Restaurants
• Gas stations
• Grocery stores
• Select travel
• Select transit
• Select streaming services
• Drugstores
• Home improvement stores
• Fitness clubs
• Live entertainment

You'll earn 1% back (1 point per dollar) on all other purchases.

3. Use the Citi® Double Cash Card for everything else

The card earns 1 point per dollar when you make a purchase, and 1 point per dollar when you pay your credit card — effectively giving you 2 points per dollar on all purchases.

The Capital One Duo

1. Use the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card for travel and non-bonused spending

The card earns:

• 10 miles per dollar on hotels and car rentals booked through Capital One Travel
• 5 miles per dollar on flights booked through Capital One Travel
• 2 miles per dollar on all other eligible purchases

2. Use the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card for rideshare, entertainment, and everyday spending

The card earns:

• 10% cash back on Uber and Uber Eats purchases through November 14, 2024
• 8% cash back on Vivid Seats purchases through January 31, 2023, and on Capital One Entertainment purchases
• 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
• 4% cash back on dining, entertainment, and popular streaming services
• 3% cash back at grocery stores
• 1% cash back on all other purchases

Again, this cash back can be converted into Capital One miles if you also have a Capital One miles-earning card like the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card.

The Cashback Trifecta

1. Use the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express for groceries and online retailers

The card earns:

• 3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 spent per year (then 1% back)
• 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations on up to $6,000 spent on purchases per year (then 1% back)
• 3% cash back on U.S. online retail purchases on up to $6,000 spent per year (then 1% back)
• 1% cash back on all other eligible purchases

2. Use the Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card for food, streaming, and travel

The card earns:

• 10% cash back with Uber and Uber Eats through November 14, 2024
• 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases
• 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
• 3% cash back on dining, at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®), for eligible streaming services, and on entertainment
• 1% cash back on all other purchases

3. Use the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card for everything else

The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card earns a flat 2% cash rewards on purchases. You can use this card to funnel all your non-bonused spending through — think expenses like utilities, oil changes, etc.

How to redeem travel rewards

So, you've earned a stash of points, miles, and/or cash back. Now, what are you going to do with them?

The world of miles and points can be a bit complex. Let's look at a quick explainer of how to use each type of reward. Once you understand how they work, you'll understand how to find good deals.

Airline miles

Let's get a misconception out of the way first: Each airline mile you collect does not give you the ability to travel on a plane for 5,280 feet. In other words, just because you've collected 24,901 miles doesn't mean you can circumnavigate the Earth. Perhaps it's less confusing to just think of them as airline rewards.

Airlines have different ways of pricing award flights:

• Some price award seats according to the distance you fly (British Airways does this)
• Some price them according to the country you're flying from and the country you're flying to (Air Canada Aeroplan does this)
• Some price them according to the cash rate of the ticket you want to book (Southwest does this)
• Some price them according to a secret algorithm that makes seemingly no sense to the naked eye (American Airlines does this)

Because of this, you'll be able to predict the price you'll pay with some airlines better than others.

Most airlines have a large network of airline partners. This is important because you can usually use your miles to book flights on partner airlines, as well. For example, if you collect American Airlines miles, you can use them to book (nearly) free flights on American Airlines — as well as the following partners:

• Air Tahiti Nui
• Alaska Airlines
• American Airlines
• British Airways
• Cape Air
• Cathay Pacific
• Fiji Airways
• Finnair
• GOL Airlines
• Hawaiian Airlines
• Iberia
• Japan Airlines
• JetBlue
• Malaysia Airlines
• Qantas Airways
• Qatar Airways
• Royal Air Maroc
• Royal Jordanian Airlines
• Silver Airways
• SriLankan Airlines

In other words, you can get just about anywhere in the world with American Airlines miles.

Hotel points

Hotel points work similarly to airline miles:

• Some hotels charge a points price that fluctuates according to the cash price of the room (Hilton does this)
• Some hotel programs place each property into a "category" with a fixed price, regardless of the cash price of the room (Hyatt does this)

For example, Hyatt charges between 17,000 and 23,000 points per night for a "Category 5" Hyatt hotel. the Hyatt Regency Waikiki Beach is a Category 5 hotel. That means even if the hotel costs $1,000 per night, you'll never pay more than 23,000 points for a standard room.

Flexible rewards

Flexible rewards, as the name intimates, can be used in a variety of ways. Let's take a look at the three most popular redemption options.

Redeem for cash: Depending on the type of points you have, you can redeem them for cash at varying rates:

• Amex Membership Rewards points — 0.6 cents per point
• Capital One miles — 0.5 cents per point
• Chase Ultimate Rewards points — 1 cent per point
• Citi ThankYou points — 0.5 cents per point (1 cent if you've got select cards)

In nearly every single scenario, cash back is not a good redemption option with these points. If you're interested in cash back, you should be using cash-back credit cards instead of travel credit cards.

"Buy" travel through a portal: All flexible rewards can be used to reserve things like airfare, hotel stays, rental cars, and more through a proprietary bank portal at a fixed rate, though the rate can depend on the credit card you have.

• Amex Membership Rewards points — 0.7 to 1 cent per point through the Amex Travel Portal
• Bilt Rewards — 1.25 cents each through the Bilt Travel Portal
• Capital One miles — 1 cent per point through Capital One Travel
• Chase Ultimate Rewards points — Between 1 cent and 1.5 cents per point (depending on which card you have) through the Chase Travel Portal
• Citi ThankYou points — 1 cent per point through the Citi Travel Portal

Transfer to valuable travel partners: Converting your points into airline miles and hotel points gives them the most potential. Each flexible points currency offers its own unique transfer partners. Here's a quick rundown of each program with its transfer partners. All transfer ratios are 1:1 unless otherwise specified.

Amex Membership Rewards points

• Aer Lingus AerClub
• Aeromexico Club Premier (1:1.6)
• Air Canada Aeroplan
• Air France/KLM Flying Blue
• ANA Mileage Club
• Avianca LifeMiles
• British Airways Executive Club
• Cathay Pacific Asia Miles
• Choice Privileges
• Delta SkyMiles
• Emirates Skywards
• Etihad Airways Guest Program
• Hawaiian Airlines HawaiianMiles
• Hilton Honors (1:2)
• Iberia Plus
• JetBlue True Blue (1:0.8)
• Marriott Bonvoy
• Qantas Frequent Flyer
• Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer
• Virgin Points

Bilt Rewards

• American Airlines AAdvantage
• Aer Lingus AerClub
• Air Canada Aeroplan
• British Airways Executive Club
• Cathay Pacific Asia Miles
• Emirates Skywards
• Hawaiian Airlines HawaiianMiles
• Iberia Plus
• IHG Rewards Club
• Air France-KLM Flying Blue
• Turkish Miles & Smiles
• Virgin Atlantic Flying Club
• United Airlines
• World of Hyatt

Chase Ultimate Rewards points

• Aer Lingus AerClub
• Air Canada Aeroplan
• Air France-KLM Flying Blue
• British Airways Executive Club
• Emirates Skywards
• Iberia Plus
• JetBlue TrueBlue
• Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer
• Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards
• United MileagePlus
• Virgin Atlantic Flying Club
• IHG Rewards Club
• Marriott Bonvoy
• World of Hyatt

Capital One miles

• Aeromexico Club Premier
• Air Canada Aeroplan
• Air France-KLM Flying Blue
• ALL - Accor Live Limitless (2:1 ratio)
• Avianca LifeMiles
• British Airways Executive Club
• Cathay Pacific Asia Miles
• Choice Privileges
• Emirates Skywards
• Etihad Guest
• EVA Infinity MileageLands (2:1.5 ratio)
• Finnair Plus
• Qantas Frequent Flyer
• Singapore KrisFlyer
• TAP Air Portugal Miles&Go
• Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles
• Virgin Red
• Wyndham Rewards

Citi ThankYou points

• Aeromexico Club Premier
• Air France-KLM Flying Blue
• Avianca LifeMiles
• Cathay Pacific Asia Miles
• Choice Privileges
• Emirates Skywards
• Etihad Guest
• Eva Air Infinity MileageLands
• JetBlue TrueBlue
• Qantas Frequent Flyer
• Qatar Airways Privilege Club
• Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer
• Thai Airways Royal Orchid Plus
• Turkish Airlines Miles & Smiles
• Virgin Atlantic Flying Club
• Wyndham Rewards

Marriott points

• AEGEAN Miles+Bonus (3:1)
• Aer Lingus AerClub (3:1)
• Aeromexico ClubPremier (3:1)
• Air Canada Aeroplan (3:1)
• Air France-KLM Flying Blue (3:1)
• Air New Zealand Airpoints (200:1)
• Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan (3:1)
• American Airlines AAdvantage (3:1)
• ANA Mileage Club (3:1)
• Asiana Airlines Asiana Club (3:1)
• Avianca LifeMiles (3:1)
• British Airways Executive Club (3:1)
• Cathay Pacific Asia Miles (3:1)
• Copa Airlines ConnectMiles (3:1)
• Delta SkyMiles (3:1)
• Emirates Skywards (3:1)
• Etihad Guest (3:1)
• FRONTIER Miles (3:1)
• Hainan Airlines Fortune Wings Club (3:1)
• Hawaiian Airlines HawaiianMiles (3:1)
• Iberia Plus (3:1)
• InterMiles (3:1)
• Japan Airlines JAL Mileage Bank (3:1)
• Korean Air SKYPASS (3:1)
• LATAM Airlines LATAM Pass (3:1)
• Multiplus Fidelidade LATAM Pass (3:1)
• Qantas Frequent Flyer (3:1)
• Qatar Airways Privilege Club (3:1)
• Saudia Alfursan (3:1)
• Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer (3:1)
• Southwest Rapid Rewards (3:1)
• TAP Air Portugal Miles&Go (3:1)
• Thai Airways Royal Orchid Plus (3:1)
• Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles (3:1)
• United MileagePlus (3:1.1)
• Virgin Atlantic Flying Club (3:1)
• Virgin Australia Velocity Frequent Flyer (3:1)
• Vueling Club (3:1)

When to use rewards vs. cash

Just because you can book a free flight or hotel stay with credit card rewards doesn't mean you should. Believe it or not, "free" isn't always a good deal. Sometimes it's wiser to pay with cash.

Most points and miles currencies don't have a firm value. Depending on the way you redeem them, you can get wildly different return rates for your rewards. Do you know how to tell when you should use rewards and when you should use cash?

It's a simple question to answer, and just takes a few seconds of low-level algebra.

The magic formula

Whenever you're looking to reserve free travel with credit card rewards, you should know exactly how much value you're getting for your points. There's an easy way to figure this out:

(cash price of travel - taxes and fees of award price) / number of points = value per point

For example, a round-trip coach flight between Chicago and Venice costs $958 in late October 2023. The award price for this trip is 60,000 United Airlines miles and $65.

Using the above formula, we will:

• Subtract the $65 in taxes you'll pay with your award flight from the cash price of the ticket ($958 - $65 = $893).
• Divide this new figure by the number of miles you'll pay ($893 / 60,000 = $0.014).

As you can see, booking this award ticket will give you a value of 1.4 cents per United Airlines mile.

How much are points and miles worth to you?

Because the value you can receive from credit card rewards varies, so much, you'll have to decide for yourself what a "good" value is for your points and miles. Insider has its own points and miles valuations, which have been created by experts who use credit card rewards constantly. You can use that as a guide.

For example, Insider estimates that Hyatt points are worth an average of 1.5 cents each — but I am personally reluctant to use Hyatt points unless I'm getting at least 2 cents in value. Here are some ways I've used Hyatt points recently, along with the value per Hyatt point I received:

• Thompson Nashville —4.4 cents per point
• Alila Ventana Big Sur — 6.66 cents per point
• Lahaina Shores Beach Resort, Maui —1.7 cents per point
• Andaz Maui — 4 cents per point
• Hana-Maui Resort — 2 cents per point
• Park Hyatt Beaver Creek — 4.56 cents per point

All this to say, I'd (usually) rather pay cash for my Hyatt hotel if I'll get less than 2 cents per point and save my rewards for better value later.

Best use of points for value

You should always use your credit card rewards in a way that makes sense for your travel habits. You'll be the most stress-free and content if you worry less about getting "maximum value" for your rewards and simply use them in a way that makes you happy.

That said, let's take a look at some of the best ways to use your points for huge value. We won't go too deep into the details, but you can send us a note if you've got a question and we'll respond when we have a spare moment.

Air travel sweet spots

Buy-one-get-one flights for up to two years

You'll need: Southwest points

The Southwest Companion Pass is considered by many of us to be the single best for most travelers. Put simply, it allows you to bring along a travel buddy every single time you fly Southwest — for up to two years. You'll only be on the hook for the taxes and fees of your companion, which are a mere $5.60 one-way for domestic flights.

Even if you were to fly on Southwest multiple times per day every single day of the year, your companion could come with you for virtually free. This is a great money-saving tool for families who often travel together.

To get the Companion Pass, you must earn 135,000 Southwest points in a calendar year. That's unbelievably easy, as long as you're willing to open a couple of credit cards. See, Southwest credit card bonuses count toward this requirement. By earning the bonuses from one personal and one small business Southwest credit card, you'll often immediately qualify for the pass (depending on each card's current bonus).

There are some other quirks to the Companion Pass that you should know about, so be sure to read our guide to the Southwest Companion Pass for more details.

Lie-flat Qsuite (the best business class seats in the world!) to the Maldives for 140,000 miles round-trip

You'll need: American Airlines miles

You can use American Airlines miles for flights on Qatar Airways, widely agreed to be one of the highest-quality airlines. Many of its planes offer incredible business class seats called Qsuite — if you and a travel companion book seats right next to each other, your section can be turned into a double bed.

Qatar Airways flies its Qsuite to lots of fun destinations, such as Cape Town, Bangkok, Singapore, and Paris. One of the best uses of American Airlines miles is to book flights between the US and the Maldives for 140,000 miles round-trip. These flights can easily cost $5,000 — and potentially much more, depending on your originating city.

Flights to Hawaii for 15,000 miles round-trip

You'll need: Turkish Airlines miles

If you've got Turkish Airlines miles, you can book domestic US flights on partner United Airlines for just 7,500 miles one-way in coach — and 12,500 miles in business class.

Incredibly, this also includes flights to Hawaii. These are highly contested seats, meaning you'll likely have trouble finding dates that work for you. But if you can pull it off, it's a steal. You'll have the best chance of success if you search from United's hub airports, such as Newark (EWR), Washington Dulles (IAD), Chicago (ORD), San Francisco (SFO), etc.

Round-the-world flight in lie-flat business class seats for 105,000 miles

You'll need: ANA miles

ANA is a major airline in Japan and a luxurious one. It allows you to book round-the-world award flights — a single award with up to eight stopovers. In other words, you visit up to eight destinations during your trip.

ANA prices its awards based on the distance you fly. Depending on how direct you build your round-the-world trip, you could fly for as little as 105,000 miles in business class.

There are some rules to know, such as:

• You can make up to three stopovers in Europe and four in Japan.
• You can't backtrack.
• You're required to cross both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.

Considering you can earn more than 105,000 points with a single credit card welcome bonus, this deal makes compassing the world in style relatively easy.

Domestic flights for 6,000 miles one-way

You'll need: American Airlines miles

US carriers, namely American Airlines and Delta, occasionally publish super cheap domestic fares between random cities. Available dates are often limited, but the prices are white hot — as low as 6,000 miles one-way for transcontinental flights.

More commonly, you'll see one-way flights for 12,500 miles each way. But if you've got a bit of flexibility in your travel plans, you can save more than 50% on these special prices.

As an example, above is a flight between Cincinnati and San Jose, California, for 6,000 American Airlines miles. That's over 2,000 miles of flying!

Lie-flat first class to Japan for 110,000 miles round-trip

You'll need: Virgin Points

Inside an ANA premium cabin are some of the biggest and most luxurious seats in the sky. The food is restaurant-quality and even serves Japanese whiskey that costs nearly $1,000 per bottle.

Virgin Atlantic is partnered with ANA and offers a confusingly good deal on business- and first-class flights between the US and Japan:

• First Class — 120,000 Virgin Points from the East Coast, 110,000 Virgin Points from the West Coast
• Business class — 95,000 Virgin Points from the East Coast, 90,000 Virgin Points from the West Coast

You will pay fuel surcharges with this ticket, though these fees are normally very reasonable — perhaps a couple of hundred dollars. But when gas prices are high, you may find yourself paying a prohibitive $700 round-trip. Still not a bad deal for a seat that otherwise costs more than $20,000.

Note that ANA only flies first class to Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York. If you don't live nearby, it could still be worth flying to one of these cities just for the experience.

Flights to Ireland for 26,000 points round-trip

You'll need: Aer Lingus Avios

Aer Lingus is the official airline of Ireland, and serves lots of US cities. There are a handful of strategic routes that can get you to Ireland for as little as 13,000 Aer Lingus Avios points one-way in coach:

• Boston to Dublin/Shannon
• Chicago to Dublin
• Minneapolis to Dublin
• New York (JFK) to Dublin/Shannon
• Philadelphia to Dublin
• Washington, DC (IAD) to Dublin

Only during off-peak dates can you book a flight for 13,000 points. You can view the Aer Lingus award calendar here (all dates in green are peak pricing), but just know that well over half the year is off-peak.

Aer Lingus will pass along moderate fuel surcharges — but it's still a good deal.

Lie-flat business class seats to Europe for 68,000 points round-trip

You'll need: Iberia Avios

Iberia is the flag carrier of Spain. This trick is a bit niche, as it only works if you fly to Spain — but it's a great way to inexpensively reach Europe in style. Once you're across the Atlantic, you can fly to whichever country you actually want to visit for very cheap (sometimes $20 or less).

For just 17,000 Iberia Avios in coach or 34,000 Iberia Avios in business class, you can book the following routes one-way:

• Boston to Madrid or Barcelona
• New York (JFK) to Madrid or Barcelona
• Chicago to Madrid

Similar to using Aer Lingus Avios, prices are only this low for off-peak dates (which you can view here). Again, over half of the year is off-peak, so you shouldn't have a terrible time finding availability.

Hotel sweet spots

Calala Island

You'll need: Hyatt points

Calala Island is about 3.5 miles east of Nicaragua. The island's resort has just four rooms, with a maximum occupancy of eight total guests. In other words, this is about as close as you can get to booking a private island with hotel points.

You'll pay 40,000 Hyatt points per night — with a minimum three-night stay. You'll get an all-inclusive experience, and you can request whatever you want to eat. The chef and the multiple staff are entirely at your disposal.

These rooms routinely cost $3,000 per night, heightening Calala Island's bucket-list allure.

Annual free night at (almost) any Hilton property worldwide

You'll need: An annual fee-incurring Hilton credit card

One of the greatest deals in credit card rewards is the free night certificate that comes with select American Express Hilton credit cards. It is valid at nearly every Hilton hotel on the planet (with a few exceptions), making it worth up to 150,000 points.

To earn this free night certificate, you must have one of the following cards:

• Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card — Receive an annual free night certificate after opening the card and after each account anniversary. Also, earn a second free night certificate when you spend $60,000 on your card within a calendar year.
• Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card — Earn one free night certificate after you spend $15,000 on your card during a calendar year.
• The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card — Earn one free night certificate after you spend $15,000 during a calendar year with your card. Earn a second free night award when you spend $60,000 with your card during a calendar year.

Depending on where you use your certificate, you could get thousands of dollars in value. For example, you can stay at hotels like the Waldorf Astoria Maldives (pictured above), which regularly costs over $2,000 per night.

Viceroy Bali

You'll need: Hyatt points

Bali has two personalities: Beach and jungle. The Viceroy Bali is located in Ubud — surrounded by jungle, rice terraces, monkeys, etc.

This resort is a Hyatt Category 7 hotel. That means you'll pay between 25,000 and 35,000 points per night, regardless of the cash price of the hotel. Prices often cost over $750 per night, but even the base room comes with a heated plunge pool, marble floors, and a terrace with excellent jungle views.

Alila Ventana Big Sur

You'll need: Hyatt points

Alila Ventana Big Sur is a gem along the Central Coast of California. It's a luxury all-inclusive resort surrounded by towering redwoods, shimmering ocean, and serpentine hiking paths.

This resort is a Category 8 Hyatt hotel, meaning it costs between 35,000 and 45,000 points per night for double occupancy. The hotel otherwise routinely costs over $2,000 per night. The only thing not included is alcohol and some ancillary activities such as falconry and ax throwing.

Booking a stay at this resort is just about the closest you'll get to truly free travel.

Annual Marriott 85,000-point certificate

You'll need: The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card (or the Ritz-Carlton Credit Card)

The best Marriott hotels in the world cost between 80,000 and 120,000 points per night, depending on the season. These resorts can cost over $1,500 per night, meaning you can get huge value from your Marriott points if you choose a super aspirational resort.

That's why the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card is so enticing to keep year after year. The card comes with an annual 85,000-point free night award after each account anniversary. This nearly guarantees you a free night at a five-star property every year. You have the ability to add 15,000 Marriott points to the certificate, as well, if the night you want to stay costs more than 85,000 points.

You can stay at resorts like Mystique, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Santorini (pictured above), or the famed Al Maha a Luxury Collection Desert Resort & Spa, Dubai, which is nearly impossible to find for under $1,000.

Welcome bonus sweet spots

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card (worth Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, on average, based on Insider's estimate of points value)

The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card comes with Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card. This is worth at a minimum $750 in travel when you use the card directly with airlines hotels, etc. and redeem your miles by "erasing" your travel purchases at a rate of 1 cent each. But they can be worth much more by transferring them to travel partners.

For example, you could transfer those points to Turkish Airlines for five round-trip coach tickets to Hawaii from a United Airlines hub. That could potentially save you over $3,000, depending on your origin airport.

Or, you could transfer 60,000 miles to Virgin Red and book a one-way first-class seat between the East Coast and Japan. That ticket will otherwise cost over $14,000!

You can read our Capital One Venture X review to see other fun features that make the card worthwhile, such as an annual $300 travel credit, some of the best airport lounge access around, and more.

Note: The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card comes with this exact same bonus.

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card (worth Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card, on average, based on Insider's estimate of points value)

The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card comes with Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card.

This bonus is more than enough to stay at any Marriott property on the planet. You can stretch it into multiple nights at low-level Marriott hotels, or you can use it to stay a night or two at a luxury property like the Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Island, which costs thousands of dollars per night. You'll even book directly into an overwater villa.

Read our Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card review to see why this card is worth keeping year after year. You'll get things like an 85,000-point free night award each anniversary year, automatic Platinum elite status (which comes with free breakfast and suite upgrades when available), up to $300 annually in restaurant credits, and lots more.

Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card (worth Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card, on average, based on Insider's estimate of points value)

The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card comes with Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card.

This is enough for a stay at any Hilton property — even the ones that cost thousands of dollars per night, like the Waldorf Astoria Park City during peak ski season.

The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card is one of the all-around best rewards credit cards thanks to its ongoing benefits such up to $500 in various annual travel credits credit, top-tier Hilton Diamond elite status, airport lounge access, a free night certificate worth up to 150,000 points, and more. Read our Amex Hilton Aspire review to see the full power this card can bring to your travels.

Ink Business Cash® Credit Card ( worth Ink Business Cash® Credit Card, on average, based on Insider's estimate of points value)

The Ink Business Cash® Credit Card comes with Ink Business Cash® Credit Card. That's an incredible bonus for a no annual fee credit card, and the highest we've ever seen for this card.

Even better, if you also hold a Chase Ultimate Rewards card that charges an annual fee (such as the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, you can combine your rewards and transfer them to airline and hotel partners. That's enough points for three nights at a five-star Hyatt hotel such as the Keemala in Phuket, Thailand. Or, you could use it to book a round-trip flight to Europe on United Airlines.

This is a small business card, which means you'll at least need a side gig to qualify. That could mean freelance writing, selling things on Etsy, or delivering for DoorDash.

Note: The Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card earns this exact same bonus.

Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card (worth Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card, on average, based on Insider's estimate of points value)

The Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card offers Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card.

After meeting minimum spending requirements, you'll have nearly enough points to do things like fly round-trip on United Airlines in lie-flat business class to Europe or stay three nights on Calala Island (featured above as a sweet spot), which costs thousands of dollars per night. Or, you could simply cash out your points for more than $1,000.

This is quite possibly the best bonus available at the moment. However, its spending requirement isn't for the faint of heart. And because this is a small-business card, you'll need a business venture to qualify. But even things like driving for Uber, pet sitting via Rover, or tutoring are considered a small business.

What you should know about traveling with credit card rewards

In truth, free travel is too good to be true. But it's true anyway.

Credit card rewards will continue to be a powerful tool for free travel for one simple reason — very few people are going to take the time to read this guide in full. If you dedicate a bit of time to learning the ins and outs of traveling on points, there's practically nowhere in the world that you can't go for pennies on the dollar.