Top Credit Card Picks for Summer
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We’re ready for summer! To help you make sure you’re ready for your summer vacation, we’ve put together a list of six travel credit card offers you’ll want to consider this season.
Between the new cards, the new offers, and some great ongoing signup bonuses that seem to be sticking around, it can be hard to keep track of all the great opportunities out there right now. Each of these cards will help you earn lots of points and miles so that you can plan the summer travels of your dreams (without breaking the bank). Check them out today!
The Hottest Cards for Travel Summer Credit Card Picks
Chase Sapphire Preferred®
The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card stays on our Hot List for summer because it is still, in our opinion, one of the top travel cards that exists. The current signup bonus gets you 50,000 Ultimate Rewards Points after completing a minimum spend of $4,000 within the first 3 months of card membership. Plus you can earn an additional 5,000 points by adding the first authorized user and make a purchase in the first 3 months.
If you’re serious about using credit cards for travel, this is a card that should definitely be in your wallet if you’re able to get it. Ultimate Rewards points are incredibly flexible and can be used to redeem nearly free travel with a dozen top hotel and airline travel partners. 50,000+ Ultimate Rewards Points can take you a long way!
Chase Ink Plus® Business Credit Card
Earn 60,000 Ultimate Rewards points when you get the Chase Ink Plus® Business Credit Card and spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. This credit card has 5x spending bonuses for business expenses including office supply stores, internet and telephone providers, and 2x bonuses on hotels and gas stations.
If you run a small (or large) business or operate as a sole-proprietor, this is the travel rewards earning business card we most highly recommend (we use it ourselves and love the flexibility of its points).
AmEx Everyday® Preferred Card
The Amex Everyday® Preferred Card from our partner American Express is a Membership Rewards earning card that offers an easy signup bonus and good category bonuses on everyday spending. You’ll only need to spend $1,000 within the first 3 months to earn 15,000 Membership Reward® points.
You can earn 3X points at US supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases and 2X points at US gas stations. You can also receive 50% more points when you use your Card 30 or more times on purchases in a billing period less returns and credits. Terms and conditions apply. There is also the AmExEveryday® Card–a no annual fee version of the card–but with lower category earning bonuses.
The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card
Get 50,000 Rapid Rewards points as a bonus after spending $2,000 in the first three months when you open the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card. The card has an annual fee of $99, but is worth it if you’ve got your eye on a higher value redemption on your reward flight. You’ll get 6,000 bonus points every year on your cardmember anniversary, plus the 50,000 points you’ll earn after meeting the required spending amount count toward the 110,000 points you need to earn the South West Airlines annual companion pass.
Great for domestic travelers and families who find the fare based points system easy for booking multiple seats to travel together.
The JetBlue Plus Card
The JetBlue Plus Card offers a bonus of 30,000 TrueBlue points from Barclaycard after completing a minimum spend of $1,000 within 90 days of card membership. This is unique opportunity to earn valuable points specific to JetBlue.
We think this card is great for JetBlue lovers, domestic flyers who want to try the great first class ‘Mint’ product, families (there are family pooling accounts), and anyone who wants to start building a stash of TrueBlue points—because they never expire!
IHG®Rewards Club Select Credit Card (This offer is no longer available)
Our hotel card pick for the summer, the IHG Rewards Club Select Credit Card will get you a 70,000 point signup bonus when you spend $2,000 on purchases in the first 3 months of card membership. This card has an annual fee of $49, but it’s one we gladly pay every year, as you earn an award certificate for one free night at any every year on your card anniversary. Plus you get IHG Platinum elite status as long as you keep the card. These are all pretty awesome benefits for a property group that has nearly 5,000 hotels worldwide.
No matter where you’re traveling this Summer, there is a card for you! Be sure to subscribe to our update list (on the right sidebar) to be the first to hear all the great ways you can put your points and miles to use for the best free (and nearly free) travel opportunities.