Want to earn free flights, get travel perks and protect your trips? Let me explain why the Chase Sapphire Preferred and the Capital One Venture Credit Cards are my two recommended must-have travel cards for any traveler!
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, if you’re not using travel rewards cards, you’re leaving money (and points) on the table and as someone who takes more trips than my budget allows, my secret isn’t where I go – it’s how I pay for it. My two favorite travel credit cards that have beneficial reward systems to utilize when booking airfare whether domestic or international, upgraded hotel stays and even access to airport lounges all by spending money you already intend on spending if you are a responsible card holder!
These aren’t just cards, these are my fun tokens to make travel more affordable and here’s how you can do it too.
Chase Sapphire Preferred: My Ride or Die for Travel and Dining
Let’s start with the classic. The Chase Sapphire Preferred® is my go to for anything travel related or everytime I grab food or drinks. With an annual fee of $95, this card is popular for its valuable rewards program and travel benefits!
Why I swear by this card
- The Chase Sapphire Preferred card accumulates 2x points on all travel and dining related purchases and I dine out quite frequently, especially on the road.
- Provides a $50 annual Hotel Credit on stays booked through Chase Travel.
- Offers 1:1 point transfer to airlines like JetBlue, Southwest and United meaning you can book “free” flights with your rewards points directly through partner programs on your mobile banking app.
- An insane value when booking through Chase Travel (Up to 25% more value!)
- Includes built-in protections such as trip delay coverage, baggage insurance or rental car collision waiver.
- Avoids International Transaction Fees!!!
How I use it
I rack up points from restaurant visits, hotel bookings and even rideshare bookings on Uber or Lyft. Then I turn those points into free airfare, often scoring $600+ in flights with just a few clicks. It’s ridiculously rewarding!
👉 Apply for Chase Sapphire Preferred®
Capital One Venture Rewards®: My Effortless Backup Plan
I keep the Capital One Venture Rewards Card in my wallet for one reason: flexibility.
Where Chase is more strategic, Capital One Venture is easy. It gives 2x miles on every single purchase meaning every coffee run, gas stop or grocery trip equal more miles!
What I love
- Erase any travel purchase – flights, Airbnbs, ferries, trains, tours, boutique hotels. Literally anything labeled “travel” on your statement is eligible for reward point redemption.
- Access to Capital One Lounges at several International Airports Nationwide. Currently (JFK) New York City, (IAD) Washington D.C, (DFW) Dallas-Fort Worth, (LAS) Las Vegas and (DEN) Denver offer Airport Lounge Access for a fee of $45
- 15+ airline transfer partners if you want to get fancy.
- Global Entry/TSA Precheck (a must if you travel internationally frequently or hate airport lines.)
Real use cases
When I first signed up for the Capital One Venture Card, I used the $50 annual hotel credit to book a night at The Gates Hotel South Beach through the Capital One Travel portal before an early flight to Roatan, Honduras. It was the perfect excuse to enjoy a day at the beach before my trip.
On my recent two-week trip to Iceland, I booked roundtrip airport transfer from KEF to Reykjavik City Center and covered the $200 charge with my rewards points. It felt great getting a safe, reliable ride for ‘free’ thanks to my card.
Needless to say, the Capital One Venture Card makes travel smoother and more affordable, whether it’s saving on hotels, covering transportation or booking with smaller vendors without being tied to loyalty programs. It’s the kind of flexibility that really pays off for travelers like me.
👉 Apply for Capital One Venture Rewards®
Why I use both and recommend you should too
I travel smart, not rich. Both of these cards help me achieve that. I use the Chase Sapphire for all travel and dining purchases because the rewards a higher and the protection is better, and I use Capital One Venture for literally everything else to keep building miles. Here’s what I’ve covered with my rewards:
- Airfare – (my main goal, I very rarely pay for flights anymore)
- Food and drinks during layovers (thanks to airport lounge access)
- Hotel stays
- Spa credits and upgrades during hotel stays
- Ubers, Trains and even Ferries
- Global Entry and TSA Precheck (because waiting in line is not the vibe)
Truth Time: if you travel you need one of these – or both.
You don’t have to be a full time traveler to benefit from these cards. Even if you take one or two trips per year, these cards pay for themselves and then some. So if you’re dreaming of a beach in Tulum, a flight to Curaçao or a spontaneous weekend getaway to Puerto Rico – these are the cards that can make it happen for less than you think!
Ready to Travel Like Me?
Here are my referral links to learn more and apply — I may earn a small commission (thank you!), but these are the only travel cards I use and trust:
👉 Apply for Chase Sapphire Preferred®
👉 Apply for Capital One Venture Rewards®
Much love and safe travels, Sen
Lust for Latitude 