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- Which Credit Card Earns the Most Rewards at Grocery Stores?
- Which Credit Card Earns the Most Rewards at Gas Stations?
- Which Credit Card Earns the Most Rewards on Dining?
- Which Credit Card Earns the Most Rewards on Home Insurance Payments?
- Which Credit Card Earns the Most Rewards on Cable, Internet, and Phone Service?
- Which Credit Card Earns the Most Rewards at Drugstores?
- Which Credit Card Earns the Most Rewards at Office Supply Stores?
- Which Credit Card Earns the Most Rewards on Mortgage/Rent Payments?
The average American family of four spends $4,580 on vacations. Of that amount, $2,015.20 is spent on transportation, $1,053.40 on food and drinks, $1,053.40 on lodging, and $458 on entertainment. Most of us go straight for the Chase Sapphire Preferred card when it comes to travel spend, but is there a better alternative?
Assuming all expenses are put on the same card, below is a breakdown of what every card with a travel category bonus would earn. Based on the results, the Chase Sapphire Preferred and Citi Hilton Honors Reserve come out on top. The points earned from the Hilton card earn a minimum of 1 night, or up to 3 nights at the lowest category hotel. Not everyone is thrilled at the prospect of staying at a low-end Hilton, and for those folks, the Sapphire Preferred presents a better alternative. The 9,310 points earned from this card are enough for $111.72 in travel credits when booked through Ultimate Rewards, or $133 in Wanna Get Away fares when transferred to Southwest. Clearly, Ultimate Rewards offer much more flexibility in terms of redemptions, making the Sapphire Preferred the most rewarding card in the travel category.
Citi Hilton Honors Reserve – 5 points per $1 spent on airline and car rental purchases, 10 points at Hilton hotels, 3 points everywhere else
- Transportation = 10,076
- Food & Drinks = 3,160
- Lodging = 3,160 – 10,534 (3-10 points)
- Entertainment = 1,374
- Total: 17,770 – 25,144
Rewards:
- 3-5 nights at a Category 1 hotel
- 1-2 nights at a Category 2 hotel
- Up to 1 night at a Category 3-4 hotel
Chase Sapphire Preferred – 2.14 points per $1 (7% annual dividend) on travel
- Transportation = 4,312
- Food & Drinks = 2,254
- Lodging = 2,254
- Entertainment = 490
- Total: 9,310 points
Rewards:
- $111.72 in travel credits
- 1 short haul round-tripyflight (9,000 British Airways Avios)
- $133 in Southwest Wanna Get Away Fares (70 points per $1)
- 1 night at a Category 1 Hyatt Hotel (5,000 points)
- 1 night at an IHG Pointsbreak hotel (5,000 points)
- 1 round-trip Northeast zone ticket in Coach Class (8,000 Amtrak points)
- 3 round-trip special route tickets in Coach Class (3,000 Amtrak points each)
American Express Premier Rewards Gold/American Express Business Gold Rewards – 3 points per $1 on airfare purchased directly through airlines
- Transportation = 6,045 points
- Food & Drinks = 1,053
- Lodging = 1,053
- Entertainment = 1,053
- Total: 9,204 points
Rewards:
- $92.04 towards travel booked directly through Ultimate Rewards
- 1 short haul round-trip flight (9,000 British Airways Avios round-trip)
Chase Hyatt Visa – 3 points per $1 at Hyatt, 2 at restaurants, on airline tickets purchased directly from the airline and at car rental agencies.
- Transportation = 4,030
- Food & Drinks = 2,106
- Lodging = 1,053 – 3,159
- Entertainment = 458
- Total: 7,647 – 9,753 points
Rewards:
- 1 night at a Category 1 hotel (5,000 points)
- Up to 1 night at a Category 2 hotel (8,000 points)
Marriott Rewards Credit Card – 5 points per $1 at Marriott, 2 points on airfare and car rentals purchased directly through airlines
- Transportation = 4,030
- Food & Drinks = 1,053
- Lodging = 1,053 – 5,265
- Entertainment = 458
- Total: 6,594 – 10,806 points
Rewards:
- 1 night at a Category 1 hotel
- Up to 1 night at a Category 2-3 hotel
Ink Classic/Ink Bold/Ink Plus Business Card – 2 points per $1 on hotel accommodations booked directly with the hotel
- Transportation = 2,015
- Food & Drinks = 1,053
- Lodging = 2,106
- Entertainment = 458
- Total: 5,632 points
Rewards:
- $67.58 in travel credits
- 1 short haul one-way flight (4,500 British Airways Avios)
- $80 in Southwest Wanna Get Away Fares (70 points per $1)
- 1 night at a Category 1 Hyatt Hotel (5,000 points)
- 1 night at an IHG Pointsbreak hotel (5,000 points)
- 1 one-way Northeast zone ticket in Coach Class (4,000 Amtrak points)
- 3 one-way special route tickets in Coach Class (1,500 Amtrak points each)
Bank of America Alaska Airlines Visa Signature – 5 miles per $1 at partner hotels and restaurants
- Transportation = 2,015
- Food & Drinks = 1,053 – 5,267
- Lodging = 1,053 – 5,267
- Entertainment = 458
- Total: 4,579- 13,007
Rewards: Up to 1 one-way domestic economy ticket (12,500 miles)


Delta® Reserve for Business
- Annual Fee: $450 fee
- Foreign Fees: No
- Card Type: Travel
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- Earn 40,000 bonus miles and 10,000 MQMs after you spend $3,000 in purchases with your new Card in the first 3 months.†
- Earn 15,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) and 15,000 bonus miles after you reach $30,000 in eligible purchases on your Card in the calendar year.
- Earn 2 Miles per dollar spent on eligible purchases made directly with Delta. Earn 1 mile on every eligible dollar spent on purchases.
- Settle into your seat sooner with Priority Boarding and enjoy 20% savings on eligible in-flight purchases in the form of a statement credit.
- Pay no foreign transaction fees when you spend overseas.‡
- Complimentary Delta Sky Club® Access.‡
- Terms and limitations apply
- See Rates & Fees

Delta® Reserve for Business
- Annual Fee: $450 fee
- Foreign Fees: No
- Card Type: Travel
FTG Review | Reward Breakdown | Points Breakdown |
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Breakdown
Earn (pt.)
Spend
3 months
0
$3,000
Per dollar on eligible purchases with Delta Purchases
2.00
$1
All Purchases
1.00
$1
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