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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)