This post contains affiliate links, meaning if you click through and make a purchase I may make a small commission. I only share information about things I know, love and trust! Opinions expressed here are author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been review, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
Travel credit cards can easily save you thousands of dollars on the most expensive parts of travel: flights and hotels.
Even better, they can give you the opportunity to enjoy luxurious experiences that you otherwise might not be able to afford.
However, knowing which travel credit card(s) to apply for can be confusing.
To help you prioritize your credit card sign-ups, this page is updated every month to include what I believe are the top credit card offers on the market.
But to quickly give you an idea, here are a few real-world examples of what you could be doing right now to earn free hotel stays and more:
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
This is the most popular card because of its excellent earning potential and low annual fee.
If you’re looking for a new card to get you started, this is the one.
When you sign up for and use this card, you’ll earn Chase Ultimate Rewards points, which are some of the most versatile in the industry.
There are 11 airlines and 3 hotel transfer partners, at which you can transfer at a 1:1 ratio.
Learn more about this card here
You could redeem your welcome offer points Chase Travel Portal.
Then redeem these points by transferring them to a hotel partner, such as the World of Hyatt program or Marriott Bonvoy program.
Here’s how you could redeem you Ultimate Rewards points:
Las Vegas Hotels
Cosmopolitan Hotel: transfer your UR points to MR points and enjoy a 2-night stay for a pre-Christmas getaway in a balcony room for 70,000 points.
Bellagio: transfer your UR points to MR points and stay for 3 nights leading up to American Thanksgiving for 69,000 points.
New York New York: transfer your UR points to MR points and stay for 3 nights at the end of September for only 33,000 points (and maybe redeem the remaining points on flights).
Park MGM: transfer your UR points to MR points and stay for 3 nights at the end of September for only 49,000 points (this is the best hotel for a chill vibe – the outdoor hot tub is also great!)
3 Free Nights in Downtown Nashville
Dream Nashville is in the heart of downtown and can cost upwards of $400 per night during peak travel season.
As a category 6 hotel, it costs 25,000 points per night.
So with 75,000 UR points, you could stay here for 3 free nights.
I priced out some random dates at the end of September (the best time to visit in my opinion) and the cost was either 75,000 points or $1,143.07!
Mazatlan – Brand New All Inclusive Resort
Hyatt has recently opened its new Dreams Estrella Mazatlan resort, an all-suite hotel.
It’s family friendly, but there is also an adults-only area that has its own pool and swim-up bar, as well as a collection of swim-out rooms.
I browsed through some dates, and you could stay here at the end of October right before high-season starts, at only 17,000 points per night (that’s 4 free nights).
Daily Drop – Tons of Free Resources
To learn more about maximizing your everyday usage of your credit cards for great travel benefits, I recommend subscribing to the Daily Drop Newsletter.
It’s a 5-minute read every day, and it’s full of valuable information and all the latest offers.
They also put together a free Miles and Points 101 course that will teach you everything you need to know to get started!
The content on this page is accurate as of the posting date; however, some of our partner offers may have expired.
