Credit Cards
Credit cards are a great way to help your family save money while traveling. They offer hundreds of dollars in credits, and up to thousands of dollars of value in credit card points. Best of all, a lot of these benefits are FREE for active duty military members and their spouses!
The best way to maximize the value of your credit card is to use both the statement credits/benefits the card offers and by redeeming the points you earn (from the signup bonus and your everyday spending) for travel.
Why do members of the Military get these benefits for free?
Due to the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act of 2003 (SCRA) and Military Lending Act (MLA) limits are imposed on the fees and interest rates that lending institutions can charge military members and their spouses. The SCRA applies to cards opened before military service began and the MLA applies to those opened during military service. However, issuers like Chase and American Express have generously gone beyond their legal duty and have waived fees for their premium credit cards, which can save a military couple over $1000 in fees, but give them over $1000 in value!
Beginner Info
#1 Rule of Opening Credit Cards
Before you apply for a new credit card, please remember the rules of owning a credit card and being financially responsible.
- DO NOT open any new cards if you currently carry a balance on a credit card/have existing credit card debt.
- NEVER spend more on your credit card than you can afford.
- ALWAYS pay off your credit card IN FULL EVERY MONTH. If you accrue interest on your card, you have negated any value the card/points have. You will actually be losing money.
- MAKE SURE you pay your statement BEFORE it’s due so you don’t get hit with any late fees or interest.
Chase's "5/24 Rule"
Chase credit cards are subject the “5/24 rule.” This means that if you have opened 5 or more cards from ANY issuer (Chase, Amex, any store brand cards) in the last 24 months, Chase will automatically decline your application. Because of this rule, if you are under 5/24, we recommend you apply for Chase cards first. Once you’re over 5/24, then you can start applying for the Amex cards. I opened a Target card before I learned about the 5/24 rule, and definitely regret it, but am glad it only took up 1 of my slots.
Chase Credit Cards
Chase has some of the most valuable credit cards on the market! We love Chase for their generous travel credits, but most importantly, for their Ultimate Rewards points currency! They make it easy to combine points within a household and have awesome family friendly transfer partners like Southwest Airlines and Hyatt Hotels. The Points Guy (TPG) values Ultimate rewards points at up to 2 cents per point. These are some of our favorites.
premium
Chase Sapphire Reserve
($550 Annual Fee)
The Chase Sapphire Reserve is one of the top two travel credit cards on the market. This card offers Ultimate Reward point redemption at a minimum of 1.5 cents per point, an annual $300 travel credit, and several other perks like lounge access, trip insurance, Doordash credits, $120 Peloton credits, and more!
The annual fee is waived for active duty military members and their spouses.
I personally have this card and love it!
Mid level
Chase Sapphire Preferred
($95 Annual Fee)
The Chase Sapphire Preferred is the more affordable version of the Sapphire family. You can only hold one Sapphire product at a time, so I would sign up for the one that meets your most immediate needs first.
This card offers Ultimate Reward redemption at 1.25 center per point, a 10% anniversary point bonus, a $60 Peloton credit, and a $50 annual hotel credit.
The annual fee is waived for active duty military members and their spouses.
My husband signed up for this card since I already have the Reserve and it had an all time high sign up bonus (100,000 points) when he applied!
hotel
World of Hyatt
($95 Annual Fee)
Hyatt is known as one of the most friendliest hotel chains of the big three!
This card gives you a free night certificate every year on your card anniversary for a category 1-4 hotel (including the Hyatt house within walking distance to Disneyland!)
We love this card because it gives us automatic Discoverist status and a free night annually for our Disney trip!
Since the annual fee is waived for military members and spouses, a couple could get 2 free nights every year at no cost!
American Express Cards
American Express also has some of the most valuable credit cards available. We like American Express for their abundance of credits, perks, and most importantly, flexible point currency! TPG values American Express Membership Reward points at 2.0 cents each. American Express has 18 airline and 3 hotel transfer partners.
American Express limits each person to 5 credit cards and 10 charge cards. The difference is that credit cards have a pre-set spending limit, whereas charge cards do not. Here’s a list of charge cards and credit cards
Learn more about some of the popular cards below.
premium
Amex Platinum
($695 Annual Fee)
The American Express Platinum card is one, if not THE premium travel card to have. It offers over $1,000 worth of credits annually in addition to plenty of other travel perks like airport lounge access, elite hotel status, and trip insurance!
Best of all, it’s free for military members and their spouses!
I personally have this card and love it!
Mid level
Amex Gold
($250 Annual Fee)
The American Express Gold card is considered a mid level card. It offers over $300 in credits and some additional perks like no foreign transaction fees, trip delay insurance, and rental car insurance.
This card earns 4x for dining and supermarkets.
Fees for this card are also waived for military members and their families!
I personally do not have this card yet, but plan to get it once I’m over 5/24!
hotel
Hilton Cards
(up to $450 Annual Fee)
Hilton has 3 co-branded cards with American Express. They range from a no annual fee card to a premium $450 annual fee card. The highest level card offers great benefits!
Annual fees are waived for active duty military members and their spouses!
I personally don’t have the card, but it’s definitely on my list once I’m over 5/24!
hotel
Marriott Card
($450 Annual Fee)
Marriott has one personal co-branded credit card with American Express, the Bonvoy Brillant. It offers great benefits, including a free night annually!
The annual fee is waived for active duty military members and their spouses!
I personally don’t have this card yet, but plan to get it once I’m over 5/24!