Credit card with 3% for travel charges (where have I been?)

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

I saw some CC'ers discussing this a few weeks ago on the Celebrity boards. I thought I was doing well with a card that gets you 2%, but found that the Chase Sapphire Reserve gives 3% (travel/dining).

 

That was especially nice when there's situations where there's no service charge for getting chips in the casino. That was the case on our 2/26 Reflection sailing (normally a 5% fee!), but not our 3/11 Liberty sailing (3% fee added). So, I actually EARNED 3% on all the chips I charged on Celebrity, and got them, in essence, on the Liberty for 0%.

 

FWIW - I left even on the Reflection (cashed chips in at end of cruise - but resisted the urge to march down to guest services), and left WAY up on the Liberty -- again, leaving the charged amount on the S&S card to earn the points.

 

Just thought I'd throw this out there. If anyone has other good points related suggestions - please chime in!  🙂

 

Tom

 

 

[TequilaJane]

For $550 a year fee you better get something great.

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

5 minutes ago, TequilaJane said:

For $550 a year fee you better get something great.

 

I did the math - given my situation, it's a win (other benefits too). Already well into the black.

 

Tom

[Pyrate13]

Bank of America has 1%, 2% and 3% categories, allows you to choose which cat gets the best return and allows you to change your categories once per month. So when you know you have travel coming up just select that cat beforehand. I don't pay a yearly fee either.

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

8 minutes ago, Pyrate13 said:

Bank of America has 1%, 2% and 3% categories, allows you to choose which cat gets the best return and allows you to change your categories once per month. So when you know you have travel coming up just select that cat beforehand. I don't pay a yearly fee either.

 

I just looked at that - does it have a $2,500 spend limit (upon which you can earn rewards) per quarter?

 

Tom

[lizord]

Your better off buying the CCL gift cards for 10% off for ccl expenses right? and you can use an online shopping cashback

Edited March 16, 2022 by lizord

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

12 minutes ago, lizord said:

Your better off buying the CCL gift cards for 10% off for ccl expenses right? and you can use an online shopping cashback

 

Is there a limit to (the number of) these cards which can be purchased/used at 10% off?

 

Tom

[Pyrate13]

24 minutes ago, Tom-n-Cheryl said:

 

I just looked at that - does it have a $2,500 spend limit (upon which you can earn rewards) per quarter?

 

Tom

If they do it's news to me, I've gone over that amount multiple times, including this month.

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

4 minutes ago, Pyrate13 said:

If they do it's news to me, I've gone over that amount multiple times, including this month.

 

Ah - ok, I just saw this on their site and assumed it meant all categories - travel included - I guess not!

 

Earn 3% and 2% cash back on up to $2,500 in combined choice category/grocery store/wholesale club purchases each quarter, then earn 1%.

 

Tom

[ramref]

With AARP gift cards you can purchase 5 gift cards per month.

They have $100 and $500 cards for both Carnival and Celebrity.

[BlerkOne]

I'm thinking a no limit, no category restriction, no fee, 2% card might top that.

[mz-s]

The Costco Visa is a very good card, especially considering it has no annual fee.

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

6 minutes ago, BlerkOne said:

I'm thinking a no limit, no category restriction, no fee, 2% card might top that.

 

My Citi Double Cash works that way. If I had used that over these last three weeks (and charged the same) instead of my new card (with introductory and annual rewards kicked in)...

 

...well the new card returned almost $450 more --- and that's AFTER the $550 annual fee.

 

Tom

[ngrund]

1 hour ago, Tom-n-Cheryl said:

 

Ah - ok, I just saw this on their site and assumed it meant all categories - travel included - I guess not!

 

Earn 3% and 2% cash back on up to $2,500 in combined choice category/grocery store/wholesale club purchases each quarter, then earn 1%.

 

Tom

With Bank of A, depending on how much $ you have with them, the 3% can be increased to 5.25%.

 

This include assets with Merrill Lynch.

 

What is really nice is that you can change your 3% category once every calendar month-so you could change to travel today, pay a large travel bill (like a cruise) then 4/1 change it back to another choice category.

 

After the $2500 for the quarter, you would still get 1% (plus relationship bonus)

 

[ngrund]

meant to include this link:

 

https://www.bankofamerica.com/preferred-rewards/

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

1 minute ago, ngrund said:

With Bank of A, depending on how much $ you have with them, the 3% can be increased to 5.25%.

 

This include assets with Merrill Lynch.

 

What is really nice is that you can change your 3% category once every calendar month-so you could change to travel today, pay a large travel bill (like a cruise) then 4/1 change it back to another choice category.

 

After the $2500 for the quarter, you would still get 1% (plus relationship bonus)

 

 

Good info - thanks

[spiritkat090909]

I have this card.  FYI...you automatically get $300 of your annual fee back if you have ANY travel expenses that equal that amount per year. One hotel. Done. (Or one cruise deposit.) So net cost is $150. Very easy for me to make up.

 

I did run into a problem with my last discounted Carnival gift cards...some of the ones I had used partial amounts pre-cruise would only let me use $100 of towards my sail/sign account. The difference WAS still on the cards when I returned from cruise. My fix is to spend/buy cruise cash before the next cruise for those cards. The ones that didn't have anything spent from them were applied fine. (Two $1000 cards through Allstate.)

 

With Carnival...best strategy for me is buying discounted gift cards, and being careful how I use them. With Celebrity... the Chase Sapphire Reserve.

 

I just used $400 of CSR points for the nice Marriott beach resort property in FLL...and cashed out/applied $700 of points to the statement. So...yeah...it's paying for itself and my year just reset in January!

 

Of course, YMMV. Do your math.

[cruisingguy007]

16 hours ago, BlerkOne said:

I'm thinking a no limit, no category restriction, no fee, 2% card might top that.

 

My Wells Fargo active cash card is indeed unlimited 2%, plus they pay you $200 for opening it pretty much (1K spend). 

Edited March 17, 2022 by cruisingguy007

[Bevv]

23 hours ago, Tom-n-Cheryl said:

 

Is there a limit to (the number of) these cards which can be purchased/used at 10% off?

 

Tom

No

[Hlitner]

On 3/16/2022 at 4:17 PM, TequilaJane said:

For $550 a year fee you better get something great.

We had been a long time AMEX Platinum fan until Chase came along with the Sapphire Reserve card.  For us, the benefits were an excellent fit and the card has paid for itself many times over.  Keep in mind that you do get a $300 annual travel credit so that $550 immediately becomes $250..although we wonder how long until they increase that annual fee.   The higher end amenity cards are worth while for frequent international/domestic travelers.  

 

Hank

[Joebucks]

On 3/16/2022 at 6:24 PM, lizord said:

Your better off buying the CCL gift cards for 10% off for ccl expenses right? and you can use an online shopping cashback

 

For the expenses, it's not a bad idea. For the cruise itself, I don't think it's as good of a deal as some think. When you redeem the Chase points for travel, they are worth 4.5% (at least). Second, you also get travel insurance included. Third, you have more cashback portal opportunities with your CSR than you would with Carnival gift cards. Fourth, the gift cards have limited refund or protection capabilities.

 

Credit card points in life can be a valuable tool. Not just for travel. I get back thousands per year simply based off the method of payment I use (not to mention other perks). Do the math that works for you. Some people see rewards like 3, 4, and 5% and think they need it. When in reality, they don't spend enough to make it worthwhile. Then some people just don't get any rewards at all. 

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

Of course, merchants have to properly categorize their business. Since parking garages fall under the Chase travel (3%) benefits, that's another source of rewards.

 

My first statement just closed and I see that the parking charges in Ft. Lauderdale from our 2/26 Reflection sailing were awarded the 3x points. However, the 3/11 Liberty sailing out of Pt Canaveral ("CPA-Parking" as it appears on the statement) goes under the heading of RECREATION, thus it automatically was given just 1x. I called Chase and was told that, yes, they're going to research it and award the 3%, but that it won't be automatic (I'll have to call each time) since the port authority calls their parking "Recreation" ...

 

Hey, that's an extra $1.40 or so coming my way for a 3 night cruise. Is it worth my time to call and have that change made each time I cruise from Pt Canaveral? No, but it's the point - so I'm all in, LOL

 

Tom

[Hlitner]

Speaking of the Chase Sapphire cards (Preferred or Reserve) they both come with a pretty generous trip insurance plan (with very restricted rules).  Soon after we obtained the card (and downgraded our AMEX card) my DW had a freak accident on an Asian cruise that resulted in us having to leave the cruise (in Japan) and get her home for further medical treatment.  Chase ultimately paid us $10,000 under their Trip Interruption benefit (filing a claim is not a simple process).  So we figure that card paid for itself, for a lifetime, within the first year :).  Another benefit on the Chase card that we found attractive is that it is "Primary" with its rental car insurance coverage as opposed to "Secondary" found on some other cards.

 

So for us, traveling over 6 months in most years (pre and now post COVID) that card is a real saver.  We do not buy normal Trip Insurance but simply rely on a relatively low cost annual trip medical policy (which covers up to $250,000 or med and '$500,000 or evacuation).  By not buying the popular trip policies we save thousands of dollars every year.   The concept of "Cancel for Any Reason" is foreign to us since we do normally cancel a booking unless there is a darn good reason :).

 

Hank