First, it helps to know what cards you have in your wallet and what you typically purchase with them. I have the Capital One Venture X Rewards credit card (fees and charges), one of the best travel credit cards, and I use it for everyday purchases that don't fall into the bonus earning categories of other cards. With the Capital One Venture X Rewards credit card, you earn 2 miles per dollar on all eligible purchases, 5 miles per dollar on flights and vacation rentals booked with Capital One Travel, 5 miles per dollar on purchases with Capital One Entertainment through December 31, 2025, and 10 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked with Capital One Travel. This is an easy way to rack up some serious points quickly.
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
I also have the Chase Sapphire Preferred® card, which pairs well with the Venture X. It’s one of the most popular travel credit cards on the market and probably one of the best travel and cash back credit cards.
City Strata Premier℠ Card
The Citi Strata Premier℠ Card is an underrated card worth having in your wallet, but it offers a wealth of perks, including annual hotel credits, ample earning potential, and valuable transfer partners.
Marriott Bonvoy Bevie™ American Express® Card
The Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card (conditions apply, see rates and fees) is the newest addition to my wallet. I applied in April and have since earned the last 155,000-point welcome offer. I've been staying in hotels more frequently and enjoying perks like Gold Elite status. I also use the card whenever I eat out because I earn 6 Marriott Bonvoy® points per dollar spent on eligible purchases at Marriott Bonvoy participating hotels, 4 points per dollar spent at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets worldwide (up to $15,000 in total purchases in a calendar year, then 2 points), and 2 points per dollar spent on other eligible purchases.
Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card
I spend about 11 months a year outside the US, so a card with US-specific benefits isn't necessarily worth it to me. However, I love flying Delta from the US, so I have the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card (conditions apply, see rates and fees). I find the in-flight experience so much better than other US airlines, and I love the perks I get as a cardholder, like a 15% discount on Delta flight redemptions and a free first checked bag when flying Delta.
Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card
My Capital One VentureOne Rewards credit card (fees & fees) is a card I rarely take out of my wallet. I previously had a Capital One Venture Rewards credit card (fees & fees) but wanted to take advantage of the welcome offer when Venture X was released. Instead of requesting an upgrade, I applied for Venture X and downgraded Venture to VentureOne. It's a pretty good cash back card and I should use it more often.
Apple Card*
Last but not least, I have an Apple Card*. Although it's not technically a travel card, I think it's one of the best credit cards for digital nomads, especially those who are loyal to Apple. My MacBook Air and iPhone 14 Pro are two items I take with me whenever I travel. With the Apple Card, I get 3% cash back on eligible purchases at Apple, including the Apple Store, apple.com, App Store, and iTunes, 2% cash back on purchases using Apple Pay, and 1% cash back on all other purchases, and I can buy select Apple products with 0% financing. For example, when I bought my MacBook Air, I paid interest-free for 12 months, which made buying a $1,100 laptop that much easier.
Knowing which cards you have in your wallet can help you understand how their rewards will benefit your lifestyle.
