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We looked at your survey answers, and we love to see that you travel a lot. You've dabbled with points. You probably have either the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card already. But you've got a feeling you're leaving something on the table.
Let's fix that.
Show me what I'm missing
If you've got the Sapphire Preferred and you're taking 5+ trips a year, you're already in the right ecosystem. The question is whether the card you're carrying is keeping up with how you actually travel.
At 5-10 trips a year, lounge access stops being a luxury. A $300 travel credit pays for itself before February. And if you're booking 2+ hotels a year, a card that earns premium hotel points is suddenly worth running the math on.
If you already have the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card, each of these is a natural next step or addition.
If you already have the Sapphire Preferred, this is the natural next move. You keep the same transfer partners (Hyatt, United, Flying Blue, Aeroplan) but get a $300 annual travel credit* along with other statement credits, Priority Pass lounge access, and higher earn rates. For someone taking 5-10 trips a year, the math works fast. *Note: the 3x on travel applies after the first $300 in annual travel purchases, which goes toward the $300 travel credit.
$300 travel credit, Priority Pass, one statement credit of up to $120 every four years for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS, 8x on Chase Travel℠ purchases and 4x on flights and hotels booked direct, 3x at restaurants worldwide, comprehensive travel insurance including primary rental car insurance
This is the lounge card. Centurion, 10 Delta Sky Club visits (when flying on a same-day Delta flight), Priority Pass — all included. If you spend any time in airports, the value stacks up faster than the fee. Amex’s Membership Rewards points also transfer to Air France, British Airways, and Singapore Airlines (among many others), opening up premium cabin options.
All the lounge access and tons of statement credits, including an up to $200 airline fee credit, up to $300 digital entertainment credit (distributed as up to $25 monthly statement credits), up to $219 CLEAR+ credit, up to $120 in Global Entry statement credits (or $85 for TSA PreCheck) every four years, and many more
The simplest premium card on this list. 2x miles on everything, $300 annual travel credit for Capital One Travel bookings, 10,000 anniversary miles, and Priority Pass. For a frequent traveler who doesn't want to track categories, this is the low-effort premium option.
$300 annual travel credit, 10,000 anniversary miles, Priority Pass and Capital One lounge access, authorized users at no additional cost
These work best alongside a premium travel card, filling in the earn categories your primary card misses.
4x at restaurants (up to $50k/yr, then 1x) and U.S. supermarkets (up to $25k/yr, then 1x) makes this a strong complement to a travel-focused primary card. If you're already earning points on flights and hotels elsewhere, the Amex Gold fills in the everyday gaps and builds your Membership Rewards balance fast.
4x at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets and hundreds of dollars in foodie statement credits, including up to $120 dining credit, up to $120 Uber Cash*, up to $100 Resy credit at eligible U.S. Resy restaurants ($50 in statement credits semi-annually), and more
*Just add your Gold Card to your Uber account and each month automatically get $10 in Uber Cash for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S., totaling up to $120 per year. An Amex Card must be selected as the payment method for your Uber or Uber Eats transaction to redeem the Amex Uber Cash benefit.
If you don't already have it, the CSP is the best entry-level travel card on the market. It's an earning powerhouse on everyday spending, including 3x on dining and online grocery (excluding Target, Walmart, and wholesale clubs), gas stations and EV charging, vacation rentals, 2x on travel
$100 hotel credit, up to $120 Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS fee credit (every 4 years), comprehensive travel insurance that includes emergency evacuation and transportation coverage (up to $100,000), trip delay insurance, primary rental car coverage, and more
If you travel alone some or most of the time, a couple of these perks hit differently. Lounge access means you don't need to find a quiet corner of the terminal before a flight. Trip delay insurance means a missed connection doesn't ruin your whole itinerary. And flexible points — ones you can use for a single ticket, not just for two — are just more useful.
The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, Chase Sapphire Preferred Card, and the Amex Gold Card allow free authorized users, which matters if you occasionally travel with a partner or family member and want them covered too.
DISCLOSURE TEXT
Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.Daily Drop may earn a commission if you apply for and are approved for a card through links on this page. Our editorial recommendations are based on independent analysis, not issuer direction. Welcome offer amounts, minimum spend requirements, and terms are subject to change; verify all details on the card issuer’s website before applying. Points valuations are estimates and will vary based on how you redeem. Card details current as of 4/21/2026. Terms apply.
