Top Cards for Beginners
I know firsthand how exciting and daunting it can be to start your journey with earning and using credit card points for travel. So to help you navigate this world, I’ve rounded up my top four favorite personal credit cards for beginners! These cards offer fantastic welcome bonuses, reasonable annual fees, and excellent point bonuses that can help you maximize your rewards. Plus, the points you’ll earn from any of these cards are SUPER easy to redeem for travel. Let’s dive in!
1. Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Why I Love this Card for Beginners: The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is a stellar choice for beginners due to its versatile rewards and user-friendly features. It's particularly great for those who love to travel both domestically and internationally, even if only once per year, as the points can be transferred to numerous travel partners (and are super easy to redeem!)
Welcome Bonus and Minimum Spend: Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That’s $750 toward travel when redeemed through Chase Travel℠.
Annual Fee: $95
Bonus Categories:
5x points on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠
3x points on dining, including eligible delivery services, takeout, and dining out
2x points on all other travel purchases
1x point per dollar spent on all other purchases
2. Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Why I Love this Card for Beginners: The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is perfect for those who prefer simplicity and flexibility. It offers a flat-rate earning on all purchases, making it easy to rack up points without keeping track of spending categories.
Welcome Bonus and Minimum Spend: Earn 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening.
Annual Fee: $95
Bonus Categories:
2x miles per dollar on every purchase, every day
5x miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
3. Citi Strata Premier Card
Why I Love this Card for Beginners: The Citi Strata Premier card stands out for its impressive travel rewards and lack of foreign transaction fees. It’s a great option for frequent travelers who want to maximize their points on various travel expenses.
Welcome Bonus and Minimum Spend: Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 within the first 3 months of account opening.
Annual Fee: $95 (waived for the first year)
Bonus Categories:
3x points on travel including gas stations
2x points on dining out and entertainment
1x point per dollar on all other purchases
4. American Express® Gold Card
Why I Love this Card for Beginners: The American Express® Gold Card is a foodie’s dream (speaking from experience!) It offers incredible rewards on dining and groceries, making it a top choice for anyone who spends a significant amount on food.
Welcome Bonus and Minimum Spend: Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® points and up to $100 back in statement credits after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases with your new card within the first 6 months.
Annual Fee: $325 (see rates and fee)
Bonus Categories:
4x points at restaurants, including takeout and delivery in the U.S. (on up to $50,000 in annual spending, then 1x)
4x points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per year in purchases, then 1x)
3x points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com
1x point on other purchases
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.
Final Thoughts
Choosing the right credit card as a beginner can set you on the path to maximizing rewards and enjoying numerous benefits. Whether you're totally new to credit card points, or looking for your first card to earn travel rewards, you truly can’t go wrong with any of these options. Consider your lifestyle and spending patterns to pick the card that best suits your needs, and start saving TONS of money on your future travel!
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 reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.