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With the holidays fast approaching and winter vacation planning in full swing, it’s a good time to open a new credit card. Almost all of the major credit card issuers have recently launched huge offers and even brand-new cards, including some with record-high welcome bonuses of 100,000 points or more – but many are for a limited time.
Marriott has launched several record-high offers on its co-branded credit cards, including the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card and Marriott Bonvoy Business™ American Express® Card. These include more bonus points plus free night certificates, but they’re only available for a limited time.
The Bilt Mastercard® has become a lot more compelling for renters and non-renters alike with the recent refresh of the Bilt Rewards program. Cardholders can now take advantage of an improved earning structure plus the unique ability to earn interest on rewards.
There’s also an excellent offer on The Platinum Card® from American Express to earn The Platinum Card® from American Express. Amex recently raised the annual fee to The Platinum Card® from American ExpressThe Platinum Card® from American Express – Rates & Fees, but also added numerous new benefits that can more than offset the fee bump.
With new offers continuing to roll out, you’ve got a terrific opportunity to take advantage of an increased credit card bonus now, so you’re set up with points you can use for flights, hotels, and more when you’re finally ready to hit the road.
Our favorite under-the-radar card – the Citi Premier® Card – is offering a record-high welcome bonus, and it offers excellent earnings in categories that fit well whether you’re sticking close to home or on the road. You’ll earn 3x points on air travel, gas stations, restaurants, supermarkets, and hotels, and 1 point per dollar on everything else.
If you’ve been on the fence about applying for the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card – one of the very best rewards credit cards, especially if you’re new to travel points and miles – now is the time to pull the trigger. The card offers a staggering Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening.
That’s worth Sapphire Preferred Update in cash back, Sapphire Preferred Update in travel booked through Chase or for statement credits toward eligible purchases through Pay Yourself back, and potentially much more if you transfer to Chase’s airline and hotel partners for award travel.
3x points on online grocery purchases (excluding Target, Walmart, and wholesale clubs)
Other eligible travel purchases will continue to earn 2x points, and all other purchases will earn 1 point per dollar as before.
Another excellent deal is one of the best cards with premium travel and shopping benefits, The Platinum Card® from American Express. You can currently earn The Platinum Card® from American Express – here’s our Amex Platinum card review for all the details.
If you’re a small-business owner, opening a small-business credit card can offer a lot of benefits. Keeping your business and personal expenses separate makes it easier to keep track of expenses, and many cards offer bonus points, miles, or cash back in popular business spending categories.
You don’t have to own a full-time business or make millions to be eligible to apply – even if you’re a freelancer or have a side gig, you could qualify for a small-business card. The Business Platinum Card® from American Express and Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card are both offering 100,000 points after meeting minimum spending requirements, and, depending on how you redeem them, you could get a value of $1,800 or more from these bonuses.
Our top pick for the best cash-back credit card overall, the Citi® Double Cash Card, doesn’t currently offer a welcome bonus. And other excellent options, like the Chase Freedom Flex℠, Chase Freedom Unlimited®, and the new Citi Custom Cash℠ Card, aren’t exclusively cash-back cards (though they’re marketed that way).
Right now, the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express has an elevated welcome bonus that is particularly good for those who shop at Amazon. New cardholders can earn Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express.
You’ll also earn 6% cash back on your first $6,000 in U.S. supermarket spending each year (then 1% back), 6% cash back on select U.S. streaming services, 3% back on U.S. gas stations and transit, and 1% back on all other eligible purchases (cash back is earned in the form of Rewards Dollars).
Airline credit card bonuses
Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card
Amex is offering elevated bonuses on the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card, Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card, Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card, Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card, and Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card. These bonuses are at least double the usual offer, so if you’ve been on the fence about applying, now is an excellent time to do so.
Several hotel credit cards are offering increased bonuses – including the IHG® Rewards Club Premier Credit Card, Hilton Honors American Express Card, Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card, and The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card.
There are also increased offers on the Marriott credit cards, including the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless™ Credit Card. New cardholders can earn Marriott Bonvoy Boundless™ Credit Card. And if you’re a small-business owner, be sure to check out the Marriott Bonvoy Business™ American Express® Card, which is also offering an elevated bonus: Marriott Bonvoy Business™ American Express® Card.
Keep in mind that most hotel chains, including Marriott and Hilton, have temporarily paused points expiration due to the pandemic, so there’s no harm in earning points now for a vacation down the road.
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