Looking for recommendations for a travel credit card that offers good benefits for someone based in SFO, especially for international trips. Interested in maximizing points and sign-up bonuses.
Hi everyone. I was wondering if I could get recommendations for a travel credit card. I've just finished my Masters Program and begun working so I'm starting to finally get some income beyond my student life. I currently live with my parents and that allows me to save money by saving much more cost of living. Something I've always been interested in is travel and seeing more of the world. I started becoming interested in credit cards more recently with how they can ease this financial burden of flights and hotels, while I use them for my everyday life. The goal is the ability to experience much more of the world while I'm young. I don't care as much for lounges right now. As from the title I am based in SFO and would like a card recommendation that's good for the airport in general. I don't have much travel experience due to me finishing up schooling so I'm not sure what airlines I would take primarily domestically versus internationally, but UNITED is based in SFO. However, I am more interested in focusing on international trips in the next upcoming years such as Europ, and East Asia. Is the general recommendation to focus on a point ecosystem for good partners, or prioritize sign up bonus's since I'm relatively new with only starter cards? The Chase Sapphire caught my eye due to Chase being a UNITED partner and Capitol Venture having their large sign up bonus. Also I'm not restricted by the chase 5/24 rule as I barely have any cards. However, the credit card I've been with longest is Citi and should I just invest deeper in the points ecosystem with a more premium citi card that multiplies the points to transfer to partners. I have about 30K points saved up in citi currently from my student card. I'm open to further research or different strategies to maximize gain. Or what long term plan for cards I should get to make the most of things. CREDIT PROFILE * **Current credit cards:** * Citi Rewards+ (First starter card) * Capitol One Savior * FICO Scores with source * Equifax: 749 * creditwise 751 * **Oldest Account:** 5 years and 2 months * 1 credit card approved in the past year * **Annual Income:** 80k annual income, Just started after finishing college CATEGORIES * OK with category-specific cards?: ***YES*** * OK with rotating category cards?: **Y*****ES*** * Estimate average monthly spend in the categories below. Only include what you can pay by credit card. * \* Dining $: 150 * \* Groceries $: *200 Costco, Safeway* * \* Gas $: 1*50$* * \* Travel $: N*A for now/ unsure* * \* Do you plan on using this card abroad for a significant length of time (study abroad, digital nomad, expat, extended travel)?: extended travel * \* Any other categories (examples: phone/internet, insurance) or stores (example: Amazon) with significant, regular credit card spend (the more you specify, the better): $200 misc * Online shopping: $200 MEMBERSHIPS & SUBSCRIPTIONS (delete lines that don't apply) * \* Current member of Amazon Prime?: Yes * \* Current member of Costco or Sam's Club? Yes * \* Current member of Chase, US Bank or any other big bank?: Citi Bank PURPOSE * \* What's the purpose of your next card (choose ONE)?: *Travel Rewards* * \* If you answered "travel rewards", do you have a preferred airline and/or hotel chain you regularly use? I am based in San Francisco so whatever goes through SFO * \* Do you have any cards you've been looking at? * Chase Sapphire: Relation to United as partner * Capitol One Venture: Due to limited time sign on offer