Just received a travel reward? This is the perfect beginner card combo

Editor’s note: This is a periodic article, updated regularly with new information and offers.

Start with credit card rewards can be extremely overwhelming. Should you start with cash or points and miles? Which card family Which should you choose first? Or should you try cards from different families? Whether The annual fee on the card is valid?

It’s easy to fall down a rabbit hole of research and asking questions to determine which card is truly right for you.

When beginners ask for help Build a card catalogWe always recommend looking at scalable card programs – meaning cards that can be paired with others later to build a comprehensive card strategy without sacrifice old card in the sock drawer.

You will find that Points are transferable extremely valuable for passionate and ambitious travelers as rewards can be redeemed from a variety of airline and hotel partners. But these travel credit card often have stricter approval requirements, so they are not always an option First rewards credit card. The good news is that some issuers offer certain lines of credit cards that allow you to start with one Credit card with no annual fee Can later be paired with higher level cards for maximum value.

The frankness of Chasing the ultimate reward – with Chase’s 5/24 Rule — making this program a good place to start for those new to using points and miles. And when choosing a credit card to earn Ultimate Rewards, Pursue Unlimited Freedom® and Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card create a strong duo.

Right now, Sapphire Preferred is offering a limited-time welcome bonus of 75,000 points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening — making it a great time to sign up.

Read on to learn how these two cards can start your rewards journey.

Why this combination?

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We’ll break down the full benefits of each card below, but here’s a quick explanation of why you’ll want to start with these two cards in particular. The top reason is that Chase limits the number of credit cards you can successfully apply for. This is due to the publisher’s 24/5 rule.

In short, if you’ve opened five or more personal cards across all banks in the past 24 months, chances are you won’t be approved for most cards in Chase’s portfolio, including card Unlimited freedom And Sapphire preferred.

If you’re starting out, it’s best to cover the most important bases first. If you already have a solid credit score, you may want to apply for the Chase Sapphire Preferred first because it earns those valuable transferable points. But if you’re new to the rewards credit card game, the Chase Freedom Unlimited is also a great place to start earning cash back.

The best part? Freedom Rewards points can later be transferred to Sapphire Preferred when you sign up later.

Related: What credit score do you need for the Chase Sapphire Preferred card?

Current rewards for Chase Sapphire preferred: For a limited time, earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.

Income rate: Earn 5 points per dollar on travel booked through Chase Travel℠, 3 points per dollar on eat and drink as well as select streaming services and online groceries (excluding Target, Walmart and wholesale clubs), 2 points per dollar on all other stores tourism and 1 point per dollar everywhere else.

Exclusive right: Sapphire Preferred comes with There are no foreign transaction feesand cardholders can enjoy perks such as 10% bonus points on their card member anniversary and one $50 hotel credit annually for reservations made through Chase Travel. The card also includes many travel protections such as primary car rental insurance, Delayed baggage return, Trip delay refund, Trip cancellation and trip interruption insurance, Extended warranty protection And Purchase protection.

Annual fee: $95

Reasons to get it: TPG value 75,000-point bonus at $1,538, based on maximizing points with hotel and airline transfer partners.

The great thing about this card is many diverse items is in the travel category — from purchasing airline tickets, taxis and tolls to parking and travel agencies. So even if your daily trips are limited to transportation, you can still quickly accumulate Ultimate Rewards Points. You will also receive excellence tourism protection about these purchases.

As for using those points, you have many travel partners to choose. You can also redeem your Ultimate Rewards points directly for certain eligible purchases through Chase travel portal with speed 1.25 cents each.

Related: After 15 years, why should the Chase Sapphire Preferred still be your first rewards card?

Current rewards for Pursue unlimited freedom: Earn an extra 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 in spending in the first year) — worth up to $300 in cash back.

Income rate: Earn 5% cash back on travel purchases through Chase Travel, 3% on dining, 3% at drugstores and 1.5% on all other purchases; 0% introductory APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 months from account opening (after that 20.49% – 29.24 variable APR applies).

Annual fee: $0.

Reasons to get it: This card offers daily earning categories that are arguably better than the Sapphire Preferred. What really makes Freedom Unlimited worthy of a spot in your wallet is if you have one The official Chase Ultimate Rewards earning card (such as Chase Sapphire Preferred, Reserve Chase Sapphire® or Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card), you can redeem your cash back for Ultimate Rewards Points.

And even if you don’t have one of those cards right now, you can always apply for one later and Later Combine your points into your higher-end card’s Ultimate Rewards account.

Latest valuation of TPG pegs the value of Chase Ultimate Rewards points at 2.05 cents each. That means the 1.5% cash back you would earn on non-rewards purchases becomes 1.5 points per dollar spent (at 3%+ cash back).

If the ultimate goal of a refund is what you’re after, consider a few other things best cash back credit cardssuch as Citi Double Cash® Card (see exchange rates and fees) bring You will come back better in everyday purchases. With the Citi Double Cash Card, you’ll get 2% cash back (1% when you buy and another 1% when you pay off your balance). You can also Redeem cashback earned on your Citi card ARRIVE Thank you reward points through a linked ThankYou account.

So, to redeem rewards earned with the Freedom card into points that can be transferred to a partner, you’ll need a higher-tier card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred. Another option is the premium Chase Sapphire Reserve for those who think the $550 annual fee is worth the card’s better earnings, additional benefits, and perks. $300 annual travel credit.

Related: Chase Sapphire Showdown: Sapphire Preferred vs Sapphire Reserve

The Ink Business Preferred Credit Card can also be a great alternative — or supplement — for small business owners.

Even if you don’t plan on transferring points to travel partners like United, Hyatt, Southwest, British Airways, etc., these cards guarantee 25% to 50% extra value when redeeming points through Chase travel portal for fixed value travel. In other words, instead of redeeming each point for 1 cent with just the Freedom card, you’ll be able to redeem them at a rate of 1.25 or 1.5 cents per point by having the Sapphire Preferred or Reserve card as well.

If you just want a refund and never plan on pairing your card, you should check out some of our other cards best cash back credit cards with higher profits. But those who want to build a long-term poker strategy can use the Chase Freedom Unlimited’s combo capabilities with A card unlocks the ultimate rewards.

Related: Best Chase credit cards

Using these two cards strategically will put you in a good position to earn and redeem travel rewards for maximum value.

To start, all tourism The purchase is not made through Chase travel portal (For example, Uber trip And Stay at Airbnb) should join the Chase Sapphire Preferred to earn bonus points and excel tourism protection. You should also use the Sapphire Preferred to dine in, select streaming services, and buy groceries online to earn 3 points per dollar. And since the card has foreign transaction fees, you’ll want to use it for all purchases outside the United States

You’ll then use Freedom Unlimited for pharmacies and all other daily purchases.

When it’s time to redeem your hard-earned points, consider this A guide to getting maximum value from your prize And This guide to finding the sweet spots in the Ultimate Rewards program.

The Chase Freedom Unlimited and Chase Sapphire Preferred Card make for a great deal Teams earn Ultimate Rewards points. While the second option isn’t always the best choice for your spending, it does open up some Choose a great transfer partner towards redemption. Plus, with its current 75,000-point sign-up bonus, the Sapphire Preferred can boost your Ultimate Rewards points balance — perfect for those just starting out in the world of rewards travel.

If you’re starting to earn travel rewards with a credit card, these two cards should be your top priority when signing up—but make sure you pay attention to them. publisher’s 24/5 rule to optimize your chances of approval.

For more information, check out our full reviews Pursue unlimited freedom And Chase Sapphire preferred.

Register here: Pursue unlimited freedom

Register here: Chase Sapphire preferred