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Image source: Getty Images Over the next eight weeks, retailers will be trying to get every dollar they can out of your wallet. I say we make them pay for our next vacation. The National Retail Federation expects holiday retail sales to hit $1.013 trillion this November and December.
If some of your share is going on the right credit card, those gifts and grocery runs can turn into $750 to $1,750 in travel. I've earned two of the three welcome offers below myself, and they paid for some of my favorite trips. Here's what each one could get you, plus a bonus round for side hustlers. 1.
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: bonus points worth up to $1,125 The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card's (see rates and fees ) welcome offer is worth at least $750 in Chase TravelSM value, and up to $1,125 on select bookings. Here's the current offer: Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. At our base valuation of $0.01 per point, those bonus points are worth $750.
But if you book through Chase Travel and snag a Points Boost deal, they can be worth up to 1.5X on top hotels and select airline flights. That stretches the same points to $1,125. I earned this bonus many moons ago and spent the points on flights to a wedding in Colorado.
For a $95 annual fee, it's one of the easiest travel cards to justify year after year. Who should get it: Anyone who wants a first real travel card and can put $5,000 in spending on the card over the next 3 months. Who should pass: Anyone who's had this card before, since Chase may not give you the offer twice.
Credit Score: Circle with letter I in it. Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision.
There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions. Recommended Credit Score required for this offer is: Good/Excellent (670-850) Credit Score Circle with letter I in it. Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer.
An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions. Good/Excellent (670-850) Intro APR Purchases: N/A Balance Transfers: N/A Regular APR 19.49% - 27.74% Variable Rewards Circle with letter I in it.
Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase TravelSM, 3x on dining, 3x on vacation homes at top brands, 3x on gas & EV charging, 3x on top streaming services and 3x online groceries (excluding Walmart, Target, and wholesale clubs), 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases. 5x on Chase TravelSM, 3x on dining, 2x on all other travel. Annual Fee $95 Welcome Offer Circle with letter I in it. Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. 75,000 bonus points This card just got meaningfully better.
Welcome bonus aside, the new Chase Sapphire Preferred earns 3x on Airbnb and vacation rentals, 3x at gas stations (including Costco) & EV Charging. It also now includes a $100 hotel credit plus up to a $120 TSA PreCheck credit — turning the $95 annual fee into a card that pays for itself before you book a single flight. With added travel protections like rental car insurance and trip reimbursement, we think this card is the most practical travel card at this price point.
Read Full Review Big welcome offer: $750+ in Chase TravelSM value Anniversary hotel credit: $100 TSA Precheck® reimbursement: credit up to $120 Point value: 1.5x Points Boost (select hotels & flights) Gas rewards: 3x points Dining rewards: 3x points $95 annual fee Limited-time perks Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase TravelSM, 3x on dining, 3x on vacation homes at top brands, 3x on gas & EV charging, 3x on top streaming services and online groceries (excluding Walmart, Target, and wholesale clubs), 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases. Earn up to $100 in statement credits each account anniversary year for hotel stays through Chase Travel.
Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Coverage, Emergency Evacuation and Transportation, and more. Get a year of complimentary Apple TV when activated by December 31, 2026 - a value of $180. Complimentary DashPass membership, a $120 value for 12 months.
Enjoy $0 delivery fees and reduced service fees on eligible DoorDash orders, plus exclusive Chase savings on grocery, everyday essentials, and more. Activate by 12/31/29. Receive one statement credit of up to $120 every four years as reimbursement for the application fee charged to your card for a Global Entry, TSA Precheck® or NEXUS application.
Transfer points to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs. Member FDIC 2. American Express Platinum Card®: as high as 175,000 points The American Express Platinum Card® has the biggest potential offer on this list.
Here's the current welcome bonus offer: Apply and find out if you are eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $12,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Amex points are worth up to $0.01 per point when redeemed for travel through the Amex Travel portal, and sometimes more through transfer partners.
That means the max bonus is worth at least $1,750 in travel rewards, as estimated by Motley Fool Money. That could cover flights for a family of four, with points left over for the airport pretzel bribes. The nice part is that Amex shows you your offer before you accept the card, so there's no guessing.
I earned this one too back in 2021, and holding the card was a blast. Eventually, though, the annual fee won the argument, and I canceled because the perks didn't fit our life with two young kids. The annual fee now is $895 (see rates and fees ).
The Platinum Card® is only worth it if you'll actually use those travel perks every single year. Who should get it: Frequent travelers who can comfortably meet the high minimum spend, especially with a big expense like a wedding or home project on the calendar. Who should pass: Anyone who feels queasy looking at that annual fee or would have to stretch to hit $12,000 in 6 months.
Credit Score: Circle with letter I in it. Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision.
There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions. Recommended Credit Score required for this offer is: Good/Excellent Credit Score Circle with letter I in it. Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer.
An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions. Good/Excellent Intro APR Purchases: N/A Balance Transfers: N/A APR See Pay Over Time APR Rewards Circle with letter I in it.
Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel® up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel®. 1X Membership Rewards® Points on other purchases. Terms apply. 1X-5X Membership Rewards® Points Annual Fee $895 Welcome Offer Circle with letter I in it. You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $12,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership.
Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. As High As 175,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.
The American Express Platinum Card® isn’t just a credit card — it’s a status symbol. With over $3,500 in annual credits like $400 for dining with Resy, $600 in luxury hotel stays, and $300 in digital entertainment , plus VIP access to 1,550 airport lounges and automatic Hilton and Marriott Bonvoy elite status (enrollment required), it delivers prestige few cards can match. The fee is steep, but for those who want the best, the Platinum Card® can more than pay for itself — starting with a powerful welcome offer.
Terms apply. Read Full Review Big welcome offer Substantial spending credits Airport lounge access Hotel benefits Flexible travel points Annual fee Limited bonus categories Spending credits can be complicated to manage You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $12,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.
Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted. Get more for your travels with 5X Membership Rewards® points on all flights and prepaid hotel bookings through American Express Travel®, including Fine Hotels + Resorts® and The Hotel Collection bookings.
You earn 5X points on flights purchased directly from airlines or through American Express Travel® on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year. $600 Hotel Credit: Get up to $300 in statement credits semi-annually on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection* bookings through American Express Travel® using the Platinum Card®. *The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay. Effective January 1, 2027, Fine Hotels + Resorts® bookings will require a minimum two-night stay to be eligible for the $600 Hotel Credit. With over 1,550 airport lounges - more than any other credit card company on the market* - enjoy the benefits of the Global Lounge Collection, over $850 of annual value, with access to Centurion Lounges, 10 Delta Sky Club visits when flying on an eligible Delta flight, Priority Pass membership (enrollment required), and other select partner lounges. *As of 08/2026. $200 Uber Cash + $120 Uber One Credit: With the Platinum Card® you can receive $15 in Uber Cash each month plus a bonus $20 in December when you add your Platinum Card® to your Uber account to use on rides and orders in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
Plus, when you use the Platinum Card® to pay for an auto-renewing Uber One membership, you can get up to $120 in statement credits each calendar year. Terms apply. $300 Digital Entertainment Credit: Experience the latest shows, news and recipes. Get up to $25 in statement credits each month when you use your Platinum Card® for eligible purchases on Disney+, a Disney+ bundle, ESPN streaming services, Hulu, The New York Times, Paramount+, Peacock, The Wall Street Journal, YouTube Premium, and YouTube TV when you purchase directly from one or more of the providers.
Enrollment required. $400 Resy Credit + Platinum NightsTM by Resy: Get up to $100 in statement credits each quarter when you use the Platinum Card® to pay for eligible purchases with Resy, including dining purchases at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants. Enrollment required.
As a Platinum Card® Member you have special access to reservations on select nights at participating sought after Resy restaurants through Platinum NightsTM by Resy. Simply add your Platinum Card® to your Resy profile to book your reservation. $219 CLEAR+ Credit: CLEAR+ helps get you to your gate faster by using your face to verify you are you at 60+ airports nationwide. You can cover the cost of a CLEAR+ Membership* with up to $219 in statement credits per calendar year after you pay for CLEAR+ with your Platinum Card®. *Excluding any applicable taxes and fees.
Subject to auto-renewal. $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees, such as checked bags and in-flight refreshments, are charged by the airline to The Platinum Card® Account. American Express relies on airlines to submit the correct information on airline transactions to identify incidental fee purchases. If you do not see a credit for a qualifying incidental purchase on your eligible Card after 8 weeks, simply call the number on the back of your Card.
Qualifying airlines are subject to change. See terms & conditions for more details. Whatever the occasion, choose from our two signature collections of premium hotels, curated to inspire and excite you when you book through Amex TravelTM: Fine Hotels + Resorts® is a collection of over 1,900 luxury hotels that are destinations unto themselves and the Hotel Collection includes over 1,400 upscale hotels in desirable destinations. $300 lululemon Credit: Enjoy up to $75 in statement credits each quarter when you use the Platinum Card® for eligible purchases at U.S. lululemon retail stores (excluding outlets) and lululemon.com.
That’s up to $300 in statement credits each calendar year. Enrollment required. $155 Walmart+ Credit: Get up to a $12.95* statement credit back each month after you pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) with your Platinum Card®. *Up to $12.95 plus applicable taxes on one membership fee. $895 annual fee. Terms Apply. 3.
Chase Sapphire Reserve®: bonus points worth $1,000 or more The Chase Sapphire Reserve®'s (see rates and fees ) welcome offer is worth at least $1,000 in travel. Here's the current offer: Earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. At a value of $0.01 each, that's $1,000 for those points.
Points Boost on select Chase Travel bookings can push that value even higher, possibly as high as $2,000. That's a full week of hotel nights or a pair of long-haul flights for a bucket-list trip. This is a premium travel card , and it carries a $795 annual fee to match.
It's built for people who travel often and actually use the credits. Who should get it: Anyone who flies several times a year and can easily spend $6,000 in the next 3 months. Who should pass: Thrifty travelers who just want simple rewards without a big fee to earn back.
Credit Score: Circle with letter I in it. Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision.
There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions. Recommended Credit Score required for this offer is: Good/Excellent (670-850) Credit Score Circle with letter I in it. Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer.
An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions. Good/Excellent (670-850) Intro APR Purchases: N/A Balance Transfers: N/A Regular APR 19.74% - 28.24% Variable Rewards Circle with letter I in it.
Earn 8x points on all purchases through Chase TravelSM, including The EditSM and 4x points on flights and hotels booked direct. Plus, earn 3x points on dining worldwide & 1x points on all other purchases. 8x points on Chase TravelSM, 4x points on flights and hotels booked direct, 3x points on dining, 1x points on all other purchases. Annual Fee $795 Welcome Offer Circle with letter I in it.
Earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. 100,000 bonus points Chase Sapphire Reserve® earns its premium status. You’ll get a $300 annual travel credit, airport lounge access, and elevated rewards on travel and dining. Points are worth up to 2x on thousands of top booked hotels and flights with select airlines and hotels through Chase Travel , and the massive 100k sign-up bonus available right now makes it a strong pick if you’re comfortable with the higher annual fee.
Read Full Review Travel credits Airport lounge access Travel and dining rewards Welcome offer Flexible travel points Annual fee Limited-time benefits Earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Get $3,000 in annual value with Sapphire Reserve. Earn 8x points on all purchases through Chase TravelSM, including The EditSM and 4x points on flights and hotels booked direct.
Plus, earn 3x points on dining worldwide & 1x points on all other purchases. $300 annual travel credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year. Access over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide with a complimentary Priority PassTM Select membership, plus every Chase Sapphire Lounge® by The Club with two guests. Plus, a statement credit of up to $120 every four years as reimbursement for the application fee charged to your card for a Global Entry, TSA Precheck® or NEXUS application.
Get up to $150 in statement credits from January through June and again from July through December for a maximum of $300 annually when you dine at restaurants part of Sapphire Reserve Exclusive Tables. Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Coverage, Lost Luggage Insurance, no foreign transaction fees, and more. Get complimentary subscriptions to Apple TV and Apple Music for a minimum of one year when activated by June 22, 2027, a value of $324 annually.
Member FDIC Bonus pick: the Ink Business Cash® Credit Card for small businesses If you run a small business or a side hustle, the Ink Business Cash® Credit Card (see rates and fees ) deserves a look. It's the card my team named our Best Business Credit Card of 2026, and the offer is refreshingly simple: Earn $750 when you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months after account opening That's $750 in cash back, so there's no points math required. It also has no annual fee.
I've put my LLC spending on no-annual-fee business cards for years, and nothing beats free money with zero yearly cost. Who should get it: Freelancers, side hustlers, and small business owners who can reach the $6,000 spend requirement within the first 3 months. Who should pass: Anyone without business income, since this card is meant for business purchases.
Credit Score: Circle with letter I in it. Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision.
There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions. Recommended Credit Score required for this offer is: Good/Excellent (670-850) Credit Score Circle with letter I in it. Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer.
An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions. Good/Excellent (670-850) Intro APR Circle with letter I in it. 0% Intro APR on Purchases Purchases: 0% Intro APR on Purchases, 12 months Balance Transfers: N/A Regular APR 16.99% - 24.99% Variable Rewards Circle with letter I in it.
Earn 5% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at office supply stores and on internet, cable and phone services each account anniversary year. Earn 2% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each account anniversary year. Earn 1% cash back on all other card purchases with no limit to the amount you can earn.
Earn 5% cash back in select business categories Annual Fee Circle with letter I in it. N/A $0 Welcome Offer Circle with letter I in it. Earn $750 when you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months after account opening Earn $750 bonus cash back If your business spends at office supply stores or on telecom, this card can pay off fast.
Earn 5% cash back in those categories (on up to $25,000 yearly), plus 2% on gas and dining (on up to $25,000 yearly). With a $750 welcome bonus and no annual fee, it can outpace flat-rate cards when you maximize its 5% rewards. Read Full Review Big cash back sign-up bonus Office supply store rewards Internet, cable, and phone service rewards 0% intro APR offer No annual fee Low caps on bonus categories No balance transfer offer Foreign transaction fee Earn $750 when you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months after account opening Earn 5% cash back at office supply stores and on internet, cable and phone services each account anniversary year on the first $25,000 in combined spend Earn 2% cash back on dining and gas each account anniversary year on the first $25,000 spent in combined spend.
Earn 1% cash back on all other purchases with no limit to the amount you can earn. Earn 5% total cash back on Lyft rides through 9/30/27. As a Chase cardmember, you’ll be automatically checked for a credit line increase at least every 6 months.
Complimentary three-month lnstacart+ membership. No Annual Fee 0% introductory APR for 12 months on purchases Member FDIC Let your holiday spending do the heavy lifting The trick to earning welcome offers is applying right before you have a huge expense (or a few months of higher than normal bills). For most people, this is holiday spending.
My household's groceries and Amazon orders alone would clear a $5,000 requirement in the next three months. Before you apply, add up the gifts, flights, and bills already headed your way through January. If that total covers the spending requirement, you're basically getting paid to do your holiday shopping.
I also pay my card off every week, so the fun never turns into a January interest bill. Want to see more offers before you pick one? Compare the best credit card welcome offers of 2026 and find the one that fits your holiday budget.
Source: The Motley Fool
