The Paradox of Choice
There are hundreds of travel credit cards. Every site has "best of" lists, often influenced by which cards pay the highest commissions. No wonder people get stuck.
Here's the truth: your first card matters, but not as much as you think. Any of the major transferable points cards will serve you well. The goal is to pick one that fits your life and start building points—not to find the theoretically "perfect" card.
The Decision Framework
Answer these four questions to narrow your choice:
1. How do you feel about annual fees?
No fee: Consider Chase Freedom Flex or Citi Double Cash (with eventual upgrade path). You'll earn slower but with no cost.
Low fee (~$95): Chase Sapphire Preferred or Capital One Venture offer excellent value for the price—often justified by the welcome bonus alone.
Higher fee ($250+): Cards like Amex Gold or Capital One Venture X offer more benefits, but you need to use them to get value.
2. What's your biggest spending category?
Dining: Amex Gold (4x) or Chase Sapphire cards (3x) shine here.
Groceries: Amex Gold (4x up to $25k/year) is hard to beat.
Travel: Chase Sapphire Preferred (5x on Chase travel) or Capital One Venture X (10x on hotels/cars).
No dominant category: A flat-rate card like Capital One Venture (2x everything) keeps it simple.
3. Have you opened 5+ credit cards in the last 24 months?
If yes, Chase cards are likely off the table (the "5/24 rule"). Consider Capital One, Amex, or Citi instead.
If no, strongly consider starting with Chase. Their ecosystem is beginner-friendly and their 5/24 rule means you should get Chase cards while you can.
4. Do you want simplicity or optimization?
Simplicity: Pick one card, use it for everything. Capital One Venture or Chase Sapphire Preferred work great.
Optimization: You might eventually want multiple cards for different categories, but still start with one transferable points card as your foundation.
Our Top Recommendations for First Cards
🏆 Best Overall First Card
Chase Sapphire Preferred
$95 annual fee, strong welcome bonus, excellent transfer partners including United, Southwest, and Hyatt. The "safe" choice that serves almost everyone well.
🍽️ Best for Foodies
American Express Gold
$250 annual fee (offset by $120 dining + $120 Uber credits). 4x on dining and groceries makes it incredible for food spending.
💰 Best No Annual Fee
Chase Freedom Flex
$0 annual fee with 5% rotating categories. Pairs perfectly with a future Sapphire card for transfers.
If your credit score is below 700, consider starting with a simple cashback card or secured card to build credit first. Travel rewards cards require good to excellent credit for approval.
What About [Insert Card Here]?
People often ask about specific cards. Here's our quick take on popular options:
- Chase Sapphire Reserve: Great card, but the $550 fee is steep for beginners. Start with Preferred, upgrade later if needed.
- Amex Platinum: Excellent for frequent travelers, but $695/year requires heavy use of its perks.
- Southwest cards: Only if Southwest is your primary airline and you want Companion Pass.
- Airline co-branded cards: Generally better to start with transferable points for flexibility.
Key Takeaways
- Don't overthink it—any major transferable points card is a good start
- Consider Chase first if you're under 5/24
- Match the card to your actual spending, not aspirational spending
- Annual fees can be worth it if you use the benefits
- You can always get more cards later as you learn the system