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In addition to credit cards that earn airline miles or transferable currencies which can be used for free flights, there exists a separate niche for cards that earn hotel points for free stays. These points can be extremely valuable when used efficiently, and an added benefit of many hotel co-branded credit cards is that they come with an annual free night certificate for use at the associated hotel chain.
Today we’ll take a look at some of the best credit cards that offer an annual free night certificate as part of their benefits. (more…)
Advertiser Disclosure: This site is part of an affiliate sales network and receives compensation for sending traffic to partner sites, such as CardRatings.com. This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. This site does not include all financial companies or all available financial offers. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any of these entities.
I remember the first time I heard about Global Entry with its promise of quick and easy re-entry to the U.S. from international trips without having to wait in the ridiculous lines that so often pile up at immigration. Not only that, it came with TSA PreCheck which allowed skipping some of the inconveniences involved with domestic travel – all for $100 and valid for five years. Sign me up!
Recently, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) started piloting a new option whereby you can renew your Global Entry subscription via a remote interview vice in-person. I tried it out and was surprised with the result!
Almost exactly a year ago, my wife and I resigned from our careers as Foreign Service officers with the U.S. Department of State at the completion of our overseas tour in Islamabad, Pakistan. Having met our financial goals and ready to transition to new adventures, we returned to my home state of Maine to see friends and family before spending the winter in Mexico. During that trip, I decided that I wanted to spend the majority of the next summer outside. Though I was already doing some writing and instruction for various outdoor companies and outfitters, I wanted to immerse myself in the outdoor industry and get some more hands-on experience.
Becoming a whitewater raft guide seemed like the perfect fit for several reasons: it’s in-demand (outfitters are always hiring), has a relatively low barrier to entry (just a license, explained below), and you can work as little or as much as you want. It seemed ideal across the board, so I went for it. Having just finished up my season, I can attest to the fact that this is a fantastic seasonal gig for early retirees or those on sabbatical.
Advertiser Disclosure: This site is part of an affiliate sales network and receives compensation for sending traffic to partner sites, such as CardRatings.com. This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. This site does not include all financial companies or all available financial offers. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any of these entities.
We often recommend the Chase Sapphire Preferred® card for anyone that is new to award travel, and for good reason: it has some of the best benefits, earns one of the most valuable transferable currencies, and comes with an extremely reasonable annual fee of just $95. Similarly, the Sapphire Reserve is a top contender for the best premium card on the market by providing Priority Pass lounge access, a $300 yearly travel credit, and enhanced travel protections. Currently, Chase is offering 60,000 Ultimate Rewards points as a welcome bonus on the Preferred card. Not only that, they have recently added additional benefits to both the Sapphire Preferred and the Sapphire Reserve to make them even more powerful.
Today, we’ll outline the changes made to these two powerhouse credit cards. (more…)
Advertiser Disclosure: This site is part of an affiliate sales network and receives compensation for sending traffic to partner sites, such as CardRatings.com. This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. This site does not include all financial companies or all available financial offers. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any of these entities.
Once you’ve been at this hobby for a while you will begin to amass not only points and miles, but also new accounts and hard inquiries on your credit report. Though each card issuer treats this somewhat differently, it’s inevitable that your ability to open new credit cards will begin to dwindle and you risk getting the dreaded, “thanks but no thanks” response from the bank. Even if you are not denied outright, you may begin to get “application pending” responses where they say you’ll receive a letter in 7-10 business days with their decision. This can be extremely frustrating if you’ve spent a long time choosing a particular card or have a large expense coming up that you were hoping to put on it to help meet the minimum spend and earn a hefty welcome bonus.
However, that’s not always the final word on the matter. Here’s what to do if you do not get instantly approved for a credit card application to help turn the situation around. (more…)
Advertiser Disclosure: This site is part of an affiliate sales network and receives compensation for sending traffic to partner sites, such as CardRatings.com. This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. This site does not include all financial companies or all available financial offers. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any of these entities.
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