These are the cards in our wallets right now — the ones we use to keep our travels affordable with points and miles.
We run two separate points ecosystems side by side — Chase Ultimate Rewards and hotel loyalty points — and each card has a specific job.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred is our everyday workhorse. Most of our spending goes on this card, earning Ultimate Rewards points that we primarily transfer to World of Hyatt — our favourite redemption by far given the value per point.
The Chase Ink Business handles transit and telecommunications — categories where the Ink earns at a higher rate than the Sapphire. Both cards feed into the same Chase Ultimate Rewards pool, so the points combine seamlessly.
The Chase World of Hyatt card is our dedicated Hyatt card. When we're staying at a Hyatt property, this is the card we use — earning Hyatt points directly and keeping that balance growing alongside our Ultimate Rewards transfers.
The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless and IHG One Rewards cards each build their own separate hotel point balances. We use these when we're staying within those ecosystems directly — particularly IHG when we're in more remote regions where Hyatt properties are limited.
The result is four redemption options — Hyatt (via two paths), Marriott, and IHG — giving us coverage almost anywhere in the world, funded by a focused stack of cards each doing a specific job.
Do I need all five cards?
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Not at all. If you're just starting out, one Chase card is enough to get going. We built up to this stack over time as our travel style became clearer. The Sapphire Preferred is where most people should begin.
What if I don't have a business for the Ink card?
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"Business" is broader than you might think. Freelancing, consulting, selling on eBay or Etsy, or any side income can qualify. You apply as a sole proprietor using your Social Security number — no LLC or formal business structure required.
Which card should I get first?
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Start with the Chase Sapphire Preferred. It's the foundation of the whole system — flexible points, great transfer partners, and a $95 annual fee that's easy to justify. Once you have that, the Ink Business is the natural next step if you have any side income.
Can I use these cards outside the US?
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Yes — none of the cards in our stack charge foreign transaction fees, which was a non-negotiable for us. That said, the Marriott Brilliant is an Amex, which has lower acceptance in some countries than Visa or Mastercard. We always carry a Visa as backup.
How long does it take to earn enough points for meaningful travel?
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It depends on your spending, but the signup bonuses alone on the Chase cards can get you several free hotel nights right out of the gate. We earned our first meaningful redemption within the first three months of getting the Sapphire Preferred.
Is this only for people planning to travel full time?
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Not at all — the strategy works just as well for one or two longer trips a year. The points stack up the same way regardless of how often you travel. The difference is that slow travellers tend to get outsized value from hotel perks like free breakfast and lounge access, since they're staying longer in each place.
Do you earn points on every purchase?
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Yes — every card earns at least 1 point per dollar on everything, with higher rates on specific categories. The key is putting the right spending on the right card. That's exactly what the "How the Cards Work Together" section above covers.