I know there is a general aversion to paying an annual fee on a credit card. People tend to forget that along with annual fees come some amazing benefits, not to mention those welcome offers you earn after meeting the minimum spending requirements. (Those welcome offers are what enticed us to get the card in the first place, right?) But even after the welcome offers, there are some cards you’ll just never want to be without, even with the annual fees. So let’s talk about the credit cards I will always keep and why they can be so valuable.

 

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

It is important that either my husband or I always hold card_name because it is a means to an end. It gives us the ability to transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards® to transfer partners—which we do incredibly frequently—or use them through Chase Travel℠. We don’t both have to have this card, because living in the same household means we’re allowed to combine our points into one person’s account. As long as that one person has the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, we’re all set.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card has an annual fee of only $95, which is effectively reduced if we use our annual $50 hotel credit to book a hotel through Chase Travel℠. On occasions where I can’t book a stay at a Hyatt, I use my $50 credit to book another type of hotel—most often, at an affordable airport hotel. I also use the $10 DoorDash credit, covering my annual fee and more!

 

 

The Platinum Card® from American Express

I realize that not everyone will pay an annual fee for a credit card. The Platinum Card® from American Express works for me as it has the best airport lounge access of any card, especially for international travel. Additionally, I can make great use of the benefits that come with the card, so I end up getting more than annual_fees of value from it.

The benefits and their value that I use are:

• Airline incidental credit – $200
• Saks Fifth Avenue twice-yearly credit – $100
• Fine Hotel + Resorts® credit – $200
• Streaming credit – $240 yearly total ($20 per month)
• CLEAR® Plus credit – $189
• Lounge access – Priceless 😜

All information about the The  Platinum Card® from American Express has been collected independently by Travel Mom Squad. The Platinum Card® from American Express is no longer available through Travel Mom Squad.

For rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express, see Rates and Fees; terms apply.

 

World of Hyatt Credit Card

Getting Hyatt Globalist Status every year is a huge priority for me. So is the ability to get it without staying 60 nights at a Hyatt. With the World of Hyatt Credit Card, I not only get a free-night certificate worth more than double the $95 annual fee, but I also get five elite-night credits, which are a great start to that 60-night stay requirement to earn Globalist status.

All information about the World of Hyatt Credit Card has been collected independently by Travel Mom Squad. The World of Hyatt Credit Card is no longer available through Travel Mom Squad.

 

 

World of Hyatt Business Credit Card

The card_name is also a no-brainer, as I get five elite-night credits for every $10,000 I spend on the card. That means I can pay my estimated taxes on the card a few times a year and get more elite-night credits towards Globalist.

I usually can get tons of value on my nights at Hyatt with my Globalist status due to the following perks:

• Free upgraded rooms (many times to suites!)
• Complimentary Globalist breakfast
• Free parking

 

United℠ Explorer Card

I live near Denver, a hub for United Airlines. Paying $95 for card_name that gives me priority boarding and free checked baggage is vital because I will usually check a bag on domestic flights. Additionally, I get two United Lounge passes, and Denver is the king of airport lounges (at least to me). The United Lounge, which has recently been very nicely renovated, would cost me $59 to enter each time I fly, so this alone is worth more than my $95 annual fee.

 

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

As an airport lounge geek, I love a good lounge. I also like choices, so I will keep the card_name because I want to be able to head into those Capital One Airport Lounges when I can. Although the annual fee is $395, it comes with a $300 travel credit. That makes it a manageable yearly fee that I can make up with just a few trips to a lounge.

 

Marriott Bonvoy Credit Cards

I got my Marriott Bonvoy credit cards before there were strict rules regarding which you could have at the same time. That means I have more Marriott cards than present eligibility rules allow. I even have the Ritz-Carlton cards, which are not available anymore except as a product change. 

Keeping these cards is important for me because I wouldn’t be able to get them all again if I wanted to. The free-night certificates are something I use and am able to reap more value out of them than what I pay in annual fees. And the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card and the Ritz-Carlton cards come with 85K annual free-night certificates, allowing me to stay at some of the most luxurious Marriott Hotels. Until I no longer want to do that, these cards are like a valuable coupon for me, where I pay a couple of hundred dollars in annual fees (after considering the cards’ benefits that I use) to stay at a $600+ luxury hotel.

 

 

IHG Credit Cards

The card_name and card_name are valuable to me for the same reason. These annual fees are worth paying because of the free-night certificates I earn for being a cardholder. A couple of years ago, my husband and I used most of our free-night certificates when we visited Australia and New Zealand. It made for a very inexpensive trip for us.

 

Bottom Line

Don’t write off a credit card because it has an annual fee. Instead, make it work for you. These are some of the credit cards that I will always keep. Which cards are keepers for you?

 

Related Posts

Review of the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

$100 Credit on World of Hyatt Business Credit Card

Taking Advantage of Credit Card Benefits