It's not been long since I graduate from college, and one of the first things I did was decide to switch all my CCs to travel programs. If I had to pay for everything, I wouldn't be able to travel nearly as much as I do (or as much as I want).

Anyway, in addition to mileage cards, do consider the hotel programs. I've had great success with Hilton HHonors and its two credit cards, the Visa and AmEx. Both have no annual fee and substantial sign-up bonuses. I prefer Hilton hotels to Starwood simply because they are more widespread -- anywhere I go, I can find one, so I can always earn points when I pay for myself -- and I've found it to be a quite responsive and flexible program. Also, I end up having far higher costs on hotels when I travel than anything else. For example, 150,000 HHonors points will save me $1,500 on a reward stay in June -- my airline tickets will only cost about $400.

It's simply a matter of finding the best option that works for you and your plans. Good luck with your decision -- it's a good choice to focus on travel cards. I hope you enjoy whichever card you end up getting. The first time you book a free ticket or hotel stay, it's a great feeling.