Update!

I have received the Sapphire Preferred card and have passed the minimum spending (mainly due to a $2,900 airline ticket, which also got me almost 6,000 points!). I then used it on a recent business trip to the EU, my first months statement (it ended 2 days ago) gathered over 50,000 points, including my 40K spending bonus! This month I'm also on track to get another 10K points. For me personally the travel & dining bonus points help out tremendously as thats all I'm charging on business trips.

I have come across an issue where in the EU I needed a damn chip and pin... and sure enough today I get an email from Marriott promoting their Marriott Premier Rewards card. Seems like a good deal and keeps me at automatic silver level for Marriott for $85 a year. I would then only have my Chase Sapphire fee and this Marriott one and be covered for any Chip & Pin situations.