Originally Posted by
erlftex
Ahh, good points I should have mentioned! I have had a Starwood card for over 10 years-- way back when it was Sheraton and that ugly grey-- but I have stopped using it as I rarely redeem miles for international flights or hotels, which means my value is less than 2% usually. So I have that card, the Amex Platinum for travel benefits, and the Costco personal and work for personal and work expenses (IMHO the cash back % is much better value than any miles card out there, with no rules). I have the BoA Accolades for free from BoA, and am trying it out. I guess that makes 5 amex, I need to fix that... yikes.
What I need is a MC/VISA that has benefits so I can 1) replace my Amex Platinum and/or Accolades, 2) have a card that is a non-amex backup, 3) ideally better for forex fees, 4) has purchase protection, value, etc. I would like good rewards-- or cash-- but that is really secondary since I am only talking about $15,000 of spending a year. I don't mind an annual fee if I get value.
I am considering the new BoA Premier card (which is the Accolades non-Amex companion) or the HSBC premier card. Both have crummy rewards but good benefits.
Any thoughts would be appreciated. Should have gotten the Chairman MC, would have been much easier.
There are several MC/VISA cards that provide some of the AMEX Benefits. It depends on what you are looking for:
1. Airline Club Access
- Chase CO Presidential Plus World MC - Includes a CO membership - $375 per year
http://www.continental.com/web/en-US...haseppwmc.aspx
- Merrill+ Visa - Includes DL or AA club membership with $50k in annual spending
2. Shopping
- Nordstroms Visa Signature
- Saks World Elite MC
3. Hotel Status...This is pretty much the best you will get
- Citibank HH Visa Signature - Hilton Silver
- Chase Marriott Visa Signature - Marriott Silver
- Chase Marriott Premier Visa Sigature - Marriott Silver (15 days credited toward status)
4. Hotel Benefits
- Diners Club Carte Blanche - $300 per annum (not sure how good this is)
5. Concierge
- Merrill+ Visa - Supposedly uses Circles. I find that they always want to get back to you the next day.
- Diners Club Carte Blanche - Supposedly a superior concierge
6. Insurance
- Diners Club/Carte Blanche - Primary rental car coverage
7. Good Reward Rates or Redemption Options
- Citibank Hilton Visa Signature - 6pts per $ at Hilton
- Chase Marriott Visa Signature - 5pts per $ at Marriott
- Various Citibank Thank You Cards - 2pts per $ or more
- Fidelity Visa Signature - 1.5% cash back
- Diners Club/Carte Blanche - 1 pt per $; but a variety of airline programs