So here's my situation. I've got an AMEX Gold, Chase Sapphire Pref, and AAdvantage MC. In October, I leave for Sydney and begin a 2 year+ backpacking journey. I generally plan on using the Chase card when I need to use a cc overseas, with no foreign transaction fees. I'm looking for a recommendation for an all around good rewards card (even if its just the best signup bonus). I'd like to keep building up as many points as possible before I go. I have excellent credit so I don't mind opening a few cards.

In your opinion, what are the best current options?

Thanks all!

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You're missing the United card. (If you have some points in your account you should be able to see a 65k offer).
I would do ALL my spending on the Sapphire. But I mean, the special credit cards master thread has all the big bonuses.

You can start churning the USA, theres a 75k business Amex Gold. Check out the master thread though.

I would just say do one big church on one day and enjoy your trip.

If you're open to business cards, I'd definitely recommend getting the Citi/AA Biz (another 50k AA miles) and the Chase Ink Bold (50k Chase UR points).

On top of that, I'd echo what another poster said and start getting some USAirways miles with the Barclays USAirways card. And the Chase United Explorer is a must, since it's easy to get the bump to the 65k offer from the normal 40k one just by sending a secure message.

Right there you have a nice little app-o-rama:

1 Chase personal card (United Explorer)
1 Chase biz (Ink Bold)
1 Barclays (USAirways)
1 Citi biz (AAdvantage card)

I believe this offered has expired, although it recurs.

Keep in mind that many of the programs have activity requirements to keep your miles from expiring. USAir requires at least one earning or redemption activity every 18 months. I don't know about American and United; Amex points expire if the account lapses.

It's not that complicated to generate a single transaction. Most of the airline programs have tie-ins to restaurants. Find a friend in the USA who has three credit cards, and register one with United, one with USAir, and one with American. Once every 17 months have them go to one of the restaurants, go up to the bar, and buy three sodas, one with each credit card. (Or ask the bartender for three glasses of water and a bill for each one, and tip him a couple bucks on each one.) Poof, you have your "earnings activity." Points.com is also a good one, for example, you can "spend" 5 USAir points to get one Air Canada point and thus get a "redemption" activity that way.

Ink bold and United would be good.
Possibly the Chase BA also.

It seems like a lot of those cards have spending limits that I won't be able to reach since I'm focused on saving for the trip right now! I could get a lot of the signup/first purchase bonuses, but not the spend x amount in x months bonuses. Unless I just need better links, ha.

With US Airways Card you get 40K miles after the first purchase. I would recommend Chase PC Visa which will give you 80K points and Platinum Status after the first purchase.

Yeah, the USAirways card is after first purchase, as is the Chase United Explorer. The signup offer for the United Explorer if you are not targeted is only 40k right now, but many people have reported being able to bump it up to the targeted 65k offer after applying simply by sending a secure message.

This post explains it in more detail:

http://www.extrapackofpeanuts.com/2-...ited-explorer/

Those would be your best two bets for no minimum spend and getting air miles. If you want to consider hotel cards, there are alot of options.