I've recently started traveling more about 5x a year (1-2 intl trips, rest domestic US). I would like to start earning rewards for my travel and spending. There's so many cards out that I'm having a difficult time deciding on what would be the best for me.

I currently have an amex blue cash preferred that I use for everything unless amex isn't accepted then I would just use my debit card. I spend on average about 40k/year.

I've thought about either getting the SPG amex or Gold/Platinum when they had the bonus offers but I think I would like to have a visa also so I can stop using my debit for purchases. The perks I'm looking for is mainly a card that would provide the most value in miles that can be redeemed for flights. I've read the SPG amex would be best but I don't always at Starwood properties. I also was looking at the Chase Sapphire Preferred since they have a 50k sign up bonus right now but I'm not sure if there are better cards out there.

Any advice would be appreciated!

Thanks

Generic starter advice- It depends what you want to do with your points and what carrier you prefer, for example if you're near a Delta hub like Atlanta they might be your best bet, Dallas is American, etc. It also depends on where you want to go (United probably most flexible, second is AA and they're the best to South America, and Delta is dead last though may be the best for Australia).

My opinion if you're just starting is to double team it with Chase cards. If you have a Chase Sapphire Preferred (or either of the Ink Cards) you can transfer Ultimate rewards points to United (Star Alliance), Korean Air (Skyteam), British Airways (Oneworld), or Southwest (no alliance but I believe you can use points on Airtran as well?) as well as Hyatt, Priority Club, Mariott and Ritz-Carlton Hotels if that's your thing.

That way you can transfer rewards to all three major alliances (you can use the points on allied carriers). So if you fly Delta sometimes but use United usually, if you have a Chase Ultimate Rewards card you can transfer your points to United usually, then if you want to book awards on Delta all of a sudden you can just transfer to Korean and use their miles on Delta.

The reason I'd recommend Chase over other multi-partner points (Amex Membership Rewards) is because you could wait a month after getting a Sapphire Preferred (or Ink, or Bold, all three waive a first year fee), you can apply for a Chase Freedom card which offers 5x points on certain categories every three months (gas and drug stores this quarter). Then you can transfer to your Sapphire Preferred (or Ink or Bold) account and transfer them out again. That ONLY works (Freedom to Sapphire Preferred) if you have one of those paid cards, though.

I agree with the above. I have had the Chase Sapphire Preferred for two years now and its great. Love the ability to transfer points to several airlines and hotels. Also earning 2X on all travel and dining is awesome, plus a 7% points dividend. I think the overall best travel cards are that one, AMEX MR cards, and SPG Amex. I don't have the latter yet. I'd say in general Chase UR is better than AMEX MR.

Airline or hotel specific cards are great as well if you can use the specific airline or hotel enough to make any annual fee worth it. Alternatively some provide enough benefits to make paying the annual fee worthwhile. I'd make these the secondary focus of any cards you get.