Tired of having to pay far too much money for the trips you’re taking? Well, you may want to reconsider the way you’re traveling if that’s the case. And no, I’m not talking about cutting down on your budget by choosing cheaper accommodation, cheap food and similar things. I’m talking about having the right financial companion on your side to maximize your enjoyment while not worrying too much about your budget. A credit card.
Some people can even teach you how to travel for free with travel points on those cards: https://travellemming.com/free-travel-with-points/
If you’ve done any research about it whatsoever beforehand, you’ve undoubtedly realized that these cards can be rather useful. You can get points for pretty much anything you buy during your trips, and then you can redeem those points. Talk about the perfect traveling companion, huh? What more could you possibly need?
While it’s clear that travel credit card can be the perfect companion for you, there is still one thing that may be bothering you here. Basically, you may not know how to select the best card specifically for you, and different people may be recommending different ones. Don’t rely solely on those recommendations, though, because we are all individuals that have different needs, and the cards are meant to meet those.
The Battle of the Two
Sure, your more detailed research may have already narrowed your choices down. Since you’re here, you’ve probably narrowed down those choices to two different options and are now unable to decide between them. The Amex Gold on one side, and the Chase Sapphire Preferred on the other, both equally amazing and appealing, and yet quite different from one another in certain aspects. It’s no wonder you can’t decide.
Let me start by saying that you probably won’t go wrong whichever option you decide to go for here. Checking out Amex gold vs Chase sapphire preferred will make it clear that both of the cards are extremely useful for travelers. Yet, there are some nuances you have to be aware of if you want to make the absolutely best choice, and you do, which is why you have to refrain from making certain mistakes in this specific choosing process.
What kinds of mistakes am I referring to here, though? Well, that’s what you’re here to find out. People tend to make the errors I’ve listed below for one reason or another, and then wind up second guessing their choice once they’ve already made it. So as not to end up in the same situation, you’ll have to do your best to avoid those common mistakes, and I’ll now get you acquainted with them.
- Don’t Make a Random Decision
Playing eeny, meeny, miny, moe to come to your decision is not exactly the best thing to do. Sure, you may assume that both of these cards are great, and they are, and that you can go for just any of them without doing any further research. This, however, is wrong, and here’s why. While both the Amex Gold and the Chase Sapphire Preferred definitely are great, they offer different types of advantages, meaning they’ll be suitable for different types of travelers respectively.
- Don’t Get Too Hung Up on the Annual Fee
Those people that don’t make random decisions often tend to make them according to the annual fees. While I’m not saying that the annual fee doesn’t matter, it is not exactly the best indicator of the quality of the card. Meaning, in short, that a lower fee doesn’t necessarily equal the better solution. So, do consider the fees, but don’t get too hung up on them. The travel card you choose can be extremely valuable, and you can learn how to get started with the points here, but you’ll have to choose wisely, thinking of other factors as well, in addition to the fees.
- Don’t Fail to Consider How You Spend Your Money
Perhaps the most significant thing you have to do right is this. Consider what you spend your money on before deciding between these two useful credit cards. Not doing so could lead to earning much less points than you would have if you just took the time to carefully think about your actual spending habits. The Amex Gold and the Chase Sapphire Preferred have different point earning systems, and which one will be right for you depends on your spending.
- Don’t Forget to Check How and What for the Points Are Earned
Speaking of the different point earning systems, that’s another thing you’ll have to be careful about here. Put simply, don’t make the mistake of not checking how those points are earned and for what types of purchases. Doing this is crucial when deciding between the Chase Sapphire Preferred and the Amex Gold, and even though the differences may seem small and insignificant, they will still be important for you in the long run.