visa infinite

Review: Ritz-Carlton Visa Infinite

⭐⭐⭐⭐, Credit Card Reviews /

The Chase Ritz-Carlton Visa Infinite has been unavailable for new sign-ups since 2018. You can, however, contact Chase to upgrade an existing Marriott Bonvoy card. Unfortunately, there isn’t any sign-up bonus available for the Ritz-Carlton card, but its strong suite of benefits may still be of interest. AwardWallet calls it “Bonvoy’s best-kept secret.”

FEATURES AT A GLANCE

  • $450 annual fee
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • 6x points at the Ritz-Carlton & other Marriott hotels (4.8%) (not including points earned as a Bonvoy member; Chase’s site says you can earn up to 18.5x points on hotel stays as a Gold Elite member)
  • 3x points for airline tickets, car rentals, and restaurants (2.4%)
  • 2x points on everything else (equivalent to 1.6% cash back)

…

Review: Ritz-Carlton Visa InfiniteRead More »

Review: Elan Reserve Rewards+ Visa Infinite

⭐⭐⭐, Credit Card Reviews /

The Elan Reserve Rewards+ Visa Infinite credit card is aimed at being a relatively high-end all-in-one card. It’s a newer Visa Infinite, issued by Elan Financial Services, released around mid-2023.

This credit card is available at dozens of credit unions, including Spectra and Valley Bank. Card details are the same regardless of which bank you work with. Other Elan cards include the Max Cash Preferred and Everyday Rewards+.

Considering the high annual fee, people will wonder if this card is right for them, and if the benefits outweigh the costs. It’s very subjective in this case.

FEATURES AT A GLANCE

  • $390 annual fee
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • 6x points on travel booked through their Rewards Center (flights, hotels, car rentals)
  • 2x points on everything else
  • $100 credit towards Global Entry or TSA PreCheck (usually once every 4-5 years)

…

Review: Elan Reserve Rewards+ Visa InfiniteRead More »

Travel Insurance and Purchase Protections On Top Premium Credit Cards

Credit Card Roundups /

Credit cards with high annual fees usually get attention for their points-earning potential and travel/lifestyle perks like lounge access. But they tend to include great benefits which can be overlooked. If you want peace of mind while traveling and making retail purchases, the below list is for you.

These metal cards all include features such as trip cancellation or interruption insurance, trip delay reimbursement, lost luggage reimbursement, rental vehicle insurance, travel and emergency assistance, purchase security, extended warranty service, and return protection. They also have variations of Priority Pass access and Global Entry reimbursement.

Most Visa Infinite cards have similar benefits. It does vary by issuer though. Some benefits are listed below as “N/A” to show that similar cards may offer that benefit. It’s a quick comparison tool. As of February 2021, most Visa cards should include free NortonLifeLock ID Navigator. This service has dark web monitoring and more, similar to existing free services through issuers like Discover and Capital One. Visa Infinite cardholders also get special discounts/offers with companies like Shipt, Sofar Sounds, and Skillshare. These perks were added around the same time.

Note: Details here are current as of early 2022 and are subject to change.

…

Travel Insurance and Purchase Protections On Top Premium Credit CardsRead More »

Benefits and Differences Between Visa Traditional, Signature, and Infinite

Reference /

Visa has a number of different card types. Their website breaks these down into 3 main categories: Traditional, Signature, and Infinite. Although other categories may exist, these are the main consumer cards. Each category of card comes with different perks, although it varies by card issuer. Visa has lists of potential benefits, and it’s up to individual card issuers whether they want to offer a full or partial list.

The base benefits are generally expected from all credit cards. If your card is lost or stolen, you can lock it and/or you won’t be held liable for unauthorized transactions. Other listed benefits can be more or less useful than this. Most modern cards should also have EMV chips, a tap-to-pay feature, and mobile wallet compatibility.

…

Benefits and Differences Between Visa Traditional, Signature, and InfiniteRead More »

The Top 5+ Cards For Cell Phone Insurance Protection

Credit Card Roundups /

A relatively new feature for credit cards is free cell phone insurance (or it’s called cell phone protection). Several cards currently have it, mostly World Elite Mastercards. Enrollment is easy: just pay your eligible monthly cell phone bill with an eligible credit card.

Most types of major damage, or theft, are covered by this insurance. Phones which become lost or “mysteriously disappear” are not covered. Other exceptions may apply, such as limits to how many phones are covered. Plan details vary, so you’ll have to read the terms and conditions of your card of choice. Some secured cards or student cards may also offer this benefit. Shop around to see which card might be best for you.

Cell phone manufacturers, retailers, and telecommunications providers may offer their own protection plans or warranties. However, they usually come with fees. Google for example offers “protection plans” ranging from $3 to $15 per month, with fees and deductibles ranging from $39 to $199 on top of that. (Plus, some devices aren’t eligible for their plan, and services aren’t available in every state.) If insurance/protection is included in your credit card benefits instead, it’s 100% free and coverage is automatic. You’ll save money while earning cash back from paying your phone bill.

The top 5 personal credit or charge cards, as of 2022, are currently:

 

…

The Top 5+ Cards For Cell Phone Insurance ProtectionRead More »

Review: City National Bank Crystal Visa Infinite

⭐⭐⭐, Credit Card Reviews /

The City National Bank (CNB) Crystal Visa Infinite is a high-end luxury card for travelers. It competes with other Visa Infinite cards, but the long-term value is less clear for CNB. What was once a card with rare benefits is now one of several choices. Comparable cards like the Chase Sapphire Reserve could be better for most people. However, the Crystal card isn’t without its merits.

FEATURES AT A GLANCE

  • $400 annual fee (sometimes waived the first year)
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • 3x points on most travel (airline, hotel, taxi, rideshare, limousine, rental car, train, bus)
  • 3x points on dining (restaurants, fast food, takeout)
  • 1x points on everything else
  • $100 credit towards Global Entry or TSA PreCheck (once every 4 years)
  • Metal card

…

Review: City National Bank Crystal Visa InfiniteRead More »

Review: U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve Visa Infinite

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐, Credit Card Reviews /

The U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve (USBAR) is a premium travel card which also works well for everyday usage. It closely competes with the the Chase Sapphire Reserve, Capital One Venture X, and other luxury cards. The USBAR might have lower earning potential than certain competitors, but it’s often easier to use and more convenient. This is a card worth exploring even if it can potentially be tough to get U.S. Bank credit cards.

FEATURES AT A GLANCE

    • $400 annual fee
    • Zero foreign transaction fees
    • 5x points on hotels and car rentals booked through U.S. Bank’s website
    • 3x points on travel
    • 3x points on mobile wallet transactions
    • 1x points on everything else
    • $325 annual credit (for travel or restaurants)
    • $100 credit towards Global Entry or TSA PreCheck (once every 4 years)
    • Metal card

…

Review: U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve Visa InfiniteRead More »

Review: Capital One Venture X Visa Infinite

⭐⭐⭐⭐, Credit Card Reviews /

The Capital One Venture X is a premium card focused on travel and everyday spending. It has an annual fee and it can be difficult to optimize rewards, so it’s not for everyone. Still, Venture X does have plenty of perks, aiming to compete with cards like the Chase Reserve Sapphire. It’s worth a look for anyone who travels at least once or twice a year. And as a general-spending card, it’s much better than the lower-tier Venture and VentureOne cards from Capital One. Venture X is a newer Visa Infinite card and was released in early November 2021.

FEATURES AT A GLANCE

…

Review: Capital One Venture X Visa InfiniteRead More »

Review: Chase Sapphire Reserve

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐, Credit Card Reviews /

The Chase Sapphire Reserve (CSR) is a luxury credit card for travelers which offers many perks. It’s also an integral part of the “Chase Trifecta” rewards strategy, which significantly boosts earnings. The Sapphire Reserve excels in the travel and dining categories, and has some of the best travel insurance protections on any card.

FEATURES AT A GLANCE

  • $550 annual fee
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • 10x points on hotels and car rentals (booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards)
  • 10x points on Chase Dining prepaid reservations (through Chase Ultimate Rewards)
  • 5x points on flights (booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards)
  • 3x points on dining
  • 3x points on travel
  • 1x points on everything else
  • $300 annual travel credit
  • $100 credit towards Global Entry or TSA PreCheck (once every 4 years)
  • Chase Offers

…

Review: Chase Sapphire ReserveRead More »