| | Quality over quantity | | by Tarah Chieffi, Senior writer | |  | I may not have as many credit cards as some of my co-workers, but I've found a small but mighty combination of cards that works best for me based on my spending habits and travel style.
Here's my preferred card lineup and the reasons I swipe (or, more often, tap) these cards so often.
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card: This is my go-to card for travel perks. The annual fee of $395 is reasonable compared to other premium travel cards and is easily offset by a $300 annual credit to use in the Capital One Travel portal and a 10,000-mile anniversary bonus.
I can access Capital One and Priority Pass lounges (enrollment is required) and get a credit of up to $120 toward TSA PreCheck or Global Entry, making for more comfortable travel. And the welcome offer — currently 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 in the first three months from account opening — helped cover flights and a hotel for an anniversary trip with my husband.
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card: No matter where I travel, I almost always end up at a Marriott. So, getting the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless was a no-brainer. I get automatic Silver Elite status, which gets me bonus points, late checkout (when available) and an annual free night award (valued at up to 35,000 Bonvoy points).
And this one is extra valuable in the first year for new cardmembers. You can earn three free night awards (valued at up to 50,000 points each, though certain hotels have resort fees) after spending $3,000 on eligible purchases within three months from account opening.
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: This is one of my newest cards and also the perfect day-to-day card. It earns 3 points per dollar spent on dining, select streaming services and online groceries; 2 points per dollar spent on travel purchases made outside the Chase Travel℠ portal; and an impressive 5 points per dollar spent on Chase Travel purchases.
Plus, the normal welcome offer on this card recently rose to 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening, which TPG values at $1,538 based on our August 2025 valuations.
TPG tip: If you want even higher earning rates on travel and dining, airport lounge access, and a welcome offer worth more than $2,500, I recommend the Chase Sapphire Reserve®. New cardholders can now earn 125,000 bonus points after spending $6,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
Ready to build your starting card lineup? These stories will help:
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