Thread: Best credit card for work expenses? Mostly hotel stays and driving

My job is now requiring that I travel 3 weeks a month. Limited flying because I will mainly drive, but lots of hotel stays.

Currently, I have a Amex Costco, Amex Business Platinum, and a Discover cashback. My plan is to at least cancel the Costco card, then open a rewards card that will allow me to benefit from all of the expensed gas and hotels.

Considering everything, which card is my best option?

Take a look on the Starwood Preferred Guest Credit Card. This one could be a great option.

You could take a look on the new Amex - Mercedes Benz Credit Card, it has good MRP for gas and restaurants.

Earn 5x points on eligible Mercedes-Benz purchases, 3x points on gas purchases, 2x points on restaurants, 1x points on everything else. You can use points for rewards from over 500 brands, transfer points to airline and hotel partners, or get gift cards and merchandise.

since you have a business platinum card would you be interested in a Visa credit card? or does your company want you to have an American express?

What airline do you fly? You can start there....a Chase Sapphire Preferred comes to mind if you do travel abroad. Lower AF than a Amex Platinum but your situation might be different than most. Sapphire preferred is more widely accepted than a Amex SPG but the SPG is a great card if you don't fly Continental or United. Their conversion ratio is 2:1 but 1:1 for every other airline. Also, you'll get a bonus 5,000 pts when you transfer 20,000 pts to all other airlines but the one mentioned above. IMO...the SPG is the best Hotel/Airlines CC if you don't fly Continental/United on your business trips.

Downside with Amex is they are not widely accepted at smaller merchants but a Visa/MC as a backup will do.

Originally Posted by tntexan72

What airline do you fly? You can start there....a Chase Sapphire Preferred comes to mind if you do travel abroad. Lower AF than a Amex Platinum but your situation might be different than most. Sapphire preferred is more widely accepted than a Amex SPG but the SPG is a great card if you don't fly Continental or United. Their conversion ratio is 2:1 but 1:1 for every other airline. Also, you'll get a bonus 5,000 pts when you transfer 20,000 pts to all other airlines but the one mentioned above. IMO...the SPG is the best Hotel/Airlines CC if you don't fly Continental/United on your business trips.

Downside with Amex is they are not widely accepted at smaller merchants but a Visa/MC as a backup will do.

Sorry, disregard this comment.

Originally Posted by 4Runner

Take a look on the Starwood Preferred Guest Credit Card. This one could be a great option.

I did look at this, but I was worried that most of the hotels I stay at wont be included. My job usually requires that I stay at medium to lower end hotels like holiday inn and extended stays.

Originally Posted by 4Runner

You could take a look on the new Amex - Mercedes Benz Credit Card, it has good MRP for gas and restaurants.

Earn 5x points on eligible Mercedes-Benz purchases, 3x points on gas purchases, 2x points on restaurants, 1x points on everything else. You can use points for rewards from over 500 brands, transfer points to airline and hotel partners, or get gift cards and merchandise.

Does this help me with hotels? The gas points are nice, but I really need to take advantage of the hotels.

Originally Posted by Money card

since you have a business platinum card would you be interested in a Visa credit card? or does your company want you to have an American express?

This will be a personal card that I will put everything on, then i'll be reimbursed through expense reports. So I can have anything. The business platinum just sits most of the time. It's just for my side webdesign and development business for office/computer supplies. And at the end of the year when it comes time to do the taxes for my LLC expenses, I just print out the yearly statement.

I am not opposed to other cards, Ive just read that amex is the best for taking advantage of points. I will have so many expenses from work that I would like to buy myself free vacations from what I put on it through out the year.

I think my decision is now down to gold, green, and jet blue. I just need help figuring out which one is optimal for my needs. Each has a different annual fee and point system. Which one is best for me?

Gold - Im guessing the high annual fee isnt worth it considering I wont fly a lot. 2x on gas is good though.

Green - Lower annual fee and still 2x points when I book through amex.

Jet Blue - Up to 8 points when I book through jet blue.

How much are your monthly expenses or annual expenses going to be? For traveling, I would most certainly get a Visa/Mc to backup your Amex. Since you have a Platinum charge card and a hefty AF, I would consider a Visa/MC as a secondary card.

Chase Freedom comes to mind. IMO, I believe Chase have a variety of ccs to meet all your needs. Discover comes to mind but not all places will accept Discover.

Oh I didnt mean a regular platinum... Its the simply cash business platinum. Doesnt have an AF.

I am actually thinking about closing it, along with my costco card, and replacing them with amex green or jet blue travel. I wont need the simply cash because I'm not running a business anymore, and I wont use the costco because all be on the road and have no need for costco and dont want to pay a membership.