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When we first decided to travel more as a family, I kept hearing people say they were using points to fly and stay in hotels for almost nothing. It sounded amazing—but also a little overwhelming. I had four little kids, a long wish list of places to go, and no clue how to actually start using points in a way that made sense for us.

I didn’t need a dozen cards or complicated strategies. I just wanted to know which card would help us take one good trip—and not make our lives harder in the process.

Over time, I’ve figured out how to choose cards based on what we actually need: the kinds of trips we want to take, how much we spend in certain categories, and what perks we’ll actually use. And when I discovered the real value of welcome offers—and how credit scores really work (I break it all down in my [Beginner’s Guide to Points & Miles])—I started watching for the cards that could get us the most value without a lot of extra work.

If you’re in the same spot—ready for your next card but unsure where to start—this post will walk you through how I make that decision for our family, and how you can do the same based on your own travel goals.

Step 1: Start With Your Travel Goals

Before choosing any card, I always recommend penciling out a rough idea of the trips you want to take—even if your plans change later. Having a general sense of where you want to go and how you like to travel makes the card decision so much easier.

Once you understand the value of welcome offers, it’s hard not to feel a little FOMO when a great one pops up. And even when there’s not an elevated offer, I still find myself debating whether it’s worth grabbing a card at the standard bonus just to keep earning toward our goals (spoiler: I do this a lot).

That’s why I tell people to spend a few minutes upfront looking at possible destinations and where they might want to stay. For me, I pull up our district calendar and note the dates of all the school breaks with where I would love to go during that time. Next, I’ll do a little research on the first place I want to go.

This matters because, for example, when we planned a trip to Hawaii, we found tons of options on Oahu—but if we wanted to stay on the North Shore (we did), Marriott was really our only points-friendly hotel. That completely shaped the kind of points we needed to earn.

Same with flights—there were several airlines with good availability, but only one had options that weren’t red-eyes (which I try to avoid at all costs). That narrowed down the kind of airline points I wanted to focus on for that trip.

Having a plan doesn’t mean you can’t change it—but it does mean you’ll earn the right points for the kinds of trips you actually want to take. One card also won’t do it all, but choosing the right one for your goals gets you there a lot faster.

My Favorite Credit Cards for Family Vacations

If you want to keep things flexible, start with a card that earns transferable points. These can be moved to multiple airlines or hotels depending on the trip. That flexibility has saved us more than once when plans changed (or when I found a better deal last minute!).

Here’s a list of my favorite cards for flexible travel rewards—theses are my most recommended, so if you don’t have one of these; they are worth considering.

I also have a custom card finder quiz that checks your eligibility with a soft credit pull and helps you find the best card for your situation—super helpful if you want more personalized suggestions.

If you’re a beginner, I recommend sticking with the easier transfer partners first so you don’t get overwhelmed. More on that here: Why Southwest + Hyatt Are My Favorite Transfer Partners.

Step 2: Match a Card to Your Everyday Spending

If you want to truly maximize your points, it helps to align your card with your everyday spending. Personally, though, I don’t stress too much about this. I usually choose cards (my favorites for in between spending) with the best earning rates, without focusing too much on specific spending categories—unless I’m working on a welcome offer.

But.

I know so many of you love squeezing every point you can out of your cards. You don’t need to chase every bonus category—but if you’re already spending in a certain area, it can feel pretty great to get even more rewards for it.

For example, groceries and dining are huge in our house (hello, growing kids), so I love cards that offer bonus points for those categories.

These are some of my favorite cards for groceries and dining, but due to affiliate rules I can’t name them directly:

• One earns 3X on dining and restaurants

• Another gives bonus points on groceries (just make sure you’re shopping at traditional grocery stores—not warehouse clubs or superstores like Target or Costco)

Check out this list of popular cards that earn rewards on the things moms spend most on.

My Favorite Cards for Travel Spending

If you’re already booking flights, hotels, or car rentals, certain cards offer better rewards for those purchases—and come with perks like lounge access and travel protections. I’ve narrowed it down to my top 5 cards for frequent travelers. These are my go-to recommendations for those who travel often for work and want a card that maximizes point earning potential.

Before I forget- want more help earning points for your next trip? Subscribe to my free weekly newsletter, follow along on Instagram, or join my Facebook group for mom-to-mom help, credit card deals, and family travel inspiration.

Step 3: Look for Long-Term Perks & Value

Some cards are worth keeping for the long haul—especially when they come with perks like free hotel nights, automatic elite status, or travel credits that help offset the annual fee.

If you’ve never heard of “free night certificates,” they’re one of the easiest ways to lock in a free stay every year—no points needed. Some even work at luxury hotels worth $800+ per night. That’s why these hotel credit cards are always on my shortlist for both family travel and couples’ getaways.

A few of these also come with automatic hotel status—giving you perks like free breakfast, late checkout, and room upgrades, without having to stay 20+ nights first. If you’ve never had elite status before, check out my guide on how to get upgrades without it—because yes, it’s possible.

Find some of my favorites in this category here.

Final Thoughts

There’s no one “right” card for everyone. It depends on where you want to go, how you like to travel, and what kind of spending works best for your life.

If you’re all about options and flexibility, I recommend starting with a card that earns transferable points. If you’re focused on hotel nights, grab one that comes with elite status or free nights each year. And if you’re loyal to an airline, look at cards that help you unlock perks like priority boarding, free checked bags, or even lounge access.

Remember, you can always find a list of my favorite offers in the website menu. I won’t link it here since it’s updated regularly with the latest elevated offers, but it’s the fastest and easiest way to see what I consider the best deals at any given time.

Ready to get started? Here’s a list of cards I recommend for beginners and family travel.

Take the time to match your card to your goals, and you’ll be booking your next trip on points before you know it.

Editorial Disclosure: Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone and have not been reviewed, endorsed, or approved by any of these entities.