AMEX Gold + Venture X or Chase Freedom Unlimited+ Chase Reserve + Amex Gold
I only have the Chase Saphire Preffered that I opened in April 2025.
I'm new at the credit card game and decided that it was time to get a new one or two so I can actually maximize the rewards I’m getting from my spending and travel.
I've decided I'm getting the Amex Gold either way because my dining spend is huge, but I'm struggling to decide what direction to go after that.
My spending:
•Very high dining spend
• High general spend/random purchases (concert tickets, business purchases, electronics, etc.)
•7+ domestic round trips a year
•1 international trip a year
Also my home airport is LAX and I always fly with my fiance
I care more about maximizing rewards/value than anything and am definitely willing to learn how to utilize transfer partners for the best deal.
My dilemma while deciding which to choose:
• Venture X + Gold seems like the internet favorite because of 2x catch-all and simple value
• Somewhat skeptical of using travel portals which I know is where you get the most points from Venture X
• Current Sapphire Reserve offer available is 150k
• I've used the Hyatt transfer a lot and like it ( I know there is a devaluation soon) Will the Hyatt transfer still be insane comparatively to other ways to use points?
If you were starting fresh today, which route would you go and why?