The Rewards Master Podcast

The American Express Gold Card is hyped as one of the best credit cards on the market. With great multipliers and east to use credits, this makes sense. But is it worth the high annual fee. For articles on points and miles, visit our website at www.therewardsmaster.com

With all of the hype and all the perks offered by premium credit cards, it can be tempting to apply for more than a person needs. With sky-high annual fees and overlapping benefits, having too many premium cards can be a financial mistake. This episode examines ways to determine what premium cards work best in an overall card setup. For articles on credit cards and rewards, visit our website at www.therewardsmaster.com

In the past, I've voiced my intentions to never apply for an American Express Platinum Card. Now, I'm eating my words. This episode explains why I broke down and got the American Express Business Platinum card. For articles on rewards and miles, visit our website at www.therewardsmaster.com

Turkish Airlines had one of the most rewarding redemption charts. Now it's all changing. As of February 15, 2024, their rewards are becoming less rewarding! Visit our website at www.therewardsmaster.com

Delta and American Express are at it again. On the heels of Delta's complete revamp of their Skymiles program, American Express raises the annual fee on almost all of the Delta co-branded credit cards? Is the refresh a good change or a disaster? This episode dive into each card to try and answer the question. Visit our website at www.therewardsmaster.com

Does American Airlines or United provide more value to their frequent flyers? This episode seeks to answer this question with particular emphasis given to domestic first-class upgrades. Visit our website at www.therewardsmaster.com

Should I keep or cancel the Chase Sapphire Reserve after the first year? This episode evaluated the card and seeks to answer this question. Visit our webpage at www.therewardsmaster.com

This episode provides a review of the Springhill Suites hotel chain by Marriott. Visit our website at www.therewardsmaster.com

The United MileagePlus X app provides tremendous value. This episode evaluates current multipliers available on the app. Visit our website at www.therewardsmaster.com

This episode is the beginning of a new series where The Rewards Master answers listener questions submitted through email. The questions contained in this episode concern what card is best for an infrequent Delta flyer. Visit our webpage at www.therewardsmaster.com

This episode covers the rewards program for Firebirds Wood Fired Grill. Visit our website at www.therewardsmaster.com

Shell offers a program that earns American Airlines Loyalty Points for gas purchases. This episode explains the program and evaluates its usefulness. Visit our website at www.therewardsmaster.com

This episode is a review of the Hilton Doubletree in Lisbon, Portugal. Visit our website at www.therewardsmaster.com

The Capital One Venture X card is one of the most popular credit cards of the past two years. The card has undergone recent minor changes. This episode reevaluates the card to determine if it is worth keeping in 2024. Visit our website at www.therewardsmater.com

Transfer bonuses can be awesome, sometimes 20% up to 100% with BILT. Should a person transfer speculatively? This question is difficult and depends upon a person's situation and their answers to the four questions included in this episode. Visit our website at www.therewardsmaster.com

This episode lists the credit cards I intend to acquire or change in this upcoming year. Visit our website at www.therewardsmaster.com

Taco Bell is far from fine dining, but it is consistent and there is one on every corner in the United States. This episode explains and reviews the Taco Bell rewards program. Visit our webpage at www.therewardsmaster.com

The episode goes over our credit card setup for the 1st quarter of 2024. Visit our webpage at www.therewardsmaster.com

This episode provides a review of the Westin Beale Street Hotel in Memphis, Tennessee. The Westin Beale Street is associated with Marriott and is located near all the downtown Memphis attractions. Visit our website at www.therewardsmaster.com

This episode lays out a strategy to build points in the five big transferable currencies: Amex, BILT, Chase, Citi, and Capital One. This setup has great multipliers in all categories for a total annual fee of less than $500. Visit our website at www.therewardsmaster.com

This episode is a review of the Hyatt House in Jersey City, New Jersey. The hotel is located right across the river from lower Manhattan and is a great, inexpensive option for New York travelers. Visit our website at www.therewardsmaster.com

Every year brings massive changes in the credit card space. What changes will take place in 2024? This episode gives our predictions for the upcoming year. Visit our webpage at www.therewardsmaster.com

Restaurant reward programs can provide outstanding rewards. This episode reveals our picks for the best and worst restaurant rewards programs of 2023. For more articles and reviews, visit our website at www.therewardsmaster.com

The episode provides a review of the Crown Plaza near the Vatican in Rome, Italy. For more reviews and articles related to credit cards and travel, visit our website at www.therewardsmaster.com

Credit card setups don't have to be expensive to produce outsized rewards. This episode outlines a two-bank, five-card setup with outstanding rewards for less than $200 in annual fees. For articles on points, credit cards, and travel, visit our website at www.therewardsmaster.com

Although restaurant rewards programs are some of the most lucrative ways to earn outsized value, there are some unique challenges to using them. This episode outlines those challenges. For articles on credit cards, travel, and restaurant rewards, visit our website at www.therewardsmaster.com

This episode is a review of the Rome Doubletree Monti by Hilton. This property is an outstanding value close to all of the best attractions Rome has to offer. For articles on points and miles, credit cards, and restaurant rewards, visit our website at www.therewardsmaster.com

The Bilt card presents itself as the ultimate card for renters. What about homeowners? Does the Bilt card have anything to offer us? This episode attempts to evaluate the Bilt card and answer the question. Check us out at www.therewardsmaster.com

We recently flew United Polaris and this episode is my review of the experience. Check out more content at www.therewardsmaster.com

Some content creators hate on the Hilton Business card by American Express as inferior to other hotel credit cards. In my opinion, the Hilton Business card is superior to all other $95 hotel cards. This episode provides my reasons. For articles on points and miles, check out our webpage at www.therewardsmaster.com

A content creator recently issued a challenge for other creators to rank their travel cards. In this episode, I list out my 13 travel cards from worst to best. For articles on travel and rewards, visit us at www.therewardsmaster.com

In this episode, I give a review of the Waldorf Astoria Cavalieri in Rome Italy. Positioned on the highest hill of Rome, the Waldorf is an amazing retreat, especially for Amex Hilton Aspire cardholders.

Rewards credit cards can provide incredible value, but if the card companies weren't making money, they wouldn't offer all the perks they do. This episode focuses on the most important thing to insure that you "win" the rewards game.

Are airport lounges worth the annual fees charged by credit cards? In this episode, I discuss the value I received from lounges in 2023 and how to determine if lounges are worth it. For rewards articles, check out our website ar www.therewardsmaster.com

The Hilton Aspire was considered by many to be the very best rewards card available. Recently American Express made major changes to the card. This episode asks the question, "Is the New Aspire better or worse than before?" For more rewards content, visit our website at www.therewardsmaster.com

It seems that most rewards cards have dining as an elevated earning category. This makes sense as dining is one of the most common spending categories for American consumers. This episode focuses on which cards are the best for eating out... from multipliers to point redemption values. For more articles on rewards, visit our webpage at www.therewardsmaster.com

American Airlines has the most innovative and exciting status program in the airline industry. This episode outlines my 2024 strategy to achieve loyalty points through 9 different methods. For more articles on points and miles, visit our webpage at www.therewardsmaster.com

In the travel and credit card community, there doesn't seem to be any card with a more loyal fanbase than the American Express Platinum card. But is it worth it? Not for me. In this episode, I reveal five reasons why I don't have the Amex Platinum. For more articles on points and miles, visit our webpage: www.therewardsmaster.com

Although no one prefers a fast-food chain to a nice, sit-down dinner, sometimes life is fast-paced and we need something quick. When it comes to rewards and their rewards app, Burger King shines. For more points and miles content, along with more restaurant reward reviews, visit our webpage: www.therewardsmaster.com

How would you like to get 20% back in addition to your credit card points AND third-party dining portals (like United or AA Dining)? Seems too good to be true? Let me introduce you to SEATED, which may be the most rewarding restaurant app ever conceived. For more points and miles content, visit our website: www.therewardsmaster.com

Do you travel through smaller airports with few lounge options? Perhaps you have noticed the ESCAPE LOUNGE, an American Express Studio Partner lounge. In this episode, we review everything concerning Escape lounges including how to access them and rating their quality. For more points and miles content, visit our website at www.therewardsmaster.com

Is there a perfect business credit card? How about no annual fee? Is two points per dollar in one of the most valuable points currencies appealing? In this episode, we explore the American Express Blue Business Plus card and why it may be the perfect business credit card. For more points and miles content, visit our webpage at http://therewardsmaster.com

This episode examines the two no-annual-fee powerhouse duos from Chase and Citi. Chase has the Freedom Flex and Unlimited and Citi has the Custom Cash and Double Cash. Both are awesome setups that can become even better when paired with a travel card for partner transfers.

The United MileagePlus X app provides an awesome opportunity to triple-dip rewards with credit card points and restaurant rewards. In this episode I run through some of the best values right now on restaurants, fast-food, entertainment, and shopping. Check our our webpage at http://therewardsmaster.com

In this episode, we continue with the 5th battle in our competition to determine the best airline credit card of 2023 with a matchup between the Southwest Plus vs the Frontier Card. You can view a bracket for this challenge at The Rewards Master website.

The IHG Premier card by Chase is a clear keeper if you utilize all of the credits and benefits. For more information and to apply for the IHG Premier, click HERE. If you apply and are approved, The Rewards Master may receive a referral bonus. For more articles on credit cards, restaurant rewards, and the points and miles lifestyle, go to our website at www.therewardsmaster.com

The O'Charley's rewards program can produce amazing rewards in conjunction with credit card points and the United MileagePlus X app. The Rewards Master has received rewards of more than 66%! For more rewards articles and resources, visit our webpage at www.therewardsmaster.com

I have 17+ credit cards and the most valuable in plainly the Hilton Aspire Card by American Express. If you are interested in the Hilton Aspire and want to support this podcast, click here for more information and to apply. For more articles on credit card, restaurant, and airline programs, visit our website at therewardsmaster.com

In this episode, we continue with the 4th battle in our competition to determine the best airline credit card of 2023 with a matchup between the Citi American Airlines Executive vs the American Express Delta Blue Card. You can view a bracket for this challenge at The Rewards Master website.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred is one of the hottest cards right now due to its limited time 80,000 point sign-up bonus. Is it worth it? If you'd like more information on the Sapphire Preferred or would like to apply, click here. If you are approved, the Rewards Master may receive a referral bonus. For more reviews of credit cards, airlines, restaurant rewards, and shopping portals, check out our website: www.therewardsmaster.com

The 2023 Airline Credit Card Battle is underway. This episode matches the AMEX Delta Business Platinum vs the Chase Southwest Premier Card. This battle matches 31 popular airline cards in head-to-head matchups. Points are awarded in 7 categories including sign-up bonuses, multipliers, and effective annual fees. To see the updated bracket, click here. For more rewards and credit card articles, visit our website at www.therewardsmaster.com