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Best Travel Credit Card for 12-15L spends in a year

Hello,

I have a requirement of spending about 12-15L per year on the hotels. I can use first 4L using Amex Plat Travel CC to reap maximum benefits in terms of MR points. Which CC could be used next for achieve maximum MR points/reward rate.
 
Solution
If you wish you to go with your existing cards only:

- Yes Reserv with 5X subscription
- SBI CB Card for eligible transactions up to 1L per month to get 5% CB.

If you’re open to procure new cards and if you’re eligible:

- Try Axis Vistara Infinite for Vistara Business class tickets or IDFC Vistara for Premium economy tickets
- HDFC Diners Black Metal for 5X on SmartBuy
- SBI Vistara Card


For Yes Reserv subscription benefits go through the below link.

If you wish you to go with your existing cards only:

- Yes Reserv with 5X subscription
- SBI CB Card for eligible transactions up to 1L per month to get 5% CB.

If you’re open to procure new cards and if you’re eligible:

- Try Axis Vistara Infinite for Vistara Business class tickets or IDFC Vistara for Premium economy tickets
- HDFC Diners Black Metal for 5X on SmartBuy
- SBI Vistara Card


For Yes Reserv subscription benefits go through the below link.

 
Solution
If you wish you to go with your existing cards only:

- Yes Reserv with 5X subscription
- SBI CB Card for eligible transactions up to 1L per month to get 5% CB.

If you’re open to procure new cards and if you’re eligible:

- Try Axis Vistara Infinite for Vistara Business class tickets or IDFC Vistara for Premium economy tickets
- HDFC Diners Black Metal for 5X on SmartBuy
- SBI Vistara Card


For Yes Reserv subscription benefits go through the below link.

Thank for directing me to this! This is a brain opener for me on Yes Reserve card

I didn't know that Yes Reserv can go upto 9% savings when combined with 5X subscription plan when used for Travel Category.
I have a follow up question to that,
  1. Do we need to make the Travel booking in their Rewards portal to be eligible for 5X multiplier plan or booking can be done anywhere in the 3rd party travel portals ?
  2. So, basically, the RP earned should be used for subsequent booking of Flights/Hotels in their Rewards portal to see 9% returns. Am I right ?
 
Thank for directing me to this! This is a brain opener for me on Yes Reserve card

I didn't know that Yes Reserv can go upto 9% savings when combined with 5X subscription plan when used for Travel Category.
I have a follow up question to that,
  1. Do we need to make the Travel booking in their Rewards portal to be eligible for 5X multiplier plan or booking can be done anywhere in the 3rd party travel portals ?
  2. So, basically, the RP earned should be used for subsequent booking of Flights/Hotels in their Rewards portal to see 9% returns. Am I right ?
- No need to book from portal, it's considered for spends

- Rewards can redeemed from reward portal either for vouchers or hotels or flight bookings
 
Thank for directing me to this! This is a brain opener for me on Yes Reserve card

I didn't know that Yes Reserv can go upto 9% savings when combined with 5X subscription plan when used for Travel Category.
I have a follow up question to that,
  1. Do we need to make the Travel booking in their Rewards portal to be eligible for 5X multiplier plan or booking can be done anywhere in the 3rd party travel portals ?
  2. So, basically, the RP earned should be used for subsequent booking of Flights/Hotels in their Rewards portal to see 9% returns. Am I right ?
If you are happy with the suggestion, you can mark my suggestion as solution. Thank you.
 
shreyasbysani If you like to stay in Marriot hotels, then I would suggest get the Amex Trifecta and HDFC Marriot Bonvoy card.

HDFC Marriot Bonvoy will give you below benefits with fee 3000+GST
  1. Complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite Status
  2. 1 Free Night Award upto 15000 MB points.
  3. 1 Free Night Award on 6 lakh, 9 lakh and 15 lakhs spents.
  4. 12 Complimentary domestic and 12 Complimentary international lounge access.
  5. 8 MB points for every 150 spent on Marriot Hotels
  6. 4 MB points on travel, dining and entertainment.
  7. Complimentary Golf Access 2 per quarter if you are into it.
  8. These benefits are worth for the joining fee.

Amex Trifecta:
  1. Platinum Travel:
    1. Spend 4L and get min 48K MR -> MB points.
    2. 8 Complementary Domestic Lounge Access.
    3. 10k Taj Voucher on hitting 4L.
    4. Spend on Reward multiplier to get more MR points.
      1. I would recommend buying Amazon Pay vouchers to get 3X rewards and whenever making booking for Marriot use Amazon Pay as payment method (Most aggregate website accepts it, not sure about Marriot website)
      2. Spend 4L a year to buy APay vouchers and get 64k MR points.
  2. Amex MRCC:
    1. Complete 4 x 1500 monthly milestone by buying APay vouchers and get 1000 Bonus MR points.
    2. Complete 20k monthly milestone by buying 14k APay vouchers.
    3. Spend 240k a year on buying APay vouchers and get 33.6k MR points (12k Bonus + 12k Bonus + 9.6k as 2X)
  3. Amex Gold Charge:
    1. Complete 6 x 1000 monthly milestone to get 1000 Bonus MR points.
    2. Spend 72k a year and get 19200 MR points.
  4. So totally on spending 7.12L you get 1,16,800 MR points. Can be used during year bonus transfer to get 30% bonus, finally 1,51,840 MR points.
    1. These MR points are easily worth 0.5 and can even go higher so you have minimum of 10% return and go even go to 20-25% if you get good property deal with points on MB.
    2. Also, another hack to book 4 nights and get 4th night complementary.
Paying via HDFC Marriot v/s APay voucher for booking Marriot hotels using Cash
  1. Amex Gold charge reward rate:
    1. 15 MR points for every 150 APay voucher (5X rewards) (Eq to 19.5 MB considering 30% transfer Bonus)
    2. Note: First exhaust Amex Platinum 4L limit to hit the milestone.
  2. HDFC Marriot Bonvoy:
    1. You would get 8 MB point on HDFC Marriot Bonvoy
  3. So, at the time of booking checking do calculation to check which is better APay or HDFC Bonvoy.
    1. APay can be used if on Aggregator Final price you are paying minus 15% is less than Marriot price minus 8%. (Adding reward rates to make comparision better in terms of total cost - value back)
    2. Other wise use HDFC Marriot Bonvoy card.
Pro tips to save more:
  1. When booking check if a property points to cash ratio is less 1 then book using cash or else book using points.
  2. I would say don't redeem points till per point value is less than 1.3 (as after bonus transfer you would get that value).
  3. But once you have enough Bonvoy points at the year and you have hit all the milestones then till next membership year for the card use points.
  4. Use referral to get Amex cards for free for first and reduced renewal fee. DM me for referral link.
  5. APay balance can be used at multiple places as well - Amazon (Shopping, Utility Bills, Insurance, other branch gift cards), 3rd party websites.
You can use this guide to even extract more benefits out of Marriot Bonvoy: https://www.technofino.in/community/threads/marriott-bonvoy-the-ultimate-guide-for-indians.20157/
 
shreyasbysani If you like to stay in Marriot hotels, then I would suggest get the Amex Trifecta and HDFC Marriot Bonvoy card.

HDFC Marriot Bonvoy will give you below benefits with fee 3000+GST
  1. Complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite Status
  2. 1 Free Night Award upto 15000 MB points.
  3. 1 Free Night Award on 6 lakh, 9 lakh and 15 lakhs spents.
  4. 12 Complimentary domestic and 12 Complimentary international lounge access.
  5. 8 MB points for every 150 spent on Marriot Hotels
  6. 4 MB points on travel, dining and entertainment.
  7. Complimentary Golf Access 2 per quarter if you are into it.
  8. These benefits are worth for the joining fee.

Amex Trifecta:
  1. Platinum Travel:
    1. Spend 4L and get min 48K MR -> MB points.
    2. 8 Complementary Domestic Lounge Access.
    3. 10k Taj Voucher on hitting 4L.
    4. Spend on Reward multiplier to get more MR points.
      1. I would recommend buying Amazon Pay vouchers to get 3X rewards and whenever making booking for Marriot use Amazon Pay as payment method (Most aggregate website accepts it, not sure about Marriot website)
      2. Spend 4L a year to buy APay vouchers and get 64k MR points.
  2. Amex MRCC:
    1. Complete 4 x 1500 monthly milestone by buying APay vouchers and get 1000 Bonus MR points.
    2. Complete 20k monthly milestone by buying 14k APay vouchers.
    3. Spend 240k a year on buying APay vouchers and get 33.6k MR points (12k Bonus + 12k Bonus + 9.6k as 2X)
  3. Amex Gold Charge:
    1. Complete 6 x 1000 monthly milestone to get 1000 Bonus MR points.
    2. Spend 72k a year and get 19200 MR points.
  4. So totally on spending 7.12L you get 1,16,800 MR points. Can be used during year bonus transfer to get 30% bonus, finally 1,51,840 MR points.
    1. These MR points are easily worth 0.5 and can even go higher so you have minimum of 10% return and go even go to 20-25% if you get good property deal with points on MB.
    2. Also, another hack to book 4 nights and get 4th night complementary.
Paying via HDFC Marriot v/s APay voucher for booking Marriot hotels using Cash
  1. Amex Gold charge reward rate:
    1. 15 MR points for every 150 APay voucher (5X rewards) (Eq to 19.5 MB considering 30% transfer Bonus)
    2. Note: First exhaust Amex Platinum 4L limit to hit the milestone.
  2. HDFC Marriot Bonvoy:
    1. You would get 8 MB point on HDFC Marriot Bonvoy
  3. So, at the time of booking checking do calculation to check which is better APay or HDFC Bonvoy.
    1. APay can be used if on Aggregator Final price you are paying minus 15% is less than Marriot price minus 8%. (Adding reward rates to make comparision better in terms of total cost - value back)
    2. Other wise use HDFC Marriot Bonvoy card.
Pro tips to save more:
  1. When booking check if a property points to cash ratio is less 1 then book using cash or else book using points.
  2. I would say don't redeem points till per point value is less than 1.3 (as after bonus transfer you would get that value).
  3. But once you have enough Bonvoy points at the year and you have hit all the milestones then till next membership year for the card use points.
  4. Use referral to get Amex cards for free for first and reduced renewal fee. DM me for referral link.
  5. APay balance can be used at multiple places as well - Amazon (Shopping, Utility Bills, Insurance, other branch gift cards), 3rd party websites.
You can use this guide to even extract more benefits out of Marriot Bonvoy: https://www.technofino.in/community/threads/marriott-bonvoy-the-ultimate-guide-for-indians.20157/
Amazing comparison with Amex Trio cards.
Worth to note that these cards doesn’t have any JF/AF waivers
 
Amazing comparison with Amex Trio cards.
Worth to note that these cards doesn’t have any JF/AF waivers
But there are tricks/Chances you can get Marriott Bonvoy making it LTF. Just don't activate the card until last date and you might get it as LTF.

 
But there are tricks/Chances you can get Marriott Bonvoy making it LTF. Just don't activate the card until last date and you might get it as LTF.

This was back in December 2023 and not sure how it's going on now. Just do it on checking it once if you need it.
 
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