The Credit Cards Our Travel Advisors Actually Carry (And Why It Matters for Your Trip)

Clients ask us a lot of questions before a big trip: what to pack, whether they need a visa, how early to arrive at the airport. One question comes up more than you’d think: “What credit card do you use?”

It’s a fair question. When you’re handing over the planning of a ten day trip across three countries, or the group air for a family stretched across two flights, you want to know the person planning it travels the way you do. So we asked our advisors what’s actually in their wallets, and why.

Why the Card Matters More Than the Points

Most articles about travel credit cards focus on sign up bonuses and point valuations. Those matter, but for our clients, the bigger question is protection and access. A trip that costs five figures deserves a card that backs it up if a flight is cancelled, a bag is delayed, or a hotel needs to be rebooked at the last minute.

Here’s what our advisors weigh when they pick a card, and what we’d suggest you look for too.

The Cards Our Advisors Use

Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card

For advisors and clients who fly Delta often, this one earns its keep. A first checked bag free, no foreign transaction fees, and a Medallion Qualification Dollar head start toward elite status add up over a year of family travel. The rideshare and hotel statement credits are a nice touch for the door to door moments that bookend a trip.

Chase Sapphire Preferred

The entry point for a lot of our advisors, and still a smart choice for clients who want real trip protection without the higher annual fee of the Reserve. Trip cancellation and interruption coverage, baggage delay coverage, and no foreign transaction fees make it a dependable card to carry, especially for a couple doing a long weekend trip rather than a full ten day itinerary.

Chase Sapphire Reserve

A favorite for the travel protections built in. Trip delay and trip cancellation coverage, primary rental car insurance, and no foreign transaction fees make this a solid choice for clients doing multi-country itineraries. The points also transfer to World of Hyatt, which pairs well with the Park Hyatt and Andaz properties we book often for Hawaii and Europe.

American Express Platinum

This is the card most of our team reaches for on personal and client related travel. The draw isn’t just the airport lounge network, though that matters when a connection gets tight. It’s the elite status enrollment with hotel programs, which can mean a room upgrade or early check in showing up without us having to ask twice. For clients staying at Fine Hotels + Resorts properties, the added amenities on top of what we already negotiate can be a nice layer of value.

What This Means for You as Our Client

We’re not in the business of selling credit cards, and we’d never tell you which one to apply for. That’s a decision between you and your bank, and it depends on your spending, your existing points, and your credit profile.

What we will say: if you’re the kind of traveler who books a ten or twelve day trip once a year with private guides and door to door service, the card in your wallet should be doing some of the work alongside your advisor. Trip delay coverage, primary rental insurance, and lounge access aren’t luxuries when you’re crossing three time zones with family in tow. They’re the quiet things that keep a hiccup from becoming a headache.

And when something does go sideways, whether it’s a missed connection in Lisbon or a canceled excursion in Maui, having both a card with real protections and an advisor who’s already on the phone with the hotel makes the difference between a stressful day and a story you tell later over dinner.

A Note on Financial Decisions

Credit card terms, rewards structures, and eligibility requirements change often, and the right card depends on your individual financial situation. We’re travel advisors, not financial advisors, so we’d always recommend a conversation with your bank or a financial professional before applying for a new card.

Planning a trip that deserves more than a points calculator? Reach out to HC Travel Firm and let’s build an itinerary as considered as the card you’ll pack with it.