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Travel Tools I Actually Use
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items Travel gets easier when you have the right tools. These are the cards, apps, and essentials that have helped me navigate the world with more freedom, comfort, and fewer headaches.
💳 American Express Platinum I opened this card in 2019 while planning a four-month international trip and looking for a smarter way to earn points on flights, hotels, and travel purchases.
Years later, I’ve never downgraded or canceled it—even during periods when money felt tight. Yes, the annual fee is high. But if you travel regularly and actually use the benefits, the value can easily outweigh the fee.
Some of the benefits I personally use and love:
✈️ 5X Membership Rewards points on eligible flights and Amex Travel bookings
🛋️ Airport lounge access around the world, including Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass lounges, Plaza Premium lounges, Delta Sky Clubs (when eligible), and more
🚕 Up to $200 Uber Cash annually
🚕 Up to $120 Uber One credits annually
🛄 Up to $200 Airline Fee Credit annually
⚡ Up to $209 CLEAR+ credit annually
🏨 Up to $600 hotel credit through Amex Travel
🌎 No foreign transaction fees
🏨 Hilton Gold & Marriott Gold status
🏅 Fine Hotels + Resorts benefits, including room upgrades (when available), breakfast, late checkout, and property credits 💬
Exceptional customer service and one of the best in-app chat experiences I’ve ever used.
The airport lounges alone have saved me hundreds of dollars.
More importantly, they’ve saved my sanity. When flights are delayed, restaurants are closed, connections are tight, or I’m arriving late at night, having access to a comfortable space, healthy food, fruit, snacks, coffee, tea, juice, charging station...
As someone who prioritizes wellness while traveling, lounge access has become one of the most valuable benefits of the card.
This isn’t a card I’d recommend to everyone. But if you travel often, value convenience, enjoy earning points, and use the benefits intentionally, it’s one of the best travel cards I’ve ever owned.
💛 Referral link included. americanexpress.com/en-us/referral/platinum-card?ref=CHIRAM1RKn&xl=cp1
Years later, I’ve never downgraded or canceled it—even during periods when money felt tight. Yes, the annual fee is high. But if you travel regularly and actually use the benefits, the value can easily outweigh the fee.
Some of the benefits I personally use and love:
✈️ 5X Membership Rewards points on eligible flights and Amex Travel bookings
🛋️ Airport lounge access around the world, including Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass lounges, Plaza Premium lounges, Delta Sky Clubs (when eligible), and more
🚕 Up to $200 Uber Cash annually
🚕 Up to $120 Uber One credits annually
🛄 Up to $200 Airline Fee Credit annually
⚡ Up to $209 CLEAR+ credit annually
🏨 Up to $600 hotel credit through Amex Travel
🌎 No foreign transaction fees
🏨 Hilton Gold & Marriott Gold status
🏅 Fine Hotels + Resorts benefits, including room upgrades (when available), breakfast, late checkout, and property credits 💬
Exceptional customer service and one of the best in-app chat experiences I’ve ever used.
The airport lounges alone have saved me hundreds of dollars.
More importantly, they’ve saved my sanity. When flights are delayed, restaurants are closed, connections are tight, or I’m arriving late at night, having access to a comfortable space, healthy food, fruit, snacks, coffee, tea, juice, charging station...
As someone who prioritizes wellness while traveling, lounge access has become one of the most valuable benefits of the card.
This isn’t a card I’d recommend to everyone. But if you travel often, value convenience, enjoy earning points, and use the benefits intentionally, it’s one of the best travel cards I’ve ever owned.
💛 Referral link included. americanexpress.com/en-us/referral/platinum-card?ref=CHIRAM1RKn&xl=cp1
The Card That Changed How I Travel
💳 Chase Sapphire Preferred I originally opened the Chase Sapphire Preferred as a companion card to my American Express Platinum.
While the Platinum handles many of my flights and premium travel benefits, the Sapphire Preferred fills in the gaps and has become one of the easiest travel cards to justify keeping year after year.
Unlike American Express, Visa is accepted almost everywhere around the world.
Having both cards gives me flexibility when traveling internationally and ensures I'm never stuck without a payment option.
Some of the benefits I personally use and love:
✈️ Earn points on travel purchases, dining, and everyday spending
🏨 Redeem points through Chase Travel℠ or transfer them to airline and hotel partners
🌎 No foreign transaction fees
🍽️ Strong rewards on dining purchases at home and abroad
💳 Widely accepted worldwide as a Visa card
🛡️ Excellent travel protections, including trip delay, baggage delay, rental car coverage, and travel interruption benefits
🏆 Access to valuable airline and hotel transfer partners
One of my favorite things about Chase Ultimate Rewards points is the flexibility.
Whether you're booking flights, hotels, rental cars, or transferring points to travel partners, it's easy to find value without feeling locked into a single ecosystem.
If I had to choose only one travel card for someone just getting started with points and travel rewards, this would likely be the card I'd recommend first.
The annual fee is reasonable, the benefits are easy to use, and it offers a great balance of simplicity and value.
For me, the Chase Sapphire Preferred and Amex Platinum work beautifully together. One gives me premium travel perks and lounge access, while the other provides flexibility, strong travel protections, and worldwide acceptance.
While the Platinum handles many of my flights and premium travel benefits, the Sapphire Preferred fills in the gaps and has become one of the easiest travel cards to justify keeping year after year.
Unlike American Express, Visa is accepted almost everywhere around the world.
Having both cards gives me flexibility when traveling internationally and ensures I'm never stuck without a payment option.
Some of the benefits I personally use and love:
✈️ Earn points on travel purchases, dining, and everyday spending
🏨 Redeem points through Chase Travel℠ or transfer them to airline and hotel partners
🌎 No foreign transaction fees
🍽️ Strong rewards on dining purchases at home and abroad
💳 Widely accepted worldwide as a Visa card
🛡️ Excellent travel protections, including trip delay, baggage delay, rental car coverage, and travel interruption benefits
🏆 Access to valuable airline and hotel transfer partners
One of my favorite things about Chase Ultimate Rewards points is the flexibility.
Whether you're booking flights, hotels, rental cars, or transferring points to travel partners, it's easy to find value without feeling locked into a single ecosystem.
If I had to choose only one travel card for someone just getting started with points and travel rewards, this would likely be the card I'd recommend first.
The annual fee is reasonable, the benefits are easy to use, and it offers a great balance of simplicity and value.
For me, the Chase Sapphire Preferred and Amex Platinum work beautifully together. One gives me premium travel perks and lounge access, while the other provides flexibility, strong travel protections, and worldwide acceptance.
My go-to backup travel card.
💸 The easiest way I've found to spend, withdraw, and transfer money abroad without the usually high bank fees.
🌎 Wise Wise became one of my favorite travel tools while living abroad. It makes sending, receiving, spending, and withdrawing money internationally simple, transparent, and affordable.
I used it throughout Bali and Australia to avoid many of the hidden fees traditional banks often charge.
What I love:
💸 Low conversion fees
🌎 Hold and convert multiple currencies
🏧 Easy ATM withdrawals abroad
📱 User-friendly app
🔒 Secure and reliable
Transfers money super quickly with an email confirmation so the seller can confirm payment received before you finish you coffee.
If you're traveling internationally, working remotely, or spending extended time abroad, Wise is one of those apps worth setting up before your flight.
💛 Referral link included.
https://wise.com/invite/ilpc/chirangim
🌎 Wise Wise became one of my favorite travel tools while living abroad. It makes sending, receiving, spending, and withdrawing money internationally simple, transparent, and affordable.
I used it throughout Bali and Australia to avoid many of the hidden fees traditional banks often charge.
What I love:
💸 Low conversion fees
🌎 Hold and convert multiple currencies
🏧 Easy ATM withdrawals abroad
📱 User-friendly app
🔒 Secure and reliable
Transfers money super quickly with an email confirmation so the seller can confirm payment received before you finish you coffee.
If you're traveling internationally, working remotely, or spending extended time abroad, Wise is one of those apps worth setting up before your flight.
💛 Referral link included.
https://wise.com/invite/ilpc/chirangim
Wise: The International Account
🔋 A travel bag essential. Never travel without this. Built-in cables, lightweight, and has saved me countless times on the road.
After too many airport delays, dead phone batteries, and long travel days, I finally found a portable charger that actually earns a permanent spot in my bag.
What I love most? The built-in cables. No digging around for charging cords or carrying extra accessories. It's slim, lightweight, and powerful enough to keep my phone charged while navigating airports, using Grab around Bali, India, Malaysia, Sydney...
If you travel often, work from cafés, or simply hate seeing that low battery warning, this is one of those practical purchases you'll end up using far more than expected.
Worth every penny! $21.84 USD
After too many airport delays, dead phone batteries, and long travel days, I finally found a portable charger that actually earns a permanent spot in my bag.
What I love most? The built-in cables. No digging around for charging cords or carrying extra accessories. It's slim, lightweight, and powerful enough to keep my phone charged while navigating airports, using Grab around Bali, India, Malaysia, Sydney...
If you travel often, work from cafés, or simply hate seeing that low battery warning, this is one of those practical purchases you'll end up using far more than expected.
Worth every penny! $21.84 USD
Charmast Portable Charger