Best US rewards cards named?
The Starwood American Express card is among the winners in a new survey of the best US rewards credit cards.
The website MSN Money asked five industry experts to name the cards that offered the best returns in three categories.
The Starwood Preferred Guest credit card from hotel and resort chain Starwood won in the travel category. Starwood runs the Sheraton, W and Westin hotel chains.
It offers a range of rewards including using Starpoints accumulated for from expenditure on the card for free nights and upgrades at over 860 participating Starwood hotels and resorts in 95 countries. Holders pay no annual fee for the first year and US$45 thereafter.
The card was pouplar with holders as it offers more options to redeem rewards than just hotel stays – particularly the ability to transfer points earned onto most US airlines frequent flyer schemes at a generous conversion rate.
The Diners Club MasterCard was named runner up in the travel category with ‘worthy alternatives’ being American Airlines AAdvantage MasterCard, United Mileage Plus Visa, Choice Privileges Visa, Citi PremierPass Elite MasterCard.
Winners in the other categories were :
Cash back ?Winner: American Express Blue Cash.?Runner-up: Chase Freedom Visa.?Worthy alternatives: Citi Professional Cash MasterCard, Discover Motiva.
Savings ?Winner: Fidelity Investments 529 College Rewards American Express.?Runner-up: Citi UPromise MasterCard.?Worthy alternatives: Citi Home Rebate Platinum Select MasterCard, GM Flexible Earnings MasterCard, NestEggz Visa.