Best rewards credit card for Aruba travel?

lombardi40 · 07-12-2009, 06:54 PM

I'd love to get everyone's opinions as to which rewards card works best for Aruba travel- hotel and/or airline. Interested in features such as easy rewards, upgrades and no blackouts.
I have been using the Jetblue Amex which has worked well for me. Between my personal and business cards, I get about 5 free roundtrip flights per year which is great when you live in NY for flying direct to Aruba. However, the card has limited partners to help earn and transfer points into hotel stays, and Jetblue has no status upgrades. No such thing as first class on Jetblue.

qlaval · 07-12-2009, 07:35 PM

Marriott Visa Rewards is a good alternative for what you're looking for.

I wish we would be able to get the Amex JetBlue card in Canada as well.
Not being able to accumulate JetBlue points from year to year is frustrating...
(We use JetBlue twice each year for a Burlington/Aruba trip)

*Arubalisa* · 07-12-2009, 07:41 PM

http://www.membershiprewards.com/tier/tierComparison/tierComparison.aspx
AMEX Membership Rewards allows for points to be used a wide variety of hotels as well as frequent flier programs.

fattypatty · 07-13-2009, 08:51 AM

i use the marriott rewards (since i stay only at the marriotts) + jetblue amex for the flight.

i end up paying 120/year for both of them in annual fees. but with the way the points work out and their generous redemption policies, i'm all for it. it actually works out for my benefit in the end.

marriott -
silver membership automatic for free - gives you 20% extra points everytime you use the card.
1 free night/year at any hotel rated 5 or under - most local hotels
5 points for every dollar spent at a marriott resort
no blackout dates
redemption rates of 120k points for 5-6 days at the stellaris. or 20k for local hotel.

jetblue
spend $200 for 1 point. 100 point for free roundtrip ticket
points for travel awarded based on a schedule - the longer the distance the more points they give. aruba and california are currently the highest.
book the ticket online and get double points. so, if you book a trip from jfk -aua you get 24 points.
if you use your jetblue amex card to book it, then you end up another 5 points. so you've already made 1/3 of what's needed for a free trip.

3 years of $40/fee = $120.

thus, $120 = roundtrip ticket from jfk -aua

charles58 · 07-13-2009, 09:18 AM

The problem with AMEX is that many places (Both in Aruba & home) will not accept it.

Linda VH · 07-13-2009, 09:27 AM

We've started using our AMEX exclusively. We were using an AA Citibank Mastercard until they started charging us 3% on every purchase even if it was in USD.

They had not been charging us (saw that many people were charged) as they said we were, for some reason, exempt. When they started charging and we checked Visa, AMEX through Bank of America, Chase, etc. we switched. There are a few places that won't accept AMEX cut not many - for those we just use our debit card from our Aruba bank.

fattypatty · 07-13-2009, 12:36 PM

for regular spending we use the marriott visa. we only use the jetblue amex to book our jb flights. like others have said, no that many places accept amex - even in nyc - especially the mom and pop shops.

lombardi40 · 07-14-2009, 07:11 PM

Marriott card looks great thanks. I love the free points for just signing up and free night every year. Definitely considering this one. Also looking at the Starwood Amex for Westin Aruba stays.

*Liz - Aruba Lover* · 07-14-2009, 07:25 PM

Marriott. You can change (in preferences) if you want Marriott points or airline points.

dragonlady · 07-14-2009, 08:33 PM

We have a Marriott rewards and a jet blue card (maybe a visa), just like fattypatty. WOrked out well for us for out first trip to aruba...now we are building up more points for next years trip. Dh tends to stay at Marriotts for hotels when he travels, so between that and other purchases it gets us there. We stayed at the Renaissance Marina in March, room overlooking the pool and had a view of the ocean/cruise ships ( think he might have upgraded for that since this was our first trip) Could'nt have been better. Service was fabulous.

I started charging my groceries and such on the card and just paying the card almost immediately. I think we are pretty close to having enough points for our room already! And we're already all set for plane tickets.

07-12-2009, 06:54 PM	#1 (permalink)
lombardi40 Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 11	Best rewards credit card for Aruba travel? I'd love to get everyone's opinions as to which rewards card works best for Aruba travel- hotel and/or airline. Interested in features such as easy rewards, upgrades and no blackouts. I have been using the Jetblue Amex which has worked well for me. Between my personal and business cards, I get about 5 free roundtrip flights per year which is great when you live in NY for flying direct to Aruba. However, the card has limited partners to help earn and transfer points into hotel stays, and Jetblue has no status upgrades. No such thing as first class on Jetblue.

07-12-2009, 07:35 PM	#2 (permalink)
qlaval Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Age: 48 Posts: 495	Marriott Visa Rewards is a good alternative for what you're looking for. I wish we would be able to get the Amex JetBlue card in Canada as well. Not being able to accumulate JetBlue points from year to year is frustrating... (We use JetBlue twice each year for a Burlington/Aruba trip) __________________ Pierre Last edited by qlaval; 07-13-2009 at 01:15 AM.

07-12-2009, 07:41 PM	#3 (permalink)
Arubalisa Moderator Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 5,685 Images: 80	http://www.membershiprewards.com/tier/tierComparison/tierComparison.aspx AMEX Membership Rewards allows for points to be used a wide variety of hotels as well as frequent flier programs. __________________ Aruba Bound! ~ Hoosier Kitties ~ Our-Cruises ~ Blogging to Aruba

07-13-2009, 08:51 AM	#4 (permalink)
fattypatty Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: moomba, stellaris casino, baby beach, Posts: 425	i use the marriott rewards (since i stay only at the marriotts) + jetblue amex for the flight. i end up paying 120/year for both of them in annual fees. but with the way the points work out and their generous redemption policies, i'm all for it. it actually works out for my benefit in the end. marriott - silver membership automatic for free - gives you 20% extra points everytime you use the card. 1 free night/year at any hotel rated 5 or under - most local hotels 5 points for every dollar spent at a marriott resort no blackout dates redemption rates of 120k points for 5-6 days at the stellaris. or 20k for local hotel. jetblue spend $200 for 1 point. 100 point for free roundtrip ticket points for travel awarded based on a schedule - the longer the distance the more points they give. aruba and california are currently the highest. book the ticket online and get double points. so, if you book a trip from jfk -aua you get 24 points. if you use your jetblue amex card to book it, then you end up another 5 points. so you've already made 1/3 of what's needed for a free trip. 3 years of $40/fee = $120. thus, $120 = roundtrip ticket from jfk -aua __________________

07-13-2009, 12:36 PM	#7 (permalink)
fattypatty Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: moomba, stellaris casino, baby beach, Posts: 425	for regular spending we use the marriott visa. we only use the jetblue amex to book our jb flights. like others have said, no that many places accept amex - even in nyc - especially the mom and pop shops. __________________

07-13-2009, 09:18 AM	#5 (permalink)
charles58 Junior Member Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 7	The problem with AMEX is that many places (Both in Aruba & home) will not accept it.

07-13-2009, 09:27 AM	#6 (permalink)
Linda VH Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 178	We've started using our AMEX exclusively. We were using an AA Citibank Mastercard until they started charging us 3% on every purchase even if it was in USD. They had not been charging us (saw that many people were charged) as they said we were, for some reason, exempt. When they started charging and we checked Visa, AMEX through Bank of America, Chase, etc. we switched. There are a few places that won't accept AMEX cut not many - for those we just use our debit card from our Aruba bank.

07-14-2009, 07:11 PM	#8 (permalink)
lombardi40 Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 11	Marriott card looks great thanks. I love the free points for just signing up and free night every year. Definitely considering this one. Also looking at the Starwood Amex for Westin Aruba stays.

07-14-2009, 07:25 PM	#9 (permalink)
Liz - Aruba Lover Moderator Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 1,113	Marriott. You can change (in preferences) if you want Marriott points or airline points. __________________ http://dinearuba.com Aruba Lover since 1985

07-14-2009, 08:33 PM	#10 (permalink)
dragonlady Junior Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Renaissance Island Posts: 8 Images: 8	We have a Marriott rewards and a jet blue card (maybe a visa), just like fattypatty. WOrked out well for us for out first trip to aruba...now we are building up more points for next years trip. Dh tends to stay at Marriotts for hotels when he travels, so between that and other purchases it gets us there. We stayed at the Renaissance Marina in March, room overlooking the pool and had a view of the ocean/cruise ships ( think he might have upgraded for that since this was our first trip) Could'nt have been better. Service was fabulous. I started charging my groceries and such on the card and just paying the card almost immediately. I think we are pretty close to having enough points for our room already! And we're already all set for plane tickets.