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Ben Nickel-D'Andrea

Credit Cards Writer

About

Ben is a credit cards and luxury travel writer, an immigrant with three citizenships and a husband. He speaks English, Spanish and Italian, has a background in linguistics and languages, and travels the world for the love of it. You'll find him flying up front in first or business class all over the world and enjoying food from fine dining to street fare. Ben unpacks the complex network of loyalty programs across the credit card and travel industries with his simple and easy-to-understand, yet relatable, explanations. A nature enthusiast at heart, he lives in Seattle with his husband Jon and their beagle.

Since moving to the United States in 2013, Ben has been mesmerized with the intricacies of reward programs from credit cards and travel companies. Holding multiple passports has made traveling the world a breeze, and together with his husband Jon, he has been to over four dozen countries.

Utilizing credit card points and travel miles, Ben has been able to live by his “No Mas Coach” mantra and has not flown coach for over 10 years. His deep knowledge of the ins and outs of the travel industry has allowed him to enjoy first-class travel in a way most readers would only dream of.

As a freelance credit cards and travel writer, Ben brings his more than a decade of experience to bear in his writing. Known for his knack for breaking down complicated rewards programs into easy-to-understand writing, Ben has been sought after to write in national publications and as a speaker at various industry events all over the world.

Chances are that when he’s home in Seattle, you’ll find Ben tending to his more than two dozen fruit trees and exotic plant collection in his greenhouse.

Expertise

  • Credit cards,
  • Award travel
  • Miles and points
  • Airlines
  • Hotels and other rewards programs

Achievements

  • Credit card points expert
  • Authority on airline and hotel loyalty programs
  • Contributor to national and international publications
  • Speaker at live events and conventions in the credit card and travel industry

Other Publications

  • Best Credit Cards For Engagement Rings Of May 2024

    Before you pop the most important question, consider the other question you should be asking yourself: "How am I going to pay for this?”. The average cost of an engagement ring is around $6,000, although it varies a lot by...
    Best Credit Cards For Engagement Rings Of May 2024
  • Best No Annual Fee Business Credit Cards Of May 2024

    You may have to pay business filing fees, payroll taxes, higher income taxes and myriad other expenses to run your business, but you don’t need to pay an annual fee for a rewarding business credit card.
    Best No Annual Fee Business Credit Cards Of May 2024
  • Best Business Credit Cards For LLCs Of May 2024

    Business credit cards for LLCs have the potential to simplify your expense tracking while separating your business purchases from your personal charges. They can also give you larger credit lines to cover all of your operating costs and may even...
    Best Business Credit Cards For LLCs Of May 2024
  • Best Credit Cards For Medical Expenses Of May 2024

    Medical expenses can come out of the blue and be some of the largest expenses you’ll have in your lifetime. Finding a credit card that offers benefits in the short to long term not only allows you to save money...
    Best Credit Cards For Medical Expenses Of May 2024
  • Best Store Credit Cards For Bad Credit Of May 2024

    Store credit cards can offer a path to build or rebuild credit. Shop at a merchant you already frequent, spend within your budget, and make on-time payments—and you’ll be well on your way to a strong credit score. But if...
    Best Store Credit Cards For Bad Credit Of May 2024
  • Best Credit Cards For International Travel Of May 2024

    Regardless of your personal or financial situation, if your end goal is to travel internationally and maximize your rewards earning potential, there is a credit card out there that can help you unlock more possibilities. Sometimes, going for a combination...
    Best Credit Cards For International Travel Of May 2024
  • Best Credit Cards For Large Purchases Of May 2024

    When you have a significant purchase to make, you’ll want to consider whether the credit cards currently in your wallet can help yield the most value from the expense. While any rewards card can benefit you, some cards offer incentives...
    Best Credit Cards For Large Purchases Of May 2024
  • Best Credit Cards For Restaurants And Dining Of May 2024

    Tired of eating in? Try cooking up some delicious rewards with a credit card designed to elevate your earnings at restaurants and on dining. Several major card issuers serve up five-star credit card products for foodies to devour.
    Best Credit Cards For Restaurants And Dining Of May 2024
  • Best Secured Credit Cards Of May 2024

    Consumers with bad credit or no credit sometimes find themselves unable to obtain credit approval. However, secured credit cards provide a path for nearly anyone to receive approval and start improving a credit profile. With a secured credit card, consumers...
    Best Secured Credit Cards Of May 2024
  • Best Credit Cards For Doctors Of May 2024

    If your stash of credit card miles and points is a little under the weather, consider a prescription for one of the best credit cards for doctors. All joking aside, if you’re a medical professional and you’re in need of...
    Best Credit Cards For Doctors Of May 2024
  • Best Investment Credit Cards Of May 2024

    Focusing on your investment accounts is one of the best ways to build up your investment balances. Many financial companies offer credit cards that tie in directly with your investment accounts, but you may find better offers and more rewarding...
    Best Investment Credit Cards Of May 2024
  • Enterprise Plus: The Complete Program Guide

    Enterprise Rent a Car operates a nationwide network of neighborhood and airport locations. Earning rewards in their Plus program is a cinch and will allow you the chance to earn free rental days to help shave costs off of your...
    Enterprise Plus: The Complete Program Guide
  • SKYPASS SkyBlue Visa® Card Review 2024

    With such a lackluster spread of benefits offered with this entry-level card, it’s hard to imagine any specific set of people that could benefit from including it in their portfolio.
    SKYPASS SkyBlue Visa® Card Review 2024
  • Awayz Review—The Award Search Tool For Hotels

    If you’ve ever struggled to decipher whether you’re getting the most value for your hotel rewards points, know that you’re not alone. Plenty of frequent travelers use free and paid tools to help them maximize the value from their points....
    Awayz Review—The Award Search Tool For Hotels
  • Avis Preferred: The Complete Program Guide

    Chances are that if you’ve flown into any major airport and looked at the rental car counters, you’ve seen an Avis desk considering there are locations in hundreds of airports and neighborhood locations all over the world. Its rewards program,...
    Avis Preferred: The Complete Program Guide
  • Hertz Gold Plus Rewards: The Complete Program Guide

    Hertz—one of the largest car rental companies in the world—started over a century ago as a small-scale company and has grown ever since. In the early seventies, the company launched the first inception of its loyalty program, later known as...
    Hertz Gold Plus Rewards: The Complete Program Guide
  • TAP Miles&Go American Express Credit Card Review 2024

    Unless you are a frequent TAP Air Portugal flyer and could benefit from earning status through this card, there’s very little value in applying for the . There are a myriad of other travel cards out there with transferable points,...
    TAP Miles&Go American Express Credit Card Review 2024
  • National Emerald Club: The Complete Program Guide

    From its humble beginning as a group of individual rental car operators to being a household name in the car rental space, National is one of the most recognizable companies in the industry. When the company created its loyalty program,...
    National Emerald Club: The Complete Program Guide
  • MGM Rewards Guide

    MGM Resorts International is a hotel, gaming and entertainment company headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada. Its loyalty program is MGM Rewards, which allows you to earn rewards that you can redeem for free hotel nights, discounts on dining, entertainment and...
    MGM Rewards Guide
  • Is The Amex Concierge Better Than The Chase Concierge?

    In today’s world, time and convenience have become hot commodities. Lucky for us, credit card companies have spotted this market trend and now offer a slew of convenience, personalized assistance and other exclusive perks for their cardholders. These services, reserved...
    Is The Amex Concierge Better Than The Chase Concierge?
  • American Express Travel Insurance: Compare Coverage On Cards

    Finding the right travel insurance for your trips can be daunting. But luckily, many of the credit cards you already have may include some travel insurance benefits, so it’s always worth checking what benefits you already have before you start...
    American Express Travel Insurance: Compare Coverage On Cards
  • Amex Platinum Authorized User: Benefits And Costs 2024

    Adding authorized users to your Amex Platinum is an excellent way to share in the benefits of this premium card—from access to several airport lounges to statement credits, elite status with travel partners and even the ability to leverage Amex...
    Amex Platinum Authorized User: Benefits And Costs 2024
  • GO2bank Secured Visa Credit Card Review 2024

    Whether you’re starting your journey into credit or repairing damaged credit later on, you may be familiar with secured credit cards. Secured cards like the work much like regular credit cards, except you fund your credit line with a deposit...
    GO2bank Secured Visa Credit Card Review 2024
  • Comenity Credit Card Guide 2024: Things To Know And Alternatives

    Comenity Bank issues a multitude of co-branded credit cards with plenty of benefits, but it also offers its own . This card, however, comes with none of the perks this issuer normally provides through its other co-branded cards and instead,...
    Comenity Credit Card Guide 2024: Things To Know And Alternatives
  • How To Use Points And Miles For A Dream Trip To Argentina

    Argentina is one of the most coveted destinations in the southern hemisphere. However, it’s a little challenging to reach given its geographic location—Argentina is the furthest country from the U.S. within the Americas. That makes flight options to the country...
    How To Use Points And Miles For A Dream Trip To Argentina
  • Using IHG Points: A Guide To Redeeming Your Rewards

    Through the IHG One Rewards program, it’s easy to earn and redeem points for free award stays in one of the more than 6,000 hotels across the globe. Beyond free nights, IHG One Rewards members can use their points toward...
    Using IHG Points: A Guide To Redeeming Your Rewards
  • How To Use Delta Miles: Redeem Delta Miles

    Delta Air Lines is one of the largest airlines in the United States, and its SkyMiles loyalty program is one of the most popular out there. There are a myriad ways to earn miles ranging from several SkyMiles earning credit...
    How To Use Delta Miles: Redeem Delta Miles
  • Chase Balance Transfer Card Offers May 2024

    If you have been carrying balances on your credit cards month over month, you may have noticed that those interest payments really do add up. A strategic way to reduce or do away with those interest payments, as well as...
    Chase Balance Transfer Card Offers May 2024
  • Capital One Balance Transfer Card Offers Of May 2024

    Interest on your credit cards can sneak up on you if not handled diligently. Luckily, there are credit cards out there that offer special introductory rates on balance transfers for new and potentially existing customers. Capital One is one of...
    Capital One Balance Transfer Card Offers Of May 2024
  • How To Use Chase Points For Flights

    When you log into your Chase Ultimate Rewards® account online, you’ll be presented with a banner letting you know how much all of your Chase points are worth if you decide to redeem them for travel. But you might be...
    How To Use Chase Points For Flights
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Top Picks From Ben Nickel-D'Andrea

  • How To Use Points And Miles For A Dream Trip To Argentina
    How To Use Points And Miles For A Dream Trip To Argentina

    by Ben Nickel-D'Andrea

    Read More

  • World Of Hyatt: The Complete Program Guide
    World Of Hyatt: The Complete Program Guide

    by Ben Nickel-D'Andrea

    Read More

  • Awayz Review—The Award Search Tool For Hotels
    Awayz Review—The Award Search Tool For Hotels

    by Ben Nickel-D'Andrea

    Read More

About

Ben is a credit cards and luxury travel writer, an immigrant with three citizenships and a husband. He speaks English, Spanish and Italian, has a background in linguistics and languages, and travels the world for the love of it. You'll find him flying up front in first or business class all over the world and enjoying food from fine dining to street fare. Ben unpacks the complex network of loyalty programs across the credit card and travel industries with his simple and easy-to-understand, yet relatable, explanations. A nature enthusiast at heart, he lives in Seattle with his husband Jon and their beagle.