Like deciding whether to tap your Fountain of Youth or send in your Force of Nature in Magic: The Gathering, deciding which credit to play in the travel game depends on your situation and strategy.

Just a casual player who doesn’t want to keep up with all sorts of rules? NYT recommends getting the Capital One Venture Rewards card, with zero foreign transaction fees, double miles on purchases, and a $59 annual fee.

An aggressive gobbler of miles? Try the American Express Starwood Preferred Guest Card, which lets you trade in points for miles on several different airlines as well as nights at Starwood hotels. It’s got a $65 annual fee and lets you basically earn one domestic ticket for every 20 grand you spend.

What travel-oriented credit cards do you keep in your deck?

Choosing the Best Credit Card [NYT]

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