re: Recommendations on Credit Cards.

Southwest card that gives you 50,000 points.
Wife and I flew to Niagara and stayed 1 night at a hotel on those points. I think it had a $95 annual fee, well worth it.

Hilton card also gave me 50,000 points which is about enough for 1 free night at a nice place, maybe two at a lower tier place. Had no annual fee.

Both cards required i spend i think $1000 dollars before the points were added. I paid daycare for a month instead of with a check and that covered that, canceled the cards after using the points.

I'm going to do it again with both of them in my wife's name.