Credit card review

Edit: I wrote the last few posts over the weekend, and had them queued up to post. I received a comment about why I didn't post about Israel. I'm as horrified by the news as anyone else, and have coworkers who have lost family members. It's devastating. Also, to the commenter, please leave my kids nationality out of it, because there is no relationship of any kind. 

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This isn't a sponsored link, just my own $.02 based on trying something this year. 

It goes without saying that the below only applies if you are comfortable managing credit card usage (it doesn't encourage you to "spend more" than your current system) & you are paying off the balance each month.

We applied for a new credit card this year, in advance of our Dubai trip. I took recommendations from friends, as well as did my own research, given the card has a super hefty cost ($550/year). Here are my takeaways, as well as value assignments. Note that I don't think this card would be worth it, unless you are a frequent traveler. We ended up with the Chase Sapphire Reserve.

• You get the first $300 of travel spend credited back to you - $300
• It came with global entry for one person, which we used for Sam. Sam is 17, and his TSA pre check will stop applying when he's 18 when we travel as a group. Also, for college, he may be traveling on his own. Global entry provides the international benefits, as well as TSA pre check - $100
• We also received a subscription to Priority Pass, which is an airport lounge access affiliation. We have used the Priority Pass in the following ways:
• To pick up food at SFO ahead of our flight to Newark, as there was no lounge access in our terminal. Instead, you get a credit at a restaurant in the airport - $28/2 people = $56
• Four times at SJC, ahead of domestic flights - $60
• In Dubai - $80
• I used my Priority Pass membership in Paris, to get my friend into the lounge. I was able to get myself & my sister in, based on status, but you only get one guest - $30
• Lyft discounts - $40 or so
• Door Dash discounts (you get a $5/month credit, but I don't always use this) - $20
• Received a 60,000 bonus after the first four months. I used online calculations for this, as we haven't "spent" this yet - $900

So, all told, the cost for the first year was $550, and we've so far received $1586 in value. For us, this has been a great card, but again, I'd recommend this for folks who have plenty of travel queued up in the year ahead, for maximum value.