The Points Guy Chase Sapphire Preferred: Top Choice for Travelers

The Chase Sapphire Preferred is a top choice for travelers, offering a generous sign-up bonus of 60,000 points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months. This is a great incentive to get started with the card.

One of the standout features of the Chase Sapphire Preferred is its 2X points on travel and dining purchases, which can add up quickly and be redeemed for travel or other rewards. This benefit is especially valuable for frequent travelers.

The card also offers a 25% points bonus when redeemed for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards, which can increase the value of your points. For example, if you redeem 60,000 points for travel, you'll get 75,000 points' worth of travel.

With no foreign transaction fees and a $0 annual fee for the first year, the Chase Sapphire Preferred is an attractive option for travelers looking to earn rewards without breaking the bank.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card earns 5 points per dollar spent on travel booked through Chase Travel℠ and Lyft purchases.

You'll also earn 3 points per dollar spent on dining, select streaming services, and online grocery store purchases, excluding Target®, Walmart®, and wholesale clubs.

For all other travel purchases, you'll earn 2 points per dollar spent, and 1 point per dollar spent on everything else.

The card comes with a $95 annual fee, which is relatively low considering the valuable perks it offers.

To qualify for the Sapphire Preferred, TPG recommends applicants have a credit score of at least 670, but approval is not unheard of for those with lower scores.

This card is designed for both frequent and casual travelers, making it a great choice for beginners.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred card has an annual fee of $95, but it offers a range of perks that make it a great value.

You'll get a statement credit of up to $50 on hotel stays purchased through Chase Travel, which can be a huge help when booking accommodations in small cities or areas with limited hotel options.

Cardholders also enjoy a 10% anniversary points bonus each year, based on their total spending during the account anniversary year.

This bonus is calculated from the dollars you spent, rather than the points you earned, so it's a great way to boost your points total without having to worry about bonus categories.

The Sapphire Preferred also includes at least one year of complimentary DoorDash DashPass membership, which offers perks like free delivery and reduced service fees on eligible purchases.

Here are some of the travel and purchase protections you can expect with the Sapphire Preferred:

These protections can be a huge help when traveling, and they're just one of the many reasons why the Sapphire Preferred is a great choice for anyone who wants to earn points and enjoy some extra perks.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred card offers a range of travel protections and perks that can provide peace of mind when traveling. These include baggage delay insurance, lost luggage reimbursement, primary rental car coverage, purchase protection, extended warranty protection, trip cancellation insurance, and trip delay insurance.

With these protections in place, you can feel more secure when making travel plans, even if you only travel once or twice a year. The purchase and extended warranty protection can also be beneficial for large purchases.

Here are some of the key travel protections and perks offered by the Chase Sapphire Preferred card:

The Chase Sapphire Preferred offers a range of travel protections and insurances that can provide peace of mind when traveling.

You can enjoy baggage delay insurance, lost luggage reimbursement, primary rental car coverage, purchase protection, and extended warranty protection. These protections can be especially valuable if your travel plans go awry.

The card also offers trip cancellation insurance and trip delay insurance, which can help you recover from unexpected trip cancellations or delays.

Here are some of the key travel protections and insurances offered by the Chase Sapphire Preferred:

These protections can add significant value to your travel experience, and the annual fee of $95 is a relatively small price to pay for the peace of mind they provide.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred card is a great choice for travelers, and one of the reasons is that it's accepted practically everywhere. Visa is more widely accepted internationally than other payment networks, which means you'll have fewer issues paying with a credit card abroad.

You can use your Sapphire Preferred card at most merchants you frequent while traveling outside the U.S., giving you peace of mind when exploring new destinations.

While the Amex Gold Card earns points at restaurants, the Sapphire Preferred offers more flexibility with its 2 points per dollar on travel and 3 points per dollar on dining.

Here are some benefits to consider when using your Sapphire Preferred card abroad:

The Chase Sapphire Preferred is a powerhouse when it comes to earning rewards. You can earn 5 points per dollar spent on travel booked through Chase Travel, which is a broad definition that includes things like parking, tolls, ferries, and campgrounds.

The card also earns 5 points per dollar spent on Lyft rides, but this benefit is only available through March 2025. If you're a Peloton enthusiast, you can earn 5 points per dollar spent on equipment and accessory purchases of $150 or more, also with a limit of 25,000 bonus points.

In addition to these high-earning categories, you'll also earn 3 points per dollar spent on dining, select streaming services, and online grocery store purchases. And, you'll earn 2 points per dollar spent on all other travel not booked through the Chase Travel portal.

The earning rates on the Chase Sapphire Preferred are some of the best on the market, and the broad definition of travel means you can earn points on a wide range of purchases.

Here are the earning rates on the Chase Sapphire Preferred at a glance:

With these earning rates, you can maximize your earnings and get closer to your next trip.

Redeeming your points with the Chase Sapphire Preferred is a straightforward process. You can use your points to purchase airfare, reserve hotel rooms, and even rent a car through Chase Travel at a fixed rate of 1.25 cents per point.

You can also redeem your points for cash-back or gift cards at a rate of 1 cent per point, but this option is less valuable. However, redeeming points for travel through Chase Travel gets you a 25% bonus, making it a more attractive option.

One of the best ways to maximize your points is to transfer them to one of Chase's 14 airline and hotel partners. Some of the best partners include World of Hyatt, United, British Airways, and Singapore Airlines.

For example, transferring points to Hyatt can get you rooms during peak season in Europe for as low as 4,000 points a night. This is a phenomenal value, especially when compared to redeeming points for cash or gift cards.

Here are some of the best Chase transfer partners to consider:

Chase also frequently runs transfer bonus promotions, where you can get up to 30% more points or miles when you transfer Ultimate Rewards to a transfer partner. This can be a great way to maximize your points and get the most value out of your Chase Sapphire Preferred.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred has several competing cards, including the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card and the Barclays Arrival Plus World Elite Mastercard. These cards offer similar rewards structures and benefits.

The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card offers 2 miles per dollar spent on all purchases, with no foreign transaction fees. This makes it a great option for travelers.

The Barclays Arrival Plus World Elite Mastercard offers 2 miles per dollar spent on all purchases, with no foreign transaction fees. It also offers a $100 travel credit after spending $1,000 in the first 90 days.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred has several partners, including Uber, which offers 3 points per dollar spent on Uber rides.

If you're considering the Chase Sapphire Preferred, you might also want to look at other mid-tier travel credit cards that offer similar benefits.

The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is a great option if you prefer to earn miles with Capital One. It offers 5 miles per dollar spent on hotels, vacation rentals, and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.

The American Express Green Card is another card to consider if you're an American Express fan. It offers a high earning rate on travel, restaurants, and transit, and its $150 annual fee is offset by Annual Clear Plus and LoungeBuddy credits.

If you're looking for more perks, the Chase Sapphire Reserve is worth a glance. It offers higher earning rates on travel purchases and more valuable benefits like a $300 annual travel credit and airport lounge access.

If you're trying to decide between these cards, consider which earning power suits your spending habits and which transfer partners you're more likely to maximize.

Here are some key features of each card:

The Chase Sapphire Preferred has an impressive lineup of transfer partners, offering flexibility and value for your points. These partners include airline and hotel programs that can be transferred to at a 1:1 ratio, or higher with occasional transfer bonuses.

Some of these partners are unique to Chase, making it harder to replicate their lineup with other credit card programs. United and Southwest, for example, are relatively exclusive to Chase.

The transfer partners available with the Chase Sapphire Preferred are numerous, with 14 options to choose from. This includes 11 airline and three hotel partners, making it easier for beginners to get started with transferring and redeeming points.

Here are some of the transfer partners available with the Chase Sapphire Preferred:

By transferring your points to these partners, you can get more value out of your points compared to redeeming them within a single loyalty program.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred card takes account security seriously, with sophisticated fraud monitoring that watches for suspicious activity 24/7. If something does pop up, you'll get a text, email, or call to let you know.

Here are the ways the card protects you:

If you do see an unauthorized charge, simply call the number on the back of your card to report it.

If you're like me, you want to get the most value out of your points. Your points have more value when you redeem them for statement credits after making purchases within select rotating categories.

Your credit card account is a valuable asset, and it's essential to keep it secure. Your Sapphire Preferred card has a sophisticated fraud monitoring system that watches for suspicious activity 24/7.

We'll text, email, or even call you if we spot something unusual, so you can take action right away. Learn more about how this system works.

Zero Liability Protection is another layer of security that protects you from unauthorized charges. If you notice a charge you didn't make, just call the number on the back of your card and we'll take care of it.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred card is a solid choice for anyone looking to earn valuable Ultimate Rewards points for travel. The card offers a great sign-up bonus of 60,000 points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening.

The annual fee of $95 is well worth it, considering the card provides enough value to supersede it each year. For me, this card has become a catalyst for accruing and redeeming valuable Ultimate Rewards points for travel.

If you've been eyeing this card, now's the time to apply and take advantage of the sign-up bonus. The process is straightforward, and you can apply online.