ThePointsGuy Chase Sapphire Reserve: Ultimate Credit Card Review

The Chase Sapphire Reserve is an elite credit card that offers unparalleled benefits to its cardholders. It comes with a hefty price tag of $550 annual fee.

The card's rewards structure is straightforward, offering 3X points on travel and dining purchases and 1X point on all other purchases. This means you'll earn a significant number of points on your everyday expenses.

One of the card's most significant benefits is its 50% points bonus when redeemed for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards. This can be a game-changer for frequent travelers, increasing the value of your points by half.

The Chase Sapphire Reserve is an excellent choice for anyone searching for a premium card. It offers a range of 11 airline and three hotel transfer partners, making it easy to redeem your points.

The annual fee of the Sapphire Reserve is hefty, but Chase consistently adds new benefits to keep the card competitive. This is a big plus for frequent travelers who want to elevate their travel experience.

One of the standout features of the Sapphire Reserve is its high earnings rate. You'll earn 10x points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠, and 5x points on flights. You'll also earn 3x points on other travel and dining.

Here are the details of the Sapphire Reserve's rewards structure:

The Sapphire Reserve also offers a welcome offer of 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. This is a great opportunity to earn a lot of points quickly.

The Chase Sapphire Reserve is a premium credit card that offers a range of benefits to travelers and foodies alike.

One of the standout features of this card is its automatic $300 annual travel credit, which is applied each account anniversary year. This can help offset the $550 annual fee, making it a more affordable option for those who can take advantage of the perks.

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You'll also earn unlimited 3 points per dollar spent on travel and dining purchases, which can add up quickly. Plus, you'll get 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Travel℠.

The card's broad definitions for travel and dining bonus categories mean you can earn rewards on a wide range of purchases, from flights and hotels to restaurants and bars. And, with no foreign transaction fee, you can use your card abroad without incurring extra charges.

Here are some of the key benefits of the Chase Sapphire Reserve at a glance:

The rewards and earning potential of the Chase Sapphire Reserve are truly exceptional. You can earn 10 points per dollar on hotels and car rentals purchased through Chase Travel, making it one of the best cards for booking travel.

The card also offers 10 points per dollar on dining purchases through Chase Ultimate Rewards, which can add up quickly if you dine out frequently. Additionally, you'll earn 10 points per dollar on Lyft rides through March 31, 2025, and 10 points per dollar on Peloton equipment and accessory purchases of $150 or more through March 2025.

One of the key benefits of the Chase Sapphire Reserve is its 50-percent value boost when redeeming points for travel through Chase Travel. This means that each of your points will be worth 1.5 cents, making the 60,000-point bonus worth $900 when redeemed through the portal.

Here are the earning categories and points per dollar for the Chase Sapphire Reserve:

The card also offers a $300 annual travel credit, which can be used to cover a wide variety of travel purchases, including airline tickets, hotel reservations, and more. This credit alone can lower your effective annual fee to just $250.

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The Chase Sapphire Reserve is a powerhouse of a credit card, offering an impressive array of benefits and perks that can make your travel experiences smoother and more rewarding.

The card's $300 annual travel credit is a game-changer, automatically applying to any travel purchases you make with your card, including airlines, hotels, timeshares, and more. This credit effectively cancels out a large portion of the card's annual fee, making it a more affordable option for frequent travelers.

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You'll also earn 10 points per dollar on Lyft purchases through March 2025, which is akin to getting over a 20% return on Lyft rides. And, you'll receive a complimentary Lyft Pink All Access membership for two years, worth up to $199 annually.

The Chase Sapphire Reserve offers reimbursement every four years for the application fee for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS, which can let you sail through customs or security lines on your next trip.

In addition to these benefits, the card offers lounge access, including Priority Pass Select membership and access to Chase's Sapphire Lounge locations in select airports. You can relax in a comfy armchair before your flight and take advantage of free snacks and drinks.

Here are some of the key benefits and perks of the Chase Sapphire Reserve:

These benefits and perks can add up to significant savings and rewards, making the Chase Sapphire Reserve a great choice for frequent travelers.

The Chase Sapphire Reserve is a top-of-the-line travel credit card, but it's not for everyone. The $550 annual fee is steep, and you'll need to use its perks strategically to recoup the cost.

The card's rewards on travel, dining, and transit set up fantastic reward-earning combos, and its luxury travel benefits and top-of-the-line travel protections are hard to beat. However, if you don't travel much, this fee might be hard to justify.

To determine if the Chase Sapphire Reserve is worth it for you, consider your spending habits and the features that matter most. If you travel often, the high earnings rate on travel spending can easily justify the annual fee.

But even if you're staying at home this year, holding the card can make sense for some people. If you're a lover of takeout willing to order through DoorDash or Chase Dining and you still hop in Lyft rides around town, you'll likely find outsized value in the Chase Sapphire Reserve.

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Here's a comparison of the Chase Sapphire Reserve with its more cost-effective counterpart, the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card:

As you can see, both cards offer similar rewards and transfer partners, but the Chase Sapphire Reserve has a higher annual fee and better travel rewards. However, the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card has a lower annual fee and still offers valuable rewards and transfer partners.

Ultimately, the decision between the Chase Sapphire Reserve and the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card comes down to your individual needs and spending habits. If you value the extra travel rewards and luxury travel benefits, the Chase Sapphire Reserve might be the better choice. But if you're looking for a more affordable option with similar rewards and transfer partners, the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card could be the way to go.

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The Chase Sapphire Reserve is a top pick for travel rewards enthusiasts, and for good reason. It earns 3 points per dollar on travel and dining categories, making it a great choice for frequent travelers.

Ryan Flanigan, Bankrate credit cards writer, has been using this card since it launched and swears by its benefits. He's unlocked extra value by transferring points from other Chase cards and earns great rates on his frequently used categories.

The card's trip protections are industry-leading and have saved him on multiple occasions. This feature alone makes it a valuable addition to any traveler's wallet.

The Chase Sapphire Reserve offers valuable Chase Ultimate Rewards points and various perks, making it a long-term winner for frequent travelers. With its annual credits and perks, it's a card that can pay for itself over time.

The annual fee may seem daunting, but the travel credits and luxury perks more than make up for it. Ryan's experience is a testament to the card's value and versatility.

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