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The BEST Travel Credit Card for 2023: Chase Sapphire Preferred

Becky Pokora

The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card is the first card I recommend to all travelers, and the best travel credit card for 2023.  It comes with a sweet sign-up bonus, ongoing opportunities to earn and redeem rewards, and extra benefits that almost all travelers can take advantage of.  In fact, it’s one of the few travel reward cards I’ve held onto and use regularly ever since I first got it in 2013.

Highlights of the Chase Sapphire Preferred

The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card stands out as one of the best travel credit cards for 2023  by offering generous benefits for a low annual fee:

Chase Sapphire Preferred Card

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

  • 60,000 reward points (worth $750 ) after meeting the minimum spend of $4,000 in the first 3 months
  • $50 annual Ultimate Rewards Hotel Credit, 5x points for purchases on Chase Ultimate Rewards, 3x points on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, and 2x points on all other travel purchases.
  • Points are worth 25% more on airfare, hotels, car rentals, and cruises when booking through Chase Ultimate Rewards (e.g. 60,000 points worth $750 toward travel)
  • Includes trip cancellation/interruption insurance, auto rental collision damage waiver, lost luggage insurance and more.
  • Can transfer your reward points to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • Annual fee: $95

Unlike other Chase Sapphire Preferred reviews, I’ll also share a few of the card’s intangible perks: things don’t necessarily hold a dollar value but still offer additional value.

Top Ways I’ve Used the Chase Sapphire Preferred

A few years ago, I transferred my welcome bonus to United MileagePlus to book a round-trip flight to Slovenia during peak summer travel, an ordinarily expensive route.  I even used the Chase Sapphire Preferred to cover my rental car CDW insurance for a roadtrip through Slovenia and Croatia!

Rovinj Croatia through Chase Sapphire Preferred

Over the years, I’ve earned thousands of Ultimate Rewards (UR) points which helped me take some amazing trips:

  • Round-trip flight Richmond, VA to Slovenia with one-way in business class valued at $3,000 — I only paid $140 in taxes
  • One-way first class flight Atlanta to Vietnam valued at $8,000 — I paid $65 in taxes
  • One-way economy flight from Nuremberg, Germany to Richmond for next day travel valued at $1000 — I paid $125 in taxes
  • One-way economy flight from Cairo, Egypt to Paris, France valued at $400 — paid $65 in taxes
  • One-way economy flight from London to Detroit valued at $700 — just $200 in taxes
  • One-way economy flight Lima to Cusco, Peru on New Year’s valued at $175 — only $10 in taxes
  • The only hotel I’ve ever used Ultimate Rewards for: the Hyatt Regency Kathmandu , where I used 5,000 points to save on a $140 room

And coming soon: I’m flying Iberia Airlines in a few months, after converting 34,000 Ultimate Rewards into Iberia Avios for a one-way business class flight from San Sebastian to Boston.  That ticket is normally $2,000 but I only paid $125 in taxes.

Redeeming points earned with the Chase Sapphire Preferred helps me travel when I otherwise couldn’t afford it!

First Class Flight using Chase Sapphire Preferred points

Where The Chase Sapphire Preferred Welcome Bonus Can Take You

The best part about the Chase Sapphire Preferred 60,000 point welcome bonus is that it’s flexible and can be used for any type of travel.

If you’re looking for some inspiration, here are a few of my favorite ideas:

1)   Book a Flying Blue Business Class Promo Award to Europe

Every month, Flying Blue releases a list of cities that are eligible for awards at 20-50% off their normal mileage rate when flying on Air France or KLM.  For example, we’ve recently seen tickets from Chicago to Budapest for 40,000 miles.  Pair this with an economy award in the other direction on airlines like Virgin Atlantic and you’ll end up with a round-trip ticket for just the cost of taxes and fees.

2)   Book a Week in Bali

There are currently five properties on Bali that cost 12,000 Hyatt points per night or less and you can easily transfer Ultimate Rewards to World of Hyatt to make a reward booking.  Choose your hotels strategically and you could hop from one part of the island to another for up to 12 nights at high-end hotels just from using your welcome bonus!

chase sapphire best travel card

3)   Book 4 Round-Trip Economy Tickets Within the USA

Finding award tickets for a family can be challenging since airlines limit the number of awards available, but you can redeem your points without limitations when you book on the Chase travel portal.  If you can find a ticket from your home to anywhere else for $187 or less, your welcome bonus covers the cost of four tickets.  Going somewhere more expensive?  Just pay the difference in cash.

4)   Book Two Round-Trip Tickets from New York to Costa Rica

By transferring your Ultimate Rewards to British Airways Avios, you’ll have enough points for two round-trip tickets from New York to San Jose, Costa Rica; the tickets add up to 26,000 miles per person and about $50 in taxes.  If you’re traveling on off-peak dates, you might even find flights for cheaper when using Southwest or JetBlue points (both programs have varying award costs based on cash prices) or by booking directly from the Chase portal.

Other Card Benefits Included With Your Annual Fee

For frequent travelers, the $95 annual fee on the Chase Sapphire Preferred pays for itself with the inclusion of extra benefits.

Chase Sapphire Preferred Card Benefits

No Foreign Transaction Fees

Let’s start with a simple but valuable benefit: there are no foreign transaction fees when you use your Chase Sapphire Preferred while traveling internationally.

Many cards, especially cards with no annual fee, add on a ~3% surcharge to all purchases made with a foreign currency.  That adds up quickly if you’re traveling abroad and charging hotels, restaurants, tours, and transportation.  Spend $3200 or more and you’re already money ahead.

Travel Insurance and Protection

The Chase Sapphire Preferred offers a generous travel insurance package compared to other cards with annual fees of $100 or less.  To qualify, you’ll need to book and pay for your transportation ticket (flight, cruise, etc.) with the Sapphire Preferred.

Some of the protections include:

  • Baggage Delay Reimbursement (up to $100 per day toward purchases of essential items when your checked bag is not delivered on time)
  • Lost Luggage Reimbursement (up to $3,000 toward lost or damaged items)
  • Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance (up to $10,000 when you need to cancel or end a trip early due to death, injury, or documented illness of you or immediate family member)
  • Trip Delay Reimbursement (up to $500 toward unanticipated expenses when your trip is delayed by 12+ hours)
  • Travel Accident Insurance (up to $500,000 when you die during a travel accident — yikes!)

These are great perks for low-risk trips when you wouldn’t otherwise buy travel insurance, like visiting grandma or a weekend getaway to a city in your own country.  I made a claim when a cancelled flight required me to spend the night in Charlotte; I was reimbursed for my hotel, Uber rides, and meals.

Notably, medical costs are not covered, so you might want to shop around for a medical and evacuation policy on international trips. For medical insurance, we recommend World Nomads . They're the “all inclusive” option known for honoring claims made through their simple online process. They cover almost all adventure and sports activities, and you can buy and extend coverage even while on your trip.

Primary Car Rental Insurance

The Chase Sapphire Preferred is one of the few cars that offers primary collision damage waiver coverage on rental cars.  This benefit is available in most countries and covers damage to all standard passenger vehicles (some “exotic” rentals, like Ferraris and Maseratis are explicitly excluded).

Remember, this is CDW coverage, so it will pay for damage to the rental vehicle, but you’ll still need liability coverage through your auto insurer at home for injuries or medical expenses.

Three Intangible Benefits

I mentioned earlier that there are a few non-dollar reasons I love the Chase Sapphire Preferred as well:

First, the card always works.  The card is a Visa, which means it’s widely accepted worldwide and it’s been reliable for me even when cards from other banks were incorrectly flagged for fraud while traveling.

Next, they have awesome customer service.  When I call in, I talk to a human being instead of a phone tree.  Better yet, the associates I’ve spoken to are well-trained and able to assist in an appropriate manner so problems are solved quickly.

Lastly, the card is simple .  The Sapphire Preferred is designed for customers who want to set it and forget it.  The rewards are easy, so you don’t have to spend dozens of hours learning how to redeem them, and the website is intuitive for general banking and reward redemptions.  It’s a no-brainer to apply and hold onto the card long-term so you can spend your mental energy on other things.

How to Earn Chase Ultimate Rewards

Chase offers a generous welcome bonus for new cardholders: 60,000 Ultimate Rewards points when you spend $4,000 in the first 3 months of card approval.  That’s a fast way to jumpstart your earning!

Thereafter, you’ll earn Ultimate Rewards through normal everyday spending.  You’ll get 2 Ultimate Rewards points per dollar spent on travel and dining and 1 point per dollar on everything else.

Chase defines travel as the things you'd expect (e.g. hotels, airfare, cruises, car rentals) but also includes less-obvious purchases like taxis, toll roads, paid parking, campgrounds, and more.  Dining is also broadly-defined, including restaurants, fast food, bars, coffeeshops, and even some food delivery services (like Grubhub).

Want to earn even faster?  Add an authorized user for no extra fee and their spending will earn Ultimate Rewards for the same account.

For additional earnings, you can start your online shopping purchase through the “Shop through Chase” portal.  A few extra clicks will help you earn an additional points for every dollar spent at participating online retailers like Best Buy or Macy’s.com.

Bonus points through online shopping with the Chase Sapphire Preferred

How to Redeem Chase Ultimate Rewards

There are two different ways to redeem Ultimate Rewards for travel.  That flexibility means you should get great value regardless of your goals and preferences.

Ultimate Rewards points can be transferred at a 1:1 ratio to partner airlines and hotels where you then redeem your points directly through those frequent flyer programs.  This is a great way to book high-value redemptions at a reduced rate, like first class flights and luxury hotels.  I’m flying business class this spring on Iberia Airlines from Spain for just 34,000 UR — a fabulous redemption compared to the cash price of $2,000.

Chase Ultimate Rewards Travel Partners

The downside to booking through partner programs is that rewards often come with blackout dates or capacity controls, which can be frustrating for travelers.  You can work around these restrictions by using your rewards to redeem points through the Chase portal instead of transferring directly to programs.

When you book through the Chase portal, Ultimate Rewards points are worth 1.25 cents per point (e.g. the welcome bonus of 60,000 points = $750 ).  You can book any flight or hotel that is normally available through an online travel agency like Expedia, so you can choose any airline or hotel of your preference with no blackout dates.

Since your points are worth a fixed value when redeeming this way, it is often a good option when flying in economy or staying at mid-range hotels.  For thrifty travelers that find airfare deals or hotel sales, you might actually use fewer points than transferring to an official frequent flyer program.

The Thrifty Gist

  • The Chase Sapphire Preferred is the best travel credit card, offering a welcome bonus of 60,000 Ultimate Rewards points (worth $750!)
  • You can transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points you earn with the card to flight and hotel partner programs, or redeem them for any bookable travel with no blackout dates online for maximum flexibility
  • The card’s annual fee pays for itself with the welcome bonus, no foreign transaction fees, and benefits like travel protections and CDW insurance
  • Looking for other options? Check out our list of the BEST travel credit cards of the year , and learn more about how to get free flights with travel credit cards & points .

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A powerful combination of bonus rewards, annual credits and bonus points.

chase sapphire best travel card

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Bankrate expert Garrett Yarbrough strives to make navigating credit cards and credit building smooth sailing for his readers. After regularly featuring his credit card, credit monitoring and identity theft analysis on NextAdvisor.com, he joined the CreditCards.com and Bankrate teams as a staff writer to develop product reviews and comprehensive credit card guides focused on cash back, credit scores and card offers.

chase sapphire best travel card

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Courtney Mihocik is an editor at Bankrate Credit Cards and CreditCards.com specializing in credit card news and personal finance advice. Previously, she led insurance content at Reviews.com and worked as the loans editor at The Simple Dollar.

chase sapphire best travel card

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Tracy Stewart is a personal finance writer specializing in credit card loyalty programs, travel benefits, and consumer protections.

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Bottom line

The Chase Sapphire Preferred is an excellent entry point into the world of travel rewards since it offers impressive value, easy redemption options and premium benefits for a modest $95 annual fee.

Image of Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

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Intro offer

Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

Offer valuation

We calculate this number by multiplying the card's intro offer by Bankrate's valuation of this issuer's rewards program , showing you how much your points or miles are worth in dollars.

Rewards rate

5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠. 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries. 2x on all other travel purchases. 1x on all other purchases.

Regular APR

On This Page

  • Current offer details
  • Sapphire Preferred pros and cons
  • Reasons to get this card
  • Reasons to skip this card
  • Expert experience
  • Chase Sapphire Preferred vs. other travel cards
  • Best cards to pair with the Sapphire Preferred
  • Is this card worth getting?
  • Rating methodology

Frequently asked questions

Chase sapphire preferred® card overview.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card is one of the best travel credit cards on the market, thanks to its relatively low annual fee, generous rewards structure and various travel protections. Boasting a variety of travel and everyday reward categories, stellar reward redemption value, an annual hotel stay credit through Chase as well as an anniversary points bonus, the Sapphire Preferred should offer excellent value to everyday spenders and rewards experts alike.

Although it lacks some of the robust perks found in more premium travel cards , the card should be a good fit for travelers who want to earn rewards on their flights and hotel stays without a hefty annual fee.

  • 5X points on travel through Chase Travel℠
  • 5X total points on Lyft rides (2X on general travel and 3X-point bonus. Offer through March 31, 2025)
  • 3X points on dining (including eligible delivery services), select streaming services and online grocery purchases (excluding Walmart, Target and wholesale clubs)
  • 2X points on other travel
  • 1X points on other purchases
  • Rewards value: 1.25 cents per point when redeemed through Chase Travel℠ and around 2.0 cents on average through the right transfer partner

Expert Appraisal: Exceptional See our expert analysis

Welcome offer

  • 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first three months

Expert Appraisal: Good See our expert analysis

Rates and fees

  • $95 annual fee
  • $0 foreign transaction fees
  • No intro APR on purchases
  • No intro APR on balance transfers
  • 21.49 percent to 28.49 percent variable APR

Expert Appraisal: Typical See our expert analysis

Other cardholder perks

  • Earn annual bonus points on each account anniversary equal to 10 percent of your total purchases the previous year.
  • Up to $50 in annual statement credits toward hotel stays through the Chase Trave portal.
  • Comprehensive travel insurance for its annual fee, including trip cancellation/interruption insurance, trip delay reimbursement, baggage delay insurance and more.
  • Complimentary, limited-time credits and/or other partner perks with Lyft, DoorDash, Instacart, Peloton and GoPuff.
  • Potential access to My Chase Plan alternative payment plans with a fixed monthly fee.

Chase Sapphire Preferred pros and cons

It carries high rewards rates on more travel and everyday categories than some travel-focused cards.

It packs phenomenal redemption value through its impressive airline and hotel transfer partners and 25 percent point value redemption boost toward Chase travel.

The rich perk roster features benefits that only higher-tier travel cards generally carry.

The current sign-up bonus is decent, but it isn’t the first-class value this card has previously provided.

It has a $95 annual fee, although it may not be hard for typical cardholders to offset.

This card doesn’t offer introductory APRs on purchases or balance transfers, unlike its no-annual-fee rivals.

Why you might want the Chase Sapphire Preferred

If you’re looking for a cost-effective travel card, the Sapphire Preferred is hard to beat. The travel perks, annual credits and bonus points are impressive for a card in its class and may even make up for the annual fee on their own. Perhaps even more appealing is the diverse selection of bonus categories and redemption options, plus the remarkably high redemption values to fuel your next trip.

Rewards: Outstanding travel value

The Sapphire Preferred card’s rewards program is a powerhouse, offering impressive rewards rates on a more comprehensive variety of travel categories than many competing cards. Plus, it rewards plenty of other popular everyday categories that may be difficult to find on typical travel cards, including dining, select streaming services and online grocery purchases (excluding wholesale clubs and superstores like Target and Walmart). There’s no cap on the number of points you can receive in all of these categories, so the Sapphire Preferred has solid potential to be your primary credit card.

Bankrate Insight

You can earn points in a few clever ways if you don’t mind a little legwork. There’s a 15,000-point referral bonus if any friends are approved (up to five referrals per year), which could be an easy way to earn up to 75,000 more points. Plus, the Chase Offers card-linked program could earn an extra helping of rewards while you’re online shopping — which complements the online grocery shopping category quite well.

However, this card’s biggest strength is how valuable Chase Ultimate Rewards points can be through certain redemption options. By redeeming your points for travel through Chase Travel℠ — including plane tickets, hotels, car rentals and cruise vacations — your points are worth 25 percent more (1.25 cents per point). Chase also features an impressive list of 1:1 airline and hotel transfer partners , and the right one could provide a market value of about 2.0 cents per point on average according to our most recent valuation . 

Even this card’s non-travel redemptions are notable for their value and versatility. You can also redeem Chase Ultimate Rewards points at 1 cent apiece for cash back, statement credits , gift cards, merchandise (including Apple product purchases), Chase Experience events and Chase Dining purchases. You can also use your points at the checkout screen on Amazon.com and PayPal for a lower value (0.8 cents apiece), but we recommend sticking to cash back if you’re not putting points toward travel through Chase or transfer partners.

These incredible redemption rates make Ultimate Rewards points and the Sapphire Preferred card some of the most valuable reward options on the market. This means the Preferred card is an excellent partner to maximize your rewards’ value if you already have other Chase rewards cards.

Perks: High-caliber benefits for its card tier

In addition to its stand-out reward features, the Sapphire Preferred’s benefits include valuable perks you’d normally need to fork up a higher annual fee to get. For example, the stellar travel insurance you’ll receive with the Sapphire Preferred includes trip cancellation and interruption insurance, trip delay reimbursement and baggage delay insurance — top-tier protections usually found among premium travel cards with annual fees around $400 or more.

Two of the most valuable perks in the Preferred card’s batch of features are its recurring bonuses. You’ll get up to $50 back each year in statement credits for hotel stays purchased with the card through the Chase Travel portal, but you may be able to squeeze even more value out of the anniversary point bonus. An eye-catching 10 percent points bonus on your total combined spending in points from the previous year will be automatically added to your rewards balance each account anniversary.

Reward matching-style bonuses are rare, and Discover’s first-year cash back match is the most popular (and only) offer we’ve seen in recent memory. These types of bonuses can be pretty significant for big spenders, but even average budgets can earn a decent amount of points from this annual offer. Bureau of Labor Statistics spending data suggests that the average annual yearly spend is $15,900, which would net an extra 1,590 Ultimate Rewards points with the anniversary bonus, worth up to $318 (based on our 2-cent point valuation) in travel each year.

These two yearly benefits alone can more than make up for the annual fee before factoring in your rewards spending. Chase also stacks on additional, limited-time partner perks so that your first few years with the card are especially lucrative.

Although these partner perks won’t last forever, you can also rack up statement credits and bonus points from the Sapphire Preferred’s Lyft, DoorDash, Instacart and Gopuff benefits. In fact, these generous food delivery perks could be worth close to $200 or more, and this card could be one of the best for Lyft if you do a lot of commuting via rideshare services. Check out our list of each partner perk and the offer timeframes so that you can make the most of your Sapphire Preferred card.

Why you might want a different travel card

The Sapphire Preferred is an excellent rewards card for experienced and novice travel cardholders alike. However, the card isn’t currently offering the top-notch sign-up bonus it has a reputation for and it may take convincing if you’re wary of annual fees.

Welcome offer: Good, but not the card’s best bonus

The current welcome offer for the Chase Sapphire Preferred weighs in at 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. That’s equivalent to $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠, or potentially around $1,200 with the right transfer partner (based on Bankrate’s latest point valuation of about 2.0 cents on average).

If you have a trip on the horizon or are eager to start saving up points, the current offer could be a great reason to apply for the card. That said, the card recently offered an 80,000-point bonus with the same spending requirement. While the current offer isn't one of the card's highest-ever sign-up bonuses, it’s still better than or equal to the bonus offered on several competing travel cards.

In fact, this is the same sign-up bonus the issuer’s flagship Chase Sapphire Reserve® card offers, and the Sapphire Preferred is known to occasionally surpass its luxury counterpart’s offer with sometimes the best sign-up bonus on the market. So, if you're in no rush to earn points, it may be worth waiting to see if a higher offer pops up.

Rates and fees: Annual fee may discourage newcomers

The Sapphire Preferred has a $95 annual fee, which may appear intimidating if you’re an occasional traveler looking for your first travel card. However, this price tag is fairly low compared to the perks and rewards the card offers. The annual account anniversary bonus points and credits can potentially offset the annual fee alone, but the fee isn’t too difficult to make up for through your normal rewards spending if needed. You’d only need to spend about $212 across your 3X categories or $317 in the 2X general travel category each month if you redeem toward Chase travel at a value of 1.25 cents per point. However, if you transfer your points to the right high-value Chase travel partner and redeem at a value of 2.0 cents per point, you’d only have to spend $132 in the 3X categories or $198 in the 2X general travel category each month to offset the annual fee.

This level of rewards and perk value can be difficult to find among no-annual-fee travel cards , so the annual fee can be well worth it for the Sapphire Preferred card’s stellar category variety, redemption options, transfer partners, travel insurance and other benefits. No-annual-fee competitors also typically have lower rewards rates than the Preferred card and no yearly credits or notable travel perks. For example, the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card is the only no-annual-fee rival ( See Rates & Fees ) that allows you to transfer rewards to travel partners, but it only earns a flat 1.25X-mile rate on general purchases and 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through the Capital One Travel portal.

The other rates and fees are typical for travel cards — there are no foreign transaction fees to worry about while you’re abroad and the ongoing APR is only slightly higher than the average current credit card interest rate .

We tried it: Here’s what our experts say

Former Bankrate credit cards editor Claire Dickey uses the Sapphire Preferred as a staple card in her rewards strategy, thanks to the excellent reward redemption value toward travel.

I applied for the Chase Sapphire Preferred when it had its highest welcome bonus to date and used those points to cover a few different flights and rental cars over the course of a year. Even better, I earned 25 percent more value for my points by redeeming for travel through Chase Travel℠. My spending strategy is simple. I'm very much on the go in my daily life and don't like to carry too many cards. I stick to using the Sapphire Preferred for travel, at restaurants and for my monthly streaming subscription payments. I don't typically buy groceries online, but I’ve used the Sapphire Preferred to score boosted points on those purchases here and there. If any of my purchases fall outside of the Sapphire Preferred's categories, I swipe my Chase Freedom Unlimited® to earn a higher flat rate of cash back on general purchases. — Claire Dickey — Former Bankrate editor

How the Chase Sapphire Preferred compares to other travel credit cards

It’s hard for many cards to strike a balance between rewards, first-year value and benefits like the Sapphire Preferred does, but a few cards hold their own against the Sapphire Preferred when it comes to annual fees, rewards structures, welcome bonuses and travel perks. Here are a few of our favorites.

Image of Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

Recommended Credit Score

Image of Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

New Venture cardholders can earn 75,000 miles once they spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening

5 Miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel 2 Miles per dollar on every purchase, every day

Image of Citi Premier® Card

Citi Premier® Card

Earn 60,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after you spend $4,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening

Earn 3 Points per $1 spent at Gas Stations, Air Travel and Other Hotels Earn 3 Points per $1 spent at Restaurants and Supermarkets Earn 1 Point per $1 spent on all other purchases

Chase Sapphire Preferred vs. Capital One Venture card

While the Chase Sapphire Preferred offers terrific flexibility and versatility, it could still leave plenty of rewards on the table. For example, miscellaneous expenses like your insurance bill or a new laptop will only earn you 1 point per dollar. If you aren’t sure whether your spending habits line up with those of the Sapphire Preferred, you may have more luck maximizing your rewards with a simple flat-rate rewards card like the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card .

The Venture card’s unlimited 5X miles on hotels and car rentals through Capital One Travel and 2X miles on all other spending makes stockpiling rewards easy. You’ll earn the same flat rewards rate on all eligible purchases, with no need to juggle cards or track categories. The card also gives you the flexibility to redeem miles through Capital One or for outside travel purchases without sacrificing value. Although the Venture card doesn’t have a feature like the Sapphire Preferred’s point value redemption boost toward Chase travel, you’ll have remarkable rewards flexibility. You can use Venture miles for statement credits toward a wide variety of general travel purchases you’ve already made within the past 90 days. As with the Sapphire Preferred, however, the Venture card features a $95 annual fee ( See Rates & Fees ) . You’ll need to spend about $396 per month to offset the Venture card’s annual fee with rewards at a base value of 1 cent per mile. If you transfer to the right partner for an average value of 2 cents per mile (based on Bankrate valuations ), you’d only need to spend about $199 per month in your flat-rate 2X miles categories to offset the annual fee. However, it may be easier to offset the Sapphire Preferred card’s annual fee without relying on rewards spending since the Venture card doesn’t carry annual bonus rewards or credits like the Sapphire Preferred does.

Learn more: Chase Sapphire Preferred vs. Capital One Venture

Chase Sapphire Preferred vs. Citi Premier Card

The Citi Premier® Card not only shares some rewards categories with the Sapphire Preferred, but it also offers some extra options that could prove highly lucrative for the right cardholder. You’ll get a 3X rewards rate on restaurant, supermarket, gas station, hotel and air travel purchases with the Premier card. And unlike the Sapphire Preferred, the Premier card doesn’t require you to book travel through an issuer portal or purchase groceries online to earn the full rewards rate. However, you can earn a total of 10X points on hotel, car rentals, and attractions (excluding air travel) booked through the Citi Travel℠ portal through June 30, 2024.

Along with its enticing rewards categories, the Citi Premier stands out for its annual $100 hotel savings benefit on stays of $500 or more, which makes up for its otherwise thin set of travel perks. On the downside, your points won’t be worth more if you redeem through the Citi Travel portal , and, depending on your travel preferences, Citi’s list of transfer partners may fall short of Chase’s.

Learn more: Citi Premier vs. Chase Sapphire Preferred

Best cards to pair with the Chase Sapphire Preferred

Other Chase credit cards are your best option because of how well their categories and benefits pair together. Although the Sapphire Preferred is not part of the traditional Chase trifecta , this card’s fantastic reward opportunities and redemption values make pairing the Chase Sapphire Preferred with the Chase Freedom Unlimited® and/or Chase Freedom Flex℠ some of the best credit card combinations available.

Just keep Chase’s 5/24 rule in mind as you search for cards to pair with the Sapphire Preferred: You may not be eligible to open a Chase credit card if you’ve already opened five or more credit cards (no matter the issuer) in the past 24 months.

Chase Freedom Unlimited

Given that the Sapphire Preferred is a travel card, consider pairing it with a flat-rate travel card or a cash back credit card that rewards your biggest non-travel categories — such as the Chase Freedom Unlimited.

The Chase Freedom Unlimited is a solid no-annual-fee credit card that earns at least 1.5 percent cash back on every purchase you make, 3 percent back on dining and drugstore purchases, plus 5 percent back on Chase Travel and Lyft purchases (Lyft offer through March 2025).

By pairing the Freedom Unlimited with the Sapphire Preferred, you can earn more rewards on purchases outside the Sapphire Preferred’s travel and restaurant dining categories. For example, redeeming your flat-rate Freedom Unlimited rewards toward Chase travel through the Sapphire Preferred (for the 25 percent redemption value boost) nets you almost 1.9 cents per dollar spent. Based on Bankrate’s latest valuation of 2 cents per Ultimate Rewards point on average, the Freedom Unlimited card’s flat-rate rewards could impressively net you around 3 cents per dollar spent if you redeem them through the right transfer partner, thanks to the Sapphire Preferred.

Chase Freedom Flex

Like the Freedom Unlimited, the Chase Freedom Flex card is an excellent partner for the Sapphire Preferred. The Freedom Flex offers the same year-round 3 percent cash back categories as its flat-rate counterpart, but it also carries 5 percent rotating quarterly categories (on up to $1,500 in combined purchases per quarter after category activation, then 1 percent back; quarters). These can add a variety of popular categories that often suit your seasonal expenses to your disposal. 

When you redeem points through the Sapphire Preferred, this rotating rewards rate can essentially earn you 6.25 cents per dollar toward Ultimate Rewards travel or about 10 cents on average toward the right Chase transfer partner (based on Bankrate’s latest 2-cent valuation per point).

Who is the Chase Sapphire Preferred right for?

First-time travel cardholders.

Although there’s a $95 annual fee and the rewards structure isn’t as simple as flat-rate rewards, the Chase Sapphire Preferred delivers perhaps the best value for people looking to kickstart their travel rewards experience.

The sign-up bonus provides a great leg up on cardholders’ next trip, the categories are diverse enough to justify it as a primary rewards card and the stellar redemption values encourage cardholders to plan on using Chase travel and transfer partners. Plus, the card offers peace of mind with its extensive travel insurance and how well it pairs with other cards if users want to flesh out their rewards strategies later on. Unlike many cards that earn travel miles, the rewards won’t lose value if they’re redeemed for cash back or several other non-travel options. That can be handy for some cardholders if they aren’t planning to travel for a while.

Rewards enthusiasts

Cardholders have more opportunities to rack up rewards and perk value than many competing cards offer — no matter whether the user is a frequent or occasional traveler. The Sapphire Preferred card’s excellent transfer partners and Chase travel point value redemption boost could also maximize the value of cardholders’ other rewards spending if they use Chase cash back cards for their other everyday purchases.

Bankrate’s Take — Is the Chase Sapphire Preferred worth it?

The Chase Sapphire Preferred card’s great travel and dining rewards, everyday bonus categories and annual bonuses make it one of the best — if not the best — travel cards with a $95 annual fee. Indeed, the Sapphire Preferred can be rewarding for both infrequent travelers and rewards experts, thanks to its flexible rewards program and terrific card pairing options. Just be aware of the number of cards you have if you want to pair with a Chase card and make sure your monthly budget will benefit from the rewards categories.

Dig deeper: How the Chase Sapphire Preferred pays for itself

The information about the Chase Freedom Flex℠ has been collected independently by Bankrate.com. The card details have not been reviewed or approved by the card issuer.

How we rated this card

We rate credit cards using a proprietary card scoring system that ranks each card’s estimated average rewards rate, estimated annual earnings, welcome bonus value, APR, fees, perks and more against those of other cards in its primary category.

Each card feature is assigned a weighting based on how important it is to people looking for a card in a given category. These features are then scored based on how they rank relative to the features on other cards in the category. Based on these calculations, each card receives an overall rating of 1-5 stars (with 5 being the highest possible score and 1 being the lowest).

We analyzed over 150 of the most popular rewards and cash back cards to determine where each stacked up based on their value, cost, benefits and more. Here are some of the key factors that influenced this card’s overall score and how the score influenced our review:

Rewards value

The primary criteria for a rewards or cash back card’s rating is its rewards value. This includes the card’s average rewards rate, estimated annual rewards earnings, sign-up bonus value and reward redemption value.

To estimate a card’s average annual rewards earnings, we first calculate its average rewards rate based on how much it earns in different bonus categories and how closely its categories align with the average person’s spending habits, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics .

Based on this data, we determine a “chargeable” spend (which purchases are likely to be put on a credit card and earn rewards). This includes the following spending by category:

  • Groceries: $5,200
  • Dining out: $3,000
  • Entertainment: $2,500
  • Gas: $2,100
  • Apparel and services: $1,700

Using this data, we assign a weighting to each of a card’s bonus categories. For example, a card’s grocery rewards rate receives a 23 percent weighting based on how much of the average person’s budget is spent on groceries. We also estimate the redemption value of points or miles from various issuer, airline and hotel rewards programs.

This weighting and rewards valuation allows us to estimate a card’s average annual rewards earnings — how many points or miles you’d earn with a given card if your spending was about average and you used the card for all of your purchases, as well as what those points are worth. We also use point valuations to determine a card’s sign-up bonus value

With these calculations complete, we assign each card a score based on how its average rewards earnings, sign-up bonus value, rewards rate and redemption value stack up against other rewards cards.

We also rate cards based on how much it costs to keep them in your wallet or carry a balance.

To start, each rewards or cash back card is scored based on whether it offers an intro APR and how its ongoing APR compares to the rates available on other rewards or cash back cards.

We also score each card based on how its annual fee influences its overall value.

We consider a card’s annual fee in two ways — how it ranks relative to the fees you’ll find on other cards in the category and how it impacts a card’s overall rewards value. Cards with an annual fee will always be at a slight disadvantage in our scoring system since annual fees inherently cut into your rewards value, but if a card offers terrific value via its ongoing rewards and perks, it can earn a high score even if it carries a high annual fee.

With this in mind, we rate a card based primarily on how its ongoing rewards value and ongoing perk value (such as annual credits or bonuses) stack up against other cards in the category when you subtract its annual fee.

Flexibility

We rate each card’s flexibility based on the restrictions it imposes on earning and redeeming rewards and factor this rating into a card’s overall score.

Flexibility factors include whether a card only allows you to earn a high rewards rate on a small amount of spending or requires you to meet a certain earning threshold before you can redeem rewards. We also examine whether your points are worth less when you redeem for some options versus others and whether a card gives you the flexibility to transfer rewards to airline and hotel partners.

We also score each card’s set of features – its perks and benefits — against five tiers of features to provide a rating. We break down these tiers as follows:

  • Tier 1 has less-than-standard card features (an ultra-streamlined card that offers basic utility and next to nothing in the way of ancillary benefits.
  • Tier 2 includes the benefits you’d expect on standard Visa or Mastercard credit cards, such as free access to your credit score, car rental insurance and $0 liability for fraudulent charges.
  • Tier 3 includes “prime card” or better-than-average card features like cellphone insurance, lost luggage insurance, concierge services and purchase protection.
  • Tier 4 includes luxury features such as airport lounge access, elite status with an airline or hotel and credits for expedited security screening membership programs.
  • Tier 5 includes the sort of exemplary benefits you’ll find on top-tier luxury cards, such as high-value travel credits, cardholder memberships and other unique and valuable perks.

What are the main differences between the Chase Sapphire Preferred and Chase Sapphire Reserve?

The biggest differences between these cards are their annual fees, reward categories and cardholder benefits. The Chase Sapphire Reserve carries a whopping $550 annual fee, while the Sapphire Preferred card's annual fee is just $95. The Reserve card's higher annual fee gets you several perks that are missing from the Preferred card, however, including an up to $300 annual travel credit, up to $100 Global Entry/TSA Precheck credit and more. The Chase Sapphire Reserve also has a higher Ultimate Rewards travel redemption boost — 50 percent compared to the Sapphire Preferred card's 25 percent.

Can you get Priority Pass Select membership with Chase Sapphire Preferred?

No, the Chase Sapphire Preferred does not offer free Priority Pass airport lounge access. Chase Sapphire Preferred cardholders can still enroll in Priority Pass, but you’ll have to either upgrade to the Chase Sapphire Reserve or apply to an eligible alternative to the Reserve card for complimentary Priority Pass Select™ membership.

Does the Chase Sapphire Preferred have rideshare and food delivery service partner perks?

Yes, new Sapphire Preferred cardholders could obtain substantial value from these perks with rideshare, food delivery and other partners:

  • 5X total points on qualifying Lyft purchases , including rides, subscription products, membership products and Lyft bikes and scooters (through March 31, 2025).
  • 5X total points on eligible Peloton Bike, Tread, Row, Guide and accessory purchases totaling at least $250 (earn up to 25,000 points through March 31, 2025).
  • 12 months of complimentary DoorDash DashPass membership, which includes $0 delivery fees and lower services fees on eligible orders (must activate by Dec. 31, 2024) — a $99 value.
  • Six months of complimentary Instacart+ membership, which includes family shopping features, free delivery on groceries and other eligible orders, reduced service fees, $15 in quarterly statement credits (through July 2024 for members), 5 percent back on eligible “Pickup” orders and more (must activate before the July 31, 2024 offer end date) — about a $60 subscription value and up to $30 in quarterly credits.
  • $10 monthly Gopuff statement credits for food and other delivered products (through Dec. 31, 2023) — up to a $60 value, if activated in June 2023.

The Gopuff and Peloton offers are a bit specialized and may not be the most lucrative for some people, but many cardholders may be able to make good use of the Lyft, DoorDash and Instacart perks. The values of just the Instacart+ and DoorDash DashPass offers nearly recoup the cost of the Sapphire Preferred card’s annual fee for the first two years.

Is the Chase Sapphire Preferred hard to get?

It can be difficult for people with fair credit or lower to be approved for this card. However, you may have better approval odds if you have good to excellent credit (a FICO score of 670 or higher or a VantageScore of 661 or higher). You can check with Bankrate’s CardMatch™ tool to see if the Sapphire Preferred card may be a match based on your credit profile.

chase sapphire best travel card

* See the online application for details about terms and conditions for these offers. Every reasonable effort has been made to maintain accurate information. However all credit card information is presented without warranty. After you click on the offer you desire you will be directed to the credit card issuer's web site where you can review the terms and conditions for your selected offer.

Editorial Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, and have not been reviewed or approved by any advertiser. The information, including card rates and fees, is accurate as of the publish date. All products or services are presented without warranty. Check the bank’s website for the most current information.

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My Top 5 Travel Redemptions With the Chase Sapphire Preferred [2023]

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My Top 5 Travel Redemptions With the Chase Sapphire Preferred [2023]

Earning Points

Redeeming points, ana business class from new york (jfk) to tokyo (hnd), ana first class from tokyo (hnd) to san francisco (sfo), 2 nights at hyatt’s hana-maui resort, virgin atlantic economy class from new york (jfk) to london (lhr), iberia business class from madrid (mad) to new york (jfk), final thoughts.

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Recently, the Chase Sapphire Preferred ® Card was offering an elevated 80,000-point welcome offer . While the offer is no longer available, if you were one of the lucky ones to snag this card with the elevated offer, you may be wondering how to best redeem your new stash of Ultimate Rewards points.

In fact, opening the Chase Sapphire Preferred card many years ago is what got me started on this never-ending cycle of earning travel rewards. Combined with the card’s welcome bonus offer and the excellent everyday bonus categories, I’ve stockpiled hundreds of thousands of points over the years.

But how useful are these points, anyway? While award travel is certainly not “free” by any means, redeeming points for flights and hotels has significantly helped to reduce my out-of-pocket costs on trips. In the past, my points have helped me score unbelievable experiences like ziplining through the jungles of Costa Rica and hiking towering waterfalls in Iceland.

Today, I’ll go through the top 5 travel redemptions I’ve made with my Chase Sapphire Preferred Card this year.

How To Earn and Redeem Points From the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card

Before we dive into the nitty gritty, let’s first go over how you earn and redeem points on the Chase Sapphire Preferred card. For starters, let’s take a look at what the current welcome offer is:

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

Chase Sapphire Preferred ® Card

A fantastic travel card with a huge welcome offer, good benefits, and perks for a moderate annual fee.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred ® card is one of the best travel rewards cards on the market. Its bonus categories include travel, dining, online grocery purchases, and streaming services, which gives you the opportunity to earn lots of bonus points on these purchases.

Additionally, it offers flexible point redemption options, no foreign transaction fees, and excellent travel insurance coverage including primary car rental insurance . With benefits like these, it’s easy to see why this card is an excellent choice for any traveler.

  • 5x points on all travel booked via the Chase Travel portal
  • 5x points on select Peloton purchases over $150 (through March 31, 2025)
  • 5x points on Lyft purchases (through March 31, 2025)
  • 3x points on dining purchases, online grocery purchases, and select streaming services
  • 2x points on all other travel worldwide
  • $50 annual credit on hotel stays booked through the Chase Travel portal
  • 6 months of complimentary Instacart+ (activate by July 31, 2024), plus up to $15 in statement credits each quarter through July 2024
  • Excellent travel and car rental insurance
  • 10% annual bonus points
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs like United MileagePlus and World of Hyatt
  • $95 annual fee
  • No elite benefits like airport lounge access or hotel elite status
  • Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
  • Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.
  • Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel.
  • Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
  • Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2024.
  • Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

  • APR: 21.49%-28.49% Variable
  • Foreign Transaction Fees: None

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Beyond earning the welcome offer, the Chase Sapphire Preferred card is a rewards powerhouse for many heavy-hitting bonus categories:

  • Earns 5x points per $1 on all travel booked via the Chase Travel portal
  • Earns 5x points on select Peloton purchases over $250 (through March 31, 2025)
  • Earns 5x points on Lyft purchases (through March 31, 2025)
  • Earns 3x points per $1 on dining purchases, online grocery purchases, and select streaming services
  • Earns 2x points per $1 on all other travel worldwide
  • Earns 1x points per $1 on all other eligible purchases

Whether it’s going out to eat, taking Lyft rides around the city, or even paying for my $2.75 subway rides, I’ve been able to earn bonus points on all of my routine purchases.

Now when it comes time to redeem points, there are many options to consider on the Chase Travel portal. At first glance, it may seem convenient to cash out your Ultimate Rewards points for gift cards or shopping on Amazon. However, your points aren’t worth very much for either option — just 1 cent or 0.8 cents each, respectively.

The best way to redeem your Ultimate Rewards points is for travel, and there are 2 main ways to do so. The first option is to make new travel bookings (flights, hotels, rental cars, or even cruises) through Chase Travel. If you redeem your points in this fashion, they’re worth 1.25 cents apiece — which is certainly a better value than gift cards or Amazon purchases — but even that method isn’t necessarily the best option.

Instead, we highly recommend that you look toward Chase’s 11 airline and 3 hotel transfer partners . Your points transfer at a 1:1 ratio to these participating loyalty programs, including more familiar faces like Marriott Bonvoy , Southwest Rapid Rewards , or United MileagePlus .

Check out our transfer partner tool calculator to know exactly what your Chase Ultimate Rewards points can get you!

But some of these international airlines that you may have never flown such as Air Canada, Singapore Airlines, and Iberia, offer outstanding value that can’t be ignored. In fact, that’s how we arrived at the value of 2 cents per Ultimate Rewards point when leveraging Chase’s transfer partners. It takes a bit more research and elbow grease, yes, but we’re here to provide these resources at Upgraded Points.

My Top 5 Chase Sapphire Preferred Travel Redemptions This Year

Next week, I’ll embark on an exciting 3-week trip to Japan and South Korea. It’s been 5 years since I’ve visited my relatives in South Korea, but this time, I’ll be flying to Asia in style.

Virgin Atlantic has an incredible partnership with Japanese 5-star carrier ANA. If you can find the award space, you can book a one-way, business class flight on the carrier from New York to Tokyo for just 47,500 Virgin Atlantic Flying points. Taxes and fees will run you about $350, but you can’t argue with the value here.

A paid one-way fare would normally cost at least $5,000, so I got almost 10 cents per point by transferring Ultimate Rewards points from my Chase Sapphire Preferred card to Virgin Atlantic Flying Club . (That’s 10x more value than if I had redeemed my Chase points for gift cards!).

ANA the room business

Now the challenging part here is finding award availability (which we’ve detailed fully in this guide) . However, there are usually 2 ways to go about it. The first method is to look way out, 330 days to be exact, when ANA first releases seat availability. The other method is the complete opposite — to look very close to the date you’re looking to fly.

I did a combination of the 2, as I originally found and booked the award space about a year ago. But just 3 weeks before flying, I decided that I wanted to change my travel date and also found plenty of award space booked in closely.

All said and done, I’ve seriously upgraded my 14-hour journey to Asia by using just 47,500 Chase Ultimate Rewards points.

Flying business class to Asia is a bucket-list redemption for many. But did you know you can also use those points to fly first class?

Largely using the same redemption method as above, I’ll be coming home via an ANA flight from Tokyo (HND) to San Francisco (SFO) — in first class. For this ticket, I did book ~330 days out.

Now this ultra-posh ticket would cost closer to $10,000, but I only ended up using 55,000 Virgin Atlantic Flying Club points and paid around $450 in taxes and fees. That’s like getting 17 cents per point in value, which is pretty amazing for Chase Ultimate Rewards points.

ANA New 777 The Suite First Class

Now, redemptions like this seem almost too good to be true, and airlines are always on the hunt to devalue this kind of reward. This did actually happen last month, as Virgin Atlantic raised the award rates for future ANA first class bookings . As such, the same first ticket I booked now requires 72,500 points one-way.

Despite this devaluation, the ability to book first class for less than a six-figure balance of points is still incredible.

Last month, I flew to Oahu to see my college best friend living on the island. Sure, we could have just stayed at her house for the ~10 days I was visiting, but you can’t visit Hawaii without seeing (at least) another island.

Fortunately, my Chase points made this happen. I was able to make a 2-night trip to Maui come to life by booking the Hana-Maui Resort on points. This luxury hotel would have cost $800+ per night , but since it’s part of the World of Hyatt program , I could book it using 30,000 points per night instead.

Hana Maui Main Pool 2

Plus, Chase’s partnership with World of Hyatt is quite valuable as it’s the absolute best loyalty program for booking hotel nights. In sum, I redeemed 60,000 Chase points to achieve 2.67 cents per point in value. While this may seem like more modest of a value compared to my luxurious lie-flat seats to and from Asia, I still love to redeem my points for hotels — especially with these inflated rates recently.

Coupled with $49 island-hopping flights, I couldn’t have been happier with this redemption — stay tuned for a review coming very soon.

As glamorous as my redemptions have seemed so far, I don’t have an unlimited points stash to use just for business- or first-class flights. I love a good flight deal and am more than happy to fly economy, especially if the flight is under 8 hours or if it’s not a red-eye.

This summer, I’m going on a cruise with a friend out of Barcelona. Because it seems like everyone and their mother is trying to go to Europe this summer, award tickets are scarce.

However, Virgin Atlantic saves the day yet again. The U.K.-based carrier hosts sales several times per year, and back in February, the carrier offered a 30% discount on select award flights . Therefore, I managed to book a flight from New York (JFK) to London (LHR) for just 7,500 Virgin Atlantic Flying Club points and about $150 in taxes and fees.

Virgin Atlantic A350 Upper Suite LHR gate A350

My same one-way ticket would have cost me at least $700, so I got a terrific 7 cents per point value. Even without the 30% award sale, the same flight would only cost 10,000 Virgin Flying Club points — and there’s lots of award availability at the time of writing.

JFK LHR Virgin Flying Club

On the way back, I decided to splurge for an Iberia business class flight from Madrid (MAD). The Spanish flag carrier offers one of the most reasonable award rates for a lie-flat seat to and from Europe: 34,000 Avios (off-peak) or 50,000 Avios (peak).

Iberia A350 business class seat in reclined position

As I’m flying during the peak summer season, I transferred 50,000 Ultimate Rewards points to Iberia Avios and paid $150 in taxes and fees. The same ticket would have cost me at least $5,000 one-way, which is way too steep for an 8-hour flight. Still, that’s a sizeable value of almost 10 cents per point.

However, you could also stretch your points vastly by redeeming them for economy flights. Iberia is only charging 17,000 Avios one-way in economy for flights to Spain to/from the East Coast, which is another solid redemption to consider.

The total tally clocks in at 220,000 redeemed Ultimate Rewards points this year. That may seem like an eye-popping amount of rewards — but once you factor a stash of 80,000 points and everyday earning opportunities — I guarantee it won’t take you long to creep up with a similar balance of points.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred card is the absolute best place to start if you’ve been longing to book travel using points.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a 80,000-point welcome offer the best on chase sapphire preferred card.

A few years ago, the Chase Sapphire Preferred card offered a historic 100,000-point welcome offer. However, it hasn’t come back since then. Therefore, 80,000 points would be a great welcome offer (when available) if you’re debating adding this card to your wallet.

How do I find award availability for Chase's transfer partners?

Read through our ultimate guide to searching for award availability, which details virtually every airline you can think of! This is a great starting point to understanding how leveraging airline alliances and partnerships can prove to be immensely beneficial when booking award flights.

Why is World of Hyatt the best hotel transfer program?

Unlike other major hotel chains, World of Hyatt publishes a clear award chart that maps out the exact number of points you’ll need for a given stay. Plus, Hyatt offers the most reasonable award rates, as you can book a hotel night for as little as 3,500 points! Be sure to read through our guide on the best ways to redeem your Hyatt points .

What are 80,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points worth?

We value Chase Ultimate Rewards points at 2 cents each when you transfer to the bank’s loyalty partners. Therefore, 80,000 points can be worth $1,600 — or potentially even more as seen in this article!

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About Stella Shon

With a degree in media and journalism, Stella has been in the points and miles game for more than 6 years. She most recently worked as a Corporate Communications Analyst for JetBlue. Find her work in The New York Times, USA Today, and more.

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Chase Sapphire Preferred Card – Full Review [2024]

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Why the Chase Sapphire Preferred Is the Only Travel Credit Card You Need

With great travel protections and points that transfer to over a dozen airline and hotel partners, the chase sapphire preferred is the best travel credit card around..

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Why the Chase Sapphire Preferred Is the Only Travel Credit Card You Need

Sign-up points from the Chase Sapphire Preferred could propel your next adventure.

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With the preponderance of excellent travel credit card offers currently available, you might be thinking about applying for a new card . If you were to get just a single travel credit card right now, though, it should be the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card . The Ultimate Rewards points it earns are more versatile than almost any other rewards currency out there, including most airline miles and hotel points. Throw in its excellent travel and purchase protections, and a few other value-added perks , and the Chase Sapphire Preferred will be the only travel credit card you need as you get out into the world again.

The value of Ultimate Rewards points

The term “travel rewards” usually means airline miles or hotel points. However, the Ultimate Rewards points you can earn with the Chase Sapphire Preferred are another type of travel rewards currency, and they can be much more useful. That’s because instead of only being able to redeem them for award tickets on a single airline or free nights with just one hotel chain, you can use Ultimate Rewards points in a variety of interesting ways, both travel-related and otherwise.

First and foremost is simply to cash them in for travel bookings—including flights, hotels, cruises, and vacation rentals—directly through the Chase travel portal . Rather than having to search for and find limited award availability, as you would with individual airline or hotel programs, using Chase points this way is just like paying for a trip. Only you’re using points instead of cash.

You can always redeem Ultimate Rewards points for statement credits against other purchases at one cent apiece, sort of like cash back. Airline miles and hotel points, on the other hand, tend to yield much lower values when redeemed for things other than travel.

More partners, more options

What makes Ultimate Rewards points even more special is that you can also convert them into various airline frequent-flier miles or hotel points on a 1:1 basis, and usually instantaneously (though transfers might take up to a few business days). The current partners include:

Airline partners

  • Aer Lingus AerClub
  • Air Canada Aeroplan
  • Air France/KLM Flying Blue
  • British Airways Executive Club
  • Emirates Skywards
  • Iberia Plus
  • JetBlue TrueBlue
  • Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer
  • Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards
  • United MileagePlus
  • Virgin Atlantic Flying Club

Hotel partners

  • World of Hyatt
  • IHG Rewards Club
  • Marriott Bonvoy

The beauty of transferable points is that they expand your redemption options dramatically. You can use a specific airline’s miles for tickets on its own flights as well as those of partners. But because you can transfer Ultimate Rewards points to 11 airlines, you can take advantage of all their partners as well. Having multiple hotel options also means more places to redeem points and save money on nightly rates, too. And while it might take a little more work to leverage British Airways Executive Club Avios for American Airlines and Alaska Airlines flights, or Virgin Atlantic Flying Club points for Delta awards, that shouldn’t put you off. Plus, with three major U.S. airline partners—JetBlue, Southwest, and United—you should be able to find plenty of ways to redeem points easily for domestic travel and beyond.

Another advantage to transferable points? Rather than having to spend years being loyal to an individual airline or hotel group, which could change its rewards chart at any time and raise its points prices, you can accrue transferable points and then send them to the specific partner program with the best options for you when it comes time to redeem. Basically, transferable points free you from the loyalty hamster wheel, and insulate you against any unexpected changes a single airline or hotel company might make to its rewards program.

Lucrative earning rates

Many airline credit cards earn multiple miles per dollar on purchases specifically from the affiliated carrier, but just one mile per dollar on most other purchases. Likewise, hotel credit cards tend to earn a lot of points on stays, but fewer points on other purchases, although some also offer bonus earning in other categories such as gas stations or grocery stores.

Part of what makes the Chase Sapphire Preferred unique, though, is its earning structure as of August 16, 2021. It now accrues..

  • Five points per dollar on travel booked through Chase Travel
  • Three points per dollar (up from two) on dining
  • Three points per dollar on select streaming services—including Disney+, Hulu, ESPN+, Netflix, Sling, Vudu, Fubo TV, Apple Music, SiriusXM, Pandora, Spotify, and YouTube TV
  • Three points per dollar online grocery purchases, except for Target, Walmart, and wholesale clubs
  • Two points per dollar on travel not booked through Chase
  • One point per dollar on other purchases

The number of merchants classified within its bonus categories is truly staggering , so you can really ramp up your earning with little effort.

Unparalleled travel protections

Although they don’t get much attention, some of the most valuable benefits any credit card can offer are travel insurance and purchase protection . While many other credit cards have cut back on these benefits recently, the Chase Sapphire Preferred is such an ideal travel credit card precisely because it continues to offer one of the most comprehensive compendiums of travel protections of any rewards credit card.

Among the ones that set it apart from the pack are trip interruption and cancellation insurance of up to $10,000 per person and $20,000 per trip and primary auto rental insurance for theft or damage to a rental vehicle, so you can steer clear of a rental agency’s expensive policies. With trip delay insurance, if your common carrier (e.g., an airline) is late by more than six hours, you can claim up to $500 for expenses like meals and lodging. Lost luggage is covered up to $3,000 per person, and if your bags are delayed six hours or more, you might be eligible for up to $100 per day for as many as five days to cover things like replacement clothes and toiletries.

Finally, the card’s purchase protection lasts up to 120 days after purchase and will cover up to $500 per claim and $50,000 per account if your item is damaged or stolen. That won’t cover major buys, but it will still be sufficient for most travelers’ needs.

Savings and statement credits

The Chase Sapphire Preferred is a great choice for international travel , too, since it waives foreign transaction fees that usually amount to two or three percent of each transaction.

Among the other benefits coming into play as of August 16, 2021, the card will now offer a $50 annual credit on hotel stays purchased through Chase Travel. (New cardmembers can earn this credit immediately, while existing cardmembers will start earning this after their next card anniversary.) Each year on the anniversary of opening their account, cardholders will now earn bonus points equivalent to 10 percent of the total purchases they made the previous year, too.

Downsides and shortcomings

There’s no doubt that the Chase Sapphire Preferred is a strong choice for the average traveler. That said, if you’re loyal to one particular airline or hotel, you might miss out on certain benefits.

For example, many airline credit cards, such as the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card, extend money- and time-saving day-of-travel benefits like free checked bags, priority boarding, and in-flight discounts (terms apply). Some, like the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®, even include lounge access. If you fly with one particular airline more than any other but do not have elite status, you might want to consider getting one of its cobranded credit cards instead of the Chase Sapphire Preferred to enjoy these elite-like benefits.

In the same way, many hotel credit cards , including the World of Hyatt Credit Card, actually offer automatic elite status as one of their benefits, so you might receive upgrades and other conveniences like free premium Wi-Fi and late checkout during stays just for being a cardholder. That obviously wouldn’t be the case with just the Chase Sapphire Preferred in your wallet.

Unlike some of its main competitors, including the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card (which charges the same $95 annual fee as the Chase Sapphire Preferred, incidentally), the Sapphire Preferred does not include statement credits toward Global Entry or TSA PreCheck applications, either.

Finally, if it’s VIP treatment you’re after, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® extends a lot of premium perks, like the ability to enroll in Priority Pass Select for access to over 1,200 airport lounges and $300 in annual travel statement credits that help offset its $550 annual fee.

In short, if you’re looking for perks with one particular airline or hotel chain, you might be better off with their cobranded cards. However, the Chase Sapphire Preferred will still be a better choice for folks who play the field more or who already earn elite status through their usual travel activity so they can enjoy these types of perks on their own.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred is among the best travel rewards credit cards ever created, and if you can only choose one, this should be it. Paired with excellent travel protections and other valuable perks, applying for the Chase Sapphire Preferred right now is the best move you can make to stock up on travel rewards for your next trip.

While the offers mentioned above are accurate at the time of publication, they are subject to change at any time, and may have changed or may no longer be available. This article was originally published June 25, 2021, and updated in August 2021, October 2021, and again on April 27, 2022.

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Explore all the benefits of Sapphire Reserve

Rewards to inspire your next adventure.

The Chase Sapphire Reserve card makes every purchase rewarding. Make your journey memorable with travel perks, private dinners, and VIP access at sought-after events. Explore your complete Guide to Benefits or learn more about your benefits below.

01          Travel

chase sapphire best travel card

Get closer to your happy place

Earn points as you seek out new destinations. Book a hotel, make the most of airfare, hail rides around town and more.

$300 Travel Credit

Get reimbursed for up to $300 in travel purchases you make with your Sapphire Reserve card 1 each year. Each year, your first $300 in travel purchases will not earn rewards points. 2

Book through The Edit SM

Experience distinct benefits at a curated collection of hotels and resorts when you book through The Edit by Chase Travel SM , an exclusive benefit for Sapphire Reserve cardmembers. 7

10x on hotels through Chase Travel

Earn 10x total points on hotels (excluding The Edit) and car rentals purchased through Chase Travel after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. 1

5x points on flights through Chase Travel

Earn 5x total points on flights purchased travel through Chase Travel after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. 1

3x points on travel

Enjoy the trip even more with bonus points on travel purchases like airfare and hotels. 1

Unlimited points

There is no limit to the number of points you can earn. Points don’t expire as long as your account is open. 1

Enjoy more premium travel rewards

When you travel with Sapphire, plan on benefits ranging from generous statement credits to access to luxury properties worldwide.

Global Entry or TSA PreCheck ®  or NEXUS fee credit

Receive a statement credit of up to $100 every four years as reimbursement for the application fee charged to your Sapphire Reserve card. 5

No blackout dates or restrictions

Book travel through Chase Travel and if a seat’s available, it’s yours.

No foreign transaction fees

Pay no foreign transaction fees when you use your card outside the United States. 6 For example, if you spend $5,000 internationally, you would avoid $150 in foreign transaction fees.

Elite hotel benefits at Relais & Châteaux

Enjoy great benefits like a VIP welcome and complimentary breakfast daily at select properties with Relais & Châteaux, a prestigious collection of luxury properties in over 60 countries. Call the Visa Infinite Concierge at 1-877-660-0905 for more details and to book your stay. 8

Special car rental privileges

Enroll in leading car rental rewards programs from National Car Rental, Avis and Silvercar. Log in to Chase Travel to access the special car rental privileges section of your travel benefits page to book with your card. Enjoy enhanced benefits, such as upgrades and car rental discounts, savings on luxury and premium rental car rates, plus promotions and other offers. 9

Ennismore hotel benefits

Your card gets you VIP access to benefits at Delano, Hyde, Mondrian, Morgans Originals and SLS hotels and resorts around the world. Cardmembers can stay a little longer with a complimentary 4th night, receive room upgrades and late check outs, along with priority access to cabana reservations, a $30 food and beverage credit and much more. 10

Free Lyft Pink

Get 2 complimentary years of Lyft Pink All Access when activated by Dec 31, 2024—a value of $199/year. 3 This includes member-exclusive pricing, free Priority Pickup upgrades, discounts on bikeshare and more. Membership auto-renews.

Don't forget as a Sapphire Reserve cardmember you'll still earn 10x total points on Lyft rides through March 2025. 4 That’s 7x points in addition to the 3x points you already earn on travel. That’s 7x points in addition to the 3x points you already earn on travel. Activate Lyft Pink All Access

02          Dining

chase sapphire best travel card

Indulge in worldwide dining experiences

Whether visiting your local bistro or a restaurant on your bucket list, there are always special dining rewards with Sapphire Reserve.

Private dining series

Sit down for a memorable meal at some of the most sought-after restaurants in the country.

3x points on dining

Earn triple the points at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery services with your Sapphire Reserve card. 1 From Sunday brunch to a birthday dinner, meals out mean more rewards.

DoorDash & Caviar benefits

Takeout tastes even better with a complimentary DashPass membership on both DoorDash and Caviar. You’ll pay no delivery fee and lower service fees on eligible orders for a minimum of one year. Activate by Dec. 31, 2024 12 . Plus, as a DashPass member get a $5 monthly DoorDash credit automatically applied at checkout 13 .

Instacart benefits from Sapphire

Skip the trip and have your groceries delivered to your doorstep with 1 year of complimentary Instacart+. 14 In addition, Instacart+ members earn up to $15 in statement credits each month through July 2024. 15 Membership auto-renews. Terms apply.

03           Ultimate Rewards ®

chase sapphire best travel card

Get the most from your rewards

Enjoy the flexibility of booking airfare, hotels and car rentals through Chase Travel or transfer points to other travel programs.

More value with travel redemption

Your points are worth 50% more when you redeem them for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruise lines through Chase Travel—our easy-to-use portal that helps you maximize your travel spending. For example, 50,000 points are worth $750 toward travel. 16

Worldwide travel assistance

Whether you need help booking travel or modifying a reservation count on the full-service support of the Chase Travel team.

1:1 point transfer to leading frequent travel programs

Transfer points to participating frequent travel programs at a full 1:1 value—that means 1,000 points equals 1,000 partner miles/points.

No travel restrictions or blackout dates on airline tickets booked through Chase Travel.

1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases

In addition to earning 3 points per dollar on travel and dining at restaurants, you’ll earn 1 point for every dollar you spend on all your other purchases. 1

Flexibility

You can book airfare, hotels and car rentals through Chase Travel using your Sapphire Reserve card, your points or a combination of both—it's up to you.

More ways to get the most from your rewards

Redeem your points for statement credits, gift cards or choose from other flexible ways to make your points work for you.

Shop through Chase ®

Shop online with brands you already love. Earn 1x–15x bonus points at more than 450 popular retailers with Shop through Chase. 16

25% more value with Pay Yourself Back ®

Redeem points for statement credits toward your annual fee and eligible purchases for gas, wholesale clubs, and pet supplies & services by June 31, 2024.

Choose from a selection of over 150 gift cards from some of your favorite retailers and more.

Pay with points

Use your points to pay for all or part of your purchases with popular brands like Apple ® 19 and Amazon.com. 20

04          Lounges

chase sapphire best travel card

Relax with airport lounge access

With access to Chase Sapphire Lounge by The Club and Priority Pass lounges, each trip becomes an invitation to indulge before you get there.

Enjoy complimentary Priority Pass TM Select membership

Departing for your destination is more relaxing with access to 1,300+ Priority Pass airport lounges in 600+ cities around the world, plus every Sapphire Lounge by The Club, after a one- time enrollment in Priority Pass Select.

Visit Sapphire Lounge by The Club

Relax and refresh at a Sapphire Lounge and enjoy locally inspired menus, a curated selection of beverages, an atmosphere to remember and more. Sapphire Reserve cardmembers, ensure you're enrolled in your complimentary Priority Pass Select membership for lounge access.

The Reserve Suites by Chase

Reserve cardmembers, treat yourself to The Reserve Suites at Sapphire Lounge by The Club at LaGuardia Airport in Terminal B. Enjoy caviar service on arrival, specially curated wine lists by Parcelle, exclusive menus by Jeffrey's Grocery, private bathrooms with spa showers and more. Chase Sapphire Reserve cardmembers can book a suite for a fee up to 72 hours prior to flight departure. Find details on the Chase Mobile ® app in Benefits & Travel. The Reserve Suites are limited and subject to availability.

05          Protection

chase sapphire best travel card

Travel with peace of mind 22

When you take to the air or hit the road, we make security a priority. Here are some of the protection services built into your Sapphire Reserve card benefits.

Trip Cancellation / Interruption Insurance

If your trip is canceled or cut short by sickness, severe weather and other covered situations, you can be reimbursed up to $10,000 per person and $20,000 per trip for your pre-paid, non-refundable travel expenses, including passenger fares, tours and hotels.

Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver

Decline the rental company’s collision insurance and charge the entire rental cost to your card. Coverage is primary and provides reimbursement up to $75,000 for theft and collision damage for rental cars in the U.S. and abroad.

Emergency Evacuation and Transportation

If you or a member of your immediate family are injured or become sick during a trip far from home that results in an emergency evacuation, you can be covered for medical services and transportation up to $100,000.

Trip Delay Reimbursement

If your common carrier travel is delayed more than 6 hours or requires an overnight stay, you and your family are covered for unreimbursed expenses, such as meals and lodging, up to $500 per ticket.

Travel Accident Insurance

When you pay for your air, bus, train or cruise transportation with your card, you are eligible to receive accidental death or dismemberment coverage of up to $1,000,000.

Baggage Delay Insurance

Reimburses you for essential purchases like toiletries and clothing for baggage delays over 6 hours by passenger carrier up to $100 a day for 5 days.

Roadside Assistance

If you have a roadside emergency, you can call for a tow, jumpstart, tire change, locksmith or gas. You’re covered up to $50 per incident 4 times a year.

Sapphire Reserve Benefits Guide

These are just some of the protection services built into your Sapphire Reserve card benefits. Your Guide to Benefits has more of what you need to know about your travel and purchase protection benefits.

Account security and protection

Your Sapphire Reserve card is equipped with the enhanced account and purchase protection you deserve.

Zero Liability Protection 23

Zero Liability Protection means you won’t be held responsible for unauthorized charges made with your card or account information. If you see an unauthorized charge, simply call the number on the back of your card.

Fraud protection

We help safeguard your credit card purchases using sophisticated fraud monitoring. We monitor for fraud 24/7 and can text, email or call you if there are unusual purchases on your credit card.

Fraud alerts

We monitor for fraud 24/7 and can text, email or call you if there are unusual purchases on your credit card. 24 Please sign in to chase.com and review your personal details to ensure your mailing address, phone and/or email are up to date.

Return Protection

You can be reimbursed for eligible items that the store won’t take back within 90 days of purchase, up to $500 per item, $1,000 per year. 22

Extended Warranty Protection

Extends the time period of the manufacturer's U.S. warranty by an additional year on eligible warranties of 3 years or less. 22

Chip-enabled for enhanced security and wider acceptance

A credit card with an embedded chip provides enhanced security and wider acceptance when you make purchases at chip-enabled card readers in the U.S. and abroad.

Purchase Protection

Covers your new purchases for 120 days against damage or theft up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per year. 22

06          Events

chase sapphire best travel card

Exclusive access to events and experiences

Sapphire cardmembers enjoy priority ticketing and the best seats in the house for a wide range of events.

Reserved by Sapphire SM 

Explore one-of-a-kind experiences from private dinners hosted by award-winning chefs to VIP access at the most sought after events. See where your Sapphire Reserve card can take you.

Events and experiences lounges

Enjoy comfortable seating at Chase Sapphire events in prime locations, complimentary food and drinks, plus a range of amenities, such as a dining concierge, charging stations, Wi-Fi and more.

Early-access tickets

Beat the crowds. Get your tickets to concerts and sporting events before they sell out.

Priority seating

Get up close to the court or the stage. Sapphire Reserve cardmembers can experience events from the best seats in the house.

07          Wellness

chase sapphire best travel card

Earn 10x total points on Peloton

Work out your way — from HIIT rides to walks and hikes to strength training, and more: Get 10x total points on Peloton equipment and accessory purchases over $150 with a max earn of 50,000 points. Shop Peloton Bikes, Tread, Guide, or Row. Offer ends Mar. 31, 2025. 25

Shop Peloton

08          Services

chase sapphire best travel card

Personalized assistance for Sapphire cardmembers

Turn to Sapphire for help coordinating travel, restaurant reservations, access to entertainment and more complimentary assistance and referrals.

24/7 access to customer service

Talk to a dedicated specialist whenever you need assistance. Simply call the number on the back of your card.

Visa Infinite Concierge Service 26

Contact Visa Infinite Concierge at 1-877-660-0905 for help with dinner reservations or Broadway, music and sporting event tickets.

Travel and emergency assistance

If you run into a problem away from home, call the Benefit Administrator for legal and medical referrals or other travel and emergency assistance. (You will be responsible for the cost of any goods or services obtained.)

Easily get more from your Sapphire experience

From mobile account access to contactless payment, cardmembers can enjoy many safe and convenient features.

Manage your account with ease

Create an account on chase.com and download the Chase Mobile ® app 27 to check account and points balances, pay bills and more.

Tap-to-pay contactless checkout

Simply tap to pay with your contactless Chase Sapphire card. Just look for the Contactless Symbol at checkout, then tap your contactless card on the checkout terminal. It's fast, easy and secure!

Add an authorized user

Maximize your reward earning potential by adding an authorized user to your account. 28

Go paperless

Get your statement online. Safely access up to 6 years of statements online. It's secure, convenient and reduces clutter.

Convenient ways to pay

Load your card into a digital wallet for a quick and secure way to pay with your mobile device and receive all the benefits and rewards of using your Sapphire Reserve card.

Earn points automatically

Grow your points balance by using your card as the primary payment method for:

  • Online checkout Add your card to your favorite shopping apps and online merchants to conveniently build up your points balance.
  • Monthly bills Use your card to make auto payments for monthly bills (e.g., cell phone and utility bills). 29

Redeem_for_travel_image

Redeem for travel

Use points toward your next getaway—they’re worth 50% more when you redeem them for travel through Chase Travel.

Family at the dinner table

Pay Yourself Back ®

Your points have more value when you redeem them for statement credits after making eligible purchases on gas, wholesale clubs, and pet supplies & services by June 31, 2024.

Chase dining tile

Chase Dining SM

Order takeout at popular eateries around town or make reservations at restaurants, wineries and bars across the country.

There's so much for you

chase sapphire best travel card

More Sapphire Offers

There’s so much more to make yours—top benefits, offers and experiences for Sapphire Reserve cardmembers.  

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Reserved by Sapphire SM

Your Sapphire Reserve card opens new doors to more flavors, sights and sounds. Explore the extraordinary lineup of experiences—including culinary, sports, music and entertainment.  

Refer A Friend

Refer-A-Friend

Earn up to 75,000 bonus points per year by referring friends to either Chase Sapphire ® card.  

Already a Sapphire cardmember?

Sign in to view your account, access exclusive content and take advantage of your Sapphire benefits.

Not a Sapphire cardmember yet?

We’re glad you’re here. Learn more about getting a Sapphire card.

chase sapphire best travel card

Es posible que esta comunicación contenga información acerca de usted o su cuenta. Si tiene alguna pregunta, por favor, llame al número que aparece en el reverso de su tarjeta.

View the details of the Sapphire Reserve benefits offered on this page.

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Go further when you book with Chase Travel

Competitive rates.

Take advantage of competitive rates at thousands of hotels and resorts, with no booking fees.

Seamless booking

Smoothly plan and book your whole trip, from coveted hotels and convenient flights to cars and must-do local experiences.

Premium benefits

Make the most of your card rewards. Access exclusive benefits and earn and redeem like never before.

Find inspiration

chase sapphire best travel card

Don’t just dream it. Discover your next adventure with help from fresh trip recommendations and curated picks for unforgettable stays.

Get rewarded

chase sapphire best travel card

Earn and redeem Ultimate Rewards points with your eligible Chase card, including Chase Sapphire, Freedom, Ink Business credit cards and more.

Earn up to 8,000 bonus points or more

Eligible cardmembers can purchase a trip through Chase Travel with their eligible Chase credit card and get rewarded with 5,000 bonus Ultimate Rewards points when purchasing 2 qualifying travel components, or 8,000 when purchasing 3. Choose from hotels, flights, cars and cruises.

Haven’t traveled with us in a while? You may be eligible for an extra 2,000 bonus points.

Activate and book March 1 to May 31, 2024 for stays through the end of the year.

Earn bonus points

What the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey Visa Card offers

How other travel cards compare to the wells fargo autograph journey℠ visa® card, 3 key benefits cardholders get from the autograph journey , move over, chase sapphire preferred. this new travel credit card is turning heads.

Wells Fargo's newest card has one key advantage over the gold standard in travel cards.

Holly Johnson

Holly Johnson

Contributor

Holly Johnson is a credit card expert and writer who covers rewards and loyalty programs, budgeting, and all things personal finance. In addition to writing for publications like Bankrate, CreditCards.com, Forbes Advisor and Investopedia, Johnson owns Club Thrifty and is the co-author of "Zero Down Your Debt: Reclaim Your Income and Build a Life You'll Love."

Tiffany Connors

Tiffany Wendeln Connors is a senior editor for CNET Money with a focus on credit cards. Previously, she covered personal finance topics as a writer and editor at The Penny Hoarder. She is passionate about helping people make the best money decisions for themselves and their families. She graduated from Bowling Green State University with a bachelor's degree in journalism and has been a writer and editor for publications including the New York Post, Women's Running magazine and Soap Opera Digest. When she isn't working, you can find her enjoying life in St. Petersburg, Florida, with her husband, daughter and a very needy dog.

The editorial content on this page is based solely on objective, independent assessments by our writers and is not influenced by advertising or partnerships. It has not been provided or commissioned by any third party. However, we may receive compensation when you click on links to products or services offered by our partners.

The Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Visa® Card * -- Wells Fargo’s latest and best travel card -- recently launched with an impressive set of features. Its competitive rewards, welcome bonus and redemption options take aim at incumbent travel credit cards from Chase, American Express and Capital One.

What gives Wells Fargo’s first foray into the point-transfer space an edge is that you don’t have to book travel in a portal to earn the highest rewards rates. 

Here’s why we think the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey could go toe-to-toe with some of the best travel credit cards, plus three insider tips to help you decide if you should add it to your credit card lineup.

Here’s a quick overview of what you can expect with the Autograph Journey:

  • Earn 60,000 welcome bonus rewards points after spending $4,000 in purchases within three months of account opening.
  • Earn unlimited 5x points on hotels, 4x points on airlines, 3x points on other travel and dining and 1x on other purchases.
  • Receive an annual statement credit with a $50 minimum airline purchase.
  • No foreign transaction fees.
  • Other benefits include trip cancellation and interruption insurance, lost luggage reimbursement, roadside dispatch and cell phone insurance.
  • $95 annual fee.

Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card

Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Here’s a rundown of four facts we discovered about the Autograph Journey that you should know when deciding whether to apply.

1. You can transfer points with Wells Fargo point-based cards

The launch of the Autograph Journey also marks the first transferable points program from Wells Fargo, which joins other card issuers like Chase and Capital One, which have their own pooling programs .

Autograph Journey will be able to do a points transfer with the no-annual-fee Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card . This is especially notable since the Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card offers bonus rewards in different categories than the Autograph Journey. 

For example, the Autograph card earns unlimited 3x points on restaurants, travel, gas stations, transit, popular streaming services and phone plans, plus 1x points on other purchases. So you can maximize your point earning across different categories, then transfer your points to your Autograph Journey account to access premium travel redemptions.

2. It offers more options for earning bonus miles on travel than some competitors

The Autograph Journey will offer more flexibility than many travel rewards cards when it comes to earning more points on travel purchases. For example, cardholders earn unlimited 5x points on hotels booked directly with hotel brands and 4x points on airfare booked with airlines. 

This helps the card stand out from other popular travel credit cards that offer the most bonus points only if you book travel through their portals. For example, the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card * and the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card * only offer the highest bonus rewards on travel booked through Capital One Travel. The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card also offers its highest rate of 5x points on travel booked through Chase Travel℠, whereas other travel purchases earn 2x points.

Autograph Journey cardholders also earn a minimum of 3x points on other travel purchases, which could include rental cars, cruises and travel booked through online travel agencies like Expedia and Priceline.

3. The card may grow in value as more transfer partners join

The Autograph Journey Card will earn flexible travel rewards points that transfer to a selection of airline and hotel partners, similar to Amex Membership Rewards points or Chase Ultimate Rewards . While the list of transfer partners is limited, Wells Fargo stated in its initial press release that “more partners will continue to be added throughout the year.”

Points transfers could dramatically change the value proposition of the Autograph Journey, especially if new partners include domestic airlines and popular hotel loyalty programs. 

Wells Fargo point transfers will be available to new cardholders starting on April 4. For now, Wells Fargo transfer partners include the following:

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After writing about hundreds of credit cards, these two are still my favorite, 6 reasons the chase sapphire preferred should be your next credit card, 3 steps to take when your flight is canceled or delayed, 8 best credit card strategies to maximize earnings in 2024, as a foodie who enjoys a night out on the town, this credit card gives me plenty to savor.

* All information about the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey, Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card and Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card have been collected independently by CNET and has not been reviewed by the issuer.

CNET editors independently choose every product and service we cover. Though we can’t review every available financial company or offer, we strive to make comprehensive, rigorous comparisons in order to highlight the best of them. For many of these products and services, we earn a commission. The compensation we receive may impact how products and links appear on our site.

Chase Sapphire Reserve (Registered Trademark) credit card

Chase Sapphire Reserve ® Credit Card

New cardmember offer, 60,000 bonus points, at a glance, exceptional travel rewards and benefits.

CHASE Sapphire Reserve (Registered Trademark) logo

Travel Credit Card Rewards & Benefits

after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. * Opens offer details overlay That's $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel SM .

This product is available to you if you do not have any Sapphire card and have not received a new cardmember bonus for any Sapphire card in the past 48 months.

$1,000 in additional partnership benefit value

Take advantage of over $1,000 in partner value Opens overlay. with Sapphire Reserve. * Opens offer details overlay

$300 Annual Travel Credit

Take advantage of the most flexible travel credit available Opens overlay. by receiving up to $300 in statement credit reimbursements each anniversary year for more of your travel purchases than any other card. * Opens offer details overlay

More ways to earn

Earn 5x total points on flights when you purchase travel through Chase Travel after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. * Opens offer details overlay

Earn 10x total points on hotels (excluding The Edit SM ) and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. * Opens offer details overlay

Earn 3x points on dining at restaurants, including eligible delivery services, takeout, and dining out. Plus earn 3x points on other travel worldwide after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. * Opens offer details overlay

Earn 10x total points on Chase Dining purchases with Ultimate Rewards ® . * Opens offer details overlay

Get 50% more value when you redeem for travel through Chase. For example, 60,000 points are worth $900 toward travel. * Opens offer details overlay Plus, ultimate rewards points do not expire as long as the account is open. * Opens offer details overlay

Complimentary Airport Lounge Access

Complimentary access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide with up to two guests, plus every Chase Sapphire Lounge by The Club location, after an easy one-time enrollment in Priority Pass ™ Select. * Opens offer details overlay

Global Entry or TSA PreCheck ® or NEXUS Fee Credit

Receive one statement credit of up to $100 every four years as reimbursement for the application fee charged to your card. * Opens offer details overlay

Explore Additional Benefits

Nerdwallet Best-Of Awards 2024 2X winner accolade

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if you already have either Chase Sapphire ® Credit Card!

Earn up to 75K bonus points per year

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Cardmember Reviews

This card has been fantastic. The sign up bonus was amazing. Great value added.

Amazing Travel Card

I am obsessed with this card. The points are so easy to earn and so easy to redeem. I love how easy it is to transfer to travel partners, and so many of them! As a military family, we have used the travel protection when we get surprise orders after booking a trip. Keep up the great work, Chase!

Awesome Travel Credit Card

I travel every week for business and several times a year for family vacation. No card has the benefits or service or reward points that the Chase Sapphire Reserve card offers. If you travel, you must have this card in your wallet. It's a must have. Thank you to the Chase Team for offering such an amazing travel card...

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Your points get you more, turn points into travel experiences and so much more, 50% more in travel redemption.

Get 50% more value when you redeem for travel through Chase Travel. For example, 60,000 points are worth $900 toward travel. * Opens offer details overlay

No Blackout Dates or Travel Restrictions

As long as there's a seat on the flight or room at the hotel, you can book it through Chase Travel.

1:1 Point Transfer

Transfer your points to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs at 1 to 1 value. That means 1,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points equal 1,000 partner miles/points.

Ultimate Rewards Points Do Not Expire

Ultimate Rewards points do not expire as long as the account is open.

No foreign transaction fees

You will pay no foreign transaction fees when you use your card for purchases made outside the United States. † Opens pricing and terms in new window For example, if you spend $5,000 internationally, you would avoid $150 in foreign transaction fees.

Elevate your travels from door to door

Automatically receive up to $300 in statement credits as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year. * Opens offer details overlay

The Edit SM

Book through The Edit SM and discover a curated collection of inspired stays with cardmember benefits including daily breakfast for two, a $100 property credit, room upgrades (upon availability) and more. * Opens offer details overlay

Reserved by Sapphire

Explore the extraordinary lineup of experiences * Opens offer details overlay —including culinary, sports, music and entertainment.

Your Sapphire Reserve Visa Infinite card unlocks special car rental benefits

Enjoy VIP amenities, complimentary status upgrades, and discounts with Avis ® , Hertz ® , National ® and Audi On Demand when you book with your Sapphire Reserve Visa Infinite card. * Opens offer details overlay

Travel protection

The most comprehensive suite of travel benefits, auto rental collision damage waiver.

Decline the rental company's collision insurance and charge the entire rental cost to your card. Coverage is primary and provides reimbursement up to $75,000 for theft and collision damage for rental cars in the U.S. and abroad. ^ Same page link to disclaimer

Trip Cancellation / Interruption Insurance

If your trip is canceled or cut short by sickness, severe weather and other covered situations, you can be reimbursed up to $10,000 per person and 20,000 per trip for your pre-paid, non-refundable travel expenses, including passenger fares, tours and hotels. ^ Same page link to disclaimer

Trip Delay Reimbursement

If your common carrier travel is delayed more than 6 hours or requires an overnight stay, you and your family are covered for unreimbursed expenses, such as meals and lodging, up to $500 per ticket. ^ Same page link to disclaimer

Travel Accident Insurance

When you pay for your air, bus, train or cruise transportation with your card, you are eligible to receive accidental death or dismemberment coverage of up to $1,000,000. ^ Same page link to disclaimer

Travel and Emergency Assistance Services

If you run into a problem away from home, call the Benefit Administrator for legal and medical referrals or other travel emergency assistance. (You will be responsible for the cost of any goods or services obtained.) ^ Same page link to disclaimer

Lost Luggage Reimbursement

If you or an immediate family member check or carry-on luggage that is damaged or lost by the carrier, you're covered up to $3,000 per passenger. ^ Same page link to disclaimer

Baggage Delay Insurance

Reimburses you for essential purchases like toiletries and clothing for baggage delays over 6 hours by passenger carrier up to $100 a day for 5 days. ^ Same page link to disclaimer

Emergency Evacuation and Transportation

If you or a member of your immediate family are injured or become sick during a trip far from home that results in an emergency evacuation, you can be covered for medical services and transportation up to $100,000. ^ Same page link to disclaimer

Roadside Assistance

If you have a roadside emergency, you can call for a tow, jumpstart, tire change, locksmith or gas. You’re covered up to $50 per incident 4 times a year. ^ Same page link to disclaimer

Emergency Medical and Dental Benefit

If you're 100 miles or more from home on a trip, you can be reimbursed up to $2,500 for medical expenses if you or your immediate family member become sick or injured. ^ Same page link to disclaimer

^ Same page link to disclaimer reference These benefits are available when you use your card. Restrictions, limitations and exclusions apply. Most benefits are underwritten by unaffiliated insurance companies who are solely responsible for the administration and claims. There are specific time limits and documentation requirements. Once your account is opened we will send you a Guide to Benefits, which includes a full explanation of coverages.

Partner benefits

Earn more points.

Earn 10x total points on Lyft rides. * Opens offer details overlay Plus, get a complimentary 2 year Lyft Pink All Access membership including member-exclusive pricing and benefits – activate by Dec 31, 2024. Membership auto renews annually. * Opens offer details overlay

Earn 10x total points on Peloton equipment and accessory purchases over $150 with a max earn of 50,000 total points now through March 31, 2025. * Opens offer details overlay

DashPass subscription

Get complimentary access to DashPass – a membership for both DoorDash and Caviar – which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees on eligible orders for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2024. * Opens offer details overlay With DashPass you also get $5 in DoorDash credits each month, redeemed at checkout. * Opens offer details overlay

Instacart benefit * Opens offer details overlay

Skip the trip and have your groceries delivered to your doorstep with 1 year of complimentary Instacart+. * Opens offer details overlay Plus, Instacart+ members earn up to $15 in statement credits each month through July 2024. Membership auto-renews. * Opens offer details overlay

Purchase coverage

Purchase protection.

Your new purchases will be covered for 120 days against damage or theft up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per year. ^ Same page link to disclaimer

Return Protection

You can be reimbursed for eligible items that the store won't take back within 90 days of purchase, up to $500 per item, $1,000 per year. ^ Same page link to disclaimer

Chip-enabled for enhanced security

You’ll carry a credit card with an embedded chip that provides enhanced security and wider acceptance when you make purchases at chip-enabled card readers in the U.S. and abroad.

24/7 Fraud Monitoring

We help safeguard your credit card purchases using sophisticated fraud monitoring. We monitor for fraud 24/7 and can text, email or call you if there are unusual purchases on your credit card. * Opens offer details overlay

Zero liability protection

You won’t be held responsible for unauthorized charges made with your card for account information. If you see an unauthorized charge, simply call the number on the back of your card. * Opens offer details overlay

Extended warranty protection

Extends the time period of U.S. manufacturer's warranty by an additional year on eligible warranties of three years or less. ^ Same page link to disclaimer

Chase Pay Over Time SM

Chase Pay Over Time * Opens offer details overlay lets eligible Chase customers break up credit card purchases into budget friendly payments. There are two potential ways to pay over time:

After purchase: Pay off an eligible purchase you've already made of $100 or more * Opens offer details overlay in smaller, equal monthly payments. No interest - just a fixed monthly fee † Opens pricing and terms in new window with plan durations that range from 3-24 months. Start a plan by selecting an eligible purchase with the "Pay Over Time" option next to the transaction amount in your credit card account activity.

At checkout: Chase credit card members may have the option to create a payment plan at checkout on Amazon.com. Orders totaling $50 or more * Opens offer details overlay using your eligible Chase credit card at Amazon.com could be eligible for Chase Pay Over Time. You will be able to view Chase Pay Over Time plan options (including the fixed APR and durations) at checkout.

Keep in mind: Even though you may have an eligible card, access to Chase Pay Over Time is not guaranteed. Your ability to create a Chase Pay Over Time plan is based on a variety of factors, such as your creditworthiness, credit limit and account behavior, and may change from time to time.

For more information on Chase Pay Over Time features, please visit chase.com/chasepayovertime Opens in a new window .

Apply for a card, use it the same day

Receive instant access to your card by adding it to a digital wallet, like Apple Pay ® , Google Pay ™ or Samsung Pay. Find out how at chase.com/digital/spend-instantly Opens in a new window .

$300 Travel Credit

Merchants in this category include airlines, hotels, motels, timeshares, car rentals agencies, cruise lines, travel agencies, discount travel sites, campgrounds and operators of passenger trains, buses, taxis, limousines, ferries, toll bridges and highways, and parking lots and garages. Some merchants that provide transportation and travel-related services are not included in this category; for example, real estate agents, educational merchants arranging travel, in-flight goods and services, on-board cruise line goods and services, sightseeing activities, excursions, tourist attractions, RV and boat rentals, merchants within hotels and airports, public campgrounds and merchants that rent vehicles for the purpose of hauling. Purchases from gift card merchants or merchants that sell points or miles will not qualify in the travel category. * Opens offer details overlay

Reserve Partner Value Modal

Lyft Pink Membership

Get 2 complimentary years of Lyft Pink All Access when activated by Dec. 31, 2024 —a value of $199 /year. This includes 10% off Lux rides, free Priority Pickup upgrades discounts on bikeshare and more. Membership auto-renews. * Opens offer details overlay You'll also earn 10x total points on Lyft rides through March 2025. * Opens offer details overlay

DoorDash DashPass Subscription

Get a complimentary access to DashPass - a membership for both DoorDash and Caviar —a value of $120 for 12 months - which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees on eligible orders for a minimum of 12 months when you activate by Dec 31, 2024. * Opens offer details overlay

Monthly DoorDash Credit

Get $5 in DoorDash credits each month through Dec 31, 2024, redeemed at checkout. * Opens offer details overlay

Instacart Membership

Skip the trip and have your groceries delivered to your doorstep with 1 year of complimentary Instacart+ —a value of $99 /year. Activate by July 31, 2024. Membership auto-renews. * Opens offer details overlay

Monthly Instacart Credit

Instacart+ members earn up to $15 in statement credits each month through July 2024. * Opens offer details overlay

Priority Pass Select Membership

Enjoy a complimentary Priority Pass Select membership at 1,300+ VIP airport lounges worldwide —a value of $469 /year. * Opens offer details overlay

10x on Peloton Purchases

Earn 10x total points on Peloton equipment and accessory purchases over $150 through March 31, 2025. * Opens offer details overlay That's $150 when you purchase a Peloton Bike and redeem for cash.

DoorDash Dashpass Subscription

Get complimentary access to DashPass – a membership for both DoorDash and Caviar —a value of $96/year - which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees on eligible orders for a minimum of one year when you activate by Dec 31, 2024. * Opens offer details overlay

Skip the trip and have your groceries delivered to your doorstep with 6 months of complimentary Instacart+ —a value of $60 value . Activate by July 31, 2024. Membership auto-renews. * Opens offer details overlay

Quarterly Instacart Credit

Sapphire Preferred Instacart+ members earn up to $15 in statement credits each quarter through July 2024. * Opens offer details overlay

5x on Peloton Purchases

Earn 5x total points on Peloton equipment and accessory purchases over $150 through March 31, 2025. That's $75 when you purchase a Peloton Bike and redeem for cash. * Opens offer details overlay

5x total points on Lyft

Earn 5x total points on Lyft rides through  March 31, 2025. That's 3x points in addition to the 2x points you already earn on travel. * Opens offer details overlay

Offer Details

Offers may vary depending on where you apply, for example online or in a branch, and can change over time. to take advantage of this particular offer now, apply through the method provided in this advertisement. review offer details before you apply..

60,000 Bonus Points After You Spend $4,000 On Purchases In The First 3 Months From Account Opening: The product is not available to either (i) current cardmembers of any Sapphire credit card, or (ii) previous cardmembers of any Sapphire credit card who received a new cardmember bonus within the last 48 months. If you are an existing Sapphire customer and would like this product, please call the number on the back of your card to see if you are eligible for a product change. You will not receive the new cardmember bonus if you change products. To qualify and receive your bonus, you must make Purchases totaling $4,000 or more during the first 3 months from account opening. ("Purchases" do not include balance transfers, cash advances, travelers checks, foreign currency, money orders, wire transfers or similar cash-like transactions, lottery tickets, casino gaming chips, race track wagers or similar betting transactions, any checks that access your account, interest, unauthorized or fraudulent charges, and fees of any kind, including an annual fee, if applicable.) After qualifying, please allow 6 to 8 weeks for bonus points to post to your account. To be eligible for this bonus offer, account must be open and not in default at the time of fulfillment.

$300 Annual Travel Credit: A statement credit will automatically be applied to your account when your card is used for purchases in the travel category, up to an annual maximum accumulation of $300. Annual means the year beginning with your account open date through the first statement date after your account open date anniversary, and the 12 monthly billing cycles after that each year. (For applications submitted before May 21, 2017, annual means the year beginning with your account open date through the first December statement date of that same year, and the 12 billing cycles starting after your December statement date through the following December statement date each year.) Call the number on the back of your card to see when you are eligible for your next $300 Annual Travel Credit. Purchases are when you, or an authorized user, use a card to make purchases of products and services. Buying products and services with your card, in most cases, will count as a purchase; however, the following types of transactions won't count: balance transfers, cash advances, travelers checks, foreign currency, money orders, wire transfers or similar cash-like transactions, lottery tickets, casino gaming chips, race track wagers or similar betting transactions, any checks that access your account, interest, unauthorized or fraudulent charges, and fees of any kind, including an annual fee, if applicable. We do not determine whether merchants correctly identify and bill transactions as being of a certain type. For more information about Chase rewards categories, see chase.com/RewardsCategoryFAQs Opens in a new window . Statement credit(s) will post to your account the same day your travel category purchase posts to your account and will appear on your monthly credit card billing statement within 1-2 billing cycles. The Annual Travel Credit will be issued for the year in which the transaction posts to your account. For example, if you pay for baggage fees, but the airline does not post the transaction until after the current annual period ends, the cost of the baggage fees will be allocated towards the following year's Annual Travel Credit maximum of $300.

Earning Points: Rewards Program Agreement: For more information about the Chase Sapphire Reserve rewards program, view the latest Rewards Program Agreement (PDF) Opens in a new window . We will mail your Rewards Program Agreement once your account is established. If you become a Chase Online customer, your Rewards Program Agreement will also be available after logging in to chase.com/ultimaterewards Opens in a new window . How you can earn points: You'll earn points on purchases of products and services, minus returns or refunds, made with a Chase Sapphire Reserve credit card by you or an authorized user of the account. Buying products and services with your card, in most cases, will count as a purchase; however, the following types of transactions won't count and won't earn points: any purchases that qualify for the $300 Annual Travel Credit, balance transfers, cash advances and other cash-like transactions, lottery tickets, casino gaming chips, race track wagers or similar betting transactions, any checks that access your account, interest, unauthorized or fraudulent charges, and fees of any kind, including an annual fee, if applicable. 3 points ("3X points") on travel purchases: You'll earn 3 points for each $1 spent on purchases made in the travel category after the $300 Annual Travel Credit is earned. 5 points ("5X points") on Chase Travel airline ticket purchases: You'll earn 5 points total for each $1 spent on airline ticket purchases made using your card through Chase Travel after the $300 Annual Travel Credit is earned in the travel category (2 additional points on top of the 3 points earned on each purchase in the travel category). 10 points ("10X points") on Chase Travel hotel accommodation and car rental purchases: You'll earn 10 points total for each $1 spent on qualifying hotel accommodation and car rental purchases made using your card through Chase Travel after the $300 Annual Travel Credit is earned in the travel category (7 additional points on top of the 3 points earned on each purchase in the travel category). Hotel accommodation purchases made using your card with The Edit (previously The Luxury Hotel & Resort Collection) will qualify to earn 3 points for each $1 spent in the travel category, but will not qualify to earn 7 additional points for each $1 spent. Any purchases that qualify for the $300 Annual Travel Credit, won't earn points. "$300 Annual Travel Credit" means the statement credit that is automatically applied to your account annually on purchases made using your card in the travel category, up to an annual maximum accumulation of $300. "Annually" means the year beginning with your account open date through the first statement date after your account open date anniversary, and the 12 monthly billing cycles after that each year. 10 total points ("10X points") on qualifying Lyft rides through 03/2025: You'll earn an additional 7 points for each $1 spent when your card is used for qualifying Lyft products and services purchased through the Lyft mobile application through 03/31/2025. Qualifying Lyft products and services include rides taken in Classic, Shared, Lux, or XL modes; bike and scooter rides; and subscription and membership products. Purchase of gift cards, car rentals, vehicle service centers, miscellaneous fees and other Lyft products and services are excluded from this promotion. Future Lyft products or services may not be eligible for additional points. You may see "10X" in marketing materials to refer to the 7 points in addition to the 3 points earned on travel purchases (see above). The additional 7 points will appear on your billing statement in a separate line from the 3 points. Lyft is not responsible for the provision of, or the failure to provide, Chase benefits or services. 3 points ("3X points") on dining at restaurants purchases: You'll earn 3 points for each $1 spent on purchases in the following rewards category: dining at restaurants including takeout and eligible delivery services. 10 points ("10X points") on Ultimate Rewards Chase Dining purchases: You'll earn 10 points for each $1 spent on Chase Dining purchases made using your card through the Ultimate Rewards program. 1 point ("1X points"): You'll earn 1 point for each $1 spent on all other purchases. How you can use your points: You can use your points to redeem for any available reward options, including cash, gift cards, travel, and pay with points for products or services made available through the program or directly from third parties. Redemption values for reward options vary. Points expiration/losing points: Your points don't expire as long as your account remains open, however, you will immediately lose all your points if your account status changes, or your account is closed for program misuse, fraudulent activities, failure to pay, bankruptcy, or other reasons described in the terms of the Rewards Program Agreement. Rewards Categories: Merchants who accept Visa/Mastercard credit cards are assigned a merchant code, which is determined by the merchant or its processor in accordance with Visa/Mastercard procedures based on the kinds of products and services they primarily sell. We group similar merchant codes into categories for purposes of making rewards offers to you. Please note: We make every effort to include all relevant merchant codes in our rewards categories. However, even though a merchant or some of the items that it sells may appear to fit within a rewards category, the merchant may not have a merchant code in that category. When this occurs, purchases with that merchant won't qualify for rewards offers on purchases in that category. Purchases submitted by you, an authorized user, or the merchant through third-party payment accounts, mobile or wireless card readers, online or mobile digital wallets, or similar technology will not qualify in a rewards category if the technology is not set up to process the purchase in that rewards category. For more information about Chase rewards categories, see chase.com/RewardsCategoryFAQs Opens in a new window .

The Edit: The Edit program benefits are available exclusively on select Chase credit cards. To receive benefits, reservations must be made for "The Edit" properties through Chase Travel. Benefits are per room and based on double occupancy. Benefits may be subject to availability at check-in and are not redeemable for cash. Benefits may not be combined with other offers, including tour operator or wholesaler rates and packages. Complimentary Wi-Fi benefit provided, with the exception of locations where Wi-Fi is already complimentary or not available. Program benefits and participating properties may change without notice. Visit www.theeditbychase.com to learn more, other terms may apply.

Priority Pass ™ Select Membership: One time activation required. Priority Pass Select membership includes access to airport lounges and select airport experiences participating in the Priority Pass Select network. There is no additional cost to activate your membership and certain terms, conditions and exclusions apply. Primary Cardmembers and Authorized Users are granted complimentary access to the Priority Pass lounges and are allowed a maximum of two accompanying guests each. For any additional guests, your card will be charged $27 per guest, per visit. Your card will be charged after you have signed for the additional guest visits in the participating lounge and the visits have been reported to Priority Pass. Access may be denied if the lounge is at capacity. Participating lounges are owned and operated by independent third parties and their participation and/or facilities may change. To access a lounge, member must show his/her valid Priority Pass Select membership card. Priority Pass Select membership is subject to the Priority Pass Select Terms and Conditions. Your Chase Sapphire Reserve account must be open and not in default to maintain membership. For complete Priority Pass Select Terms and Conditions and a listing of participating lounges and select airport experiences, please visit www.prioritypass.com/select .

Global Entry or TSA PreCheck ® or NEXUS Application Fee Statement Credit You will receive one statement credit (up to $100) every four years after the first program (either Global Entry or TSA PreCheck ® or NEXUS) application fee is charged to your Chase Sapphire Reserve card, by you or an authorized user. This benefit applies only to the Global Entry, TSA PreCheck ® or NEXUS programs, other Trusted Traveler programs are not eligible. The statement credit will appear on your credit card billing statement within 1-2 billing cycles. You are responsible for payment of all charges until the statement credit posts to the account. Chase has no control or liability regarding these programs including, but not limited to, applications, approval process or enrollment, or fees charged by CBP or TSA or DHS. For more information about the Global Entry, TSA PreCheck ® and NEXUS programs, including application details and full terms and conditions, go to https://ttp.cbp.dhs.gov/ . Websites and other information provided by government agencies are not within Chase's control and may not be available in Spanish. To receive statement credits, your account must be open and not in default at the time of fulfillment. TSA PreCheck ® is a registered trademark and is used with the permission of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

2-year complimentary Lyft Pink All Access membership: Your Chase Sapphire Reserve account will receive one complimentary Lyft Pink All Access membership for 2 consecutive years, a value of $199/year, when the membership is activated with a Chase Sapphire Reserve card by 11:59 PM Eastern Standard Time on 12/31/2024. After your complimentary 2-year period ends, you'll be automatically enrolled in an annual membership at 50% off the then current annual Lyft Pink All Access rate for one year. After the discounted year, you will continue to be enrolled and charged the then current annual Lyft Pink All Access rate, every year unless canceled. You can cancel auto-renewal anytime on the Lyft mobile application and continue to enjoy the benefits of your Lyft Pink All Access membership through the end of your complimentary or discounted membership term. Cardmembers who do not utilize any services associated with their membership during the last six (6) months of their complimentary membership term, will not be auto-renewed and will not be eligible for the Lyft Pink All Access discounted membership. Lyft Pink All Access will be registered in the name of the primary cardmember or an authorized user, whoever activates the benefit first. PayPal or digital wallets (like Apple Pay and Google Pay), or memberships purchased through third parties are excluded from this offer. Mobile applications, websites, and other information provided by Lyft are not within Chase's control and may or may not be available in Spanish. All Lyft products and services are subject to the Lyft Terms of Service and Lyft Pink Terms & Conditions. Chase is not responsible for the provision of, or the failure to provide, Lyft benefits and services. Your Chase Sapphire Reserve account must be open and not in default, and your Chase Sapphire Reserve card must be included as a payment method within the Lyft App to maintain complimentary two-year membership benefits and purchase the discounted membership in your third year.

Complimentary DashPass: You and your authorized user(s) will receive at least 12 months of complimentary DashPass for use on both the DoorDash and Caviar applications during the same membership period based on the first activation date, when the membership is activated with a Chase Sapphire Reserve card by 12/31/2024. Membership period for all users on this Chase Sapphire account will begin and end based on when the first user activates the membership on DoorDash or Caviar. The same login credentials must be used on DoorDash and Caviar in order for the DashPass benefit to be used on both applications. To receive the membership benefits, the primary cardmember and authorized user(s) must first add their Chase Sapphire card as a default payment method on DoorDash or Caviar, and then click the activation button. Once enrolled in DashPass, you must use your Chase Sapphire card for payment at checkout for DashPass-eligible orders to receive DashPass benefits. Benefits of DashPass include no delivery fee on orders above the minimum subtotal (as stated in the DoorDash and Caviar apps and sites) from DashPass eligible merchants (amounts subject to change). However, other fees (including service fee), taxes, and gratuity on orders may still apply. Current value of the DashPass membership is as of 04/01/2022. DashPass orders are subject to delivery driver and geographic availability. Membership must be activated with a United States address. Payment through third-party payment accounts, or online or mobile digital wallets (like Apple Pay and Google Pay), or memberships purchased through third parties are excluded from this offer. Mobile applications, websites and other information provided by DoorDash or Caviar are not within Chase's control and may or may not be available in Spanish. Chase is not responsible for the provision of, or the failure to provide, DoorDash or Caviar benefits and services. If you product change to another Chase credit card eligible for a DashPass membership during the promotional period, your DashPass benefits may change. You may experience a delay in updating your applicable DashPass benefits on DoorDash or Caviar; please note, once you product trade, the benefits from your previous credit card are no longer available for your use. You can only access the benefits available with your current credit card. Your Chase Sapphire account must be open and not in default to maintain membership benefits. See full DoorDash terms and conditions at: https://help.doordash.com/consumers/s/article/offer-terms-conditions?language=en_US .

Earn $5 monthly DoorDash/Caviar Credits through 12/31/2024: Get $5 in DoorDash/Caviar credits each calendar month while enrolled in DashPass through 12/31/2024. When applied to an order, the $5 credit will apply only to the subtotal of your DoorDash or Caviar order at checkout. The credit does not apply to fees, taxes, or tip and gift card purchases are excluded. You or up to 7 authorized users must be enrolled in DashPass and use your Chase Sapphire Reserve or J.P. Morgan Reserve card for payment at checkout to receive the credit. Once you spend the issued credits on one platform (e.g., DoorDash), it will be automatically deducted from your balance on the other (e.g., Caviar). Any monthly credit issued before you create an account on the other platform will only be available on the original platform for that month. Once you have accounts opened on both platforms, any credits issued will be available for onetime use on either DoorDash or Caviar. Your credit balance may be different on each platform, but your credit usage will still be linked from that point on. If a credit is not used within the calendar month, it will be carried over for a maximum of 2 months. Up to $15 in credit can be accrued before a $5 credit expires. DoorDash credits have no cash value and are non-transferable. Chase is not responsible for the provision of, or the failure to provide, DoorDash benefits and services. Credit card product changes during the promotional period will forfeit this offer. Additional DoorDash promotional terms and conditions available at: https://help.doordash.com/consumers/s/article/offer-terms-conditions?language=en_US . All deliveries subject to availability. Must have or create a valid DoorDash account. Qualifying orders containing alcohol will be charged a $0.01 Delivery Fee. No cash value. Non-transferable. See full terms and conditions at: help.doordash.com/consumers/s/article/offer-terms-conditions .

Complimentary Instacart+ Membership: You will receive one complimentary Instacart+ membership per eligible card account for 12 months (for Chase Sapphire Reserve and J.P. Morgan Reserve cardmembers) when the membership is activated on http://www.instacart.com/chase with an eligible card between 6/15/2022 and 7/31/2024. ("You" and "your" mean you as the primary cardmember or any authorized user, depending on which user activates first). This offer is non-transferrable. Membership must be activated with a United States address. Payment through third-party payment accounts, or online or mobile digital wallets (like Apple Pay and Google Pay), or memberships purchased through third parties are excluded from this offer. Benefits of Instacart's membership include no delivery fee on orders that total over $35 (amount subject to change – see Instacart.com for current minimum); however, other fees, taxes, and/or tips may apply. Delivery subject to availability. If you do not currently have a paid or trial Instacart+ membership, by activating your Instacart+ membership, you agree to the Instacart+ Terms and you agree that after the complimentary Instacart+ membership period ends, you will be automatically enrolled in an annual Instacart+ membership and billed at $99/year or the then current annual Instacart+ membership rate for each membership activated, unless you have not placed any orders or you cancel during your complimentary Instacart+ membership period. If you currently have a paid or trial Instacart+ membership, you agree that your existing membership will be paused for the duration of this benefit and resume upon expiration. Your existing membership will automatically renew based on the Instacart+ Terms previously agreed upon unless you cancel. Your membership fees will be billed to any active payment method on file until you cancel. You can cancel your Instacart+ membership prior to the end of your complimentary Instacart+ membership period or at any time thereafter by selecting "Cancel Membership" in your Account Settings. Cancellation goes into effect during the next billing cycle. You may cancel within the first 15 calendar days of your paid Instacart+ membership and receive a refund of the Instacart+ membership fee you paid, but only if you have not placed any orders using your Instacart+ membership. If you change to another Chase credit card during the promotional period, your benefits may change. Mobile applications, websites and other information provided by Instacart are not within Chase's control and may or may not be available in Spanish. Chase is not responsible for the provision of, or the failure to provide, Instacart benefits and services. Your complimentary membership benefits may be removed if your eligible credit card account is closed or in default.

Statement Credit on Instacart Purchases: Earn up to $15 per calendar month (for Chase Sapphire Reserve and J.P. Morgan Reserve cardmembers) in statement credits on qualifying Instacart purchases from 8/1/2022 through 7/31/2024 when you activate a complimentary Chase Instacart+ membership on Instacart.com/chase with your eligible Chase credit card. You can check the status of your enrollment in the Chase benefit within the Instacart+ section of the Instacart mobile app. You will continue to receive statement credit benefits regardless of whether you choose to renew your Instacart+ membership at the end of your complimentary period. Qualifying Instacart purchases include only those orders purchased by you, or an authorized user, with a Chase Sapphire Reserve credit card through Instacart.com or the Instacart mobile application (gift cards excluded). Statement credit(s) will post to your account within 48 hours of your qualifying Instacart purchase posting to your account and will appear on your monthly credit card billing statement within 1-2 billing cycles. Statement credits will be issued for the calendar month in which the transaction posts to your account. For example, if you pay for an Instacart order, but Instacart does not post the transaction until after the current calendar month ends, the cost of the Instacart purchase will be allocated towards the next calendar month's maximum, or will not qualify if the promotional period has ended. If you change to another Chase credit card during the promotional period, your benefits may change. Mobile applications, websites and other information provided by Instacart are not within Chase's control and may or may not be available in Spanish. Chase is not responsible for the provision of, or the failure to provide, Instacart benefits and services. Accounts must be open and not in default at the time the statement credit posts to your account.

Earn 10 or 5 total points ("10X or 5X total points") on Peloton equipment and accessory purchases through 03/31/2025: You'll earn a total of 10 (Sapphire Reserve or J.P. Morgan Reserve) or 5 (Sapphire Preferred) points for each $1 spent on up to $5,000 in total purchases when your card is used for Peloton equipment and accessory purchases over $150 through Peloton from 02/01/2023 through 03/31/2025. That's 9 (Sapphire Reserve or J.P. Morgan Reserve) or 4 (Sapphire Preferred) points on top of the 1 point you already earn on these purchases with your card. Only purchases made directly through Peloton – through onepeloton.com , over the phone, or in a Peloton showroom – are eligible. Purchases made outside the U.S. are not eligible. Gift cards, and apparel are not eligible. Points earned on the purchase of Peloton equipment and accessory purchases will be deducted from the cardmember's account if the order is cancelled or returned. Purchases must post to your account by the last day of the promotional period to qualify. Sometimes your card will be charged on a date after you make a purchase, such as the shipping date, and as a result the purchase may not post to your account until after the last day of the promotional period. Please allow 6 to 8 weeks after qualifying purchases post to your account for points to post to your account. To qualify for this bonus offer, account must be open and not in default at the time of fulfillment. This bonus offer is non-transferable.

50% More Through Chase Ultimate Rewards: When you use points to redeem for cash, each point is worth $.01 (one cent), which means that 100 points equals $1 in redemption value. Each point you redeem for travel booked through Chase Travel is worth $.0150 (one and a half cents), which means that 100 points equals $1.50 in redemption value, and points are worth 50% more than if redeemed for cash. For example, 60,000 points are worth $900 when redeemed for travel purchases, or $600 when redeemed for cash. The cost of travel is based on the rates and fares available through Chase Travel, including the online portal and call center, and may not reflect all rates and fares that are available through other sales channels. If you choose to use points and your Chase Sapphire Reserve credit card to pay for your purchase, each point will be worth $.0150, but your credit card will be charged the full remaining dollar amount.

Avis Terms and Conditions Discount applies to base rate only at participating locations when booked directly through Avis by using the Visa Infinite code. These discounts are administered by the rental car providers directly and cannot be used when booking through Chase Travel nor can Ultimate Rewards points be used as payment when booking directly with the merchant. Discount varies by rental date, location and vehicle type. Taxes, other governmentally-authorized or imposed surcharges, license and concession recoupment fees, airport and airport facility fees, fuels, additional driver fee, one-way rental charge and optional terms such as Loss Damage Waiver (LDW) up to $30 per day are extra. Renter must meet standard age, driver and credit requirements. 24-hour advance reservation required. May not be combined with other discounts. Availability is limited. Subject to change without notice. Blackout dates may apply. National Terms and Conditions Discount applies to base rate only at participating locations when booked directly through National Car Rental by using the Visa Infinite code. These discounts are administered by the rental car providers directly and cannot be used when booking through Chase Travel nor can Ultimate Rewards points be used as payment when booking directly with the merchant. Discount varies by rental date, location and vehicle type. Taxes, other governmentally-authorized or imposed surcharges, license and concession recoupment fees, airport and airport facility fees, fuels, additional driver fee, one-way rental charge and optional items such as Loss Damage Waiver (LDW) up to $30 per day are extra. In the U.S., check your insurance and/or credit card for rental vehicle coverage. Renter must meet standard age, driver and credit requirements. 24-hour advance reservation required. May not be combined with other discounts. Availability is limited. Subject to change without notice. Blackout dates may apply. Visa Terms and Conditions Benefits referenced on this page are current as of 03/2024 . Benefits are subject to change by Visa at any time, in accordance with Visa's notification policies, and are based on the individual merchant's terms and conditions. Only the benefits listed on this page are available with this Chase Visa Infinite product; Visa's website may describe additional Visa Infinite benefits not offered on this card. Void where prohibited or restricted by law. Any taxes are the sole responsibility of the purchaser. Many of the stated benefits and services of this product are provided by third parties who are solely responsible for their provision or fulfillment. The US Visa Infinite card does not include global application of all Visa Infinite related benefits at this time. There are some benefits Visa has sourced that are global but as a general matter Visa Infinite benefits are specifically sourced by region unless otherwise stated.

Account Alerts: Delivery of alerts may be delayed for various reasons including technology failures and capacity limitations. There is no charge from Chase, but message and data rates may apply.

Zero Liability: Zero Liability Protection does not apply to use of an account by an authorized user without the approval of the primary cardmember. If you think someone used your account without permission, tell us immediately by calling the Cardmember Services number on your card or billing statement.

Cardmembers Eligible for Chase Pay Over Time: Eligible cardmembers are those with access to Chase Pay Over Time who use a participating Chase credit card for eligible purchases. Access to Chase Pay Over Time is not guaranteed, is based on a variety of factors such as creditworthiness, credit limit and account behavior, and may change from time to time. Participating Chase credit cards are consumer credit cards issued by Chase, small business cards are excluded at this time. For Chase Pay Over Time at checkout on Amazon.com, Amazon Visa and Prime Visa cards and Chase Mastercard credit cards are also excluded. Purchases Eligible for Chase Pay Over Time Set Up After Purchase: Purchases of at least $100 are eligible, excluding certain transactions such as (a) cash-like transactions, (b) any fees owed to us, including Annual Membership Fees, and (c) purchases made under a separate promotion or special finance program. Eligible purchases will be identified within your transaction history on chase.com or the Chase Mobile App. Purchases Eligible for Chase Pay Over Time at Checkout on Amazon.com: Orders totaling at least $50 of eligible items on Amazon.com are eligible. Amazon may designate any item as ineligible, such as Amazon Fresh, Whole Foods, Amazon Prime Now, 1-Click Purchases and Subscribe & Save. If your order includes a recurring subscription, then only the first month's subscription fee will be eligible. If available for your account, the option to choose "financing offers available" will appear at checkout. Amazon, the Amazon.com logo, the smile logo, and all related logos are trademarks of Amazon.com , Inc. or its affiliates.

Chase Mobile App: Chase Mobile ® app is available for select mobile devices. Message and data rates may apply.

Chase Sapphire Reserve Card named "Best Premium Travel Credit Card" by NerdWallet writers and editors. Source: NerdWallet's "Best-Of Awards 2024," January 2024. NerdWallet is paid a fee for each approved Chase Sapphire Reserve credit card account referred through its site, however NerdWallet editorial team members are solely responsible for creating all product reviews and ratings, and these assessments reflect their opinions alone. Chase does not exercise any editorial control over their credit card awards or reviews, the opinions expressed are their own.

Chase Sapphire Reserve ranked as "Best Card for Travel Insurance" by Forbes Advisor. Source: The Forbes Advisor Awards, February 2024. Forbes Advisor is paid a fee for each approved Chase Sapphire Reserve account referred through its site. Chase does not exercise any editorial control over Forbes Advisor credit card reviews.

INSTACART ® , the Instacart Carrot logo, the Instacart Partial Carrot logo, and the Instacart Carrot Top logo are trademarks of Maplebear Inc., d/b/a Instacart. Instacart may not be available in all zip or post codes. See Instacart Terms of Service for more details.

Chase Sapphire Reserve credit cards are issued by JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. Member FDIC. Accounts subject to credit approval. Restrictions and limitations apply. Offer subject to change.

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We believe everyone should be able to make financial decisions with confidence. And while our site doesn’t feature every company or financial product available on the market, we’re proud that the guidance we offer, the information we provide and the tools we create are objective, independent, straightforward — and free.

So how do we make money? Our partners compensate us. This may influence which products we review and write about (and where those products appear on the site), but it in no way affects our recommendations or advice, which are grounded in thousands of hours of research. Our partners cannot pay us to guarantee favorable reviews of their products or services. Here is a list of our partners .

Best Travel Card Pairing: Chase Freedom and Chase Sapphire Preferred

Erin El Issa

Many or all of the products featured here are from our partners who compensate us. This influences which products we write about and where and how the product appears on a page. However, this does not influence our evaluations. Our opinions are our own. Here is a list of our partners and here's how we make money .

» This page is out of date

The Chase Freedom® is no longer available to new applicants, so this page is out of date. See our review of the card that has replaced it, the Chase Freedom Flex℠ . That card offers quarterly 5% categories like the original Freedom, as well as fixed bonus categories that pay 3% to 5% cash back. Rewards earned on the Chase Freedom Flex℠ can also be transferred to the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card .

Some credit cards go better together, like the Chase Freedom® and Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card -- a travel rewards pair the Nerds are crazy about. Learn how to use these cards in tandem to get the best bang for your rewards buck .

The Chase Freedom® still exists, but is closed to new applicants. It can be product-changed to a Chase Freedom Flex℠ if you call Chase and make the request.

Chase Freedom® : Sky high rewards on rotating purchase categories

The Chase Freedom® offers 5% cash back on quarterly categories on up to $1,500 in spending per quarter. The bonus categories are as follows:

You’ll receive 1% back on any other purchases. The Chase Freedom® has a sign-up bonus: Earn a $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening . These rewards can be used for cash back, but you’ll enjoy a higher rewards value if you transfer the points to your Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card account.

The Chase Freedom® has a $0 annual fee, and you'll get an 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases, and then the ongoing APR of 14.99%-23.74% Variable .

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card : Travel rewards redemption worth bragging about

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card earns:

5 points per $1 spent on all travel booked through Chase.

3 points per $1 spent on dining (including eligible delivery services and takeout).

3 points per $1 spent on select streaming services.

3 points per $1 spent on online grocery purchases (not including Target, Walmart and wholesale clubs).

2 points per $1 spent on travel not booked through Chase.

1 point per $1 spent on other purchases.

There’s a killer sign-up bonus: Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

Rewards are best redeemed for travel. You can either book travel through the Chase Ultimate Rewards website at a rate of 1.25 cents per point, or if you’re savvy at travel hacking, you can transfer points to a partner program at a rate of 1.25 to 5 cents per point.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card has no foreign transaction fees but charges an annual fee of $95 .

How to use the Chase Freedom® and Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card to score free travel

It’s easy to use the Chase Freedom® and Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card together for higher travel rewards. Here’s how to organize your spending:

Every quarter, opt into the Chase Freedom® ’s 5% bonus categories. Use your Chase Freedom® for up to $1,500 in spending each quarter in the bonus categories. Then transfer your points to your Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card account and use them to book travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards at a rate of 1.25 cents per point.

For dining and travel purchases, use your Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card , unless the Chase Freedom® is offering 5% on those purchases. Any other purchases can be made on either card. With the high redemption values, you’ll effectively earn 6.25, 2.5 or 1.25 points on every dollar you spend.

Bottom line: Take advantage of the Chase Freedom® 's 5% bonus categories and the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card 's high travel redemption options to score major travel rewards on all of your purchases.

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Best hotel credit cards for April 2024

Anytime you go on vacation, the hotel you choose can have a big impact on your trip — whether you prioritize luxury accommodations with the best views and amenities, or just need a place to sleep and recharge before setting back out to explore.

No matter what type of traveler you are, you could save more on hotel stays when you travel with a hotel credit card. Get started below with our top picks for any traveler looking to maximize hotel rewards today.

Here’s a look at the best credit cards to save on an upcoming hotel stay:

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card : Best for general travel rewards

Annual fee: $95

Welcome offer: Earn 60,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards bonus points after spending $4,000 within the first 3 months

5x points on travel purchased through Chase Travel (not including hotel spending that applies toward your annual credit)

3x points on dining

3x points on online grocery purchases (excluding Target, Walmart, and wholesale clubs)

3x points on select streaming services

2x points on all other travel

1x points on all other purchases

More details: Get a $50 statement credit toward hotel bookings you make through Chase Travel each account year, plus an annual points bonus worth 10% of your spending over the prior year. Chase Sapphire Preferred also has travel and purchase protections and a few added benefits from partners like Instacart, Lyft, and more.

Why we like this card: We like the value you can get from the Chase Sapphire Preferred , whether you’re a seasoned travel pro or a beginner to travel rewards. For hotels specifically, the small $50 annual credit alone can make up more than half the annual fee cost — and beyond that, you’ll earn 5x points on hotels through Chase Travel and 2x on hotels you book elsewhere.

Redeeming your rewards for hotel stays or other travel expenses through Chase Travel is also a great benefit. The redemption boost you’ll get makes each Chase Sapphire Preferred point worth 25% more, or 1.25 cents per point. Take the 60,000-point bonus for example — you can earn $750 toward your next hotel stay (or other travel purchase) when you book through Chase.

Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® credit card : Best for Marriott

Welcome offer: Earn 3 Free Night Awards (worth up to 50,000 points each) after spending $3,000 within the first 3 months

Up to 17x points on purchases with Marriott Bonvoy hotels (6x points with your card, 10x points for being a Bonvoy member, and 1x point with Silver Elite status — complimentary with card membership)

3x points on the first $6,000 in combined spending at grocery stores, at gas stations, and on dining

2x points on all other purchases

More details: Marriott Bonvoy members get plenty of extra savings on hotel stays with this card. Start with a Free Night Award every account anniversary, worth up to 35,000 points. Plus get 15 Elite Night Credits each year, another Elite Night Credit for every $5,000 you spend, automatic Silver Elite status, Gold Elite status after spending $35,000 in a calendar year, and more.

Why we like this card: For a relatively affordable $95 annual fee, loyal Marriott customers can rack up plenty of free nights and other benefits with the Bonvoy Boundless card. Not only will you get an annual Free Night Award starting on your first cardmember anniversary, but you can earn three free nights right from the start with the card’s welcome bonus.

We also like that the Bonvoy Boundless benefits your purchases at home and while traveling. Take the 3x grocery store , gas station, and dining categories for example. If you max out these categories with a combined $6,000 spent each year, you’ll earn 18,000 points. With award night redemptions starting at 7,500 points, that’s two more nights each year — before even accounting for your other earnings.

Then there are the status benefits. You’ll get complimentary Silver Elite status, which comes with 10% bonus points on eligible stays, late checkout, and more — plus the opportunity to earn Gold Elite status (adding welcome gifts at check-in and room upgrades) after you spend $35,000 in a calendar year.

Hilton Honors American Express Card : Best for Hilton

Annual fee: $0 ( see rates and fees )

Welcome offer: Earn 80,000 Hilton Honors points after spending $2,000 within the first 6 months

7x points on eligible purchases directly with Hilton hotels and resorts

5x points at U.S. restaurants

5x points at U.S. supermarkets

5x points at U.S. gas stations

3x points on all other purchases

More details: This no annual fee card doesn’t offer a ton of extra benefits, but you will get complimentary Silver status with the opportunity to upgrade to Gold status after you spend $20,000 in a calendar year.

Why we like this card: The Hilton Honors Amex Card proves that you don’t have to pay a big annual fee to get big rewards. While you’ll earn the most rewards on your stays with Hilton, you can also earn a solid 5x points on everyday spending at U.S. supermarkets, restaurants, and gas stations — plus 3x rewards in all non-category spending. With Hilton Honors reward nights starting at 5,000 points per night, those extra points can take you far.

You can also get a lot of value from your complimentary Silver status the Hilton Honors American Express Card offers. Status perks include a 20% points bonus on Hilton stays, your fifth night free on award stays, elite rollover nights, and more. If you score the Gold status upgrade (after spending $20,000 in a calendar year), you’ll also receive room upgrades when available, daily food and beverage credits, milestone bonuses, and a boosted 80% points bonus on stays.

Wyndham Rewards Earner® Plus Card : Best for Wyndham

Annual fee: $75

Welcome offer: Earn 100,000 Wyndham Rewards points after spending $2,000 within the first 3 months (worth up to 13 free nights)

6x points on purchases at Hotels by Wyndham

6x points on qualifying gas purchases

4x points on dining

4x points on grocery store purchases (excluding Target and Walmart)

More details: This card’s added benefits help make the most of your Wyndham stays. There’s an automatic upgrade to Platinum membership level, with perks like early check-in, late checkout, preferred room choice, Caesar Rewards status match, and upgrades on Avis and Budget car rentals. Each year after your first account anniversary, you’ll receive 7,500 bonus points (enough for a free night). This card also has a 0% intro APR on balance transfers .

Why we like this card: Wyndham may not have as many well-known credit card options as chains like Hilton or Marriott, but it does have a comparable number of locations — with more than 9,000 worldwide properties. And with the Rewards Earner Plus, there are plenty of ways to save anytime you book a stay.

Automatic status and the anniversary points bonus are two perks you can benefit from year after year. And for new cardholders, this card’s 100,000 welcome bonus — enough points for up to 13 free nights — is hard to beat.

Like other hotel cards on our list, we also like that the Wyndham Rewards Earner Plus rewards non-travel spending. Not only are gas station purchases one of the card’s top-earning bonus categories, but each of the everyday rewards categories has no annual spending cap, guaranteeing you can maximize every dollar you spend.

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card : Best premium hotel card

Annual fee: $395

Welcome offer: Earn 75,000 Capital One miles after spending $4,000 within the first 3 months

10x miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel

5x miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel

2x miles on all other purchases

More details: The Venture X card offers $300 in annual credits for travel you book through Capital One Travel. Each year starting on your account anniversary, you’ll also get 10,000 anniversary bonus miles. Other benefits include a fee credit for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry, airport lounge access, and more.

Why we like this card: The Capital One Venture X is our premium travel credit card pick for hotel stays. It’s a good alternative for travelers who aren’t loyal to a single hotel brand but do want to maximize frequent bookings.

First, it offers one of the highest rewards rates around for hotel stays, at 10x points when you book through Capital One Travel. As a Venture X cardholder, there are more benefits to booking through the issuer’s portal, too. You’ll get up to $100 in experience credits, daily breakfast, and more when you book The Premier Collection hotels — as well as up to $50 in experience credits, room upgrades, early check-in, and more when you book The Lifestyle Collection hotels.

The Capital One Venture X $300 annual travel credit also helps its premium price. Before you start earning those 10x miles on Capital One Travel spending, you’ll get reimbursed with credits for the first $300 you spend on travel through the site each year. Not only can that go a long way toward reducing the annual fee cost, but it’s also worth a lot of value toward your next hotel stay — whether you want to splurge on a night away or save on multiple nights at a lower price.

The Platinum Card® from American Express : Best for elite status

Annual fee: $695 ( see rates and fees )

Welcome offer: Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $8,000 within the first 6 months

5x points on flights booked directly with airlines or through Amex Travel (up to $500,000 spent per year, then 1x)

5x points on prepaid hotels booked through Amex Travel

More details: The added benefits and credits are where the Platinum Card shines. To name a few, you’ll get up to $200 in annual statement credits toward incidental fees with your chosen airline, up to $200 annual Uber Cash ($15 per month and a bonus $20 in December), $189 in annual statement credits for CLEAR Plus membership, up to $240 in digital entertainment credits ($20 monthly; enrollment required) with eligible providers, airport lounge access, concierge services, and much more.

Why we like this card: While it offers a seemingly limitless suite of benefits, we’ll stick with specific Platinum Card perks for frequent travelers looking to maximize hotel stays.

For one, you’ll get up to $200 back each year in statement credits toward hotel purchases you make through Amex Travel . This credit applies to prepaid Amex Travel bookings you make with either Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection (minimum two night stay). Of course, you’ll also benefit from hotel stays you book through Amex Travel with the 5x points rewards.

The other big Platinum Card hotel perk is elite status with both Marriott Bonvoy and Hilton Honors. The complimentary Gold Elite status with Marriott Bonvoy will get you a 25% points boost on hotel purchases, room upgrades, late checkout, welcome gifts at check-in, and more. Similarly, complimentary Hilton Honors Gold status comes with an 80% bonus on the points you earn on hotel stays, daily food and beverage credits (or continental breakfast), room upgrades when available, bonus points after meeting certain milestone hotel stays, and more.

What are hotel rewards programs?

When you’re a member of a hotel rewards program, you can earn points on your stays and other purchases to use toward future bookings with the hotel chain. Joining a hotel’s loyalty program is a great way to save on hotel stays — often one of the most expensive parts of a vacation. Common hotel rewards programs include Marriott Bonvoy, Hilton Honors, World of Hyatt, Wyndham Rewards, IHG Rewards Club, and more.

Generally, the most common (and most valuable) way to redeem the points you earn from a hotel rewards program is for future hotel stays. Under most programs, you can either redeem your points toward a booking in full or pay with a combination of points and cash.

You might also have the option to redeem your hotel points for online purchases, experiences, gift cards, and more. Some even allow transfers to partner airlines. Before you choose an alternative redemption, make sure you compare the redemption value. Sometimes, these options may give you a lesser value for your points than if you wait and redeem them for your next hotel booking.

In addition to points you can use for future stays, hotel rewards programs also come with added benefits for members. That might include small perks like discounted rates and free wi-fi for basic members, but the value quickly grows as you move up in elite status. Top-tier hotel program members can earn everything from bonus earnings on hotel stays to suite-level room upgrades, welcome gifts, dedicated assistance, and more.

How much are hotel rewards worth?

Unlike some other rewards programs, it’s difficult to pin down a value for many hotel rewards programs. That’s because hotels often use dynamic pricing when it comes to points redemptions. The value of your redemption can change over time depending on the property, when you book, when you plan to travel, and more factors.

Credit card rewards programs for hotels

In addition to hotel credit cards from specific hotel brands, you can also use a general travel credit card for hotel rewards. The points and miles you earn with these travel cards are typically more flexible, but still offer great savings on hotel stays.

One thing to consider is the different ways to maximize rewards you earn on hotel stays. Instead of booking directly from the hotel — like you would with a co-branded hotel card — you may only earn maximum points when you book through your card issuer’s travel portal. When you book this way, you can often still input your hotel loyalty program number and earn points as a member of the hotel program in addition to your credit card rewards.

Many credit card rewards programs also have transfer partners, which include hotel loyalty programs. This can be a good option if you’re a member of a specific hotel program, but you’re not sure you want to commit to a hotel credit card. Here are the hotel transfer partners offered by three popular rewards programs today:

American Express Membership Rewards

Choice Privileges

Hilton Honors

Marriott Bonvoy

Capital One Travel

ALL Accor Live Limitless

Wyndham Rewards

Chase Ultimate Rewards

IHG Rewards Club

World of Hyatt

What to look for in a hotel credit card

These are some details to consider before you choose a new hotel card:

Welcome bonus

A hotel card’s welcome bonus can often get you multiple free nights, whether you choose a co-branded hotel card or general travel card.

Before applying, make sure you understand the requirements to score the bonus your card offers. You’ll typically need to spend a few thousand dollars at minimum within three to six months of account opening.

If this isn’t within your regular budget, strategize how you can meet the bonus without risking high-interest card balances . For example, you could plan your application around an upcoming trip you’ve already saved money for — the extra expenses can help you hit the spending threshold without risking a debt balance you can’t pay off.

Rewards categories

Look for the card with rewards categories that fit where you already spend most.

If you travel year-round and are always moving onto your next destination, you’ll probably want to prioritize travel rewards and top earnings on your hotel bookings. But if you only reliably travel a few times each year — a summer vacation , for example, followed by a holiday trip to visit family — you’ll likely get more value from a card with rewards on things like groceries , gas, and other essentials.

This is also a factor to consider if you’re adding a hotel credit card to cards you already have in your wallet. To make the most of every dollar you spend, look for categories you might be missing. Alternatively, you may choose a travel card with flat rewards on most purchases (or branded hotel card with a high non-category earning rate) to use as a catch-all for the spending categories you don’t maximize elsewhere.

Added benefits

Your card’s added benefits should add value over time — not just in the first year.

This is especially important for hotel cards that carry annual fees. Card benefits can be a great way to make up the cost of the annual fee , but they’re only valuable if they save you money on purchases you would have made anyway.

For hotel cards specifically, common benefits include annual Free Night Awards and elite status upgrades. If you stay with the hotel chain often, it can be easy to take advantage of the added benefits. Otherwise, you may want to look for other rewards cards that better fit your spending and travel.

Rewards program

As much as the credit card rewards and added benefits can make a big difference, the program under which you earn your rewards can, too.

For co-branded hotel credit cards, choose the loyalty program offered by the hotel brand you like and use most. If you’re already a member, look for ways your card can help you maximize your stays even further, with boosted points on bookings and faster paths to elite status.

If you’re considering a general travel card with great hotel rewards instead, you’ll still want to do your research into the card’s rewards program . Make sure you’ll get a good value when you use your rewards for hotel bookings, and compare other redemption options that may work for your travel plans . Don’t forget to also check out the program’s transfer partners — you may get more long-term value when you have the ability to transfer points and miles to your preferred airline and hotel brands.

Pros of hotel credit cards

Hotel savings: The best reason to open a hotel card is for the potential savings on hotel stays. Not only do these cards earn points that you can put toward future reward nights, but they also often come with annual Free Night Awards and other annual bonuses that can help you rack up savings on your stays over the long-term.

Status benefits: One of the easiest ways to increase your status level with a hotel loyalty program is with a credit card. Many of our favorite co-branded hotel cards come with complimentary status boosts and paths to earn the next level with card spending. If elite status is important to you and you travel frequently enough to gain value from the perks, these benefits are worth considering.

Welcome offers: Many hotel cards offer very high welcome bonus offers for new cardholders. With any of the hotel cards on our list above, you can get multiple free nights with the welcome bonuses alone. Consider planning ahead for when you apply for your hotel card to make the most of the welcome bonus offer for your next trip — and make sure the spending threshold is within your budget.

Cons of hotel credit cards

Rewards value: Because of hotel program dynamic pricing, the value of your points can vary greatly depending on when you book and your itinerary. If you have any flexibility, you can compare different stays before you book to get the best redemption value.

Limited rewards in other categories: While many of the cards on our list offer great rewards on travel and everyday expenses, that’s not always true for hotel cards. Many hotel credit cards can provide limited rewards in everyday categories. If you’re looking for a well-rounded card for earning hotel rewards, make sure you compare each of the bonus categories offered to your regular spending.

Maximize with frequent travel: Consider your travel habits before you open a hotel card. If you don’t travel often or you often choose to stay in AirBnBs and other rentals, a hotel card may not be worth it.

Our methodology

While we believe co-branded hotel credit cards can offer great savings for some hotel brand loyalists, they’re not for everyone. That’s why we focused on curating a list that includes both general travel cards with great hotel savings and hotel credit cards for specific chains.

We started with cards we’ve already rated highly among the dozens of card options we compared for our list of best travel credit cards . This helped us narrow down a short list of cards with solid rewards value and welcome bonus. We also looked for baseline details useful for travelers, like no foreign transaction fees and fraud protections.

For co-branded options, we included the best card options for the top three hotels by number of locations worldwide among those cards on our short list. Those hotels were Marriott and Wyndham, both with 9,000+ properties, and Hilton with 7,500+. We wanted to focus on hotels with the greatest number of properties to ensure the cards are useful for the greatest number of travelers.

We also focused on co-branded hotel credit cards with lower annual fees. For many people, we estimate that the hotel card may not be the only card in their wallet . And the more credit cards you have with high annual fees, the more you could be eating away at your potential annual value

If you have a favorite hotel brand not included above, you may get better value from another co-branded hotel card with, for example, IHG or Hyatt rewards. The most important thing to consider if you’re opening a co-branded card is your own relationship and spending with the brand. You should have a strong preference for the hotel and be sure that you can maximize the loyalty program rewards before you open a hotel credit card.

For the general travel credit card recommendations, we sorted out our top travel card picks by those that offer some added benefit specifically for hotel stays. Then, we created the superlatives included above to call out the features we believe set these cards apart for hotel spending.

While we believe these travel cards (and more on our best travel credit cards list) can offer great value even beyond hotel rewards, we specifically chose cards that provide maximum savings or benefits for hotel stays.

This article was edited by Rebecca McCracken

Editorial Disclosure: The information in this article has not been reviewed or approved by any advertiser. The details on financial products, including card rates and fees, are accurate as of the publish date. All products or services are presented without warranty. Check the bank’s website for the most current information. This site doesn't include all currently available offers.

These are the 8 cards you should be using every day

You can maximize rewards on your everyday purchases by choosing a card with high rewards in categories like groceries, dining, and gas. Consider factors like annual fees, welcome bonuses, and introductory APR offers to find the perfect fit for you.

Author

Kevin Payne

Kevin Payne is a finance and family travel expert. He writes about credit cards, travel, student loans, saving money, homeownership, careers, and entrepreneurship. His work has appeared in Forbes Advisor, The Ascent, FinanceBuzz, Slickdeals, Student Loan Planner, and more. He is working toward accreditation as an Accredited Financial Counselor (AFC).

Hanna Horvath

Hanna Horvath

Hanna Horvath is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and Bankrate's senior editor of content partnerships.

Updated April 25, 2024, 9:50 AM EDT

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If your monthly budget includes grocery store hauls, trips to the gas station, or regular dinners out, a credit card that offers rewards where you spend the most may be worth having. 

To make the most of your everyday purchases, it's important to select a credit card that aligns with your spending habits. Using the right card, you can optimize your rewards earnings, whether in cash back, points, or miles. Here are some of the best everyday credit cards. 

Top cards for everyday spending

To create this guide, we've analyzed a wide range of credit cards. We looked for cards with high reward rates in everyday categories like groceries, gas, and dining. We considered whether the card's rewards and benefits justify any annual fees. We also prioritized cards with straightforward rewards programs and flexible redemption options.

Based on this methodology, we've identified the top credit cards for everyday spending. Whether you're a rewards enthusiast or just looking to earn extra cash back on your daily purchases, we've got you covered.

Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express: Best for groceries 

  • Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card : Best for dining 

PenFed Platinum Rewards Visa Signature® Card: Best for gas 

  • U.S. Bank Cash+™ Visa Signature® Card: Best for utilities 
  • Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card : Best for earning travel rewards 

Chase Freedom Flex℠: Best for drugstore purchases 

Prime visa: best for online shopping .

  • Citi Custom Cash® Card: Best for flat-rate cash back
  • 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $6,000 per year, then 1%)
  • 6% cash back on select U.S. streaming services
  • 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations and on transit
  • 1% cash back on other purchases

Welcome bonus: Earn a $250 statement credit after you spend $3,000 within the first 6 months.

Annual fee: $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95 (see rates and fees).

Why we picked it

If you love to cook at home, the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express is a top pick. This card offers an unmatched 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (up to $6,000 per year, then 1%), making it one of the most rewarding grocery cards . 

While the card does have a $95 annual fee, the high cash back rate on groceries can easily offset this cost for most households. See rates and fees. For example, you'll break even on the annual fee if you spend around $1,600 annually on groceries (approximately $130 per month).

Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express

  • Highest cash back rate on U.S. supermarket purchases (6% up to $6,000 per year, then 1%)
  • 3% cash back on transit and U.S. gas stations
  • Intro APR offer on purchases and balance transfers
  • $95 annual fee after first year (see rates and fees)
  • 6% cash back on groceries is capped at $6,000 per year, then drops to 1%
  • American Express cards are not as widely accepted as Visa or Mastercard

Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card: Best for dining 

  • 10% cash back on purchases made through Uber and Uber Eats (through Nov. 14, 2024) 
  • 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases
  • 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked using Capital One Travel
  • Unlimited 3% cash back on dining, entertainment, popular streaming subscriptions, and grocery store purchases (excluding superstores like Walmart and Target)
  • 1% cash back on all other purchases

Welcome bonus: Earn a $200 cash bonus after you spend $500 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.

Annual fee: $0

Foodies and restaurant enthusiasts will love the Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card . This card offers unlimited 3% cash back on dining and grocery stores, among other categories.

With no annual fee and a solid welcome bonus, the SavorOne card is a great choice for those who enjoy dining out and cooking at home.

The SavorOne Cash Rewards card offers a 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 months (then a 19.99%, 26.24%, or 29.99% ongoing APR based on your creditworthiness). Plus, there are no foreign transaction fees, making this card a solid option for international travel. 

Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card

  • Unlimited 3% cash back on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services, and grocery stores (excluding superstores)
  • No annual fee
  • 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • 3% cash back on groceries excludes purchases made at superstores like Walmart and Target
  • Cash back redemption options may be limited compared to other rewards cards
  • 5X on gas purchases at the pump and electric vehicle charging stations
  • 3X on supermarket purchases
  • 1X on all other purchases

Welcome bonus: 15,000 bonus points when you spend $1,500 in the first 90 days

This card offers 5X points on gas purchases and electric vehicle charging stations, making it one of the most rewarding cards for fueling up . You'll also earn 3X points on supermarket purchases and 1X on other purchases. Points can be redeemed for gift cards, merchandise, or travel.

This card has no foreign transaction fees and a 0% intro APR offer on balance transfers for the first 12 months. Remember that to open this card, you’ll need to be a member of the PenFed Credit Union.

PenFed Platinum Rewards Visa Signature® Card

  • Higher rewards on groceries exclude purchases made at superstores like Walmart and Target
  • Must be a PenFed Credit Union member to apply (though anyone can join)

U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card: Best for utilities

  • 5% cash back on two categories you choose each quarter (including utilities) up to $2,000 in combined purchases each quarter, then 1%. 
  • 2% cash back on one everyday category (like gas, groceries, or restaurants)
  • 1% cash back on all other eligible purchases

Welcome bonus: Earn a $200 bonus after spending $1,000 in eligible purchases within the first 120 days of account opening.

The U.S. Bank Visa Signature is a unique cash back card allowing you to choose your bonus categories each quarter. You can select two categories to earn 5% cash back on up to $2,000 in combined purchases per quarter, including home utilities. That includes purchases made with providers of gas, electric, water, and sanitary utilities, making it a great option for those looking to earn bonus rewards on essential bills.

In addition to the 5% categories, you can choose one "everyday" category to earn 2% cash back each quarter, like groceries, gas, or dining. The flexibility to customize your bonus categories sets this card apart from other rewards cards, allowing you to tailor rewards to your spending.

U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card

  • Choose your bonus categories each quarter
  • 5% cash back on two categories of your choice (up to $2,000 in combined purchases per quarter, then 1%)
  • 2% cash back on one "everyday" category of your choice
  • 5% and 2% bonus categories require quarterly activation
  • 5% cash back is capped at $2,000 in combined purchases per quarter
  • May not be ideal for those who prefer a simpler reward structure

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: Best for earning travel rewards 

  • 5X points on travel through Chase Travel
  • 5X total points on Lyft rides (through March 2025)
  • 3X points on dining (including eligible delivery services), select streaming services, and online grocery purchases (excluding Walmart, Target, and wholesale clubs)
  • 2X points on other travel
  • 1X points on other purchases

Welcome bonus: 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first three months

Annual fee: $95

If you want to earn travel rewards on your everyday purchases, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is a top contender. This card offers 5X points on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 3X points on dining, online grocery purchases, and select streaming services, 2X points on all other travel purchases, and 1X on all other purchases. 

Points can be redeemed for travel through the Chase Travel℠ portal at a 25% bonus or transferred to popular airline and hotel partners for potentially greater value.

The Sapphire Preferred card also offers a generous sign-up bonus of 60,000 points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months — worth $750 in travel when redeemed through Chase Ultimate Rewards. Other perks include a $50 annual credit for hotel stays purchased through Ultimate Rewards, travel insurance, and no foreign transaction fees. 

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

  • 5X points on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠
  • 3X points on dining, online grocery purchases, and select streaming services
  • 2X points on all other travel purchases
  • 1X points on all other purchases
  • Generous sign-up bonus
  • Points are worth 25% more when redeemed for travel through Chase Travel℠
  • Transfer points to popular airline and hotel partners
  • Travel insurance
  • $95 annual fee
  • Requires good to excellent credit for approval
  • May not be the best choice for those who don't travel frequently
  • 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter
  • 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards
  • 3% cash back on dining and drugstore purchases

Welcome bonus: Earn a $200 bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

The Chase Freedom Flex is a versatile cash back card that offers 3% cash back on drugstore purchases, making it a great choice for those who frequently shop at pharmacies.

One of the standout features of this card is its rotating 5% bonus categories, which have historically included grocery stores, gas stations, and even drugstores. These categories offer the potential to earn significant cash back on common purchases throughout the year.

Chase Freedom Flex℠

  • 3% cash back on drugstore purchases
  • 5% cash back on rotating bonus categories (up to $1,500 in combined purchases each quarter, then 1%)
  • 3% cash back on dining
  • Lengthy 0% intro APR period
  • 5% bonus categories require quarterly activation and are capped at $1,500 in combined purchases each quarter
  • May not be ideal for those who prefer a simpler reward structure without rotating categories
  • 5% cash back at Amazon.com and Whole Foods Market
  • 5% cash back on Chase Travel 
  • 2% cash back at restaurants, gas stations, and local transit 

Welcome bonus: Instantly get a $100 Amazon Gift Card upon approval for Prime members

Annual fee: $0 ($139 annual Prime membership required)

The Prime Visa is a must-have if you're a Prime member and do lots of shopping on Amazon. This card offers an impressive 5% cash back at Amazon.com and Whole Foods Market, making it one of the most rewarding cards for online shopping. You'll also earn 2% cash back at restaurants, gas stations, local transit, and 1% on all other purchases.

The Prime Visa offers a $100 Amazon gift card instantly upon approval. The card has no annual fee (aside from the $139 Amazon Prime membership fee) and no foreign transaction fees. 

  • 5% cash back on Amazon.com and Whole Foods Market purchases
  • 2% cash back at restaurants, gas stations, and drugstores
  • $100 Amazon Gift Card instantly upon approval
  • No annual fee (aside from Amazon Prime membership)
  • Requires an active Prime membership
  • May not be as rewarding for purchases made outside of Amazon.com and Whole Foods Market
  • Cash back can only be redeemed for Amazon purchases, statement credits, or gift cards

Citi Custom Cash® Card: Best for flat-rate cash back 

Rewards: 2% cash back on all purchases (1% when you buy, plus 1% when you pay off the purchase)

Welcome bonus: Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first six months of account opening

For those who prefer a simple rewards program, the Citi Custom Cash® Card is tough to beat. This card offers an unlimited 2% cash back on all purchases – 1% when you buy and an additional 1% when you pay your bill. There are no bonus categories to track or activate and no annual fee.

The card also offers a lengthy 0% intro APR on balance transfers, providing an opportunity to pay down high-interest debt from other cards.

Citi Custom Cash® Card

  • Unlimited 2% cash back on all purchases (1% when you buy, 1% when you pay)
  • No bonus categories to track or activate
  • 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 18 months
  • Cash back can be redeemed for statement credits, direct deposits, or checks
  • No 0% intro APR on purchases
  • 3% foreign transaction fee

How to maximize rewards with everyday credit cards

Using a card for most everyday purchases can help you earn valuable rewards and access other benefits. To make the most of your credit card, consider these strategies:

  • Choose a card that aligns with your spending habits. Pick a card that offers bonus rewards in categories you spend the most, such as groceries, gas, dining, or entertainment.
  • Combine cards for optimal rewards. Use multiple cards to maximize rewards across different spending categories. For example, you could use a card with high grocery rewards for supermarket purchases and another with high gas rewards for filling up your tank.
  • Pay your balance in full each month. Always pay your credit card balance in full and on time to avoid interest charges.
  • Redeem rewards strategically. Choose redemption options that offer the most value for your rewards, such as direct deposits or booking travel.
  • Take advantage of sign-up bonuses. Many cards offer a sign-up bonus when you meet a minimum spending requirement within the first few months. These bonuses can significantly boost your rewards earnings.

What to consider when picking a credit card

When selecting the best credit card for your everyday purchases, consider the following factors:

  • Rewards structure: Look for a card that offers high reward rates in categories where you spend the most. Consider whether you prefer cash back, points, or miles , and if you're willing to track bonus categories or prefer a flat-rate rewards structure.
  • Annual fee: In some cases, a card with a higher annual fee may provide more value if you spend heavily in its bonus categories.
  • Intro APR offers: If you plan to make a large purchase or transfer a balance, look for a card with a 0% intro APR offer on purchases and balance transfers.
  • Foreign transaction fees: If you frequently travel abroad, choose a card with no foreign transaction fees to avoid extra charges.
  • Additional benefits: Consider perks like travel insurance, purchase protection, and exclusive discounts or experiences.
  • Redemption options: Evaluate the card's redemption options and ensure they align with your preferences, such as statement credits, travel bookings, or gift cards. 
  • Credit score requirements: Generally, you need at least a credit score of 670 or higher to qualify for most rewards cards. Check your credit score to see if you'll qualify for a card before applying. 

The bottom line

The top everyday credit cards help you earn rewards where you spend the most each month. Use the cards on our list as a starting point as you search for rewards credit cards that make sense based on your spending habits.

Remember to use credit responsibly and avoid overspending just to earn rewards. With the right everyday credit card and a disciplined approach to spending, you can enjoy the benefits of rewards without compromising your finances.

Editorial disclosure: Opinions expressed are author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included in the post.

Kevin Payne

Which purchases count as travel with Chase Sapphire Preferred and Chase Sapphire Reserve?

Benét J. Wilson

Editor's Note

Thanks to its plethora of premium travel perks, the Chase Sapphire Reserve is well-known in the travel credit card space. The Chase Sapphire Preferred is the Sapphire Reserve's mid-tier sibling that features a $95 annual fee — which is also the more affordable card considering the Reserve's annual fee is $550 — and remains a top pick, winning Best Travel Rewards Credit Card for the sixth straight year at the 2023 TPG Awards .

No matter which Sapphire card you have, Chase clearly defines what counts as travel. Both cards generously award for travel booked through the Ultimate Rewards portal and all other travel purchases.

We'll go over the purchases that count (and don't count) toward earning bonus points in this guide.

How many points do the Chase Sapphire Reserve and Preferred cards earn on travel?

The Chase Sapphire Reserve awards 10 points per dollar on hotels and car rentals booked through the Ultimate Rewards portal and 5 points per dollar on flights booked through the Ultimate Rewards portal.

But suppose you're looking to book directly with the airline, hotel or another company or get awarded for other travel purchases like taxi rides and parking fees. In that case, you'll still earn 3 points per dollar on these purchases.

chase sapphire best travel card

The Sapphire Preferred earns 5 points per dollar on all travel purchases booked through the Ultimate Rewards portal and 2 points per dollar on other travel purchases.

You'll also earn a boosted rate of 10 and 5 points per dollar spent on Lyft rides on the Reserve and Preferred, respectively (through March 2025).

'Travel,' according to Chase

The Ultimate Rewards portal is powered by Expedia , allowing you to book various types of travel. For "all other travel purchases," here's how Chase defines it:

Merchants in the travel category include airlines, hotels, motels, timeshares, car rental agencies, cruise lines, travel agencies, discount travel sites, campgrounds and operators of passenger trains, buses, taxis, limousines, ferries, toll bridges and highways, and parking lots and garages.

Compared to bonus categories from other credit cards, Chase's travel category is extremely generous.

While cards such as the American Express® Gold Card and The Platinum Card® from American Express offer bonus points for airfare purchases made directly with the airline (with a spending cap of $500,000 on the Amex Platinum per calendar year), the Sapphire Preferred and Reserve cards let you earn a bonus on virtually every trip-related charge.

chase sapphire best travel card

The travel category encompasses a wide variety of purchases, from hotels and airfare (which doesn't have to be booked directly with the airline) to cruises, tolls and even parking fees. Uber and Airbnb purchases count as travel as well.

The following purchases do not apply toward the 2 or 3 points per dollar bonus categories on these cards, but most of them shouldn't be a huge surprise or disappointment:

Some merchants that provide transportation and travel-related services are not included in this category; for example, real estate agents, educational merchants arranging travel, in-flight goods and services, on-board cruise line goods and services, sightseeing activities, excursions, tourist attractions, RV and boat rentals, merchants within hotels and airports, public campgrounds and merchants that rent vehicles for the purpose of hauling. Purchases from gift card merchants or merchants that sell points or miles will not qualify in the travel category.

A few notable travel-related charges that have not been posted as travel for the purposes of bonus points with Chase for TPG staffers in the recent past include an RV rental as well as some vacation rentals via Vrbo and similar services. Whether a vacation home rental automatically codes as travel depends on whether an individual or a conglomerate operates it. In the latter case, that charge may code as "professional services" instead of travel.

If you're ever unsure whether a given purchase counts as travel, it could be worth making a small charge and checking whether it earns any bonus points on your online Chase account.

Additionally, suppose you feel like a travel purchase should have earned bonus points but didn't. In that case, you can always try calling or secure messaging Chase and requesting consideration for that charge to be awarded points as a travel charge. Even if you don't get the outcome you're looking for, you'll at least get some clarity on how certain charges are coded and can plan future spending accordingly.

What does Chase typically count as travel purchases?

  • Campgrounds
  • Car rental agencies (excludes RV and boat rentals)
  • Cruise lines
  • Discount travel sites
  • Parking lots and garages
  • Passenger trains
  • Toll bridges and highways
  • Travel agencies
  • Vacation rentals (including some VRBO rentals operated by an individual )

What does Chase typically not count as travel purchases?

  • Educational merchants arranging travel
  • Gift card merchants
  • Inflight goods and services
  • Merchants that rent vehicles for the purpose of hauling
  • Merchants within hotels and airports
  • Onboard cruise line goods and services
  • Purchasing points or miles
  • Public campgrounds
  • Real estate agents
  • RV and boat rentals
  • Sightseeing activities
  • Tourist attractions
  • Vacation rentals ( some VRBO rentals operated by a conglomerate rather than an individual )

Bottom line

Cardholders of the Chase Sapphire Reserve and Chase Sapphire Preferred have plenty of opportunities to earn 3 or 2 points per dollar spent, respectively, on "other travel purchases." Based on TPG's valuations , that means you could be getting a return of up to 6.1% on these purchases, and you can put your points to use with Chase's airline and hotel partners .

On top of that, these Chase cards have some of the most generous travel and purchase protections on the market, making either card a valuable addition to your wallet.

Apply here: Chase Sapphire Reserve with a 60,000-point sign-up bonus after you spend $4,000 in the first three months of account opening Apply here: Chase Sapphire Preferred with a 60,000-point sign-up bonus after you spend $4,000 in the first three months of account opening

COMMENTS

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