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Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card:

If you’re new to the world of travel rewards and looking for a way to make your trips more exciting and affordable, let me introduce you to the number one card I refer to my friends; the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card. It earns versatile points, has great perks, and is even thick enough to scrape your windshield on a snowy day (Or so I hear. I live in Texas).

Here’s a simple breakdown of why this card is so amazing.

1. Earning Rewards

If you’re still using a debit card, I plead with you to STOP. Instead, treat the Sapphire Preferred as a debit card. Pay it off on time and in full each month while earning great rewards! You’ll earn :

• 5x points on Chase Travel℠
• 3x points on restaurants
• 3x points select streaming services
• 3x points online groceries (excluding Target, Walmart, and wholesale clubs)
• 3x points on top brand vacation rentals (like Airbnb/VRBO)
• 3x points on gas/EV charging (including Costco gas!)
• 2x points on all travel purchased outside of Chase Travel℠
• 1 point per dollar on all other purchases.

These points are SO VALUABLE because they are so flexible. 

Let’s explore this more.

2. Is It Worth The Annual Fee? YES!

Okay this is where the Sapphire Preferred really shines in relation to other beginner cards – the benefits:

✈️ Travel Protections

Trip Cancellation and Interruption Insurance
If your trip is canceled or cut short for a covered reason, you’re protected on prepaid, non-refundable travel costs. This alone can be worth the annual fee!

Trip Delay Reimbursement
If your flight is delayed, you’re covered for up to $500 per covered traveler for meals and lodging. This kicks in after a qualifying delay on a common carrier.

Baggage Delay Insurance
Bags delayed over 6 hours? You’re covered for up to $100 a day for up to 5 days for essentials while you wait.

Primary Auto Rental Coverage
Coverage is primary, meaning you don’t have to file with your personal auto insurance first. Covers theft and collision damage up to $60,000 when you charge your entire rental to your card.

Emergency Evacuation and Transportation
New as of 2026! If you’re on a trip 100+ miles from home and need emergency medical services or transportation, you can be covered for medical services and transportation up to $100,000.

No Foreign Transaction Fees
No fees on purchases made outside the U.S…ever! We always make sure to bring this card with on overseas trips!

💳 Everyday Perks Worth Using

Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or NEXUS Credit
Get up to $120 back every four years when you apply using your card. If you’re not enrolled in TSA PreCheck yet, this card pays for it. This is a great perk on a beginner card. We have a whole blog post dedicated to TSA Precheck, Global Entry and Clear.

Chase Travel Hotel Credit
Earn up to $100 in statement credits each account anniversary year on hotel stays booked through Chase Travel. We LOVE using this credit for airport hotel stays before early morning flights! Or road trip hotels along the way to our destination.

DoorDash DashPass
A complimentary DashPass membership when activated by December 31, 2029. Plus a $10 monthly credit on eligible convenience or grocery orders. Read more here.

Extended Warranty
Eligible U.S. manufacturer warranties of three years or less get extended by one additional year automatically, just by paying with the card. I actually should probably be using this feature more.

Benefits are subject to individual terms and conditions. See your Guide to Benefits for details.

3. Redeeming Points and Transferring to Travel Partners

When you’re ready to use your points, you have some great options. You can redeem them through Chase Travel℠ and receive a Points Boost. This will replace the previous 1.25 cents per point that you previously could redeem your points in the portal for. Now, when you use your points in Chase Travel^SM you’ll receive variable 1.0-1.75 cents/point value when redeeming points on select airline tickets and hotel accommodations.

This is a great option, but we can do EVEN BETTER! 

I highly recommend that you transfer your points to travel partners. Chase, hands down, has some of my favorite transfer partners. They include: Southwest, Hyatt, Flying Blue, British Airways, United, and more. Transferring your points to travel partners will allow you to get much more value from your points. Additionally, I like to share points with my husband. Because we live in the same household, we can share points (be sure to call the bank the first time if you need to link your accounts).

Note that as of June 15, 2026 transfers from the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card to Hyatt will be at a 4:3 ratio.

To transfer your points, select the Ultimate Rewards® section of your account. Select “Transfer points to partners.” Then you will see all airline and hotel travel partners. Choose the partner you would like to transfer your points to, and follow the directions to transfer points in increments of 1,000. Note – you will need to create a loyalty account with your transfer partner before you can transfer your points. Transfers are usually instant, but it’s always a good idea to check the details with the specific partner.

4. Book Your Travel

After transferring your points, log in to your travel partner’s loyalty program to book your flight or hotel. You’ll be able to use the points as if they were directly earned with that program, often giving you access to better deals and rewards. Earning points with the Sapphire Preferred gives you SO MUCH MORE FLEXIBILITY than earning points through multiple brands of airlines and hotels. 

5. Welcome Offer

Be sure to check out the current welcome offer for the Sapphire Preferred. This is a simple way to earn a big chunk of those transferable points and can provide a huge boost to kickstart your rewards! If you’re spending money on life – you might as well be rewarded. 

Conclusion

In summary, if you’re looking to get the most out of your everyday spending, the Sapphire Preferred is a fantastic choice. In the last year alone, by utilizing transfer partners, we have used these points to fly Southwest to Washington, DC, stayed at the Hyatt Regency Amsterdam, and flown to Europe via Air France. The value we have received from points from this card is immeasurable! With its great rewards structure, generous welcome offer, and travel benefits, if I had to choose only one card to keep forever – it would be this one.

Let’s get you traveling (on points)!

XO – Amber