Whenever anyone asks me the best travel rewards credit card, my answer is simple: The Chase Sapphire Preferred.
Yes, there are many other good cards out there, but the Chase Sapphire Preferred has stood head and shoulders above the others for a few years now.
If you’re someone who is looking to get a travel rewards credit card, this is the first one to get. Here are the many reasons why.
The Details for the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card
Here are the details for the current sign up deal:
- Earn 40,000 bonus points when you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That’s $500 in travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards™.
- Earn 5,000 additional bonus points after you add the first authorized user and make a purchase in the first 3 months from account opening.
- 2X points on travel and dining at restaurants & 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases
- Automatically get a 7% Annual Points Dividend on all new points earned on purchases throughout the year – even points you have redeemed.
- No foreign transaction fees, plus Chip and Signature enabled for international travel.
- 1:1 point transfer to participating frequent travel programs at full value – that means 1,000 Ultimate Rewards points equal 1,000 partner miles/points.
- 24/7 direct access to dedicated customer service specialists
- Introductory Annual Fee of $0 the first year, then $95
Click here to apply for the Chase Sapphire Preferred card
Why I Love the Chase Sapphire Preferred
Reason #1: Great Sign Up Bonus
The current bonus is 40k after spending $3,000 in 3 months, and they even make it sweeter by giving you an additional 5k after adding an authorized user and having them make a purchase in the first 3 months.
That’s a total of 45k Chase Ultimate Rewards points, which is one of the best sign up bonuses out there!
Reason #2: The Awesomeness, and Flexibility, of Chase Ultimate Rewards Points
Chase Ultimate Rewards points are my favorite travel rewards points, which is why getting 45k of them for a sign up is so sweet.
The great thing about Chase points is that they can be used in two ways:
- 1. To transfer to partners at a 1:1 ratio, such as United, Southwest, Hyatt, etc.
- 2. As “cash” to purchase travel. Each point is worth 1.25 cents toward travel, meaning 45k points are worth $562.50.
The flexibility of this is incredible.
If you want to get the best value, transfer them to an airline and use miles to book your ticket.
If you need to purchase a certain flight, use them as cash and you’ll be able to book any ticket, any day, on any airline.
You can also use them as “cash” to pay for hotel stays or rental cars.
Reason #3: 2x per $1 on travel and dining
Getting 2x per $1 spent in bonus categories is great, and the Sapphire Preferred has two of the best bonus categories out there: travel and dining.
Nothing better than earning 100 points on a $50 dinner!
Reason #4: Waived Annual Fee for the First Year
Get all of the benefits of the Chase Sapphire Preferred for a whole year, and don’t pay a thing. After that, it’s only $95 a year, a small price to pay for all the perks.
Reason #5: No Foreign Transaction Fee and Chip and Signature
Since the Chase Sapphire Preferred now has a Chip and Signature and never charges a foreign transaction fee, this is the perfect card to use when traveling abroad.
Personally, I use this for all my spending when I’m traveling internationally, and I’ve never once had a problem with it getting declined.
Reason #6: 7% Bonus on All Points Earned
If you’re a big spender, this could be huge. 7% more points for doing nothing extra? I’ll take that in a heartbeat.
Reason #7: Amazing Customer Service
One of the reasons I love Chase so much is their incredible customer service. Every time you call in, you get a live person without having to go through any prompts.
This is a major perk, especially if you have an issue or are trying to get something resolved quickly.
Click here to apply for the Chase Sapphire Preferred
Are There Any Downsides to the Chase Sapphire Preferred?
It’s rare that I can say this, but honestly, no.
I’ve used this card for two years as my everyday spending card, both when I’m in the States and abroad, and I absolutely love it.
The fact that you can transfer to awesome partners, such as United for international travel, Southwest for domestic travel, or even Hyatt for some nice hotel stays OR use the points to buy a ticket outright is amazing.
Plus, the sign up bonus is one of the best out there (improved lately by allowing you to earn 5k for adding an authorized user), the bonus categories are great, and the annual fee is even waived for the first year!
Final Word(s)
The Chase Sapphire Preferred is the first card I recommend to everyone who wants a travel rewards card.
It not only has a great sign up bonus, but is also perfect for using as an everyday spend card as well.
If you don’t have one yet, I highly recommend it. I’m betting you’ll fall in love as quickly as I did!