Why the average traveler needs the Sapphire Prefer...

At TPG, we love the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see rates and fees). It was the primary journey rewards bank card for many people and stays one of many playing cards we won’t dwell with out.

We love that it earns versatile Chase Ultimate Rewards points and has our backs if one thing goes incorrect whereas we’re touring. It is good for the typical traveler who takes one or two huge journeys a 12 months and desires journey advantages however does not want the extras that include a extra premium journey card.

Whereas many people have upgraded to the Chase Sapphire Reserve® (see rates and fees) as our journey habits have advanced, the Chase Sapphire Most popular continues to be one of many high playing cards we advocate to inexperienced persons and anybody on the lookout for a strong set of journey advantages.

This is why we think about the Sapphire Most popular the most effective card for the typical traveler.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred fees a $95 annual charge, which is way extra cheap than what you may pay for a more premium travel card. Whereas the trade-off is fewer perks, most common vacationers will not use advantages like lounge access or airline fee credits sufficient to warrant the upper charges that accompany them.

You could be skeptical of annual charges if you happen to’re new to bank card rewards. However when you’ve gotten a robust card with a manageable charge, such because the Chase Sapphire Most popular, it is simple to make up the distinction so that you just aren’t truly paying something out of pocket for the cardboard annually.

Should you’re like TPG bank cards editor Olivia Mittak and use DoorDash incessantly, you may get your entire Sapphire Most popular’s annual charge again with some to spare via its complimentary DoorDash DashPass profit (activate by Dec. 31, 2027).

Since a DashPass membership prices $9.99 every month, utilizing your Sapphire Most popular’s complimentary membership would get you $120 a 12 months in worth. Because the Sapphire Most popular prices $95 a 12 months, you would be within the inexperienced by $25.

That is not even factoring on this card’s $50 annual hotel credit for Chase Travel℠ bookings and the worth of the Final Rewards factors you may earn.

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Associated: Is the Chase Sapphire Preferred worth the annual fee? I say yes

New cardholders can earn 100,000 bonus factors after spending $5,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening. That is the best offer we have seen on the Sapphire Preferred in years, and it could not come round once more for some time. This provide ends on Might 15 at 9 a.m. EDT.

Whereas spending $5,000 in simply three months could sound like a tough activity for some budgets, there are many methods you may meet the minimum spend requirement to unlock the welcome bonus.

In keeping with TPG’s Might 2025 valuations, this welcome bonus is price a whopping $2,050 in journey rewards. With 100,000 Chase Final Rewards factors at your disposal, you’ve gotten a ton of redemption choices.

You will not cease incomes these helpful factors while you’re carried out incomes the Sapphire Most popular’s welcome provide. This card has a few of the greatest incomes charges of any mid-tier card out there.

Associated: I thought I’d hardly use my Sapphire Preferred, then it became one of my go-to cards

The Chase Sapphire Preferred earns Chase Ultimate Rewards points, a few of the most versatile factors out there.

The welcome bonus provides you an amazing begin towards incomes the factors vital in your subsequent trip, however it is not the one strategy to earn factors. You may earn factors on a variety of widespread purchases, together with:

• 5 factors per greenback spent on journey booked via Chase Journey (excluding the $50 lodge credit score)
• 5 factors per greenback spent on Lyft purchases (via Sept. 2027)
• 5 factors per greenback spent on Peloton gear and accent purchases of $150 or extra (via Dec. 2027, with a restrict of 25,000 bonus factors)
• 3 factors per greenback spent on dining, choose streaming services and online grocery store purchases (excluding Walmart, Goal and wholesale golf equipment)
• 2 factors per greenback spent on all different journey not booked via Chase Journey
• 1 level per greenback spent on every thing else

Chase’s eating class is extremely broad. Many issuers limit eating purchases to only commonplace eating places and perhaps quick meals, however Chase also includes bars, breweries, college eating halls, merchandising machines and even some restaurant supply providers like DoorDash and Grubhub.

The travel category is also quite generous. You may earn bonus factors on typical journey purchases like accommodations and airfare, however you may additionally earn on purchases that different in style journey playing cards do not cowl. These embrace ferries, toll bridges, parking garages, low cost journey websites and a few campgrounds.

Associated: How to maximize your rewards earning with the Chase Sapphire Preferred

Along with flexibility in what earns bonus rewards, the Sapphire Preferred gives flexibility in how one can redeem your factors.

As of Might 2025, TPG values Chase Final Rewards factors at 2.05 cents every. That is as a result of Chase has many valuable travel partners that provide you with entry to all three main airline alliances and three completely different lodge manufacturers (IHG, Marriott and Hyatt).

Chase Final Rewards transfers to every of its companions at a 1:1 ratio, and lots of of these transfers process almost instantly.

Transferring your factors to airline companions is essential if you wish to fly enterprise or top notch internationally, however it gives actual worth to those that choose journey with out bells and whistles, too.

For instance, you possibly can switch simply 10,800 Final Rewards factors to United and guide a one-way economic system flight from Los Angeles Worldwide Airport (LAX) to Orlando Worldwide Airport (MCO) on choose dates this August. Or, you possibly can switch as few as 3,500 factors per evening for an off-peak keep at a Class 1 Hyatt property.

Many TPGers, together with TPG senior bank cards editor Giselle Gomez, use their Final Rewards factors for Hyatt redemptions. A few of her greatest current redemptions weren’t for hard-to-snag worldwide flights or world-class luxurious accommodations however as a substitute to meet her MLB park bucket list.

If you wish to begin with one thing simpler, you may redeem your factors for 1.25 cents every when booking through Chase Travel. This redemption fee is mostly deal if you happen to’re reserving economic system awards or commonplace room charges. Simply take into account that you will not earn elite evening credit when reserving accommodations via Chase Journey.

One other bonus to reserving airfare, particularly via the portal, is that airways think about your redemption money. Meaning your factors may even cowl any taxes and costs related together with your flight.

Associated: 21 ways to use 100K Chase Ultimate Rewards points: Budget-friendly redemptions and luxurious trips

The Sapphire Preferred could not include lounge entry or tons of of {dollars} in journey credit, however that does not imply it lacks helpful advantages.

The Sapphire Most popular has a few of the greatest journey protections of any mid-tier bank card in the marketplace, together with:

This card additionally comes with primary rental car insurance — a rarity for any card, not to mention a mid-tier card. Observe that your Sapphire Most popular’s insurance coverage insurance policies could have extra phrases, so be certain that to test your card’s information to advantages for full particulars.

TPG bank cards author Augusta Stone not too long ago used her Sapphire Most popular’s journey cancellation insurance coverage to cover a missed hotel stay. Because of her card’s protection, she saved nearly $250.

The Sapphire Most popular additionally comes with a $50 lodge credit score for bookings made via Chase Journey. This credit score is nice for reserving boutique accommodations that are not a part of a serious lodge loyalty program, or if there is not nice award availability in your keep. Giselle used this credit score along with transferring her factors to Hyatt for her bucket checklist baseball journey.

Lastly, the cardboard gives Visa Signature benefits (together with entry to the Visa Signature Concierge Service) and no foreign transaction fees.

Associated: How I got a 20X return on my Chase Sapphire Preferred last year

Most common vacationers in all probability do not have 15-plus credit cards of their pockets, which implies the playing cards you’ve gotten must make an influence. The Chase Sapphire Preferred can simply be paired with Chase’s no-annual-fee cash-back cards that can assist you maximize your incomes potential throughout spending classes, with out including tons of of {dollars} in annual charges to your plate.

The rewards you earn on the Chase Freedom Flex® (see rates and fees) and Chase Freedom Unlimited® (see rates and fees) cannot be transferred to companions with out assist from a card just like the Sapphire Most popular.

With the Sapphire Most popular in your pockets, you may move the rewards you earn from both of the Freedom playing cards to the Chase Sapphire Most popular to take advantage of transfer partners or an elevated redemption fee via Chase Journey.

The Chase Freedom Flex has rotating quarterly bonus categories that earn 5% money again on the primary $1,500 you spend every quarter you activate, whereas the Chase Freedom Limitless earns at the least 1.5% money again on all purchases.

Each playing cards additionally earn 5% again on Chase Journey and three% again on eating at eating places and drugstores. Neither card has an annual charge.

The Freedom Flex and Freedom Limitless may also help fill gaps in your pockets that the Sapphire Most popular cannot cowl. Widespread quarterly classes for the Freedom Flex that are not included among the many Sapphire Most popular’s bonus classes embrace Amazon, PayPal, gyms and charity donations.

The Freedom Limitless can cowl any purchases that do not fall into the Sapphire Most popular or Freedom Flex’s bonus classes.

Associated: Chase Freedom Flex vs. Chase Freedom Unlimited

Not satisfied but? To be taught extra, try our full review of the Sapphire Preferred.

Apply right here: Chase Sapphire Preferred with a present provide of 100,000 bonus factors after spending $5,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.