Credit Cards
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card Review
John Ta
May 17, 2025
6
MIN READ
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The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is one of the most popular travel rewards credit cards on the market, offering a combination of lucrative rewards, travel perks, and flexibility that appeals to frequent travelers and everyday spenders alike.
In this review, we’ll break down the key features of the card, including its introductory offer, earning potential, travel credits, point redemption options, and travel insurance benefits.
One of the standout features of the Chase Sapphire Preferred is its impressive introductory offer. You can earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
To put this into perspective, those points are worth $750 when redeemed through Chase Travel℠, thanks to the card’s 25% redemption bonus for travel purchases. Alternatively, you can transfer these points to Chase’s travel partners, which include airlines and hotel chains, potentially unlocking even greater value. This sign-up bonus alone makes the card a compelling choice for anyone looking to maximize their travel rewards.
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Welcome Offer: Earn 60,000 points after spending $5,000 in the first 3 months.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred offers a competitive earn rate across a variety of spending categories, making it a versatile card for both travel and everyday purchases. Here’s how the earn rate breaks down:
This structure allows cardholders to earn points quickly, especially if they frequently spend in the bonus categories. The 3x points on dining and streaming services are particularly appealing for those who enjoy eating out or subscribing to entertainment platforms.
Another valuable perk of the Chase Sapphire Preferred is the $50 annual Chase Travel℠ hotel credit. This statement credit is automatically applied to your account annually on hotel purchases made using your card through Chase Travel.
While $50 may not seem like a huge amount, it effectively reduces the card’s annual fee of $95, bringing the net cost of the card down to $45 for cardholders who take advantage of this benefit. For frequent travelers, this credit is a nice bonus that can help offset the cost of a hotel stay.
Do note, this credit is not applied for purchases made directly with the hotel. For example, if you use your Chase Sapphire Preferred to pay for your Hyatt bill while at the desk, you won’t receive the $50 hotel credit. Rather, if you book the Hyatt hotel through Chase Travel℠, then you should receive the $50 in a few weeks as a statement credit.
Chase Ultimate Rewards® points are known for their flexibility, and the Chase Sapphire Preferred enhances their value when redeemed through the Chase Travel℠ portal. When you use your points to book travel through the portal, they are worth 25% more, meaning 10,000 points are worth $125 instead of the standard $100.
The portal allows you to book flights, hotels, car rentals, and more, making it a one-stop shop for travel planning.
One of the most powerful features of the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is the ability to transfer your Chase Ultimate Rewards® points to a variety of travel partners at a 1:1 ratio. This means that for every 1,000 Chase points you transfer, you’ll receive 1,000 points or miles in the partner’s loyalty program (assuming there’s no transfer bonus). This feature is ideal for travelers who want to maximize the value of their points by leveraging airline and hotel loyalty programs.
Chase has partnered with several leading airlines and hotel chains, giving cardholders access to a wide range of redemption options. Here’s a list of Chase’s current transfer partners:
To get the most out of your points, it’s worth researching the best redemption options for your travel plans. For example:
The Chase Sapphire Preferred is well-regarded for its robust travel insurance benefits, which provide cardholders with peace of mind when booking trips. These benefits include:
This card is a well-rounded travel rewards card that offers significant value for its $95 annual fee. Between the generous sign-up bonus, competitive earn rate, $50 annual hotel credit, flexible redemption options, and comprehensive travel insurance benefits, it’s easy to see why this card is a favorite among travelers.
If you’re someone who spends heavily in travel, dining, or streaming categories and wants a card that offers both rewards and protection, the Chase Sapphire Preferred is worth considering. Its combination of perks and flexibility makes it a strong contender in the travel rewards space.
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Welcome Offer: Earn 60,000 points after spending $5,000 in the first 3 months.
