Jonathan Machado
Elevate your dining experiences and maximize every trip you take. The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is the essential travel credit card for smart spenders who want premium-tier rewards without a premium-tier annual fee.
Why it fits you
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is the gold standard for entry-level premium travel cards. It turns your everyday expenses into flexible Ultimate Rewards® points that can be boosted by 25% when redeemed through Chase Travel℠ — or transferred at a 1:1 ratio to luxury airlines and hotel programs. If you love to travel and eat out regularly, the generous welcome bonus and the depth of the point ecosystem easily outweigh the modest $95 annual fee.
Key specs at a glance
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Welcome Bonus | 75,000 bonus points for new cardmembers |
| Annual Fee | $95 |
| Top Multiplier | 5X points on travel booked through Chase Travel℠ |
| Dining | 3X points at restaurants, cafes, and eligible delivery |
| Required Credit | Good to Excellent (670+ FICO) |
| International Use | $0 foreign transaction fees |
| Annual Hotel Credit | $50 applied automatically to hotel stays booked through Chase Travel℠ |
The Good (Pros)
- Unmatched flexibility: transfer points 1:1 to over ten airline and hotel partners — including United, Southwest, Hyatt, and Marriott — for outsized redemption value
- Portal bonus: redeem points at 25% more value through Chase Travel℠, making 75,000 points worth $937.50 toward flights, hotels, and car rentals
- Strong travel protections: includes primary auto rental coverage, trip cancellation and interruption insurance, and baggage delay protection
- No foreign transaction fees: use the card in any country with no added cost per transaction
The Bad (Cons)
- No premium lounge access: does not include airport lounge passes — that benefit is reserved for the Chase Sapphire Reserve®
- Annual fee of $95: partially offset by the $50 annual hotel credit, bringing the effective net cost down to $45 per year
Ready to start earning valuable travel points?
For travelers who want to maximize every dollar spent on flights, hotels, and dining without committing to a $500+ annual fee, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is the most balanced option in the market. The 75,000-point welcome bonus alone can fund multiple award trips over the life of the card.
