Who should get the Chase Sapphire Preferred
This is the travel rewards card most Americans should start with. The $95 annual fee is low enough to justify even if you only take 2-3 trips a year, and the points are the most transferable currency in consumer finance.
If you already carry an Amex Gold for dining, the Sapphire Preferred still pairs well because of its transfer partners. If you travel less than twice a year, a flat-rate cashback card will serve you better.
Rewards structure
The card earns:
- 5x points on travel booked through Chase Travel
- 3x points on dining, select streaming, and online groceries
- 2x points on all other travel
- 1x on everything else
There's a sign-up bonus that fluctuates between 60,000 and 100,000 points depending on the promotion, typically requiring $4,000 in spend in the first 3 months.
Why the transfer partners matter
Chase Ultimate Rewards points transfer 1:1 to 14 airline and hotel partners, including United, Southwest, Hyatt, and JetBlue. This is where the card earns its reputation: a Hyatt category 1 hotel costs 5,000 points per night, which means 100,000 Chase points can get you 20 nights at a Hyatt property — a transferable-points redemption worth far more than cashback.
The 25% redemption bonus through Chase Travel is a decent alternative if you prefer to book directly: 100,000 points = $1,250 in travel.
Fees and APR
The $95 annual fee is not waived in year one. There's no foreign transaction fee, which is standard for travel cards but worth calling out. APR is variable and punitive — do not carry a balance on this card.
Bottom line
If you're going to get one travel card in your life, this is the one to start with. Upgrade to Sapphire Reserve once your annual travel spend justifies the $550 fee.
