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Credit card travel A special type of credit card that earns points or miles that you can redeem for free or discounted flights, hotel stays, rental cars or other travel-related benefits. These cards are different from other types of credit cards that offer cash back Or points you can use for gift cards, merchandise and rewards unrelated to your travel.
the number Travel credit card With virtually every credit card company featuring at least one travel card in their lineup, you can be overwhelming to choose from. While many travel cards offer similar benefits, some stand out above the crowd.
One such card is the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, a longtime powerhouse among travel cards, offering a broad slate of travel benefits and protections to its cardholders. Here’s what to know to decide if the rewards, benefits and other details of the Chase Sapphire Preferred Credit Card make sense for you. Learn more here now.
Chase Sapphire is preferred® Card overview
Travel experts have long recommended the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card as a stellar travel card for those starting trips and seeking travel-based rewards. The card is designed with new and casual travelers in mind, with a flexible $95 annual fee, which is offset by the plethora of benefits it offers.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® comes with a generous welcome offer of 80,000 bonus points when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months after opening your account. It’s worth up to $1,000 in travel when you redeem them through Chase Ultimate Rewards – the Chase loyalty program that lets you redeem points for cash back, travel deals and other perks.
The current 80,000-point sign-up bonus is 20,000 points more than previous offers, so if you’ve been on the fence about adding this card to your wallet, now might be the time to take the plunge.
Learn more about Chase Sapphire Preferred and how to score high-value welcome bonuses here.
Chase Sapphire is preferred® reward
With the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, you’ll earn points as follows:
5 points per dollar spent on travel booked through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal 3 points per dollar on restaurants, select streaming services and online grocery purchases (excluding Target, Walmart and Wholesale Clubs) 2 points per dollar on other travel spend 1 point per dollar on other In all purchases
You can transfer your points to one of many airline and hotel partners or redeem them directly for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards. When you book through Chase, you also get a 25% points bonus — so each point is worth 1.25 cents. In other words, every 10,000 points you redeem for travel with Chase is worth up to $125.
Chase Sapphire is preferred® card
The Chase Sapphire Preferred comes with a significantly lower $95 annual fee than the Premium Travel Card, but still offers plenty of perks to increase your annual value, such as:
High reward rates on certain spend categories Valuable welcome bonus offers 1:1 point transfer ratio with a transfer partner list that includes numerous major airlines (Southwest, United Airlines, Virgin Atlantic) and hotel brands (Hyatt, IHG, Marriott) No foreign transaction fees No, a 25% increase in value benefits if you frequently travel abroad that you redeem for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards.
Chase Sapphire Preferred Cons® card
Always consider the downsides of any credit product before jumping to a conclusion, such as these downsides for the Chase Sapphire Preferred Credit Card:
No introductory APR for purchases or promotions Balance TransferThe $95 annual fee does not include premium travel amenities such as airport lounge access or concierge service.
Other features of the Chase Sapphire are desirable® card
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card offers some of the most valuable travel protection among its mid-tier travel credit card competitors. For example, the card comes with primary rental car insurance, which is extremely rare — mostly Credit card Generally only secondary rental car insurance is offered. The card also offers purchase protection, trip delay and trip cancellation insurance, baggage delay insurance and travel and emergency assistance services.
There are additional benefits that can increase the annual value of your card as well. In addition to bonus rewards, you’ll also receive an annual $50 hotel credit for stays booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards. You’ll also get a 10% anniversary points bonus based on your total spend from the previous year. So, if you spend $20,000 on your Chase Sapphire Choices during your account year, you’ll earn 2,000 bonus points on your account anniversary.
Start saving on travel with the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card today!
Rates and Fees
Rewards credit card Useful and convenient, but interest charges and fees can add up quickly if you’re not careful. When considering a credit card, make sure you understand all the fees you may incur to save money and potential headaches in the future. Here’s a breakdown of Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card rates and fees
interest rate
Regular APR: 20.99% to 27.99% Penalty APR: Up to 29.99% Intro APR: None
fee
Annual Fee: $95 Balance Transfer Fee: $5 or 5% of transfer amount, whichever is higher (no intro period for balance transfers) Cash Advance: $10 or 5% of transaction amount, whichever is higher Foreign Transaction Fee: None
Final verdict
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card remains a mainstay in the travel card market by offering a variety of benefits. If you travel or dine out often, this card is definitely worth your consideration, as it offers significant value and hefty rewards rates in these categories. Right now, you can even benefit from one of the best-value sign-up bonuses on the market today
If you want premium benefits like airport lounge access and free checked bags, you can get a higher-tier travel card like the Chase Sapphire Reserve®. But if travel savings are your top priority, this card might be a better choice. As a mid-tier card, the Sapphire Preferred’s $95 annual fee is modest compared to premium travel card charges, which run $500 or more.
Want to score free travel this year? Sign up for the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and start working toward the 80,000-point welcome offer now.
The opinions expressed herein are solely those of the author and not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, endorsed or otherwise approved by any entity included in the post.
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