Why the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card remains a top choice for travelers

Jennifer Doss
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Jennifer Doss
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The Chase Sapphire Preferred® is a staple for travelers who want premium perks without a massive annual commitment. For new cardmembers, it offers a generous welcome bonus: earn 75,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 on purchases within the first three months of opening an account.

This welcome bonus provides significant upfront value that can easily be transferred to partner airlines and hotels or redeemed directly for travel. Beyond the initial welcome offer, the card’s real strength lies in its ongoing credits, bonus categories, and travel protections — features designed to easily offset its modest annual_fees annual fee.

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Direct ways to save on travel

One of the most useful parts of the Sapphire Preferred is how it helps lower the cost of your trips through credits that apply directly to your account.

  • $100 annual hotel credit: Every account anniversary year, you receive up to a $100 statement credit for hotel stays purchased directly through the Chase Travel℠ portal. It is a straightforward perk that significantly offsets the cost of the annual fee.
  • Global Entry, TSA Precheck® or NEXUS application credit: Receive one statement credit of up to $120 every four years as reimbursement for the application fee charged to your card for a Global Entry, TSA Precheck® or NEXUS application.

Earn points on every trip and in your daily routine

The card is built to help you rack up Ultimate Rewards points quickly on your regular spending, whether you are booking a vacation, ordering takeout or streaming your favorite content. On an ongoing basis, earn:

  • 5x points on Chase Travel: You earn 5x total points for every dollar spent on travel booked through the Chase Travel portal (excluding hotel purchases that qualify for the $100 credit).
  • 3x points on dining: You earn 3x points per dollar spent at restaurants, including eligible delivery services and takeout.
  • 3x points on top streaming services and online grocery purchases: The card awards 3x points on top streaming services and online grocery purchases (excluding Target, Walmart and wholesale clubs).
  • 3x points on gas station purchases and electric vehicle charging: Earn 3x points per dollar at gas stations and eligible EV charging stations to reward your road trips and daily commutes.
  • 3x points on vacation home rentals: Earn 3x points on rentals made with top brands like Airbnb, Vrbo, and more.
  • 2x points on travel: For flights, hotels, trains or rental cars booked outside of the Chase Travel portal, you still earn 2x points per dollar.

Built-in travel protections

The card includes a broad suite of travel protections that provide peace of mind on trips, ensuring you are protected against unexpected disruptions:

Trip cancellation and interruption insurance: You can be reimbursed for up to $10,000 per covered person ($20,000 per trip) for prepaid, non-refundable travel expenses if your trip is cut short or canceled due to sickness, severe weather or other covered situations.

(NEW) Emergency evacuation and transportation: If you or a covered traveler are injured or become sick during a trip 100 miles or more from home that results in an emergency evacuation, you can be covered for medical services and transportation up to $100,000.

Auto rental coverage: Decline the rental company’s collision insurance and charge the entire rental cost to your card. Coverage is primary and provides reimbursement up to $60,000 for theft and collision damage for most rental vehicles with an MSRP of $125,000 or less.

Trip delay reimbursement: If your common carrier travel is delayed by more than 12 hours or requires an overnight stay, you are covered for unreimbursed expenses like meals and lodging up to $500 per covered traveler.

Is the Chase Sapphire Preferred® worth it right now?

With an accessible annual fee, robust travel protections, and strong earning categories like dining, streaming, gas, and travel, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® continues to deliver compelling value for travel-minded cardmembers. Whether you’re planning a major trip or just earning points on daily routines, the combination of a 75,000-point welcome offer and statement credits makes it an exceptionally easy card to justify keeping in your wallet long-term.

author
Jennifer Doss
CardRatings Executive Editor

A credit card analyst and the managing editor of CardRatings.com, Jennifer Doss leverages over 15 years of experience as a journalist and editor. A recognized finance expert, she frequently contributes her insights on credit cards to major outlets like CNBC and Fortune Magazine. Jennifer is...Read more

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