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Are you interested in getting started with a travel credit card, but not sure where to start? I was once in the same position.
In 2018, with two young children at home, my husband and I hoped to show our kids the world beyond the USA. However, like many families, the idea of international travel seemed financially out of reach.
Fast forward to today, and we’ve taken the kids to 20 countries and 40 US states, thanks to strategically leveraging rewards programs. Our gateway to this new world of travel was the Chase Sapphire Preferred card.
Why choose this card?
The Chase Sapphire Preferred card is a game-changer for affordable travel. Its Ultimate Rewards points system is user-friendly, making it great for beginners. You have the flexibility to redeem these points for any kind of travel (flights, hotels, car rentals, tours) through the Chase travel portal or to transfer them to a variety of travel partners like Hyatt and United Airlines.
Sign-up bonus
What makes the Sapphire Preferred particularly appealing is its generous sign-up bonus. The 60,000 bonus points are yours after meeting the initial spending requirement of $4,000 in the first three months and paying the $95 annual fee.
Travel insurance
The Sapphire Preferred also provides travel protection insurance when you use the card to book your trip. This has come in handy for me multiple times, including once when a snowstorm stranded me in Detroit overnight. The Sapphire insurance claim paid for my hotel room, food, and transportation.
No foreign transaction fees
An additional benefit is that the Sapphire Preferred does not charge foreign transaction fees. Many cards charge a fee every time you use them outside of the USA. That makes this card a great choice to take on your international adventures.
Is the minimum spend a stretch for your budget? Take a look at this card instead.
How can I spend the points?
This bonus alone opens up a world of possibilities, capable of covering up to 12 hotel nights, two round-trip tickets to Mexico or Central America, or even a round-trip ticket to Europe or South America, when points are transferred to other programs. Check out my transfer guides – part 1 and part 2.
Travel portal
If you choose to book through the Chase travel portal instead of transferring, the bonus is worth $750. The value is incredible.
Cash option
You always have the option to cash in your points for one cent per point. This means your bonus alone is worth $600, in exchange for your $95 annual fee. A great deal no matter how you spend the points.
Expand your travel possibilities
For our family, this card opened new doors. We started with the Sapphire Preferred and used a variety of cards to reach these goals.
How to spend your bonus
We often travel as a family of four, but this card works great for everyone – solo traveler, pair, or larger family. Here are a few example scenarios.
Solo Traveler Scenarios
After completing the $4,000 minimum spend requirement, you’ll have at least 64,000 points to spend.
Scenario 1: 4 nights in the Caribbean city of Cartagena, Colombia
Transfer 36,000 points to Hyatt to book the Hyatt Regency Cartagena. Be sure to check their points calendar first, because the cost ranges from 9,000 to 12,000 points. Use your remaining points on the Chase travel portal to book your flight. With flexible dates, you can easily have a solo trip to Colombia to warm yourself up during the dreary winter.
Scenario 2: A week in Mérida, Mexico
The Hyatt Regency Mérida is a category 1 Hyatt hotel, which means you can book it for as little as 3,500 points/night. I stayed there a few months ago and it’s a wonderful hotel! Centrally located in a convenient neighborhood with friendly staff.
Book your flights on the Chase travel portal or transfer to United.
Mérida is an incredible city with so much to see. Be sure to check out Hacienda Mucuyche while you’re there!
Traveling Pairs Scenarios
Scenario 1: A trip to Las Vegas
My sister and I met up for a girls’ trip in Las Vegas and stayed at the Hyatt Place Silverton Village. It’s only a few years old and so clean and fresh. It’s not right on the strip, which we liked for the peaceful environment. The off-peak dates are only 9,000 points a night. You can easily book this hotel with Ultimate Rewards Points transferred to Hyatt and have points left over toward your flights on the Chase travel portal.
Even if you’re not into Vegas, the surrounding area offers plenty of natural beauty!
Scenario 2: Historic hotel on Michigan Avenue in Chicago
Recently, my daughter wanted to attend Lollapalooza Music Festival, but the hotels were going for $500-600/night and she needed to stay four nights! Points to the rescue. We were able to book the Chicago Athletic Association Hotel right across the street from the Grant Park venue using Hyatt points transferred from Chase Ultimate Rewards. I highly recommend this historic and beautiful hotel!
You can use your sign-up bonus for a long weekend getaway in this incredible property.
Traveling Groups or Families Scenarios
When traveling with a large group or family, you will likely need more than one sign-up bonus for a major trip. For example, if you have a partner, you can refer them to get their own Sapphire card and you can combine the bonuses.
Scenario 1: USA road trip
One sign-up bonus can get you many nights in a category 1 Hyatt. If you have a road trip in mind, take a look at the list of Hyatts by category. We’ve stayed in so many category 1 and 2 Hyatts over the years, because they are such a good value.
For example, we transferred Ultimate Rewards to Hyatt to stay in the Hyatt Place Lincoln, Nebraska on our road trip to Colorado. We used the Chase travel portal to book our hotel in Avon, Colorado.
Scenario 2: Family trip to Europe
It takes more than one credit card bonus to take a family to Europe, which means you need to plan ahead. If you sign up for the Chase Sapphire Preferred, refer your spouse or partner, and you both sign up for the United Explorer or Quest, you’ll have enough for four round trip tickets, depending on dates and departure locations.
Final thoughts
There are so many possibilities with the Chase Sapphire Preferred. It’s user-friendly and a great starter card. So if you’ve been dreaming of exploring far-off lands, but find yourself held back by budget constraints, consider looking into points and miles. With the right strategy you can transform your travel dreams into reality.