My Favorite Beginner Card for Free Travel

When it comes to travel credit cards, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® is my absolute favorite. It’s the perfect balance between affordability and valuable travel perks, making it an excellent choice for beginners and seasoned travelers alike. Whether you’re looking to earn points quickly, redeem them for free travel, or protect your trips with built-in travel insurance, this card has it all.

In this post, I’ll break down the features, benefits, and redemption options of the Chase Sapphire Preferred and explain why I think it’s the best travel card on the market. If you’re serious about earning free travel and maximizing your points, this is the card you need in your wallet!

Features

Before diving into the perks, let’s take a look at the key features of the Chase Sapphire Preferred:

1. Annual Fee

• $95 per year – One of the most reasonable fees for a premium travel card, especially considering the benefits.

2. APR (Annual Percentage Rate)

• Varies based on creditworthiness, typically ranging from 21.49% to 28.49% Variable APR.

• As with any travel card, it’s best to pay off your balance in full each month to avoid interest charges. I can’t stress enough that if you can’t pay off your statement balance each month, you should not open a credit card. If you carry a balance and have interest accrue, it will forfeit all your benefits.

3. Signup Bonus

• Chase regularly offers a signup bonus of 60,000 Ultimate Rewards® points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months. That’s worth at least $750 in travel through the Chase portal.

4. No Foreign Transaction Fees

• You can use the card abroad without worrying about extra charges, which is essential for international travelers.

5. Visa Signature Benefits

• Includes concierge services, purchase protection, and access to Visa’s luxury hotel collection.

Benefits

Now, let’s talk about why this card is so great for travelers and how it helps you save money while traveling.

1. Annual Hotel Credit

• Every year, you get a $50 statement credit for hotel stays booked through Chase Travel℠. This effectively reduces the annual fee to just $45, making the card even more valuable.

2. Generous Earning Rates

The Chase Sapphire Preferred makes it easy to rack up points with several bonus categories:

• 5x points on travel booked through Chase Travel℠

• 3x points on dining, streaming services, and online grocery purchases (excluding Walmart & Target).

• You also get free DashPass membership on DoorDash, which gives you free delivery and lower service fees! You can sign up here and input your Chase Sapphire card as your default payment to activate your membership!

• 2x points on all other travel purchases, like when you book direct with an airline or hotel.

• 1x point on everything else

Since travel and dining are the biggest expense categories for most travelers, you’ll earn points quickly with this card.

3. Travel Protections & Insurance

One of the best things about the Chase Sapphire Preferred is its travel protections:

• Primary rental car insurance – Covers theft and collision damage on car rentals (most cards only offer secondary coverage).

• Trip cancellation/interruption insurance – Reimburses up to $10,000 per person for prepaid, non-refundable trips if canceled due to illness, weather, or other covered reasons.

• Baggage delay insurance – Get $100 per day (up to 5 days) if your bags are delayed more than six hours.

• Trip delay reimbursement – Get up to $500 per ticket if your flight is delayed more than 12 hours or requires an overnight stay.

4. 25% More Value When Redeeming Through Chase Travel℠

When you redeem points for travel through Chase Travel℠, they’re worth 25% more:

• 60,000 points = $750 in travel instead of the standard $600.

• You can use points to book flights, hotels, rental cars, and more directly through Chase’s portal.

This is a great option for those who prefer simplicity, but there are even better ways to maximize your points…

5. Access to Chase’s 14 Transfer Partners!

One of the biggest advantages of the Chase Sapphire Preferred is its ability to transfer points to airline and hotel partners at a 1:1 ratio.

Here are Chase’s current transfer partners:

Airlines:

• United MileagePlus

• Southwest Rapid Rewards

• JetBlue TrueBlue

• British Airways Avios

• Air France/KLM Flying Blue

• Virgin Atlantic Flying Club

• Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer

• Emirates Skywards

• Aer Lingus AerClub

• Iberia Plus

Hotels:

• World of Hyatt (One of the best redemptions!)

• Marriott Bonvoy

• IHG One Rewards

By transferring points to airlines, you can book business and first-class flights for a fraction of the cost. Transferring to Hyatt often gives you the best value for hotel stays, as Hyatt’s award chart has some fantastic sweet spots.

For example:

• A business class ticket to Europe on Air France could cost just 60,000 points (worth $750 through Chase Travel but over $3,000 in cash!).

• A Hyatt hotel room that costs $400 per night might be just 15,000 points—a steal! That’s 4 free nights just with your sign-up bonus!

Conclusion

The Chase Sapphire Preferred isn’t just a great travel card—it’s the best overall travel card for most people. Here’s why:

✅ Affordable Annual Fee – Just $95 per year, which is low compared to premium travel cards.

✅ Generous Signup Bonus – 60,000 points can get you $750+ in travel or even more with transfer partners.

✅ Bonus Categories – Earn 3x points on dining & travel and 5x on travel through Chase.

✅ Unmatched Travel Protections – Primary rental car coverage, trip insurance, and more.

✅ 1:1 Transfers to Top Travel Brands – Access to Hyatt, United, Southwest, and more.

✅ Extra Value Through Chase Travel℠ – 25% more value when booking directly.

If you’re looking for a travel credit card that offers tons of value, powerful rewards, and flexible redemption options, this is the card to get! Free travel is right around the corner!

Ready to Start Earning Free Travel?

If you’re thinking about getting the Chase Sapphire Preferred card, please consider signing up through my referral link. You’ll get the same great signup bonus, and I’ll earn a small reward for referring you, so it’s a win-win!

Have any more questions about the Chase Sapphire Preferred or how to maximize your points? Let me know in the comments!