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Chase Sapphire Preferred card
ChaseVisa

Chase Sapphire Preferred

4.7/5

Best Starter Travel Card

Apply Now
Annual Fee$95Effective: -$75
APR19.24% - 27.49%
Sign-up Bonus75,000 Ultimate Rewards points~$937 value
Rewards5X Chase Travel
Credit Scoregood
Foreign FeesNone

+ Pros

  • Low $95 fee with $170 in credits
  • Best transfer partner ecosystem (Hyatt)
  • 75K bonus worth $937+

Cons

  • No lounge access
  • 5/24 rule limits who can apply
  • $5K spend requirement for bonus

Rewards Breakdown

CategoryRateMonthly SpendAnnual Value
Chase Travel Portal5X$200/mo$150
Dining3X$500/mo$225
Streaming Services3X$50/mo$22
Online Groceries3X$200/mo$90
Other Travel2X$150/mo$45
All Other1X$500/mo$75
Total Estimated Annual Rewards$607

Perks & Credits

$120/yr
DoorDash DashPass

Complimentary subscription — $0 delivery fees and reduced service fees on DoorDash orders.

$50/yr
Chase Travel Hotel Credit

Automatic $50 credit on hotel bookings through Chase Travel portal.

Varies
25% Point Boost

Points are worth 25% more when redeemed through Chase Travel portal (1.25 cents vs 1 cent each).

14 partners
Transfer Partners

1:1 transfer to Hyatt, United, Southwest, IHG, Marriott, British Airways, and 8 more.

Included
Primary Rental Car Insurance

Covers theft and collision damage when you decline the rental company's CDW. Primary coverage means it pays first.

Up to $10K
Trip Cancellation Insurance

Reimburses pre-paid, non-refundable trip costs if you cancel for a covered reason.

$30-60/yr
10% Anniversary Bonus

Earn 10% of your total points earned that year as a bonus on your card anniversary.

Total Annual Credits: $170 vs $95 fee = +$75 net positive
CFPB Consumer Complaints(Last 12 months)
6,095Credit card complaints
0%Timely response rate

Source: CFPB Consumer Complaint Database. Complaints are not necessarily evidence of wrongdoing.

Who This Card Is For

  • First-time travel card holders who want a low-risk entry ($95 fee) into the points and miles world with the best transfer partner ecosystem.
  • Moderate spenders who dine out regularly — 3X on dining at $500/month earns $225/year in travel value, more than doubling the fee.
  • Hyatt loyalists — Chase-to-Hyatt transfers are the single best point redemption in the industry, regularly delivering 2-4 cents per point.

Who Should Skip This Card

  • Anyone who's opened 5+ credit cards in the past 24 months — Chase's 5/24 rule will auto-deny you regardless of credit score.
  • Travelers who want lounge access — upgrade to the Sapphire Reserve ($550) or pair with the Venture X ($395) instead.
  • People who primarily shop for groceries in-store — the 3X online grocery rate doesn't apply to in-store purchases.

How It Compares

CardAnnual FeeBest RateScore
Chase Sapphire Preferred (this card)$955X4.7/5
American Express Gold CardBest for Dining & Groceries$3254X4.8/5
Capital One Venture XBest Premium Travel Card (Simplicity)$3952X4.6/5
Chase Freedom UnlimitedBest No-Fee Card with Category Bonuses$01.5%4.5/5

Frequently Asked Questions

Chase Sapphire Preferred

Best Starter Travel Card

Apply Now

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Last updated: 2026-03-30