Forget the Amex Platinum: This Is My Favorite Travel Card Now

Make no mistake: The American Express Platinum Card® is one of the best travel cards on the market. But what if you want a card that doesn't charge an $895 annual fee (see rates and fees)?

A reasonable request. In that case, I've got another card recommendation for you: the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see rates and fees).

Here's how easy it is to get value with the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card -- and why some might like it more than a premium card like the Platinum Card®.

A valuable welcome offer and $50 hotel credit

As with any credit card, one of the first things you'll want to look at is the welcome bonus -- and the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card has a great one. Right now, new Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card holders can earn 75,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 in the first 3 months.

That's worth at least $750 in Chase Travel℠ value, and potentially even more if you transfer points to Chase's travel partners.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card also comes with a $50 annual credit for hotels booked through Chase Travel. That means you're easily looking at $800 in first-year value -- more than eight times the card's $95 annual fee.

The Platinum Card® also comes with a great welcome bonus, plus thousands of dollars in annual perks. But for a less expensive option that's still plenty valuable, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card delivers.

Ready to start working toward your bonus? Read our full review of the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card to apply today.

Earning rates that outshine the Platinum Card®

With Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, you'll also unlock the following earning rates:

• 5X points on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠
• 3X points on dining, select streaming services, and online groceries on online grocery orders (excluding Target, Walmart, and wholesale clubs)
• 2X points on all other travel purchases
• 1X points on all other purchases

Believe it or not, those earning rates are actually better than those on the Platinum Card®:

• 5X points on flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel® up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year
• 5X points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel®
• 1X points on other purchases

That's because most of the Platinum Card®'s value prop is in its annual perks, not its earning rates. But when you're looking to rack up points on things like dining and streaming, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is a great choice.

Solid travel and purchase protections

No, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card doesn't have the bells and whistles of the Platinum Card®. But it does offers solid travel and purchase protections to help you out in a pinch, like:

• Trip cancellation/interruption insurance: Reimburses up to $10,000 per traveler and $20,000 per trip for prepaid, non-refundable travel expenses.
• Baggage delay insurance: Up to $100 per day for essentials for delays over six hours.
• Travel and emergency assistance: Access to legal and medical referrals while traveling.
• Purchase protection: Covers new purchases against damage or theft for 120 days, up to $500 per item.
• Auto rental coverage: Primary coverage for theft and collision up to $60,000 on most rental vehicles.
• Trip delay reimbursement: Up to $500 per traveler for delays over 12 hours.
• Extended warranty protection: Extends U.S. manufacturer warranties by an additional year, up to four years total.

Are these perks as glamorous as, say, $300 in lululemon credits? Not really. (Terms apply. Enrollment required) But they are solid protections that basically anyone can take advantage of when they need them.

That's what I want most from my travel card -- and you can get it all for a $95 annual fee. That's why the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is a travel card I'm comfortable recommending to anyone.

Want to check out more options? See our full list of the best travel cards available now to compare some of our favorites.