Why the Chase Sapphire Preferred Is Still My No. 1 Travel Card
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I have a motto when it comes to travel credit cards: Death, taxes, and the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see rates and fees).
Sure, other cards come and go, with their flashy perks and limited-time welcome bonuses. But the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card has been one of the most valuable and reliable credit cards for years now, and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
Here's why it's still my favorite travel card out there, and the one I recommend most to friends and family.
Great earning rates, plus a $50 hotel credit
With the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, you'll unlock the following earning rates:
- 5X points on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠ (excluding hotels covered by the $50 hotel credit)
- 3X points on dining, select streaming services, and online groceries
- 2X points on all other travel purchases
- 1X points on all other purchases
5X points on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠ and 3X points on dining are some of the better rates you'll find, especially for a card with a $95 annual fee. If you eat out regularly and fly even once or twice a year, you should be able to squeeze out tons of value here.
Plus, the card comes with a versatile $50 annual credit for hotels booked through Chase Travel. Use that one perk, and voila -- you've already cut the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card's annual fee down to $45.
2026 Award Winner
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= PoorGood/Excellent (670-850)
Intro APR
Purchases: N/A
Balance Transfers: N/A
Regular APR
19.49% - 27.74% Variable
Rewards Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases
5x on Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, 2x on all other travel
Annual Fee
$95
Welcome Offer Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
75,000 bonus points
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This card easily justifies the (very reasonable) annual fee with benefits that deliver real value. Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months, which we estimate is worth at least $750 in Chase Travel℠ value. Plus, enjoy bonus travel and dining rewards, a $50 annual hotel credit, and 10% anniversary points boost. With added travel protections like rental car insurance and trip reimbursement, we think this card is a game-changer for any traveler.
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- Big sign-up bonus
- Travel rewards
- Dining rewards
- Flexible travel points
- Consumer and travel protections
- Annual fee
- Limited-time perks
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- Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases
- Earn up to $50 in statement credits each account anniversary year for hotel stays through Chase Travel℠
- 10% anniversary points boost - each account anniversary you'll earn bonus points equal to 10% of your total purchases made the previous year.
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
- Complimentary DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees & lower service fees for a min. of one year when you activate by 12/31/27. Plus, a $10 promo each month on non-restaurant orders.
- Member FDIC
A valuable welcome bonus to sweeten the deal
As with any great card, you'll want to consider the welcome bonus -- and the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card has a great one. Right now, new cardholders can earn 75,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 in the first 3 months.
That's a bonus worth at least $750 in Chase Travel℠ value, and potentially even more if you transfer to one of Chase's airline or hotel partners.
Combine that with the $50 hotel credit, and you've got at least $800 in tangible first-year value, plus whatever other rewards you can rack up with the card's earning rates. That's enough to recoup the $95 annual fee a full eight times over -- giving you almost a decade of annual-fee-free travel rewards.
Add it all up, and it's easy to see how the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is an absolute win for all sorts of travelers.
What are you waiting for? Read our full review of the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card to apply today.
Our Research Expert
Ryan Wilcox is a full-time Personal Finance Writer at Motley Fool Money, covering credit cards, bank accounts, investing, auto insurance, and other personal finance topics. Ryan has been writing about credit cards and savings since 2022. Before joining Motley Fool Money, he was a full-time writer at The Points Guy, where he focused on maximizing credit card rewards and travel strategies. He holds a bachelor’s degree in English and American History from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he also spent four years reporting for The Daily Tar Heel. With a background in both journalism and consumer finance, he brings a clear and thoughtful voice to money topics. Outside of work, Ryan is likely reading, writing, or updating his Letterboxd account.