Every year, the TPG Awards honor excellence in credit playing cards, loyalty packages and travel. Please click on right here to learn extra about our winner choice course of and methodology for the 2024 TPG Awards.
Chase has snagged the award for Best Travel Rewards Credit Card for the seventh year in a row.
A consensus favourite amongst TPG staffers, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see charges and charges) is once more taking house the title of Best Travel Rewards Credit Card. That’s because of its low annual charge, potential to earn Chase Ultimate Rewards factors, a wonderful roster of switch companions, ease of use and beneficiant travel advantages and protections.
The Sapphire Preferred was my first travel rewards credit card, getting me into the world of factors and miles. This card is nice for newcomers and specialists alike and can proceed to be in my pockets for years to come back.
Let’s discover why the Chase Sapphire Preferred is called the top travel rewards card year after year.
Great for newcomers
The Chase Sapphire Preferred is the little sibling of the Chase Sapphire Reserve® (see charges and charges), a premium travel rewards card with a $550 annual charge. The Sapphire Reserve has extra advantages and perks than the Sapphire Preferred, however the Sapphire Preferred wins on simplicity and ease of use.
Additionally, when you’re new to the world of factors and miles, the welcome supply on the Chase Sapphire Preferred can jump-start your journey with a pleasant stash of what we think about the Most worthy rewards foreign money (together with Bilt Rewards Points).
For a restricted time, new candidates can obtain the highest-ever welcome supply of 100,000 bonus factors after spending $5,000 inside the first three months of account opening. Based on TPG’s April 2025 valuations, this welcome supply is value $2,050.
Related: Chase Sapphire Preferred vs. Sapphire Reserve: Should you go mid-tier or premium?
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Low annual charge
The Chase Sapphire Preferred has a modest $95 annual charge that’s similar to that of its mid-tier travel rewards card opponents.
While you will not get perks like lounge entry or travel assertion credit, you’re going to get a strong card with glorious earnings charges and helpful perks. This annual charge is rather more cheap for these simply entering into the world of credit playing cards with annual charges or these seeking to improve from a no-annual-fee card to a mid-tier card.
The card additionally comes with an easy annual $50 assertion credit for any resort booked by means of Chase Travel℠ . If you make the most of this credit, the efficient annual charge drops to solely $45.
Related: The full information to credit card annual charges
Valuable bonus classes
While many travel rewards playing cards have a number of bonus classes, the Sapphire Preferred outshines most. That’s as a result of the bonus classes are broad, there are not any spending caps and purchases made overseas are eligible for bonus factors. The card earns versatile rewards in the type of Chase Ultimate Rewards factors.
The Sapphire Preferred earns:
- 5 factors per greenback spent on travel booked by means of Chase Travel
- 5 factors per greenback spent on Lyft rides (by means of Sept. 2027)
- 5 factors per greenback spent on Peloton tools and accent purchases of $150 or extra (with a restrict of 25,000 bonus factors by means of Dec. 2027)
- 3 factors per greenback spent on eating, choose streaming companies and on-line grocery retailer purchases (excludes Target, Walmart and wholesale golf equipment)
- 2 factors per greenback spent on all different travel not booked by means of the Chase Travel portal (travel is broadly outlined by Chase and contains issues corresponding to parking, tolls, ferries and campgrounds)
- 1 level per greenback spent on the whole lot else
These are a few of the greatest earnings charges on the market. While there are just a few different playing cards with greater earnings charges in sure classes, these playing cards normally carry greater annual charges or are restricted by spending caps in choose bonus classes.
Whether you are a newbie or an professional, these bonus classes can assist you maximize your earnings and get you nearer to your subsequent journey.
Related: 6 explanation why the Chase Sapphire Preferred is the excellent card for the common traveler
Flexible redemptions and transfers
The Chase Sapphire Preferred earns Ultimate Rewards factors that may be redeemed in a number of methods.
Points might be redeemed for travel booked by means of the Chase Travel portal at 1.25 cents per level, a press release credit at 1 cent per level (at instances greater when you use Chase’s Pay Yourself Back characteristic) or present playing cards at 1 cent per level.
You may also redeem factors by transferring them to companions, our favourite redemption choice. Based on TPG’s April 2025 valuations, Ultimate Rewards factors are value 2.05 cents every by means of this redemption route.
Chase has a roster of 14 switch companions, together with 11 airline and three resort companions. Transferring and redeeming factors is comparatively simple, making this convenient for newcomers. Many switch companions have unimaginable candy spot redemptions the place you may get outsize worth to your factors.
My three favourite Chase switch companions are Air Canada Aeroplan, Southwest Rapid Rewards and World of Hyatt. The latter has gotten me excellent resort redemptions worldwide at properties like the Grand Hyatt Barcelona, the place I routinely rise up to 4 cents per level in worth.
Related: When and the way to switch Chase Ultimate Rewards factors to World of Hyatt
Travel protections and perks
The Chase Sapphire Preferred is loaded with varied travel protections and insurances that alone may assist justify the annual charge. These embody:
- Baggage delay insurance coverage
- Lost baggage reimbursement
- Primary rental automotive protection
- Purchase safety and prolonged guarantee safety
- Trip cancellation insurance coverage
- Trip delay insurance coverage
Even when you travel solely a couple of times a year, these protections can add peace of thoughts your travel plans go awry. Additionally, the buy and prolonged guarantee safety might be helpful for giant purchases.
Bottom line
It’s clear why TPG staffers (each newcomers and specialists ourselves) usually advocate the Chase Sapphire Preferred. With its priceless earnings charges, helpful protections and advantages, entry to switch companions and low annual charge, the Sapphire Preferred is worthy of taking the crown house once more as the Best Travel Rewards Credit Card.
To study extra about the card, learn our full evaluate of the Chase Sapphire Preferred.
Apply right here: Chase Sapphire Preferred
