Chase Sapphire Preferred Card Review: Rewards, Perks & Is It Worth It?

As someone who travels 25+ times a year, and I’m constantly testing, comparing, and rotating credit cards in my wallet to maximize free travel.

If you’re new here, my name is Sydney, and I am passionate about travel and seeing the world as often as you can! I love finding little ways to make my dollar (or points in this case!) stretch a little further without compromising the experience. Since after all, I do have expensive taste 🙂 Flights, hotels, rental cars, ski trips, weekend getaways, international adventures, you name it, travel is a huge part of my life, and over the years I’ve learned one thing very clearly:

The right credit card can completely change how you travel.

It can mean flying business class instead of economy. Staying in a boutique hotel instead of a budget chain. Turning everyday purchases like coffee runs and dinner reservations into free flights and luxury stays.

And if there’s one card that consistently earns its spot in my wallet, year after year, it’s the Chase Sapphire Preferred.

Often labeled as a “starter travel card,” the Chase Sapphire Preferred is actually so much more than that. It’s powerful, flexible, approachable, and shockingly valuable for a card with a $95 annual fee.

In this in-depth Chase Sapphire Preferred review, I’m breaking down:

• What the Chase Sapphire Preferred does really well
• Where it falls short
• How I personally use it
• And whether it’s worth adding to your wallet based on your lifestyle

If you love travel, good food, and making your money work harder behind the scenes, keep reading how the Chase Sapphire Preferred can be THAT card for you.

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Why the Chase Sapphire Preferred Is Still One of the Best Travel Cards

Before we dive into specifics, here’s the big picture.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred hits a sweet spot that very few cards manage to reach:

• It’s simple enough for beginners
• Powerful enough for frequent travelers
• And flexible enough to grow with you as your travel style evolves

You don’t need to be a points wizard or spreadsheet nerd to get value from this card, but if you are, you can unlock some truly incredible redemptions.

Let’s break it all down.

What’s Great About Chase Sapphire Preferred

1. Huge Sign-Up Bonus — Big Jumpstart for Travel

One of the biggest draws of the Chase Sapphire Preferred is the massive sign-up bonus. New cardholders can earn 75,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 in the first 3 months. In the travel world, that’s a huge head start!! To put that into perspective, 75,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points can be worth:

• A round-trip flight to Europe
• Multiple domestic flights
• Several nights at a high-end Hyatt hotel
• Or even a business-class flight when transferred strategically

For many people, this bonus alone can fund an entire trip! HUGE!

If you’re planning:

• A honeymoon
• A milestone birthday trip
• A ski trip to the Alps
• A long-overdue Europe getaway

…the sign-up bonus essentially becomes your travel jumpstart fund.

Personally, I love using big bonuses like this to book flights, especially long-haul international ones, so I can splurge on experiences once I arrive instead of airfare.

2. Excellent Rewards on Travel, Dining, and Everyday Life

This is where the Chase Sapphire Preferred really shines as an everyday card, not just something you pull out for flights.

• 5× points on travel booked through Chase Travel
• 3× points on dining (including takeout and delivery)
• 3× on select streaming/online services and groceries
• 1× point on everything else

It’s not just a travel card — it rewards your lifestyle. If your weekends look like airport runs, latte runs, DoorDash nights, or ski weekends… the points add up fast! A lot of people love this card because it rewards normal life while still stacking serious travel value behind the scenes.

3. Chase Ultimate Rewards: Flexible, Valuable & Beginner-Friendly

Chase Ultimate Rewards are consistently rated as some of the most valuable points in the travel world because you Not all points are created equal, and Chase Ultimate Rewards are widely considered some of the most valuable and flexible points out there.

You can redeem points in three main ways:

1. Book Travel Through the Chase Portal

You can book flights, hotels, rental cars, and experiences directly through Chase Travel.

Your points are worth more than cash back when used this way, and it’s super easy — perfect if you don’t want to deal with transfers.

2. Cash Back or Statement Credit

If you want simplicity, you can redeem points for cash back.

It’s not the highest value redemption, but it’s great if you want flexibility or need to offset everyday expenses.

3. Transfer Points to Airline & Hotel Partners (Best Value & My Recommendation!!!!!)

This is where Chase really stands out!

You can transfer points 1:1 to major travel partners, including:

• United Airlines
• Air France / KLM
• British Airways
• Singapore Airlines
• Southwest
• Marriott
• Hyatt (a fan favorite for outsized value)

This is how people turn points into:

• Business-class flights
• Luxury resorts
• Multi-stop international itineraries

Personally, I’m saving a big chunk of my points specifically for honeymoon flights in business class because how luxurious is that to fly to your honeymoon with your new husband in first class enjoying champagne, multiple course meals, and lay flat seats…. ahhhh daydreaming just thinking about it!!

4. Travel Protections & Perks That Give Peace of Mind

This is where the Sapphire Preferred quietly shines. It comes with travel protections that premium cards usually charge way more for:

• Trip cancellation / interruption insurance
• Baggage delay reimbursement
• Primary rental car collision coverage (big perk)
• Trip delay coverage
• Purchase and extended warranty protection
• $50 annual hotel credit on Chase Travel bookings

These are the kinds of perks you don’t think about… until something goes wrong. Flights get canceled. Bags go missing. Rental cars get dinged. And having these protections can easily save hundreds of dollars.

For me, this peace of mind is priceless — especially when traveling internationally.

5. Anniversary Bonus & Long-Term Value

Every year on your account anniversary, Chase gives you a bonus equal to 10% of the points you earned that year.

So if you earn 30,000 points throughout the year, you’ll automatically receive an extra 3,000 points.

It’s a small but meaningful perk that quietly boosts your overall rewards without changing how you use the card.

What makes this anniversary bonus especially valuable is that it encourages long-term use rather than just chasing the sign-up bonus and moving on. Many travel cards feel exciting at first but lose their appeal after year one.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred, on the other hand, continues to reward consistency. The more you use it throughout the year, the more that anniversary bonus grows, making it feel like a loyalty thank-you rather than a one-time incentive.

Combined with the card’s strong earning categories, travel protections, and annual hotel credit, this anniversary bonus helps justify keeping the card year after year. It’s part of what gives the Chase Sapphire Preferred real staying power in a long-term wallet, especially for travelers who want solid value without committing to a high annual fee.

What’s Not Perfect (Things to Know Before You Apply)

To be fair, no card is perfect, especially one in this price range. Here’s what to consider:

1. $95 Annual Fee

Not outrageous, especially compared to cards that cost $400–$700+, but it’s still something to factor into your budget. The perks usually outweigh the fee if you travel even occasionally.

2. Max Rewards Only Come Through Chase Travel

To score the 5× points, you need to book through the Chase Travel portal. If you prefer booking directly with airlines or hotels for status benefits, those purchases may only earn 2× or the base rate.

3. Everyday Spending Only Earns 1x

If most of your spending is in categories like gas, utilities, or general shopping, you might not rack up points very quickly. The card shines most for travelers, foodies, and frequent diners.

4. No Lounge Access & No TSA PreCheck/Global Entry Credit

Some people don’t care, others really do. If lounges and airport perks matter a lot to you, you may want to pair this with a premium travel card or just choose a premium option instead.

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Who Should Get Chase Sapphire Preferred (and Who Should Skip)

You should get it if you:

• Travel 3+ times a year (flights, hotels, weekend trips)
• Eat out or order takeout / travel often, a great way to maximize the dining bonus
• Want flexibility: sometimes cash back, sometimes point transfers for flights/hotels
• Enjoy travel perks like insurance, rental-car coverage, and hotel-stay credits
• Already have a higher-end travel card (with lounge access, more perks)

Maybe skip it if you:

My Verdict (From an Avid Travel & Lifestyle Girl’)

As someone who loves:

• Ski trips
• Europe adventures
• Spontaneous getaways
• Great food
• And maximizing value wherever possible

… Chase Sapphire Preferred strikes the perfect balance between value, flexibility, and ease. This is my go-to card in my wallet!

I’ve tried other cards, rotated benefits, and tested what actually delivers value in real life, and this is the one I keep coming back to. Not because it’s flashy, but because it works – consistently, quietly, and in a way that genuinely improves how I travel.

Why I like the Chase Sapphire Preferred

What I love most about this card is how seamlessly it fits into my lifestyle. I don’t have to overthink spending categories or constantly second-guess which card to use. Flights, hotels, rental cars, dinners out, coffee runs, takeout nights; it all earns meaningful rewards without friction.

The points build faster than you expect, and before you know it, a future trip is already partially (or fully) paid for! There’s something incredibly satisfying about watching everyday life turn into unforgettable experiences.

The sign-up bonus alone can be a game changer. For many people, it’s the moment travel starts to feel more accessible, the moment you realize you don’t need to pay full price for every flight or hotel stay. But what makes the Chase Sapphire Preferred truly worth keeping is the long-term value. The rewards structure, the anniversary bonus, and especially the travel protections make this card feel like a safety net every time I book a trip.

Also, when plans go sideways, aka delayed flights, missed connections, rental car issues, having that coverage in place brings real peace of mind.

I also deeply appreciate the flexibility of Chase Ultimate Rewards. Some trips call for simplicity, others call for strategy. Whether I’m booking directly through the Chase portal or transferring points to airline and hotel partners for higher-value redemptions, I never feel boxed into one approach.

I will say, most of the time I am redeeming via transfer partners for higher value (pro tip!)

Final Thoughts

Ok, you’ve reached the end of this Chase Sapphire Preferred Review. The card grows with you, from beginner travel card to powerful points tool, without forcing an upgrade before you’re ready.

It’s approachable enough for someone just getting into points and miles, yet powerful enough to remain valuable as your travel style evolves. You don’t need to be flying first class every month to benefit from it. You just need to value experiences, flexibility, and smarter travel!

If travel is something you value (ME!), not just as an escape, but as a lifestyle, the Chase Sapphire Preferred is one of the smartest investments you can make. For a $95 annual fee, it delivers outsized value, real protection, and the freedom to travel better, more often, and with less stress. It’s not just a credit card; it’s a quiet enabler of the trips, memories, and experiences you’ll talk about for years.

If you’re ready to start traveling smarter or simply want a credit card that works as hard as you do, this one is absolutely worth considering.

For me, it’s an easy yes! And one I’d choose again without hesitation. I hope you enjoyed this Chase Sapphire Preferred review, and get out there and start earning points! Your next trip awaits 🙂

For more honest travel tips, packing guides, and real-life advice on traveling better (not just more), explore the rest of my blog.