6 Ways to Maximize the Chase Sapphire Preferred as a Beginner

6 Ways to Maximize the Chase Sapphire Preferred as a Beginner: Essential Travel Guide for 2025

Estimated reading time: 5 minutes

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• The Chase Sapphire Preferred is a top travel rewards card for beginners, offering generous points and flexible redemption.
• Focus on the first 3 months to unlock your welcome bonus.
• Use Chase Ultimate Rewards partners strategically for the highest value.
• Book travel with the card to leverage its built-in perks, like trip delay coverage.
• This guide outlines 6 ways to maximize the Chase Sapphire Preferred as a beginner and make your next trip smarter, smoother, and more rewarding.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Why Choose the Chase Sapphire Preferred as a Beginner?
3. 1. Get the Welcome Bonus—Without Overspending
4. 2. Use Chase Ultimate Rewards Portal (But Check Competitor Prices First)
5. 3. Transfer Points to Travel Partners for Maximum Value
6. 4. Book Your Travel with the Card to Access Built-In Perks
7. 5. Maximize Ongoing Spending with Bonus Categories
8. 6. Redeem Points Wisely—Avoid Cash Back or Gift Cards
9. How to Plan This Trip the Smart Way
10. HopStrip-Style Tips and Tools for This Trip
11. FAQ: 6 Ways to Maximize the Chase Sapphire Preferred as a Beginner
12. Conclusion

Introduction

Ever felt like points and miles are a secret club nobody fully explains? You’re not alone. Travel rewards credit cards promise luxury perks and free flights—but making the most of them can seem confusing at first. That’s why we’re unpacking 6 ways to maximize the Chase Sapphire Preferred as a beginner traveler in this practical guide.

Launched as one of the most accessible premium travel cards, the Chase Sapphire Preferred is a favorite among casual travelers, couples planning big trips, and digital nomads tracking their next flight deal. With its generous sign-up bonus, strong earning categories, and flexible redemption options, it’s designed for real-world travel—and real-world travel budgets.

Whether you’re planning your dream trip to Japan, a couples’ getaway in Italy, or a few strategic weekend escapes this year, this guide delivers clear, actionable steps to make the Chase Sapphire Preferred worth every swipe.

Let’s dive into the best beginner strategies for 2025, break down points redemption myths, and unlock the full value of your travel card—HopStrip-style.

Why Choose the Chase Sapphire Preferred as a Beginner?

If you’re new to travel rewards or nervous about the fine print, the Chase Sapphire Preferred is one of the most forgiving cards out there. Here’s why it works especially well for beginners:

• Low annual fee ($95) compared to premium options
• Strong welcome bonus (often 60,000+ points with $4,000 spend in 3 months)
• 2X points on travel & dining, 5X on travel bookings through Chase Ultimate Rewards
• Flexible redemption—use points for flights, hotels, car rentals, or transfer to partners

Unlike fussier premium cards, the Sapphire Preferred is designed for simplicity. You don’t have to fly business class five times a year to get value. Instead, smart earning and redemption habits are where beginners shine.

Tip: If you’re planning a trip soon, time your application to make that $4,000 minimum spend align with big purchases like flights or hotels.

1. Get the Welcome Bonus—Without Overspending

The first and fastest path to maximizing the Sapphire Preferred is hitting the welcome bonus sweet spot: typically 60,000 points after spending $4,000 in your first 3 months. That’s worth about $750 in travel when redeemed through Chase Ultimate Rewards, or potentially more when transferred to airline or hotel partners.

But here’s what beginners often get wrong: overspending just to reach the limit.

💡 HopStrip Tip: Use the card for your regular purchases—groceries, bills, insurance premiums, and planned travel expenses. Avoid using it for impulse buys or unnecessary gear.

If you’re planning a trip to Thailand in the next few months, go ahead and compare flights for your dates—those big-ticket items will help you hit the bonus without stress.

2. Use Chase Ultimate Rewards Portal (But Check Competitor Prices First)

Chase Ultimate Rewards is the heart of the Sapphire Preferred ecosystem. Booking through their travel portal gives you a 25% boost in point value—so your 60,000 bonus points become $750 instead of $600.

It covers flights, hotels, car rentals, and activities. Sounds dreamy, right?

Sort of. The trick is to always compare prices directly. Sometimes the Chase portal lists hotels or flights at slightly inflated rates.

⚖️ Strategy: Book flights through the Chase portal when prices match Google Flights or aggregators like Kiwi. But for hotels, watch for better deals via other booking engines or consider using points via transfer partners (more on that next).

3. Transfer Points to Travel Partners for Maximum Value

For savvy travelers, this is where the Sapphire Preferred truly shines: transferring points.

Chase partners with top-rated programs like:

• United MileagePlus
• Air France/KLM Flying Blue
• Virgin Atlantic
• Hyatt (a fan-favorite for point value)
• Avios (British Airways, Iberia)

💎 Best Uses for Beginners:

• Book domestic United flights using fewer points than through the UR portal.
• Use Hyatt points for luxury stays at massive value (~2.5–3 cents per point).
• Fly short-haul economy flights on British Airways using Avios with low surcharges.

You’ll need to set up a free frequent flyer or hotel loyalty account first, then link it to your Chase account. Transfers typically happen instantly and are 1:1.

4. Book Your Travel with the Card to Access Built-In Perks

Beyond point-earning, Sapphire Preferred includes a host of travel protections—automatically activated when you book with the card.

🏖️ Covered Perks:

• Trip delay reimbursement (up to $500 per ticket after 12-hour delay)
• Lost baggage coverage
• Auto rental collision damage waiver (primary coverage)
• Travel accident insurance
• Purchase protection

These are real money-savers. Say your luggage goes missing on your VR trip through Peru or your flight to Rome is delayed overnight—you won’t be out of pocket for hotels or clothes.

📌 Reminder: Pay directly with your Chase Sapphire Preferred for these protections to apply. Bookings made via points or through third parties might not qualify.

5. Maximize Ongoing Spending with Bonus Categories

Think beyond the sign-up bonus—long-term value comes from continued point accumulation in the right categories.

With the Sapphire Preferred, here’s how you earn:

• 5X points on travel booked through Ultimate Rewards
• 3X on dining (including eligible delivery apps!)
• 2X on general travel (flights, trains, Uber, etc.)
• 1X on everything else

📦 How Travelers Can Maximize:

• Digital nomads: Use it to book coworking-friendly…cafes with online ordering.
• Families: Grocery stores offering hot food often count as “dining.”
• Luxury travelers: Splurge on unique experiences via UR travel.

To further stretch value, pair with a cashback card or no-annual-fee card like Freedom Unlimited for 1.5X on “everything else,” then transfer to Sapphire for redemptions.

6. Redeem Points Wisely—Avoid Cash Back or Gift Cards

Not all redemptions are created equal.

💸 Least valuable options for beginners:

• Cash back
• Gift cards
• Merchandise (from the Chase marketplace)

✔️ Most valuable ways to redeem:

• Flights or hotels through Ultimate Rewards (1.25¢ per point)
• Transfers to partners (often 2¢+ per point)

For example, booking a $1,200 flight to Madrid with just 48,000 points (via Flying Blue) gives you nearly 2.5 cents per point in value.

Plan ahead to score these deals. Flexible travel dates or low-season trips can help.

How to Plan This Trip the Smart Way

Whether you’re building points for a bucket list trip or optimizing this year’s bookings, here are 6 actionable steps:

1. Apply when you can spend $4,000 in 3 months—think big purchases, not splurges.
2. Set up accounts with transfer partners you’re likely to use: United, Hyatt, Flying Blue.
3. Match your point redemption with your travel goals—portal vs. partner transfer.
4. Use points for tours or activities when they offer good value or are otherwise costly.
5. Link your Chase account to airline/hotel programs well before you’re ready to transfer.
6. Schedule annual reminders to re-evaluate card use, fees, and point strategies.

HopStrip-Style Tips and Tools for This Trip

At HopStrip, we’re all about practical upgrades that make your travel smoother.

• Use your card to book experiences in advance, especially on peak dates. Many tours and skip-the-line activities can be booked directly and reimbursed using UR points.
• Need a hotel or villa instead of a chain property? Search for unique vacation rentals and compare against properties on the Ultimate Rewards portal.
• Opt for a travel insurance policy with more coverage if you’re doing something adventurous or long-haul—beyond Chase’s included perks.
• Pair your Chase card with a reliable travel adapter and a packing cube set for max efficiency.

This post may contain affiliate links. If you book through them, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

FAQ: 6 Ways to Maximize the Chase Sapphire Preferred as a Beginner

What’s the best way to earn the Chase Sapphire Preferred bonus?

Spend $4,000 within the first 3 months of opening your account using everyday purchases like groceries, flights, or bills. Avoid overspending solely to chase the bonus.

Should beginners use the UR travel portal or transfer to partners?

Start with the Chase travel portal for ease (and a 25% point boost). As you gain confidence, transferring points to partners like Hyatt or United can yield better value for specific redemptions.

Do I need to be loyal to one airline or hotel?

No—but having accounts with key partners (Hyatt, United, Flying Blue) lets you transfer points strategically whenever a good deal pops up.

Are there foreign transaction fees?

None. That makes it an excellent card to take abroad.

Is the Sapphire Preferred worth it if I only travel a few times per year?

Yes! Even 1–2 trips can justify the $95 annual fee through perks, protections, and smart redemptions. It’s one of the best low-commitment cards in travel.

Conclusion

If you’re feeling overwhelmed by all the ways to “do points right,” you’re not alone. But learning how to use just six tried-and-true strategies can take you from travel novice to confident cardholder.

By focusing on the welcome bonus, bonus categories, partner transfers, and portal upgrades, you can unlock real value—even if you’re not flying business every month. These 6 ways to maximize the Chase Sapphire Preferred as a beginner will help you turn everyday purchases into unforgettable travel experiences.

From last-minute city breaks to RTW adventures, the Sapphire Preferred is an ideal card to kick off your smart traveler journey—and HopStrip is here to make sure every point counts.