6 Ways to Maximize the Chase Sapphire Preferred as a Beginner

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

Estimated reading time: 5 minutes

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• The Chase Sapphire Preferred card offers exceptional value for new travelers learning the points game.
• It unlocks flexible rewards, travel insurance, and transfer partners that can stretch your budget.
• You’ll earn big with bonus categories and trip protection on major purchases.
• Mastering the 6 ways to maximize the Chase Sapphire Preferred as a beginner helps turn everyday spending into free flights, hotel stays, and upgrades.
• This guide breaks down exactly how to use the card strategically for your next trip.

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• What Makes the Chase Sapphire Preferred a Smart Travel Card?
• 1. Earn the Welcome Bonus Strategically
• 2. Use the Chase Travel Portal for 25% More Value
• 3. Transfer Points to Travel Partners for Big Value
• 4. Maximize Bonus Categories Every Day
• 5. Take Advantage of Built-in Travel Protections
• 6. Don’t Forget the $50 Annual Hotel Credit
• How to Plan This Trip the Smart Way
• HopStrip-Style Tips and Tools for This Trip
• FAQ: 6 Ways to Maximize the Chase Sapphire Preferred as a Beginner
• Conclusion

Introduction

First time planning a dream trip with credit card points? You’re not alone. For travelers just getting into the world of travel rewards, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card stands out as one of the best beginner-friendly options. It offers a practical blend of points value, flexible redemptions, and built-in travel benefits—all without a premium card’s hefty annual fee.

If you’re holding this card and wondering how to make the most of it, you’re in the right place. Understanding the 6 ways to maximize the Chase Sapphire Preferred as a beginner means you can unlock free flights, luxury stays, and even travel insurance—just by using the card smartly.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to earn Chase Ultimate Rewards® points faster, how to redeem them for real travel value, and how to take advantage of overlooked perks. Whether you’re jetting off on your first solo trip or planning a family vacation, these tips can help elevate your experience.

What Makes the Chase Sapphire Preferred a Smart Travel Card?

Quick overview: the Chase Sapphire Preferred card is a $95/year travel credit card that earns Chase Ultimate Rewards® points. Its 60,000-point sign-up bonus (after spending $4,000 in 3 months) can be worth $750 or more in travel. That’s a flight to Europe, a luxury hotel suite in Bali, or several nights in an upgraded resort if you redeem strategically.

Here’s why travelers love this card:

• 5x points on travel booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
• 3x points on dining, online groceries, and select streaming
• 2x points on all other travel
• Flexible redemption options and transfer partners
• Strong travel protection for purchases and trips

Even with minimal effort, these perks can translate to free hotel rooms, flights, car rentals, and more. Let’s break down how to maximize its full value.

1. Earn the Welcome Bonus Strategically

The welcome bonus is your most powerful tool as a new cardholder. You’ll earn 60,000 points after spending $4,000 within the first three months. That alone is worth $750 when redeemed through Chase Ultimate Rewards®—or more if transferred to airline partners like United, Air France, or Singapore Airlines.

Pro Tip: Stack your regular monthly expenses—groceries, insurance, streaming, utilities—on the card to meet the minimum spend without overspending. If you’re traveling soon, booking a flight or hotel through the card can help you hit the threshold even faster.

2. Use the Chase Travel Portal for 25% More Value

When you book travel through the Chase Ultimate Rewards® travel portal, your points are worth 1.25 cents each (instead of the standard 1 cent). That means your 60,000-point bonus isn’t worth $600—it’s worth $750.

You can use points to book flights, hotels, rental cars, and more. While it’s not always the cheapest option compared to shopping around, it’s a solid, easy way to extract value—especially for beginner travelers.

Still hunting for deals? Use Chase’s portal to price-check, but also consider services like comparing flights for your dates to ensure you’re getting the best rate.

3. Transfer Points to Travel Partners for Big Value

This is where the real value hides. As a Chase Sapphire Preferred holder, you can transfer your points 1:1 to over a dozen loyalty programs—like Hyatt, Southwest, United, and Aeroplan.

Example: A single-night stay at the Hyatt Ziva Cancun can cost over $500, or just 25,000 Hyatt points (transferred from Chase). That’s double the value of using points through the portal.

Stick with high-value partners:

• Hotels: World of Hyatt (great redemptions under 20,000 points)
• Airlines: United MileagePlus, Iberia Plus, Air France/KLM Flying Blue

Keep in mind: transfers are permanent. Check availability with the airline/hotel before moving your points.

4. Maximize Bonus Categories Every Day

Don’t just whip out your card for travel. You earn:

• 5x on bookings via the Chase portal (hotels, flights, cruises)
• 3x on dining (including delivery)
• 3x on select streaming services
• 2x on other travel purchases (airfare, public transit, tours)

Example: If you spend $500 a month on dining, that’s 1,500 points—18,000+ per year.

Combine this with travel expenses like flight bookings and excursions to rack up Ultimate Rewards quickly.

Planning activities during a trip? You can even book tours and experiences where Sapphire’s bonus categories apply.

5. Take Advantage of Built-in Travel Protections

Many travelers overlook one huge Sapphire Preferred perk: built-in insurance and protections when you pay with the card. You get:

• Trip cancellation/interruption insurance (up to $10,000 per person)
• Baggage delay insurance
• Primary rental car coverage
• Travel delay reimbursement (meals and lodging)

This means if your flight gets delayed or you need to cancel due to illness, you may recover those losses just by having used your card to book it.

For peace of mind, consider complementing this with extended coverage from services like travel insurance options here depending on trip complexity.

6. Don’t Forget the $50 Annual Hotel Credit

This one’s automatic but easily missed. Each year, you’ll get up to $50 in statement credits for hotel stays booked through the Chase portal. It resets annually and doesn’t require activation.

Pair it with your points or nightly cash price to stretch your budget even further. Planning a quick weekend trip? Use that $50 credit to bring down the cost on your next hotel reservation.

How to Plan This Trip the Smart Way

1. Join Chase Ultimate Rewards if you haven’t already and activate your card accounts online. You’ll need it to book using points.
2. Set up alerts and reminders to track spending so you don’t miss the $4,000 welcome bonus threshold in the first 3 months.
3. Compare real-time travel prices with platforms like Kiwi.com and the Chase Portal before making bookings.
4. Before transferring points, research hotel and airline award availability directly on their websites.
5. Use the Sapphire Preferred for all travel and dining expenses—at home and abroad—to accelerate your point collection.
6. Pack light but smart: use tools like a portable charger, universal adapter, and lightweight backpack to travel more comfortably while maximizing your value.

HopStrip-Style Tips and Tools for This Trip

At HopStrip, we travel thoughtfully—and the Chase Sapphire Preferred fits right into that mindset. You don’t need to be a miles pro to travel better.

Mix & Match Destinations: Transfer points to boost travel legs—think flying to Lisbon with United partner miles and hotel stays in Porto with Hyatt redemptions.

Pair with Smart Tools: Use apps like AwardWallet or Point.me to track your Chase points and transfer partner availability faster.

Pack Smart: Whether you’re heading to Tokyo or Tulum, having the right travel gear (money belts, adapters, anti-theft daypacks) will reduce stress. Road-tripping? Don’t forget rental insurance via the card’s primary coverage.

Bonus: Stopovers or airport delays? Use that time wisely with Sapphire’s trip delay coverage or consider splurging on a prebooked airport transfer to skip lines.

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

Is the Chase Sapphire Preferred worth it for beginners?

Absolutely. It offers one of the best value-for-fee ratios on the market, especially with the sign-up bonus and travel perks. It’s a perfect introduction to the world of travel hacking.

Can I use points for hotels and still get elite benefits?

If you book via Chase’s portal, you’ll get value but not official hotel elite perks. To score perks like free upgrades or breakfast, transfer points to a program like Hyatt first—then book on that chain’s site.

What’s the best way to hit the $4,000 minimum spend?

Use the card for everyday expenses: groceries, dining, subscriptions, gas, insurance, and travel bookings. You can also prepay some services (like annual memberships or taxes) if needed.

Does the Chase Sapphire Preferred work internationally?

Yes! It has no foreign transaction fees, making it perfect for international travelers. Just notify Chase via the app before heading abroad.

How long do Chase Ultimate Rewards points last?

They don’t expire as long as your account remains open and in good standing.

Conclusion

Jumping into the world of points travel might seem intimidating at first—but with the Chase Sapphire Preferred, it’s easier than ever to unlock high-value returns with minimal effort. By following these 6 ways to maximize the Chase Sapphire Preferred as a beginner, you’ll turn everyday purchases into unforgettable journeys.

Whether you’re planning to fly to Europe, island-hop in Southeast Asia, or explore the U.S. National Parks, this card helps you go further for less. The key isn’t just collecting points—it’s learning to use them wisely. With HopStrip-style planning, smart tools, and travel-ready cards like this, your adventures just got a serious upgrade.

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