6 Ways to Maximize the Chase Sapphire Preferred for Beginners

6 Ways to Maximize the Chase Sapphire Preferred as a Beginner (2025 Travel Guide)

Estimated reading time: 5 minutes

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• The Chase Sapphire Preferred card is a game-changer for beginner travelers looking to stretch their travel budgets.
• Learn the 6 ways to maximize the Chase Sapphire Preferred as a beginner, including point transfers, travel protections, and earning strategies.
• Redeem points smartly through Chase’s travel portal or by transferring to top airline and hotel partners.
• Tap into bonus categories and perks like primary car rental insurance and trip delay coverage.
• Perfect for digital nomads, couples, and families planning their next Great Escape.

Table of Contents

• 1. What Makes the Chase Sapphire Preferred So Valuable for New Travelers?
• 2. 6 Ways to Maximize the Chase Sapphire Preferred as a Beginner
• 3. How to Plan a Trip Using Chase Sapphire Preferred Points
• 4. How to Plan This Trip the Smart Way
• 5. HopStrip-Style Tips and Tools for This Trip
• 6. FAQ: 6 Ways to Maximize the Chase Sapphire Preferred as a Beginner

1. What Makes the Chase Sapphire Preferred So Valuable for New Travelers?

The Chase Sapphire Preferred (CSP) is often the first serious travel card in a beginner’s wallet—and for good reason. At just a $95 annual fee, you get a ton of value without committing to a premium card like the Reserve.

Here’s what makes it stand out:

• A generous sign-up bonus—often enough for a roundtrip international flight.
• 5x points on travel booked through the Chase Travel portal.
• 3x points on dining, select streaming, and online groceries.
• Built-in travel protections (delays, cancellations, car rentals).
• Points that are highly flexible and valuable, known as Ultimate Rewards.

Unlike airline-specific credit cards, CSP points aren’t tied down. You can redeem for any airline or hotel, or transfer to huge programs like United, Hyatt, and JetBlue.

If you’re new to rewards travel, this flexibility is actually key: fewer rules, more adventure.

2. 6 Ways to Maximize the Chase Sapphire Preferred as a Beginner

This is where the magic happens. Here are the top 6 strategies to maximize your Chase Sapphire Preferred—tailored for beginners who want simple wins.

1. Nail the Sign-Up Bonus (And Hit It Quickly)

When you first open the card, you’ll usually see a huge welcome bonus—typically 60,000–80,000 points when you spend a certain amount (often $4,000 in 3 months).

Make sure to:

• Time your application before major spend (like booking a trip, or holiday shopping).
• Use the card for all eligible daily purchases to meet the spend.
• Avoid paying it off late—carry no balance for best financial health.

Those points are worth at least $750 in travel via Chase Travel—or more if you transfer them wisely.

2. Use Chase Travel for an Instant 25% Boost

When you redeem points via the Chase Travel portal, each point is worth 1.25 cents (instead of 1 cent). That means 80,000 points = $1,000 toward flights, hotels, rental cars, or experiences.

This is ideal if:

• You want ease and speed (vs transferring to airlines).
• You’re booking travel that isn’t tied to one airline.
• You find great deals (the same as Expedia, honestly).

You can read more about this strategy here.

3. Transfer Points to Partners for Huge Redemption Value

For travel hackers, transferring points is where the real juice is. Chase has 14+ travel partners, like:

• United Airlines (Star Alliance)
• Hyatt (incredibly valuable hotel redemptions)
• Emirates, JetBlue, Air France/KLM

You can get far more than 1.25 cents per point this way—sometimes over 2 cents per point on premium cabin flights or boutique hotel stays.

Example: Instead of paying 60,000 points for a $750 hotel, transfer to Hyatt and get 3 nights at a luxury property that normally costs $1,200.

4. Know the Bonus Categories to Supercharge Everyday Spending

Here’s how to earn points faster:

• 5x points on travel booked via Chase Travel.
• 3x on dining, select streaming, and online groceries.
• 2x on all other travel purchases.
• 1x on everything else.

Plan it out: Use the Sapphire Preferred for all your vacation booking, eating out, grocery runs on Instacart, and Disney+ subscriptions—it adds up.

5. Use Travel Protection Benefits (Seriously, Read the Fine Print)

Chase Sapphire Preferred is one of the few cards under $100/year offering:

• Primary car rental coverage (great internationally)
• Trip delay reimbursement (if your flight’s delayed 12+ hours)
• Trip cancellation/interruption insurance
• Baggage delay, lost luggage coverage

If something goes wrong while traveling, you could get hundreds reimbursed—flights, hotels, even meals.

Example: Flight delay overnight? You may get up to $500 in meals and lodging, automatically.

6. Pair It With Other Chase Cards for an Advanced Strategy

Once you’re comfortable, level up by combining with:

• Chase Freedom Flex: 5% rotating categories
• Chase Freedom Unlimited: 1.5% back on everything

All points earned can be pooled into your Sapphire Preferred account and then redeemed with the 1.25x bonus or transferred to partners.

It creates a powerful points-earning engine for daily and travel expenses.

3. How to Plan a Trip Using Chase Sapphire Preferred Points

Here’s where theory turns into takeoff. Here’s how to use those freshly earned points to plan a real-world trip.

Let’s say you’re heading to Italy next spring.

• Compare airfare options through Chase Travel or compare flights here, using points or cash + points.
• Book hotels directly through Chase Travel or use your points at Hyatt properties for high-end value.
• Need a city-to-city ride or airport pickup? Book airport transfers in advance and earn extra coverage with your card.
• Use the card abroad with no foreign transaction fees—and earn 2x points.
• If your bag is delayed, lean on those built-in coverages instead of hoping for airline refunds.

4. How to Plan This Trip the Smart Way

Here’s a six-step blueprint to get your Chase Sapphire journey off the ground:

1. ✅ Apply when a big sign-up bonus is available.
2. ✅ Use the card for your everyday expenses until you hit the bonus spend.
3. ✅ Explore travel prices using the Chase Travel portal—with the 25% value bump.
4. ✅ Transfer to Chase’s travel partners (like Hyatt or United) once you’re more experienced.
5. ✅ Pay for travel with the CSP card to activate those hidden protections.
6. ✅ Log into your Ultimate Rewards portal regularly to track points and see deals.

Bonus tip: Plan a short trip first, like a long weekend domestic getaway, to get the hang of it before going full Europe escape.

5. HopStrip-Style Tips and Tools for This Trip

Getting HopStrip smart with your Chase Sapphire Preferred means:

• 🧠 Combining destination planning with savvy points redemption—book a luxe hotel in Lisbon using Hyatt-transfer points, then tack on a budget flight to Morocco.
• 🧳 Using travel gear like RFID wallets or tech organizers that make point-packed trips smoother.
• 📲 Leveraging insurance perks and packing light to dodge baggage delays and overages.
• 💼 Booking short tours with solid cancellation flexibility at partner-backed platforms like GetYourGuide to lock in points-worthy excursions.

Need a place to stay during your points-powered adventure? Use this hotel deal search tool to find stays that complement your point redemptions.

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

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

Q: Is the Chase Sapphire Preferred worth it for new travelers?

Yes—especially for anyone booking even just one or two trips a year. Between the sign-up bonus, 1.25x travel redemptions, and travel protections, it can easily pay for itself several times over.

Q: What’s the best way to redeem Chase points?

For beginners: Chase Travel portal at 1.25x value is a great start. For more advanced users: transferring points to hotel or airline partners usually gives the biggest bang for your buck.

Q: Can I book flights directly with airlines using my points?

Not directly—but you can transfer points to airline partners like JetBlue, United, or Air France, then book through their sites.

Q: Do points expire?

Not as long as you keep your account open and in good standing. If you cancel the card without another linked Chase point-earning card, you could lose them.

Q: Can I use the card abroad?

Yes! It has no foreign transaction fees and earns 2x points on travel and 3x on dining internationally.

Whether you’re dreaming of Santorini sunsets or a sushi-fueled Tokyo trip, the Chase Sapphire Preferred can take you far—literally. By following these 6 ways to maximize the Chase Sapphire Preferred as a beginner, you’re not just collecting points—you’re crafting your next unforgettable escape.

Ready to start making travel work for you? Start planning with intent—and see how far your points passport can take you.