6 Ways to Maximize the Chase Sapphire Preferred as a Beginner: Essential Guide for 2025 Travelers
Estimated reading time: 5 minutes
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!- New to credit card travel rewards? The Chase Sapphire Preferred is one of the best beginner-friendly points cards out there.
- This guide breaks down 6 ways to maximize the Chase Sapphire Preferred as a beginner in 2025.
- Learn how to earn bonus points quickly, unlock travel-centric perks, and use those points for free flights, hotels, and rental cars.
- Perfect for frequent flyers, road trippers, and digital nomads ready to upgrade their travel game.
- Smart travel insights from HopStrip.com to make your Chase Sapphire points stretch further.
Table of Contents
- Why Is the Chase Sapphire Preferred So Popular With Travelers?
- 1. Hit the Welcome Bonus Hard (and Smart)
- 2. Book Through Chase Ultimate Rewards (Especially for Travel)
- 3. Transfer Points to High-Value Travel Partners
- 4. Max Out Ongoing Bonus Categories
- 5. Use Built-In Travel Protections
- 6. Combine Points With a Partner or Player 2
- 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
- Final Thoughts: Why the Chase Sapphire Preferred Belongs in Your Wallet
Why Is the Chase Sapphire Preferred So Popular With Travelers?
Short answer: it blends generous travel rewards with beginner-friendly simplicity.
With an annual fee of $95, the Chase Sapphire Preferred comes loaded with impressive benefits for travelers, including:
- A massive welcome bonus (typically 60,000–80,000 points) after hitting spending thresholds
- 2x points on travel and dining, and even more through Chase’s travel portal
- Built-in trip cancellation/interruption insurance and rental car coverage
- Access to Chase Ultimate Rewards and valuable point transfers to airline and hotel partners
Frequent flyers and weekend warriors alike love it because this card works whether you’re booking your next international trip or just trying the best pizza in Chicago. Once you understand the ecosystem Chase has created, this card can easily be worth hundreds—or even thousands—of dollars in travel every year.
Let’s dive into the six core ways to maximize the Chase Sapphire Preferred as a beginner.
1. Hit the Welcome Bonus Hard (and Smart)
One of the biggest value plays is the sign-up bonus. New Sapphire Preferred cardholders often receive 60,000–80,000 Ultimate Rewards points after spending $4,000 in the first three months.
What does that mean in real terms? Using Chase’s portal, 60,000 points are worth about $750 in travel—or even more if transferred to partners like United, Hyatt, or British Airways.
HopStrip Pro Tip: Don’t meet this spend just by buying gift cards. Use it for travel you already had planned—like flights, hotels, or booking local tours through platforms like GetYourGuide.
2. Book Through Chase Ultimate Rewards (Especially for Travel)
Chase’s in-house booking portal is often the easiest way for newbies to redeem points. You’ll get 25% more value when using your points to book travel directly through Ultimate Rewards.
So, if you have 80,000 points, they’re worth $1,000 when used this way.
Why it works: You can book flights, hotels, rental cars, and experiences without worrying about blackout dates or availability restrictions that airlines often impose on mile redemption.
Example: A round-trip flight from LA to Madrid in offseason can cost as low as $550 on Chase’s portal—even less than with traditional airline websites.
3. Transfer Points to High-Value Travel Partners
Pro travelers unlock even more value by transferring points to Chase’s airline and hotel partners at a 1:1 ratio. This is a prime tactic if you want luxury travel experiences for a fraction of the price.
Top partners include:
- Hyatt (great for luxury and boutique hotels)
- United Airlines (no-fuel surcharges, easy booking)
- Emirates and Singapore Airlines (premium cabin awards)
First-timer tip: Stick with flexible and beginner-friendly partners like Hyatt and United. Their search tools are simple and reward availability is more generous.
4. Max Out Ongoing Bonus Categories
Unlike many cards that muddy their reward structure, the Sapphire Preferred keeps it simple:
- 2x points on travel and dining worldwide
- 3x on streaming and online groceries (introduced in 2022)
- 5x total points on purchases through Chase’s travel portal
Real-world example: Grab dinner in New York before your flight—and that’s 2x points. Book your stay in Tokyo through Chase Travel? That’s 5x.
Over time, these seemingly small bonuses stack up and can fund several domestic flights or weekend stays.
5. Use Built-In Travel Protections
The Sapphire Preferred is much more than a points machine. It also saves you major headaches—and money—when travel goes sideways.
Your card includes:
- Trip cancellation/interruption coverage up to $10,000
- Baggage delay reimbursement
- Primary rental car insurance (a huge win internationally)
- Trip delay reimbursement (up to $500 if stranded 12+ hours)
Tip for jetsetters: This card saves you from purchasing pricey rental insurance abroad—as long as you decline the agency’s insurance and pay with the Sapphire Preferred.
6. Combine Points With a Partner or Player 2
One often-overlooked benefit is the ability to combine Ultimate Rewards points with one other household member or spouse.
Whether you’re a couple planning a Euro trip or a family looking to stack rewards, this trick lets you boost your redemption value while keeping travel costs low.
Strategy: If your partner has a Sapphire card too, transfer points between accounts or to their preferred loyalty program—doubling your chances to score award seats or suite upgrades.
How to Plan This Trip the Smart Way
Here’s a roadmap to travel success using your Chase Sapphire Preferred:
- Sign up for the card before a major spending period (vacation, moving, holidays).
- Track your progress toward the sign-up bonus with Chase’s mobile app.
- Log in to Ultimate Rewards and explore travel booking and points transfer options.
- Search for flights and hotels through the Chase portal to price-check before transferring points.
- Use it as your daily card for dining, travel, and streaming to accumulate points faster.
- Download all your travel documents in advance and use travel protections by booking with the card.
HopStrip-Style Tips and Tools for This Trip
HopStrip travelers think like strategists—maximizing fun and value without sweating over spreadsheets. Here’s how:
- Combine your Sapphire Preferred points with earned miles, hotel status, or travel deals from our partners. For example, scan hotel prices via Expedia before using points to be sure it’s the best option.
- Book key experiences abroad (like a Northern Lights tour in Iceland or wine tasting in Tuscany) in advance through GetYourGuide to avoid high demand later.
- Jumpstart every trip with a pre-booked airport transfer and skip the local taxi stress (and overcharges).
- Set up alerts for airline sales—especially when you plan to transfer points to a specific carrier.
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FAQ: 6 Ways to Maximize the Chase Sapphire Preferred as a Beginner
- Q: Is the Chase Sapphire Preferred worth it for beginners?
A: Yes. With a low $95 annual fee and generous welcome bonus, it’s a top pick if you’re starting out in travel rewards. The clear point-earning categories and travel protections make it beginner-friendly. - Q: How do I redeem Chase Sapphire Preferred points for the best value?
A: The best values are typically found in two places: transferring to travel partners (like Hyatt or United) or booking through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal, where your points are worth 25% more. - Q: What’s the difference between redeeming through the portal and transferring points?
A: When you redeem through the portal, you get fixed value (1.25 cents/point). When transferring, you can potentially get much higher value—especially for business class flights or luxury hotels—if you’re flexible and savvy. - Q: Can I use the Sapphire Preferred for everyday purchases?
A: Absolutely. Use it on restaurants, groceries, gas, streaming, and travel to optimize point earnings. Just avoid it for big categories like home improvement or tuition—it won’t earn multiples there. - Q: Is Sapphire Reserve better than Sapphire Preferred?
A: The Reserve has more perks, like Priority Pass lounge access and 3x points on travel and dining—but it also comes with a $550 fee. For most beginners, the Preferred is the smarter starter card unless you’re a luxury frequent traveler.
Final Thoughts: Why the Chase Sapphire Preferred Belongs in Your Wallet
If you’re just starting your travel hacking journey, there’s a reason the Sapphire Preferred shows up on nearly every “best travel credit cards” list: It opens the door to serious travel upgrades and cost savings with minimal learning curve.
By following these 6 ways to maximize the Chase Sapphire Preferred as a beginner, you can turn routine purchases into memorable stays, bonus flights, and smarter travel insurance coverage. It’s the ultimate companion for first-time point hunters, weekend escape artists, and world travelers ready to make every dollar count.
Planning your next trip? Bookmark this guide, keep racking up those points—and let the Chase Sapphire Preferred help write your next travel story.
Ready to go? Compare flight prices or check hotel deals for your destination today.
