Here's why the Chase Sapphire Preferred credit card is my most-recommended beginner travel card...and, one that I've kept in my own wallet for over a decade:
Strong sign-up bonus: Earn 60k bonus points after you spend $4,000 in the first 3 months of opening the account
Generous points earning categories
3x points on every $1 spent on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x points on every $1 spent on travel
Comprehensive travel insurance coverage
An unsung hero in the travel space! It has saved me thousands over the years because I didn't have to pay extra for travel insurance
No foreign transaction fees: A game-changer for international travel
Ability to transfer points to great airline and hotel loyalty programs
Here are all their travel partners:
Airlines: Aer Lingus, Air Canada, Air France/KLM Flying Blue, British Airways, Emirates, Iberia, JetBlue, Singapore Airlines, Southwest Airlines, United Airlines, Virgin Atlantic
Hotels: Marriott Bonvoy, World of Hyatt, IHG Rewards Club
My personal favorite way to use my Chase points? Transferring my points out to Hyatt for luxury hotel stays.
Click here to learn more about the Sapphire Preferred. There is a $95 annual fee.
Whenever you apply for a credit card, I appreciate it when you do so through my referral link! It costs you nothing, and it supports my small business.
Want to super-charge your points earning with the Sapphire Preferred? Here's the card to get next
I recommend also getting a Chase Freedom Unlimited®. It earns 1.5 Ultimate Rewards points for every $1 you spend (regardless of category). Then, you can combine those points into your Sapphire account (for free!) so that all of your points can be used for lucrative travel redemptions.
Extra perk? The Freedom Unlimited has no annual fee, so it's a great one to keep for the long-term.
How I use these cards:
Use my Sapphire Preferred for all travel purchases to earn 2 points per $1, plus benefit from the card's travel insurance perks.
Use my Sapphire Preferred for all dining (3 points per $1)
Use my Freedom Unlimited for all drugstore purchases (3 points per $1)
Use my Freedom Unlimited for all other miscellaneous spending (1.5 points per $1)