Chase Sapphire Preferred Review: Stretch Ultimate Rewards for Travel, Dining and No Foreign Fees
Maximize Chase Sapphire Preferred Ultimate Rewards with top dining and travel points, a hefty sign-up bonus and no foreign transaction fees
Chase Sapphire Preferred: core perks and sign-up bonus
The Chase Sapphire Preferred card is a go-to travel rewards card in the United States, offering a high sign-up bonus and flexible Ultimate Rewards points. New cardmembers can earn a competitive bonus (often 60,000 points after meeting the spend requirement), which translates to significant travel value when redeemed through Chase or transferred to partners.
Key perks include 3x points on dining and 5x on travel booked through Chase Travel, along with no foreign transaction fees — ideal for international trips. The card’s mix of everyday earning and travel bonuses makes it easy to rack up Ultimate Rewards points fast.
Maximizing Ultimate Rewards for travel and dining
To stretch Ultimate Rewards, use the Chase portal where points are worth 1.25 cents each, or transfer 1:1 to partners like United, JetBlue, Hyatt or Marriott for award flights and hotels. Booking premium cabins or high-end hotel nights after transferring points can multiply value well beyond portal redemptions.
For dining, put everyday restaurants, delivery and takeout on the card to earn 3x points — this simple habit accelerates point accumulation for your next trip. Combine dining earnings with targeted travel purchases through Chase Travel to maximize point-per-dollar returns.
Fees, rates and real-world costs
The annual fee is $95, which is modest compared with premium travel cards and is easily offset if you leverage the sign-up bonus and ongoing travel credits. There’s no foreign transaction fee, so you won’t get dinged when you swipe abroad — a real plus for frequent international travelers.
Be mindful of variable APRs if you carry a balance; this card rewards those who pay in full each month. Balance transfer and cash advance fees exist, and interest can erode the value of rewards if you finance purchases instead of paying them off.
Who should apply and quick tips to get value
If you travel multiple times a year, dine out regularly, and can meet the sign-up spend, the Chase Sapphire Preferred is one of the best value propositions for US cardholders. It requires good to excellent credit, but the flexible Ultimate Rewards ecosystem makes it suitable for both aspirational and frequent travelers.
Practical tips: charge travel and dining to the card, check the Chase portal before booking, and transfer points to airline or hotel partners for outsized redemptions. Pay balances in full, track category spending, and redeem strategically to maximize your Ultimate Rewards haul.