Special 100k Sign-up Bonus on the Best Beginner Travel Card (Chase Sapphire Preferred)

Chase just launched the best ever special sign-up bonus on my favorite beginner travel card.

Here's why the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is my most-recommended beginner travel card...and, one that I've kept in my own wallet for over a decade:

• Special elevated sign-up bonus: Earn 100k bonus points after you spend $5,000 in the first 3 months of opening the account

• Generous points earning categories

  • 5x points on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠

  • 5x points on Lyft rides through Sept 30, 2027

  • 3x points on dining, online grocery, and select streaming services

  • 3x points on gas & EV charging (new!)

  • 3x points on vacation rental homes (Airbnb, VRBO, etc. - new!)

  • 2x points on all other travel purchases

• 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. On June 15, 2026 Chase added Emergency Evacuation and Transportation coverage to the CSP, too.

• No foreign transaction fees: A game-changer for international travel

• New! $120 Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or NEXUS fee credit: up to $120 every four years as reimbursement for the application fee charged to the card.

• New! Complimentary Apple TV subscription for one year: activate by December

  31, 2026 through the Benefits & Rewards section on Chase.com or the mobile app to

  link an Apple ID. Terms apply.

• Ability to transfer points to great airline and hotel loyalty programs like United Airlines, Southwest Airlines, Air France/KLM Flying Blue, and Marriott Bonvoy. Full list of transfer partners here.

  • NOTE - the one big bummer of a change they've made to the card in this refresh: Ultimate Rewards points will transfer to World of Hyatt at a rate of 4:3 for CSP cardholders. For example, cardmembers who transfer 1,000 Ultimate Rewards points will receive 750 points with World of Hyatt. For cardmembers who applied prior to June 15, 2026, this is effective on October 1, 2026. Cardmembers who apply on or after June 15, 2026, will see the updated transfer rate in Ultimate Rewards immediately.

    • Keep in mind that Chase Sapphire Reserve® & Sapphire Reserve for Business℠ cardholders can still transfer to Hyatt at a 1:1 rate.

• Complimentary DashPass: $0 delivery fees & lower service fees for a min. of one year when you activate by 12/31/27

  • Plus: $10 promo each month on non-restaurant orders

Click here to learn more about the Sapphire Preferred. There is a $95 annual fee.

Keep in mind that as of 2026, you can now earn one sign-up bonus per Sapphire card, as long as you've never gotten a bonus on that card before.

So, if you have a Sapphire Reserve, you can now also qualify for a sign-up bonus on a Sapphire Preferred as long as you’ve not gotten a Preferred bonus before.

And, vice versa.

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 together:

• 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, gas, and vacation home rentals (3 points per $1)

• Use my Freedom Unlimited for all drugstore purchases (3% cash back)

• Use my Freedom Unlimited for all other miscellaneous spending (1.5% cash back)

Click here to learn more about the Freedom Unlimited.

Already have both of these?

Have you considered getting a Chase business credit card? These can supercharge your Chase Ultimate Rewards points earning. For example, the $0 annual fee Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card has an amazing sign-up bonus: Earn $750 $1,000 bonus cash back after you spend $8,000 in the first 4 months after opening the card. Keep in mind that this is awarded in the form of Ultimate Rewards points (so, 100,000 bonus points).

So, if you have a Sapphire Preferred, Chase Sapphire Reserve®, Sapphire Reserve for Business℠ or Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card, then every Ultimate Reward point you earn (across any Chase card!) can be combined into that account.

*Each Benefit requires enrollment via their website, terms apply to American Express Benefits and offers. visit americanexpress.com to learn more.

Opinions expressed here are author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post. The content on this page is accurate as of the posting date; however, some of the offers mentioned may have expired.