Best Beginner Travel Credit Card: Chase Sapphire Preferred

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:

• Sign-up bonus: Earn 75k bonus points after you spend $5,000 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.

• 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

• 10% Anniversary Points Boost: each account anniversary you'll earn bonus points equal to 10% of your total purchases made the previous year.

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

Already had a Sapphire card and wondering if you’re eligible for another bonus? This blog post breaks down how you might qualify again.

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)

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: $750 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 in the first 3 months after opening the card. Keep in mind that this is awarded in the form of Ultimate Rewards points (so, 75,000 bonus points).

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