6 Overlooked Perks of the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card for Savvy Travelers
6 Overlooked Perks of the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card for Savvy Travelers - Elevated Rewards for Travel and Dining Expenses
The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card stands out with its generous rewards program, earning 5 points per dollar on travel booked through Chase Travel and 3 points on dining expenses.
This makes it an excellent choice for frequent travelers who want to maximize their rewards and enjoy valuable perks such as airport lounge access and travel insurance.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card earns 5 points per dollar on travel booked through Chase Travel, a rate that outperforms many other premium travel cards on the market.
Cardholders can redeem their Ultimate Rewards points for 25% more value when used for travel bookings through Chase, making each point worth 25 cents instead of the standard 1 cent.
The card's generous 3 points per dollar earned on dining purchases applies not only to traditional restaurants but also to food delivery services, providing exceptional value for frequent diners.
Surprisingly, the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card's travel insurance benefits include coverage for trip cancellation, interruption, and delay, as well as baggage delay and lost luggage, offering peace of mind for savvy travelers.
While many travel cards focus on airfare and hotels, the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card also earns 2 points per dollar on a wide range of other travel expenses, including rental cars, cruises, and even ride-sharing services.
Interestingly, the card's annual fee of $95 is often offset by the value of its benefits, such as the $50 annual credit for hotel stays booked through Chase and the opportunity to earn a lucrative welcome bonus worth up to $750 when redeemed for travel.
What else is in this post?
- 6 Overlooked Perks of the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card for Savvy Travelers - Elevated Rewards for Travel and Dining Expenses
- 6 Overlooked Perks of the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card for Savvy Travelers - Complimentary Hotel Credits on Anniversary
- 6 Overlooked Perks of the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card for Savvy Travelers - Comprehensive Travel Insurance Coverage
- 6 Overlooked Perks of the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card for Savvy Travelers - Flexible Redemption Options with Chase Ultimate Rewards
- 6 Overlooked Perks of the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card for Savvy Travelers - Instacart Membership with Delivery Discounts
- 6 Overlooked Perks of the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card for Savvy Travelers - No Foreign Transaction Fees for International Purchases
6 Overlooked Perks of the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card for Savvy Travelers - Complimentary Hotel Credits on Anniversary
The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card now offers a valuable $50 annual hotel credit that can be used for any hotel booking made through the Chase Ultimate Rewards travel portal.
This credit automatically renews on the cardholder's account anniversary, providing a convenient way to offset the card's annual fee.
Savvy travelers can take advantage of this perk to save on their hotel stays and maximize the benefits of the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card.
The $50 annual hotel credit can be used for any hotel stay booked through the Chase Ultimate Rewards Travel portal, providing flexibility for cardholders.
Interestingly, the credit is not tied to the calendar year but rather resets on the cardholder's account anniversary date, allowing for more strategic planning.
Surprisingly, the credit can be combined with the card's generous travel rewards, enabling cardholders to potentially earn up to 5 points per dollar on their hotel stays.
Notably, the credit is automatically applied to the cardholder's account upon booking a hotel through the Chase portal, streamlining the redemption process.
Curiously, the credit is not limited to a specific hotel brand or chain, allowing cardholders to explore a wide range of accommodation options.
Interestingly, the credit does not expire and can be carried over to the following year if not fully utilized, providing an added layer of flexibility.
Surprisingly, the credit is available even to cardholders who have downgraded from the Chase Sapphire Preferred to the no-annual-fee Chase Freedom Unlimited Card, making it a valuable perk for budget-conscious travelers.
6 Overlooked Perks of the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card for Savvy Travelers - Comprehensive Travel Insurance Coverage
The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card offers a robust suite of travel insurance benefits, including comprehensive coverage for trip cancellation, interruption, delay, and accidents.
These protections can provide valuable peace of mind and financial safeguards for savvy travelers, potentially offsetting the card's annual fee through the reimbursement of unexpected costs during a trip.
Comprehensive travel insurance coverage on the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card includes primary car rental insurance, providing reimbursement for the actual cash value of the rented vehicle in case of theft or damage, excluding high-value and exotic cars.
The card's trip cancellation benefits can reimburse up to $5,000 per trip for non-refundable travel expenses, allowing cardholders to recover costs in case of unexpected events.
In addition to trip cancellation, the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card also offers trip interruption coverage, providing reimbursement for prepaid travel expenses if a covered event interrupts the trip.
Interestingly, the travel accident insurance on the card provides a covered loss of life benefit of $500,000 in the case of a common carrier travel accident, ensuring financial protection for cardholders and their families.
The travel insurance benefits on the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card are primary, meaning cardholders can file a claim directly with the insurance provider without having to go through their own insurance company first.
Surprisingly, the card's baggage delay coverage gives cardholders up to $100 per day for essential items if their luggage is delayed by six hours or more, providing a convenient way to cover unexpected expenses.
Notably, the trip delay insurance on the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card reimburses incidental costs, such as meals and hotels, if a cardholder's flight is delayed, ensuring they are not left stranded.
Interestingly, the comprehensive travel insurance coverage on the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card applies not only when cardholders pay for travel expenses with the card but also when they use their Chase Ultimate Rewards points, offering additional flexibility.
6 Overlooked Perks of the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card for Savvy Travelers - Flexible Redemption Options with Chase Ultimate Rewards
The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card offers savvy travelers multiple flexible redemption options for their Chase Ultimate Rewards points.
Cardholders can redeem points for travel through the Chase portal, transfer to airline and hotel partners, or use for statement credits - providing valuable flexibility to maximize the value of earned rewards.
These redemption options, combined with the card's strong earnings rates on travel and dining, make the Chase Sapphire Preferred an excellent choice for frequent travelers looking to offset their expenses.
Chase Sapphire Preferred cardholders can redeem their points for 25% more value when booking travel through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal, effectively making each point worth 25 cents instead of the standard 1 cent.
In addition to redeeming points for travel, Chase Sapphire Preferred cardholders can also transfer their points to over a dozen airline and hotel loyalty programs, providing more opportunities to maximize value.
Interestingly, Chase Ultimate Rewards points can be redeemed for cash back at a rate of 1 cent per point, allowing cardholders to offset non-travel expenses if needed.
Surprisingly, Chase Sapphire Preferred cardholders can use their points to pay for statement credits, effectively treating their rewards as a form of cash to cover any purchase.
The Chase Ultimate Rewards portal offers a wide range of travel options, including flights, hotels, rental cars, cruises, and even activities and experiences, giving cardholders flexibility in how they redeem their points.
Curiously, Chase Sapphire Preferred cardholders can also use their points to purchase gift cards from a variety of retailers, providing an alternative redemption option beyond travel.
Interestingly, Chase Ultimate Rewards points do not expire as long as the account remains open and in good standing, allowing cardholders to accumulate their rewards over time.
Surprisingly, Chase Sapphire Preferred cardholders can even use their points to pay for charitable donations through the Ultimate Rewards portal, enabling them to give back while also maximizing their rewards.
The Chase Ultimate Rewards program offers a user-friendly platform that allows cardholders to easily track their points, view redemption options, and manage their account, making it a convenient choice for savvy travelers.
6 Overlooked Perks of the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card for Savvy Travelers - Instacart Membership with Delivery Discounts
Chase Sapphire Preferred cardholders can receive a complimentary Instacart+ membership for 6 months, which includes benefits like waived delivery fees on orders over $35 and reduced service fees.
Additionally, Chase cardholders can earn up to $15 per quarter in statement credits when using their Instacart membership, providing significant savings on grocery delivery.
Chase Sapphire Preferred cardholders can receive a complimentary 6-month Instacart+ membership, which typically costs $99 per year, allowing them to enjoy free delivery on orders over $35 and reduced service fees.
Interestingly, Sapphire Reserve cardholders can receive a complimentary 12-month Instacart+ membership, doubling the benefits available to Sapphire Preferred cardholders.
Surprisingly, Chase Freedom cardholders can also receive a 3-month complimentary Instacart+ membership, making it an accessible perk for a wider range of Chase customers.
Interestingly, the Instacart+ membership can be stacked with other Chase card benefits, such as the $50 annual hotel credit, allowing cardholders to maximize their savings on both grocery delivery and travel expenses.
Surprisingly, the Instacart+ membership is available to Chase cardholders in the United States, ensuring that savvy travelers from across the country can take advantage of this overlooked perk.
Notably, the Instacart+ membership can be redeemed directly through the Chase website, streamlining the process and making it easy for cardholders to claim their complimentary subscription.
Curiously, the Instacart+ membership benefits can be particularly useful for travelers who prefer to have their groceries delivered to their hotel or vacation rental, ensuring they have access to their preferred foods and snacks during their trip.
Interestingly, the Instacart+ membership can also be beneficial for savvy travelers who need to purchase last-minute items or forgotten necessities during their trips, as the delivery service can provide a convenient solution.
Surprisingly, the Instacart+ membership perk is not widely advertised, making it an often-overlooked benefit of the Chase Sapphire Preferred and other Chase credit cards, which can provide significant savings for frequent travelers.
6 Overlooked Perks of the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card for Savvy Travelers - No Foreign Transaction Fees for International Purchases
The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card stands out for its lack of foreign transaction fees, a perk that can save travelers up to 3% on purchases made outside the United States.
By avoiding these fees, cardholders can maximize their savings and focus on enjoying their international experiences without worrying about additional costs.
Many other credit cards still charge foreign transaction fees, making the Chase Sapphire Preferred a smart choice for those who frequently travel abroad.
Using a credit card with no foreign transaction fees can save travelers up to 5% on every purchase made outside the United States.
Approximately 2-3% of each international purchase is typically charged as a foreign transaction fee by credit card issuers such as American Express, Bank of America, Citi, and Discover.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card is one of the most popular no foreign transaction fee credit cards, allowing cardholders to avoid these extra charges when making purchases abroad.
Interestingly, some US-issued Capital One credit cards also do not have foreign transaction fees, providing an alternative option for travelers.
Curiously, certain Citi and Wells Fargo credit cards also feature no foreign transaction fees, giving savvy travelers more choices when selecting a card for international use.
Surprisingly, the no foreign transaction fee perk on the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card can be combined with the card's other travel-focused benefits, such as bonus points on travel and dining expenses, creating a powerful combination for savvy travelers.
Notably, the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card's no foreign transaction fee feature applies not only to purchases made with the physical card but also to any transactions processed outside the United States, including online purchases.
Curiously, some credit cards may still charge foreign transaction fees even if the cardholder is making a purchase from a domestic website but the merchant is located overseas, making the no foreign transaction fee benefit on the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card even more valuable.
Interestingly, the lack of foreign transaction fees on the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card can be especially beneficial for business travelers who need to make frequent international purchases, as it can lead to significant savings over time.