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In our expert opinion, the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card is one of the best credit cards out there—especially when you consider that the $95 annual fee is knocked down by a suite of benefits. Best of all: There’s a welcome bonus that’s worth up to $1,000 for new cardholders.
The Sapphire Preferred is our best travel credit card for ongoing benefits like two points per dollar spent on travel as well as one-to-one transfers to JetBlue, Southwest, United and other airline loyalty programs. But the rewards work for those of us who aren’t straying too far from home. Dining racks up three points at restaurants, on takeout and with eligible delivery services.
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There’s even a boost to the usual two points per dollar spent on airfare, hotels, car rentals and other vacation expenses. Sapphire Preferred cardholders get a whopping five points on travel booked through Ultimate Rewards, which any Chase member will want to familiarize themselves with. Points redeemed through the portal earn an additional 25%. For instance, 50,000 points is equivalent to a $500 statement credit—or $625 when booking a trip with the issuer.
Now for the welcome offer: New cardholders who spend $4,000 within three months can receive 80,000 bonus points. In the Ultimate Rewards portal, that’s $1,000 to spend on your next getaway. Even if you’re not headed anywhere anytime soon, rewards don’t expire for the life of your account.
These impressive benefits come with a $95 annual fee, though the cost is offset by perks such as a yearly $50 hotel credit. You can knock down the remainder further with an anniversary bonus. Every year, cardholders will earn 10% of the amount they’ve spent on the credit card.
Of course, cardholders must pay their bills on time, a vital practice to maintain healthy credit. We also recommend paying in full when possible. Otherwise, charges are subject to a variable APR (16.24% – 23.24%) and other penalties, like a late payment fee of $40. Before signing on the dotted line, we suggest reading the fine print for yourself.
Learn more about the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card
Please note: The offers mentioned above are subject to change at any time and some may no longer be available.
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Prices were accurate at the time this article was published but may change over time.
