June 21, 2026 • 10 min read Jump to section Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Copy URL Email The cards we feature here are from partners who compensate us when you are approved through our site, and this may impact how or where these products appear. We don’t cover all available credit cards, but our analysis, reviews, and opinions are entirely from our editorial team. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information. I've been in the world of points and miles for a long time, and I've been asked more times than I can count which rewards credit card travelers should get first.
My answer is almost always the same: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see rates and fees ).
The Sapphire Preferred has been around for over 16 years, but that doesn't mean it is stale. In fact, it just got a refresh that made it an even stronger card to start with while retaining a low $95 annual fee.
Plus, for a limited time, the Sapphire Preferred is offering 100,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
Can you think of anything that has kept the same price for over 16 years yet added even more value? Because I can't.
Getting started can be the biggest, scariest step. So if that's where you are in your rewards travel journey, here are five reasons why the Chase Sapphire Preferred is still the card I most frequently recommend to my own friends and family members.
I promise I'm not starting here just because there's a limited-time offer. But it would be silly to start anywhere else, because rewards are only fun if you actually have points to use.
And the fastest way to build a meaningful points balance is with a strong welcome bonus. Right now, for just the third time ever, the Chase Sapphire
To earn that bonus, you'd need to charge an average of $1,667 to the card each month for three months, which may sound like a lot at first.
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But remember that everyday expenses count . Groceries, gas, cellphone bills, insurance premiums, medical expenses and even some utility payments can all help you reach the spending requirement. Those routine purchases can add up surprisingly quickly and unlock a welcome bonus that TPG values at more than $2,000 based on our June 2026 valuations .
Let's talk about what makes the Chase Sapphire Preferred especially beginner-friendly: the easy-to-use points.
There are two main ways to use Chase Ultimate Rewards points for travel, and the easiest option is booking directly through Chase Travel℠.
If you know how to book a trip through Expedia or another online travel agency, you already know how to use Chase Travel . You can search for and book flights, hotels, rental cars and more using either cash, points or a mix of both.
At a minimum, your points are worth 1 cent each toward travel booked this way. However, select hotels and flights and experiences qualify for Chase's Points Boost feature, which can increase the value of your points to as much as 1.5 cents each…