Chase Sapphire Preferred Credit Card Overview

Chase

We talk a lot about cash back credit cards and business credit cards, but it’s been a while since we’ve considered the great value of a travel credit card. It’s not really a card that benefits you much if you don’t travel but if you do, it can be highly rewarding on a regular basis. We love a travel credit card because we love to travel, and few cards are as beneficial as the Chase Sapphire Preferred card. We’ve discussed it before, but some of the terms, some of the offers and some of the information has changed in the past few months. We want to bring you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible about this card, which means it’s time for us to re-review this card for your wallet’s pleasure.

There is a lot to love about the Chase Sapphire Preferred card, but that doesn’t mean it’s the card for you. Consider it, but don’t use it if it does not work well within your budget or your lifestyle. If it does, however, consider that there are a number of perks available that might make you want to sign up right now.

What We Love

There is a lot to love about the Chase Sapphire Preferred card. For one, it’s a travel credit card and we love travel cards. This one is particularly useful in that it offers some good benefits such as a 50,000 point sign-up bonus. All you have to do is spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 90 days your account is open and you are golden. This kind of points reward is worth more than $625 in free travel whether it is through an airline or a hotel.

Another great perk of having this particular credit card in your wallet is the fact that adding an authorized user to your account and making only one purchase within the first 90 days of your account being opened means you’re earning another 5,000 in bonus points. It’s a great way to earn some free travel or some serious upgrades. Both of which are amazing when it comes to travel.

Other perks include the fact that you don’t have to necessarily spend money on travel to earn the perks and benefits of this card. For instance, you can earn 2 points for every dollar you spend on flights, hotels, taxis and trains. On that note, you can also earn 2 points on every dollar you spend on any restaurant whether it’s a quick fast food jaunt or it is a stop at a fine dining establishment. All other purchases are worth 1 point for every dollar you spend.

What we love about that, however, is that you don’t have to be traveling to earn that money. You can have a date night down the street from your house and earn double points on your meal. You aren’t limited to any specific airline or hotel, either. With a specific hotel or airline credit card, for example, you only earn additional points when you book right with them. It works out for everyone when you have a card that works for every airline and every hotel; it’s a great card for those who aren’t loyal to only one airline.

The other perk we really love is that this is a travel credit card that does not charge you foreign transaction fees no matter how many things you buy when you are outside the country. It’s as simple to shop abroad as it is to shop from home.

What We Don’t Love

There’s not much we don’t love about this card, but there are a few specific aspects we have to admit might not work for everyone. For instance, it might not be the best card for those who don’t travel often. It’s a nice card to have but if you only travel once or twice each year, it might not be the best card to keep in your wallet. It’s not going to benefit you in any way. However, that doesn’t mean you don’t get to enjoy it.

Something else we don’t love is that you can’t earn additional points on the things you buy the most. Gas and groceries are huge in most everyone’s budget, and we prefer to see those things purchased and earning additional points. Restaurants are nice, but you don’t usually spend enough on them to make this card worthwhile.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred card is a great travel credit card to have in your wallet, but it’s one that is not going to work well for everyone. This credit card is for those who love to travel but are not worried so much about traveling with a specific carrier or being loyal to a specific hotel. It’s a good card to have, and we recommend it if it works for you.

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