I never imagined that a single credit card could bankroll a significant portion of my travels. Yet, that’s exactly what happened when I opened a Chase Sapphire card. In a matter of months, I earned enough points to fund $1,200 worth of free travel – covering flights and hotels that I otherwise would have paid for out of pocket.
This is the story of how I did it, step by step, and how you can potentially do the same.
My journey started with a desire to see the world without breaking the bank. I’d heard about travel hackers using credit card rewards to get free flights and hotels, and as a frequent traveler on a budget, I wanted in.
After some research, I chose the Chase Sapphire Preferred® as my ticket (literally) to affordable adventures.
Here’s how that decision paid off for me and how the Sapphire card stacks up against other popular travel cards like the Amex Gold and Capital One Venture.
Why I Chose the Chase Sapphire Preferred
When I set out to find the perfect travel rewards credit card, the Chase Sapphire series kept popping up in conversations and online recommendations. The Sapphire Preferred card, in particular, stood out as a versatile choice that delivers terrific value for a reasonable annual fee (just $95) .
I was drawn to three key features: a generous welcome bonus, bonus points on travel and dining, and flexible redemption options. The fact that it’s a Visa Signature card (widely accepted internationally) with strong travel protections was the cherry on top.
Comparing options: I briefly considered other travel cards – notably the American Express Gold and the Capital One Venture – but ultimately went with Sapphire Preferred for its combination of rewards and flexibility.
Cards like the Amex Gold offered great earning rates on dining and groceries, but the Gold’s hefty $325 annual fee (recently increased from $250) only makes sense if you fully utilize its statement credits .
Meanwhile, the Capital One Venture’s flat rewards were appealing for their simplicity, but I learned that Chase’s points could be more valuable (and the Sapphire had far superior travel insurance perks, which I’ll discuss later).
In short, the Sapphire Preferred promised a big payoff without a big commitment up front – perfect for my first foray into travel hacking.
Earning the 60,000-Point Welcome Bonus
The adventure truly began when I was approved for the Chase Sapphire Preferred and set my sights on earning the welcome bonus. At the time, the offer was 60,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points after meeting a minimum spend requirement (I needed to spend $5,000 in the first 3 months to earn the bonus) .
Sixty-thousand points was an exciting target – I knew from my research that 60k points could be worth at least $750 in travel if redeemed through Chase’s portal, and potentially up to ~$1,200 in travel if used strategically with airline or hotel partners . In other words, this bonus alone could unlock a $1,200 trip for free, so I was highly motivated to hit that threshold.
Meeting the spend (without overspending): To reach $5,000 in 3 months, I got strategic but stayed practical. I moved all my usual expenses onto the Sapphire Preferred – from grocery runs and gas fill-ups to utility bills. I also timed a couple of larger purchases (a new phone and some home furniture) to fall within those first few statements.
Importantly, I treated the card like a debit card, spending only what I could afford to pay off in full each month (avoiding interest charges is rule #1 in the points game). By the end of the third month, I had comfortably exceeded the required spend and the 60,000 bonus points posted to my Chase account.
Tip: I took advantage of the card’s bonus categories while working toward the welcome offer. The Sapphire Preferred rewards you with extra points on certain purchases – for example, I earned 2X points on travel purchases and 3X points on dining (and, since a mid-2021 update, also 3X on select streaming services and online grocery orders) .
That meant if I spent $100 on a nice dinner out, I got 300 points instead of the usual 100. These category bonuses helped me accumulate a few thousand extra points on top of the 60k welcome bonus during those initial months. By the time I was ready to redeem, I actually had roughly 70,000 Chase points sitting in my account.
Maximizing Points with Everyday Spending
Even after earning the welcome bonus, I kept using the Sapphire Preferred for my everyday spending to continue building my points balance. The card’s rewards program made it easy to rack up points quickly without changing my spending habits much:
- 3X points on dining worldwide: As someone who loves trying local restaurants and grabbing coffee on the go, this was a goldmine. I was essentially earning 3% back in valuable points on all my dining, since each point is worth about a penny at minimum – often more when used for travel .
- 2X points on general travel: This covered my train tickets, rideshare rides, and even a couple of hotel bookings. Knowing I’d get double points, I didn’t hesitate to put all travel-related charges on the Sapphire.
- 5X points on travel booked through Chase: When I needed to book a domestic flight for a family visit, I tried out the Chase Ultimate Rewards travel portal. By booking through Chase’s site, I earned 5 points per dollar on the airfare . It felt great seeing a few hundred points come in just from one flight purchase (and as a preview, I ended up using points later to offset that very flight cost).
- 1X on other purchases: For all other spending (groceries, shopping, etc.), I still earned one point per dollar. It’s not as flashy as the bonus categories, but it all adds up.
By using the Sapphire Preferred as my primary card, I was effortlessly earning rewards on everything I bought. Over several more months, these everyday points totaled several thousand additional points.
I like to think of it as a “points paycheck” for spending I’d be doing regardless. And unlike some store-specific rewards, Chase points are extremely flexible and don’t pigeonhole you into one airline or hotel chain. Each point I earned was a token I could later spend on almost any travel I wanted.
Redeeming Points for $1,200 in Free Travel
With my points balance sitting around the ~70,000 mark, I finally got to have the fun part: redeeming those points for travel. Chase Ultimate Rewards points are amazingly versatile, giving you two primary ways to book travel for free:
- Book through the Chase Ultimate Rewards travel portal – essentially using points as currency to pay for flights, hotels, and more.
- Transfer points to travel partners – converting Chase points at a 1:1 rate into airline miles or hotel points with Chase’s partner programs (like United, Hyatt, Marriott, Southwest, and others).
To maximize the value of my hard-earned points, I explored both options. Here’s how I turned those points into a $1,200 trip:
Using the Chase Travel Portal: The simplest way to redeem was via Chase’s own booking site. With the Sapphire Preferred, points are worth 25% more when used in the portal for travel – in other words, 10,000 points can cover a $125 flight or hotel (instead of $100) .
I found a round-trip flight to visit a friend in Seattle priced at around $300. Through the portal, I used about 24,000 points (instead of $300 cash) to pay for it – a smooth experience just like any online travel agency, except at checkout I applied points as payment.
No blackout dates, no complicated rules. The portal gave me a solid value of 1.25 cents per point on that booking, and it felt awesome to see a $0 charge on my flight.
Transferring to Airline & Hotel Partners: I wanted to squeeze even more value out of the rest of my points, so I looked into Chase’s 1:1 transfer partners for a second trip. Chase has a roster of ~14 travel partners, and I honed in on United Airlines (MileagePlus) and Hyatt Hotels – two programs known for great use of points.
I ended up transferring 40,000 points to United, which gave me 40,000 United miles in my airline account . With those miles, I booked a last-minute round-trip flight for a summer getaway that would have cost about $600 in cash.
By using miles, I only paid ~$11 in taxes – essentially getting a $600 flight for free. The value per point here was about 1.5 cents each, which is already better than the standard portal value.
For lodging, Hyatt’s award chart offered me a fantastic deal. I moved 15,000 points to Hyatt, and then booked a two-night stay at a boutique hotel that would have cost $300 per night (so ~$600 total).
Those 15k points covered the entire $600+ stay (no resort fees or taxes either – a sweet perk of using points). This worked out to 4 cents per point in value, which is an outstanding redemption (Chase points can sometimes achieve 2-4 cents value with strategic transfers ).
Between the Seattle flight, the United award trip, and the Hyatt hotel stay, I redeemed roughly 79,000 points for what would have been about $1,200+ in travel costs. And remember, 60,000 of those points came just from the sign-up bonus.
By combining smart portal bookings and transfers, I truly maximized the value of my Chase points – averaging around ~1.5 cents per point across all redemptions, well above the baseline $0.01 cash value. In fact, the 60k-point welcome bonus alone proved capable of delivering over $1,200 in free travel by leveraging high-value transfer redemptions .
Seamless experience: One thing I appreciated was how easy Chase makes it to redeem points. The portal booking was straightforward, and transferring points to partners was instant for the ones I used. I simply linked my United and Hyatt loyalty accounts to Chase, typed in how many points to transfer, and within minutes those points were sitting in my airline/hotel account ready to spend.
It’s rewarding (pun intended) to see your credit card points turn into a flight confirmation or a hotel booking email at no cost. This flexibility and ease of use underscored why I picked the Sapphire card in the first place.
Travel Perks and Protections That Saved the Day
Beyond the points and dollars, I have to give a nod to the travel protections that come with the Chase Sapphire card, because they truly came in handy during my travels.
On my Seattle trip, my initial return flight was delayed by a whole day due to weather. Normally, an overnight delay would mean I’d be on the hook for a last-minute hotel and meals.
But thanks to the Sapphire Preferred’s Trip Delay Reimbursement, I was able to get my extra hotel night and food expenses covered (up to $500 per ticket for 12+ hour delays) – I just filed a claim with Chase’s benefits administrator and they reimbursed me.
The card also came with baggage delay insurance, trip cancellation/interruption coverage, and primary rental car insurance for collision damage waivers . Fortunately, I didn’t need to use those on this trip, but it was reassuring to know I was protected.
These protections are not standard on every card, especially not on cards with sub-$100 annual fees, and they set the Sapphire apart. I learned that even the popular Amex Gold, while great for earning points, offers more limited travel insurance (for example, its rental car coverage is typically secondary to your personal insurance) .
Meanwhile, the Sapphire Preferred’s coverage is quite robust – it’s one of the reasons NerdWallet notes that Sapphire has better travel protections than competitors like Capital One Venture . Having those safety nets in place saved me money and stress, turning what could have been a travel nightmare into a mere hiccup.
Chase Sapphire vs. Amex Gold: Pros and Cons
It’s worth comparing the Chase Sapphire Preferred to the other card I almost picked: the American Express® Gold Card. Both are heavyweight travel rewards cards, but they shine in different areas. Here’s what I found from my experience and research:
Welcome Bonus & Upfront Value
The Sapphire Preferred’s welcome bonus gave me more value out of the gate. My 60k Chase points (earned with $5k spend) were worth at least $750 in travel ($1,250 if you caught a 100k promo) .
The Amex Gold’s typical bonus hovers around 60k Membership Rewards points as well, but often requires a higher spend (around $6k in 6 months) and those points generally redeem for $600 if used as a statement credit. Unless you transfer Amex points to partners for maximum value, the Chase bonus comes out ahead in straightforward travel worth .
Earning Categories
This is where the Amex Gold excels. The Gold Card offers a massive 4X points on dining worldwide and 4X at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25k/year in grocery spend) . That’s equivalent to an ~8% return on those purchases if you value Amex points ~2¢ each .
It also gives 3X on flights booked directly with airlines. In comparison, my Sapphire Preferred earns 3X on dining (still great, but a bit lower) and 2X on general travel. For someone who spends heavily on dining and groceries, the Gold can net points faster. I’ve certainly felt a tinge of envy at that 4X rate when eating out with friends who have the Gold!
Annual Fee and Credits
The Amex Gold has a $325 annual fee for new cardholders , significantly higher than Sapphire’s $95. However, Amex tries to offset this with various credits: up to $120 in dining credits (monthly $10 for certain restaurants or food delivery), up to $120 in Uber Cash ($10/month), and other perks like $100 in hotel credits or even credits at places like Dunkin’ Donuts .
If you fully use these, you can get $300+ in value, effectively bringing the net fee down to around $25. In my case, I wasn’t sure I’d maximize those niche credits – I don’t frequently order from Goldbelly or ride Uber every month, for example.
The Sapphire’s $95 fee, with its simpler $50 annual hotel credit and no required monthly maintenance, felt easier to justify for me. It was value without homework.
Point Redemption Flexibility
Both Chase Ultimate Rewards and Amex Membership Rewards points are flexible and transferable to travel partners (Chase has 14 partners; Amex has 20+ partners). I’d call this one a tie in theory .
In practice, though, I found Chase points a bit easier for beginner-friendly redemptions. Chase’s 1.25x travel portal boost gave me a built-in way to get more value per point when I didn’t want to deal with transfers . Amex’s travel portal, on the other hand, generally gives only 1 cent per point (unless you hold a premium card like Platinum with rebate benefits).
So with Amex Gold, you’re almost compelled to transfer to airlines/hotels to get more than 1¢ value – which is great if you’re savvy, but not as straightforward for quick redemptions. For someone new to points, Chase’s redemption options felt more practical and user-friendly.
Travel Protections
As mentioned, the Sapphire Preferred has excellent built-in travel insurance benefits (trip delay, cancellation, primary car rental coverage, etc.) . The Amex Gold offers some protections, but they aren’t as comprehensive.
For example, Gold’s trip delay coverage typically kicks in after a longer delay (e.g. 12 hours) and its rental car insurance is secondary . Additionally, Amex isn’t as widely accepted abroad (some places don’t take Amex), whereas Visa is almost universally accepted.
This means when it comes to using the card overseas and having peace of mind, Sapphire wins for me. In fact, one Reddit user aptly summarized that the Amex Gold is better for earning points, but the Sapphire Preferred “is better in every other metric” – from acceptance to protections .
Bottom line (Chase vs. Amex Gold): If you spend a lot on dining and groceries and can utilize the credits, the Amex Gold can be extremely rewarding – it “shines brighter” on earning in those categories .
However, the Chase Sapphire Preferred gave me more bang for no extra buck in the first year (big bonus, low fee) and offered more flexibility and peace of mind.
Personally, I’ve loved having Sapphire as a beginner-friendly yet powerful travel card, and I don’t mind that I might earn slightly fewer points on my dinners out because I know the points I do earn are super easy to redeem at great value.
Chase Sapphire vs. Capital One Venture: Pros and Cons
Another popular card you might be considering is the Capital One Venture Rewards card. I’ve seen many friends lean towards the Venture for its simplicity. After doing my comparison, here’s how it stacks up against the Sapphire Preferred in key areas:
Earning Structure
The Venture card’s headline feature is simplicity: it earns 2X miles on every purchase, no categories to think about. On top of that, it offers 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One’s travel portal.
This flat 2X on everything is great if you want to use one card for all spending and not worry about categories. However, in practice I found I earn points faster with Sapphire’s bonuses – for example, I get 3X on dining and streaming, which are big chunks of my budget, whereas Venture would just give 2X on those.
So, if your spending aligns with Sapphire’s bonus categories (travel, dining, etc.), you can rack up points quicker with Sapphire. On the other hand, if your spending is all over the place or you prefer simplicity, Venture’s consistent 2X is attractive.
Travel Redemption Value
Capital One Venture miles are very straightforward to redeem – you can use them to “erase” travel purchases on your statement or book travel through their portal at a fixed value of 1 cent per mile .
For example, 50,000 miles = $500 in travel credit, guaranteed. Chase points, as we’ve seen, can be worth more: 60,000 Chase points got me $750-$1,200 in travel due to the portal bonus and transfer opportunities . With Venture, that same 60,000 miles would flat-out be $600 of travel (since there’s no portal bonus or easy way to get above 1¢ per point without carefully transferring to partners).
Chase points have a higher ceiling for value – NerdWallet even notes that the Sapphire Preferred “boasts higher point values” than Venture . Of course, not everyone wants to fuss with transfer partners. If you prefer a no-hassle redemption, Venture is excellent: just charge your flight or hotel to the card and later click “Redeem” to wipe it off your bill with miles. But in my case, I enjoyed stretching each point further with Chase.
Fees and Credits
Both the Sapphire Preferred and Capital One Venture have a $95 annual fee, and neither has crazy monthly credits to worry about – which is nice. Venture does come with a Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit (worth up to $100, once every 4 years) which Sapphire Preferred doesn’t offer.
That’s a small perk in Venture’s favor if you plan to enroll in those programs. Otherwise, cost-wise they’re on pretty equal footing. I was comfortable with $95 for either card; it really came down to reward potential and benefits rather than fee differences.
Travel Partners and Flexibility
Historically, Capital One’s miles were only for fixed-value redemptions, but in recent years they’ve added airline and hotel transfer partners too. Even so, Chase’s partner roster (United, Southwest, Hyatt, etc.) aligned better with the travel brands I use, whereas Capital One’s partners include some foreign airlines that I wasn’t as likely to leverage.
Also, Chase points can be combined with other Chase cards (like if you have a no-fee Freedom card, you can pool those points into your Sapphire account for travel use).
Capital One’s ecosystem is a bit more siloed. I favored Chase’s ecosystem flexibility and the fact that I could eventually upgrade to a Sapphire Reserve or pair with other Chase no-annual-fee cards to earn even more points. Venture is more of a standalone product (aside from the higher-tier Venture X).
Travel Protections
This was a big decider for me. The Chase Sapphire Preferred offers far more extensive travel insurance benefits than the Venture card . For example, Sapphire gives primary rental car insurance – meaning if I rent a car and something happens, I can rely on Chase’s coverage first.
Venture’s rental car coverage is secondary (meaning my personal car insurance would be tapped first). Sapphire also has trip cancellation/interruption and delay coverage, baggage delay reimbursement, etc., which Venture either doesn’t include or offers at lower coverage limits.
Since a goal of mine was to travel frequently (including internationally), these protections were worth a lot. They aren’t as flashy as points, but when you need them, you really need them.
In my experience with the delayed flight, the Sapphire’s coverage already paid for itself. So on this front, Sapphire wins hands-down. If you mainly do short trips or travel less, this might not matter as much, but it gave me peace of mind.
Bottom line (Chase vs. Venture): If you crave simplicity and a consistent 2X earn rate, Capital One Venture is a strong card – it’s easy to use and easy to redeem (your miles are always worth a penny each toward travel) .
However, for maximizing value, the Sapphire Preferred edged it out in my book. I was able to get more than 1¢ per point with Chase, which effectively meant a higher return on my spending. Plus, the travel perks and partners with Chase are a better fit for an avid traveler who’s willing to put in a bit of effort to unlock outsized value.
As one comparison noted, the Sapphire Preferred shines a bit brighter because of its higher point values and travel protections . After getting $1,200 in travel from one signup and seeing those perks in action, I wholeheartedly agree.
Final Thoughts
Earning $1,200 in free travel might sound like a gimmick, but as I discovered, it’s entirely achievable with the right credit card and a solid plan. The Chase Sapphire Preferred became my ally in making travel more affordable.
By strategically earning its welcome bonus and funneling my everyday spending through the card, I accumulated a stockpile of points.
With a bit of research on the best redemption options (and a willingness to try something new like transferring points to an airline), I turned those points into real airfare and hotel nights that saved me a lot of money .
For anyone considering a travel rewards credit card, I highly recommend weighing what you value most. If you’re like me and value a mix of high rewards and low hassle, the Chase Sapphire Preferred is an outstanding choice for a first travel card. It turned my daydreams of free travel into a reality.
And even now, after that initial $1,200 value, I continue to use the card for its ongoing rewards and peace of mind when I travel.
My Chase Sapphire story is just one example, and I can’t wait to see where my next batch of points will take me. Safe travels and happy point collecting!
