Why the Chase Sapphire Preferred Is the Best Card for General Travel Purchases

In late June 2025, Chase unveiled significant changes to its most premium card. Along with an increased annual fee, the Chase Sapphire Reserve^® gained several interesting benefits and boosted points-earning potential in the travel portal.

Not everything about these changes was positive, though. An unfortunate consequence is that the Chase Sapphire Reserve card no longer earns 3x points on all travel booked outside the Chase Travel portal. Now, many of those “other travel” purchases earn just 1x points.

Enter the Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card. With the changes in Chase’s card lineup, is the Chase Sapphire Preferred card now the best credit card for earning points on general travel?

Here’s why I think it is.

Why the Chase Sapphire Reserve Card Lost Its Place at the Top

Prior to its June 2025 refresh of the Chase Sapphire Reserve card, it earned 3 points per $1 spent on anything that coded as travel.

Flights, hotels, rental cars, campgrounds, subways — if it seemed like some type of travel, this card earned 3x Ultimate Rewards points on the purchase, no matter where you bought it from.

Granted, the 3x earnings didn’t apply to any purchases offset by the card’s $300 annual travel credit, but the 3x earnings were straightforward and powerful. Now, however, the earning rates are more complicated.

On the positive side, you can earn an elevated 8x points on bookings made in the Chase Travel portal. The portal offers cruises, tours, flights, hotels, theme park tickets, and more.

There are certainly reasons to avoid booking on a travel portal, and the portal doesn’t offer everything you want to book. You can’t pay for subway or taxi rides in the portal, though those would’ve earned 3x points under the old earning rates. The same goes for trains and buses, among other travel expenses. Now, those purchases earn just 1x points.

Nearly all travel bookings made outside the portal earn 1x points now, except for hotels and flights booked directly.

Is the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card the Best for General Travel?

Now that many “other travel” purchases earn just 1x points spent on Chase’s premium card, you might be surprised to learn that the lower-fee counterpart, the Chase Sapphire Preferred card, still earns 2x points on all travel booked outside the portal. And it charges just a $95 annual fee.

BEST FIRST TRAVEL CARD

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

A fantastic travel card with a great welcome offer, good benefits, and perks for a moderate annual fee.

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Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card

A fantastic travel card with a great welcome offer, good benefits, and perks for a moderate annual fee.

Welcome Offer

Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

75,000 points

UP's Offer Valuation*:

$1,500

Annual Fee

$95

APR

19.49 - 27.74% Variable

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.

Good to Excellent

Why We Like This Card

The Chase Sapphire Preferred card bonus categories include travel, dining, online grocery purchases (excluding Walmart, Target, and wholesale clubs), gas, EV charging, vacation home rentals with top brands, and streaming services.

It offers flexible point redemption options, no foreign transaction fees, and strong travel insurance coverage, including primary car rental insurance. If you travel a few times a year and spend on dining, the card is likely to be a good choice, but it’s hard to justify if you don’t dine out or travel often.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 5x points on all travel booked via Chase Travel
• 3x points on dining purchases, online grocery purchases (excluding Walmart, Target, and wholesale clubs), gas, EV charging, vacation home rentals with top brands (such as Airbnb and Vrbo), and select streaming services
• 2x points on all other travel worldwide

Cons

• $95 annual fee
• Subject to Chase’s 5/24 application restrictions

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Card Highlights

• Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
• Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, 3x on vacation homes at top brands, 3x on gas & EV charging, 3x on top streaming services and online groceries (excluding Walmart, Target, and wholesale clubs), 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases.
• Earn up to $100 in statement credits each account anniversary year for hotel stays through Chase Travel.
• Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Coverage, Emergency Evacuation and Transportation, and more.
• Get a year of complimentary Apple TV when activated by December 31, 2026 - a value of $180.
• Complimentary DashPass membership, a $120 value for 12 months. Enjoy $0 delivery fees and reduced service fees on eligible DoorDash orders, plus exclusive Chase savings on grocery, everyday essentials, and more. Activate by 12/31/29.
• Receive one statement credit of up to $120 every four years as reimbursement for the application fee charged to your card for a Global Entry, TSA Precheck^® or NEXUS application.
• Transfer points to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs.
• Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 19.49 - 27.74% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

Chase Ultimate Rewards

The Chase Sapphire Preferred card has boosted earnings in the travel portal — providing 5x points on these purchases, other than those covered by the card’s $100 annual hotel credit — but its ability to still earn well on those “other” travel purchases is underappreciated.

Whether you’re booking flights and hotels or swiping your card on the subway, toll road, or train station, you can earn 2 points per $1 spent. Best of all, there are no restrictions, no annual earning limits, and no registration required. Plus, the card is a Visa, which is accepted nearly everywhere, and there are no foreign transaction fees.

What About Other Rewards Credit Cards?

Obviously, the Chase Sapphire Preferred card and Chase Sapphire Reserve card aren’t the only travel credit cards out there. However, these cards have some shortcomings, leading us to believe the Chase Sapphire Preferred card remains the best for general travel purchases. Let’s take a look at a few examples:

Using these numbers, the Chase Sapphire Preferred card earns better on general travel purchases than many other credit cards in a crowded market. Cards with comparable (or even higher) earning rates have negative aspects that don’t bog down the Chase Sapphire Preferred card, given Chase’s robust list of transfer partners, wide acceptance of Visa credit cards, and no foreign transaction fees.

Final Thoughts

After a June 2025 change to earning rates on the premium Chase Sapphire Reserve card, the Chase Sapphire Preferred card is now the best credit card for earning points on general travel purchases.

The points it earns are valuable, there are no earning caps, and there’s no problem with acceptance, regardless of what you’re buying or where you’re making the purchase. Plus, with a robust list of transfer partners, abundant redemption options, and a modest annual fee, the 2x earning on travel with the Chase Sapphire Preferred card is hard to beat.