Why the Chase Sapphire Reserve Is the Best Premium Travel Card Right Now

I’ve got over 30 active credit cards to my name, and several of them fall into the premium category. Premium cards have annual fees that can easily hit hundreds of dollars but offer a ton of credits, perks, and elevated rewards on all sorts of purchases.

After sitting in the background for a while, the refreshed Chase Sapphire Reserve^® has really woken up, becoming one of the most attractive premium cards in years. In my experience, it even beats the Platinum Card^® from American Express in day-to-day usability and value.

While the annual fee increased from $550 to $795, Chase added value with new credits and perks that aren’t just easier to use but also make a noticeable difference in real-world value.

This card isn’t perfect for everyone, but it’s become a travel credit card I reach for consistently. Compared with other premium options, the Chase Sapphire Reserve card feels more practical, less fussy, and loaded with benefits I actually use, which is exactly why it’s earned the top spot in my wallet right now.

1. Generous, Flexible Rewards

The heart of the Chase Sapphire Reserve card has always been its rewards. You earn 8x Ultimate Rewards points on all Chase Travel purchases, 5x on Lyft rides, 4x on flights and hotels booked directly, 3x on all dining worldwide, and 1x on everything else. But what really matters is how those points work for you.

When it’s time to redeem my hard-earned points, there are plenty of ways to do it. My favorite way to get the most value is by transferring Ultimate Rewards points to Chase’s airline and hotel partners. There are more than a dozen options, including United, Singapore Airlines, and Hyatt. That flexibility is huge, and it lets me get much more value than booking through the Chase Travel portal, though I still like having that option.

On top of that, Chase lets me combine points with my spouse or anyone in my household. That means when we’re looking to book a pricey flight or a few hotel nights, we can pool our points and get even more value. Amex doesn’t let you do that with Membership Rewards, and it’s one of the main reasons the Chase Sapphire Reserve card is always my go-to premium card.

2. Flexible Credits That Are Easy to Maximize

One common knock on premium cards is that they feel like a “coupon book.” Many offer a stack of credits you have to activate, track, and navigate fine print for to get the full value. Admittedly, Chase credits have a few hoops to jump through, but in my experience, the credits are far easier to use than those on my Amex Platinum card.

That’s even more true since that Chase will make the $500 the Edit by Chase hotel credit available all at once starting January 1, 2026, instead of splitting it into $250 biannual credits every 6 months.

The $300 annual travel credit is another example of how straightforward Chase makes it to recoup the annual fee. It applies to just about any travel purchase — airfare, hotels, taxis, rideshares — so it’s easy to use. Pair it with the Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit, and you’re already offsetting a big portion of the annual fee.

On top of that, the Chase Sapphire Reserve card includes a $250 hotel credit (with a 2-night minimum) available starting on January 1, 2026, for IHG Hotels & Resorts and a few other popular hotel brands, like Pendry Hotels & Resorts, Omni Hotels & Resorts, and Virgin Hotels.

Stack that with the $500 the Edit by Chase Travel credit and the $300 annual travel credit, and you’re looking at up to $1,000 in easy-to-use travel credits each year before factoring in any points or additional perks.

All told, these credits make the Chase Sapphire Reserve card far more straightforward to maximize than the Amex Platinum card, where timing and fine print often prevent full value.

3. Premium Travel Perks Without the Complexity

One of the things I love about the Chase Sapphire Reserve card is how easy it is to actually use its travel perks. Take lounge access, for example. With the Amex Platinum card, you get access to Centurion Lounges, which I enjoy. However, there are a lot of caveats: guest limits, fees for additional visitors, and, for full guest privileges, you actually have to spend $75,000 a year to bring in up to 2 guests to a Centurion Lounge with you.

The Chase Sapphire Reserve card makes lounge access simple: it gives me entry to Priority Pass lounges, plus Chase’s own Sapphire Lounges, and I can bring up to 2 guests without extra hoops — making it easier to use than the Amex Platinum card, even if the overall network is slightly smaller.

Travel protections are another area where Chase keeps it straightforward. The Chase Sapphire Reserve card offers robust trip cancellation and interruption insurance that covers up to $10,000 per person and $20,000 per trip, no matter how I book. Amex Platinum card’s coverage is solid too, but only if I pay for the trip with the card in full, which can be restrictive.

I like that the Chase Sapphire Reserve card gives me premium travel perks without the complexity, and that’s why it’s my go-to for both everyday spending and big trips.

4. Flexible Redemption Options Beat Amex Transfer Partners

With the Chase Sapphire Reserve card, I’ve found 2 easy ways to get real value from my points: I can book through the Chase Travel portal with the Points Boost feature and redeem points for up to 2 cents apiece, or I can transfer points to airline or hotel partners, which often gives me 2 to 3x the value, depending on the redemption.

While I can transfer Amex Membership Rewards points to partners (and often do), Amex charges an “excise tax offset fee” when moving points to domestic airlines. That’s a turn-off for me that cuts into the value of my points.

Chase, by contrast, doesn’t charge anything to transfer to any of its transfer partners, making the process simple, practical, and much less of a headache. That flexibility is why I reach for the Chase Sapphire Reserve card first when planning trips, whether I’m flying across the U.S. or halfway around the world.

5. Real-World Usability and Everyday Value

The Chase Sapphire Reserve card is reliable for everyday spending, not just travel. I don’t have to stress about weird bonus categories or limits. I get 4x points on flights and hotels booked directly and 3x points on all dining worldwide, so basically everything from my morning coffee to weekend brunches or the dozens of trips I take a year earns bonus points.

The Amex Platinum card is great for certain things. It earns 5x points on flights bought directly with the airline or via AmexTravel.com (up to $500,000 per year) and 5x on prepaid hotels through AmexTravel.com. That’s great for travel, but it doesn’t help much with everyday spending. For me, that means most of the small stuff I actually buy doesn’t earn nearly as much.

Throw in the fact that I can pool points across household members, and the Chase Sapphire Reserve card feels like a no-brainer. It’s practical, versatile, and works for the way I spend and aligns with my lifestyle.

6. Lower Annual Fee Than Others

The Chase Sapphire Reserve card’s $795 annual fee isn’t small. No premium card’s is. For me to justify paying it every year, I need more than just the travel perks like lounge access or a travel credit. I also need to earn meaningful rewards on everyday spending.

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Chase Sapphire Reserve^®

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 top player in the high-end premium travel credit card space that earns points on travel and dining while offering top luxury perks.

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Chase Sapphire Reserve^®

A top player in the high-end premium travel credit card space that earns points on travel and dining while offering top luxury perks.

Welcome Offer

Earn 125,000 bonus points after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

125,000 points

UP's Offer Valuation*:

$2,500

Annual Fee

$795

APR

20.24% - 28.74% 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 cardapplication.

Excellent

Why We Like This Card

If you’re looking for an all-around excellent travel rewards card, the Chase Sapphire Reserve^® is one of the best options.

The card combines elite travel benefits and perks like worldwide airport lounge access, with excellent point earning and redemption options. Plus, it offers top-notch travel insurance protections to cover you at home or on the road.

Don’t forget the more than $2,000 in annual credits, which can offset the annual fee!

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 8x points on all Chase Travel purchases
• 5x points on Lyft rides
• 4x points on flights and hotels booked directly

Cons

• $795 annual fee

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Card Highlights

• Earn 125,000 bonus points after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
• Get more than $2,700 in annual value with Sapphire Reserve.
• Earn 8x points on all purchases through Chase Travel℠, including The Edit℠ and 4x points on flights and hotels booked direct. Plus, earn 3x points on dining worldwide & 1x points on all other purchases
• $300 annual travel credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
• Access over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide with a complimentary Priority Pass™ Select membership, plus every Chase Sapphire Lounge^® by The Club with two guests. Plus, up to $120 towards Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck^® every 4 years
• Get up to $150 in statement credits every six months for a maximum of $300 annually for dining at restaurants that are part of Sapphire Reserve Exclusive Tables.
• Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Coverage, Lost Luggage Insurance, no foreign transaction fees, and more.
• Get complimentary Apple TV+, the exclusive streaming home of Apple Originals. Plus Apple Music — all the music you love, across all your devices. Subscriptions run through 6/22/27 — a value of $250 annually
• Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 20.24% - 28.74% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

Chase Ultimate Rewards

That’s what makes the Chase Sapphire Reserve card stand out for me. It delivers as a strong points-earning card on travel, dining, and even routine expenses, plus offers a suite of travel perks that I actually use. For a card with a fee this high, I expect it to do both, and in my experience, the Chase Sapphire Reserve card hits that balance better than any other premium card I’ve used.

Final Thoughts

The Chase Sapphire Reserve card just works. It isn’t just another premium travel card, but the one I reach for, day in and day out. Between the solid rewards, easy-to-use credits, flexible transfer options, and perks that work, it covers both my travel plans and everyday spending without any headaches.

The Chase Sapphire Reserve card feels more practical than the Amex Platinum card and all other competitor premium cards currently on the market. The annual fee is slightly lower, there are fewer hoops to jump through, and the system actually fits the way I spend and travel.

After its 2025 refresh, it’s, in my opinion, the strongest premium card on the market. If you want a premium travel card that delivers real value without overcomplicating things, the Chase Sapphire Reserve card is my go-to. I don’t see that changing anytime soon.

For the trip cancellation and interruption insurance benefit of the Platinum Card^® from American Express, the maximum benefit amount for trip cancellation and interruption insurance is $10,000 per covered trip and $20,000 per eligible card per 12 consecutive month period. Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.