How I’m using dining out and DoorDash to help fund my next vacation
This year has been hectic, and between moving and traveling, I found myself relying on DoorDash, dining out and online grocery delivery far more than usual.
At first, I felt a little guilty about how much I was spending for convenience. Then I remembered one of my favorite credit card strategies: using the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see rates and fees) to earn bonus points on dining (including DoorDash) and online grocery orders. What once felt like indulgent spending quickly turned into a growing stash of Chase Ultimate Rewards points and a tangible step toward my next trip.
The points I've accumulated so far may not cover an entire vacation, but they are enough to cover a significant part of the cost.
Here’s how my everyday spending is turning into travel savings — and how yours can as well.
Related: 6 ways to maximize the Chase Sapphire Preferred as a beginner
Turning DoorDash, dining out and online groceries into valuable points
Between a cross-country move and a packed travel calendar, food spending added up quickly. An online Whole Foods order here, a night out at a local restaurant there — and plenty of DoorDash orders in between. Before I knew it, I was spending a significant chunk of my monthly budget on food.
Fortunately, nearly all of those purchases went on my Sapphire Preferred, one of my favorite rewards cards in my wallet.
One of the card’s biggest strengths is its elevated earning rates on everyday bonus categories, including dining and online groceries.
Here are a few of the card's key earning rates:
- 5 points per dollar spent on travel booked through Chase Travel℠ (excluding the $50 hotel credit)
- 3 points per dollar spent on dining, select streaming services and online grocery store purchases*
- 2 points per dollar spent on all other travel not booked through Chase Travel
*The elevated earning rate for online grocery store purchases excludes Target, Walmart and wholesale clubs.
One benefit I didn’t expect to use (or enjoy) nearly as much is DoorDash DashPass. Sapphire Preferred cardholders receive at least one year of complimentary DashPass membership (activation required by Dec. 31, 2027), which includes free delivery and reduced service fees on eligible orders.
Cardholders with an activated DashPass membership can also receive $10 each month toward nonrestaurant DoorDash purchases, which has come in handy for convenience store and grocery orders.
After dozens of DoorDash orders this year, the amount I saved on delivery and service fees alone was substantial, and the points added up just as quickly.
By putting nearly all of my dining, DoorDash and online grocery purchases on the Sapphire Preferred, I earned just over 22,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points in 2025. That total breaks down as:
- 20,307 points from dining purchases (including DoorDash)
- 1,829 points from online grocery orders
According to TPG’s December 2025 valuations, those points are worth approximately $450 when maximized through transfer partners. That’s not enough to pay for an entire vacation, but it’s more than enough to meaningfully offset the cost of one.
Related: Your complete guide to Chase and DoorDash
Converting points into a trip
After noticing how quickly my points were adding up from everyday dining and grocery spending, I started dreaming about how I could turn them into a real trip.
One of the best ways to maximize the value of Chase Ultimate Rewards points is to transfer them to one of Chase’s 10 airline and 3 hotel partners, which almost always yields far more value than redeeming points for cash back or travel through the portal.
With 22,000 points, I could cover a domestic or international flight or a hotel stay, which are expenses I’d otherwise pay for in cash. When paired with points from other spending or welcome bonuses, these food-earned points can offset a meaningful portion of travel costs.
Here are a few ways I’m considering using my points:
- Round-trip flight from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keahole (KOA) in Hawaii for 22,000 points on United Airlines in March
- One-way flight from Dulles International Airport (IAD) to Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport (LIR) in Costa Rica for 19,000 points on Air France in April
- One-night stay at the Grand Hyatt Berlin for 15,000 points in May
Related: How I turned 100,000 Chase points into a multicountry European trip
Tips for earning more on everyday spending
Earning on everyday spending can be as easy as a swipe, and you don’t need to overhaul your habits to make this strategy work. A few minor adjustments can go a long way:
- Pay attention to bonus categories: Know which cards earn the most on dining, groceries and delivery services, and use them intentionally. Even a 1- or 2-point difference per dollar adds up quickly over time.
- Stack perks when you can: Take advantage of built-in benefits like DashPass, monthly credits or limited-time promotions. These perks can save you money and increase the effective value of every purchase.
- Watch the fees: Delivery fees and service charges can eat into your rewards if you’re not careful. Memberships like DashPass help reduce those costs, making the points you earn more worthwhile.
Related: How credit cards can turn today’s spending into tomorrow’s rewards
Bottom line
Using dining out, DoorDash and online grocery delivery with the Sapphire Preferred hasn’t turned my everyday spending into a whole vacation — at least not yet. But it has given me a meaningful head start on my next trip.
Every burrito, latte and grocery delivery now brings me one step closer to traveling, proving that even small, routine purchases can add up in a big way.
By earning extra points on dining, DoorDash and groceries with my card, I’m turning everyday spending into a flight, a hotel night or travel expenses I won’t have to pay for out of pocket.
To learn more, check out our full review of the Chase Sapphire Preferred.
Apply here: Chase Sapphire Preferred Card