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The Points Guy believes that credit cards can transform lives, helping you leverage everyday spending for cash back or travel experiences that might otherwise be out of reach. That's why we publish a variety of editorial content and card comparisons: to help you find a great card to turn your goals into reality.
Our site may earn compensation when a customer clicks on a link, when an application is approved, or when an account is opened with our partners, and this may impact how or where these products appear. While we don't cover all available credit cards, our editorial team creates and maintains all of the analysis of these cards, and our content is not influenced nor subject to review by any credit card company, bank or partner prior to (or after) publication. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.
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10 Years Later, Why the Chase Sapphire Preferred Is Still My Top Rec for Family Travel
Summer Hull has been covering (and using) travel tips, rewards credit cards and loyalty programs for over a decade. She has flown close to a million miles, often on points and miles and with her family in tow.
March 21, 2019 • 8 min read
The cards we feature here are from partners who compensate us when you are approved through our site, and this may impact how or where these products appear. We don't cover all available credit cards, but our analysis, reviews, and opinions are entirely from our editorial team. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
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Quick summary
A popular travel rewards card is frequently recommended for families seeking to maximize travel value using points.
The card provides flexible redemption options, including transferring points to various airline and hotel loyalty programs at a 1:1 ratio or booking travel directly through an online portal.
Multiple transfer partners and instant point transfers make it easier to secure award travel during peak periods, especially for families with limited travel windows.
The card is considered a strong entry point for those new to points and miles, with opportunities to grow into more advanced redemptions and combine points across household members.
What to consider
Some offers previously mentioned may no longer be available, so current details should be verified.
Redemption through the travel portal yields a fixed value, but transferring points to partners can unlock higher-value awards, especially for flights and hotels.
Combining points from different cards within a household can further enhance redemption flexibility and value.
What you'll miss from the article
Specific examples of how to leverage transfer partners for high-value redemptions and tips for maximizing points as a family traveler.
Generated by AI with support from our editorial team.
Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.
Official application link: Chase Sapphire Preferred Card with a 60,000-point bonus after spending $4,000 in the first three months.
Just as a family beach vacation is a timeless treat, the Chase Sapphire Preferred has been one of my top rewards credit-card recommendations for years for families who want to travel more for less.
Since it was first introduced, almost a decade ago, the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card has been my most frequent card recommendation. It doesn't have the highest potential for earning points or the most built-in perks or even the highest sign-up bonus, but it offers the most well-rounded opportunity to build miles and points.
Now that the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card comes with a sign-up bonus of 50,000 to 60,000 Ultimate Rewards points after $4,000 in spending in the first three months, it's even easier to recommend. (Sadly, the increased points bonus is accompanied by the elimination of a waived annual fee the first year. Now you pay the $95 per year fee from the beginning. However, the 10k additional bonus points are worth more than the $95 -- even if you just redeem them at a fixed 1.25 cents each.)
You Can't Go Wrong Using the Points
I recommend Chase Sapphire Preferred (CSP) to other families because you can't go wrong when redeeming the points. Chase Ultimate Rewards has multiple US-based, easy-to-use transfer partners that make it simple to squeeze real value out of the points earned. Transfer partners include:
Many of those programs have simple-to-use websites, making it a cinch to successfully redeem awards if you transfer your Ultimate Rewards points to those programs. It helps that the transfer ratios are all a flat 1:1 and most of them process instantaneously. Families need to book award space when it appears, so speed matters.
Having multiple transfer options is key for families who are often relegated to traveling during school breaks and peak travel times when award availability can be tough. For example, if a family wanted to go to Costa Rica for spring break, they could transfer Chase points to Hyatt to book the Andaz Costa Rica for 20k points per night. If that hotel was booked, they could transfer Chase points to Marriott and snag the JW Marriott Guanacaste or the El Mangroove, Autograph Collection properties for 35k points per night.
Andaz Costa Rica (Photo by Summer Hull / The Points Guy)
For flights, you could top up your JetBlue TrueBlue account with a Chase transfer to book flights to Costa Rica. Or if JetBlue doesn't have the right flights available for your schedule, the points could be transferred to Southwest or United. You have options, which is key during peak travel dates.
However, you do not ever have to use the transfer partners to make use of your Ultimate Rewards points. I know plenty of families who have been very happy using their Ultimate Rewards points to book travel via the Chase Travel site (powered by Expedia) at a fixed value of 1.25 cents per point. I'd argue there are better cards out there if that is the only way you ever want to use your points, but there is nothing wrong with redeeming a 60k sign-up bonus to enjoy $750 in travel without messing with transfer partners.
Chase Travel site as viewable with the Sapphire Reserve, but looks the same with Sapphire Preferred.
Chase's travel portal also allows you to redeem points for activities. And while the ratio isn't always the best use of your points, it can be a terrific way to pepper your vacation with fun activities like catamaran snorkel trips, guided city tours or theatrical presentations.
Grow Into Sweet Spot Redemptions (If You Want To)
Another key feature of the CSP that makes it a top recommendation is that it is still a good card for more long-range travel.
Iberia business class (Photo by Lori Zaino / The Points Guy)
There are lots of medium- and advanced-level redemptions waiting for you in the Ultimate Rewards line-up should you choose to use them.
2x Points Isn't Bad
Earning 2 points per dollar on travel and dining, and 1 point per dollar elsewhere isn't the best earning structure out there. However, it isn't bad either -- especially for the broad worldwide categories of travel and dining. If you value your Ultimate Rewards points per dollar at 2 cents each (as TPG does), that is a 4% return per dollar spent in those categories. That's not best in class, but it is still solid and simple to remember.
Great Companion to Other Cards
Just as your family can grow into more advanced redemptions with your Ultimate Rewards points, you can also grow into a full line-up of Chase Ultimate Rewards cards. While you can only have either the Chase Sapphire Preferred or its pricier and flashier sister, the Chase Sapphire Reserve, there are other good companion cards in the Ultimate Rewards family. I've personally had the Chase Freedom (No longer open to new applicants) for years because it has no annual fee and earns 5 points per dollar in rotating bonus categories each quarter, up to $1,500 (activation required).
Those points are only worth 1 cent each on their own, but when moved to the account of a Chase Sapphire Preferred card, they become fully transferable points you can move to the hotel and airline partners, increasing their value significantly.
If rotating categories aren't your thing, the Chase Freedom Unlimited is another great companion card to the CSP. The Freedom Unlimited earns 1.5% cash back (1.5 points per dollar) on purchases. And again, when moved to the Chase Sapphire Preferred the points become fully transferable. Think of it this way -- if you also have the CSP, that's like earning 1.5 United, Southwest or Hyatt points per dollar across all categories -- or 3 points per dollar on the first $20,000 you spend your first year -- which is a better everyday earning rate than on any of those respective cobranded cards.
Combine Your Points
Families will love that you can also combine Chase points with one member of your household (even from different card types) so you can have the Sapphire Preferred, your partner can have the Chase Freedom Unlimited and their points become transferrable to hotel and airline partners after they are moved to your CSP account.
60,000 Bonus Points Are Worth $750+
What fun is a first rewards credit card if it doesn't get you to your first award redemption quickly? Sign-up bonuses matter, because you need an easy payoff after getting your first card. The 60,000 Ultimate Rewards points get you $750 in travel booked via the Chase Travel site, a one-way ticket to Europe in business class booked via United, four nights near the mountains at the Hyatt Place Keystone or eight one-way flights on American Airlines (booked via British Airways). Spend $4,000 in the first three months and redeem those points when they hit your account.
Image credit: Getty Images
Bottom Line
There's no single best first rewards credit card for every single family that is looking to book their next vacation with points, but the best overall recommendation is often the Chase Sapphire Preferred. That was true at 50,000 points but is even more true with the new bonus of 60,000 points.
Comments
By commenting, you agree to our Community Guidelines to help create a positive space for conversation. The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser, our partners, or The Points Guy (“TPG”). They have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these parties. All responses are submitted by individual contributors, and neither the bank advertiser, our partners, nor TPG are responsible for ensuring that all posts and/or questions are answered.
