I’m taking a break from my usual lifestyle content to talk about my credit card and travel rewards with a review of the Chase Sapphire Reserve card. This blog post is not sponsored by Chase. I’ve just had such a good experience with our card and want to help you do the same. The Chase Sapphire Reserve is considered to be one of the top premium credit cards on the market. The travel and lifestyle benefits can’t be beat – I’ve saved so much money with my Chase points. You can maximize a travel experience or use those points when checking out on Amazon. In this article, I’m going to talk about the details of the card, including its features, benefits, and cost, and why I think it’s worth it. 

A Review of the Chase Sapphire Reserve Credit Card

The Chase Sapphire Review is a premium card that has amazing perks and benefits. When you sign up for a new credit card, you’ll earn 60,000 bonus points. You need to spend $4,000 within the first three months after you set up your account.  Those points are worth $600 in cash (that’s money you can spend at Amazon, for example). Or you can use them for $900 toward flights, hotel stays, and other travel expenses when booked through Chase Travel. You will only get the bonus points you first year, but you also get a $300 annual travel credit, lowering the annual fee to $250. When you consider all the perks, if you actually use them, you’re coming out ahead. 

The 60,000-point bonus is one of the highest for premium travel cards. This kind of incentive makes the card very appealing to those who are looking to maximize the value. With the points alone, this already has you coming out ahead with the card’s $550 annual fee. But you’ll want to make sure you plan on spending at least $4000 within 3 months. It feels important to mention that I pay off my credit card in full every month. So I’m not paying interest in purchases. I realize what a privilege it is to be in that position. I just want to be upfront that I am purely profiting off of this credit card. 

The only real downside I can think of is that there’s an annual fee. But even with the higher annual fee, I’m coming out ahead. It is also recommended that you have a credit score of 740-850 to sign up for this card. 

Annual Fee

The Chase Sapphire Reserve has a pretty high annual fee of $550. You’ll also pay an additional $75 every year for each authorized user on your card. This is relatively high compared to other non-business credit cards, but hear me out. The benefits of the card help offset this fee for frequent travelers. You’ll save a lot with the card’s points, but the $300 annual travel credit is a really important and significant perk. That statement credit lowers the annual fee to $250, making it a more reasonable expense for cardholders who use the card frequently for travel-related purchases. The Chase Sapphire Preferred is also a great option and has a lower annual fee of $95, but the perks of the Reserve are a lot better. 

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Sapphire Reserve

Sign up today for $300 in travel credit and 60,000 points when you spend $4000 within the first 3 months.

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Rewards Rates

You can get x points on hotels, flights, dining, and other purchases. Here’s a breakdown. 

10x total points on hotels and other travel-related services when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠.

5x total points on flights through Chase Travel℠.

3x points on other travel and dining.

1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases.

Earning Points

One of the reasons why the Chase Sapphire Reserve is considered one of the best travel cards is the value in Chase Ultimate Rewards points.

For every dollar spent on travel (including airfare, booking a hotel room, taxis, and more) and dining at restaurants (including takeout and delivery), cardholders earn 3x on travel and dining. This is an very competitive rate, as dining and travel are often where people spend the most money, making it easier to rack up valuable points.

Chase Ultimate Rewards points are flexible and you can transfer funds to 13 airline and hotel partners, including major names United, Southwest Airlines, and Hyatt. This means there are even greater opportunities to earn and use points with these travel partners, making the program one of the best travel loyalty programs available today.

The Chase Ultimate Rewards Portal

One of the best features of the Reserve is its access to the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal via chase’s website. This is Chase’s online platform for redeeming points. When you redeem points through the portal, you can get 1.5 cents per point in value for travel expenses like flights, hotels, and rental cars.

So let’s say you use 10,000 points for a hotel booking through the rewards portal. The value of those points would be $150. This is a fantastic rate compared to many other rewards programs, where the value per point can often be lower. By using the Ultimate Rewards portal, cardholders can maximize the value of their points. This is one of the best ways to redeem rewards.And if you use your points for travel through the portal, you can also take advantage of special offers and discounts, which can save you even more money and even improve travel experiences.

Travel Benefits

Are you ready for this list of insane travel benefits? Putting this list together, I honestly can’t imagine using any other credit card. This Chase card has tons of travel-related benefits designed to improve your travel experience. 

$300 Annual Travel Credit

The card offers a $300 annual travel credit, which automatically applies to travel purchases made on the card. This credit can be used for a wide range of travel expenses, such as flights, hotels, taxis, and even parking fees. This $300 credit reduces the card’s net annual fee to $250, making it a much better value for frequent travelers.

Airport Lounge Access

One of what I think are the best perks of the Chase Sapphire Reserve is its access to a range of airport lounges through the priority pass lounge access. This membership gives cardholders access to over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide, offering a relaxing space to wait for your flight. Lounge access includes things like complimentary snacks, drinks, Wi-Fi, and more. Priority Pass lounges are available at airports around the world, so this benefit is especially valuable for international travelers.

Global Entry or TSA PreCheck Fee Credit

Another great travel perk is the reimbursement of the application fee for either Global Entry or TSA PreCheck. Global Entry costs $100 and TSA PreCheck costs $85, both of which can be reimbursed if you pay for them with your Chase Sapphire Reserve card. Global Entry provides expedited entry into the U.S. when returning from international travel, while TSA PreCheck allows you to skip long security lines at domestic airports.

Travel Insurance and Protections

The Chase Sapphire Reserve offers travel insurance and protections, too. Some of the most notable protections include:

Trip cancellation/interruption insurance: If your trip is canceled or interrupted for a covered reason, you could be reimbursed for non-refundable travel expenses, such as flights, hotels, and tours.

Trip delay reimbursement: If your flight is delayed by more than six hours, you may be eligible for compensation for things like meals, lodging, and transportation.

Lost luggage reimbursement: If your luggage is lost or damaged during your trip, the Chase Sapphire Reserve offers reimbursement for up to $3,000 per passenger for checked and carry-on bags.

Travel accident insurance: If you are involved in an accident while traveling on a common carrier (such as an airline, train, or bus), you could be eligible for coverage for accidents resulting in death or injury.

Luxury Hotel & Resort Collection

Cardholders receive exclusive benefits when booking stays at over 1,000 luxury hotels and resorts through the Luxury Hotel & Resort Collection. These benefits include room upgrades, daily breakfast for two, early check-in/late check-out, and more.

Exclusive Events & Experiences

Chase Sapphire Reserve cardholders are invited to exclusive events, such as culinary experiences, concerts, and sports events. The card also provides access to limited-time promotions and offers from top brands and businesses.

Customer Service and Protection

I’ve had the best experience with Chase customer service. Cardholders have access to 24/7 support through the dedicated phone line. Chase also offers personalized assistance via secure messaging through its online banking portal and mobile app, which is especially useful for managing account details or resolving issues. The customer service team can assist with the card’s extensive travel protections, including helping with lost luggage claims, trip cancellations, and other travel-related concerns.