The best Chase travel cards: August 2021 review

Using a credit card which offers rewards and perks on travel can be a great way to access discounts and exclusive offers, so you can treat yourself for less. Chase offers a range of credit cards which have different reward opportunities, including general travel cards, hotel cards and cards specifically for frequent flyers.

This guide introduces the features of Chase travel cards — with a deeper review of 3 of our favorites. We’ll also touch on the Wise Multi-currency Account as a smart solution to cut the costs of spending abroad.

Overview: Chase travel credit cards

Chase has 18 different consumer travel cards, and a further 4 business travel cards. That might make picking one a little daunting. To make life a little easier, check out our full review of some of the most popular Chase travel cards which is coming right up.

Compare the Chase travel cards with other providers

Doing some homework before you choose a travel card makes good sense. Fees, interest rates and rewards vary widely between providers, so comparing a few is the best way to see which is the right card for your needs. Let’s take a look at one of the Chase travel cards — Sapphire Preferred — compared to similar products from other major providers.

We’ll dive into this — and other Chase cards — in more detail in just a moment.

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Chase Travel credit cards cards full review

To help you navigate the broad range of Chase travel credit cards on offer we’ve selected some of the most popular to look at in more detail.

Chase Sapphire Preferred credit card

The Chase Sapphire Preferred credit card⁶ can be used anywhere Visa is accepted, and offers 1 point per dollar spend for most categories, and 2 points per dollar on dining, travel and takeouts. Other smart perks include travel insurance, emergency assistance and purchase protection.

Features

• 2 points per dollar spend on dining and travel, 1 point per dollar on all other spend
• Great opening offers for new card holders
• No foreign transaction fees
• Additional perks, discounts and rewards with selected partner retailers
• Purchases and trips could be covered by insurance you can call on if anything goes wrong
• 24/7 customer service support

Fees and charges

Before you sign up for any credit card, you’ll want to understand the full range of fees and charges. Here are the key costs for the Chase Sapphire Preferred travel card — get the full terms and conditions online².

It’s worth mentioning the My Chase Plan option, which is available on many Chase credit cards. This plan breaks down the cost of larger purchases over 100 USD into fixed monthly payments which do not attract interest as long as you keep up to date. Instead of interest there is a fixed monthly percentage charge until the full amount is repaid.

Chase Sapphire Reserve credit card

The Chase Sapphire Reserve⁷ comes with a high annual fee, but the opportunity to earn rewards at an increased speed. That may make this card a good option if you use your credit card for travel and dining frequently.

Features

• 3 points per dollar spend on dining and travel, 1 point per dollar on all other spend
• 50% better reward redemption rate when you book travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards
• 300 USD annual travel credit, complimentary airport lounge access and luxury hotel benefits
• No foreign transaction fees
• Purchases and trips could be covered by cancellation, medical and other handy insurance policies for no extra fee
• 24/7 customer service support

Fees and charges

Weigh up the features and fees of any travel credit card carefully. The most common charges are set out here, and you can get a full rundown of the card terms and conditions in the online product disclosure⁸.

Ink Business Preferred credit card

If you’re looking for a travel credit card you can use for your business travel, the Ink Business Preferred card⁹ might be the one for you. The annual fee of 95 USD is relatively low, and you can then order additional cards for employees to manage team spending.

Features

• Low annual fee of 95 USD
• Employee cards can be ordered free and managed individually
• 3 reward points per dollar on travel, shipping, business advertising and some office costs, to a maximum of 150,000 USD spend/year — 1 point per dollar on all other spend
• Points do not expire
• Redeem points for cash or travel — travel purchases get a 25% bonus on redemption rate
• No foreign transaction fee

Fees and charges

Chase has a range of 4 different business travel credit cards, so it's worth checking the features and fees of a couple of them to see which fits your needs. Here are the key costs for the Ink Business Preferred card¹⁰:

Rewards

Of course, if you are choosing a travel credit card, finding one with the best available rewards is important. You’ll want to check how you can earn points, and also where and how points can be redeemed, to make sure you’re making the most of your spending.

Here’s a rundown of the three Chase cards we’ve picked so you can see how they measure up side by side.

Fees and charges

Check out this side by side comparison of the key fees and interest rates, to help you pick between the different Chase cards.

Spending internationally: exchange rate

The Chase travel credit cards we selected do not charge a foreign transaction fee when you spend abroad, or shop online with international retailers. In most cases your purchase will be converted back to dollars using the Visa exchange rate which is active at the time the payment is processed. It’s worth knowing that the rate you get isn’t necessarily the rate at the time you make your purchase — it’s often a day or two before your card is charged, and you’ll receive the live Visa rate at that point.

It’s also important to avoid dynamic currency conversion (DCC) when you spend internationally using your credit card. DCC is where you’re given the choice to pay in dollars or the local currency wherever you are. If you pick to pay in dollars you’ll end up spending more, because the exchange rate is selected by the retailer’s network, not Visa. Pay in the local currency where you are to get the best deal.

Use the mid-market rate on international purchases: meet Wise

If you’d rather know the exchange rate you’re getting before you make a purchase, check out the Wise Multi-currency Account and card. Open a free account online, top up with dollars and switch to the currency you need using the Wise app. With Wise you’ll always get the live mid-market exchange rate with no markups or hidden fees. Simply pay the low, transparent charge to switch currencies and then it’s free to spend using your linked card. Spend on and offline all over the world, and save money on fees as you travel.

🚀 Start saving with Wise

Check how Wise compares with Chase below:

Getting a travel credit card can be a good option if you’re looking to earn rewards you can use later to pay for experiences, tickets and more. Use this guide to help you figure out which card from Chase might best suit your needs. And don’t forget, the right card for your travels may not be a credit card at all. Take a look at the Wise Multi-currency Account and card to unlock low cost currency conversion wherever in the world you’re headed.