Editor’s note: We bring you new deals of the day as we find them, so check back soon for more. Availability for these deals changes regularly, so book now!

If you’ve been procrastinating booking your summer vacation, it’s not too late to find a great deal.

We found several United Airlines flights with award pricing as low as 5,000 United MileagePlus miles each way to destinations such as San Francisco, Denver, Chicago and San Diego.

Whether you are planning a California beach vacation or a trip to Chicago (the Windy City has a ton of free activities to make your trip even more affordable), here’s how you can save on summer travel by redeeming United MileagePlus miles.

Related: The 10 best places to travel in July

TPG’s deal of the day basics

Airline: United

Routes: Between Denver International Airport (DEN) and Cheyenne Regional Airport (CYS) in Wyoming; San Diego International Airport (SAN) and San Francisco International Airport (SFO); John Wayne Airport (SNA) in California and SFO; Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) in Las Vegas; Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) and Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT); and Miami International Airport (MIA) and George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) in Houston, among others

TPG tip: If you prefer creature comforts like a larger seat, priority check-in and boarding, and complimentary food and beverages, you can also find first-class deals on these routes for as few as 30,000 United MileagePlus miles.

Best way to book: United MileagePlus; transfer Bilt Rewards Points or Chase Ultimate Rewards points to United at a 1:1 rate

Price: Between 5,000 and 7,000 United miles plus $5.60 in taxes and fees each way, depending on origin and destination

Retail price: Starting from $121 round-trip

Travel dates: July and August, though exact dates vary by destination

Related: A review of United Airlines economy on the Boeing 737 MAX 9 from San Francisco to Kona, Hawaii

How to find and book TPG’s deal of the day

We used the time-saving Seats.aero tool to quickly find domestic award availability throughout the summer. If your dates and destinations are flexible, you can do a broad search to show flights from your home airport to any airport in North America for the next 60 days (or you can search a full year out with a Seats.aero pro account).

As an example of some available options, one-way economy flights from SAN to SFO are available for 5,000 United miles and minimal fees and taxes. Your round-trip flight would cost 10,000 United miles plus $11.20 in taxes and fees.

Or, you can pay slightly more and fly between MIA and IAH for 13,600 United miles round-trip.

You can book these flights online through the United website. But remember, card transfers to partner programs like United MileagePlus cannot be reversed, so ensure you find availability before transferring points or miles.

How to earn the points or miles required for TPG’s deal of the day

It’s easy to earn United miles with the following credit cards offering great welcome bonuses:

• [applyLink pid=”7752″ overridetext=”United Quest℠ Card”] (see [termsConditions pid=”7752″ overridetext=”rates and fees”]): Earn 100,000 bonus miles and 3,000 Premier qualifying points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months after account opening.
• [applyLink pid=”6976″ overridetext=”United Club℠ Card”] (see [termsConditions pid=”6976″ overridetext=”rates and fees”]): Earn 90,000 bonus miles after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first three months after account opening.
• [applyLink pid=”22035884″ overridetext=”United℠ Explorer Card”] (see [termsConditions pid=”22035884″ overridetext=”rates and fees”]): Earn 60,000 bonus miles after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first three months after account opening.

You can also transfer Bilt Rewards and Chase Ultimate Rewards points to United MileagePlus at a 1:1 rate. Here are some great card welcome offers that earn points you can transfer to United:

• [applyLink pid=”221211836″ overridetext=”Chase Sapphire Reserve®”] (see [termsConditions pid=”221211836″ overridetext=”rates and fees”]): Earn 100,000 bonus points plus a $500 Chase Travel℠ promo credit after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
• [applyLink pid=”10965″ overridetext=”Chase Sapphire Reserve for Business℠”] ([termsConditions pid=”10965″ overridetext=”rates and fees”]): Earn 200,000 bonus points after spending $30,000 in the first six months from account opening.
• [applyLink pid=”22125056″ overridetext=”Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card”] (see [termsConditions pid=”22125056″ overridetext=”rates and fees”]): Earn 75,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
• [applyLink pid=”221211974″ overridetext=”Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card”] (see [termsConditions pid=”221211974″ overridetext=”rates and fees”]): Earn 90,000 bonus points after spending $8,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.

Bottom line

Airfare can get pretty pricy if you wait too long and book at the last minute. But United’s award pricing between several U.S. cities this summer means you can book that last-minute summer vacation without breaking your budget.

Continue planning your summer vacation:

• Summer travel checklist: 12 things to do now to make your trip great
• Cheaper flights and award pricing: Why summer 2025 could bring air travel bargains
• Summer 2025 travel already breaking records: Our top tips to keep you sane
• United basic economy: What you need to know about bags, seats, boarding and more

from The Points Guy https://ift.tt/XhmvxPD

The [applyLink pid=”221211836″ overridetext=”Chase Sapphire Reserve®”] (see [termsConditions pid=”221211836″ overridetext=”rates and fees”]) is one of the most feature-packed rewards cards we have seen here at TPG. And right now, you can earn a limited-time bonus of 100,000 bonus points plus a $500 Chase Travel℠ promo credit after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. Since TPG values Chase points at 2.05 cents apiece, per our June 2025 valuations, this best-ever offer is worth over $2,500 (including the Chase Travel credit).

With such a generous welcome bonus available, you might be wondering how you can maximize all of those Ultimate Rewards points. To get the most value out of your points, we recommend transferring them to the program’s 11 airline and three hotel transfer partners.

While some may choose to be thrifty with their rewards and redeem 100,000 points for a weeklong vacation, others may opt to live out their first-class flight dreams and book a one-way ticket using the majority (if not all) of their Chase points.

So, if you have 100,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points at your disposal, here are the 10 best ways to redeem them using Chase’s airline and hotel transfer partners.

Fly first class to Europe on Emirates or Lufthansa

Emirates operates two fifth-freedom flights that commence in the U.S. and fly to Europe before continuing to the airline’s hub at Dubai International Airport (DXB). These flights are from New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP) and from Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) to Athens International Airport (ATH) in Greece.

If you have Silver elite status or higher in the Emirates Skywards program, you can book either of these flights to Europe in first class for 102,000 Skywards miles (plus minimal fees and taxes). These miles can be transferred from Ultimate Rewards at a 1:1 rate.

While the number of miles needed for this redemption is slightly higher than the 100,000-point welcome offer for the [applyLink pid=”221211836″ overridetext=”Chase Sapphire Reserve”], remember that the offer is earned after spending $5,000, so you would earn at least 5,000 more points on purchases in addition to the welcome offer.

Both routes offer a fantastic experience, but the JFK-to-MXP flight has a slight edge. It is operated by the Airbus A380, which has an onboard bar and showers.

If you don’t have status in the Skywards program, you can also book a one-way first-class ticket on Lufthansa to Europe for 90,000 Air Canada Aeroplan points (when traveling from the East Coast or Chicago) or 100,000 points (when departing from Texas or California).

Note that Lufthansa usually only releases first-class seats to partner programs like Aeroplan a few days before departure, so you’ll need to be up for an adventure, but it is well worth the hassle for a truly luxurious product.

Related: How to book a Lufthansa first-class flight to Europe

Book lie-flat seats to London with Virgin Atlantic

Virgin Atlantic Flying Club introduced new Saver fares in late 2024 that offer terrific value on lower-demand dates. Starting at just 29,000 Virgin Atlantic points each way from the U.S. to London’s Heathrow Airport (LHR) and Manchester Airport (MAN) in the U.K., these awards are for lie-flat seats with direct aisle access and come with access to onboard social spaces and Virgin’s fabulous Clubhouse lounges at select locations.

Even on some more popular dates, Saver fares from the northeastern U.S. to the U.K. can be found for 50,000 Virgin points each way (if not for less), meaning you could enjoy a lie-flat, round-trip journey across the Atlantic with the welcome offer from the [applyLink pid=”221211836″ overridetext=”Chase Sapphire Reserve”].

Look for the red “Saver” tags for the lowest fares, or use Virgin’s reward seat checker or an external tool like Seats.aero to find the lowest prices across multiple dates.

Related: Bringing the fun back to flying: Virgin Atlantic A350 Upper Class review

Travel round-trip in business class to Spain with Iberia

If you want to travel to Spain rather than the U.K., Iberia offers stellar off-peak award pricing to Spain on its Airbus A330, A350 and now A321XLR aircraft.

Round-trip business-class tickets from Boston Logan International Airport (BOS), Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport (ORD) and JFK to Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) cost just 81,000 Avios during the airline’s off-peak award dates.

Not based in one of these locations? Longer nonstop flights from gateways like Miami International Airport (MIA) and Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) are just 101,000 Avios round-trip. Taxes and fees are roughly $200 on a round-trip business-class ticket, regardless of your departure city.

To book these awards at these prices, you can transfer your Chase points to British Airways Club or Club Iberia Plus.

Related: A review of Iberia’s new business-class suite on the A350-900 from Madrid to Mexico City

Book flights to Europe for 2 with Flying Blue

The Air France-KLM Flying Blue program offers a comprehensive network connecting North America with Europe via its Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) and Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS) hubs.

The program prices awards dynamically, with economy flights to Europe starting at 25,000 Flying Blue miles each way. With 100,000 Ultimate Rewards points, you could book a round-trip ticket for two people to Amsterdam, Paris or beyond. Plus, Flying Blue offers a monthly promotion to save 25% on award fares; therefore, you could potentially snag a one-way ticket for just 18,750 miles.

Related: A review of Air France economy on the Airbus A350-900 from Paris to Denver

Enjoy a business-class flight to Japan

Virgin Atlantic Flying Club partners with Tokyo-based carrier All Nippon Airways. You can use your Virgin points to book premium-cabin tickets on ANA at attractive rates; it’s hands-down the best way to book tickets on ANA. Plus, ANA’s new business- and first-class cabins are pretty awesome, too — you can expect top-notch service, great new seats and a selection of delicious meals and Champagne.

ANA business-class flights to Japan cost just 105,000 Virgin points round-trip from West Coast airports and 120,000 Virgin points round-trip from East Coast airports and ORD.

This is one of the best redemption deals of any airline loyalty program, though availability can be scarce.

Related: ANA will bring its award-winning The Room business class to the 787 Dreamliner

Take the whole family to Hawaii from the West Coast

Are you based on the West Coast and considering an island vacation? Well, say “aloha” to your next vacation destination. You can use your 100,000 Ultimate Rewards points to fly with three family members or friends to Hawaii from any Alaska Airlines gateway in California, Washington or Oregon.

By transferring your Ultimate Rewards points to the Singapore KrisFlyer program, you can book award seats on Alaska Airlines. You’ll need just 13,500 KrisFlyer miles each way per person (or 27,000 miles round-trip), meaning you could book four people for 108,000 KrisFlyer miles.

Related: Save money: How you can book flights to Hawaii using points and miles

Stay up to 5 nights in Hawaii

World of Hyatt is one of Chase’s most lucrative transfer partners. The program is still known for its excellent (published) award chart, with many high-end hotels costing 40,000 points or less per night.

If you want to make your Chase points go as far as possible, consider midrange Hyatt options in Hawaii. A standard award room would cost you the following:

• 75,000 World of Hyatt points for five nights at the Hyatt Place Waikiki Beach
• 100,000 World of Hyatt points for five nights at the Hyatt Centric Waikiki Beach or the Hyatt Regency Waikiki Beach Resort and Spa

Or, if you want to splurge and can travel on off-peak dates, consider three nights at the Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort for 105,000 World of Hyatt points.

Hyatt does not charge resort or redemption fees on award stays, so there are no added accommodation charges to pay when you check out.

Related: Best hotels and resorts in Hawaii

Enjoy an award-winning business-class experience to India or the Maldives

Qatar Airways’ Qsuite business class is regarded by many as the world’s best. The innovative design allows a four-person family to create a four-person suite to relax, socialize and rest together.

Qatar Airways tends to reserve the most Qsuite award availability for members of its own Qatar Airways Privilege Club program. While Privilege Club is not a transfer partner of Ultimate Rewards, British Airways Club is, and you can transfer Chase points to British Airways and then on to Privilege Club at a 1:1 rate.

This program charges 70,000 Privilege Club Avios each way per person from North America to Doha’s Hamad International Airport (DOH) on off-peak dates. While this is a great price, you can connect to India and the Maldives for just 10,000 more Avios, all in business class, giving you plenty of time to enjoy this luxurious product.

Related: Find Qatar Airways Qsuite award availability in seconds using this platform

Book 4 nights at an all-inclusive resort in Mexico

People sometimes call award travel “free” without factoring in all the other costs that go into a vacation. With Hyatt’s all-inclusive resorts, you have one less thing to worry about: You can check out with a $0 bill when you use points. Everything from your room to meals (even room service) to some nonmotorized water sports is included in your award redemption.

With 100,000 Ultimate Rewards points, you can book four standard nights at the following all-inclusive properties in Mexico:

• Breathless Cancun Soul Resort & Spa
• Breathless Riviera Cancun Resort & Spa
• Dreams Bahia Mita Surf & Spa Resort
• Dreams Cozumel Cape Resort & Spa
• Dreams Los Cabos Suites Golf Resort & Spa
• Dreams Natura Resort & Spa
• Dreams Riviera Cancun Resort & Spa
• Dreams Tulum Resort & Spa
• Dreams Vallarta Bay Resort & Spa
• Dreams Vista Cancun Golf & Spa Resort
• Hyatt Zilara Riviera Maya
• Hyatt Ziva Riviera Maya
• Secrets Aura Cozumel
• Secrets Bahia Mita Surf & Spa Resort
• Secrets The Vine Cancun
• Secrets Vallarta Bay Puerto Vallarta

In our June 2025 valuations, TPG values Hyatt points at 1.7 cents each. With rates at the above resorts often exceeding $400 per night, you could save thousands with 100,000 Ultimate Rewards points.

Related: Best Hyatt hotels in the world

Book up to 22 short-haul domestic flights

Yes, you can potentially book up to 22 flights with one welcome offer.

While this almost seems too good to be true, United Airlines’ MileagePlus program can offer very reasonable short-haul redemption prices.

By monitoring its Flight award deals page, you can find domestic economy-class awards for as low as 4,500 miles on a route like San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to San Diego International Airport (SAN). With just $6 in fees and taxes, this represents terrific value and the ability to take up to 22 one-way flights with one welcome offer of 100,000 Ultimate Rewards points.

Related: How to get maximum value from the United MileagePlus program

Bottom line

The [applyLink pid=”221211836″ overridetext=”Chase Sapphire Reserve”] is one of the most rewarding travel credit cards on the market. Not to mention, the welcome offer of 100,000 Ultimate Rewards points plus a $500 Chase Travel promo credit can be redeemed in many ways to book your next vacation.

Whether you want to fly comfortably to Europe, take the whole family to Hawaii or save money on a domestic flight, Ultimate Rewards points are easy to earn and redeem.

from The Points Guy https://ift.tt/qt5fo98

Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers.

Since starting The Points Guy in 2010, one of my favorite things is hearing from readers who share incredible stories of how they’ve maximized points over the years. It really reminds me of just how valuable the information we share is and that it truly unlocks amazing experiences.

A huge part of that involves leveraging top travel rewards credit cards.

Maybe you’re looking to get a jump-start on your earning strategy ahead of a big trip, or maybe there are some new perks you want to leverage for your summer travels. Perhaps you’re just in the market for a juicy sign-up bonus.

Whatever you’re looking to do, check out my picks for the best credit cards you can add to your wallet to help you do it.

The best credit cards

• [applyLink pid=”221211836″ overridetext=”Chase Sapphire Reserve®”] (see [termsConditions pid=”221211836″ overridetext=”rates and fees”])
• [applyLink pid=”22125056″ overridetext=”Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card”] (see [termsConditions pid=”22125056″ overridetext=”rates and fees”])
• Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
• [applyLink pid=”6344″ overridetext=”American Express® Gold Card”]
• Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
• [applyLink pid=”22504813″ overridetext=”The Platinum Card® from American Express”]
• [applyLink pid=”7758″ overridetext=”The Business Platinum Card® from American Express”]
• [applyLink pid=”221211974″ overridetext=”Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card”] (see [termsConditions pid=”221211974″ overridetext=”rates and fees”])
• [applyLink pid=”10615″ overridetext=”Bilt Mastercard®”] (see [termsConditions pid=”10615″ overridetext=”rates and fees”])*

*I am a Bilt adviser and investor.

Comparing the best credit cards

Here are my top recommendations for the best credit cards.

Card	Best for	Welcome offer	Earning rates	Annual fee
[applyLink pid=”221211836″ overridetext=”Chase Sapphire Reserve”]	Frequent travelers seeking luxury perks	Earn 100,000 points plus a $500 Chase Travel℠ credit after spending $5,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.	Earn 8 points per dollar spent on all purchases made via Chase Travel. Earn 4 points per dollar spent on flights and hotels booked direct. Earn 3 points per dollar spent on dining worldwide. Earn 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases.	$795
[applyLink pid=”22125056″ overridetext=”Chase Sapphire Preferred Card”]	Beginner travelers	Earn 75,000 points after spending $5,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.	Earn 5 points per dollar spent on travel purchased through Chase Travel. Earn 3 points per dollar spent on dining, select streaming services and online groceries (excluding Walmart, Target and wholesale clubs). Earn 2 points per dollar spent on other travel purchases. Earn 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases.	$95
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card	Premium travel	Earn 75,000 miles after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.	Earn 10 miles per dollar spent on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. Earn 5 miles per dollar spent on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel. Earn 2 miles per dollar spent on all other purchases.	$395
[applyLink pid=”6344″ overridetext=”American Express Gold Card”]	Groceries and dining at restaurants	Earn 60,000 points after spending $6,000 on purchases within the first six months of card membership.	Earn 4 points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide (on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1 point per dollar). Earn 4 points per dollar spent at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1 point per dollar). Earn 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com. Earn 2 points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on amextravel.com. Earn 1 point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.	$325 (see [termsConditions pid=”6344″ overridetext=”rates and fees”])
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card	Nonbonus spending	Earn 75,000 miles after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.	Earn 5 miles per dollar spent on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. Earn 2 miles per dollar spent on all other purchases.	$95
[applyLink pid=”22504813″ overridetext=”The Platinum Card from American Express”]	Luxury benefits	Find out your offer and see if you are eligible to earn as high as 175,000 bonus points after spending $8,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.	Earn 5 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel® (on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year, then 1 point per dollar). Earn 5 points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels booked on amextravel.com. Earn 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases.	$695 (see [termsConditions pid=”22504813″ overridetext=”rates and fees”])
[applyLink pid=”7758″ overridetext=”The Business Platinum Card from American Express”]	Luxury perks for small-business owners	Earn 150,000 points after spending $20,000 on eligible purchases within the first three months of card membership. Plus, earn a $500 statement credit after spending $2,500 on qualifying flights booked directly with airlines or through American Express Travel within the first three months of card membership. You can earn one or both of these offers, which end June 30.	Earn 5 points per dollar spent on flights, prepaid hotels, short-term rentals and prepaid flight-and-hotel packages booked at amextravel.com. Earn 1.5 points per dollar spent on each eligible purchase in the U.S. for: construction material, hardware suppliers, electronic goods retailers, software and cloud system providers, and shipping providers, as well as on purchases of $5,000 or more (up to $2 million in purchases each calendar year, then 1 point per dollar). Earn 1 point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.	$695 (see [termsConditions pid=”7758″ overridetext=”rates and fees”])
[applyLink pid=”221211974″ overridetext=”Ink Business Preferred Credit Card”]	Bonus-earning	Earn 90,000 points after spending $8,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.	Earn 3 points per dollar spent on the first $150,000 spent on travel and select business categories each account anniversary year. Earn 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases.	$95
[applyLink pid=”10615″ overridetext=”Bilt Mastercard”]	Renters	N/A	Earn 3 points per dollar spent on dining. Earn 2 points per dollar spent on travel. Earn 1 point per dollar spent on rent without the transaction fee (on up to 100,000 points in a calendar year). Earn 1 point per dollar spent on other purchases. You must use your Bilt card five times each statement period to earn points on rent and qualifying net purchases.	$0 (see [termsConditions pid=”10615″ overridetext=”rates and fees”])

Chase Sapphire Reserve

Welcome offer: Earn 100,000 points plus a $500 Chase Travel credit after spending $5,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.

Annual fee: $795.

Standout benefits: The [applyLink pid=”221211836″ overridetext=”Sapphire Reserve”] is offering an excellent welcome bonus and features new credits — in addition to familiar ones like the broad use $300 travel credit — which cardholders can utilize to offset the cost of its $795 annual fee.

If you travel as often as I do, the Sapphire Reserve can provide you with a ton of value thanks to perks like access to Chase Sapphire Lounges by the Club, the issuer’s top-tier airport lounges, and an up to $120 statement credit every four years for TSA PreCheck, Global Entry or Nexus.

Related: Chase Sapphire Reserve vs. Chase Sapphire Reserve for Business — which is right for you?

The [applyLink pid=”221211836″ overridetext=”Sapphire Reserve”] isn’t just a premium travel card, though. It’s also a lifestyle product designed to suit your day-to-day with things like complimentary Apple TV+ and Apple Music memberships (up to $250 value annually; one-time activation required per service; subscriptions run through June 22, 2027) and a $300 annual StubHub credit (split up into $150 from January through June and another $150 from July through December; activation required; valid through Dec. 31, 2027).

For more information, check out our review of the Chase Sapphire Reserve.

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Apply here: [applyLink pid=”221211836″ overridetext=”Chase Sapphire Reserve”]

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Chase Sapphire Preferred Card

Welcome offer: Earn 75,000 points after spending $5,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.

Annual fee: $95.

Standout benefits: The Sapphire Preferred offers lucrative earning rates and valuable perks like 3 points per dollar spent on dining and a $50 annual hotel credit, just to name a few, making it one of the best travel cards, according to TPG experts. It’s also a go-to card for both beginners and experts.

I almost exclusively use my Chase Ultimate Rewards points to transfer to more than a dozen of Chase’s transfer partners and book award tickets, which allows me to realize even higher value when redeeming my points.

If you’d rather use this card’s welcome bonus in a more straightforward way, you can always redeem your points via Chase Travel.

I also love this card for its travel protections and insurance, even if you use it to book an award ticket. Just pay the taxes and fees with the Sapphire Preferred Card, and your trip is covered.

Overall, my Chase points are super valuable as part of my overall points and miles strategy, so if you are looking for a card with a low annual fee, a solid bonus offer and great perks, the Sapphire Preferred is a no-brainer.

For more information, check out our review of the Chase Sapphire Preferred.

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Apply here: [applyLink pid=”22125056″ overridetext=”Chase Sapphire Preferred Card”]

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Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

Welcome offer: Earn 75,000 miles after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.

Annual fee: $395.

Standout benefits: If you want to maximize points and miles when it comes to credit cards, your goal should be to earn more than 1 point per dollar spent on all purchases. This can be hard when most cards only offer bonus rewards in key categories like dining, groceries and gas.

Thankfully, the base earning rate on the Capital One Venture X is 2 miles per dollar spent, so a huge portion of my personal spending goes on this card. When I’m shopping for clothing, baby supplies, paying for insurance — all categories where I can’t earn 3, 4 or 5 miles per dollar — I put those on my Venture X.

While it has a $395 annual fee, don’t let that scare you. It’s easy to offset that annual fee with benefits like the $300 annual Capital One Travel credit and the 10,000 bonus miles earned each account anniversary. The latter becomes even more valuable when you transfer to airline loyalty programs, which I do often.

For more information, check out our review of the Capital One Venture X.

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Learn more: Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

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American Express Gold Card

Welcome offer: Earn 60,000 points after spending $6,000 on purchases within the first six months of card membership.

Annual fee: $325.

Standout benefits: If there’s one thing I do almost every day, it’s dine out or order in — so maximizing my points earnings from dining and groceries is huge. Since becoming a dad, my grocery bill has gone up dramatically, so this is where the Amex Gold is a no-brainer.

For starters, you’ll earn 4 points per dollar spent at U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000 each calendar year, then 1 point per dollar) and 4 points per dollar spent at restaurants worldwide (up to $50,000 each calendar year, then 1 point per dollar). This is a great way to ramp up your earnings on two huge spending categories, whether you’re dining out or entertaining at home.

You also get various statement credits, which almost completely offset the card’s annual fee. This includes up to $120 in Uber Cash ($10 per month, valid for rides and Uber Eats orders in the U.S. after using any Amex card when adding the Amex Gold to your Uber account) and up to $120 in dining statement credits with eligible dining partners (up to $10 per month). Enrollment is required.

I load my Amex Gold Card into all my delivery apps: Caviar, Seamless and Uber Eats. Those points really add up quickly. Then, to make those points even more valuable, I watch for transfer bonuses that Amex runs with travel partners so I can turn my points into miles and book airfare.

For more information, check out our review of the Amex Gold Card.

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Apply here: [applyLink pid=”6344″ overridetext=”American Express Gold Card”]

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Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Welcome offer: Earn 75,000 miles after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.

Annual fee: $95.

Standout benefits: This is a great card no matter what your goals are — whether you’re newer to points and miles, prefer a straightforward earning structure or use it as part of a wider earning strategy, like me.

Similar to the Venture X, it allows you to earn 2 miles per dollar spent on all purchases, making it a great card for transactions that don’t fit into common bonus categories.

But it’s especially valuable because of the flexibility it offers to cover all sorts of travel with these miles.

For example, you can redeem these miles at 1 cent apiece against any travel charges you put on the card. Alternatively, you can book flights, rental cars or hotels through Capital One Travel with your miles — also at a value of 1 cent apiece.

But if, like me, you want to stretch the value of those miles even further, you can transfer those miles to any of the 15-plus hotel and airline programs that partner with Capital One.

For example, you could transfer the miles to Air France-KLM Flying Blue and book bougie business-class seats from the U.S. to Europe starting at 60,000 miles plus taxes and fees each way. Or, transfer to Virgin Atlantic Flying Club, where you can find lie-flat Upper Class seats to the U.K. for as little as 29,000 points plus taxes and fees each way.

For more information, check out our review of the Capital One Venture Rewards.

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Learn more: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

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The Platinum Card from American Express

Welcome offer: Find out your offer and see if you are eligible to earn as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards Points after spending $8,000 on purchases within the first six months of card membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.

Annual fee: $695.

Standout benefits: Despite its high cost, the Amex Platinum remains a favorite of mine — and many TPG staffers as well.

I put all airfare on my Amex Platinum because I earn 5 points per dollar spent on airfare (on up to $500,000 per calendar year, then 1 point per dollar) when I book directly with an airline or via Amex Travel. And while the annual fee is steep, the benefits include an up to $200 annual fee statement credit for airline incidentals and an up to $200 statement credit for prepaid bookings with American Express Fine Hotels + Resorts and The Hotel Collection. (Enrollment is required for select benefits.)

Amex continues to be a leader in the card lounge space, and this premium travel card provides access to its Centurion Lounges, plus Priority Pass lounges and Delta Sky Clubs when flying Delta Air Lines. (Enrollment is required for select benefits.)

For more information, check out our review of the Amex Platinum Card.

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Apply here: [applyLink pid=”22504813″ overridetext=”The Platinum Card from American Express”]

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The Business Platinum Card from American Express

Welcome offer: Earn 150,000 points after spending $20,000 on eligible purchases within the first three months of card membership. Plus, earn a $500 statement credit after spending $2,500 on qualifying flights booked directly with airlines or through Amex Travel within the first three months of card membership. You can earn one or both of these offers, which end June 30.

Annual fee: $695.

Standout benefits: One of my favorite perks on this card is Pay with Points — cardholders receive a 35% bonus when they Pay with Points on first- or business-class tickets through Amex Travel (up to 1 million points per calendar year).

Even though this is a business card, it comes with premium travel perks and business statement credits:

• Centurion Lounge access and Priority Pass membership
• A statement credit of $120 for Global Entry every four years or a statement credit of up to $85 for TSA PreCheck every 4 ½ years
• An airline credit fee of up to $200 annually
• Gold elite status with Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy
• Access to Amex Fine Hotels + Resorts and The Hotel Collection

Even though the annual fee is $695, the annual statement credits and benefits more than offset that. For example, The Business Platinum card offers:

• An up to $400 Dell statement credit per calendar year (up to $200 semiannually)**
• An up to $360 Indeed statement credit per calendar year (up to $90 per quarter)
• An up to $150 Adobe statement credit per calendar year (subject to auto-renewal)**
• Up to $200 in Hilton credits per calendar year (up to $50 per quarter; Hilton for Business membership required)
• Up to $120 per calendar year for U.S. wireless telephone providers (up to $10 per month)
• An up to $199 Clear Plus membership statement credit per calendar year (subject to auto-renewal)
• The aforementioned up to $200 airline fee credit per calendar year on charges made with an airline of your choosing
• The aforementioned up to $120 Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit

Enrollment required for select benefits.

**The Dell and Adobe credits are set to change July 1

If you maxed out these statement credits, you’d net $1,749 — about two and a half times the annual fee. Even if you didn’t have use for the Dell, Indeed and Adobe credits, but you still maxed out the travel-related credits along with the Hilton and U.S. wireless telephone service provider credits, you’d still come out ahead.

For more information, check out our review of the Amex Business Platinum.

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Apply here: [applyLink pid=”7758″ overridetext=”The Business Platinum Card from American Express”]

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Ink Business Preferred Credit Card

Welcome offer: Earn 90,000 points after spending $8,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.

Annual fee: $95.

Standout benefits: I love my Ink Business Preferred card and its bonus categories — especially the online internet advertising category, which earns 3 points per dollar spent on up to $150,000 a year (then 1 point after that). If you max out this annual bonus, those 450,000 points you earn can be used for travel bookings via Chase Travel for up to 1.75 cents each (depending on the specific redemption; see your rewards program agreement for full details).

Related: The power of the Chase trifecta

Chase points are very versatile, and I use mine as quickly as I earn them. If you own a small business or even have a business idea, you can apply using your Social Security number; check out our posts to see who might be eligible for a business credit card (you might be surprised!) and how to apply.

In my opinion, this card is a heavyweight, especially for the low annual fee of $95.

For more information, check out our review of the Ink Business Preferred.

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Apply here: [applyLink pid=”221211974″ overridetext=”Ink Business Preferred Credit Card”]

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Bilt Mastercard

Welcome offer: N/A.

Annual fee: $0 (see [termsConditions pid=”10615″ overridetext=”rates and fees”]).

Standout benefits: For so many people, rent is their biggest monthly expense. Yet for years, the only way to pay for rent was to give landlords checks or Venmo payments. If you wanted to pay by credit card, you would incur a fee.

The Bilt Mastercard has completely revolutionized this system. As long as you make at least five purchases with the card each statement period, you can earn points on rent payments and other qualifying net purchases. Even if your landlord only takes a check, Bilt can send checks and automated clearing house direct deposits so you can earn points on the transactions (up to 100,000 points per year).

Because you are paying rent via a credit card, you can also help build your credit history with each payment. It’s an absolute no-brainer, especially since there’s no annual fee (see [termsConditions pid=”10615″ overridetext=”rates and fees”]).

For more information, check out our review of the Bilt Mastercard.

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Apply here: [applyLink pid=”10615″ overridetext=”Bilt Mastercard”]

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What to consider when choosing the best card

There isn’t a one-size-fits-all strategy for picking the best credit cards. There are several factors you should analyze before selecting which ones deserve a spot in your wallet.

Preferred rewards

First, consider the type of rewards you want to earn for your purchases. If you want simplicity, a cash-back card may be a great option since you generally have few limitations on how those rewards can be used. On the other hand, if you’re after free travel or want to really maximize your spending, you may be better off with a transferable rewards currency like American Express Membership Rewards or Chase Ultimate Rewards.

Welcome bonus

Earning a big haul of points or miles as a welcome bonus is typically the best way to quickly boost your rewards balance. This is particularly lucrative if one of the cards you’re considering has a limited-time offer. Just be sure to review each issuer’s eligibility requirements, and consider checking your credit score in advance of your application so you have an idea of whether you’ll be approved.

Related: 21 ways to use 100K Ultimate Rewards points

Spending habits

Before opening any credit card (or opening a new one), take some time to analyze your spending habits over the last year, along with how you’re earning rewards on any cards currently in your wallet. Many TPG readers start with a simple, no-annual-fee card that earns 1 point, 1 mile or 1% cash back on all purchases, but, as I’ve said in my weekly newsletter before, “Friends don’t let friends earn only 1 point per dollar.”

If you spend a ton at restaurants, be sure you have a card that rewards you when making dining purchases. If you have a significant commute, pick up a card that rewards you for gas or transit expenses. It’s easy to double or even triple your earning rates for many purchases with the right combination of cards.

Annual fee

Finally, you should consider the out-of-pocket cost of any new card on your radar. While some have no annual fee (or waive the fee for the first year), others have hefty ones, as you saw in the list above.

In the first year, almost every card with a solid welcome offer will pay for itself (and then some), but you should take some time before you apply to make sure you can truly take advantage of that card’s benefits, both now and in the future.

How we chose the best credit cards

Many factors go into our selection of the best credit cards, including earning rates, welcome offers, benefits and perks. The cards I list above have personally allowed me to earn tens of thousands of dollars worth of rewards over the years.

You can learn more about how we analyze cards here at TPG on our methodology page.

Redemption options for the best credit cards

Savvy travelers will recognize that all the cards I list above have something in common: Each one earns transferable points or miles — and that’s no coincidence. These rewards are incredibly valuable because of the flexibility they offer. You’re not locked into one airline and its partners, or one hotel program and its participating brands. You are in the driver’s seat when it comes time to redeem.

For example, let’s say I want to fly Virgin Atlantic to London’s Heathrow Airport (LHR) in the carrier’s Upper Class, and the one-way flight I need is $4,000. I could use 400,000 Amex points to book through American Express Travel, but that same flight could also be 235,000 miles using Delta SkyMiles, which is a 1:1 transfer partner of Amex. However, Virgin Atlantic Flying Club has prices as low as 29,000 points — and it, too, partners with Amex.

Bottom line

Credit cards can play a major role in unlocking rewards for purchases you’re already going to make, but there’s no one perfect card that works for everyone. The above options are just a few choices that’ve worked well for me over the years, but it’s critical for you to analyze which one makes sense for your individual situation.

Of course, if you do get into the world of travel credit cards, be sure you don’t spend beyond your means and pay your balances in full and on time every month.

Related: Current transfer bonuses

For rates and fees of the Amex Gold, click [termsConditions pid=”6344″ overridetext=”here”].
For the rates and fees of the Amex Platinum, click [termsConditions pid=”22504813″ overridetext=”here”].
For rates and fees of the Amex Business Platinum, click [termsConditions pid=”7758″ overridetext=”here”].
For rates and fees of the Bilt Mastercard, click [termsConditions pid=”10615″ overridetext=”here”].
For rewards and benefits of the Bilt Mastercard, click here.

from The Points Guy https://ift.tt/ztc7mk2

Editor’s note: This is a recurring post that is regularly updated with new information and offers.

Whether your ideal vacation involves climbing mountains, snorkeling reefs, exploring caves or hiking through ancient forests, you can do it in a national park.

With the recent weakening of the U.S. dollar, domestic travel is becoming a more affordable alternative to exploring abroad. The U.S. has no shortage of stunning sights, including 400-plus national parks, preserves, monuments and more. However, with parks feeling the effects of ever-increasing visitor numbers and the Trump administration’s recent budget cuts, they could be even more crowded and short-staffed this summer. It’s more important than ever to plan ahead and check for facility and trail closures.

Here are our top tips for saving money (and dodging the crowds) on your national park trip this year, from cashing in your points and miles to cutting costs on park entry fees.

Related: Things people misunderstand about traveling on a budget

Travel during shoulder season

An easy way to save money is to plan your trip outside peak travel periods. Spring and fall are considered shoulder seasons for most national parks, offering cheaper airfares and, in many cases, thinner crowds and milder temperatures. You might even consider visiting national parks in winter, when you’ll see scenery and wildlife most visitors don’t experience, such as snow on the Grand Canyon.

Seats.aero is a handy tool to search for airline award availability to various airports near parks from your home base. You can filter by points cost, and nonstop flights will appear in green. Here are some deals we found this fall:

See Olympic and Haleakala national parks with Alaska Airlines miles

If you’d like to explore the diverse ecosystems of Washington’s Olympic National Park, it’s roughly a two-hour drive from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA). Alaska Airlines offers nonstop flights from various Los Angeles airports to SEA starting at 6,500 Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan miles and $6 each way on weekdays throughout August, September and October.

If you’re dreaming of visiting the volcanic slopes of Haleakala on Maui, we found nonstop Hawaiian Airlines flights from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Kahului Airport (OGG) for as low as 10,000 miles and $6 each way in economy in September.

Bilt Rewards is Alaska’s only current transfer partner. However, until June 30, you can still transfer miles from Hawaiian Airlines (an American Express Membership Rewards transfer partner) to Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan.

Explore Mammoth Cave National Park with Southwest Airlines points

Besides showcasing the world’s longest known cave system, Mammoth Cave National Park in Kentucky is a great place to beat the heat.

This fall, Southwest Airlines consistently offers nonstop flights from Chicago’s Midway International Airport (MDW) to Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport (SDF) for 8,500 Southwest Rapid Rewards points and $5.60 one-way. Or, you can book a connecting flight for only 2,500 points each way. The national park is just over an hour’s drive south of SDF.

You can transfer Bilt Rewards Points and Chase Ultimate Rewards points to Southwest at a 1:1 ratio.

Related: 11 ‘coolest’ vacation spots to escape the heat this summer

Hike Rocky Mountain National Park with United Airlines miles

Since Denver International Airport (DEN) is a United Airlines hub, you’ll find plenty of United MileagePlus award flights to the Mile High City, only an hour and a half away from Rocky Mountain National Park. Fall is a spectacular time to visit the Rockies, with the aspens typically turning red and gold between mid-September and early October. Plus, you might be lucky enough to hear the male elk’s mating bugle during the elk rut.

Nonstop flights from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) to DEN in September start at 8,700 United MileagePlus miles and $5.60 one-way, while Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) to DEN starts at 13,300 miles.

If you don’t have enough United miles, you can transfer them at a 1:1 ratio from Bilt Rewards and Chase Ultimate Rewards.

Visit Grand Canyon and Glacier national parks with American Airlines miles

If you have tough-to-earn American Airlines AAdvantage miles, you can fly direct from Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) to Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) near the Grand Canyon for only 5,000 AAdvantage miles and $5.60 one-way this September.

You can also find direct flights from Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport (ORD) to Glacier Park International Airport (FCA) in Montana for the same price. Keep in mind that snow-induced road closures in Glacier typically start in mid- to late October; check the website before you go to see which roads are open.

American no longer partners with any credit card currencies, but there are plenty of other ways to earn AAdvantage miles.

See Yellowstone’s geysers with Delta Air Lines miles

Although not direct, Delta Air Lines offers regular flights to Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport (BZN) from hubs like ORD, Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) and New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) this fall for 9,100 SkyMiles — or 7,700 miles if you hold the right Delta credit card.

Delta will also launch direct winter service to BZN from New York’s LaGuardia Airport (LGA) on Saturdays starting this December, if you want to see the park’s wildlife and geysers in the snow.

There are several ways to earn more Delta SkyMiles, including transferring Amex points.

Related: Why ‘dead weeks’ are the best time of year to travel

Book lodging with points

After airfare, lodging tends to be the next most expensive part of a national park trip — and another opportunity to save with points. Here are some ideas to book your national park stay with hotel rewards and credit card points.

Go glamping on points

Glamping and cabin stays can be a great addition to a national park trip, as they let you experience the joy of the outdoors with the creature comforts of a hotel.

Several major hotel chains have hopped on the outdoors trend in recent years. For example, you can book AutoCamp and Under Canvas glamping properties with Hilton Honors points and World of Hyatt points, respectively. Soon, you’ll also be able to redeem Marriott Bonvoy points at Postcard Cabins and Trailborn nature lodges.

We looked up prices for Under Canvas Moab, near Arches and Canyonlands national parks, for a weekend in September. A basic safari tent will set you back 24,250 World of Hyatt points or $329 per night before taxes. If you book with cash using a Hyatt credit card, you can earn bonus points at all 13 Under Canvas locations between June 1 and Sept. 7.

For the same September weekend, a basic Airstream Suite at AutoCamp Zion starts at $380 or 75,000 Hilton Honors points per night. Since Amex points transfer to Hilton at a 1:2 ratio, you could book this unique stay with only 37,500 Amex points.

Remember that just because you can book a hotel with points doesn’t mean you should. When cash rates are low and award prices are high, booking with cash and earning points toward a future stay can make more sense.

For instance, at Trailborn Grand Canyon, rates start around $188 (refundable) or 55,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night on weekends in September. That comes to only 0.34 cents per point, less than half of TPG’s June 2025 valuation for Marriott points, so we recommend paying with cash.

Book other points hotels near national parks

If you prefer a traditional hotel, there are plenty of points properties near national parks. Rooms.aero (the sister site of Seats.aero) can show you what’s available in your destination.

Here are some options I found, and their rates for a weekend in mid-September:

• Hampton Inn Oakhurst-Yosemite: $267 or 60,000 Hilton points per night
• Holiday Inn Resort the Squire at Grand Canyon: $309 or 47,000 IHG One Rewards points per night
• Ridgeline Hotel at Yellowstone: $343 or 20,000 Choice Privileges points per night
• Acadia Park Inn: $335 or 56,000 Best Western Rewards points per night
• Holiday Inn Estes Park, near Rocky Mountain National Park: $323 or 55,500 IHG points per night
• Fairfield Inn & Suites Strasburg Shenandoah: $210 or 21,750 Marriott points per night
• Hyatt Place Moab: $434 or 23,000 Hyatt points per night
• Econo Lodge Inn & Suites Kalispell — Glacier National Park Gateway: $117 or 12,000 Choice points per night

Again, we recommend calculating the value you’ll get per point at your desired property and comparing it to TPG’s valuations before you decide whether to book with points or cash.

If you go the points route, don’t forget that some hotel chains charge resort or amenity fees on award bookings, and some offer your fourth or fifth night free.

Related: Best national parks to visit with your kids

Book through credit card travel portals

Some of the more remote national parks may leave you with few to no points hotel options. That’s where credit card portals can come in handy.

If you have access to a portal such as Amex Travel, Capital One Travel, Chase Travel℠ or Citi Travel, search the area around your destination. You may find some great options to book with credit card points or earn extra points on cash bookings.

For instance, the nearest points hotel to Denali National Park is in Fairbanks, Alaska, over a two-hour drive away. However, the Chase Travel portal lists several nonpoints hotels much closer.

Since I hold the [applyLink pid=”22125056″ overridetext=”Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card”] (see [termsConditions pid=”22125056″ overridetext=”rates and fees”]), I can redeem my Chase Ultimate Rewards points for these hotels at a rate of 1 to 1.5 cents apiece with Chase’s new Points Boost, depending on the specific redemption (see your rewards program agreement for full details). Or, I can pay the cash rate with my card and earn 5 points per dollar booking through Chase Travel.

Related: Booking through The Edit by Chase Travel now lets you earn hotel points and elite benefits

Book your rental car with points

Due to the isolated nature of most national parks, you’ll likely need a vehicle during your trip.

Credit card travel portals offer a way to book rental cars with points at a flat rate, just like with hotels. You may also be able to use certain cards’ travel credits toward rental car bookings. For instance, the [applyLink pid=”221211836″ overridetext=”Chase Sapphire Reserve®”] (see [termsConditions pid=”221211836″ overridetext=”rates and fees”]) provides up to $300 in credits toward travel purchases each year, and the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card offers a similar credit for purchases through Capital One Travel.

If you pay with cash, check out our guide to saving money on rental cars. And don’t forget, you can often save on insurance by using a card that provides rental car coverage.

Save on park entry fees

National park entry fees may be a relatively small chunk of your trip budget compared to airfare and lodging, but they can add up quickly if you visit multiple parks. Here are some ways to save.

Get into national parks for free

The National Park Service offers several fee-free days each year when you can get into any park for free. In 2025, the remaining dates include Aug. 4 (Great American Outdoors Day), Sept. 27 (National Public Lands Day) and Nov. 11 (Veterans Day).

The downside to fee-free days is that they’re among the most crowded times to visit national parks. Arrive early to find parking, and consider visiting less popular and more remote parks on these days.

But if you don’t want to plan your vacation around fee-free days, you still have more options than you’d think — most sites managed by the National Park Service and related agencies don’t charge a dime. For example, the nation’s most visited national park, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, is free to enter (but you’ll have to pay $5 to park).

Lastly, some visitors are eligible for free park access. These include current military, veterans and Gold Star families. Fourth graders can also register for an “Every Kid Outdoors” pass, giving them and their families free access to hundreds of parks, lands, and waters for an entire year.

Related: Giant sequoias and red rock canyons: 7 state parks with national park-worthy wonders and smaller crowds

Save on an annual pass

Another easy way to save on national park visits is by purchasing an annual pass. The America the Beautiful Pass costs just $80 and gives you access to all federal recreational sites (including national parks) for a year. With some parks — such as Yosemite and Yellowstone — charging up to $35 per visit, you’ll more than break even if you plan to visit a few sites in a year.

If you vacation with grandma and grandpa, you can save even more with a senior pass for travelers aged 62-plus. A one-year senior pass costs $20, while a lifetime senior pass costs only $80, and both provide park access to anyone in the car with the passholder.

Related: 8 best road trips for visiting national parks

Bottom line

National parks offer a huge variety of landscapes and activities so that you can plan your perfect trip — whether that’s a quiet solo retreat, a group trip with friends or anything in between.

For more affordable destination ideas, check out our roundups of the cheapest domestic flights by month and countries where your dollars will go further.

from The Points Guy https://ift.tt/8VcYGZE

Editor’s note: All awards below were available at the time of publication. Inventory can change quickly, so search of current availability before transferring or redeeming points.

There’s a new “best-ever” welcome bonus available on a very popular premium travel rewards card that I’ve had for nearly a decade and remains one of my favorites. I’m talking about the [applyLink pid=”221211836″ overridetext=”Chase Sapphire Reserve®”] (see [termsConditions pid=”22125056″ overridetext=”rates and fees”]), which just got a massive revamp.

The stellar bonus is even better than the impressive 100,000-point welcome offer the card featured when it first launched in 2016.

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Limited-time offer: Add 100K Ultimate Rewards points plus a $500 Chase Travel℠ promo credit to your balance with this offer on the [applyLink pid=”221211836″ overridetext=”Chase Sapphire Reserve”].

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But it seems it’s our lucky year with big card bonuses. For a limited time, the [applyLink pid=”221211836″ overridetext=”Chase Sapphire Reserve”] is offering the chance to earn 100,000 points and a $500 Chase Travel promo credit after spending $5,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.

Thinking about applying? Let’s break down the value this offer provides and why this could be an excellent addition to your wallet, especially if you’re a frequent traveler.

This bonus has only reached 100,000 points once before (when it launched)

At first glance, it can be hard to put a true value on credit card welcome bonuses because they go up and down, and some points are worth a lot while others don’t hold as much value. But that’s why we are here to crunch the numbers for you.

Long story short: This bonus is worth it.

To be specific, the [applyLink pid=”221211836″ overridetext=”Chase Sapphire Reserve”] bonus is worth $500 more than the previous best bonus we’ve ever seen on this card.

Generally, the welcome bonus on this card has been 60,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points after hitting the spending requirement (this offer is no longer available).

This means that now is an excellent time to take advantage of a rare opportunity to earn a valuable — and transferable — stash of 100,000 bonus points and a generous $500 travel credit for use within the Chase Travel portal.

Per TPG’s June 2025 valuations, this bonus is worth up to $2,550 ($2,050 since we value Chase Ultimate Rewards points at 2.05 cents apiece, plus the $500 Chase Travel credit).

If you get the Sapphire Reserve, keep in mind that the $500 Chase Travel credit is only valid to use once. After you’ve earned the welcome bonus and travel credit, we recommend shopping around within the portal and booking reservations that are at least (or close to) $500 so you don’t forfeit a big chunk of that credit.

The points are some of the most valuable in the world

Chase Ultimate Rewards points are highly valuable largely because of the program’s impressive roster of transfer partners that includes programs such as World of Hyatt, United MileagePlus, Air France-KLM Flying Blue, Air Canada Aeroplan and Marriott Bonvoy, among others.

Here are a few examples of real-world travel purchases you could make with 100,000 Chase points:

• Enjoy up to five nights for two people at the new all-inclusive Secrets St. Lucia Resort when transferring points to World of Hyatt.
• Book a lie-flat business-class seat from George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) to Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) for 60,000 points (plus taxes and fees) when transferred to Air France-KLM Flying Blue.
• Book two lie-flat business-class seats from New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) from 40,500 points (plus taxes and fees) when transferred to Club Iberia Plus.
• Book up to 16 economy seats to London’s Heathrow Airport (LHR) from 6,000 points (plus taxes and fees) when transferred to Virgin Atlantic.
• Enjoy up to eight nights at the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress resort in Orlando, which is just minutes from Disney World, when transferring your Chase points to the World of Hyatt program.

So is this one of the best deals ever for the Chase Sapphire Reserve? (Spoiler: Yes)

Yes, this is the best welcome bonus offer we have ever seen for the [applyLink pid=”221211836″ overridetext=”Chase Sapphire Reserve”]. The bonus offers $500 more in value than the launch offer we saw in 2016 and is much higher than any welcome bonus we’ve seen for the card in the years since then.

These updates come at a cost: The Chase Sapphire Reserve now sports a higher annual fee of $795, making it one of the most expensive credit cards on the market. Still, if you can maximize all the credits that come with the card, you’ll come out ahead of that fee.

Related: Chase Sapphire Reserve changes: New earning rates, more statement credits for a higher annual fee

Because of this, I highly recommend you jump on this best-ever offer for this product if you’re in the market for a new card or have been thinking about applying for the Sapphire Reserve.

I can’t participate in this deal as I already have a Sapphire Reserve that I got years ago when it last had a 100,000-point bonus, but I hope you’re able to take advantage of this best offer while it’s available.

Related reading:

• Chase Sapphire bonus eligibility changes: Here’s what to know
• Chase Sapphire Reserve for Business: Earn 200K points
• Chase Sapphire Reserve vs. Sapphire Reserve for Business: Which Reserve is right for you?

from The Points Guy https://ift.tt/fjsETAw