That Was Easy! The Year Has Just Begun and My Mom Has Already Used Her Chase Sapphire Reserve $300 Travel Credit

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One of my favorite Chase Sapphire Reserve perks is the $300 annual credit for travel purchases because it’s so easy to use.  When you use your card for ANY travel purchase (think airfare, hotels, Uber, and more!), you will get an automatic statement credit until you’ve spent a total of $300.

Paid $40 for an Uber ride home from the airport?  You’ll get a credit for it.  Paid $200 for an Airbnb during a weekend getaway?  You’ll get a statement credit for that too!  Bottom line is, you will automatically be reimbursed until you’ve spent a total of $300 on travel.  It couldn’t be more straightforward.

This benefit just one of the many reasons I suggested the Sapphire Reserve to my mom.  And even though January isn’t even over yet, she’s already used it up!

To me, the $300 travel credit makes paying the Sapphire Reserve’s $550 annual fee well worth it.  Because you’re effectively paying $250 ($550 annual fee – $300 travel credit).  Plus, you’ll get to enjoy earning those ever-valuable Chase Ultimate Rewards points!

For new cardmembers, the annual travel credit year is determined based on your card anniversary.  My mom applied for the Sapphire Reserve when it first came out, so she still earns the travel credit based on a calendar year.  Regardless, it’s a fantastic perk.

Apply for the Chase Sapphire Reserve

Apply here:   Chase Sapphire Reserve

Read our review of the Chase Sapphire Reserve

The Chase Sapphire Reserve consistently tops the list as the best premium travel credit card.  When you apply for the Sapphire Reserve, you can earn 50,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

The sign-up bonus is worth $750 when you redeem your points through the Chase Ultimate Rewards travel portal.  Because points linked to your Sapphire Reserve are worth 1.5 cents each toward travel through the Chase portal.  Plus, you can move points from other Chase Ultimate Rewards point earning credit cards to increase the value of all your points.

My favorite way to use Chase Ultimate Rewards points is to transfer them directly to Chase’s airline and hotel partners, like Hyatt, Marriott, and United Airlines.

The card has a $550 annual fee, which is NOT waived for the first year.  And it IS subject to Chase’s 5/24 rule.  So if you’ve opened 5+ cards in the past 24 months from ANY bank (excluding business credit cards from American Express, Bank of America, Chase, Citi, and Wells Fargo), you will NOT be approved for Chase Sapphire Reserve.

You can read our full review of the Chase Sapphire Reserve here.