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Labeling any card the “ultimate card” for a specific use is a tough call. But when it comes to traveling with a family, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® stands alone — and for good reason.
On balance, the Sapphire Reserve can make travel more affordable, frequent, and comfortable. We also consider it an excellent option for families serious about travel.
Here are five reasons why we think the Sapphire Reserve is the ultimate family travel card.
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Help Offset the Annual Fee With a $300 Annual Travel Credit
If there's one metric that separates a premium travel card from a non-premium one, it's the annual fee. At $550, the annual fee for the Sapphire Reserve is by no means cheap, but the card's headline perk immediately takes the sting off that otherwise high number.
The Sapphire Reserve‘s annual $300 travel credit is awarded each year that you carry the card, and it's ready to put to use as soon as you open your new account. The credit is simple to use, and there's nothing to activate. When you use the card on a purchase that codes as “travel,” you'll see a reimbursement within a few days. This process continues until you've used the entirety of the $300 credit.
Of course, “travel” is a broad category, but that's part of what makes the perk great. From airfare to toll bridges, sightseeing to tourist attractions, there's a high chance it counts as travel.
Family travel isn't cheap, but $300 can go a long way, depending on how you use it. The only downside with this perk is that there's a great chance you'll start using it before you know it — since so many things count as “travel.” Plus, you don't earn bonus points on travel purchases that are offset by this credit.
Related: Premium Credit Card Perks That Are Great for Families
Earn Valuable Ultimate Rewards
One of the best aspects of flexible rewards points is that their uses feel endless. Chase Ultimate Rewards are no different.
Ultimate Rewards showcase their value and versatility through the long list of Chase transfer partners. No matter what your family travel goals are, there's a strong chance you can make them happen with Chase points.
Chase partners with 11 airlines and three hotel loyalty programs, and you can move your Ultimate Rewards points to one of these partners at a 1:1 ratio. If you're lucky, you can take advantage of a transfer bonus and receive a higher return on your points transfers — meaning more travel for fewer points. And most transfers to Chase's partners are instant.
Booking award travel for a family might sound like a dauntingly expensive task, but it doesn't have to be. There are many practical airline award sweet spots for families, and you aren't confined solely to domestic flights to enjoy them.
As a refresher, here are all the airline loyalty programs you can move your Chase Ultimate Rewards points to:
And the hotel loyalty programs offer fantastic value as well.
Related: Do Chase Ultimate Rewards Points Expire?
Accrue Points Faster With Bonus Categories
An integral piece of any credit card strategy is carrying cards that reward your spending in the best way possible. The more points you earn, the more you can travel with your family; it's as simple as that.
For travel- and food-loving families, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® is an incredibly valuable companion. Cardholders earn 5X Chase Ultimate Rewards Points per $1 spent on flight reservations made through Chase Travel℠ and 10X on hotels and car rentals booked here. You'll also earn 3X Ultimate Rewards on dining at restaurants and through food delivery services, plus 10X on Chase Dining purchases. If your family routinely spends money in these categories, your points balance will grow quickly.
A small caveat: the 3X, 5X, and 10X categories only kick in after you've used the $300 annual travel credit. Until then, you won't earn Ultimate Rewards points on travel purchases.
Another consideration you'll want to make is that the Sapphire Reserve earns 1 Ultimate Rewards point per $1 spent on all other purchases. This isn't a great return, so you'll want to consider pairing the Sapphire Reserve with another Chase credit card that earns Ultimate Rewards points to maximize your earning potential on everyday purchases.
This way, you can take full advantage of all the leading benefits the Sapphire Reserve offers and avoid settling for a poor return on all non-bonused spending.
Related: Accumulate Chase Ultimate Rewards Points Quickly by Building a Credit Card Combo
Relax at a Chase Sapphire or Priority Pass Airport Lounge
If there's a better way to kick off a family vacation than spending quality time in an amenity-filled airport lounge, we'd love to hear it. Sapphire Reserve cardholders can access 1,300+ Priority Pass airport lounges, plus every Chase Sapphire Lounge, so you can relax before the runway at an incredible number of locations.
There aren't many Sapphire lounges in existence yet, but the few that are currently operating are stunning. If you're traveling through Boston (BOS) or Hong Kong (HKG), afford yourself and your family some time to explore them. Travelers transiting through or originating in Austin (AUS) also have access to the Chase Sapphire Terrace — a locally inspired outdoor space to fuel up pre-flight.
Unlike the Sapphire lounges, Priority Pass lounges are a dime a dozen. Priority Pass Select requires a one-time activation. Immediately after completion, you can access brand-affiliated lounges, restaurants, and cafes.
If you're the Sapphire Reserve‘s primary cardholder, you and your authorized users can enjoy complimentary access to Priority Pass lounges with a maximum of two accompanying guests each. Additional guests will incur a $27 charge, which will be charged to your Sapphire Reserve.
Many credit cards offer Priority Pass lounge access, so you might take the line about “access may be denied if the lounge is at capacity” in the Sapphire Reserve‘s terms and conditions to heart. To improve your odds of getting into a lounge, you might consider traveling at off-peak hours. While it's not a perfect science, it won't hurt your chances of getting in when lounges are less busy.
Related: Chase Sapphire Lounge by the Club Boston Airport Review
Enjoy Extensive Travel and Shopping Protections
Although they aren't the flashiest of benefits, the Chase Sapphire Reserve®‘s shopping coverage and travel protections are second to none. When you use the card, you can rest easy knowing you're covered before, during, and after your family trip.
Shopping protections
The Sapphire Reserve‘s expansive shopping protections make it a clear choice for booking trips and paying for expenses while on the road. Here's a snapshot of some of the shopping protections you'll enjoy when you swipe the card:
- Return protection
- Purchase protection
- Extended warranty protection
- Zero liability protection
- No foreign transaction fees
Travel coverage
Achieving peace of mind while traveling isn't always easy, but the Sapphire Reserve has you and your family's back if your family trip is turned upside down. No matter the reason, the odds are pretty good that there's some form of coverage for it. Whether the airline loses your bags, your rental car breaks down, or a family member gets sick before departure, you may be covered.
Here's the complete list of travel coverage offered by the Sapphire Reserve.
- Primary coverage via an Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver
- Trip cancellation and interruption insurance
- Trip delay reimbursement
- Travel accident insurance
- Lost luggage reimbursement
- Baggage delay insurance
- Emergency evacuation and transportation
- Roadside assistance
- Emergency medical and dental benefit
- Travel and emergency assistance services
However, as with all insurance benefits, be sure to read the guide to benefits before assuming a specific incident will be covered.
Related: Everything You Need to Know About Chase Sapphire Reserve® Insurance Benefits
Final Thoughts
Plenty of cards offer big sign-up bonuses and flashy perks, but the best cards for family travel provide a robust mix of travel perks, purchase protections, and travel insurance, in addition to their high points-earning potential.
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® delivers all these and more: a potent mix of best-in-class travel benefits, insurance policies covering the entire family, and the ability to rack up plenty of points via bonus points on travel and dining.
If your family is serious about travel, it's worth a look into the Sapphire Reserve. It could be the next great member of your travel group.
- Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- $300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
- Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
- Get 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $900 toward travel.
- 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
- Access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide after an easy, one-time enrollment in Priority Pass™ Select and up to $120 application fee credit every four years for Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck®
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Coverage, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
- Member FDIC
- Rates & Fees
- 10X points on hotels and car rentals purchased through Chase Travel℠
- 10X points on Chase Dining (including prepaid reservations and prepaid takeout purchased through Chase)
- 5X points on airfare purchased through Chase Travel℠
- 3X points on all other travel
- 3X points on dining at restaurants
- 1X points on all other purchases
For rates and fees of the cards mentioned in this post, please visit the following links: Chase Sapphire Reserve® (Rates & Fees)
The comments on this page are not provided, reviewed, or otherwise approved by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser's responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.
Is immediate family defined the same way on the Chase Sapphire Preferred?
In what context?
For travel insurance protection. Just wondering if the preferred will extend travel protection to the same categories of immediate family.
Many of the benefits apply to immediate family, but you’ll want to check the specific type of travel protection in the benefits guide. https://awardwallet.com/blog/master-list-credit-card-benefits-guides/
Great post! I currently have the Chase Sapphire Preferred but may look at upgrading for the lounge benefits alone. Anyone else found it a useful upgrade to go from the Preferred to the Reserve?
The Chase Sapphire Reserve is an amazing, must have, credit card.
I really wish this card was available in Canada. Unfortunately, Chase seems to be exiting the Canadian market as their other cars (Marriott Rewards Visa) are in the process of being closed =/
Thank you. If I am within the 5/24 Chase limit one day, I’ll have to look into the Sapphire CArd options.
This card was good enough to get Citi to back down on competing in this space. That says something.
Excellent point!
I have the Chase Sapphire Preferred and I love it. However, I am always seeing the Reserved card on the short list of what ppl should have.
I can see how this is an excellent card, but if I have young children, how does the lounge thing work if the lounge doesn’t allow children in?
Even though the card allows you entrance it still looks like you must adhere to their rules, correct?
If a lounge doesn’t allow children, they simply can’t get in. You’ve got to adhere to the rules.
It’s hard not to like this card.
Great travel benefits to this card. Hoping for a better sign-up bonus to come along.
You’re not likely going to see an increased signup bonus on these cards anytime soon.
CSR all the way!!
I am using it daily. What a great card!
Nice perks but expensive and don’t like banking scandal around Chase
To each his own I suppose.
I would agree it is a great card.
I’m a huge fan of this card, but I never put much emphasis on the travel insurance until a couple weeks ago where it applied big time.
I can only imagine how much that value would increase if I was traveling with a family.
Great card and info. Awesome benefits that make AF with it IMO. Only wish they had not denied me during original promotion. Ughh…That chase 5/24. Maybe down the road.
Really wished that Chase did not exit from Canada…
This is absolutely the best card in my wallet.
Thank you for this information! Very helpful. Fingers crossed for a massive bonus points offer for all of us, soon!
Thanks Howie. So, then I think I have 2 options, assuming we keep renting the way we always have.
1. have him pay with another card in his name that also has primary (I think the Cap 1 Visa sig does as well)
2. add him as an AU on my CSR and have him charge the rental on his card. Guess I’m off to see what that will cost me on the CSR – this is a new card for me. Any other benefits he would receive by adding him as AU so that I can justify whatever it is?
cece, this post, and linked articles covers the relevant benefits. He gets his own priority pass membership and all the insurance protection as well.
Re #3 – Rental primary insurance. My CSR is in my name (embossed on card). We use it to pay for the rental cars.
However, when we rent cars, it is my husband who handles the rental contract in his name and the driving -he is the named driver.
I know the post says the policy covers “additional” drivers. But we never pay for an “additional driver” – he is it.
Will we still be covered?
No, you would not be covered. Your husband would need to have a card in his name or you would need to rent a car and add him as an additional driver.
Does look like a good card to have!
if only it wasn’t so expensive! I think this would only makes sense for me if I travel more than 4 times a year.
Definitely worth switching from the CSP. A real game changer!
Good post! I knew about most of the benefits, but I wasn’t aware about the extent of the rental insurance and travel insurance. Does anyone have experience making a claim with Chase?
Great article! I agree.
The meal money in lieu of a club is quite a bonus.
Honestly I never imagined I’d be as excited over a credit card as I am with the CSR. An all-around great experience.
I am very enticed by this card and have been thinking of getting it for the past 1 month…I might just take the leap soon.
Very timely article, as I’m considering applying for this card! I just wish the signup bonus was back where it originally was at 100,000 (or even 75k)!
Hands down this is the best travel card. And I was lucky enough to get the 100,000 Ultimate Reward sign up bonus. Oh yes!
I don’t have this card yet but hope they will bring the 100K point bonus back.
I wouldn’t hold your breath.
Switching my wife to this card while I cancel mine. Double travel credits pay for itself!
what a great card to have. too bad 5/24 limits me to signing up for this.
A good card to consider! Thanks for the detailed info about it.
The ability to transfer points directly to the airline account of a household member is awesome. My GF and I got the Southwest Companion Pass this year, because I have the Chase SW Plus/Premier cards. But she has the CSR – so she can xfer her UR points to my SWA acct, where I book travel with them and add her as the companion. Otherwise I’d have to actually pay for my flights!
This is my favorite credit card, it is worth the annual fee for me.
Looks like a good card to have.
love the perks, getting set for a big trip, CSR card in hand!
I didnt know the insurances also covered family members. That alone could be valuable for some families.
Absolutely love this card — it’s changed the way I travel.
Totally agree. This is my go-to travel card. I love the perks!
I keep putting off switching to this card from my Sapphire Preferred because of the authorized user card fee. (The annual fee itself doesn’t bother me — the travel credit renders it very similar to the Preferred.). I think the additional benefits may be more than worth the extra expense.
That is why we moved everyone to the Sapphire Reserve — the additional benefits.
I’m definitely starting to think the same thing. Those extra benefits look like they outweigh the annual fee if you spend anything more than ~$500 on your card each year
I agree that that’s the way to evaluate it.
It’s my family’s top card. The unlimited Priority Pass guests and very easy to use $300 travel credit make it entirely worthwhile.
100% agree. The CSR is the primary card for both the wife & I. It’s extremely difficult to beat its suite of benefits & coverages.