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The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (Rates & Fees) is one of the most popular cards on the market — for good reason. With a ton of transfer partners, access to Chase's travel portal, and a modest annual fee, this card has many benefits that travelers can take advantage of. If you don't already have it, the card is currently offering a remarkable 100,000-point welcome bonus.
There's one benefit that can offset the card's already reasonable annual fee each year: the Sapphire Preferred hotel credit of up to $100 per cardmember year. Let's go through how to maximize it now that Chase just enhanced this perk.
- Earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, 3x on vacation homes, 3x on gas & EV charging, 3x on top streaming services and online groceries (excluding Walmart, Target, and wholesale clubs), 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases
- Earn up to $100 in statement credits each account anniversary year for hotel stays through Chase Travel
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
- Get a year of complimentary Apple TV when activated by December 31, 2026 - a value of $156.
- Complimentary DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees & lower service fees for a min. of one year when you activate by 12/31/27. Plus, a $10 promo each month on non-restaurant orders.
- Receive one statement credit of up to $120 every four years as reimbursement for the application fee charged to your card for a Global Entry, TSA Precheck® or NEXUS application.
- Transfer points to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
- Member FDIC
- 5X points on Lyft rides through September 2027
- 5X points on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠
- 3X points on dining at restaurants worldwide
- 3X points on gas and EV charging
- 3X points on vacation homes at top brands like Airbnb, Vrbo and more
- 3X points on eligible streaming services
- 3X points on online grocery purchases (excluding Target, Walmart, and wholesale clubs)
- 2X points on all other travel
- 1X point per dollar spent on all other purchases
What Is the Chase Sapphire Preferred Hotel Credit?
The Sapphire Preferred got a major refresh in June 2026. Cardholders can now enjoy new bonus earning categories — including 3X Ultimate Rewards points at vacation rentals and at gas and EV charging stations — and a TSA PreCheck, Global Entry, or NEXUS application fee credit. In addition to new perks, Chase enhanced an already beloved perk: the $50 Chase Travel hotel credit is now a $100 Chase Travel hotel credit.
That's right — double the value with no increase in annual fees.
When you use your Sapphire Preferred card to book a hotel through Chase Travel℠, a credit of $100 will automatically be applied to your account. You do not need to enroll to receive the credit.
This perk is surprisingly straightforward. Here are a few things to know:
- A maximum of $100 annually is issued as a statement credit.
- This benefit is available each cardmember year, not the calendar year. That means it's based on the 12 months following your account opening date.
- You do not have to register for the credit; it will be applied automatically.
- You must book through Chase Travel℠ to receive the credit.
- There is no minimum spending amount required for using this benefit.
- The credit will usually be posted to your account within two days of a qualifying purchase; however, Chase states it can take up to two billing cycles.
- Credit will automatically apply to the first $100 of qualifying hotel bookings per cardmember year.
How to Maximize Your $100 Hotel Credit
How can you ensure you're getting the most value out of your Sapphire Preferred hotel credit? Here are a few things to consider:
- You can book a small boutique hotel where you wouldn't earn any loyalty program points.
- Try to book something as cheap as possible so that it covers a larger percentage of your bill.
- Along the same lines, book a one-night stay — perhaps on a road trip or for an overnight layover.
- Consider a chain hotel if the cash price is low for the night, and it would be worth paying less out of pocket.
For more on how to use this benefit to begin with, read on.
How to Use Your Sapphire Preferred Hotel Credit
Now that we've covered what the Chase Sapphire Preferred hotel credit is and how it works, let's look at how to book a stay that qualifies for the credit.
First, log in to your Chase account. From the side menu bar, click “Explore adventures around the world” in the Travel widget. Or, you can go directly to the Chase Travel website.
Click on “Stays” and ensure “hotels” are selected instead of “vacation rentals.” Next, enter your destination and dates, along with the number of people staying in the room.
When the results pop up, we recommend changing the search to list your options by price, from lowest to highest. This will show you options where your $100 credit may cover most of your stay. If you aren't as concerned about fully covering the price, you can keep the default sort option, which shows recommended hotels.
After this, select your hotel and choose your room preference.
Finally, complete the booking process as normal by entering your personal information. This goes without saying, but make sure you use your Sapphire Preferred to pay. Additionally, you'll have the option to pay with a combination of points and cash. If you'd like to do this, make sure to pay at least $100 in cash to trigger your annual Sapphire Preferred hotel credit.
As you can see, the $100 credit would mean I can get a night at an airport hotel for just $24.58 out of pocket. A lot of times, we forget to factor in hotel nights before or after our main trip into our overall trip cost, and this credit can be a great way to keep those unexpected costs low. The credit will appear on your billing statement as “annual hotel credit.” As mentioned, it usually shows up within a few days of the hotel charge posting to your account. However, it can take up to two billing cycles.
Cautions of Using the Sapphire Preferred Annual Hotel Credit
We love the Chase Sapphire Preferred hotel credit. However, there are some pitfalls to keep in mind.
No points earning or elite perks at chain hotels
The biggest potential downside is that you may not earn loyalty program points or elite night credits on the stay. That's because you are booking through a third party, and most hotel programs require direct bookings to earn points in the loyalty program.
This also means you may not receive any elite status benefits, like room upgrades or free breakfast. It's still worth trying to add your loyalty number after making the reservation, but understand that the hotel may not honor your status level or give you stay credits on these bookings.
Savvy travelers will want to be strategic about when they use this credit. Do you have an overnight layover between flights? If you're just looking for a place to crash for the night, elite perks like upgrades and late checkout may not make a difference. So, book through Chase Travel℠ to utilize this credit. You can also consider using this credit when booking a stay at an independent or boutique hotel without a loyalty program.
Chase Travel isn't always the cheapest option
Another potential downside is that Chase Travel may not always offer the best rates. Essentially, the $100 credit is useless if you're paying more out of pocket by booking through the portal rather than directly with the hotel. Be sure to do your research before deciding when to use it, ensuring that the price in Chase Travel is lower once you factor in the $100 credit.
Bottom Line
While $100 may not be much, it covers the entire $95 annual fee for the Sapphire Preferred. Essentially, using the Sapphire Preferred hotel credit means it doesn't cost anything to keep the card in your wallet.
All of its other benefits, like primary rental car coverage, trip delay or cancellation coverage, lost or delayed baggage protection, and a giant welcome bonus, are all upside. For more details, see our full review of the Sapphire Preferred.
- Earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, 3x on vacation homes, 3x on gas & EV charging, 3x on top streaming services and online groceries (excluding Walmart, Target, and wholesale clubs), 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases
- Earn up to $100 in statement credits each account anniversary year for hotel stays through Chase Travel
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
- Get a year of complimentary Apple TV when activated by December 31, 2026 - a value of $156.
- Complimentary DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees & lower service fees for a min. of one year when you activate by 12/31/27. Plus, a $10 promo each month on non-restaurant orders.
- Receive one statement credit of up to $120 every four years as reimbursement for the application fee charged to your card for a Global Entry, TSA Precheck® or NEXUS application.
- Transfer points to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
- Member FDIC
- 5X points on Lyft rides through September 2027
- 5X points on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠
- 3X points on dining at restaurants worldwide
- 3X points on gas and EV charging
- 3X points on vacation homes at top brands like Airbnb, Vrbo and more
- 3X points on eligible streaming services
- 3X points on online grocery purchases (excluding Target, Walmart, and wholesale clubs)
- 2X points on all other travel
- 1X point per dollar spent on all other purchases
Page Contents
For rates and fees of the cards mentioned in this post, please visit the following links: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (Rates & Fees)
