Roaming with The Points FlyGirl

 When it comes to travel rewards credit cards, two options often rise to the top: the Chase Sapphire Preferred and the Capital One Venture Rewards card. While both are popular choices for points and miles enthusiasts, there are some key differences that could make one a better fit for you than the other. Let’s dive into the details to help you decide which card is best for your travel goals.

I. The Chase Sapphire Preferred: A Classic for Beginners

The Chase Sapphire Preferred is offering a Welcome Offer of 60,000 points 

It is frequently referred to as the best card for beginners in the points and miles game, and it’s easy to see why.

• Low Annual Fee: At just $95 per year, the Chase Sapphire Preferred offers a great value for those looking to start earning points without a huge upfront cost.
• Generous Earn Rates: You can earn 5x points on hotels and car rentals booked through the Chase travel portal, 3x points on dining, and 2x points on other travel-related purchases. These earn rates make it easy to accumulate points quickly, especially if you’re a frequent traveler or love dining out.
• Transfer Partners: One of the biggest advantages of the Chase Sapphire Preferred is its access to Chase Ultimate Rewards transfer partners. This includes fan-favorites like Hyatt, United Airlines, and Southwest, allowing you to transfer your points and maximize their value when booking travel.
• The 5/24 Rule: A word of caution, though: Chase’s 5/24 Rule means you’ll be denied for a new Chase card if you’ve opened more than five credit cards (from any issuer) in the last 24 months. Because of this, many people start with Chase cards before moving on to other issuers that don’t have this restriction.

You Can Apply for the Chase Sapphire Preferred HERE

If you’d like to see which loyalty programs Chase transfers to, my transfer chart can be found HERE

II. Why the Capital One Venture Rewards Might Be Better

While the Chase Sapphire Preferred has its strengths, the Capital One Venture Rewards card is offering a compelling 75,000 Miles Welcome Offer after spending $4,000 within the first three months. Here’s why you might want to consider this card instead:

• 2x Miles on Every Purchase: One of the biggest selling points of the Capital One Venture Rewards card is its simplicity. You’ll earn 2x miles on every purchase, no matter where you shop. This makes it easy to rack up miles quickly, and that 75,000-mile welcome bonus will actually turn into 83,000 miles once you hit the spending requirement.
• Transfer Partners: Like Chase, Capital One also offers access to a wide range of 18 transfer partners, many of which overlap with Chase’s list. However, there is one notable exception: Hyatt. If you’re a Hyatt enthusiast who loves redeeming points for hotel stays, the Chase Sapphire Preferred might be the better option for you. But if your main focus is earning miles for flights or business class travel, the extra miles from Capital One could be more valuable.
• Immediate access to points: with every other card, you get your points after the statement closes or when you pay your bill. Capital One gives you those points as soon as you earn them! This could be extremely valuable if you find a great deal and don't have time to wait for your points to come through.

You Can Apply for the Capital One Venture Rewards HERE

If you’d like to see which loyalty programs Capital One transfers to, my transfer chart can be found HERE

III. Which Card Should You Choose?

At the end of the day, you can’t go wrong with either card. The Chase Sapphire Preferred is a solid choice for beginners, offering great earn rates, access to valuable transfer partners, and a low annual fee. On the other hand, the Capital One Venture Rewards card offers a great Welcome Offer, 2x miles on every purchase, and more flexibility with how you can use your miles, making it extremely easy to use and get maximum value.

If Hyatt is a must-have for you, then the Chase Sapphire Preferred is likely the better choice. But if you’re more focused on earning miles for flights or business class travel, the Capital One Venture Rewards card could offer greater long-term value.

Most Importantly, DONT FORGET YOU CAN HAVE BOTH! I would recommend eventually holding both of these cards. Both for their great transfer partners, and for the great earn rates. So, the real question is, which one first?

*The links in this article are my personal links and I very much appreciate if you could use them. This is what allows me to keep putting out free information. Thank you!