In my Money Hacks for Long-Term Travel post, I mentioned using the Chase Sapphire and Chase IHG Rewards cards. This post summarizes the value of these cards, how I use them, and what I gain from them.
The Chase Sapphire Rewards Card…
…excels in accruing point multipliers for dining and travel and offers discounts. It’s most rewarding for frequent travelers and diners. The card currently has an annual fee of $550, but it credits $300 for travel expenses at the start of each year, effectively reducing the cost to $250.
How I use it:
I pay for planes, trains, taxis, Uber, Lyft, buses, rental cars, hotels, Airbnb bookings, and dining out. I pay off the balance every month before the due date, ensuring I pay zero interest or late fees.
What I gain:
Thousands of dollars in redeeming points for rental cars, flights, and hotel stays. Points are also redeemable for cash with no value multiplier.
Other thoughts:
I’ve been a cardholder for nine years. Chase customer service has consistently supported getting my money back if a vendor did not provide a service or product following an agreement. Even if I can be a bit of Karen1 when I don’t get an honest deal, it’s good to have that support.
The IHG Rewards Card…
…has a significantly lower annual fee and is ideal for those who frequently stay at IHG hotels, including InterContinental, Holiday Inn, and Indigo. As of the time of publishing, this card carries an annual fee of $95.
How I use it:
I pay for groceries, purchasing gas, IHG hotel stays, and anything unrelated to travel eating out. I pay off the balance every month before the due date, ensuring I pay zero interest or late fees.
What I gain:
Weeks of hotel stays in IHG properties. Not bad for $95, right?
Other thoughts:
The IHG platform encourages buying additional points. Once, in my 11th hour of driving, I accidentally didn’t notice that I was buying more points. The team refunded this error, even though it was my own.
- My apologies to everyone I know named Karen — you do not deserve that energy. Unless you do. In that case, no, you get no apology. ↩︎