How to Maximize the Sapphire Preferred Hotel Credit
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is one of the most popular travel rewards cards, and for good reason. Not only does it offer a generous sign-up bonus and valuable points-earning categories, but it also comes with a $100 annual hotel credit that can help you save on your travel expenses. But I’ve talked to many of you who struggle to know the best way to use this credit. In this guide, I’ll explain how the credit works, how to use it, and some tips for maximizing its value.
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Current Bonus
Earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
🆕 Update — June 15, 2026: Chase just doubled this benefit, and it’s good news no matter where you are in your cardmember year. As of June 15, 2026, the annual hotel credit on the Chase Sapphire Preferred increased from $50 to $100. If you haven’t used your credit yet this cardmember year, it’s already been upgraded to $100 — nothing you need to do. If you already used your $50 credit earlier this year, Chase will add an additional $50 statement credit to your account to make up the difference. Either way, you’re getting $100 this year. The steps below for using the credit work exactly the same way — just leave a little more cash on the booking to take full advantage of the larger amount.
Check out all the recent changes here: Chase Sapphire Preferred Updates
What Is the $100 Hotel Credit?
The $100 hotel credit is a perk for Chase Sapphire Preferred cardholders, allowing you to receive up to $100 in statement credits each cardmember year for hotel stays booked through Chase Travel℠. This benefit resets every year on your card’s anniversary, making it an ongoing way to save on travel costs.
While I normally recommend NOT booking travel in the bank portal, there are exceptions and this is one of them.
Check out: Why You Should Transfer Your Chase Points to Hyatt
How to Use the $100 Hotel Credit
Here’s a step-by-step guide to using your $100 hotel credit combined with Ultimate Rewards points so that you spend the least amount possible out of pocket:
Log in to Chase Ultimate Rewards:
- Navigate to the Chase Ultimate Rewards page by logging into your Chase account online or through the app, clicking on the card that has points, and then clicking “Redeem” next to your point total.
Scroll down to “Discover ways to use points:
- Select the box that says “Travel” and then click “Book travel.”
Search for Hotels:
- Enter your destination into the search bar including your dates and number of travelers. Remember if you search for more than 4 it will significantly limit your search results since most hotel rooms only accommodate a maximum of 4 people. I like to search for 4 people even if I plan on sneaking a 3rd child into the room just to see what my options are.
Find a hotel:
- Select the hotel that fits your needs. Our family was going to be visiting Knoebels amusement park so we chose this Holiday Inn Express with good google reviews about 20 minutes away. You can see that if I were to pay cash it would cost $157.31 and if I were to use all points it would cost 12,584. You’ll see in a minute that we are going to use a combination of the two!
Continue to the checkout screen:
- Here you can see what your total would be if you chose to pay using ONLY points.
Adjust the number of points:
- To fully maximize the $50 credit and to pay as little out of pocket as possible, adjust your point total until you owe just over $50 in cash. In this scenario if I adjust the points to 8,500 I’ll owe just $51.06.
Note: the screenshot above shows the old $50 credit — the strategy is the same, just adjust until you owe just over $100 in cash.
Click “Start Checkout” to see your final total:
- On the next screen you’ll see the final amount of points and cash you’ll be paying for this reservation. Then continue on to “Payment and review” where you’ll enter your credit card information. Here is where you will enter your Sapphire Preferred credit card number.
Watch for your statement credit:
- As long as you haven’t used your annual $100 hotel credit during your current cardholder year, you will receive a $100 statement credit just a few days after your purchase posts to your account!
Tips for Maximizing the $100 Hotel Credit
Here are some strategies to get the most value out of this benefit:
- Use It for Short Stays:
- Book a single night at a hotel or motel during a road trip or a quick weekend getaway.
- Combine It With Points:
- Use your Ultimate Rewards points to cover part of your booking and pay the rest with your Sapphire Preferred. The $100 credit applies to the cash portion of your booking. If you want to book the entire thing with cash you can absolutely do that. But combining with points minimizes your actual expenses.
- Book Early:
- Plan ahead and use the credit for trips you’ve already scheduled. This ensures you don’t forget to use the credit before it resets.
- Choose Properties With Extra Perks:
- Look for hotels offering free breakfast, parking, or other amenities to maximize the value of your stay beyond the $100 savings.
- Stack With Promotions:
- Keep an eye out for deals and promotions in the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal. Pairing these with your credit can save even more. For example, during my most recent booking I used an additional $50 promo that I received by email for any booking made on Chase Travel. The deals stacked so I saved a total of $100.
Key Details to Remember
- Validity Period: The $100 credit resets every cardmember year, not calendar year, so mark your anniversary date to avoid missing out. If you don’t use it, you lose it.
- Eligible Bookings: The credit applies only to prepaid hotel bookings made through the Chase Travel.
- Automatic Application: There’s no need to manually request the credit. As long as your booking meets the criteria, and you pay with your Sapphire Preferred card, the credit will be applied automatically.
Why the $100 Hotel Credit Adds Value to the Chase Sapphire Preferred
This credit effectively reduces the card’s annual fee from $95 to just $0 — and actually puts $5 back in your pocket — if you use it fully each year. Combine this with other benefits—like 3x points on dining and gas and 2x points on travel—and it’s clear why the Chase Sapphire Preferred remains at the top of my Best Travel Rewards Cards list.
Whether you’re booking a quick overnight stay or adding a little extra comfort to a longer trip, the $100 hotel credit is an easy way to save. Make sure to take advantage of this perk every year and put those savings toward your next adventure!
Need more tips on maximizing your travel rewards? Follow along on Instagram at @vacation_pointers or check out more guides on VacationPointers.com.
More on Our Families Free Travels!
Family vacations were a near impossibility for us not that long ago. But about 7 years ago we discovered credit card points and miles and now traveling several times a year is the norm for us! If you want to learn more about how our family travels for next to nothing, I would love for you to check out my Quick Start Guide to Traveling with Points and Miles. It is a hobby that has forever changed our lives and given us the opportunity to see the world!
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