It’s no secret that the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is one of our all-time favorite travel cards. It earns super-flexible Chase Ultimate Rewards® points, has a generous welcome bonus, and punches way above its weight for a card with a $95 annual fee.
One benefit that often flies under the radar? The up to $50 hotel credit you get every year.
But this perk doesn’t just magically happen. You have to know how to use it, or you could miss out on some easy savings. Let’s walk through what the credit is, how to make sure it triggers, and how to get the best bang for your (non) buck.
What Is the $50 Annual Ultimate Rewards Hotel Credit?
When you hold the Sapphire Preferred, you’ll receive up to $50 back each account anniversary year for hotel stays booked through Chase Travel℠.
Here’s what that means:
“Statement credit” means Chase will reimburse you up to $50 after your eligible hotel charge posts.
“Account anniversary year” refers to your cardmember year, not the calendar year.
“Through Chase Travel” means you have to book the hotel through Chase’s online travel portal, not directly with the hotel.
It’s a built-in perk, not a one-time offer or limited-time promo, and covers more than half your annual fee. Not bad for a benefit that many people accidentally ignore.
Just a heads up: When you book a hotel through a third-party portal (like Chase Travel), you might not earn points, elite night credits or get your usual elite benefits. Some programs may still honor your loyalty status if you call and add your number, but it’s not guaranteed.
How to Actually Use the Hotel Credit
Using the $50 credit is easy, but you have to follow a few simple steps to make sure it applies.
Log into your Chase account and go to the Chase Travel portal (you’ll see it in the dropdown under “Earn/Use” or directly under “Travel”).
Search for a hotel just like you normally would
Book a stay that costs at least $50. If your stay is $150, you’ll get $50 back. If it’s $45, you’ll get back $45 and leave money on the table.
Pay with your Sapphire Preferred. That’s it.
The credit will appear automatically as a statement credit, usually within a few days to a week after the charge posts.
💡 Pro Tip: Use your hotel credit for one-night stays when prices are low to get the best deal. If you’re planning a trip with multiple hotels, consider splitting your bookings so the cheapest stay triggers the credit.
Bottom Line
The $50 Ultimate Rewards hotel credit from the Sapphire Preferred is one of the easiest perks to use — and yet it’s one of the most commonly forgotten.
Consider this your friendly reminder to use it before it resets on your card anniversary, not January 1st. Because $50 is $50… and that’s a night at a budget hotel, a discount at a boutique spot, or even a solid chunk off a resort stay.
And when you’re getting a perk that covers more than half the annual fee, it’s kind of a no-brainer.
