[Best Travel Cards 2026] Chase Sapphire vs Amex Gold (Points, Lounge Access, Fees)

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Credit Card Points Guide

You are spending money every day. Why aren't you getting paid for it? In 2026, travel hacking with credit card points is the secret to flying First Class for the price of Economy. But with annual fees rising, picking the wrong card can cost you more than you save. Today, we pit the two heavyweights of the rewards world—Chase Sapphire Preferred and American Express Gold—against each other to see which plastic earns its place in your wallet.

🚀 Key Takeaways

• Chase Sapphire Preferred: The best starter card. Low annual fee ($95) and flexible points that transfer to high-value partners like Hyatt.
• Amex Gold: The best for foodies. Earns 4x points on dining and groceries, but the annual fee has jumped to $325 in 2026.
• Lounge Access: Neither card offers full airport lounge access. For that, you need to upgrade to the Reserve or Platinum tier.

📌 1. The Value King (Chase Sapphire Preferred)

If you are new to the points game, start here. The Chase Sapphire Preferred (CSP) is legendary for a reason. For just $95 a year, you unlock the ability to transfer points to partners like Hyatt and United Airlines.

Why it wins: Hyatt points are incredibly valuable. 15,000 points can get you a night at a luxury hotel that costs $500 cash. Chase points are also easy to use. You can book travel directly through their portal with a 25% bonus, making your points worth 1.25 cents each guaranteed. It is the safest, most versatile card for beginners.

📊 2. The Daily Driver (Amex Gold)

If you spend a lot on food, the Amex Gold is a point-printing machine. It gives you 4x points on restaurants worldwide and US supermarkets (up to $25k/year).

Feature	Chase Sapphire Preferred	Amex Gold
Annual Fee	$95	$325
Multipliers	3x Dining, 2x Travel	4x Dining & Groceries
Credits	$50 Hotel Credit	$120 Uber + $120 Dining

The catch? The annual fee is high ($325). You must use the monthly Uber and Dining credits to justify the cost. If you naturally order takeout twice a month, the effective fee drops to near zero. If not, you are losing money just to hold the card.

🔍 3. The Transfer Game (How to Redeem)

Points are worthless until you use them. The biggest mistake beginners make is using points for "Cash Back" or "Amazon Purchases." Never do this. You get a terrible rate of 0.6 cents per point.

Instead, transfer them to international airlines. 100,000 Amex points transferred to Virgin Atlantic or Air Canada can book a business class flight to Europe worth $4,000. That is a value of 4 cents per point. This arbitrage is the heart of travel hacking.

🧮 Hippo's Insight

The "5/24 Rule": Chase has a strict unwritten rule. If you have opened 5 or more credit cards (from any bank) in the last 24 months, they will automatically reject you. Always get your Chase cards first before moving to Amex or Capital One.

Key Insight: Strategy matters more than spending.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. Does applying hurt my credit score?

A. Temporarily, yes (about 5 points due to the "Hard Pull"). But having more available credit actually improves your score in the long run by lowering your utilization ratio.

Q2. Which is better for international travel?

A. Chase (Visa) is accepted everywhere. Amex is sometimes rejected in Europe and Asia due to higher merchant fees. Always carry a Visa card as a backup.

✅ Before You Apply: Checklist

Verify these items:

• ☐ Credit Score: You typically need a score of 700+ for these premium cards.
• ☐ Sign-up Bonus: Is the current offer high? (e.g., 60k for Chase, 90k for Amex). Wait for a high bonus.
• ☐ Spending Ability: Can you hit the minimum spend (e.g., $4,000 in 3 months) without going into debt?

Never pay interest. It kills the rewards.

📝 Start Earning Today

Travel isn't expensive; being uneducated about points is expensive. Pick a card that fits your spending habits, hit the sign-up bonus responsibly, and start planning your dream vacation for 2026.

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