How to Save Hundreds on Family Travel With Kids Using Chase Cards

A step-by-step guide to using Chase Sapphire Preferred points for hotel stays, flights, and more — so you can travel with your kids without breaking the bank.

Planning a trip with the kids? Family travel is exciting, but hotel and flight costs add up fast — especially when you need bigger rooms, extra seats, and more meals.

The good news: if you prepare ahead with a Chase card, you can save hundreds (even thousands) of dollars on your next family vacation. Here's exactly how to do it.

Why Chase Sapphire Preferred for Family Travel?

Key Takeaway: 75,000 points used through Chase Travel are worth over $937. That's enough to cover 2–3 nights at a family hotel — or even more with the right strategy.

3–6 Months Before Your Trip: Apply and Earn Points

The secret to maximizing Chase for family travel is starting early. Apply at least 3 months before your trip.

Step 1: Apply for Chase Sapphire Preferred

You'll typically need to spend $4,000 in the first 3 months to earn the sign-up bonus. Sounds like a lot? Not for a family.

Use your everyday family spending:

• Daycare or after-school programs
• Kids' clothes and school supplies
• Groceries and dining out
• Doctor co-pays and prescriptions

For most families, $4,000 in 3 months is just normal life.

Step 2: Keep Earning Points on Daily Spending

After hitting the bonus, keep stacking points:

• Dining 3x: Every family dinner out earns triple points
• Travel 3x: Gas stations, Uber, parking — all count
• Online groceries 3x: Instacart, DoorDash deliveries
• Everything else 1x: Utilities, subscriptions, and more

Save on Hotels: 3 Ways to Use Chase Points for Stays

For families, hotels are the biggest expense. Chase points can slash that cost dramatically.

Option 1: Chase Travel Portal (Easiest)

Book hotels through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal and your points are worth 25% more.

Family travel example:

• Hotel near Disney Orlando: $180–250/night
• 75,000 points = $937 → covers about 4–5 nights
• You can also mix points + cash for flexibility

Option 2: Transfer to Hyatt (Best Value)

Transfer Chase points to World of Hyatt at a 1:1 ratio for even better value.

• Hyatt Place / Hyatt House: 5,000–12,000 points per night
• Family-friendly rooms with extra space + free breakfast (Hyatt Place)
• 75,000 points → at least 6+ nights at many locations

Pro Tip: Hyatt Place rooms have a sofa bed — perfect for kids — and free hot breakfast is included. That saves you another $30–50/day on meals.

Option 3: Book Airbnb With Points

You can also use Chase points to book Airbnb through the Chase Travel portal. Great for families who want a kitchen and more space than a typical hotel room.

Save on Flights: Point Transfer Strategies

Domestic Flights (Trips Within the US)

• Transfer to Southwest: Chase points → Southwest Rapid Rewards (1:1)
• Southwest offers free lap seating for kids under 2 and 2 free checked bags per person
• 50,000 points can cover a family round-trip (depending on route)

International Flights (Visiting Family Abroad)

• Transfer to United: Chase → United MileagePlus (1:1) → access Star Alliance award flights
• Transfer to Korean Air: Chase → Korean Air SkyPass (check transfer ratio)
• Great for visiting family in Asia, Europe, or Latin America

Extra Perks That Save Families Even More

1. Free Rental Car Insurance (Primary CDW)

Pay for your rental car with Chase Sapphire Preferred and you get Primary Collision Damage Waiver for free. Skip the rental company's insurance and save $15–30/day — that's over $100 on a week-long trip.

2. Trip Cancellation / Interruption Insurance

Kids get sick unexpectedly. With Chase Sapphire Preferred, you're covered by trip cancellation and interruption insurance — so if you need to cancel flights or hotels last minute, you can get reimbursed.

3. No Foreign Transaction Fees

Traveling abroad? Chase Sapphire Preferred charges 0% foreign transaction fees. Most other cards charge 3%. On $2,000 of spending abroad, that's a $60 difference.

4. DoorDash Credits

You get $50 in annual DoorDash credits. Perfect for ordering food to your hotel or Airbnb when the kids are too tired to go out.

Family Travel Timeline Checklist

Real Example: Family of 4, Orlando, 5 Nights

With just the sign-up bonus, you can nearly cover both flights and hotel for your entire family trip.

FAQ

Q: Can I apply with a lower credit score? Chase Sapphire Preferred typically requires a score of 670 or higher. If your score isn't there yet, consider starting with Chase Freedom Rise to build credit for a year, then upgrade.

Q: Is the $95 annual fee worth it? The sign-up bonus alone is worth $937+ — nearly 10x the annual fee. If you take even one family trip a year, the card pays for itself many times over.

Q: Do Chase points expire? No. As long as your account is open and active, your points never expire. Take your time saving up for that dream family vacation.

Q: Can my spouse and I combine points? Yes! Chase allows household point transfers between Sapphire cardholders. If both you and your spouse apply, you can combine your bonus points and plan an even bigger trip.

Start Planning Now

Traveling with your kids creates memories that only happen while they're young. With Chase Sapphire Preferred, you can make those trips happen more often — without the financial stress.

Apply 3–6 months before your trip, hit the bonus with your normal family spending, and use points to book hotels and flights. That's the smartest way to prepare for family travel.