After I began planning my dream journey to Europe, I had one huge asset in my journey toolkit: simply over 100,000 Chase Final Rewards factors earned with the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see rates and fees).
A number of strategic redemptions turned these factors into flights and inns throughout Paris, Switzerland, Slovenia and Italy, whereas protecting my out-of-pocket prices surprisingly low.
Should you’ve lately earned 100,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points from on a regular basis spending or a welcome bonus, you could be questioning: How far can they actually take you?
Here is precisely how I booked my journey, plus suggestions for getting probably the most worth out of your factors stash.
Associated: 12 trips you can book with 100K Chase Ultimate Rewards Points
How a lot are the 100,000 Chase factors price?
First off, let’s evaluation simply how a lot 100,000 Chase factors are literally price, since their worth is dependent upon the way you redeem them:
Associated: The complete guide to Chase Ultimate Rewards: How to earn, redeem and transfer points
How can I earn 100,000 Chase factors?
The quickest solution to web 100,000 Chase factors is to earn them via a large welcome bonus.
Reward your inbox with the TPG Each day publication
Be part of over 700,000 readers for breaking information, in-depth guides and unique offers from TPG’s consultants
For instance, the Chase Sapphire Reserve presently incorporates a welcome provide of 100,000 bonus factors plus a $500 Chase Journey promo credit score after spending $5,000 within the first three months from account opening.
In the meantime, the Chase Sapphire Reserve for Business℠ (see rates and fees) is presently providing the flexibility to earn 200,000 bonus factors after spending $30,000 on purchases within the first six months from account opening.
Earlier this yr, the Sapphire Most popular additionally featured a 100,000-point welcome bonus for brand new candidates after spending $5,000 on purchases inside the first three months of account opening (provide now not obtainable).
Personally, I earned my stability by combining a 60,000-point welcome bonus from the Sapphire Most popular with on a regular basis spending on journey and eating.
The Sapphire Preferred is presently providing 75,000 bonus factors after spending $5,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening. It is a nice head begin towards constructing a stash of 100,000 factors.
Reserving flights with Chase factors
Discovering award flights that match my itinerary and finances was the primary huge step in turning factors into an unforgettable European journey. Here is how I reworked a few of my factors into three flights.
Flying to Europe for 15,000 Chase factors
After I began planning my journey, my first precedence was locking in a transatlantic flight from Washington, D.C., to Europe. I turned to Seats.aero, a useful software which scans award availability throughout a number of applications, and noticed an Air France-KLM Flying Blue award to Paris for simply 18,750 Flying Blue miles plus taxes and costs.
Even higher, Chase was providing a 25% transfer bonus to Flying Blue that month. That meant I solely wanted to switch 15,000 Chase Final Rewards factors to cowl the flight.
Switch bonuses like this are probably the greatest methods to stretch your factors. On this case, I saved practically 4,000 factors in comparison with transferring with out the bonus.
Associated: Current credit card transfer bonuses
What number of Chase factors do it’s essential fly to Europe?
The variety of Chase Final Rewards factors required for a flight to Europe can fluctuate dramatically relying on the airline, journey dates and award availability. On the decrease finish, you may discover one-way economic system flights for round 15,000 to twenty,000 factors when utilizing switch companions like Flying Blue or United MileagePlus throughout off-peak occasions or with switch bonuses.
On the greater finish, nonstop or last-minute economic system flights can run 40,000-plus miles one-way, with enterprise and firstclass requiring rather more.
Your greatest technique is to stay versatile together with your journey dates and routes, use instruments like Seats.aero to check award availability and look ahead to switch bonuses that may stretch your factors additional. Planning forward and being affected person typically pays off.
Intra-European flight with Chase factors
I knew I wished to go to no less than 4 international locations on this journey, so I began looking for short-haul flights inside Europe. Utilizing Seats.aero once more, I discovered a United Airways award from Switzerland to Slovenia for simply 6,000 miles in economic system.
Positive, it wasn’t probably the most jaw-dropping redemption worth for a one-hour flight, nevertheless it added one other thrilling vacation spot to my journey and saved one other leg of my journey totally on factors.
Associated: How I use Seats.aero to find the best airline award availability
Flight from Rome to DC with Chase Factors
For my return flight, I wished one thing easy and direct. United got here via with saver-level award availability for simply 40,000 miles from Rome Fiumicino Leondardo da Vinci Airport (FCO) to Dulles Worldwide Airport (IAD) close to D.C.
Whereas this redemption did not have the identical wow issue as my Paris flight, nonstop flights from Rome to the U.S. can typically climb effectively above 60,000 miles one-way in economic system (particularly throughout peak summer time journey), so discovering a saver fare felt like a win.
Reserving inns with Chase factors
Chase Final Rewards factors could make resort stays way more inexpensive, whether or not it is a fast in a single day or an extended keep. Here is how I used them.
Straightforward factors redemption for an airport keep in Zurich
After three lengthy (and magical) days mountain climbing in Switzerland, I wanted a handy place to remain earlier than my early morning flight to Slovenia.
Enter: the airport resort. Utilizing Chase factors transferred to World of Hyatt, I booked the Hyatt Regency Zurich Airport for 15,000 factors.
It wasn’t probably the most glamorous resort redemption, however with the ability to stroll from my room to my gate with out stress was price each level.
Associated: Why the best point redemptions are sometimes the most practical
3-night keep in Florence, Italy, with Factors Increase
One in every of my greatest redemptions was a three-night keep at Lodge Indigo Florence, a property that might have value practically $800 in money. Due to Chase’s Factors Increase within the journey portal, I booked it for simply over 49,000 factors plus charges.
To make the deal even sweeter, I utilized a one-time $50 credit score (offered to some Sapphire Preferred Card holders in June 2025 for any buy made via Chase Journey) to cowl the taxes and costs, saving much more money.
Factors Increase, mixed with this credit score, made Florence really feel like a real points-powered win.
Associated: Chase sent some Sapphire Preferred cardholders an extra $50 toward travel
The best way to use Chase’s Factors Increase
Chase’s Factors Increase permits you to get extra out of your redemptions when reserving via Chase Journey. As an alternative of the fastened redemption charges tied to your card (like 1.25 or 1.5 cents per level), Factors Increase can apply further worth to sure properties, which means you possibly can lock in additional nights for fewer factors.
Associated: Why Chase’s Points Boost is an outstanding new way to book hotels on points
Turning journey bills into extra factors
Not each a part of my journey was lined by award bookings, so for issues like Airbnb stays and rental automobiles, I turned to my Chase Sapphire Preferred Card. These bills did not qualify for full factors redemptions, however they nonetheless earned me 2 factors per greenback spent as journey purchases.
That meant each greenback I paid for lodging and transportation helped construct my factors stability for future adventures — turning obligatory bills into an funding for my subsequent journey.
Why the Chase Sapphire Most popular is my favourite journey card
The Chase Sapphire Preferred has turn out to be my favourite journey companion because of its 2 factors per greenback incomes price for journey and eating purchases, beneficiant journey protections and no foreign transaction fees — good for worldwide journey.
Whether or not I am reserving a flight, consuming out or paying for bills that factors will not absolutely cowl, I am nonetheless incomes rewards. And with the flexibleness to redeem via Chase Journey or transfer to travel partners, I get most worth.
Associated: Why the Chase Sapphire Preferred should still be your first rewards card
Backside line
My journey wasn’t totally booked on factors, nevertheless it would not have been doable with out these redemptions.
With simply over 100,000 Chase Final Rewards factors, a little bit of strategic planning and slightly flexibility, I turned a dream European itinerary right into a actuality. Hopefully, the following pointers may help you do the identical and unlock your individual multicountry European journey.
Associated: 10 best ways to use 100K Chase Ultimate Rewards points
Trending Merchandise
