Maximizing Your Chase Points: A Comprehensive Travel Dollars Calculator
Use our Chase points travel calculator to get the most out of your rewards. Turn points into travel dollars and plan your next adventure today.
Chase Ultimate Rewards Calculator
Compare redemption values and explore transfer partner potential
There's nothing more exciting than planning your next vacation. Maybe you’re daydreaming of reading a book on the beach or taking a whirlwind museum tour. Wherever you’re headed, Chase Ultimate Rewards® points can help you save money on your next adventure.
Earning these points is simple: Just use your Chase card for everyday spending. However, redeeming them can be confusing, even for seasoned cardholders. How much are your points really worth? Should you redeem them by booking a flight through a Chase travel partner or by getting cashback?
Don’t stress — you don’t need to be a globetrotter or a finance whiz to use your rewards points wisely. With a handy Chase points to travel dollars calculator and a few tips, you can stretch those points and enjoy unforgettable trips!
Overview of Chase Ultimate Rewards Points
When you use your Chase card for purchases, you earn credit card rewards points. These add up every time you use your card, and they never expire if your account stays open.
Some people save up for years to cover an epic trip, while others redeem points more frequently for smaller savings.
Depending on the Chase credit card you have, you can earn more points when you spend in certain categories, like at restaurants or on Chase Travel.
How To Earn Chase Ultimate Rewards Points

Choosing an eligible credit card is the first step toward earning rewards points. But which Chase cards are eligible for points? Here are a few popular options:
- Chase Freedom Rise® is an entry-level card. It's designed to help build your credit history. There's no annual fee, and you earn 1.5% cash back on all purchases.
- Chase Freedom Unlimited® is a fee-less card if you’re just dipping your toe into the world of travel credit cards. You earn 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel. Plus, you get 3% on drugstore and restaurant purchases, and 1.5% on everything else.
- Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card has a modest annual fee, but it’s well worth it for the travel protections. Earn 5x points on Chase Travel purchases, 3x points on popular categories like dining and online groceries, and 1x points on other purchases.
No matter which card you choose, you’ll accumulate points through everyday spending. Are you treating yourself to a $30 pizza? With the Sapphire Preferred card, you’d earn 90 points. Booking a $500 flight? Use your Freedom Unlimited card to pay for it through Chase Travel and get $25 cash back.
With Chase, you also get access to bonus point opportunities that let you earn rewards faster. For example, you might earn bonus points by signing up for a new credit card or buying items in specific categories.
How To Redeem Chase Ultimate Rewards Points
Chase offers a few super convenient ways to redeem your points. You can make the most of your points by choosing certain redemption options.
Transferring Points to Travel Partners
Several airlines and hotels partner with Chase, which means you can transfer your points directly to these companies. All you have to do is log into the Ultimate Rewards portal, where you can transfer up to 1,000 points at a time to your chosen partner.
Depending on your card, you might get even more value for your points. A Chase points to travel dollars calculator can help you determine the dollar value of your points.
For instance, Sapphire Preferred members get 1.5 cents per point. That means if you have 20,000 points, you could transfer them to a Chase travel partner and redeem them for $300 off a plane ticket or hotel stay.
Booking Through the Chase Travel Portal
The Chase travel portal lets you redeem your points for:
- Flights
- Hotels
- Car rentals
- Cruises
- Activities, such as ghost tours and Segway rentals
Don’t have enough points for that luxury hotel or a romantic horseback ride? No problem. The portal lets you mix points and cash to cover your expenses. Using your Chase card to book through Chase Travel comes with an upside — you’ll earn more points or cash back for your next trip!
Cash Back Options
Chase also lets you redeem reward points for cash or gift cards. If you choose this option, you'll only get 1 cent per 100 points. However, you may prefer cash back if you want to purchase travel-related items or experiences that aren’t available through the Chase portal.
Value of Chase Points for Travel vs. Cash
Calculating the exact value of your Chase points can be tricky. As a general rule, redeeming them for travel typically offers more value than cash.
So what factors influence how much your points are worth?
- What type of card you use
- Whether you’re booking through the Chase Travel portal
- Whether any special promotions are applicable
- Whether the airline or hotel you're booking with has a partnership with Chase
Let’s say you’ve racked up 20,000 points on your Freedom Unlimited card. If you redeem them for cash, you’d receive 1 cent per point for a total of $200. But if you transfer them to World of Hyatt — one of Chase’s top travel partners — each point would be worth roughly 2.2 cents, giving you $440 in value.
Strategies To Maximize Chase Points
Do you want to get the most bang for your buck? It's all about the timing. Think about booking your travel for the off-season. That's when flights and hotels are typically more affordable. And you won't have to deal with all the crowds.
Look for opportunities to combine your points with promotions, too. Chase often offers bonus points for first-time travel portal users. And be sure to keep an eye out for official contests, such as Chase Travel’s 10 Million Points Giveaway.
The Best Uses for Chase Points
There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to redeeming Chase points. Some people enjoy using them to book upgrades — maybe a first-class plane seat or a luxe hotel suite. Others prefer to save their points for experiences or events.
Are you interested in learning more about using travel credit cards to explore the world? Explore MoneyAtlas’s tools for expert comparisons of banking, credit cards, and investments. Compare credit cards to find the one with the best travel dollar deals, and explore welcome offers from leading companies.