How the Chase Sapphire Most well-liked has helped me journey to twenty MLB stadiums
When 16-year-old me set a aim to go to all 30 Main League Baseball stadiums, I knew it will take time — and cash. What I did not know was how far one bank card would take me. And the way little cash I would really spend.
And no, I am not speaking a few premium journey card loaded with perks and a excessive annual charge. The MVP of my ballpark bucket checklist is definitely the Chase Sapphire Most well-liked® Card (see charges and charges), which is at present providing 60,00 bonus factors after spending $5,000 inside three months of account opening. TPG values these factors at $1,230 primarily based on our Could 2025 valuations.
Utilizing Chase Final Rewards factors has helped me reduce my resort bills and plan annual baseball journeys. So, with my CSP in hand, this is how one bank card helped me chase my MLB ballpark bucket checklist and already knock out 20 of 30 stadiums.
Why the Chase Sapphire Most well-liked card hits it out of the park
Ballparks aren’t at all times in main cities or “bucket checklist” cities, however that is precisely why money costs might be off-putting. With my CSP, I offset the associated fee by turning reward factors into high-value resort stays.
Chase has three resort switch companions, however arguably, the most effective is World of Hyatt. The beneficiant award chart and 1:1 switch ratio make my factors stretch far and broad.
A few of my finest redemptions have really come from mid-size cities with surprisingly excessive resort costs. (I am taking a look at you, Cleveland.)
The Sapphire Most well-liked card additionally comes with an annual $50 resort credit score every anniversary yr. The one caveat is that you must e book your keep via the Chase Journey℠ portal — however there isn’t a minimal spend, and it really works on one-night getaways.
Lastly, this card comes with journey cancellation and interruption insurance coverage, baggage delay insurance coverage, and auto rental protection. Due to this fact, I’ve peace of thoughts realizing I am at all times lined if my bag would not arrive with me, one thing occurs with my automotive rental, my travels are interrupted, or I’ve to cancel the journey outright.
Associated: Chase Sapphire Most well-liked advantages: Every part it’s essential know
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Utilizing Chase’s switch companions to e book journey
In my most up-to-date MLB journey stint, I made a decision I needed to cross off two ballparks this yr — so Ohio match the invoice, because the state homes each the Cleveland Guardians and the Cincinnati Reds.
First issues first, I needed to discover a weekend when each groups had been taking part in at residence. As soon as I narrowed down my dates, I began trying to find a resort.
I at all times like to remain inside a 10-15 minute stroll of the ballpark so I haven’t got to fret about paying for an Uber and/or Lyft or driving if I hire a automotive. In Cleveland, the Hyatt Regency Cleveland on the Arcade was centrally positioned and near Progressive Subject. However once I regarded up money costs for my dates, it was popping out to $320.12 an evening. It is a bit steep, in my view, for a Class 3 property within the Midwest.
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Nonetheless, on the rewards facet, it was 12,000 Hyatt factors per night time — or a 2.7 cent redemption — which is effectively above our 1.7 cent valuation of World of Hyatt factors, per our Could 2025 valuations. My three-night keep in Cleveland simply went from $930.36 to 36,000 Hyatt factors.
Since Chase factors switch to Hyatt at a 1:1 price, I simply transferred 36,000 factors to my Hyatt account to e book my keep.
Associated: Ought to I get the World of Hyatt Credit score Card or switch factors from Chase as an alternative?
Chase’s Underrated $50 annual resort credit score
It was time to e book my Cincinnati resort. The Hyatt Regency Cincinnati was in an excellent spot and match my parameters for being shut sufficient to the Nice American Ball Park. It additionally went for a way more favorable price — $174.18 an evening after taxes and charges.
My two-night itinerary was thought-about “peak” nights, making it 15,000 Hyatt factors an evening. Had I made that redemption, I’d have solely gotten a worth of about 1.2 cents per level, which is below our 1.7-cent Hyatt valuation — so, not deal.
I rapidly checked my CSP advantages and realized I hadn’t used my $50 annual resort credit score but. This appeared like the right alternative.
By reserving via the Chase portal, I’d finally obtain a $50 assertion credit score, decreasing the associated fee from $348.36 to $298.36 for my two-night keep. Per the phrases of the profit, the credit score posts between one to 2 billing cycles, however mine solely took 48 hours.
Plus, since cardholders earn 5 factors per greenback spent on Chase journey bookings, I earned over 1,400 Chase factors on this transaction, serving to me stash factors for a future journey.
Associated: The 8 finest bank cards with annual charges below $100
The massive image: How far can 100k Chase factors take you?
Up to now, I’ve seen video games at 20 out of the 30 MLB ballparks. Throughout the board, Chase-to-Hyatt transfers have been an enormous assist, particularly in cities the place resort costs might be surprisingly excessive.
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If you happen to’d want to remain at a boutique resort (or one other model), you can too redeem your factors via Chase Journey for a set worth of 1.25 cents apiece. Simply have in mind you’d doubtless get higher worth by transferring to considered one of Chase’s resort companions as an alternative.
Listed below are some examples of 5 completely different ballpark cities and the way factors might collectively prevent nearly $2,500.
| Metropolis | Resort | Two nights on factors | Money Worth | Factors Worth* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baltimore, Maryland | Hyatt Regency Baltimore Interior Harbor | 24,000 (commonplace price) | $582.80 | 2.4 cents |
| Phoenix, Arizona | Hyatt Regency Phoenix | 18,000 (off-peak price) | $508.82 | 2.8 cents |
| Cleveland, Ohio | Hyatt Regency Cleveland on the Arcade | 24,000 (commonplace price) | $620.24 | 2.6 cents |
| Houston, Texas | Hyatt Place Houston / Downtown | 18,000 (commonplace price) | $326.17 | 1.8 cents |
| St. Louis, Missouri | Hyatt Regency St. Louis at The Arch | 13,000 (off-peak price) | $356.86 | 2.7 cents |
*Worth is predicated on our TPG April 2025 valuations.
Though the desk is a mixture of commonplace and off-peak charges, baseball season runs for a number of months, so you may doubtless discover off-peak pricing should you’re versatile in your journey dates (and stretch your factors even additional).
Associated: Who’s eligible for the Chase Sapphire Most well-liked’s bonus?
Backside Line
You should use factors to redeem for once-in-a-lifetime journey, or you may chip away at a distinct segment bucket checklist merchandise like I’ve, redeeming factors slowly however certainly.
I’ve primarily stayed at Hyatt inns, however the flexibility to switch to different inns (or airways) or redeem via the Chase portal at a set possibility provides you completely different selections within the metropolis you are visiting.
If you happen to’ve been enthusiastic about beginning your individual bucket checklist journey — or simply wish to get monetary savings on journey — take into account making use of for the Chase Sapphire Most well-liked.
To study extra, learn our full overview of the Chase Sapphire Most well-liked card.
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