3 Unique Perks of My Chase Sapphire Reserve That I Love Using

I've used a lot of credit cards, but the Chase Sapphire Reserve® is a long-time favorite. I've had it since it first launched in 2016. And I've consistently gotten enough value from it to keep paying the $550 annual fee.

This Chase card has plenty of features, but many of them are also available from other travel cards. That's why I want to highlight the more unique perks that you don't see as often. If they look useful, then this could be the credit card for you.

1. A $300 annual travel credit

At first, a spending credit might not seem all that unique. Just about all the expensive travel cards have spending credits. But here's the problem: Those credits can be a pain to use. This annual travel credit, on the other hand, is as easy as it gets.

Each account year, Chase reimburses your first $300 in travel spending. This applies to any purchases that Chase considers travel. It's a pretty wide range that includes:

• Airfare
• Hotels, motels, and timeshares
• Car rental agencies
• Cruise lines
• Campgrounds
• Parking lots and garages

That's not even the full list. If you spend at least $300 a year on any type of travel, you'll probably have no trouble using this credit.

Some travel cards have similar annual credits, but they only apply to travel you book through the card issuer's travel portal. Or they have much more specific credits, covering expenses like airline fees. There are also cards that dole out smaller monthly credits. I appreciate how much easier Chase makes it to use this credit.

2. Spending credits at airport restaurants partnered with Priority Pass

Like several travel cards, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® includes a Priority Pass membership. Priority Pass is an airport lounge program with over 1,300 lounges.

Priority Pass has also partnered with over 50 airport restaurants worldwide. Members can go to these restaurants, show their membership card, and get a spending credit. The credit amount depends on the restaurant, but $28 is a common amount, and it's per guest. You can also bring up to two guests. At $28 per guest, that'd be $84 off the bill.

Sadly, most credit cards with a Priority Pass membership don't include this restaurant benefit; they only get you into the lounges. The only exception I've found is the Chase Sapphire Reserve®. So if you have this Chase card and you're traveling through an airport with a Priority Pass–affiliated restaurant, you can stop in and save on a bite to eat.

3. A high value on points with Ultimate Rewards travel bookings

This card earns Chase Ultimate Rewards points, which are some of the most useful travel points. You can transfer them to airlines and hotels that have partnered with Chase. Other travel cards let you do this as well, and it's a good way to use points.

You can also redeem points for cash travel bookings through the Chase Travel portal. They're worth $0.015 per point when you have the Chase Sapphire Reserve®. So, every 10,000 points are worth $150 in travel.

That's a higher value than I've seen from any other credit card. There are other cards that let you redeem points for cash travel bookings. But they normally offer a value of $0.01 per point at best, which isn't a lot. With the Chase Sapphire Reserve®, you get 50% more value. It's a nice option to have, and one of the reasons Chase points are so useful.

I consider the Chase Sapphire Reserve® to be one of the best credit cards for frequent travelers. It's expensive, and if you're looking for a cheaper option, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card has a $95 annual fee. But if you spend a lot on travel, the Chase Sapphire Reserve®can help you save with its valuable, easy-to-use perks.