Chase Sapphire Reserve Points Battle: Two epic trips, one card

Welcome to the first-ever Points Battle at The Points Guy!

Our founder, Brian Kelly, wanted to put the TPG team to the test to see who could make the most of their Chase Sapphire Reserve® card’s (see rates and fees) benefits — and he even gave us a stash of points to make our dream trip a reality.

The Chase Sapphire Reserve card revamped its slate of benefits to be even more rewarding, with updated earning rates for booking trips through Chase Travel℠, new credits for hotel bookings made via The Edit by Chase and more. So, this was a great opportunity to take those new perks out for a spin.

Our first contestant was Medha Imam, a travel host and producer with TPG’s video team. Her competitor: Eric Rosen, TPG’s director of travel content.

Who would make the most of their Chase Sapphire Reserve card and the Chase Ultimate Rewards points included in this challenge?

Here’s how it all went down.

Chase Sapphire Reserve Points Battle: Rules of engagement

Before they got to planning their trips, there were a few fun stipulations to get out of the way.

Eric spins the wheel

Eric here! I happened to be in TPG’s offices in New York City last fall and ran into my colleague from the video team, Medha.

While we were chatting, we both got an email from TPG’s founder, Brian Kelly, telling us to head to his office, where we found a wheel of trip ideas that we were told to spin.

My three spins set the guidelines for my trip to be a road trip in a Spanish-speaking destination where I could also take full advantage of Chase’s Points Boost feature as I used my points to book a trip through Chase Travel.

Medha takes her turn

Medha here! I’m always up for a good competition, so I took my three spins next. My trip parameters were to head to a Spanish-speaking destination I’d never visited before and to try a few water activities.

In addition to those instructions, Brian told us that we would each have up to 250,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points to use toward our trip. And the grand prize? Another stash of 250,000 Chase points for us to use on a future trip.

The game was on!

Let the battle begin: Planning the perfect trip(s)

Next, it was time for each of our contestants to start putting their respective trips together. Where would their travels take them, and whose trip would be more compelling?

It was time to get to work.

Eric: Saying ‘sí’ to Spain

Suddenly having 250,000 Chase points on hand to use for this challenge meant that pretty much the entire world was up for consideration, especially given how useful Chase points can be.

However, I knew I needed to stick to the parameters I had gotten from spinning the wheel. Although I have traveled to Spanish-speaking countries around the globe, I have had a soft spot in my heart for Spain since I studied abroad in Madrid over 25 years ago.

I am also an aviation geek, and I have been meaning to fly Iberia’s new Airbus A321XLR, including its sleek new business-class seats, since it debuted in November 2024.

After a quick search, I found I could book a round-trip award ticket on Iberia’s A321XLR from Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) to Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) by transferring 82,000 of my Chase Ultimate Rewards points to The British Airways Club and redeeming them, plus paying about $300 in taxes and fees. That same ticket would have cost me nearly $6,000 otherwise! What’s more, I’d get to visit the Chase Sapphire Lounge by The Club at Boston Logan before my trip.

I used part of my Chase Sapphire Reserve card’s $300 annual travel credit to book an inexpensive round-trip flight from Madrid to Bilbao Airport (BIO), and then I put the rest of my annual travel credit toward a car rental.

By using my Chase Sapphire Reserve card, I could also take advantage of its primary rental car insurance instead of spending even more money on an expensive policy from the rental agency.

My trip started out on a high note. One of my favorite Chase Sapphire Reserve card perks is the fact that you can earn a statement credit of up to $120 once every four years when you use the card to pay for a Global Entry application. Thanks to my Global Entry membership, I also get TSA PreCheck, so I was able to speed through security and right to the Sapphire Lounge by the Club.

The lounge serves gourmet dishes from local favorite restaurant Sarma, along with wines from Parcelle and specialty cocktails. I was almost sad to leave for my flight. Almost.

I settled into my podlike seat on Iberia’s A321XLR and, after a quick dinner service, went right to sleep, waking up shortly before our descent into Madrid. From there, it was a quick hourlong flight to Bilbao, where I picked up my rental car and made my way into the city.

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BEN SMITHSON/THE POINTS GUY

The hotel I booked was the Radisson Collection Hotel, Gran Via Bilbao, which is part of The Edit by Chase Travel, a curated collection of luxury hotels where Chase Sapphire Reserve cardholders can enjoy elite status-like perks such as availability-based room upgrades, free daily breakfast for two and $100 on-property credits.

Instead of paying $280 per night, I could redeem just 14,000 Chase points via The Edit thanks to Points Boost. But I actually saved some of those points by paying for $250 of the total and earning one of my card’s two annual $250 statement credits toward The Edit bookings.

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ERIC ROSEN/THE POINTS GUY

The Radisson Gran Via Bilbao is in a landmark building constructed in 1945 as the headquarters of the Banco Hispano Americano. It has just 137 rooms and suites and has a rooftop bar and restaurant called Eneko Basque from famed chef Eneko Atxa. Although I did not have dinner there, I earned part of my $100 on-property credit by paying for drinks with friends thanks to my booking via The Edit. I also enjoyed the breakfast included with my stay that was served up there.

I spent a couple of days exploring the city, including the meandering alleyways of its medieval center and marveling at the art in the Guggenheim Museum.

I took in the temporary exhibitions at the Azkuna Zentroa cultural center and tucked into heaping pintxos, or small bites of local delicacies like Atlantic crab salad and jamon de bellota at the bustling La Ribera Market.

My next stop was San Sebastian, where I booked another hotel on The Edit, the Nobu Hotel San Sebastian. Even in the winter off-season, rates were still $440 per night, but thanks to Points Boost, I could book for just 22,000 points a night while enjoying the tiny hotel’s prime perch right over the bay of La Concha.

The hotel makes its home in a former Belle Époque villa that dates to 1912 and has an intimate feel thanks to the fact that there are just 17 rooms and suites, all of which overlook the bay.

Although it was a little chilly in December, I couldn’t resist leaving the door to my balcony open (I had been upgraded from a Deluxe room to a Premium Terrace room) so I could hear the sound of waves crashing along the beach.

I spent my $100 on-property credit on a leisurely lunch of dishes like spicy tuna over crispy rice at the Nobu Bar and Terrace casual restaurant, but I also enjoyed elegant breakfast dishes like a Japanese rolled egg-white omelet with feta and spinach, accompanied by house-made pastries and an assortment of fresh fruit – all included as part of my booking through The Edit.

While in town, I took a Basque cooking class at school called Kookin and learned to make dishes like a savory cod omelet, cured egg yolk over locally foraged mushrooms and a sumptuous traditional Basque cheesecake, all accompanied by Basque wines and ciders, of course. That evening, I enjoyed trying even more local specialties like grilled octopus and croquettes at a long-standing restaurant in the old town, La Cepa, where I earned 3 points per dollar on the dining charge with my Chase Sapphire Reserve card.

My final destination was the wine region of Rioja, where I could book one of my favorite wine country hotels and a landmark in its own right thanks to the fact that it was designed by architect Frank Gehry, the Marques de Riscal, a Luxury Collection Hotel, for 46,000 points per night through Chase Travel instead of the going rate of $600.

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ERIC ROSEN/THE POINTS GUY

The Marques de Riscal winery commissioned Frank Gehry to design a contemporary hotel that opened in 2006; the whorling, swooping metal-ribbon roof made it an instant landmark.

After a recent renovation and expansion, the hotel now has 61 rooms and suites, including some with huge terraces overlooking the hotel’s main structure and the medieval town of Elciego beyond.

My own room had a view of the estate vineyards, and its palette was a bright red that alluded to the tempranillo and graciano grapes that go into the winery’s vintages.

I had a private wine tasting out in the vineyards, where I got to try some of the winery’s current releases, and I even booked a horseback ride along the Camino de Santiago, a centuries-old pilgrimage trail that goes all the way from France to Santiago de Compostela near Spain’s Atlantic coast.

My trip was soon at its end, but it had been just the palate cleanser I needed before heading home for the holidays … with a few bottles of Spanish wine and some artisanal fuet sausages in tow to bring along to parties.

Medha: Colombia calling

After I spun the wheel to find out what elements I would need to incorporate into my trip planning, I was even more excited by the prospect of visiting a new-to-me destination where I could practice my Spanish skills.

It was starting to get cold, gray and ever darker as winter arrived in New York City, where I’m based, so I thought about where I could get a little Caribbean sunshine and settled on Cartagena, Colombia. With its beautiful beaches and islands, colorful architecture, and a fabulous food scene, I have been wanting to visit Cartagena for years.

It did not take me long to find the perfect flight itinerary – I needed just 42,182 Chase points redeemed through Chase Travel for a round-trip ticket from my home airport of Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) to Cartagena’s Rafael Núñez International Airport (CTG) via Miami International Airport (MIA). That saved me $633 on airfare.

I don’t live far from the airport in Newark, so I could also count on earning my card’s $10 monthly statement credit on a Lyft ride* to catch my flight.

My flights to Cartagena went off without a hitch, especially because I also have TSA PreCheck after having used my Chase Sapphire Reserve card to pay for my Global Entry application.

I had decided to book the Sofitel Legend Santa Clara Cartagena, which is a gorgeous luxury hotel in a former 17th-century convent. The hotel is part of The Edit by Chase, so I was able to offset some of the cost with one of my Chase Sapphire Reserve card’s $250 annual credits on The Edit bookings. Plus, I’d still get to enjoy all those perks that come from The Edit, including free daily breakfast, a $100 on-property credit and an availability-based room upgrade.

Although I knew it would be stunning from the photos, I was simply awestruck by the Sofitel Legend Santa Clara when I checked in.

Within moments of walking into the peachy-toned hotel, I was surrounded by the tropical flora of the central courtyard and enchanted by the calls of the jet-black great-tailed grackles roosting in the palm trees.

Thanks to my booking via The Edit, I received an upgrade from a Classic room to a Superior room overlooking the pool from its private balcony. Some of the suites are even multilevel and contain original elements from when the building was a convent.

Breakfast was included with my The Edit booking, so each morning I dug into delicious local Colombian classics like arepas de huevos (cornmeal cakes stuffed with egg), Caribbean fruits like curuba and naseberry, and plenty of different types of croissants, including one filled with passion fruit and orange.

Even after booking my flights and hotel, I still had a lot of leftover Chase points, so I used them to book several experiences via Chase Travel.

For 35,400 Chase points, I was able to book a day of snorkeling around the Rosario Islands, an untouched archipelago with 27 cays that are part of a national park. My dive guide pointed out dozens of different types of coral, as well as the colorful resident fish, such as angelfish, cowfish and damselfish.

For lunch that afternoon, we pulled into the Paue Beach Lounge, which felt like a secret spot in the middle of the sea where families kayaked around the calm waters.

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MEDHA IMAM/THE POINTS GUY

The next day, I had booked a salsa class at Casa Palenque, right off the central Plaza de la Trinidad, for just 3,500 Chase points. My lesson took place on the rooftop so I had a view over the entire 16th-century old town, and I even learned a beginners routine to a song titled “What’s Cooking?”

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MEDHA IMAM/THE POINTS GUY

I took in more of the city’s history on a private walking tour (booked with 4,400 Chase points, of course), which started at the city’s famous clock tower. Then we tried arepas de huevos at a cute restaurant called Bocaditos Madrid before sampling Colombian sweets at Dulces de Mercedes, such as earthy caramelized sesame. Our final stop was for fresh zapote juice at a juice stand, which was the perfect way to cool down at the end of the afternoon.

The following day, I needed some pampering with a dose of adventure, so I booked a trip out to El Totumo, a tiny volcano near town where you can soak in the healthy geothermal mud, for 27,859 Chase points. After a leisurely float in the mud, you jump in the nearby lake to clean off. The whole experience was simple, but fun, and left me feeling refreshed. I recommend going early to avoid the crowds, though.

Afterward, I headed back to the hotel to use my $100 on-property credit to help pay for a massage at the spa.

Being able to use my Chase points to cover my flights, hotel and a smattering of incredible activities was all good and fine, but to clinch the win, I wanted to leverage another perk of my Chase Sapphire Reserve card.

Last year, a new perk was introduced in the form of two biannual $150 credits for StubHub purchases (available through Dec. 31, 2027; activation is required), so I earned one of mine on a last-minute concert at the Centro de Convenciones Cartagena de Indias. I spent the evening swaying to tunes from a local band.

The next evening, I took a short boat ride from the city center to the Blue Apple Beach club and hotel for a sunset horseback ride on the Isla Tierra Bomba. Listening to my horse’s hooves splashing in the water while the sun dipped beneath the waves was the perfect way to end my trip.

Then it was back to the U.S. for me, and thanks to my Global Entry membership, I breezed through customs and immigration and was back home just in time to get dressed up for some holiday festivities.

The final tally

So, how did our two contestants do? Here’s a snapshot of their points tallies.

Eric’s final tally

Here’s a look at how I used my allotment of 250,000 Chase points and all the other card benefits I took advantage of:

• Round-trip flight from Boston-Madrid in Iberia business class: 82,000 points
• Radisson Gran Via Bilbao: 28,000 points
• Nobu San Sebastian: 44,000 points
• Marques de Riscal, a Luxury Collection Hotel: 92,000 points
• Other card benefits: Two hotel bookings via The Edit, using Chase Points Boost for all three hotel stays, earning 3 points per dollar spent on dining, Chase Sapphire Lounge access, $300 annual travel credit and primary rental car insurance.

Total: 246,000 points

Medha’s final tally

And now for my final points roundup, as well as other card benefits I used:

• Round-trip flights from New York to Cartagena: 42,182 points
• Sofitel Legend Santa Clara: 98,750 points
• Rosario Island snorkeling trip: 35,400 points
• Dance class: 3,500 points
• History and street food tour: 4,400 points
• Private coffee tasting: 8,200 points
• Totumo mud volcano half-day tour: 27,859 points
• Sunset horseback ride: 24,603 points

Total: 244,894 points

And the winner is …

Both Medha and Eric made full use of their points bounty and maximized the Chase Sapphire Reserve card’s benefits to boot. As Brian eagerly followed along on both trips via Instagram, he got plenty of inspiration for future adventures.

Maybe it was a hankering for South American sunshine during a snowy winter in the U.S., or the call of a dive trip in the Caribbean, but his final pick for the winner of the first-ever TPG Points Battle was Medha.

Not only did she take full advantage of her card’s benefits, but she also used points in innovative ways to make the most of her destination, including plenty of foodie experiences, a fun-filled snorkeling trip and even a soak in a mud volcano.

That said, there will definitely be some fine Riojas and jamon iberico in Brian’s near future thanks to the inspiration he got from Eric’s Spain road trip.

Congratulations to both our contestants, and we can’t wait to see how Medha puts her points winnings to use!

*Valid through Sept. 30, 2027; does not apply to Wait & Save, bike or scooter rides; activation required.