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 might really spend.
And no, I am not speaking a couple of premium journey card loaded with perks and a excessive annual payment. The MVP of my ballpark bucket checklist is definitely the Chase Sapphire Most popular® Card (see charges and charges), which, for a restricted time, is providing 100,00 bonus factors after spending $5,000 inside three months of account opening. TPG values these factors at over $2,000 based mostly on our April 2025 valuations.
Using Chase Final Rewards factors has helped me minimize my lodge bills and plan annual baseball journeys. So, with my CSP in hand, here 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 popular 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 may be off-putting. With my CSP, I offset the fee by turning reward factors into high-value lodge stays.
Chase has three lodge switch companions, however arguably, one of the best is World of Hyatt. The beneficiant award chart and 1:1 switch ratio make my factors stretch far and extensive.
A few of my finest redemptions have really come from mid-size cities with surprisingly excessive lodge costs. (I am taking a look at you, Cleveland.)
The Sapphire Most popular card additionally comes with an annual $50 lodge credit score every anniversary yr. The one caveat is that it’s a must to ebook your keep via the Chase Journey℠ portal — however there isn’t any 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. Subsequently, I’ve peace of thoughts realizing I am at all times coated 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 popular advantages: All the things it is advisable know
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Utilizing Chase’s switch companions to ebook journey
In my most up-to-date MLB journey stint, I made a decision I wished 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 have been enjoying at house. As soon as I narrowed down my dates, I began trying to find a lodge.
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 lease a automotive. In Cleveland, the Hyatt Regency Cleveland on the Arcade was centrally situated and near Progressive Area. However once I seemed up money costs for my dates, it was popping out to $320.12 an evening. This can be a bit steep, for my part, 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 April 2025 estimation. 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 charge, I simply transferred 36,000 factors to my Hyatt account to ebook my keep.
Associated: Ought to I get the World of Hyatt Credit score Card or switch factors from Chase as a substitute?
Chase’s Underrated $50 annual lodge credit score
It was time to ebook my Cincinnati lodge. The Hyatt Regency Cincinnati was in a fantastic spot and match my parameters for being shut sufficient to the Nice American Ball Park. It additionally went for a way more favorable charge — $174.18 an evening after taxes and charges.
My two-night itinerary was thought of “peak” nights, making it 15,000 Hyatt factors an evening. Had I made that redemption, I’d have solely gotten a price of about 1.2 cents per level, which is underneath our 1.7-cent Hyatt valuation — so, not deal.
I shortly checked my CSP advantages and realized I hadn’t used my $50 annual lodge credit score but. This appeared like the right alternative.
By reserving via the Chase portal, I’d ultimately obtain a $50 assertion credit score, decreasing the 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 underneath $100
The massive image: How far can 100k Chase factors take you?
To date, 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 lodge costs may be surprisingly excessive.
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Should you’d favor to remain at a boutique lodge (or one other model), you can too redeem your factors via Chase Journey for a set worth of 1.25 cents apiece. Simply take note you’d probably get higher worth by transferring to one among Chase’s lodge companions as a substitute.
With 100,000 Chase factors, I might theoretically cowl 10 nights at a number of Hyatt properties across the U.S. Here is how:
| Metropolis | Resort | Two nights on factors | Money Worth | Factors Worth* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baltimore, Maryland | Hyatt Regency Baltimore Interior Harbor | 24,000 (customary charge) | $582.80 | 2.4 cents |
| Phoenix, Arizona | Hyatt Regency Phoenix | 18,000 (off-peak charge) | $508.82 | 2.8 cents |
| Cleveland, Ohio | Hyatt Regency Cleveland on the Arcade | 24,000 (customary charge) | $620.24 | 2.6 cents |
| Houston, Texas | Hyatt Place Houston / Downtown | 18,000 (customary charge) | $326.17 | 1.8 cents |
| St. Louis, Missouri | Hyatt Regency St. Louis at The Arch | 13,000 (off-peak charge) | $356.86 | 2.7 cents |
*Worth is predicated on our TPG April 2025 valuations.
With the Chase Sapphire Most popular card, I might simply pay for 10 nights at 5 totally different ballpark cities with this one limited-time welcome bonus (and save nearly $2,500).
Though the desk above is a mixture of customary and off-peak charges, baseball season runs for a number of months, so you’ll be able to probably discover off-peak pricing if you happen to’re versatile in your journey dates (and stretch your factors even additional).
Associated: Who’s eligible for the Chase Sapphire Most popular’s 100,000-point bonus?
Backside Line
You should use factors to redeem for once-in-a-lifetime journey, or you’ll be able to chip away at a distinct segment bucket checklist merchandise like I’ve, redeeming factors slowly however absolutely.
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 choice provides you totally different decisions within the metropolis you are visiting.
The Chase Sapphire Most popular 100,000-point bonus provide will not final eternally. Should you’ve been excited about beginning your personal bucket checklist journey — or simply wish to get monetary savings on journey — the time to use is now.
To study extra, learn our full overview of the Chase Sapphire Most popular card.
