The Traveling Tinsleys

Tag: vacation

  • Why I’m Still Getting the New Chase Sapphire Reserve — Even With the $795 Annual Fee

    Why I’m Still Getting the New Chase Sapphire Reserve — Even With the $795 Annual Fee

    When Chase announced the new $795 annual fee for the Chase Sapphire Reserve, the internet collectively lost its mind.

    And honestly? I get it.

    At first glance, $795 sounds wild for a credit card. But after looking closely at the benefits, I realized something important:

    For families who already travel, dine out, and use points strategically… this card can actually pay for itself fast.

    For our family, this is one of those rare cards where I know we’ll organically use the credits without changing our habits. 

    The Credits I’ll Actually Use

    $300 Annual Travel Credit

    This one is basically automatic for us.

    Flights, parking, hotels, rental cars, tolls — Chase applies the credit automatically to eligible travel purchases. Since we travel regularly as a family, I know we’ll burn through this almost immediately. 

    That immediately brings the “real” annual fee down to $495 in my mind.

    $300 OpenTable Dining Credit

    Chase now offers up to $300 annually toward Sapphire Reserve Exclusive Tables through OpenTable. 

    As parents who already love date nights when we travel, this feels incredibly usable for us — especially in cities we’re already visiting.

    Apple TV+ + Apple Music Included

    This benefit alone is valued at about $288 annually. 

    We already pay for Apple TV+ and Apple Music, so this is another “money I was already spending anyway” credit.

    So… Is the Fee Already Covered?

    For our family:

    • $300 travel credit
    • $300 dining credit
    • ~$288 Apple subscriptions

    That’s already $888 in value before even touching the other perks.

    And that doesn’t include:

    • $750 hotel credits
    • Airport lounge access
    • Priority Pass
    • TSA PreCheck/Global Entry credit
    • DoorDash credits + DashPass
    • Lyft credits
    • Hyatt transfer partners
    • Strong travel protections and insurance
    • The huge welcome bonus

    Why This Matters for Family Travel

    One of the reasons I love Chase points is the flexibility.

    We recently used Hyatt points for an incredible Costa Rica vacation that would’ve cost thousands out of pocket — exactly the kind of trip that reminds me why points matter so much for families.

    If you know how to maximize transfer partners like Hyatt, a strong welcome bonus alone can easily cover multiple nights at luxury resorts.

    And that’s where this card really shines.

    My Take

    This absolutely is not the right card for everyone and not for those new to the points game.

    But if you:

    • already spend on travel and dining,
    • value airport lounge access,
    • use streaming subscriptions,
    • and want to travel more as a family using points…

    …I actually think the new Sapphire Reserve is one of the most compelling premium travel cards out there right now.

    Ready to Apply?

    Use my link to apply

    New to Points & Miles?

    Grab my free beginner’s guide to learning points and miles for family travel

  • How We’ve Flown Our Kids for (Almost) Free for Years with the Southwest Companion Pass

    If you’ve ever looked at flight prices for a family and thought, “How is this even possible?”—you’re not alone. Flights add up fast when you’re booking for kids, especially if you like to travel more than once a year.

    That’s exactly why the Southwest Companion Pass has been an absolute game-changer for our family.

    Flying over Turks and Caicos on one of our many Southwest flights

    What Is the Southwest Companion Pass?

    For the past two years, we’ve had two Companion Passes in our household—and it’s allowed us to fly our kids over and over again while paying only about $5 in taxes per flight. Yes, really. It’s allowed us to take our kids to Mexico and Florida multiple times as well the Dominican Republic, Turks and Caicos and so many more places.

    In simple terms:
    When you earn a Southwest Companion Pass, you can choose one person to fly with you for free (plus taxes and fees) every time you fly Southwest—whether you pay with cash or points.

    That means:

    • We book our flights using Southwest points
    • Our kids are added as companions
    • Their tickets cost around $5–$6 each way

    No blackout dates. No complicated rules. It just works.

    How We Actually Use the Companion Pass

    This isn’t one of those “sounds good on paper” travel hacks—we use these passes constantly.

    On average, we use our Companion Passes close to 10 times a year. Some of our favorite trips include:

    • ✈️ Our annual family trip to the Florida Keys
    • 🌴 Cancún, Mexico
    • 🌊 Dominican Republic
    • 🏝 Turks and Caicos

    Because Southwest flies to so many popular vacation destinations, we’re able to plan trips around school breaks, long weekends, and random “let’s go somewhere warm” moments—without stressing about airfare costs for the kids.

    Why This Works So Well for Families

    The real magic happens when you combine:

    • Southwest points for your ticket
    • Companion Pass for your child (or spouse, parent, friend—your choice)

    Instead of paying hundreds (or thousands) for flights, we’re paying:

    • Points we earned from credit card bonuses and everyday spending
    • About $5 in taxes per companion flight

    That’s it.

    If you live near a Southwest hub, this strategy is even more powerful. More nonstop routes, better schedules, and more flexibility when plans change (Southwest’s no change fees is a huge bonus for families).

    The Current Southwest Personal Card Offer

    Current offer

    Right now, Southwest has a strong personal credit card offer that can help you work toward earning the Companion Pass.

    This is exactly how we got started—and how we were able to earn two passes in our household.

    Here is the link to apply.

    (I always recommend applying when the bonus is high, especially if your goal is the Companion Pass.)

    Is the Southwest Companion Pass Worth It?

    For us? 1000% yes.

    If you:

    • Travel with kids
    • Live near a Southwest hub
    • Want to take multiple trips per year without paying full airfare

    …this is one of the most valuable travel perks out there.

    We’ve made memories in the Florida Keys, explored beautiful beaches in Mexico and the Caribbean, and said “yes” to trips we probably would’ve skipped if we had to pay full price for everyone.

    Final Thoughts

    I’m all about travel that feels doable, not stressful—and the Southwest Companion Pass has made that possible for our family in a huge way.

    If you’re even thinking about traveling more with your kids, I highly recommend looking into this offer while it’s available.

    It would mean so much if you use my link when applying.