Upgrade Your Travel Game — Jet Set, Bear Style
Why Chase Sapphire
JetsetBear Recommends: Chase Sapphire Reserve®
Want to travel smarter, stay better, and earn serious points? This is your move. The Chase Sapphire Reserve packs power for the frequent flyer, the suite dweller and the points optimizer.
🎯 What you’re getting:
- Earn 125,000 bonus points after spending $6,000 in the first 3 months.
- Points multiply when you book the good stuff: 8× on purchases through Chase Travel, 4× on flights & hotels booked direct, 3× on dining worldwide, and 1× everywhere else.
- A rich set of premium perks: a $300 annual travel credit, lounge access with Priority Pass Select, up to $150 every six months for exclusive dining, and more.
- Other valuable benefits: Trip cancellation/interruption insurance, rental car coverage, no foreign transaction fees.
💡 Why I like it (and you should too)
- For someone who redeems for luxury stays and premium flights (hello Hyatt Globalist, airline transfers), this card is a real enabler.
- The elevated earning on travel and dining means your “fun budget” also builds your next adventure.
- The perks help offset the $795 annual fee (yes it’s high, but for what you gain, particularly if you travel often, it can be worth it).
- It taps directly into the points ecosystem — transfer partners, award nights, premium cabins. That’s where the magic happens.
📌 Consider this
- You’ll want to make sure you’re using the card enough to justify the fee.
- Check the spend requirement early if you’re going for the bonus.
- Have a plan for your points: transferring to airlines or hotels = best value.
- Keep an eye on the perks and make sure you’re taking full advantage (lounge visits, dining credits, travel credit).
If you’re ready to apply (click on the Chase link in my Credit Card Sign Up Bonus Section) This one could be the one that sends you to your next five-star hotel stay. Stay tuned for my breakdown of how to extract maximum value from this card — hotel redemptions, airline transfers, and some JetsetBear savvy tips.
Explore the World with JetsetBear.com
Discover New Destinations
JetsetBear at Alila Ventana Big Sur
This was one of my bucket-list Hyatt redemptions — and it finally happened. I transferred Chase Sapphire Points → Hyatt Points and booked Alila Ventana Big Sur, one of the most exclusive all-inclusive resorts in the U.S.
✅ Points Used: 45,000 Hyatt points per night (3 nights = 135,000 total)
✅ Room Value: $8,962 including all meals
✅ Suite Upgrade: Used a gifted Hyatt Suite Upgrade Award (thank you, friend!)
💰 Value Per Point: ≈ 6.6¢ each — that’s more than 4x the average Chase point value.
If you’ve ever dreamed of staying here, this is your sign:
👉 You can transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points 1:1 to Hyatt
👉 You can get pre-qualified for a Chase Sapphire Preferred or Reserve card with no impact to your credit
👉 Check the link the referral link section to see if you’re eligible for a massive signup bonus right now.
As a Hyatt Globalist, I’ll be sharing tips soon on how to:
🌟 Score suite upgrades (even gifted ones)
🌟 Earn elite status faster
🌟 Maximize redemptions for crazy value.
Stay tuned for July 2026 when JetsetBear and the Grumpy Wombat head to Big Sur 🐻🦡 — it’s going to be epic.
Plan Your Dream Trip
JetsetBear & Grumpy Wombat Check In: Alila Mayakoba, Riviera Maya
Operation Plunge Pool is a go.
This spring, the JetsetBear crew is heading south to break in the brand-new Alila Mayakoba, Hyatt’s latest stunner opening in February 2026 along the Riviera Maya. Think glassy lagoons, mangroves, and oceanfront serenity with a splash (literally) of style.
The Redemption
We transferred Chase Ultimate Rewards → World of Hyatt at 29,000 points per night, locking in four nights for two guests. That’s a cash value of $6,785 USD saved, or roughly 5.8 cents per point — chef’s-kiss territory in the award-travel world.
The Suite Life
Thanks to a Hyatt Suite Upgrade Award, we’ll be lounging in an Ocean View Studio with Plunge Pool — 710 sq ft of airy bliss with a king bed, private terrace, and floor-to-ceiling views of the Caribbean. Translation: sunrise coffee, mid-day margaritas, and nighttime dips without leaving the room.
The Vibe
JetsetBear is ready for Mayan magic and mezcal therapy. Grumpy Wombat’s already mapping out taco intel and planning “hydration drills” at the pool bar. Together, we’ll explore Mayakoba’s eco-paths, cooking classes, and art-filled hideaways — all while testing how many spa robes one hus-bear can hoard.
The Takeaway
For points collectors, this redemption is pure honey. At 29K per night for a Category 6 Hyatt, it’s a world-class luxury stay at a fraction of the cost. Whether you’re saving up Chase points or plotting your first Hyatt run, bookmark this one.
Stay tuned — full debrief and mojito-powered reconnaissance coming in April 2026.
Book Accommodations
JetsetBear at Thompson Palm Springs
Another Chase → Hyatt transfer win! This time at the brand-new Thompson Palm Springs, where I used 54,000 Chase Sapphire Points (transferred 1:1 to Hyatt) for a 2-night stay in the Palm Courtyard Suite — and it would’ve cost $2,166 cash.
✅ Points Used: 54,000 total (27,000/night)
✅ Room Value: $2,166.21
✅ Suite Upgrade: Used a Hyatt Suite Upgrade Award for guaranteed suite vibes.
💰 Value Per Point: ≈ 4¢ each — that’s more than 2.5x the average Chase point value!
This is what makes Chase + Hyatt such a powerful combo — I paid zero out of pocket for a suite that blends mid-century Palm Springs style with total serenity.
If you want to check your Chase Sapphire pre-qualification (no credit impact), hit the link in the referral link section. If you’re eligible for a sign-up bonus, that’s how you start collecting points for stays like this one.
I’ll be sharing more tips soon on:
🌟 Getting Hyatt suite upgrades
🌟 Earning elite nights faster
🌟 Maximizing point value on aspirational stays
Hyatt: Alila Ventana Big Sur
Hyatt: Alila Mayakoba
Hyatt: Thompson Palm Springs
