We Gave Two People 150,000 Chase Points and Let Them Go Wild

Why It Matters

The contest demonstrates the tangible value of premium travel rewards, encouraging consumers to maximize points through strategic bookings and inspiring broader adoption of Chase Sapphire Preferred.

Key Takeaways

• Participants received 150,000 Chase points to design dream vacations.
• Tanner combined Madrid stopover, Marrakech stay, and New Zealand adventure.
• Lindsey leveraged Hyatt transfers, local tours, and culinary experiences.
• Points were maximized via Chase Travel, hotel credits, and transfer partners.
• Winner earned additional 150,000 points and future travel inspiration.

Summary

Points Battle, a contest hosted by The Points Guy, gave two travelers 150,000 Chase Sapphire Preferred points each to craft a “dream vacation” entirely on rewards. The challenge emphasized creativity, value, and storytelling, pushing participants to showcase the card’s perks while staying within a points budget.

Tanner’s itinerary blended a Madrid layover, a Marrakech boutique hotel stay, and a multi‑city New Zealand adventure, using Chase Travel to book flights for 37,618 and 63,083 points, a $50 hotel credit, and Hyatt transfers for a Park Hyatt stay at 25,000 points. Lindsey focused on a Hawaiian‑style wine tour on Waiheke Island, a Park Hyatt Auckland reservation, and local experiences, extracting extra points through Lyft rides and dining bonuses.

Both contestants highlighted unique experiences—Tanner’s leather‑working workshop in Morocco, Lindsey’s olive‑oil tasting, and a kayak tour of Milford Sound—while narrating their trips with vivid video footage. The host crowned Tanner the winner, awarding him an additional 150,000 points and prompting a discussion of future destinations.

The showdown illustrates how premium travel cards can fund luxury travel, incentivize point transfers, and generate user‑generated content that markets the card’s ecosystem. For rewards‑savvy consumers, it underscores the importance of strategic booking and leveraging ancillary benefits to stretch points further.

Original Description

We put Chase Sapphire Preferred points to the ultimate test. Each of us started with 150,000 points and had to book a real trip — flights, hotels, experiences — with no outside help. The person who gets the most value, the best adventure, or the most creative redemption wins an extra 150,000 Chase points. In this video we break down every booking, every transfer partner move, and every decision that went into our strategies. Whether you're a points beginner or a seasoned traveler, this is the redemption guide you didn't know you needed.