CSP vs Hyatt vs Marriott

[Josh2942]

So I have been coveting the CSP for quite some time now. The addition of the Freedom to my wallet was the first step to maximizing UR points with the Checking/Freedom/CSP triple threat. I don't mind the annual fee but when I compared it to the marriott and Hyatt it seemed like it was lacking. They offer 40k points for 3k spend (2k in branch) and 2x dining and travel. The Hyatt offers 2 free nights at any location after only 1k in spending. 3x on Hyatt properties 2x on dining and travel and a bonus night at any location providing it's categories 1-4 hotel. Now the catch is for travel it has to be booked though the airliner and not a cheaper source. But come on. That free night pays the low annual fee. Now the Marriott offers 50k points after 1k spend. Similar setup up as the Hyatt except you get a free night just for being approved! Than every anniversary you can stay at any 1-5 category location. Plus you get 5x points on martini spending including Ritz Carlton. Not to mention they are both Chip enabled no FTF and made of metal. What's so amazing about the CSP other than the initial bonus and 7% dividend? The fee for the Hyatt is 75 Marriott 85 and CSP 95. What's in your wallet? And why do you think one is better than the other?

[DaveSignal]

CSP offers 1:1 point transfer to partners, making the points more valuable than Mariott or Hyatt points.  Plus it allows combining UR from cards like the Freedom.

[Josh2942]

Fair enough. But why not just get the non annual fee sapphire and a partner card? Doesn't the regular sapphire do a 1:1 transfer?

[DaveSignal]

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@Josh2942 wrote:
Fair enough. But why not just get the non annual fee sapphire and a partner card? Doesn't the regular sapphire do a 1:1 transfer?

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No, the regular sapphire does not offer transfers.  You cannot combine points.  It also has foreign transaction fees. It is a pretty useless card.

ETA:  You do not need a "partner card" to transfer points with the CSP.  You can transfer direct to United miles, for example.

[nachoslibres]

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@Josh2942 wrote:
Fair enough. But why not just get the non annual fee sapphire and a partner card? Doesn't the regular sapphire do a 1:1 transfer?

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No - it doesn't.  You have to have one of the premium Chase cards - Sapphire Preferred, Ink Bold, or Ink Plus to get the transfer.  You only need one - and then can use the benefits of being able to do transfers between any of the other cards.  Without a premium card you are basically limited to using your points for cash back.

[Josh2942]

So the CSP is still needed and can't be replaced in the triple threat. Thanks for informing me. A may still add it to my wallet

[jm1991]

depends if you stay at the hotels. Im not quite sure how many hotels Hyatt has but i can say that marriot has plenty of hotels from low budget to 5* ones so finding one thats to your liking will not be hard. CSP has good points but you have to really spend to break even with the $95 fee. Marriot gives you the free night certificate annualy reguardless of spending but its only in catagories 1-4 for the first year and 1-5 after. For me it works since the marriott in San jose is a 5 and the rates go no lower than 129+tax so the annual fee break it even. I was also able to get the 70k marriott points by emailing chase and telling them i had received the offer (i actually didnt) and if they could award the additional 20k points after meeting the reqauirement. 

Im not all too familiar with the Hyatt card or rewards system 

[Josh2942]

Where I live there aremany Hyatt's In New York the Hyatt starts at 549 so the initial ofer is fantastic since it's two free nights. That would be great during New Years. Next I usually stay at the category 4 so the annual would be great. I'm 19 so finding hotels that allow check in under 21 is hard. But that's just me. The 75 dollars is nothing with the free night and free upgrade to gold passport level. I don't think I spend enough at restaurants and travel to make it worth it. But that's just me.

[nachoslibres]

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@Josh2942 wrote:
So the CSP is still needed and can't be replaced in the triple threat. Thanks for informing me. A may still add it to my wallet

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You don't have to have the CSP for the triple threat, you could use the Ink Bold or Plus.  I have the Freedom + Chase Checking (which basically gives me 5.5 points/$ for the quarterly bonus categories and 1.1 points/$ for everything else) and then the Chase Ink Bold which gives me 5 points/$ for office supplies, cell, telephone, cable, and 2 points/$ for gas.  But, the biggest advantage of the Ink Bold, just like the CSP, is the ability to take the points from the Freedom and from the Bold and use them either to transfer 1:1 to the Chase mileage partners or to redeem at 1.25 cents per point for travel in the Chase portal.

I personally don't find the CSP bonus categories good for my spending since we don't dine out much and since almost all of my travel purchases and non categorized spending (including a lot of business purchases) go on my Barclaycard Arrival.  I do plan on waiting about a year - since I have just recently acquired both my Chase cards - and getting the Chase Hyatt card for the reasons you listed before - the initial bonus is awesome and even if you don't use the card the annual fee will more than pay for itself for a free stay every night.  I would end up using the card to book hotel rooms though - since they give 3x points - and then using Ultimate Reward points to top off whatever I need for Hyatt stays.

[mongstradamus]

I have also been contemplating the CSP, I have the freedom to combo up with it. I am just not so sure if i do enough traveling to warrant the CSP. Do most people use their csp as their every day card? I know this isn't the best comparison but is it still worth using CSP for everyday , if you have another card that has 5% category say sallie mae,It, or BCP,  that gets 6% on groceries.

I know with UR points sometimes you can transfer to something thats actually more than 1 cent per point., but I don't understand the appeal  is it mainly for people who take business trips few times an month ?