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Flights
For my trip to Scotland in late January 2025, I’ll be flying out of Seattle to Edinburgh, Scotland. Thanks to the Sapphire Preferred’s unique list of transfer partners, I snagged a deal with Air France. Instead of paying $970.59, I’m only spending 40,000 Ultimate Rewards® by transferring my points to its Flying Blue loyalty program—more on this later.
Transportation
For transportation, we plan to rent a car for certain parts of the trip. While I’ll earn 5 points per dollar on the rental car booking through Chase Travel, one of the biggest perks of using the Chase Sapphire Preferred is that it provides an auto rental collision damage waiver, so I won’t need to worry about extra insurance costs.
Outside of Edinburgh, we’re going to use a car to travel to the Glencoe region—for the iconic natural scenery—and Rothiemurchus—for the highland cow safari. Both are separate day trips that are about a two- to three-hour drive each way. Plus, if there are any other quick trips we decide to take on a whim, I can always pick up a rental car again for the day, knowing I’m covered by the Sapphire Preferred’s auto rental insurance.
Airbnb
Although I can’t use points to pay for my Airbnb, I’ll still earn 2 points per dollar spent on this travel expense. Our Airbnb totals $1,964 for the entire stay, which I’m covering upfront. Since I’m splitting the cost with two friends, they’ll reimburse me, but I get to keep the points—earning 3,928 Ultimate Rewards points in the process.
Dining
As a big foodie, I’m especially excited about this perk. The Chase Sapphire Preferred offers 3 points per dollar spent on dining, so indulging in local flavors—whether it’s the iconic haggis, whiskey bars or a classic Scottish breakfast—will be even more satisfying, knowing I’ll be earning extra rewards simultaneously.