Chase Freedom and Freedom Unlimited offering 5% back on hotel bookings through March

Some of the offers mentioned below are no longer available.

Chase is offering a special promotion for Freedom cardholders this month – an increased rewards rate on hotel purchases. Through Mar. 31, 2020, eligible Chase Freedom and Chase Freedom Unlimited cardholders can earn 5% cash back on up to $2,500 in hotel purchases made in the Ultimate Rewards portal.

If you have either of these cards and have a trip coming up soon, now is a great time to book your accommodations. You can earn the inflated rate on any reservations you make by Mar. 31, 2020, even if your travel dates are later in the year. Though there is a spend threshold of $2,500 on the bonus rate, you can still earn a whopping $125 in cash back if you meet the full cap.

To access this promotion, log into your Chase account through this link, originally published on Doctor of Credit. Don’t forget to check out the terms and conditions listed alongside the offer to ensure your purchases will qualify for bonus cash back.

Should you use your Freedom card for all hotel purchases?

When it comes to booking travel through the Ultimate Rewards portal, Chase enthusiasts typically turn to the Chase Sapphire Reserve or Chase Sapphire Preferred Card, which offer a higher earning rate on travel purchases than either of the Freedom cards.

Rewards rate on popular Chase cards

Card	Rewards rate
Chase Freedom	5% cash back on rotating bonus categories that you must activate each quarter (on up to $1,500 per quarter) 5% cash back on Lyft purchases (through March 2022) 1% cash back on general purchases
Chase Freedom Unlimited	5% cash back on Lyft purchases (through March 2022) 1.5% cash back on all purchases
Chase Sapphire Preferred Card	5 points per dollar on Lyft purchases (through March 2022) 2 points per dollar on travel and restaurant purchases 1 point per dollar on general purchases
Chase Sapphire Reserve	10 points per dollar on Lyft purchases (through March 2022) 3 points per dollar on travel and restaurant purchases (excluding those covered by $300 travel credit) 1 point per dollar on general purchases

Plus, both Sapphire cards offer an increased point value on travel booked through Ultimate Rewards, meaning you’ll get more out of the card whether you pay with points or cash. Outside of this limited-time promotion, the Freedom and Freedom Unlimited cards aren’t best suited to Ultimate Rewards hotel purchases.

Nevertheless, this offer is a great way to earn more cash back on any hotel purchases you have upcoming. If you can book any travel you’ve already planned by the end of March, you can enjoy the best earning rate on hotel purchases of any Chase card.