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The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see rates and fees) is packed with benefits in exchange for its modest $95 annual fee.One of the most valuable is its up to $100 annual hotel statement credit, available each account anniversary year for prepaid hotel stays booked through Chase Travel℠. On its own, this credit can more than offset the card's annual fee.At TPG, it's no secret we consider the Sapphire Preferred one of the best travel credit cards. If it's not already in your wallet, you should consider applying — especially now, since the card is offering a stellar 100,000 bonus points, earned after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.Here's how you can take advantage of the Sapphire Preferred's hotel benefit, including some quick one-night getaways.How to use the $100 annual hotel credit on the Chase Sapphire Preferred in 2026Booking a hotel through Chase Travel to unlock the $100 statement credit on the Sapphire Preferred is relatively easy — there's nothing you need to activate first.First, log in to your Chase account on your device.On desktop, select Travel on the right-hand side of the screen. On the mobile app, select Benefits travel on the bottom menu bar and then the Book travel icon on the next screen.Once you're in the Chase Travel portal, check the drop-down in the top-right corner (desktop) or at the top (mobile app) to make sure your Sapphire Preferred is selected.CHASEFrom here, you can pick a destination, pick your dates and browse available hotels.How I used my $100 hotel statement creditAfter attending an Atlanta Braves baseball game with my family on Friday, I decided to extend my stay through Sunday.I searched on Chase Travel for Atlanta-area hotels around $100 per night. I found the Atlanta Marriott Alpharetta, about 25 minutes from Truist Park. At $135 per night, I would pay $35 out of pocket with my Sapphire Preferred for a nice suburban hotel.CHASEI selected my room and toggled to Pay with card versus sticking with the Use points option that was automatically selected. Then I checked out.CHASEAfter entering my personal information, my reservation was confirmed, and the pending charge appeared immediately in my recent transactions.Other examples of how to use your $100 hotel statement creditThere isn't just one right way to use the Sapphire Preferred's hotel credit.You can apply it toward a longer hotel stay or, like I did, use it to reduce the cost of a one-night getaway.To find a less expensive stay, you can filter by your minimum and maximum nightly price.CHASEThis way, you could find stays that really pack a punch when you apply the card's $100 credit.CHASETPG credit cards editor Olivia Mittak recently covered most of the cost of an overnight stay after a concert at the Holiday Inn Express Suites Bend South, paying just $46 out of pocket after applying the credit.Related: How to redeem Chase Ultimate Rewards points for maximum valueTips for using the Sapphire Preferred hotel creditYou must use your Sapphire Preferred and book through the Chase Travel portal to receive this credit. You won't earn it if you book directly with the hotel or through another website.The terms and conditions read:A statement credit (up to an annual maximum of $100) will automatically be applied when your card is used for hotel accommodation purchases made through Chase Travel.The first $100 in Chase Travel hotel purchases will not earn rewards points.AUGUSTA STONE/THE POINTS GUYTo receive the full $100, you have to spend at least $100.You may earn loyalty program points in certain programs for your stay, even though Chase Travel is considered an external travel booking service. With some bookings, you may see a loyalty program eligible tag. Or, you may get lucky and have your points added to your stay regardless of the tag.In my case, I added my Marriott Bonvoy number to my booking at checkout and received Marriott points for my stay — but this is not guaranteed for all bookings.CHASEBecause this may not work for every hotel or every loyalty program, it could be a good idea to book independent or boutique hotels without a loyalty program through the Chase Travel portal.Related: Chase Sapphire Preferred 100,000-point bonus — all your questions answeredHow long does it take for the Chase Sapphire Preferred hotel credit to post?According to the benefit terms, the $100 credit should hit your account within three business days, but it may take up to four weeks.CHASEIn my experience, the credit was posted the day after my stay.Related: 8 Chase Sapphire Preferred benefits you might not know about in 2026Is the $100 Chase Sapphire Preferred hotel credit worth it?Considering the $100 hotel credit on the Sapphire Preferred has virtually no restrictions except that you need to book your stay on the Chase Travel portal, it's a no-brainer. It also effectively offsets the card's annual fee.Just remember that the benefit resets each account anniversary year rather than each calendar year, so it's worth keeping track of when your account was opened.Related: The 8 best credit cards with annual fees under $100Bottom lineThe Sapphire Preferred's up to $100 annual hotel credit is one of the easiest statement credits to maximize. Whether you use it for a one-night getaway, a stopover during a longer trip or part of a larger vacation, it can easily offset the card's $95 annual fee.Consider using it for a boutique or independent hotel so you don't forgo any qualifying elite nights or hotel points. Or use it in a case like mine, where I was locked into a certain weekend, and the credit proved valuable.Combined with the card's strong earning rates, valuable transfer partners and current 100,000-point welcome offer, it's one of the most compelling benefits on one of our favorite mid-tier travel rewards cards.To learn more, read our full review of the Chase Sapphire Preferred.Apply here: Chase Sapphire PreferredEditorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

Many Florida beach destinations bustle with boardwalks, beach bars and high-rise resorts. But just off the coast of the Florida Gulf sits an island better suited for travelers seeking a slower, more laid-back escape. Maybe it's the stretches of shell-covered beaches, the daily wildlife encounters or the island's slow paced, nature-focused atmosphere, but Sanibel Island carries a special kind of energy that feels like a little slice of paradise away from the rest of the world.PAIGE STEPANIAN/THE POINTS GUYFor my family, trips to Sanibel have been an annual tradition for as long as I can remember. I grew up on quiet sea shell hunts, tandem bike rides around the island and dinners at the same local restaurants we returned to year after year. But after Hurricane Ian devastated the island in 2022, our visits came to a halt.The storm left a lasting mark on Sanibel. Businesses and hotels were heavily damaged, wildlife habitats were threatened and the Sanibel Causeway collapsed in sections, cutting off access to the island by land.I recently returned to Sanibel for the first time since Hurricane Ian, and while rebuilding efforts are still underway, the island's recovery has been remarkable. More than 70% of businesses, restaurants and hotels have reopened, its beaches restored and the causeway has been rebuilt. Although the Sanibel I grew up loving looks a little different today, its welcoming spirit is as strong as ever — and it's ready for your visit.Related: The best resorts in Florida for a relaxing vacation in the Sunshine StateHow to get to Sanibel IslandPAIGE STEPANIAN/THE POINTS GUYBecause of its location along Florida's Gulf Coast, getting to Sanibel Island requires flying into a nearby city before driving across the Sanibel Causeway onto the island. The closest and most convenient airport is Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW), located about 25 miles east of Sanibel, or roughly a 45-minute drive away. The airport offers more than 75 nonstop routes from major U.S. cities on airlines including American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, JetBlue, Southwest Airlines and United Airlines.Since I live in Charlotte, I opted to fly out of Concord-Padgett Regional Airport (JQF) into a smaller and more budget friendly hub: Punta Gorda Airport (PGD). Located about 50 miles north of Sanibel Island, the drive from Punta Gorda takes around 1 hour and 15 minutes. The airport is primarily served by Allegiant Air, which operates a smaller schedule of domestic routes.Flights into Punta Gorda are more limited than those into Fort Myers, but travelers departing from cities with direct service can often find significantly cheaper fares. I paid $74.50 for my flight from Concord to Punta Gorda, though fares can start as low as $65. For me, the extra 30 minutes of driving time was well worth the savings.Once arrived, visitors will need to rent a car or arrange transportation through a rideshare app for the drive across the Sanibel Causeway onto the island.Where to stay on Sanibel IslandPAIGE STEPANIAN/THE POINTS GUYUnlike larger Florida beach destinations, Sanibel Island has a relatively small hotel footprint, consisting of many independently owned resorts and inns. Still, travelers looking to maximize their points and miles will find several redemption opportunities through travel rewards programs and nearby hotel chains.A number of properties on Sanibel Island are bookable through popular travel rewards programs, such as Chase Travel, Capital One Travel and American Express Travel.Sanibel InnAmong the best-value options is Sanibel Inn, voted the island's best hotel in 2025 by Sanibel/Captiva Islander Magazine. Featuring guestrooms, suites and condominiums, the property has accommodations for parties of one to eight — plus plenty of family-friendly amenities like pickleball courts, temperature controlled pools and bikes to help you get around the island. Rates start at $284 per night, or 28,446 Capital One miles.Sundial Beach Resort SpaTravelers seeking a more upscale resort experience can also consider beachfront properties like Sundial Beach Resort Spa. This is a full service resort, equipped with condo-style accommodations and a wide range of on-site activities, making it especially well-suited for family vacations. Rates average at $459 per night, or 56,642 Chase Ultimate Rewards points.Shalimar Beach ResortFor a quieter, more intimate stay, Shalimar Beach Resort offers a boutique-style experience with classic Old Florida charm. Family-owned since 1959, the property has remained a longtime favorite among visitors looking for a more relaxed beach getaway. Rates start at $299 per night, or 33,315 Chase Ultimate Rewards points.Sanibel Cottages - Hilton Grand VacationsCottage-style rentals are also common on Sanibel Island, where many visitors opt for condo communities and longer, more relaxed stays over traditional hotels. My family owns two fixed weeks through a timeshare program at Sanibel Cottages, a Hilton Grand Vacations property we've returned to year after year.Hilton Grand Vacations operates as Hilton's timeshare ownership program, where members pay upfront costs and annual fees in exchange for ClubPoints that can be used at HGV resorts and other travel experiences. Travelers don't necessarily need to own through Hilton Grand Vacations to stay at some HGV properties. Depending on availability, many can also be booked using standard Hilton Honors points — and in some cases, ClubPoints can be transferred to Hilton Honors points as well.Where to eat and drink in Sanibel, FloridaPAIGE STEPANIAN/THE POINTS GUYThese are a few of the best spots to eat and drink on the island.Over Easy CafeMornings on Sanibel are best spent slowly, preferably with a stack of pancakes and a glass of fresh Florida orange juice in hand. There's no better way to get your breakfast fix than stopping by Over Easy Cafe, an island favorite for a hearty breakfast.One of the cafe's popular menu items is the Scrambler, featuring three scrambled eggs on a toasted English muffin served with a side of your choice and whatever toppings suit your fancy. The giant homemade sticky orange roll is another standout menu item, but in my humble opinion, a stack of Over Easy Cafe's perfectly crispy (and not overly sweet) coconut pancakes steals the show every time.Doc Fords Rum Bar and GrillePAIGE STEPANIAN/THE POINTS GUYDoc Ford's Rum Bar and Grille works for just about any appetite when it comes to lunch and dinner. The extensive menu spans a variety of cuisines, but if there's one thing you need to know about Doc Ford's, it's this: Order the Yucatan shrimp.Renowned throughout Southwest Florida, an order of Yucatan shrimp features steamed peel-and-eat shrimp tossed in a spicy citrus butter sauce, served with plenty of crusty bread for soaking up every last bite. And before dessert, don't skip the restaurant's complementary key lime mints, which I personally have no shame in taking a few extra of for my journey back home.Timbers Restaurant and Fish MarketThere's nothing better than getting dressed up for a nice dinner after a long day at the beach. Timbers Restaurant and Fish Market is a longtime Sanibel staple that combines a classic seafood restaurant with an on-site fish market, creating an upscale coastal dining experience.The restaurant has been served fresh seafood for decades, with menu favorites ranging from oysters and crab cakes to locally caught fish dishes. The daily fresh catch entree, featuring whatever seafood was brought in locally that day, keeps the menu feeling fresh and seasonal.Attached to Timbers is its sister restaurant, The Sanibel Grill, which offers a more casual, high-energy atmosphere with burgers, wings pizza and seafood favorites.Pinnochios Original Italian Ice CreamPAIGE STEPANIAN/THE POINTS GUYAfter all my years of visiting Sanibel, Pinocchio's Original Italian Ice Cream is still the only place I go for a sweet treat on the island. Its neon green walls and kitschy ceiling decor create a fun and whimsical environment — even when the line stretches out the door — while its rotating lineup of 130 homemade ice cream and sorbet flavors provide something for every kind of sweet tooth.Things to do in Sanibel, FloridaPAIGE STEPANIAN/THE POINTS GUYConsider this a local's guide of can't-miss activities in Sanibel.Visit the beach for sunsets and shellingKnown as the Seashell Capital of the World, Sanibel Island is home to over 400 different species of seashells, drawing visitors from around the world in search of rare and colorful finds. Thanks to the island's orientation, mounds of shells wash onto the beaches daily, turning every stroll into a treasure hunt. Along the shoreline, it's common to see beachgoers doing the famous Sanibel stoop, scanning the sand for conchs, kitten paws, tulips and other unique shells. The best shelling is usually during low tide or after a storm, when fresh shells are pushed onto the beaches overnight.As the day winds down, the beaches reveal a different kind of beauty. The sky glows with shades of orange and pink as the sun sinks into the Gulf, creating an unforgettable view from the quiet shoreline. Oftentimes, you'll be able to spot a dolphin or two in the distance. A sunset on Sanibel Island is something you won't want to miss.Sanibel Island Farmers MarketPAIGE STEPANIAN/THE POINTS GUYEvery Sunday, the island's local food vendors and small business owners come together to serve the community at the Sanibel Island Farmers Market. The vibrant outdoor market has something for everyone: Fresh produce, flowers, handcrafted jewelry, baked goods, custom-made apparel and food trucks.Rent bikes for a leisurely journey around the islandA trip to Sanibel Island is inherently leisurely — quiet, slow-paced and built for relaxation — and its environment reflects this lifestyle. With nearly 70% of its land protected as wetlands, wildlife refuge and conservation land, Sanibel Island is a sanctuary for sea turtles, birds, mangroves and more.The island's commitment to preservation is woven into everyday life, from habitat restoration projects to eco-conscious development decisions, like the absence of street and traffic lights, which helps protect nesting sea turtles from disorientation.My favorite way to experience the island has always been to unplug and take it all in from its scenic bike paths. Riding along the natural terrain and wildlife refuges — including J.N. Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge — makes wildlife sightings part of the adventure too.There are several bike rental shops on the island, but my family has long been loyal to Finnimore's Bike and Beach Rentals. Bike rentals start at just $21, and visitors can save valuable vacation time by taking advantage of the company's delivery and pick-up service. If you stop in person to pick up your wheels, it's also worth checking out Finnimore's kayak, paddleboard and beach equipment rentals.One of the best spots to visit during a long island bike ride is the Sanibel Lighthouse. This iconic landmark sits at the eastern point of the island and makes the perfect stop for a day of shelling, fishing or simply soaking in peaceful Gulf views.When Hurricane Ian struck, the lighthouse lost one of its legs but remarkably remained standing. Even as the island faced some of the storm's worst destruction, the standing lighthouse became a symbol of hope for many islanders, and when the landmark and surrounding beach reopened in 2023, it marked a meaningful step forward in Sanibel's recovery.Bailey-Matthews National Shell MuseumPAIGE STEPANIAN/THE POINTS GUYBailey Matthews National Shell Museum's Great Hall of Shells is an exhibit dedicated to nearly 600,000 sea shells from around the world, with the core of its inventory originating from the waters of Florida, the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean. After sustaining significant damage during Hurricane Ian in 2022, the exhibit underwent a full re-design and re-installation. Today, the Museum's collection is once again on display, thoughtfully arranged in gallery cases beneath the space's striking 30-foot ceilings.The Museum also doubles as an aquarium with the presence of its Living Gallery of Aquariums and Marine Life exhibit. Visitors can wander between tanks and observe over 50 species of mollusks and other animals including a giant clam, cuttlefish and even a giant Pacific octopus — the largest species of octopus in the world.Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

Listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all major podcast apps. Kelly McEvers: This episode is for the DIY nation. The people who see something they like and say, “I can make that.” People like Marcia and Dave Johnson. Their farm in Windsor, Illinois, is filled with DIY projects. The house… Marcia Johnson: The house is modeled after one in Williamsburg, Virginia. We found the house plan at the back of a magazine. Kelly: The gate… Marcia: The gate that you enter is a copy of King George VI’s gate in England. Kelly: The musical stones in the garden… Marcia: They are like an outdoor xylophone, but they’re made out of granite, and they actually can be played. You take a little marimba stick out there, and it makes a different sound depending on which one. Kelly: And this one feature that has actually become a tourist attraction. Marcia: When you come up the driveway, you don’t see it. And so then I bring people around this very large oak tree, and they see it for the first time, and they’re amazed because it’s much bigger than they expected, I think. Kelly: This big thing she’s talking about is a tower, almost like a fairy-tale tower, tall and spindly with a pointy roof. There’s this ramp thing that winds its way around the tower all the way up to the top. Marcia: And so the very first thing I do is have them sit on a little bench with the tower in the background under a sign that says Bienvenue, meaning “welcome.” Kelly: The sign is in French, not for the visitors, but for the goats. I’m Kelly McEvers and this is Atlas Obscura, a celebration of the world’s strange, incredible, and wondrous places. And today’s episode is brought to you in partnership with Enjoy Illinois. And today, Dave and Marcia Johnson are going to introduce us to their goat tower, the Tower of Baa-Goat, which is inhabited by a flock of goats who speak French—Swiss French to be exact. We’ll talk about 19th-century architectural follies and why goats like to climb and how sometimes household projects take on a life of their own. That’s after this. This is an edited transcript of the Atlas Obscura Podcast: a celebration of the world’s strange, incredible, and wondrous places. Find the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all major podcast apps. Kelly: When Dave and Marcia Johnson were building their house, the one inspired by a building in Colonial Williamsburg, they happened to have some bricks left over. And for them, a pile of unused bricks is an opportunity, the start of a new potential project. One day, when Dave was reading a magazine… Marcia: Decanter magazine, which is a wine magazine out of the UK, did a feature article on Charles Back at the Fairview Winery in South Africa, and so that’s where my husband saw the picture of the goat tower. Kelly: This, of course, is Marcia Johnson. She’s a retired school teacher. Dave is a retired crop insurance salesman. The Fairview Winery goat tower in the magazine looked like a tower from a fairy tale. Or maybe if you live on a farm in central Illinois, a grain silo with a big ramp that spirals up around the outside of it. Charles Back had built this tower on his vineyard in South Africa because he also had a herd of goats for making cheese, and the tower was meant as a jungle gym for them. Marcia: These are Saanen goats that live in the tower, and Saanen goats originate from the Saanen region of Switzerland. I think that might be why they like to climb. They’re just automatic climbers. They see the tower, they go up it. Kelly: These Saanen goats from the Alps had been domesticated for milk production. Marcia: They’re actually called “Queen of the Milkers” because they give such prolific milk and such delicious milk. Kelly: The Fairview winery in South Africa was inspired by an even older goat tower from the 1800s at a winery in Portugal. That one was built as a kind of architectural folly. Or an interesting building with no real purpose other than just to be interesting. Or, as the family behind that vineyard put it, an artistic daydream with no functional explanation. In any case, Dave was smitten. Marcia: He was intrigued by it, and he, I think, he was just always thinking about different unique things that could be done. So, yeah, he was the idea guy, and then I’m the maintenance person. Kelly: I should point out that the Johnsons did not actually have any goats at this time—like at all. Still, Dave pushed ahead. This was back in the late ’90s. Marcia: And he saw the picture of the Fairview Winery, and he showed it to the bricklayer, and the bricklayer said, “Oh yeah, I could do that.” He was a master bricklayer who had come out of retirement just to do this, because I guess he was intrigued by it. In fact, he said to Dave, “You’re the craziest guy I’ve ever known.” So anyway, it was in the works before I knew anything about it. I was off, working. And they got this all planned out and got it started. The only thing I got to say was where to put it, which was outside my kitchen window. So I measured 50 feet outside my kitchen window, and that’s where they built the tower. Kelly: But unlike the design of their house, which had plans they got from a magazine, there were no plans for the goat tower. So Dave improvised. He and the bricklayer used the photograph from the magazine and worked backwards. They designed a tower that essentially had floors with little compartments on each floor that the goats could hang out in. But the actual measurements required a lot of guesswork, because, again, they were working off a photograph. Marcia: Well, they got the scale wrong. The diameter is about a foot bigger, and by the time they got to the four compartments that the Fairview winery has, it was out of proportion. It was too squat looking, so they had to do one more complete wrap, making it the world’s largest goat tower by mistake. Kelly: We’re talking now about a tower that’s 31 feet tall with a diameter of 7.5 feet. So this is like the height of a two- or three-story building. Marcia: And then they had to order another load of brick ’cause they ran out of brick, and the whole point was to use up the brick that was left over. So, they ordered another load of brick, and that was no small thing because those are handmade brick in North Carolina. So they got another shipment, finished the tower, they got the whole thing done in three months. Kelly: Now that Marcia and Dave had a goat tower. The next thing they needed was goats. They chose Saanen goats from Switzerland, naturally, just like the Fairview winery. And when the goats got there, they went straight for the tower. Marcia: They were in it just about instantly, and we had quite a few babies born on the place. We’ve had over 100 goats over the years, and one of the little boys, two days old, climbed all the way to the top of the tower, and then he got up there and he cried because it was easy to go up, but it’s hard to come down. So Dave went out and he went up the tower. It was funny because the mother was standing below the tower, kind of like, Well, what are you gonna do now that you’re up there? So Dave went and he carried him down, and then the next day the little guy did the same thing, went way up, and then cried because, again, he didn’t want to come down. So Dave went up and made him walk in front of him, and then he got it, and then he couldn’t keep the little guy down. So sometimes the goats will be up in their compartments, or sometimes they’ll just plunk themselves down on the stairs that go over the end of the spiral stairs that go around it. So yeah, they like to be out looking from above, I think. Kelly: Word got around about this goat tower on the Johnson’s farm. It started with some local newspaper articles, then it was picked up in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Their farm in central Illinois is about a two-hour drive from St. Louis. And from there, it just kept spreading. Marcia: We even ended up on the local phone book, which was ironic because it was a phone book for Findlay, and we’re actually in Windsor, but they put our goat tower on the Findlay phone book. So yeah, it got around and it’s been since the ’90s. Kelly: Soon, the goat tower became a full-on attraction. Marcia: It’s just a way or something that people can spend about 40 minutes out of their day to come and see something different, very un–central Illinois, as I would say. Kelly: And according to Dave and Marcia, the goats seem to enjoy the attention. Marcia: They love visitors. Sometimes it takes them a little bit to decide that they’re going to come out of the tower, but once they come down, then they love to be petted and made over, and yes, they’re, they’re friendly goats. They are friendly goats. Kelly: If you would like to visit the Tower of Baa-Goat, head over to their website, goattowerfarm.com, and drop Marcia a line to get a full tour. We will post a link in the episode description. Listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all major podcast apps. Our podcast is a co-production of Atlas Obscura and Sirius XM podcasts. This episode was produced by Amanda McGowan. The production team for this episode includes Dylan Thuras, Doug Baldinger, Kameel Stanley, Johanna Mayer, Manolo Morales, Jerome Campbell, Amanda McGowan, Alexa Lim, Casey Holford, and Luz Fleming. Our theme music is by Sam Tyndall.