Why I Opened a Chase Sapphire Preferred After Downgrading My Sapphire Reserve

The author downgraded from Chase Sapphire Reserve to a no-annual-fee Chase Freedom Unlimited due to the Reserve's $795 fee and overlapping benefits. They later opened the Chase Sapphire Preferred for its lower $95 annual fee, improved rewards (e.g., 100,000 sign-up bonus, $100 annual hotel credit), and travel benefits like Chase transfer partners and rental car coverage that better align with their spending.