• I visited LGA's Chase Sapphire airport lounge to check out the meals, drinks, entertainment, and spa.
• Chase Sapphire lounge access is free for $550-per-year Chase Sapphire Reserve cardholders.
• However, travelers without the card can enter for free with a Priority Pass membership once a year.

A Chase Sapphire airport lounge opened in January at New York City's LaGuardia Airport and John F. Kennedy International Airport. There are also Chase Sapphire lounges in Boston and Hong Kong.

I got an exclusive tour of the credit-card lounge in LaGuardia's Terminal B in February.

The 21,850-square-foot space felt like a luxury hotel lobby.

I spotted thoughtfully designed seating areas, an upscale bar, a complimentary restaurant and buffet, extensive coffee bars, a peaceful coworking space, an arcade with an old-school jukebox, and a spa offering free facials.

Upstairs on the second floor, there were private suites as well as a mezzanine full of plants.

The lounge at LGA is open from 4:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. daily and is free for $550-per-year Chase Sapphire Reserve credit cardholders to visit whenever they have a flight departing within three hours.

All they have to do is activate their complimentary Priority Pass airport lounge membership that comes with the credit card.

However, during my tour from general manager Ioannis Tzielekis, I was surprised to learn that Chase Sapphire lounge access doesn't necessarily require a Chase card. In fact, you can get all the same complimentary amenities free of charge.

How to get into the airport lounge for free

There are two ways to get Chase Sapphire lounge access for free without the card, both of which require a boarding pass for a flight up to three hours away.

The easiest way is to travel with a Chase Sapphire Reserve cardholder who is allowed two free guests per visit. Any additional guests cost $27 per person.

Travelers don't have to know a Chase cardholder for the second option.

A Chase Sapphire representative told Business Insider that those who hold a Priority Pass membership without the card can enter for free once a year. Each additional visit costs $75.

The pass is complimentary with various travel credit cards from other banks, or it has a starting rate of $99 for those without any of the partnered card programs, according to the Priority Pass website.

While I was only visiting the lounge for a tour, knowing I could have a pleasant experience before boarding a long flight made me excited for my next trip to the airport — and keen to get a Priority Pass membership.

• My journey from Denver to Zanzibar, Tanzania, took about 33 hours and included four flights.
• It was one of my longest journeys, and I searched for ways to make it bearable.
• The best thing I did was get a credit card with lounge access.

When I landed in Tanzania, fellow travelers, lodge staff, and safari guides were amazed that I had made it all the way from Colorado.

When I mentioned that the trip took over 30 hours, they were stunned.

Having crossed oceans and continents to get to destinations like Japan and New Zealand, getting to Tanzania didn't seem all that different.

When I booked my flights and realized I'd have three layovers and four flights over 33 hours, I set out to make the journey more bearable.

I bought a new travel pillow, downloaded podcasts and shows, and wore comfy outfits, but the best thing I did was get a travel credit card.

I got a credit card with airport lounge access

Before heading to Tanzania, I had visited an airport lounge once on my way to New Zealand. My seven-hour layover was filled with the comforts of prosecco, ramen, and comfy seating.

It felt like a luxury, but as someone who shows up to airports right on time, prioritizes nonstop flights, and tries to travel as cheaply as possible, I wasn't sure paying hundreds of dollars for a credit card would be worth the airport lounge access.

Then, I looked into options, and it became clear that the perks outweighed any annual fees.

I settled on the Capital One Venture X card. It would give me access to Capital One lounges and a Priority Pass membership, which includes lounges around the world.

The annual fee is $395, but the perks include a $300 travel credit. Since I travel often, it felt like the card's fee was closer to $95. I figured I'd easily eat $100 worth of food in the lounges over a year.

Other perks, such as access to luxury hotels and a TSA PreCheck or Global Entry statement credit, helped me justify the credit card fee.

I likely ate $100 worth of food on my round-trip flight

I kicked things off with a five-hour layover in the Washington Dulles International Airport. I pulled up my Priority Pass app and looked at the lounge options near my gate.

I had three to choose from and ended up at the Etihad lounge. Without the card, entrance into the lounge would have cost $75.

I had a breakfast spread of smoked salmon, bao buns, pastries, and access to a full bar. I also had comfy seating — much nicer than the leather benches at my gate.

While guests are allowed to visit the lounge for three hours, I was there early in the morning, and no one seemed to mind that I was there for closer to four.

For the rest of my journey, I made shorter stops in lounges to grab quick bites and use the restrooms.

For example, I realized I needed drinking water and a bathroom when I landed in Ethiopia. I initially went to the airport's public bathroom, but a line stretched around the corner. So, I pulled up my Priority Pass and found a lounge nearby. I popped in, used the bathroom, and grabbed a snack and a water bottle. The 15-minute trip saved me time and money.

Some lounges, like the Capital One lounges, had to-go food I could eat during my flight. At others, the staff made sure that I knew when my flight was boarding, so I never feared missing the plane.

If I had longer layovers, I would've taken advantage of the showers at some lounges.

The perks were basic, but having a peaceful place to rest between flights, people to update me on departures, and plenty of food and drinks set me up for success on the long journey.