Secrets to Travel Hacking: Your Wallet's New Best Friend
Published 5 months ago • 2 min read
Phuket Island, Thailand. 5 nights, 140k Marriott Bonvoy points
Hey there Reader! 👋
Let me tell you about this little magic trick called "travel hacking" that's changed our lives completely. Travel hacking is the art of strategically earning and using credit card points, airline miles, and hotel rewards to jet around the globe without emptying your wallet. The best part? You don't need to be a financial wizard or spend more than you already do – you just need to know which cards to get, when to get them, and how to turn those points into memories that'll last a lifetime.
Now, you might be wondering about all these different reward programs out there. There are three main types:
Airline miles (like Southwest Rapid Rewards or United MileagePlus) help you score free flights and upgrades.
Hotel points (such as IHG or Marriott Bonvoy) let you stay at amazing properties without opening your wallet.
Flexible point programs (like Chase Ultimate Rewards and Amex Membership Rewards) are particularly valuable because you can transfer them to multiple airline and hotel partners or book travel directly through their portals.
Now, let's talk about filling up your points piggy bank! The fastest way to earn rewards is through credit card sign-up bonuses – we're talking 50,000 - 100,000 points just for meeting minimum spending requirements. Strategic everyday spending is where the magic continues. Credit cards typically offer bonus points while spending in specific categories. For example, purchasing meals on a card that earns 2x or 3x back on dining, buying groceries on a card that earns 5x back at supermarkets, and don't forget cards that rotate their bonus quarterly - those might give you 5% on gas one quarter and Amazon the next. By matching spending with bonus categories, you'll double or triple your earnings without spending an extra cent.
First-class to Thailand, 160k Chase Ultimate Rewards points transfered to United
When it comes time to use your points, remember this golden rule: not all redemptions are created equal! Sure, you could cash out for statement credits, but that's leaving money on the table. The real value comes from transferring to airline and hotel partners because the redemption value is higher than getting cash back. Take our own experience – in 2017, we transferred 160k Chase Ultimate Rewards points to United MileagePlus for our dream trip to Thailand. Those points would have been worth $1,600 as cash back, but instead, they landed us first-class tickets that retail for nearly $16,000! That's 10x the value! Look for those sweet spots where points stretch furthest – typically international flights or luxury hotels with high cash prices but reasonable point requirements.
We've just scratched the surface, Reader – travel hacking in a nutshell! We've covered the basics of what it means, the three kinds of reward programs, how to earn points quickly through bonuses and strategic spending, and why smart redemptions can multiply the value of your points. But there is a lot more detail and strategy to discuss! In our next email, we'll dive into which specific credit cards you should consider to jumpstart your points journey. Until then, start dreaming about where your first points-funded adventure might take you!
Disclaimer: Use credit cards wisely. If you only pay the minimum or have poor credit, this isn't for you - you’ll lose more in interest than you gain in rewards. Improve your credit first, then come back. We may earn a referral bonus if you apply for a credit card through this email. This allows us to keep Travel With Cards accessible. Thanks for your support!