A Guide to Affordable Travel with Credit Card Points

A Guide to Affordable Travel with Credit Card Points Are you dreaming of exploring the world but worried about the cost? Well, worry no more! With the right credit card and a little bit of planning, you can make your travel dreams a reality without breaking the bank. In this ultimate guide, I will show you how I leverage credit card points to travel affordably and make the most out of your adventures. 1. Choose the Right Credit Card: The first step in maximizing your travel rewards is to choose a credit card that offers generous sign-up bonuses and rewards for travel-related expenses. Look for cards that offer flexible redemption options and partnerships with airlines and hotels. My favorite travel cards (I have all three!):

• The Chase Combo: The Reserve Card and the Freedom Card.

With this combo the Reserve card is offering 60,000 bonus points for signing up right now after spending $4,000 in the first three months and the Freedom card is offering 20,000 points (or $200 cashback) after spending $500 in the first three months.

See my "Chase Credit Card Combo" post about how to maximize Chase points!

• The Capital One Venture Card. is currently offering whopping 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 in the first three months.

2. Meet the Minimum Spend: Once you've chosen your credit card, or your card combo, it's time to meet the minimum spend requirement to earn the sign-up bonus. To meet this requirement, consider putting all your everyday expenses on the card and paying it off in full each month. 3. Earn and Redeem Points Strategically: To earn points quickly, learn the best way to maximize points offered by your credit card. For example:

• The Reserve card offers 3x points on all dining and travel, and even more when travel is booked through the Chase Rewards portal, and all points are redeemed for 1.5x the amount when booking with points via the portal. The Freedom card offers 1.5 points on all transactions and 5 points on gas and groceries for the first year. (ProTip: These can all be transferred to the Reserve card.)

•The Capital One card offers 2x points on all purchase with bonus points for booking travel through their portal. 4. Another Great Perk of Both of These Cards: there is little need to plan ahead. There are no blackout dates. The only caveat: you cannot redeem points for day-of travel. However, you can book day-of travel through each portal and capitalize on the 5-10x bonus points you get for booking via the portals! Many other cards do have blackout dates on the ability to use reward points/miles.

5. Travel Partners and other Bonuses: Both Chase and Capital one allow you the ability to transfer points to their travel partners (directly to airlines and hotels) at varying ratios. The other Chase bonuses include lounge access, TSA pre-check, Lyft and Doordash credits and many more. 6. Embrace the Sojourn Lifestyle: The beauty of affordable travel with credit card points is the ability to live like a local in different destinations. Instead of rushing through multiple cities in a short period, consider staying in one place for a longer period. This allows you to immerse yourself in the local culture, build meaningful connections, and truly experience the destination. In conclusion, affordable travel with credit card points is not only possible but also incredibly rewarding. By choosing the right credit card, earning and redeeming points strategically, and embracing the sojourn lifestyle, you can make your travel dreams a reality without breaking the bank. So pack your bags, grab your credit card, and get ready for the adventure of a lifetime!