Travel Anywhere for Next to Nothing | Travel Hacking

Many times my family and I have traveled by airplane for free. Last August, our family of six flew to California for our summer vacation with free tickets. It allowed us to do more and see more places together for less than what we would have spent with no free flights. This is one of the benefits of travel hacking; it allows you to travel anywhere for next to nothing.

So what is travel hacking?

How do you travel anywhere for next to nothing? Travel hacking is the strategy of signing up for travel credit cards and collecting credit card points, hotel points, and/or airline miles that you can cash in for free flights, flight upgrades, hotel stays, transportation, and much, much more. It’s a way to get travel for a low cost, sometimes even for free. By strategically earning and redeeming reward points and airline miles, you can unlock free or significantly discounted travel experiences.

If you’re interested in travel hacking, you can start by:

• • Figuring out your travel goals and then
  • Selecting the right credit card(s) that align with your goals.

Travel hacking is a lot easier than it seems. By just tweaking how you pay for groceries, gas, and dining out, you’ll be able to start earning points and miles toward free travel.

Is it legal? Travel hacking is a legal and ethical way to save money on travel expenses, but it’s important to do it responsibly and within the guidelines of the credit card issuer or loyalty program.

There are many travel credit cards available, each with its own set of benefits and drawbacks.

The best beginner travel cards.

The first one we got since starting travel hacking is the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card. Once you have the card, you will set up all your bills and utilities to charge on the card. That way, you will meet the sign up bonus term within three months of account opening. You pay the card after closing statement every month.

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: This card is great for beginners who are new to travel hacking. The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is a popular travel credit card that offers a variety of benefits to its users. Here are some of the benefits of the card:

• • Generous sign-up bonus: Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 (with what you are already spending already anyway) on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That’s $750 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. The points will be deposited in your Chase Ultimate Rewards account.
  • High rewards rate: Earn 3 points per dollar spent on dining out, select streaming services, and online grocery purchases (excluding Target, Walmart, and wholesale clubs). You’ll earn 5 points per dollar on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards and 2 points per dollar on all other travel. All other spending earns 1 point per dollar.
  • Flexible redemption options: Redeem your points for travel, cash back, gift cards, and more.
  • Travel protections and benefits: The card comes with a suite of travel protections and benefits, including trip cancellation insurance, primary rental car coverage, and more.
  • Annual fee: The card has an annual fee of $95.

Travel Anywhere for Next to Nothing

Here are some more of the best travel credit cards as of January 2024, according to travel points enthusiasts that will be a vehicle to Travel Anywhere for Next to Nothing:

1. Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card: This card offers a generous sign-up bonus and a high rewards rate on travel and business expenses. It also comes with a suite of travel protections and benefits, including trip cancellation insurance and primary rental car coverage.
2. Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card: This card is ideal for frequent travelers who prefer Marriott hotels. It offers a generous sign-up bonus, a high rewards rate on hotel stays, and a free night award every year on your card anniversary.
   
3. American Express® Gold Card: This card is ideal for foodies who love to travel. It offers a high rewards rate on dining and groceries, as well as a generous sign-up bonus and a variety of travel benefits.
4. Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card: This card is great for those who want a simple and straightforward rewards program. It offers a flat rewards rate on all purchases, as well as a generous sign-up bonus and flexible redemption options.
   

Please note that these are just a few of the many travel credit cards available. It’s important to do your own research and choose a card that allows you to travel anywhere for next to nothing, and aligns with your travel goals and spending habits.

The ideal strategy is to continually earn as many points & miles as you possibly can, even if you don’t have an immediate trip in mind. Because these points/miles have significant value and can be used to book a substantial amount of travel for next to nothing.