5 Essential Steps Before You Start Travel Hacking
Ready to start travel hacking and unlock free flights, hotel stays, and once-in-a-lifetime experiences?
Great! But before you dive into earning points and miles, there’s one rule that should guide everything: don’t go into debt to travel.
Travel hacking only works if you manage it responsibly. These five steps will help you start travel hacking the right way—no credit card debt, no regrets, just smarter travel.
Note: This post was originally shared in July 2023 and was updated in July 2025.
1. Use your credit card like a debit card
Before you start travel hacking, commit to this rule: only spend what you can afford to pay off in full each month. If the money isn’t already in your bank account, don’t swipe your card just to earn points and miles.
Why it matters:
- You avoid interest charges
- You keep your rewards truly “free”
- You protect your credit score
If you’re not in a position to pay off your statement balance every month, wait to start travel hacking until your finances are more stable.
2. Have a plan for the minimum spend requirement
The best travel rewards cards offer a sign-up bonus (SUB) after you spend a certain amount in the first 3–6 months. This is how you quickly rack up points, but it’s not worth it if you’re overspending to get there.
How to hit your SUB without extra spending:
Use your new card for everyday expenses like:
- Groceries
- Gas
- Internet, cell phone, and utilities
- Insurance premiums
- Streaming services
Got a big expense coming up? Time it right:
If you’re planning any of the following purchases, it’s the perfect moment to start travel hacking and open up a new credit card:
- Buying furniture or appliances
- Paying tuition or school fees
- Booking a vacation
- Wedding or honeymoon costs
- Car repairs or medical bills
- Holiday shopping
- Paying taxes (check your payment processor)
Important: Don’t open a card just to realize you can’t meet the minimum spend. Not only will you miss the bonus, but you’ll take a hard credit pull and use up one of your 5/24 slots—a critical factor if you plan to apply for Chase cards.
The Chase 5/24 rule limits you to five new credit cards (from any bank) in a 24-month period. Since Chase offers some of the most valuable points and miles cards on the market, wasting a credit card slot without earning the sign-up bonus can be a big setback.
3. Set up auto-pay from the start
One of the easiest ways to stay on track when you start travel hacking is to automate your payments.
We personally have auto-pay set up on all of our credit cards, and we always pay the full statement balance every month—not just the minimum. This is one of the most powerful habits for building and maintaining strong credit.
We also link recurring expenses like:
- Internet and phone bills
- Streaming subscriptions
- Utilities
- Insurance premiums
- Gym memberships
This makes it easy to hit minimum spend requirements without overspending—and it keeps our payment history perfect.
Why paying in full is so important:
- You avoid interest charges, keeping your travel rewards truly “free”
- You build a positive payment history, which is the #1 factor in your credit score
- You keep your credit utilization low, boosting your score even more
Credit Tip: Paying your credit cards in full and on time each month is one of the best long-term strategies to maintain a high credit score—and the better your score, the better the cards and rewards you’ll qualify for.
Set it and forget it. Let your good habits do the work while you rack up points.
4. Pick the right card for your budget and goals
When you start travel hacking, don’t be lured by big bonuses or flashy perks that don’t match your lifestyle. High annual fees and large spending requirements can backfire if you’re not ready.
Some premium cards require $15,000 to $20,000 in spending within just a few months to unlock their bonuses. While these cards often come with large sign-up offers, lounge access, and elite status, the required spend just isn’t realistic for most people—and forcing it could lead to debt or financial strain.
Ask yourself:
- Can I comfortably meet the minimum spend?
- Will I actually use the perks (e.g., airport lounges, hotel elite status)?
- Is this card worth the annual fee for my lifestyle?
It’s better to start travel hacking with a smaller bonus you can earn comfortably than to chase a huge offer that puts you in a bind.
You don’t need the flashiest card to start travel hacking—just the one that fits you best.
5. Know your credit score before you apply
A good credit score is essential when you start travel hacking. Most travel cards require a score of 700 or above for approval—especially the ones with the best sign-up bonuses and perks.
Not sure where you stand? You can check your score for free through:
- Credit Karma or Credit Sesame
- Your bank or credit card app
- AnnualCreditReport.com
If your score is lower than you’d like, focus on improving it before applying. Here’s how:
Ways to improve your credit score:
- Make on-time payments every month (this has the biggest impact)
- Pay down existing credit card debt
- Keep credit utilization low (ideally under 30%)
- Don’t close old cards (they help with credit history length)
- Avoid applying for multiple cards at once
Your credit score doesn’t need to be perfect to start travel hacking—but it should be high enough that you’re not risking a denial or high interest rates.
Once you’re in a good spot financially, you’ll be ready to apply strategically and earn those points and miles with confidence.
Bonus tips for new travel hackers
- Start with one card at a time to avoid overwhelm
- Use a spreadsheet or app like Travel Freely to track your cards
- Focus on flexible rewards like Chase Ultimate Rewards or Amex Membership Rewards
- Learn about the Chase 5/24 Rule before applying
- Don’t spend money just to earn points—make the points work for you
- Learn how you can earn points and miles with your existing resources (without opening a new credit card)
Final thoughts: start travel hacking with a solid foundation
It’s exciting to start travel hacking – especially when you think about all those bucket lists trips you have planned in your head. But remember: travel hacking is a long game. Be strategic. Be honest about your budget. Pay off your cards every month. And don’t let the pursuit of points lead you into financial stress.
If you start travel hacking the smart way, you’ll be booking flights and hotel stays on points in no time—and doing it all without a dime of debt.
Ready to start travel hacking?
Have questions about getting started? Want help picking your first card or figuring out the best strategy for your budget?
Drop a comment below or send me a message—I’d love to help you travel smarter.