In the United States, particularly in cities and surrounding suburbs, Starbucks stores are ubiquitous. It seems like you can’t go more than a few blocks without running into another one. And while Starbucks isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, it’s hard to deny the convenience when you need a shot of caffeine. If you’re someone who…
What’s the best way to start travel hacking? Start with a specific credit card. When we talk to people about our travels, one of the first questions we receive is how we pay for all of it. Like when we mention we visited six new countries in 2023. Or when we outline our full 2023…
Travel hacking relies on credit cards. And while I certainly consider us somewhat advanced in the travel hacking realm, I know that there’s no one way to use credit cards for travel. In an effort to demystify the points and miles game, here’s a breakdown of the credit cards I hold and how they help…
While there are recommended ways to optimize your travel hacking, we are firm believers that there isn’t one right way to travel hack. Where you live, individual travel goals, personal spending habits, and preferred hotel and airline providers are just some of the factors that go into determining how to make travel hacking work for…
When you open a lot of credit cards in travel hacking, you’re likely going to encounter some with annual fees. And while there are some we unequivocally recommend despite the fee, there are others where it’s less clear. If you’re questioning whether to close a credit card with an annual fee, it’s worth considering if…
If you’ve read up on travel hacking, many sites provide a list of best credit cards in order of how to open them. And one thing you’ll notice is that airline (and hotel) credit cards are rarely on those lists. There certainly is value in opening cards with flexible points currency that you can transfer…
If you’re reading this blog, you likely shop online. Did you know that you can use shopping portals to turn your online shopping into free travel? It only takes seconds, but if done strategically, it can earn you a free flight or a free night (or more) at that dream destination. Here are the numerous…
It’s no secret that the fastest way to accrue points and miles is through hitting credit card sign-up bonuses. And, therefore, the fastest way to earn a free flight. Not everyone, however, wants to open a new card or has the amount of spending required for these lofty point totals. So how do you earn…
Part of travel hacking is learning all the lingo. And if you’ve been doing some research, you may have seen the terms “Player 1” or “Player 2” or “two-player mode” or even “two-player strategy”. Simply put, it’s having two people in your household work together to earn points and miles for travel. Beyond having two…
Who doesn’t want a free flight? The price of food increased 5.8% in 2023. And it’s estimated that those costs will continue to rise in 2024. We all need to eat, so why not turn those purchases into future travel? For Q1, earning a free flight is well within reach with some strategic spend. Chase…