Keys to unlocking free travel

You don’t have to be well off to travel.  There are so many deals out there and opportunities to earn free (or almost free) travel. You just need to know where to look and how to plan for it.  I’ll go over the keys to unlocking free travel and share strategies we’ve used to score free flights and hotels.  And the thing is, you don’t have to spend any more money that what you’re already spending.

CREDIT CARD REWARDS

Stop using your debit card to buy groceries and filling up your gas tanks! You are leaving behind valuable reward points/miles that can be used for travel with each transaction. Get a credit card that specializes in travel rewards and start racking up points asap. We personally use American Express Delta SkyMiles cards for all of our everyday purchases. Believe me, your miles will add up quickly.

There are several good options out there and new customers will always be welcomed with big sign on bonuses! If you don’t have a card that specializes in travel rewards then apply for one immediately. I want you to start reaping the benefits as soon as possible.

Start with groceries and gas and then eventually pay for everything that you would normally pay for with your debit card. The key to making this work is to make your payments weekly at a bare minimum. For those of you that are afraid of spending the money in the bank if it’s just left there staring back at you then make your payment in full online as soon as you see it post in the portal. Go with whatever works for you.

SIGN UP FOR EVERY TRAVEL REWARD PROGRAM!

Yes, every one of them! I said what I said. A lot of people I know are leaving way too many points on the table and I have to admit that I used to be one of those persons. Let me explain and give you some examples.

Example 1 – If you have to travel for work as part of your job then your company is paying for your flights, car rentals, hotel stays, and airport parking. That’s 4 reward programs right there that you need to be signed up for! And the beautiful thing is that your company is paying for it all and you’re keeping the points. If you add in food expenses that your company will reimburse you for then you’ll pay with your awards credit card and they pay for it. Win win. If you’re given a company credit card and your company allows it, register it for membership rewards (you’ll pay for the annual fee out of pocket).

Example 2 – You’re a (fill in whatever sport or activity your kid is in) parent that has to travel frequently or year round with the team so that means hotel stays at various properties all over the state/country. Even though they might not be your preferred hotel chains or properties, you still need to sign up for their loyalty rewards programs. Those points will add up and before you know it you’ll have free hotel nights waiting to be used. Never leave points on the table!

KEEPING TRACK

So how do you keep up with all the various programs? A simple excel spreadsheet. Doesn’t have to be fancy, just a few columns will do. I personally have apps on my phone for my preferred establishments but keep a spreadsheet for all the others. Before you know it, your personal/family vacation will be paid with points and FF miles.

STRETCH THOSE MILES AND POINTS

Okay so you’ve followed my plan to a T and now you’re sitting on a bunch of frequent flier miles and hotel points, now what? It’s time to stretch them out to get as much as value as possible. Don’t be going crazy just because you have 100K miles and points. You’ll need to start to familiarize yourself with points and their value. Start by getting on your favorite airline’s website. Search for random flights that you might want to take using the pay with miles option. Play around with different dates. Do the same with your hotel points.

You’ll begin to see how the number of points/miles needed to pay for the trip will fluctuate depending on day of week, month selected, etc… There are also some unofficial charts out there online that you could use to get an idea of what kind of miles you can expect to pay for a certain flight.

“Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all” ~ Helen Keller

I highly recommend signing up with your preferred airline/hotel to receive alerts when they have flash sales (flights/trips/hotel stays for super low miles/points).

BEING FLEXIBLE IS THE FINAL KEY

This my friends is the final key. BE AND STAY FLEXIBLE! As in life, you have to be flexible when it comes to travel. Especially if you want to score the best and most outrageous deals out there. Be willing to leave a few days earlier or later. Postpone your trip a week or more if you have to. Sometimes the cost savings can be in the thousands! It will all be worth it. You can go to my Travel Resources page and see what companies we use for our travel and rewards.

Now get out there and earn those points. You’ve got some adventures to plan!

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