Travel Reward Credit Cards: How to Start Small to Win Big
Unlocking Adventure: The Art of Travel Hacking with Small Trips
Embarking on a journey to explore the world is an exhilarating prospect, but for many, the barriers of cost and logistics can seem impossible. However, a fascinating world of "travel hacking" exists – a crafty way of navigating the travel landscape to maximize rewards, minimize costs, and ultimately, unlock more adventures. While the concept might seem daunting at first, starting with small vacations can be the perfect entry point into this exciting realm. The first place l travel hacked was Lake Placid, which is a 5-hour drive from our home. Check out my post about my trip to Lake Placid and how I started using travel rewards for free vacations for my family. We have always had a great travel experience in Lake Placid, so much so that we are returning this winter. There are many benefits of travel such as your mental health and quality family time. Don't let your travel budget limit your ability to take a vacation.
What is Travel Hacking?
Travel hacking is essentially the strategic use of loyalty programs, credit card rewards, and other techniques to travel at a fraction of the cost. It involves leveraging various tools and tactics to accumulate points, miles, and perks that can be used to offset travel expenses or even score free flights and hotel stays. To learn how to begin travel hacking see our guide.
The Power of Smaller Trips
When diving into the world of travel hacking, one of the best ways to start is with small trips. The first step would be to find a co-brande hotel credit card. Where do you want to travel to on your next trip? Find a drivable location you want to visit and find a hotel chain in that location. Apply for the co-branded credit card and earn hotel points for your everyday purchases. The best thing about a smaller vacation, the welcome bonus is likely to get you most of the points needed for your free hotel stays. Your everyday spending charged to this co-branded card will get you more travel points. Use your free nights for a location that you can drive to. These short excursions provide an opportunity to experiment with different strategies without committing to lengthy or expensive journeys. Whether it's a weekend getaway to a nearby city or a day trip to a scenic locale, small trips offer ample room for trial and error. My suggestion would be to start with hotels first unless you have a specific trip in mind that requires airfare.
Crafting Your Strategy
Before embarking on your travel hacking journey, it's essential to devise a game plan. The first steps are to research different programs, new credit cards, and promotional offers to determine which ones align with your travel goals. Consider factors such as earning potential, redemption options, and if the card has an annual fee. Some credit card perks come with cards that have a higher annual fee. Check out our post summarizing our post on “Unleashing the Power of Credit Card Points Overview- How to Use Credit Card Points for Your Next Vacation”.
Maximizing Rewards
Once you've established your strategy, focus on maximizing your rewards through strategic spending and earning. First thing is use travel rewards credit cards for everyday purchases, taking advantage of bonus categories and sign-up bonuses. Be mindful of your spending habits and avoid accruing unnecessary debt. Stick to your usual budget and do not overspend. Keep in mind our strategy to start with the lowest level card first in a cobrand grouping and utilize your Person 2. Part of our strategy is to keep working on the next co branded credit card, to earn that card's welcome offer. Welcome offers are a great way to earn a large number of points. Be sure to keep track of the cards minimum spending requirement to receive the welcome offer. A good way to accumulate extra points is with bonus points categories. Each card will have different purchase categories for which they offer extra points.
Remember not to overspend or get into debt just because you are earning points on your purchases. Keep in mind your credit score matters. You will be limited on which new card you can get you do not have good credit.
Planning Your Small Trips
It can be less overwhelming to start small when you are new to using travel rewards for free or budget travel. Where can you drive or take a train to? Maybe you want to fly, but use your travel rewards only for hotels at first. Do not make yourself overwhelmed and then give up. Once you have enough points for a hotel stay... put those points to good use! Even if only part of your trip is using travel reward points, it will still be a memorable vacation for less money. Any time you can use travel reward credit card points to stay somewhere for free.. It is money saved. Many travel rewards cards come with perks like elite status, which can come with free breakfast, saving you even more money on your trip. Remember some of the best places to travel to, maybe driving distance from your home. Any free travel is a good deal. People can be overwhelmed worrying about the best time to travel, finding the best deals, or which are the best cards. My advice is to start with a local trip and don't overthink it. All travel hackers have to start somewhere.
A Journey of Discovery
Starting with smaller trips is an excellent way to dip your toes into the world of travel hacking. By taking incremental steps and learning along the way, you'll gradually build confidence and expertise in maximizing rewards and unlocking new adventures. Whether it's a spontaneous weekend getaway or a carefully planned trip, each vacation serves as a stepping stone toward realizing your travel dreams. So, embark on your journey with enthusiasm, curiosity, and a spirit of adventure – the world is waiting to be explored! Before you know it, you will become comfortable with travel hacking and work your way towards larger trips like Disney World.
In the realm of travel hacking, every journey, no matter how small, is a step towards unlocking new adventures. So, seize the opportunity to start small, and let your wanderlust lead the way!