If you’ve set up your travel rewards wallet, chosen your main and supporting player cards, and mastered the basic travel hack lingo, you might be wondering—what’s next? In this episode of the Travel More Podcast, we break down four key ways to maximize your points and get one step closer to free travel.
Understanding the Power of Points
When I first started travel hacking, I quickly realized that simply having a rewards card wasn’t enough. To truly maximize the benefits, I needed a strategy. That’s where these four key methods come in.
1. Optimize Everyday Spending
One of the easiest ways to earn more points is to align your everyday spending with the right credit cards. I make sure to use specific cards for specific purchases—groceries, dining, travel, or gas—to earn the highest category bonuses. This simple switch helps me rack up points much faster. For example, I use my AMEX Gold card for all grocery and dining out purchases because it earns 4x the points on those categories. I use Marriot Bonvoy for gas because it earns 3x the points in that category. Finally, I use my Capital One card for most of my everyday purchases because it earns 2x the points in every category. Some next level travel hacking is doing things like using the Chase Business Ink at Staples to buy gift cards to trigger the 5x points.
Want to see what we have in our wallets right now?
We put together a full guide of how we set up our travel hacking wallet and how we earn points and miles right now! If you’re feeling overwhelmed, it can be a good place to start!
2. Take Advantage of Sign-Up Bonuses
Sign-up bonuses are one of the biggest ways I boost my points quickly. Many credit cards offer generous bonuses when you meet a minimum spend within the first few months. I always plan my new cards around big expenses—like insurance payments or holiday shopping—so I can hit those requirements easily without overspending. Make sure you have a reason for opening a new card. Whether that be a specific redemption you’re looking for or an elevated bonus. Just make sure you’re getting the most you can out of each sign up!
3. Utilize Referral Bonuses
Another trick I use is leveraging referral bonuses. Many banks offer extra points when I refer friends or family to sign up for a card I already have. Not only do they get a great deal, but I earn bonus points in the process. It’s a win-win!
4. Stack Offers and Promotions
One of my favorite ways to accelerate my points earnings is by stacking rewards. I look for opportunities where I can combine shopping portals, limited-time promotions, and special spending categories. For example, if a credit card is offering 5x points on groceries for a quarter, I make sure to buy gift cards for my favorite stores at the grocery store—effectively earning 5x points on all those future purchases. You can also use things like credit card portals or rakuten to earn additional points for every purchase. A good example of that is recently I wanted to take advantage of a sale at Loft so I did a quick search on the Capital One portal and found that I could get an additional 2x the points by using the link in the portal. I clicked the link, was able to buy clothes at the regular sale prices and get 4x the points instead of 2x. This is a really good way to earn AMEX points because you can use Rakuten to earn points on almost every purchase! Plus if you have your AMEX card linked, you can pay with your Capital One card and get 2x the Capital One points for the purchase AND AMEX points from Rakuten.
The Road to Free Travel
By combining these four strategies, I’ve been able to maximize my rewards and travel more for less. Whether it’s a free flight, a luxury hotel stay, or an upgraded experience, these points add up fast when used wisely.
If you’re looking to take your travel hacking to the next level, start incorporating these methods into your routine. Before you know it, you’ll be booking your next trip—without spending a dime!
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