- Self Care, Nail and Hair Salon and Spa
- Grocery Stores - excluding Walmart and Target
- Fitness and Gyms
- Norwegian Cruise Lines
Are you leaving free travel points on the table every time you shop online? Let me introduce you to a game-changing strategy that'll have you earning rewards like a pro!
Think of an online shopping marketplace like a digital mall that rewards you for shopping through their platform. Instead of going directly to a retailer's website, you can earn bonus points by taking a quick detour through these clever portals.
Here's where it gets exciting: you can potentially earn multiple layers of rewards on a single purchase. Imagine turning your everyday shopping into a ticket for your next vacation!
By strategically routing your online purchases, you're not just shopping—you're building a travel fund. Every click could be bringing you closer to your dream destination.
So before you hit that "buy" button, take a moment to maximize those rewards. Your future self (lounging on a beach) will thank you! 🌴✈️💳
Watching the Northern Lights from inside an igloo in Lapland, Finland |
For the second time in a week, a young person in their 20's has asked me how to get started using points and miles. When I ask them what credit cards they have, they look at me with a blank look. "I use my debit card."
So let's take a step back and talk about how to dump the debit card, build a credit score and responsibly use a credit card. This is the first step towards using points and miles to travel.
I have published a guide to getting started with 5 easy steps and one bonus tip so here you go:
We've all been there – falling head over heels for a particular travel brand. Maybe you're always flying with United, or you can't resist a Marriott stay. But is this unwavering loyalty serving you well? Let's break it down and see how flexible points can be a game-changer for family travel.
✈️ Flight Comparison: LAX to Tokyo
Imagine you're planning a family trip to Japan. As a United loyalist, you check their rates first:
That's a whopping 40,000-mile difference per person! For a family of five, that's a 200,000-mile saving. Talk about a loyalty tax!
🏨 Hotel Showdown in Tokyo
Now, let's look at accommodation options:
Both are great options, but what if you're locked into one brand? You might miss out on the best deal for your family.
💳 The Power of Flexible Points
This is where flexible points shine! With programs like Chase Ultimate Rewards, AMEX Membership Rewards, Capital One Miles, or Citi ThankYou Points, you can:
Flexible points give you the freedom to choose the best value for your family's needs.
🌟 Brand Loyalty: Friend or Foe?
Right now, I am recommending two credit cards for most of my clients:
1. Chase Sapphire Preferred - 60,000 bonus points plus $300 travel credit for a $4,000 minimum spend and a $95 annual fee. This card also comes with a $50 hotel credit You can only hold ONE Sapphire credit card and you are only eligible for the bonus every 48 months.
2. Chase Ink Business Unlimited - $900 cash (it's really 90,000 points), $0 annual fee, $6,000 minimum spend. Be sure to apply for the Business Unlimited. Popup will redirect you to the offer.
If you would like help planning your next adventure or using points and miles to take a bucket list vacation, check out our website for travel advising and our new Travel Coaching Program. We would love to help you and your family make memories!
#FlexiblePoints #FamilyTravel #TravelHacks #PointsAndMiles #AlmostFreeTravel
Are you looking to boost your credit card rewards? One of the most effective ways to earn 5X points from Chase is by taking advantage of the rotating bonus categories offered by the Chase Freedom Flex and Chase Freedom cards. Each quarter, Chase selects four purchase categories that earn 5X points instead of the standard 1X or 1.5X points.
In previous quarters, Chase has featured categories such as:
Chase has just announced the exciting bonus categories for the fourth quarter of 2024:
While dining at McDonald's frequently might not yield significant points, the other categories present excellent opportunities to boost your rewards:
Start planning your Q4 spending strategy now to make the most of these lucrative bonus categories!
If you don't have a Chase FREEDOM FLEX card yet, it might be a good addition to your wallet. It's a no annual fee card with a small bonus offer of just $150 for a $500 spend.
But just a reminder, we never want to apply for the cards without a plan, join my Travel Coaching Program so we can design a custom plan for you to reach your travel goals.
If you don't have the CHASE FREEDOM FLEX credit card yet, it's a good first card for your student or a good everyday card for you. You earn a $200 bonus on the first $500 that you spend. There's no annual fee and you earn 3x points on dining and drugstores.
This past summer, I tried something different in my travel journey....attending a language school. Yep, call it a short study abroad program at the Isla Spanish Language school in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Language Schools are a great way to deep dive into the culture and community of a country and they are super affordable. This was my second time attending one and I have already enrolled in a third.
Why San Juan? Well, the flight from the East Coast is short and cheap. Plus Puerto Rico intrigues me. It's a US territory, but its neighboring islands are independent countries. How did that happen? What is it like to be in a place that straddles both the US and the Caribbean? A place that is part of the US, but labeled a territory and not a state? Puerto Rico also has a huge problem with stray animals so I thought I might be able to lend a hand. You can read about that here.
A Secret Gateway To Affordable Globetrotting – Language School!
San Juan is a US territory so you do not need a passport to visit just a drivers license to fly. Puerto Riquenos have US passports and are US Citizens, but residents of Puerto Rico cannot vote for the President of the United States and they have no representation in Congress.
Isla Spanish Language School is located in the financial district of San Juan away from the tourist areas. The school conducts a placement interview before your arrival so they can put you in the appropriate class, beginner to advanced. The students were of all ages and included professionals, Spanish teachers, second generation Puerto Riquenos and ex pats.
A Secret Gateway To Affordable Globetrotting – Language School!
At most schools, classes run 9am-12pm Monday through Friday with additional private classes offered in the afternoon. And the schools offer FREE cultural activities several times during the week. Cultural activities include dancing or cooking classes or excursions to a local site or art museum.
Besides the classes, the schools offer a variety of affordable accommodations for approximately $330 per week including meals and laundry. There is a discount if you enroll for multiple weeks. You can choose from homestay with a local family, a dorm or private apartment. I opted to stay with a local family and it was lovely. Nayza is a widow and has been housing students for years creating an income stream for her.
Reflecting on the experience, my language ability increased dramatically, but even more importantly, I felt like a local in San Juan and welcomed into the community. More like a traveler than a tourist.
A Secret Gateway To Affordable Globetrotting – Language School!
Of course, we can make this experience even more affordable by using points and miles for the flights. Most language schools will not code as a travel so you cannot "erase" the purchase, however, I paid for the school with Paypal during the 5x bonus category with my Chase FREEDOM FLEX so at least I used the purchase to earn lots of points towards future travel.
And while in San Juan, I booked tours of the rainforest, kayak in the biobay and snorkeled with the turtles and was able to "erase" all of these tours with points.
If you would like help planning your next travel journey with points and miles, consider joining my travel coaching program. I would love to help you!