I Already Have the Chase Sapphire Reserve — So Why Did I Just Apply for the Preferred

A 100,000-point Chase Ultimate Rewards bonus is hard to walk away from 👀 — so I didn't. Even though I already carry the Chase Sapphire Reserve, I went ahead and applied for the Chase Sapphire Preferred. And yes, my clients immediately started asking why on earth I'd want both. Here's the full breakdown.

The Preferred Earns in Ways the Reserve Doesn't 💳

The Chase Sapphire Preferred carries a $95 annual fee, which is effectively offset by a $100 hotel credit — so the card is essentially paying for itself before you even swipe it once.

But where it really shines is the earning structure. The Preferred earns 3x points on vacation home rentals — Airbnb, VRBO, the works. I have several Airbnb stays already on the books, so this one category alone is going to add up fast 💰 It also earns 3x on dining and gas (including EV charging), and 5x points when booking through the Chase Travel Portal.

Where the Reserve Still Wins 🏆

For flights and hotels booked directly, the Reserve pulls ahead with 4x points — and if you book through the Chase Travel Portal, it jumps to an impressive 8x points. The Reserve also offers better redemption rates for World of Hyatt transfers, a points boost on redemptions, plus lounge access and a stack of travel, hotel, and dining credits.

The catch? A $795 annual fee and a fair amount of mental energy to track and use all those credits each year. You can read here about how I used the credits for a whirlwind weekend in Las Vegas. 

Now that I have the Preferred in my wallet, I'm genuinely reconsidering whether I'll renew the Reserve when the annual fee hits again.

The Good News: You Can Combine Them 🔄

One of the best features of holding both cards is that you can transfer points from the Preferred directly to the Reserve — which means you earn on the Preferred's strong bonus categories and redeem at the Reserve's better rates. Best of both worlds, at least for now.

Oh, and a few more perks worth mentioning: the Preferred comes with one free year of Apple TV+ , $120 Global Entry credit, a complimentary Dashpass membership and a $10 monthly credit for groceries and great travel protections. 

Bottom Line

If you already have the Reserve and you're eligible for the Preferred's 100,000-point welcome bonus — apply. The math makes sense and the card earns its keep on its own. If you have the Preferred and are eyeing the Reserve, take your time. The higher annual fee requires a real commitment to maximizing the credits to justify the cost.

If this all gives you a headache, and you want more personal help using points and miles for almost FREE travel? Join my Travel Coaching Program and we will design your personal strategy to travel for almost FREE and guide you through the process. Right now, you can use the promo code "FREETRAVEL" to get $50 off the program. 

Or you can pay a travel planning fee and we will find all the best points and miles deals for your trip! 

Or you can book a consulting call with us for just $100. I would love to help you make priceless family memories affordable. 

***In honor of every new paid client, we will make a donation of 10% to one of our favorite charities.

  

Stop the FOMO: Here's How to Use Points & Miles to Book Europe Next Year

Stop the FOMO: Here's How to Use Points & Miles to Book Europe Next Year

Deep into summer, the travel envy is real 😅 Your feed is flooded with friends sipping wine in Santorini and wandering cobblestone streets in Rome. If that's you, here's the good news: now is the perfect time to start planning your own European adventure for next year — using points and miles.

So where do you start? Let's break it down.

The 4 Types of Points & Miles You Need to Know

Not all points are created equal. Here's a quick rundown:

1. Airline Miles ✈️
The most familiar of the bunch. Fly with an airline, earn loyalty miles. Many airlines belong to alliances or partnerships, meaning you can fly one carrier and credit the miles to another. You can also rack up miles faster by opening an airline-branded credit card that earns miles on everyday purchases. Once you hit the threshold, redeem them for a free flight or cabin upgrade directly through the airline. Simple enough.

2. Hotel Points 🏨
Same concept, different category. Stay at a hotel, earn loyalty points. Add a hotel-branded credit card to the mix and you'll earn even faster. Stack up enough and you're looking at free nights.

3. Flexible Points 💳
Here's where it gets interesting. These are earned through bank-branded credit cards — think Chase, Capital One, Amex, and Citi — and they're not locked into one airline or hotel. Instead, they can be transferred to more than a dozen different travel partners, giving you serious options. You can also spend them directly in the bank's travel portal on flights, hotels, car rentals, activities, and even cruises. One important note: use them before you cancel the card or they disappear.

4. The Others: Bilt, Rove & Rakuten 🛍️
Bilt functions like flexible bank points, but you earn them by paying rent — yes, really. Rove and Rakuten are shopping portals that layer bonus points on top of your regular credit card earnings when you shop online. Think of them as a rewards multiplier for purchases you're already making. Use my Rove referral link and get 500 points when you sign up. Use my Rakuten referral link and get $50 when you spend $50. 

Why Flexible Points Win

Here's a real example that says it all. A client came to me with nearly two million American Airlines miles — which sounds incredible, and we did manage to book business class flights for her whole family. But when it came to hotels? She had to pay cash 💸

If those had been flexible points instead, we could have covered both the flights and luxury hotels entirely on points.

That's the power of flexibility.

Our Favorite Card Right Now 👑

Now that you understand the difference, you'll have a whole new appreciation for the Chase Sapphire Preferred's current 100,000-point welcome bonus. Those are Chase Ultimate Rewards — flexible points that transfer to dozens of airlines and hotels, including the best sweet spots like Avios, Flying Blue, and World of Hyatt.

The card runs just $95 a year, and a new $100 hotel credit effectively knocks that down to $5 back into your pocket. For what you get in return, that's a no-brainer.

👉 Ready to start earning? Read more about the Chase Sapphire Preferred here — and if you decide to apply, we'd love it if you use our referral link!

Want more personal help using points and miles for almost FREE travel? Join my Travel Coaching Program and we will design your personal strategy to travel for almost FREE and guide you through the process. Right now, you can use the promo code "FREETRAVEL" to get $50 off the program. 

Or you can pay a travel planning fee and we will find all the best points and miles deals for your trip! 

Or you can book a consulting call with us for just $100. I would love to help you make priceless family memories affordable. 

***In honor of every new paid client, we will make a donation of 10% to one of our favorite charities.

A Guide To The Canary Islands

The Canary Islands are one of Spain's most underrated treasures, and honestly, they deserve way more attention than they get. Here's why they should be on your radar 🌴

The Weather Is Exceptional — Year Round ☀️

The Canaries sit off the northwest coast of Africa, which means they enjoy a mild, spring-like climate every single month of the year. Average temperatures hover between 20–28°C (68–82°F). No real off-season here — this is a genuine 365-day destination.

Seven Islands, Seven Completely Different Experiences 🗺️

This is what most people don't realize. The islands are wildly different from each other:

• Tenerife — dramatic volcanic landscapes, Spain's highest peak (Mount Teide), and buzzing nightlife
• Lanzarote — otherworldly lunar terrain, UNESCO-protected biosphere, incredible wine region
• Gran Canaria — massive sand dunes at Maspalomas, a cosmopolitan capital in Las Palmas, lush interior mountains
• La Palma — one of the world's best stargazing destinations 🌟, dense laurel forests, seriously off-the-beaten-path
• Fuerteventura — endless white sand beaches and world-class windsurfing
• La Gomera — tiny, lush, and almost entirely unspoiled
• El Hierro — Europe's most remote island, completely solar-powered and utterly peaceful

✈️ Points tip: From Madrid, Iberia flights can be found for as little as 5,000 Avios points each way.

---

Two Weeks on Gran Canaria — Here's What It's Actually Like

I spent two weeks based in Las Palmas, the island's capital, and it exceeded every expectation.

Las Palmas 🌊

Las Palmas is a city nestled between two bays, with miles of boardwalk hugging the coastline. What makes it special is how the sea transforms throughout the day — the same bay where surfers catch waves in the morning becomes a calm, shallow playground by afternoon, where you can swim alongside fish and pick your way across rocks as the tide shifts. It's genuinely spectacular to watch.

The boardwalk is lined with cafes, and morning yoga on the beach is a regular thing. The vibe is relaxed without being sleepy. 🧘

Just 15 minutes south by bus is the old town — cobblestone streets, shaded promenades, and plenty of spots to sit and people-watch. We did a three-hour walking tour that covered the neighborhood in real depth and was absolutely worth it. 🚶

Getting Around 🚌

The bus system known as the Guaguas on Gran Canaria is excellent and genuinely affordable — it should get far more credit than it does. That said, for maximum flexibility, renting a car opens up the island considerably.

There are plenty of Airbnb rentals in Las Palmas that are affordable and just a few blocks from the beach. 

Day Trip: Teror 🍯

The mountain town of Teror, known as the spiritual heart of the island, makes for a wonderful day trip by bus. Wander the streets, visit the main basilica, stop for lunch, and before you leave pick up some local honey and fresh-baked goods from one of the small shops. Be sure to check out the beautiful Canarian wood balconies. 

Sunday is market day where the town fills up with fresh produce. Simple, unhurried, and very Gran Canaria.

Day Trip: Maspalomas Dunes + Mogán 🏜️

Heading south to the Maspalomas sand dunes is a must. It's a longer journey — a few hours from Las Palmas — but the dunes are free to enter and completely worth the trip. My strong recommendation: time your visit for just before sunset. The light on the dunes at that hour is something else entirely. 🌅

If you rent a car for this one, make a stop in Mogán on the way — a small seaside town with flower-draped streets that's well worth an hour or two of your afternoon. There are plenty of resorts in the south though not many US brands of hotels where you can use points and miles. But you can use flexible points in the travel portal. You can also use the "erase" tool with Capital One points. 

Hot tip: take lots of before and after photos of your rental car. We hear there are a lot of "damage" claims made against renters here. Remember to use a credit card like your Chase Sapphire Reserve with rental car insurance to make this purchase. 

Want more personal help using points and miles for almost FREE travel? Join my Travel Coaching Program and we will design your personal strategy to travel for almost FREE and guide you through the process. Right now, you can use the promo code "FREETRAVEL" to get $50 off the program. 

Or you can pay a travel planning fee and we will find all the best points and miles deals for your trip! 

Or you can book a consulting call with us for just $100. I would love to help you make priceless family memories affordable. 

***In honor of every new paid client, we will make a donation of 10% to one of our favorite charities.

How You Can Earn 5x Chase Points On Gas This Summer

If you have to pay $5 per gallon for gas this summer, why not earn 5x Chase Ultimate Rewards points. Chase just announced the 5x bonus categories for Q3 (July 1st - September 30th) for the FREEDOM and FLEX credit cards. 

The other categories for Q3 include:

• EV charging stations 
• transit includes trains, buses, tolls, ferries, highways, parking lots and garages
• select entertainment including concerts, zoos, sporting events and amusement parks 
• United Way  

You must register your credit cards here in order to earn the bonus points. But you have until September 14th to register and it is retroactive. However, I think it's best to register immediately. 

Besides the bonus categories, Chase FREEDOM FLEX earns 3x points on dining and drugstores, 2x points on travel and 1x points on everything else. If you use my referral link, you earn 20,000 points when you spend $500. This card has no annual fee so it's a great card to keep in your wallet. 

Want more personal help using points and miles for almost FREE travel? We have three different options to choose from:

• Join my Travel Coaching Program and we will design your personal strategy to travel for almost FREE and guide you through the process. Right now, you can use the promo code "FREETRAVEL" to get $50 off the program. 
• Or you can book a consulting call with us for just $100. 
• Or you can hire us to plan your entire trip using points and miles! 

I would love to help you make priceless family memories affordable. 

***In honor of every new paid client, we will make a donation of 10% to one of our favorite charities.

Why airline loyalty limits your travel options

Met with a new client today to talk about booking a dream Europe trip using points and miles. ✈️ Here's the exciting part — they're sitting on more than one million miles! 🎉

The catch? Every single one of those miles is with American Airlines, which significantly narrows the options.

Here's what we found when searching available business class seats to Europe on the American Airlines site: prices ranged from 57,500 to a jaw-dropping 443,000 miles each way. 😬 Those lower-end seats often came with two stops and limited availability, while the best flights were sitting at the top of that range. Not ideal.

This is the reality of putting all your eggs in one airline's basket. When you're locked into a single carrier, you're at the mercy of whatever they decide to offer — and the sweet spots can be few and far between.

The good news? There's a smarter way to build your points stash. 💡 Flexible points currencies like Chase Ultimate Rewards, Citi ThankYou, American Express Membership Rewards, Bilt, or Capital One Miles give you real options. You can book directly through their travel portals OR transfer to dozens of airlines and hotels — whichever gives you the best value for your specific trip.

Flexibility really is everything when it comes to points. 🙌

The best offer out there right now, the Chase Sapphire Reserve is offering 150,000 bonus points to new cardholders, and this is one worth paying attention to. We have heard this offer is ending soon. 

Here's what the current offer looks like:

Spend $6,000 in the first 3 months and you'll earn 150,000 bonus points. Those points are conservatively valued at around $2,500 — but depending on how you redeem them, (transfer to a dozen different airlines and several hotel chains including Hyatt) they can stretch significantly further.

The annual fee is $795, which I know sounds steep. But before you close the tab, take a look at what's included:

• ✈️ $300 Travel Credit
• 🎟️ $300 StubHub Credit
• 🍽️ $300 Dining Credit
• 🏨 $500 Edit Hotels Credit
• 🏨 $250 Select Chase Hotels Credit
• 🛂 $120 Global Entry Credit
• 🚗 $10/month Lyft Credit
• 🛵 $25/month DoorDash Credit
• 🎵 Complimentary Apple TV+ & Apple Music
• 🚴 $120 Peloton Credit
• 🛋️ Priority Pass Lounge Access (you + 2 guests)
• 🛋️ Sapphire Lounge Access

If you actually use these credits, the math works strongly in your favor. That said, it does take some intentionality to make sure you're not leaving value on the table — this card rewards people who engage with it.

If this card seems like too much, the Chase Sapphire Preferred is a great flexible travel card. The annual fee is just $95 and the bonus is 75,000 points for a $5,000 minimum spend. 

If this fits how you already travel — or how you want to travel — it's a genuinely strong offer. Hit the link below to apply through my referral link, and feel free to reach out with any questions!

Want more personal help using points and miles for almost FREE travel? Join my Travel Coaching Program and we will design your personal strategy to travel for almost FREE and guide you through the process. Right now, you can use the promo code "FREETRAVEL" to get $50 off the program. 

Or you can book a consulting call with us for just $100. I would love to help you make priceless family memories affordable. 

***In honor of every new paid client, we will make a donation of 10% to one of our favorite charities.

I Booked a Last-Minute Caribbean Solo Cruise — Here's What Actually Happened

I Booked a Last-Minute Caribbean Cruise From New Orleans — Here's What Actually Happened

I was already heading to New Orleans for a conference when it hit me: I was closer to the Caribbean than I ever am from California. Why not tack on something bigger? I hadn't added a new country to my list yet this year, so I started poking around flights and hotels. The prices — even with points — were brutal. 😬

Then I noticed Chase Freedom was offering 5x points on Norwegian Cruise Line. A quick search later and I found a 7-day cruise departing from NOLA hitting Mexico, Belize, and Honduras. That knocked out several destinations in one shot.

I hadn't been on a cruise in 30 years, but I was open to it. Full transparency: NCL offered me a travel agent discount plus some extras. I booked a solo studio — a 99 sq ft inside cabin tucked into a secure solo-only section of the ship — upgraded my WiFi for work (150 free minutes came with the booking), and locked in snorkeling excursions at three of the four ports. ✅

Boarding: Brace Yourself

NCL sends a flood of pre-boarding emails covering luggage tags, upgrade offers, and cruise logistics. What they don't fully prepare you for is the boarding crowd. It's chaotic. 

👉Hot tip: check in online as early as possible — it determines when you can board, and earlier boarding means smaller crowds. Also worth knowing: you don't have to wait for your assigned boarding time despite what NCL tells you. Show up when you're ready. 

And you can opt to keep your carry on luggage with you. 

Once on board, rooms aren't available until later in the afternoon, but the pool, bars, and lunch are all yours. I spotted people already in the hot tub by 1pm. 🛳️

The Solo Studio Setup

The solo studio cabin itself is compact but smartly designed, and the real selling point is what surrounds it. The Studio Lounge is a secure, solo-travelers-only space stocked daily with fresh fruit, baked goods, lemonade, water, and an espresso machine. For anyone fueled by coffee ☕, that last one matters more than you'd think.

Every day, a solo traveler coordinator runs a meetup — a genuinely useful way to connect with the 60 other solo guests on board. Ages ranged from 30 to 80, first-timers alongside seasoned Platinum cruisers. Some were even doing back-to-back sailings on the same ship (no need to disembark or switch cabins, by the way — you just keep going).

After the daily meetup, the coordinator organizes group dinners at one of the sit-down restaurants, so eating alone is entirely optional. The three main dining rooms share similar menus but each has its own atmosphere. The food was genuinely good — not just "fine for a cruise." One evening my new solo crew invited me to the specialty sushi restaurant and it did not disappoint. 🍣

The buffet runs 6am–9:30pm and covers a lot of ground: salad bar, sandwiches, pasta, Indian, soup, and made-to-order eggs at breakfast. You will not go hungry. There is also a bar food type pub open 24/7.

Evenings on Board

After dinner, the ship basically becomes its own entertainment district. During the cruise, I caught four shows in the main theater, a comedy set, an NCL presentation, live music at a bar, and a dueling piano night. 🎹 So funny, all the music onboard is from the 70's, 80's and 90's. 

The Escape also has a ropes course, mini golf, bowling, waterslides, a basketball court, and an arcade. You can go hard or you can find a quiet corner — completely up to you.

The Ports 🤿

I chose snorkeling for three of the four port days, and each experience was completely different.

• Roatan, Honduras: The guide took us to a dramatic drop-off — a 400-foot depth change from reef to ocean floor. Jaw-dropping.
• Cozumel, Mexico: Strong current meant drift snorkeling the whole way. You just float and let the ocean do the work.
• Belize: Snorkeling the second-largest reef in the world after Australia's Great Barrier Reef. Worth every minute.

One practical note on booking excursions: if you go through NCL, the ship is responsible for getting you back on time — and if something delays you, they'll wait. Book independently and that responsibility shifts to the tour operator. I've spoken with independent operators who take this seriously and will cover transport if the ship leaves without you, but for my own peace of mind I booked through NCL. (I can also get clients $50 off NCL excursions, so there's no financial upside to going outside.)

The ports themselves have changed a lot over the years — think high-end shops, solid restaurants, swim-up bars, zip lines, butterfly gardens, beach clubs, and yes, fish pedicures. 🦋

The Verdict

The week moved fast. My new solo travel crew has already booked a cruise together for next year — which probably tells you everything you need to know. 🌊

Want more personal help using points and miles for almost FREE travel? Join my Travel Coaching Program and we will design your personal strategy to travel for almost FREE and guide you through the process. Right now, you can use the promo code "FREETRAVEL" to get $50 off the program. 

Or you can book a consulting call with us for just $100. I would love to help you make priceless family memories affordable. 

***In honor of every new paid client, we will make a donation of 10% to one of our favorite charities.

Atmos Rewards Is Back With a 100,000-Point Bonus 🎉

Atmos Rewards (Alaska Airlines) just brought back its 100,000-point bonus offer — and this one is worth paying attention to.

I usually steer my clients toward flexible point programs like Capital One, Chase Ultimate Rewards, and Amex. But after jumping on this offer last year, I can confirm that Atmos Rewards holds its own when it comes to flexibility — especially for families.

Why Atmos Points Are More Flexible Than You'd Think ✈️

Alaska Airlines partners with 13 alliance members, including some heavy hitters:

• American Airlines
• British Airways
• Aer Lingus
• Qatar Airways
• Singapore Airlines
• Cathay Pacific
• Fiji Airways
• Finnair
• Iberia
• Japan Airlines
• Malaysia Airlines
• Qantas
• Royal Air Maroc
• Royal Jordanian
• Sri Lankan Airlines

That's a lot of booking options. To put it to the test, I ran a few searches:

• San Francisco → Sydney, Australia — multiple options on Fiji Airways and American Airlines ✅
• New York → Madrid, Spain — solid choices on Iberia and American Airlines ✅

• Seattle → Tokyo — non stop even business class bookable on Hawaiian Airlines  ✅

Could you sometimes find a better deal booking directly, say on Iberia using Avios? Possibly. But Atmos points shine when you need options fast. A client of mine needed a last-minute flight to Austin — cash prices were brutal, but we found a redemption for just 12,500 Atmos points. That's the kind of win that makes keeping a points stash worthwhile. 🙌

The Two Card Offers Right Now 💳

Summit Card — 100,000-point bonus

• Spend $6,500 in the first 3 months
• $395 annual fee
• Perks: 50% flight discount code, 8 lounge passes, and a 25,000-point global companion award

Ascent Card — 80,000-point bonus

• Spend $4,000 in 4 months
• $95 annual fee
• Perks: 50% flight discount code, $99 companion fare, and one free checked bag for you and up to 6 guests

Both are genuinely strong offers. Whether you go big with the Summit or keep it lean with the Ascent, having a healthy Atmos points balance gives you real booking power when you need it most. 🗺️

Want more personal help using points and miles for almost FREE travel? Join my Travel Coaching Program and we will design your personal strategy to travel for almost FREE and guide you through the process. Right now, you can use the promo code "FREETRAVEL" to get $50 off the program. 

Or you can book a consulting call with us for just $100. I would love to help you make priceless family memories affordable. 

***In honor of every new paid client, we will make a donation of 10% to one of our favorite charities. 

You Have the Points—So Why Are You Still Paying Cash for Flights? ✈️

Both new clients I met with this past week had a serious stash of points and miles—and were still planning to pay cash for their next flights. 🤔✈️

The first client had 800,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points sitting in their account… and had just purchased a flight to the East Coast. When I asked why, she said she was saving them for a “big trip someday.”

Family trip to Finland to see the Northern Lights

The second client? 2 million Amex points. Yes, really—two million. And they were about to pay cash for round-trip flights to Europe.

And here’s the kicker: both are still actively earning points every month.

This isn’t unusual. I’ve seen it over and over:

• A client with 100,000 Chase points planning to pay cash to fly to California
• Another with 275,000 Chase points doing the same for a West Coast trip

So what’s going on? Why do smart, points-savvy people collect all these miles… and then not use them?

I asked ChatGPT, and the answer lines up exactly with what I see in real life:

1. Mental accounting
Points feel like a “special” currency—too valuable to touch. Cash feels easier to part with. If you have a steady paycheck, paying $500 for a flight doesn't seem like as much as paying 50,000 points even though it's the same value. 

2. Loss aversion
It took effort to earn those points, so spending them feels like losing something.

3. Endowment effect
Once you have a big balance, it starts to feel like something to protect. People hold out for a “perfect” redemption that rarely happens.

4. Optimization paralysis
Transfer partners, award charts, dynamic pricing…it can get complicated fast. When people aren’t sure they’re getting the best value, they freeze—and default to cash.

5. Future fantasy vs. present reality
Points get saved for a dream trip someday, while real trips—family visits, college tours, quick getaways—get paid in cash.

Here’s the reality:
Points and miles don’t get more valuable over time. They quietly lose value. Meanwhile, your travel life is happening now.

Once we talked it through, each of these clients made a shift:

• 800,000 points → used 100,000 for a round-trip flight to Europe ✈️
• 100,000 points → used 40,000 for a round trip California trip 🌴
• 225,000 points → used 40,000 for a round trip West Coast flight 🌊
• 2 million points → used 492,000 for two round trip business class flights to Europe 💺✨

Did they use their points well? Yes. The round trip business class flights to Europe priced out at $14,000.  
Do they still have plenty left? Also yes. That same client has 1.5 million Amex points left. 
Are they still earning more? Absolutely.

Over the water bungalow in Moorea paid with points

And maybe most importantly—they’re actually enjoying the benefits of what they’ve earned.

If you’re sitting on a pile of points and thinking about paying cash for your next flight, let’s take a look before you book. A quick consult can save you thousands of points—or help you finally use them with confidence.

Want more personal help using points and miles for almost FREE travel? Join my Travel Coaching Program and we will design your personal strategy to travel for almost FREE and guide you through the process. Right now, you can use the promo code "FREETRAVEL" to get $50 off the program. 

Or you can book a consulting call with us for just $100. I would love to help you make priceless family memories affordable. 

***In honor of every new paid client, we will make a donation of 10% to one of our favorite charities.