Travel hacking is a strategy that allows you to collect hotel rewards, airline miles and credit card points through legal means so that you can travel where you like to cheaply. Travel hacking has been around for years, but with the aid of the internet, anyone can learn how to rack up those points and rewards more quickly.
If you travel a lot — or if you don’t because you think it’s too expensive — then travel hacking may hold the key for you and your family to visit new and exciting places. By following a systematic strategy, you can watch as you earn more points and rewards at hotel chains, on credit cards and even from airlines. The best part is, you don’t have to spend a lot of money in order to do it. Here are some tips that can help get you started.
Find the Right Credit Card
Since you will be using your credit card to finance the travel hacking, you will need to narrow down the cards that work for you.
First, look for cards that do not require an annual fee. You want to save money while racking up the points, so unless you have a good reason to do so, or if there is a card out there that has an annual fee but is too good to pass up, then you want to sign up for free cards. Using a credit card not only helps you get points and rewards, but they are also safer to use than cash or debit cards.
The best way to find the cards you want is to figure out where you want to travel to and to go from there. If, for instance, you want to fly to Europe, then find a card that earns you points toward the airline you plan on using. This way, you can use the card enough ahead of time so you get those free airline miles. Plan your trip early and start collecting points on the cards as soon as possible. Check out this AMEX membership rewards program to get an idea as to what to expect.
Know Your Responsibilities
Once you narrow your choices to a few cards, dive in a little deeper and look at the requirements you will need to meet so as to earn points.
Some cards will give you points on a dollar-for-dollar basis: you get one point for every dollar you spend. Many of them also offer “double points” for things like gas, or shopping at certain stores, so see what each card offers before signing up.
The biggest thing to watch out for is the fine print. Sometimes, you will need to spend a certain amount of money within a certain time period in order to get your points, like spending $3,000 in two months to earn an extra 10,000 points. This can put a financial strain on some people, so make sure you can afford the card before signing up.
Link the Card to an Account
One of the fastest ways to earn points is to link the credit card you want to use to an account that you would normally write a check for or have automatically withdrawn. Accounts like car loans, utilities and the like can be paid with your credit card, giving you points for money you would have been spending anyway. And, if you pay the balance off every month, you won’t have to worry about interest. Make sure you only sign up for cards that you can afford.
If you link several accounts to the same card, you will earn points and rewards that much faster. You should also use the card to purchase groceries and gas: the money will be spent anyway, so why not get something for it?
Sign Up for Deals
Many credit card companies offer you special bonuses for joining programs or for signing up for contests and surveys. If you’re smart and have the time, you’ll sign up for every single one of them.
These do not cost you anything except a couple of minutes of your time, and you can really watch your points surge. Sometimes, you’ll receive thousands of points just for signing up for a survey which takes five minutes to complete. One thousand free points is worth a couple minutes with an online survey, isn’t it? If you do this consistently, you’ll be surprised as to how many extra points you can get. So once you have decided on a card, check the issuer’s website often and keep an eye out for their latest offers and promotions that earn points.
Sofia George is a digital nomad who calls the world her home. Currently exploring Asia she passes long flights and train journeys by writing travel articles and maintaining her personal blogging projects.
Ferdz Decena is an award-winning travel photographer, writer and blogger. His works has found print in publications such as Singapore Airlines’s Silver Kris, Philippine Airlines’ Mabuhay, Cebu Pacific’s Smile and Seair InFlight. He has also lent his expertise to various organizations like the Oceana Philippines, Lopez Group Foundation, Save the Children and World Vision, contributing quality images for their marketing materials.
