How one can Journey the World for (Nearly) Free Utilizing Miles and Factors

Do you wish to discover ways to journey the world utilizing miles and factors?

As we speak, I’m sharing an thrilling interview with Megan, an skilled in journey bank card rewards who has mastered the artwork of utilizing miles and factors to see the world for much less. Megan has traveled to unimaginable locations just like the Maldives, Europe, and even taken a Mediterranean cruise—saving tens of hundreds of {dollars} alongside the best way.

Megan’s ardour for journey began in her twenties, and she or he shortly realized how miles and factors may make her dream journeys a actuality, even on a funds. Now, as a part of Every day Drop (based by the very talked-about journey YouTubers Kara and Nate), a web site devoted to serving to others maximize their rewards, Megan teaches miles and factors methods by way of courses and a podcast.

In immediately’s interview, questions answered embody:

• How did Megan get monetary savings on journeys just like the Maldives and Europe?
• What are the most effective bank cards for rookies seeking to earn factors?
• How can somebody maximize factors with out overspending or entering into debt?
• What errors ought to rookies keep away from when beginning with journey rewards?
• What are some common locations you may simply go to utilizing miles and factors?

Whether or not you’re simply beginning out or seeking to take your journey rewards to the following stage, Megan’s ideas and experiences will encourage you to begin planning your subsequent journey immediately!

If you wish to discover ways to e book your subsequent journey for nearly free, the Every day Drop e-newsletter is a good useful resource. It’s a free e-newsletter that teaches you how you can earn and redeem miles and factors, discover low cost flights, and journey smarter—all in just some minutes a day. Click on right here to affix over 1 million readers and begin saving in your travels immediately!

How one can Journey the World for (Nearly) Free Utilizing Miles and Factors

If you happen to’re prepared to begin touring with miles and factors, choosing the right bank card is step one. The correct card may help you earn factors quicker and get monetary savings in your journeys. Click on right here to check out the Finest Journey Rewards Playing cards to seek out the most effective playing cards for incomes journey rewards.

1. Inform me your story. Who’re you, and what makes you an skilled in terms of journey miles and factors?

Hello! I’m Megan and I turned obsessive about journey in 2015 once I lastly took my first worldwide journey in my twenties. I knew I wanted to make extra journey occur however my contemporary out of school funds wasn’t so certain. 

That’s once I got here internationally of miles and factors. I began, the place many individuals start testing miles and factors, by way of reserving a number of journeys utilizing the bank card journey portal. However once I met a pair in an airport lounge who have been additionally touring the world utilizing miles and factors I began to discover ways to make my factors go even additional utilizing switch factors and since then I’ve saved tens of hundreds of {dollars} in journey. 

It’s allowed me to see areas of the world that I as soon as solely had on my Pinterest boards and studying alongside different vacationers has been my favourite technique to be taught and turn out to be an skilled in touring utilizing factors. 

Since immersing myself on the planet of journey rewards I landed a job at Every day Drop, a media firm all about maximizing miles and factors. Now I get to show individuals the methods that proceed to assist me to journey the world by way of our neighborhood areas permitting different individuals to know the advantage of studying collectively. I additionally train all of our miles and factors 101 courses, and co-host our podcast alongside our Head Author, Mike. 

The miles and factors world is at all times altering so I immerse myself in it every day and proceed to be taught as I am going. Principally by way of Every day Drop as a result of our writing staff makes it so easy to be taught however I lean on our neighborhood areas loads too! 

2. What are the most effective journeys you’ve taken resulting from miles and factors? How a lot cash did you spend?

I went to the Maldives in 2017 and spent lower than $300 on the complete journey, together with flights, motels, meals, excursions… all the things! 

This 12 months I did a two-month journey to Europe my flights there and again value about $200 in taxes and charges. For this journey, I combined level stays at motels with a number of housesits and for the complete 2 months, I spent lower than $1,000 on lodging. 

In 2023 I took a Mediterranean cruise with Virgin Voyages for $0.00. Because it was a cruise, all meals was included and I took benefit of that. We went to Athens, Greece, Cut up, Croatia, Dubrovnik, Croatia, Kotor, Montenegro, and Crete, Greece. To be truthful we did need to e book a flight to get to the cruise. We have been already within the UK so we grabbed an inexpensive EasyJet flight over to Greece which value about $300 roundtrip. Total for a seven-night cruise and visiting three new international locations $300 is just not unhealthy in any respect! 

3. Are you able to share your first expertise utilizing miles or factors to e book a visit? How did it really feel?

My first expertise utilizing miles and factors to e book a visit was to The Maldives, I began out setting a excessive bar for factors journeys to return. I booked by way of the journey portal that the majority journey bank cards give you, nonetheless, after studying all that I find out about miles and factors now I do know that this usually isn’t the most effective worth or use of your factors. 

On the time it was extremely value it to me as a 20-something who had solely ever been to Mexico and Central America. 

I positively thought The Maldives was someplace I’d be capable of go on a honeymoon or for retirement, so whereas it wasn’t the most effective use of my factors, I’ll by no means remorse that journey. it’s nonetheless considered one of my all-time favourite miles and factors reminiscences. 

4. How would you outline “incomes miles and factors” for somebody utterly new to the idea?

I’d outline incomes miles and factors as utilizing your on a regular basis spend to earn rewards that you should use for journey.

5. What are a number of the finest varieties of bank cards for rookies seeking to earn factors?

I believe the most effective kind of bank cards for rookies to have a look at are playing cards which can be going to assist you to earn versatile journey factors. 

For instance, when you’ve got a Delta bank card, this looks as if the proper path to go as a result of it’s journey centered. Nonetheless, that is what is named a “co-branded card” (it’s a financial institution + journey firm partnership) and your factors are then locked into solely getting used with Delta. 

Versus when you’ve got an American Specific Gold Card, now you should use your factors with Delta however you would additionally use them with Virgin Atlantic, Air France, KLM, Air Canada, Hilton, and several other different journey companions. 

So that you wish to search for playing cards that earn versatile journey factors, subsequently you’re not restricted to utilizing these factors in just one method. 

At Every day Drop, we preserve our Prime Playing cards Web page updated with the most effective affords. You’ll positively discover co-branded playing cards on there when there’s an superior supply as a result of there’s area for these in your pockets as you develop your miles and factors expertise! This web page may help you filter out what affords are too good to overlook on the time you’re on the lookout for a brand new card. 

6. What ought to somebody take into consideration earlier than signing up for his or her first rewards bank card?

Effectively, the very very first thing somebody ought to take into consideration is; can I be accountable with my bank cards? Incomes factors whereas racking up debt is extraordinarily counterproductive. You’ll be able to solely maximize journey rewards on playing cards when you’re paying off your card steadiness in full.

If that appears like one thing you may handle, then I believe the three most essential questions somebody can ask can be: 

1. What airways do I fly usually?
2. What airways does my dwelling airport serve?
3. Is there a visit that I take into account that makes it make sense to earn a particular kind of factors?

We’ve got a free useful resource referred to as the Switch Companion Cheat Sheet that exhibits you immediately what sort of factors you need to be incomes based mostly on the airways and motels you wish to earn with.

7. How do sign-up affords work, and the way can rookies make the most of them?

Signal-up affords are one of many best methods to shortly earn an enormous lump sum of factors that won’t in any other case be accessible by on a regular basis spending.

Principally, when you’re new to the world of bank card factors, a sign-up supply is an incentive the banks supply so that you can be part of them.

Typically these affords are elevated, supplying you with much more factors.

It’s usually connected to a minimal spend in a sure timeframe. Oftentimes it is sufficient to cowl your whole journey or to land you a enterprise class seat if that’s one thing you may have been dreaming about!

8. Are there any frequent errors rookies make when making an attempt to earn miles and factors?

I at all times like to consider starting “errors” extra as classes in terms of miles and factors. Typically, even if you make a “mistake” with miles and factors there’s a journey on the finish of it. 

That being mentioned, listed below are some issues to look out for: 

1. Not studying how you can use Switch Companions.
   Switch Companions are basically particular journey companions that assist you to switch factors from financial institution to airline or financial institution to lodge. These factors usually offer you extra worth than when you e book in a portal.

   Whenever you e book in a portal your factors are mounted at sometimes one thing like 1 cent per level. Whereas when you switch out you may land offers which can be 2 cent per level all the best way as much as 17 cents per level and past. So now out of the blue your factors go even additional.

   For instance, when you have been taking a look at a $500 flight in a portal and the worth in that portal was 1 cent per level then you definitely would wish 50,000 factors for that flight. Nonetheless, if that very same flight is obtainable immediately with the airline for 20,000 factors, you’re now getting 2.5 cents per level and you’ve got 30,000 extra factors to make use of at a later date than when you had gone by way of the portal.

2. Not taking step one.
   There can actually be loads to be taught on the planet of miles and factors however one of the best ways to be taught it’s taking it one step at a time and beginning with incomes.

   Lots of people can get caught up with what’s the most effective card, or am I doing this the appropriate method? The reality is there are such a lot of “proper methods” to do that you simply have to seek out the technique that works for you and never be afraid to start incomes. All of it begins with incomes.

9. How can individuals maximize their factors with out overspending or entering into debt?

This one’s simple as a result of it’s the primary rule within the miles and factors world you’re solely placing in your playing cards what you’re already spending.

You at all times wish to match a sign-up supply with both your day by day spend or a big buy you may have developing. 

For instance, if a sign-up supply will get you 90,000 factors (simply to offer you an concept of how far 90,000 factors can go, I booked 2 enterprise class seats to Europe for 89,000 factors) after spending $4,000 in 90 days the query turns into – Do you already spend about $1,333 every month ($4,000/3)? Or do you may have a big invoice developing that you just’re already paying?
Typically individuals will take a look at issues like whether or not they pays sure payments in bulk, like paying their full 12 months of insurance coverage upfront.

In the case of a big expense a terrific instance of this and a method that folks earn tons of factors is when you’re planning a marriage or one other occasion. As somebody who simply did this and earned a whole bunch of hundreds of factors, I can let you know it’s completely value it.

Let’s say you’re occurring a gaggle journey. You might be the one to place the lodging in your card and everybody sends you cash. 

There are such a lot of methods to get inventive with hitting your minimal spend with out entering into bother! 

10. How essential is it to repay your bank card steadiness in full when incomes rewards?

It’s an important rule. Typically I really feel like I sound like a damaged document with the quantity of instances I say this one nevertheless it actually is so counterproductive when you’re incomes factors and never paying off your steadiness.

11. What are some misconceptions about incomes miles and factors that you just’d prefer to clear up?

It is a enjoyable query I’d say my high three are:

1. Bank cards are unhealthy – There’s completely a method to do that responsibly as I’ve talked about earlier than. There’s additionally a technique to have a number of bank cards whereas nonetheless sustaining an ideal credit score rating.
2. It’s important to journey on a regular basis with a purpose to get the advantages – You’ll be able to actually maximize on journey it doesn’t matter what your journey type is! Since you’re maximizing in your on a regular basis spend, you don’t need to journey in any respect with a purpose to earn tons of factors!
3. That miles and factors equal free journey — The reality is there are occasions it’s free however you’re nonetheless going to return up towards some unavoidable charges, particularly airline taxes and charges. However usually even when it’s not free you’re saving 80%… 90%… or extra on a visit.
4. You may get into all the airport lounges – An enormous perk that usually will get talked about within the bank card reward area is accessing airport lounges. Oftentimes premium journey playing cards embody lounge entry. What this doesn’t imply is which you can enter each lounge in each airport. It’s essential to arrange your expectations appropriately for this perk. 

12. What are some common locations individuals can simply journey to utilizing factors and miles? Are you able to give some examples of journeys individuals can take and what number of factors it could value them?

Wow, we may very well be right here perpetually with this one! Our Every day Drop Group has wins shared inside virtually each single day. Our head author Mike travels full-time virtually solely utilizing miles and factors. So, actually, your prospects are countless however only for the sake of giving a number of examples listed below are a few of my favorites that I’ve seen in our neighborhood.

• Chicago, USA to Edinburgh, Scotland enterprise class for 69,000 factors
• Seattle, USA to Dubai, UAE enterprise class for 95,000 factors
• New York, USA to Madrid enterprise class for 34,000 factors
• Chicago, USA to Amsterdam, Netherlands enterprise class for 56,000 factors
• Tokyo, Japan to Los Angeles, USA enterprise class for 50,000 factors
• Toronto, Canada to Florence, Italy enterprise class for 50,000 factors
• Michigan, USA to Hawaii, USA for 20,000 factors

13. What ideas do you may have for somebody who needs to dive deeper into this world of rewards and journey with factors?

Outdoors of taking it sluggish and one step at a time, earn factors first. I do suppose Every day Drop has a number of the finest instruments on the market within the miles and level area! Everybody on our staff implements what we train and we attempt to preserve all of it so simple as potential so that you can be taught. Listed here are 3 methods we may help:

1. Undoubtedly join the Every day Drop e-newsletter, 5x per week we preserve you updated on the world of miles and factors together with educating you how you can earn and redeem alongside the best way! (Oh and it’s free!)
2. Discover some journey buddies you may be taught alongside! It’s at all times enjoyable to share offers and ideas with one another!

Check out Every day Drop Professional without spending a dime right here, this offers you entry to money flight offers and likewise offers you 5 searches on the free plan so you may experiment with discovering journeys utilizing factors that be just right for you!

Do you utilize rewards bank cards to journey the world for (virtually) free utilizing miles and factors? What different questions do you may have?

Really helpful studying:

Disclosure in regards to the feedback part beneath: The responses beneath will not be offered or commissioned by the financial institution advertiser. Responses haven’t been reviewed, authorized, or in any other case endorsed by the financial institution advertiser. It’s not the financial institution advertiser’s accountability to make sure all posts and/or questions are answered.