dessert
How I Travel the World for Free Using Credit Card Points & Miles
As a 33-year-old living and working full-time in San Francisco, there’s two things that I’m incredibly good at. 1) Spending money on my credit card and 2) Traveling around the world (thanks to those lovely credit card points). So — if you’re someone who works full-time, prioritizes comfort while exploring new destinations, and wants to travel the world for free — then this article is for you.
Credit card points and miles can be an absolute game-changer for mid-range travelers like us, allowing you to enjoy the best of what each destination has to offer without overspending.
In this article, I’ll share how I leverage credit card rewards to enhance my travel adventures and show you how you can do the same ✈️🌏
This site contains affiliate links. I may receive a small commission for purchases made through these links however, this has no impact on the integrity of my reviews. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Understanding the difference between credit card points & airline miles
When it comes to navigating the world of travel rewards, it’s essential to understand the difference between credit card points and airline miles. Credit card points are typically earned through spending on a travel rewards credit card and can be redeemed for a variety of travel-related expenses, including flights, immediate status with hotel loyalty programs, and even car rentals.
On the other hand, airline miles are specific to an airline’s loyalty program and are earned exclusively when flying with that airline or its frequent flyer programs.
As a loyal United Airlines member, I personally choose to focus my efforts on maximizing my rewards with them. This commitment means I primarily fly United, allowing me to accumulate miles quickly through their loyalty program.
To further maximize my rewards, I also have a United specific credit card, which offers lounge access, discounts on in-flight purchases, and the ability to get status at a faster pace than normal.
I don’t necessarily recommend this strategy for everyone because some people don’t care about airline loyalty. I have a personal goal to become a million-miler on United because it earns you lifetime Gold status so that’s mainly why I’m loyal to them. I also deeply care about business class upgrades as the majority of my flying is international so having airline status is my best chance at getting to the oh so glorious lay-flats in Polaris ✨
You can also check out my full step-by-step guide to travel planning here.
It’s important to understand the differences between credit card points and airline miles as you might be optimizing for different things when you travel.
Choosing the right credit card
When it comes to traveling the world for free, selecting the right credit card is crucial. There’s a few different factors that I take into consideration when choosing a credit card such as the welcome offer (PSA never sign up for a new credit card unless it has a bonus offer), the annual fee, and how many points you earn depending on the spending category.
For example, my highest expenses are restaurants, groceries, and travel so I’m going to look for travel rewards credit cards that give the most bang for your buck in these categories.
Everyone raves about the American Express Platinum but they literally only give you 1x points per dollar spent which is NOTHING. Apparently it’s also a “flex” to have the American Express platinum but in reality, that just tells me you know nothing about credit card points strategy lol.
Generous bonus offer
Like I said, you should never be signing up for a credit card unless it has a welcome offer. And not only do you want to find one with a welcome offer, you want to find one with THE BEST welcome offer. I always check out Credit Karma and The Points Guy or a simple google search of “best travel credit card bonus offers right now” will usually give me what I’m looking for.
Regardless of the card, you want to start by looking for cards that offer these substantial bonuses —as they can really boost your points balance right from the start. Many cards provide enticing sign-up bonuses that can cover a round-trip flight or a few nights in a hotel.
Of course, my recommendation would be to start with the United cards (only if you live near one of their hubs) as they have ones that range from no annual fee all the way up to the $525 Infinite card which gives you unlimited United lounge access.
Click here for all United Airline branded credit cards
Annual fees
In addition to the bonus offer, you’ll want to pay attention to the annual fees. You’ll also want to weigh that directly against the sign-up bonus.
The general rule of thumb is that 100 credit card points = $1 USD. So for example, if the United Card is having a bonus offer of 70,000 miles then that’s around ~$700 USD of value. If the credit card is $95/year, then that’s a pretty good deal.
Here’s a calculator that I often use to evaluate awards vs cash.
Take the Amex Platinum for example – their usual sign-up offer is around 70-80,000 bonus points. But their American Express Membership annual fee is $695/year. It comes with a lot of perks (such as lounge access, hotel credit, travel insurance, etc) so it could be worth it if you’re taking advantage of all of the perks but you have to do the math.
For most people, spending $695/year (on top of the minimum spend requirement) in exchange for $7-800 cash value isn’t a good deal.
Spending category
Lastly, I take into consideration how many points I’ll earn for spending in certain categories. Some cards offer higher rewards for specific spending categories like dining, travel, or groceries, which can help you accumulate points more quickly. By choosing a card that aligns with your spending habits, you can maximize your point earning potential and unlock more free travel opportunities.
Redeeming points for free travel
Once you’ve accumulated points, it’s time to understand the best ways to redeem them for free travel. There are two primary methods: redeeming points via the credit card’s travel portal or transferring them to an airline.
Redeeming points via your credit card portal
Using the travel portal is straightforward; you can book flights and hotels directly with your points, often at a fixed rate. This method to redeem points is convenient and allows for instant booking. This is also the method I recommend if you don’t care about airline loyalty.
I mostly use my credit card portal for booking hotels with points. If I’m paying out of pocket, then I always use Safara.
You can read all about my hotel strategy using Safara here.
Transferring points to an airline program
However, transferring points to an airline can sometimes yield greater value. Many airlines offer redemption rates that can provide more significant savings when booking flights, especially during promotions or for long-haul trips.
For getting the most value from points transfer, I’d recommend checking out Max Miles Points!
This strategy requires a bit more planning but can result in extraordinary travel experiences (think Qatar Qsuites or Emirates first class) for fewer points.
Other strategies to travel the world for free
In addition to leveraging credit cards and points, there are several other strategies to help you travel the world for free or at a discounted rate.
Subscription alerts
When you become a credit card points enthusiast, you’re not going to want to spend all day searching for flights. (I mean you can but the majority of us don’t have the time). This is why Roame Travel and seats.aero are excellent resources for maximizing your rewards. Both of these are premium products and require a monthly subscription to get the most out of the tool.
I recently signed up for seats.aero and was super impressed. I set an alert for a business class flight to Rio for under 85,000 points for a certain date and was sent an email/text alerting me that a flight existed so I immediately booked it!
Housesitting
If you don’t mind furry friends and a bit more responsibility while on vacation, then housesitting is the way to go! You get to stay in awesome homes all over the place while taking care of pets and keeping an eye on the property. It’s a win-win – you get to explore new places without breaking the bank, and homeowners get peace of mind knowing their furry friends and home are in good hands. Plus, it’s a super rewarding experience!
Please don’t sign up for this if you don’t actually want to take care of someone’s pet.
Holiday sales
Lastly, keep an eye out for flash sales and holiday discounts; these rare opportunities can lead to incredible savings on flights and accommodations. For example, United’s been occasionally hosting a daily travel deal where you can book flights to Europe for as low as 25,000 miles one-way.
By combining some of these strategies with your credit card rewards, you can create a wonderful travel plan to explore the world without breaking the bank.
What credit cards are in my wallet?
If you’ve made it this far, you’re probably curious what travel credit cards are actually in my wallet. I’ll be honest — I try not to keep too many cards open at one time. They say it hurts your credit score but that really only matters when you’re applying for a loan or in a situation where they need to do a hard credit check.
Outside of that, it doesn’t really matter. However, just be mindful of the 5/24 rule whenever you’re applying for a new card.
The 5/24 rule is an unwritten policy that prevents you from being approved for a new credit card if you have opened five or more accounts with any bank in the last 24 months. Even with excellent credit, you’ll likely be denied for certain credit cards if you’ve opened too many credit cards recently.
It’s important to keep track of when you opened your credit cards in order to make sure you don’t exceed the limit.
Right now, I currently keep 3 credit cards in rotation.
- United Infinite Club Card – I’ve had this baby for 3+ years and she’s my go-to card for everything. She comes with a hefty $525 annual fee but I fly once or twice a month and need lounge access in order to work. Also, a lot of my flights connect through EWR or IAH and the lounge access is essential in making sure I can hop on zoom meetings during my layovers. Fun fact – the internet at IAH is a whopping 300 mbps so it’s fast as f*ck for customer meetings.
- Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Card – I had a very specific goal in mind when I originally signed up for this card. We were planning to go to Bora Bora for our honeymoon and wanted the hotel points to pay for our trip, so I signed up for this as soon as I got engaged 💍 In Bora Bora, there’s two major 5-star luxury hotels including the Four Seasons and the St Regis. So we got this card and started spending on it until we had enough points to book our entire stay! This card comes with a ton of perks including free nights at Marriott hotels, Bonvoy status, and access to discounted room rates and upgrades — so I might keep this one around for another year or so.
- Chase Sapphire Preferred® – Ah, the OG travel credit card (along with the Chase Sapphire Reserve). As you can see, all my cards are issued through Chase. To be honest, I rarely use this card these days and mostly keep it open for work expenses so that I get points, but then end up getting reimbursed. She’s a low maintenance, reliable card and I like having freedom of choice with hotel (or flight) bookings unlike the Marriott and United cards.
Traveling the World for Free Using Credit Card Points & Miles: Final Thoughts
And there you have it! That’s my strategy to traveling the world for “free” 😊
I know it’s not technically free (because nothing in life is free) BUT I hope these tips and tricks help you get to your next destination in a little more comfortable and cost-friendly way.
As you can see, using credit card points and airline miles can really change the way you travel, helping you see the world without spending a fortune. By getting a good understanding on the differences between credit card points and airline miles, picking the right credit card for your spending habits, and knowing how to earn and redeem those points, you can score some amazing travel deals.
Just keep an eye out for great bonus offers and watch out for those annual fees.
Do you leverage credit cards and points when you travel? Do you have any more tips and tricks that I missed? Let me know in the comments below!
Looking for more travel planning tips and tricks?
Check out all my other travel tips from a former flight attendant turned travel blogger!
Looking for some travel inspiration?
As a 33-year-old living and working full-time in San Francisco, there’s two things that I’m incredibly good at. 1) Spending money on my credit card and 2) Traveling around the world (thanks to those lovely credit card points). So — if you’re someone who works full-time, prioritizes comfort while exploring new destinations, and wants to travel the world for free — then this article is for you.
Credit card points and miles can be an absolute game-changer for mid-range travelers like us, allowing you to enjoy the best of what each destination has to offer without overspending.
In this article, I’ll share how I leverage credit card rewards to enhance my travel adventures and show you how you can do the same ✈️🌏
This site contains affiliate links. I may receive a small commission for purchases made through these links however, this has no impact on the integrity of my reviews. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Understanding the difference between credit card points & airline miles
When it comes to navigating the world of travel rewards, it’s essential to understand the difference between credit card points and airline miles. Credit card points are typically earned through spending on a travel rewards credit card and can be redeemed for a variety of travel-related expenses, including flights, immediate status with hotel loyalty programs, and even car rentals.
On the other hand, airline miles are specific to an airline’s loyalty program and are earned exclusively when flying with that airline or its frequent flyer programs.
As a loyal United Airlines member, I personally choose to focus my efforts on maximizing my rewards with them. This commitment means I primarily fly United, allowing me to accumulate miles quickly through their loyalty program.
To further maximize my rewards, I also have a United specific credit card, which offers lounge access, discounts on in-flight purchases, and the ability to get status at a faster pace than normal.
I don’t necessarily recommend this strategy for everyone because some people don’t care about airline loyalty. I have a personal goal to become a million-miler on United because it earns you lifetime Gold status so that’s mainly why I’m loyal to them. I also deeply care about business class upgrades as the majority of my flying is international so having airline status is my best chance at getting to the oh so glorious lay-flats in Polaris ✨
You can also check out my full step-by-step guide to travel planning here.
It’s important to understand the differences between credit card points and airline miles as you might be optimizing for different things when you travel.
Choosing the right credit card
When it comes to traveling the world for free, selecting the right credit card is crucial. There’s a few different factors that I take into consideration when choosing a credit card such as the welcome offer (PSA never sign up for a new credit card unless it has a bonus offer), the annual fee, and how many points you earn depending on the spending category.
For example, my highest expenses are restaurants, groceries, and travel so I’m going to look for travel rewards credit cards that give the most bang for your buck in these categories.
Everyone raves about the American Express Platinum but they literally only give you 1x points per dollar spent which is NOTHING. Apparently it’s also a “flex” to have the American Express platinum but in reality, that just tells me you know nothing about credit card points strategy lol.
Generous bonus offer
Like I said, you should never be signing up for a credit card unless it has a welcome offer. And not only do you want to find one with a welcome offer, you want to find one with THE BEST welcome offer. I always check out Credit Karma and The Points Guy or a simple google search of “best travel credit card bonus offers right now” will usually give me what I’m looking for.
Regardless of the card, you want to start by looking for cards that offer these substantial bonuses —as they can really boost your points balance right from the start. Many cards provide enticing sign-up bonuses that can cover a round-trip flight or a few nights in a hotel.
Of course, my recommendation would be to start with the United cards (only if you live near one of their hubs) as they have ones that range from no annual fee all the way up to the $525 Infinite card which gives you unlimited United lounge access.
Click here for all United Airline branded credit cards
Annual fees
In addition to the bonus offer, you’ll want to pay attention to the annual fees. You’ll also want to weigh that directly against the sign-up bonus.
The general rule of thumb is that 100 credit card points = $1 USD. So for example, if the United Card is having a bonus offer of 70,000 miles then that’s around ~$700 USD of value. If the credit card is $95/year, then that’s a pretty good deal.
Here’s a calculator that I often use to evaluate awards vs cash.
Take the Amex Platinum for example – their usual sign-up offer is around 70-80,000 bonus points. But their American Express Membership annual fee is $695/year. It comes with a lot of perks (such as lounge access, hotel credit, travel insurance, etc) so it could be worth it if you’re taking advantage of all of the perks but you have to do the math.
For most people, spending $695/year (on top of the minimum spend requirement) in exchange for $7-800 cash value isn’t a good deal.
Spending category
Lastly, I take into consideration how many points I’ll earn for spending in certain categories. Some cards offer higher rewards for specific spending categories like dining, travel, or groceries, which can help you accumulate points more quickly. By choosing a card that aligns with your spending habits, you can maximize your point earning potential and unlock more free travel opportunities.
Redeeming points for free travel
Once you’ve accumulated points, it’s time to understand the best ways to redeem them for free travel. There are two primary methods: redeeming points via the credit card’s travel portal or transferring them to an airline.
Redeeming points via your credit card portal
Using the travel portal is straightforward; you can book flights and hotels directly with your points, often at a fixed rate. This method to redeem points is convenient and allows for instant booking. This is also the method I recommend if you don’t care about airline loyalty.
I mostly use my credit card portal for booking hotels with points. If I’m paying out of pocket, then I always use Safara.
You can read all about my hotel strategy using Safara here.
Transferring points to an airline program
However, transferring points to an airline can sometimes yield greater value. Many airlines offer redemption rates that can provide more significant savings when booking flights, especially during promotions or for long-haul trips.
For getting the most value from points transfer, I’d recommend checking out Max Miles Points!
This strategy requires a bit more planning but can result in extraordinary travel experiences (think Qatar Qsuites or Emirates first class) for fewer points.
Other strategies to travel the world for free
In addition to leveraging credit cards and points, there are several other strategies to help you travel the world for free or at a discounted rate.
Subscription alerts
When you become a credit card points enthusiast, you’re not going to want to spend all day searching for flights. (I mean you can but the majority of us don’t have the time). This is why Roame Travel and seats.aero are excellent resources for maximizing your rewards. Both of these are premium products and require a monthly subscription to get the most out of the tool.
I recently signed up for seats.aero and was super impressed. I set an alert for a business class flight to Rio for under 85,000 points for a certain date and was sent an email/text alerting me that a flight existed so I immediately booked it!
Housesitting
If you don’t mind furry friends and a bit more responsibility while on vacation, then housesitting is the way to go! You get to stay in awesome homes all over the place while taking care of pets and keeping an eye on the property. It’s a win-win – you get to explore new places without breaking the bank, and homeowners get peace of mind knowing their furry friends and home are in good hands. Plus, it’s a super rewarding experience!
Please don’t sign up for this if you don’t actually want to take care of someone’s pet.
Holiday sales
Lastly, keep an eye out for flash sales and holiday discounts; these rare opportunities can lead to incredible savings on flights and accommodations. For example, United’s been occasionally hosting a daily travel deal where you can book flights to Europe for as low as 25,000 miles one-way.
By combining some of these strategies with your credit card rewards, you can create a wonderful travel plan to explore the world without breaking the bank.
What credit cards are in my wallet?
If you’ve made it this far, you’re probably curious what travel credit cards are actually in my wallet. I’ll be honest — I try not to keep too many cards open at one time. They say it hurts your credit score but that really only matters when you’re applying for a loan or in a situation where they need to do a hard credit check.
Outside of that, it doesn’t really matter. However, just be mindful of the 5/24 rule whenever you’re applying for a new card.
The 5/24 rule is an unwritten policy that prevents you from being approved for a new credit card if you have opened five or more accounts with any bank in the last 24 months. Even with excellent credit, you’ll likely be denied for certain credit cards if you’ve opened too many credit cards recently.
It’s important to keep track of when you opened your credit cards in order to make sure you don’t exceed the limit.
Right now, I currently keep 3 credit cards in rotation.
- United Infinite Club Card – I’ve had this baby for 3+ years and she’s my go-to card for everything. She comes with a hefty $525 annual fee but I fly once or twice a month and need lounge access in order to work. Also, a lot of my flights connect through EWR or IAH and the lounge access is essential in making sure I can hop on zoom meetings during my layovers. Fun fact – the internet at IAH is a whopping 300 mbps so it’s fast as f*ck for customer meetings.
- Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Card – I had a very specific goal in mind when I originally signed up for this card. We were planning to go to Bora Bora for our honeymoon and wanted the hotel points to pay for our trip, so I signed up for this as soon as I got engaged 💍 In Bora Bora, there’s two major 5-star luxury hotels including the Four Seasons and the St Regis. So we got this card and started spending on it until we had enough points to book our entire stay! This card comes with a ton of perks including free nights at Marriott hotels, Bonvoy status, and access to discounted room rates and upgrades — so I might keep this one around for another year or so.
- Chase Sapphire Preferred® – Ah, the OG travel credit card (along with the Chase Sapphire Reserve). As you can see, all my cards are issued through Chase. To be honest, I rarely use this card these days and mostly keep it open for work expenses so that I get points, but then end up getting reimbursed. She’s a low maintenance, reliable card and I like having freedom of choice with hotel (or flight) bookings unlike the Marriott and United cards.
Traveling the World for Free Using Credit Card Points & Miles: Final Thoughts
And there you have it! That’s my strategy to traveling the world for “free” 😊
I know it’s not technically free (because nothing in life is free) BUT I hope these tips and tricks help you get to your next destination in a little more comfortable and cost-friendly way.
As you can see, using credit card points and airline miles can really change the way you travel, helping you see the world without spending a fortune. By getting a good understanding on the differences between credit card points and airline miles, picking the right credit card for your spending habits, and knowing how to earn and redeem those points, you can score some amazing travel deals.
Just keep an eye out for great bonus offers and watch out for those annual fees.
Do you leverage credit cards and points when you travel? Do you have any more tips and tricks that I missed? Let me know in the comments below!
Looking for more travel planning tips and tricks?
Check out all my other travel tips from a former flight attendant turned travel blogger!
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