How I Travel For FREE! (Credit Cards)

For the past six or seven years, I've been learning how to maximize travel rewards programs and travel for FREE. I'd consider myself proficient at this - I still feel like I have plenty to learn! I want to be clear that not all my travel is free, however, I have gotten my share of free hotel rooms, flights, and activities using these hacks. When I initially started writing this post, it was long. I polled you all on Instagram stories and it was clear you wanted me to split this up. 

I've divided it into two parts: 

• Part One: Credit Cards - my credit cards, pros + cons
• Part Two: Hotel + Airline Rewards Programs AND additional resources

I hope this will be a useful resource that you can refer back to so you can also travel for free. Make sure to pin and/or bookmark it for easy access 🙂

Credit Card Overview

I have to credit Joe's cousin, Lauren, for teaching us about credit cards and how to maximize perks. When we were planning our wedding, she suggested that we open up credit cards to rack up travel rewards. I was always afraid of credit cards so let me share that context before we dive into my recommendations for how to make the most of them. 

When I was a kid, my parents drilled it in my head that I would open up a credit card, not pay it off and be in debit. They wanted to steer me away from getting a credit card too young and not being responsible, which I get. Unfortunately, I went so far in the opposite direction and was too afraid to open a card to even build credit. Ironically my parents had to push me to open my first credit card at 25 before moving to New York. #1: I needed to build credit and #2: I needed to protect myself in case of emergency. 

There are plenty of reasons why it's important to have a credit card or two. I think the most important things to focus on are:

• Pay off your credit card(s) in full every month
• Pick card(s) that make sense for your lifestyle (annual fee, perks, etc)
• Combine rewards programs to get the most bang for your buck
• Don't open too many cards at once (I currently have three credit cards and Joe has two)
• Make sure each credit card serves a purpose (I'll get into mine a bit later)

There are tons of credit card options out there. I don't personally know about all the deals, perks, and details of every card. I do my research and make an educated choice when getting a new card. Let's dive into my credit cards and what I like (and don't like!) about them.

Chase Sapphire Reserve

The number one card I recommend for travel lovers is the Chase Sapphire Reserve. This card gives you the best value on points redeemed for travel on the Chase travel portal. Here is my referral link for the Chase Sapphire Reserve credit card. You'll receive 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4000 in the first three months of opening the card.

Pros

Cons

Chase Sapphire Preferred

While this is our newest card, I wanted to mention it next, as it's fairly similar to the Chase Sapphire Reserve. Joe got this card earlier this year and it's a great option (and budget friendly!). If you're looking for a light version of the reserve card, this is for you. Here is our referral link for the Chase Sapphire Preferred. You'll receive 60,000 bonus points after spending $4000 in the first three months.

Pros

Cons

Chase Ink Business Preferred

This was the second Chase card I opened. The Chase Ink Business Preferred is great for anyone who has a small business. I qualified because I generate income through my blog and YouTube channel. You don't need to be making a lot to qualify. This card has a smaller annual fee than the Chase Sapphire Reserve and is $95/year. The current new cardmember offer is 100,000 bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months after opening this card.

Pros

Cons

Chase Freedom Unlimited

Finally, we're ending with my most basic card: the Chase Freedom Unlimited. I've had this card the longest and it's a great starting point. Joe also has this one. One of the biggest bonuses is NO annual fee. There is also a new cardmember offer of $200 (after spending $500 in the first three months).

Pros

Cons

Phew, that was a lot of information. If you're still with me, THANK YOU! I hope this was helpful. Make sure you pin and/or bookmark it for future reference 🙂 Don't hesitate to reach out on Instagram with any questions.