Travel-Hacking 101: Mindset, Myths & Must-Have Disclaimers
Travel hacking is the art of turning everyday spending into deeply discounted or even free travel. Think of it as couponing for flights and hotels, only the coupons are points and miles instead of little scraps of paper.
Two Myths:
“It looks way too technical.” It can feel like a new language, but if you can order take-out through an app, you can learn the basics of points and miles.
“I’ll hurt my credit.” Used responsibly, multiple credit cards often raise your score by boosting available credit and on-time payments.
Never carry a balance. Treat each rewards card like a debit card—pay in full every month or the interest cancels out the free travel.
Cash-back cards top out at ~2-3 cents per dollar. Points often redeem for 4-20 cents when you transfer to the right airline and book long-haul business class. That’s how we’ve flown $6 000 seats for $100 in taxes and a handshake of points.
Why points beat cash-back for travelers
Open one flexible-currency card with a big signup bonus.
Meet the MSR using normal expenses (groceries, subscriptions, insurance premiums).
Transfer those points to an airline when award seats pop up and boom, you’re travel hacking.
You do not need twenty cards—start with one or two, learn the ropes, then expand.
You do not need to “manufacture spend” with gift cards and money orders. Organic spending will get you plenty of free flights if you plan a few months ahead.
You do not need a 790 credit score. Anything over ~690 plus solid income history normally suffices for beginner cards.
Key vocab you’ll see everywhere
Points – Flexible rewards from a credit-card ecosystem (Amex Membership Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards, etc.).
Miles – Rewards inside an airline’s own frequent-flyer program (United MileagePlus, Delta SkyMiles). Many bloggers casually interchange points and miles, so always note the program behind them.
Transfer partners – Airlines or hotels that let you convert a card’s points into their miles/points, usually at a 1:1 ratio.
Signup bonus (SUB) – A lump-sum of points after you meet a minimum spend (e.g., “Earn 60 000 points after spending $4 000 in three months”).
MSR – Minimum-spend requirement (the dollar amount you must charge to unlock a SUB).
The beginner path in three sentences
Quick reality checks
What’s next?
In Part 2 we’ll build your “main cast” of cards so every tank-fill, grocery run, or late-night DoorDash earns outsized points instead of measly 1× returns.
We're the adventure-loving duo behind the lens and the keyboard, swapping nine-to-five predictability for jet lag, desert sunrises, and stories worth replaying. Follow our journey to 50 countries while we share all our tips, mistakes and hidden gems along the way. We love finding the world's most unique bucket list adventures and stays to share with you here!
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