The Magic of Credit Card Miles and Hotel Points
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We share credit card point tips and tricks that help us save money on our trips around the world by allowing us to accumulate airline and hotel points.
Using Credit Card Points for Free Travel: (Jump To)
People often ask us how we afford to travel so often. We’re not trust fund kids, we have average jobs, and despite trying really hard, we are not rich and successful travel bloggers.
Cards We Recommend
These are cards we use on a daily basis to earn miles and points that directly fund our travels.
Important: Always read and understand everything on the linked card applications before applying. Now Go See It does not offer financial advice.
United States Only: These cards are likely only available for US-based customers.
You will get 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 in the first three months your account is open. — that's $750 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards.
*Now Go See It can be rewarded if you apply here and are approved for the card.
Chase Sapphire Preferred
The Chase Sapphire Preferred is our number one card. We use this for most of our day-to-day purchases. The card accumulates points quickly that can be transferred to various travel partners. This means you can use the points you earn on airfare or hotels across multiple air and hotel brands.
The card has a $95 annual fee, but it is quickly offset by the $50 yearly hotel credit (this applies to almost any hotel purchase made on the card including nightly bookings, drinks at the hotel bar, or hotel restaurants.)
You earn 2x points on travel purchases and 3x points on dining.
You can also shop through the Chase Shopping Portal to earn even more points.
The card has many extra features like trip insurance and no foreign transaction fees that make it a perfect card for travel.
You will receive 3 Free Night Awards valued up to 150,000 total points
(each night valued up to 50,000 points) after you spend $3,000 on purchases in your first 3 months from your account opening.
*Now Go See It can be rewarded if you apply here and are approved for the card.
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless
The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Chase Visa card helps us earn points toward staying at hotels in the Marriott chain. The card offers bonus points on gas, grocery, and dining purchases capping off at $6000 yearly.
The card also has a $95 annual fee. However, it is offset by the free night award that is grated yearly on the anniversary of starting the account. The redemption is valid for hotel stays up to 35,000 points.
The card also comes with automatic Silver Elite status at the hotel, giving you some additional perks upon check-in.
There are also two other versions of this card, the Bold, with no annual fee, and the Bountiful with a $250 annual fee. Each card has different perks, benefits, and bonuses for signing up.
Earn 4 free nights with the IHG One Rewards Premier credit card. (Each Free Night is valued at up to 40,000 points) After spending $3,000 in the first 3 months from account opening
*Now Go See It can be rewarded if you apply here and are approved for the card.
IHG Premier
The IHG Premier Chase Visa is our second hotel card. It earns us free nights at hotels under the IHG brand. IHG includes places like Holiday Inn, Crowne Plaza, Kimpton, and Candlewood Suites.
The card has a $99 annual fee that is also offset with a free night stay (40,000 point max) yearly on your account anniversary.
You receive 5x points on gas, travel, and dining.
Perks include Platinum Elite Status at the hotels, trip cancellation insurance, and a credit back if you join Global Entry or TSA Precheck.
You can also register to get $50 in United Airlines TravelBank cash every calendar year.
Apply for an American Express Card. With your new Card, you could earn a welcome bonus.
*Now Go See It can be rewarded if you apply here and are approved for the card.
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card
American Express offers various cards that help you earn free nights at Hilton Hotels. We use the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card. This card is our go-to for groceries, dining, and gas because it earns 6x points per dollar, the highest point multiplier of any of our cards.
The card has a $150 annual fee that is offset by a $200 per year Hilton Credit. The credit is redeemable at $50 per quarter, meaning you would need to spend at least $50 every three months to make this perk worthwhile. The money does not carry over after the quarterly time period ends.
You become a Hilton Honors Gold status member, which offers a few perks for your hotel stay. There are also other perks like baggage insurance, National Car Rental Emerald Club Executive Status, and no foreign transaction fees.
Ways to Earn Credit Card Points
Sign-Up Bonuses
The above-mentioned credit cards offer sign-up bonuses as an incentive to attract new cardholders. These bonuses typically require you to spend a certain amount of money on the card within a specified timeframe, such as $3,000 in the first three months of account opening. Once you meet the spending requirement, the bonus miles are credited to your account. Read the details carefully when signing up to make sure you can fulfill the requirements to receive the bonus.
Everyday Spending
Most travel rewards credit cards allow you to earn miles on your everyday purchases. Typically, you'll earn a certain number of miles for every dollar spent on the card. Some cards offer bonus miles for specific categories like dining, groceries, or travel-related expenses, allowing you to accelerate your mileage earning potential.
You can put a lot of monthly expenses on your credit cards. We pay our phone and cable bills and car insurance with our card. These large monthly expenses help to quickly accumulate points.
Special Offers and Promotions
Keep an eye out for special offers and promotions from credit card issuers. These may include limited-time bonus categories where you can earn extra miles for spending in specific areas, such as online shopping, gas stations, or streaming services. Taking advantage of these promotions can help you boost your mileage balance quickly. You often will receive an email that explains the offer and gives you the chance to click to participate.
Referral Bonuses
Many credit cards offer referral bonuses for cardholders who successfully refer friends or family members to apply for the same card. These bonuses can vary in value but often provide a significant number of bonus miles for each approved referral. Share your referral link with friends and family to earn extra miles while helping them access valuable rewards. (Like we’re doing above!) You can even share the links on your socials.
Shopping Portals and Partners
Some credit card issuers have online shopping portals or partnerships with retailers, where you can earn bonus miles for making purchases through their platform. By shopping with participating merchants, you can earn additional miles on top of the rewards you already earn from your credit card. The Chase Shopping Portal is excellent. These points are in addition to what you earn for the dollar spend. I bought my laptop during an Apple Store bonus through the Chase Shopping Portal. That bonus alone was enough for a ticket to Europe.
Travel and Dining Rewards
Certain travel rewards credit cards offer bonus miles for spending on travel-related expenses like airfare, hotels, rental cars, and dining purchases. If you frequently travel or dine out, using a credit card that offers bonus miles in these categories can help you accumulate miles faster.
What to Avoid
While using credit cards to accumulate hotel and airline points can be a rewarding strategy, there are certain pitfalls to avoid to ensure you're maximizing your benefits. Here are some things to avoid:
Carrying a Balance
One of the most important things to avoid is carrying a balance on your credit card. Accumulating interest charges on your balance can quickly offset the value of any rewards you earn. Always pay your credit card bill in full each month to avoid interest charges.
Missing Payments
Missing credit card payments can not only result in late fees and penalty APRs but also damage your credit score. A lower credit score can impact your ability to qualify for future credit cards and loans, as well as the interest rates you're offered. Set up automatic payments or reminders to ensure you never miss a payment.
Ignoring Annual Fees
Many travel rewards credit cards come with annual fees, which can range from modest to substantial. While the benefits of the card may outweigh the annual fee, it's essential to assess whether the card's perks justify the cost. Don't ignore annual fees—make sure you're getting sufficient value from the card to justify the expense.
Overextending Your Budget
It's easy to get caught up in the pursuit of rewards and overspend to meet minimum spending requirements or earn bonus points. However, spending beyond your means can lead to debt and financial stress. Stick to a budget and only use your credit card for purchases you can afford to pay off in full each month.
Ignoring Terms and Conditions
Before applying for a credit card or participating in a rewards program, carefully review the terms and conditions. Pay attention to factors such as expiration dates on points, blackout dates for redeeming rewards, and any restrictions or limitations that may apply. Ignoring the fine print could lead to disappointment when trying to redeem your points.
Forgetting to Use the Card Benefits
Once you have a few cards open, it quickly becomes easy to lose track of card perks and benefits. Make sure you are using your yearly free night bonuses and available statement credits before they expire. It’s also vital to know which card to use when. Make sure to know which card has the best bonus at grocery stores, drugstores, gas, and restaurants.
