One of the not-so-glamorous sides of self-employment is taxes. The only silver lining is being able to pay those taxes with a credit card! Here’s how I turned a large tax payment into two free nights at a luxury Hyatt property worth over $1,200.   Options to Pay With a Credit Card You have two […]

My home airport (Denver) is a United hub, so the cobranded United credit cards have always been a part of my points-and-miles strategy. I’ve had all of them at one time or another! Right now, there are increased welcome offers on United credit cards. Is it time for you to grab one? We’ve covered these […]

Not sure how to maximize your points? In this episode, we break down the top three ways to use each of the four major flexible points currencies—our favorite points currency (IYKYK), American Express Membership Rewards®, Capital One Venture Miles, and Citi ThankYou® Points—so you can book travel smarter.   Listen on Apple Podcasts Listen on […]

No secret here—we love booking vacations with points and miles! (See what I did there?) Secrets® Resorts & Spas, part of the World of Hyatt hotel group, are luxurious, adults-only, all-inclusive properties perfect for a romantic getaway. With stunning locations across Mexico, the Caribbean, and even Europe, there’s a Secrets® resort to check every box […]

One of our readers sent in this story about her ski trip to Park City on points. Somehow, I erased it and can’t give her credit . If you are reading this, please let me know so I can add your name.   A Winter Wonderland: Our Family Ski Trip to Park City, Utah While […]

Planning your dream trip? Don’t forget to check tourist visa requirements for the countries you’re going to visit! Nothing would be more stressful than trying to go through immigration at your dream destination and not having gotten your visa or ETA (electronic travel authorization) when one is required. Knowing all about tourist visas will keep […]

The latest card_name welcome offer is worth considering if you’ve been thinking about getting this card. With this limited-time welcome offer, you’ll earn 75,000 Venture miles after spending $4,000 in the first three months, plus a one-time $250 travel credit when you book travel through Capital One Travel. This travel credit is valid for one […]

When our daughters turn ten, they get to choose and help plan a special trip for our family. So last winter, after Rose turned nine, we started talking about what kind of adventure she wanted for her tenth birthday the following year. It didn’t take long for her to decide—she wanted a Harry Potter trip […]

What’s better than throwing a Harry Potter-themed birthday party? How about taking your child on a real Harry Potter adventure across Scotland and London! That’s exactly what Megan did for her daughter’s 10th birthday—making the magic come alive with points and miles. In this episode, Megan explains how she made this trip happen for her […]

Once again, I recently found myself on the brink of missing a positioning flight.  Cue the adrenaline rush! There’s nothing worse than that panicked, sinking feeling that your hard-earned business-class redemption, booked with precious points and miles, might slip through your fingers. Or worse—that your trip itself might be at risk.  So when you’re scheduling […]

Jodi sent us her reader success story to Clearwater Beach in Florida on credit card points and miles. We love reading your stories, and especially love when the stories are about someone’s very first award redemption! Here’s Jody’s story:   Jody’s Story with Credit Card Points and Miles I first discovered the Travel Mom Squad […]

Deciphering points and miles “code,” so to speak, can be a challenge!  “If you add your Player 2 as an AU, he’ll be at 5/24 and won’t get approved for a CIP and you’ll have a tough time racking up enough points to fly in J.”  Got that?  Translation:  If you add your spouse as […]

St. George, Utah, is a gorgeous destination spot in the southwest corner of Utah, known for its warm climate, stunning red rock landscapes, and endless outdoor adventures. With its close proximity to Zion National Park, it’s a perfect addition to any National Parks road trip or just an escape from cold winter weather. So when […]

We love earning our points and miles through credit card welcome offers, but sometimes you don’t have enough hotel points for the stay you want to book. Rather than pay a high cash price, there’s another option that can sometimes make sense and save you money: buying hotel points.  The key to buying hotel points is […]

We all love talking about luxurious, over-the-top award redemptions—think first-class flights, overwater villas, and five-star resorts. But let’s be real—some of the best uses of points and miles are not Instagram-worthy. In this episode, we break down the difference between sexy and unsexy redemptions, why both are important, and how they each play a role […]

We all love a tropical beach vacation, traveling in business class, or staying at a luxury hotel. However, one of the less-talked-about features of credit card points and miles may be the unsexy award redemptions we can make that are just convenient or emergency lifesavers. Let’s talk about a few of these.   Family Emergencies […]

Aruba is famous for being “one happy island,” and the best way to maximize your happiness while visiting this stunning Caribbean destination is by booking your stay using points and miles! As a top-tier vacation spot, Aruba naturally sparks a lot of questions about how to book an amazing stay without breaking the bank. So, […]

Michael sent us a reader success story about how he went to Aruba on points and miles. This got my attention as I had a trip planned to Aruba that same November. We used different points and miles but the end result was the same—fun in the sun for next to nothing!   Michael’s Story […]

Once again, a reader shares her love of one of our favorite hotels in Mexico! Paige shares her reader success story to Hyatt Ziva Cancun with us. All made possible with credit card points and miles—and it was her first time not using a travel agent! Here is her story! I have loved your courses, […]

There’s nothing quite like checking into a luxury hotel knowing you booked it entirely with points and miles. Using points strategically can save you hundreds or even thousands of dollars. But finding the best redemption rates isn’t always straightforward, as award availability fluctuates, and hotel programs have different pricing models. That’s where the right search […]

We are the first to admit that we love a nice luxury hotel on credit card points and miles. But that’s not always the case when we are doing family travel. Those types of hotels usually won’t fit an entire family, they cost a lot of points, and having to pay for breakfast for an […]