Yep! It’s that time – time to plan Spring/Summer travel! Don’t let the holidays, which will be here before we know it, get in the way of your future travels. Nothing is worse than being ready to travel and not having enough points or miles to get there! Or want to travel and not know where to go! Let’s get inspired!
 

Inspiration

Picking a location to travel to is a great way to start your points/miles journey. We hear about many of our readers who get into analysis paralysis just trying to decide where to go! Here are a couple of solutions:

Go to the blog and search destinations. We have a ton of places we have already travel hacked to, or some of our readers have travel hacked to.

 

 

I have a map in my house from Conquest Maps that I have certain colored pins for where I’d like to go and other colors for where I want to travel to. Every time that I learn of a new destination that I “need” to go to, I put a pin in it. This gives me inspiration and reminds me of where I’d like to plan future travels. The nice people of Conquest Maps have even given us a code for our readers for 20% off their products if you think this would help you. Just use the code THM20 at checkout. Additionally, you can go here to enter a giveaway for a $250 gift certificate to win your own map!

 

 

Put a picture on your refrigerator or somewhere else in your house to remind you of your goal. Seeing and planning for that trip on points/miles will motivate you.

 

What Card Should I Get

We always say beginner travel hackers should start with the Chase Sapphire Preferred because it has the best transfer partners. You can read a review of it here. Additionally, you can refer a spouse, friend, or relative to the card for referral points, so that will make up for the higher bonus too.

What card should I get next? is answered in this post too. Whatever you do, keep the Chase 5/24 rule in mind. Getting a new card or two to use for Christmas shopping is ideal so start planning!

If you have a business or side gig, read about the increased signup bonuses on the Chase Ink Business cards. Now is a great time to get a card with a larger minimum spend so you can use it for holiday purchases. Readers are getting approved for the Chase Ink Business cards with auto approvals right now and projecting low sales, too – It is the perfect storm to start a business or side gig and apply for one of these cards.

 

Flexibility

Remember that flexibility is key to finding that good award redemption. If you are looking only at Spring Break or Summer vacation, have a few dates in mind and start booking as soon as possible. I have already booked all my Spring travel and am now looking at Summer travel. If this hasn’t been your pattern in the past, start thinking ahead now. You will be much more successful with travel hacking if you can plan ahead.

Again, now is the time to plan Spring/Summer travel! Don’t be one of those people who will be disappointed when they can’t find availability next year or don’t have enough points to do what they were hoping to do. You get the most points through those signup bonuses (SUBs). Don’t fall into a common travel hacking misconception that just putting everything on one card will get you where you want to go.

 

 

Bottom Line

Once the winter is over, everyone is ready to travel – especially to warmer destinations. It’s hard to believe but NOW is the time to prepare for Spring/Summer travel! Get that new card, meet your minimum spend on holiday purchases, and book early!