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 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 […]

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, […]

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 […]

If you’ve been eyeing an American Express card but aren’t sure which one to get, you’re in the right place! In this episode, we break down two great personal cards—the American Express® Gold Card and The Platinum Card® from American Express—and two great business cards—the American Express® Business Gold Card and The Business Platinum Card® […]

Just in! We have new American Express Hilton Credit Card Offers! I was just saying to Alex and Jess that the elevated offers have been pretty slim lately. Someone must have been listening because American Express upped their game today! Here’s what has changed:   Hilton Honors American Express Credit Card The American Express Hilton […]

When we first started earning and using credit card points and miles, we had no points and miles course to help us.  We would spend hours reading, researching, and running practice award searches. But it was way too time-consuming. We would try to take in and digest all the content, and after the hours flew […]

Our latest reader success story comes from Kayla, and it’s all about the “happiest place on earth”—Disneyland.  Here is Kayla’s reader success story to Disneyland.   Using credit card points and miles for discounted trips was something I hadn’t heard of before July 2022. Fast forward to March 2023, and my family of 4 was […]

Airport lounge access is one of my favorite benefits, and I get it with some of my credit cards. I usually try to arrive earlier than I normally would when I fly so I can visit a lounge, have a small meal, and unwind a little. It is such a nice perk! Time flies in […]

Have you ever returned from an international trip to be met with a huge immigration line? Ugh, that used to be the worst for me! But then I got Global Entry. I can now breeze through immigration no matter what U.S. city I land in. Once, upon returning from Turks and Caicos, our port of […]

Today we’re talking all about some of our favorite family hotel stays with points.  There are a few repeats in this list as we tend to create FOMO with each other when we talk about our favorite stays!   Alex’s Favorites Hyatt Ziva Cancun (all-inclusive): all the food, drinks, and treats they could want! Two […]

Dreaming of taking your family to Europe without draining your wallet? In this episode, we sit down with our team member and resident Europe travel expert, Traci Siegel, to share her tried-and-true tips for flying a family overseas using points and miles. These strategies will help make your dream a reality!   Listen on Apple […]

Where in Europe do you want to go? Greece, London, Paris, Amsterdam, Croatia? There are so many fabulous European destinations, and most beginner points-and-miles users start off their points-earning journeys earning Chase Ultimate Rewards®, so let’s talk about using Chase Ultimate Rewards® for European flights. First, there are 11 airline transfer partners that you can […]

Our reader success story to South Florida comes from Laura. Here is her story:   Fort Lauderdale, Florida on Points and Miles We were fortunate to trade below-freezing temperatures in the Midwest for much warmer and mostly sunny weather in Southern Florida this winter.  Our family of four flew out of Springfield, Missouri to Fort […]

Our readers love Disney on points and miles! It is one of people’s favorite places to go to after getting into using credit card points and miles to reduce their travel expenses.  Disneyland and Disney World are known for well-produced shows, parades, and character interactions. The parks cater to people of all ages, creating a […]

Do you have a favorite point and miles currency? I do. It wasn’t always my favorite, but as I have continued in my points and miles journey, I have found that I am always wanting more Ultimate Rewards®. Let’s look at some ways we can accumulate more Ultimate Rewards® from Chase.   How to Accumulate […]