Ever wonder how some travelers seem to live the dream, jetting off to amazing destinations without breaking the bank? Well, buckle up because today, we’re diving deep into the world of points and miles and how they’ve transformed our travel lives. From the simple joys of taking a family vacation without financial stress, to the […]

On our recent family trip to Japan, our family of 5 spent two nights in Osaka. Our family focuses on utilizing points and miles to cut down on travel costs, and we rarely (if ever!) have a trip that is 100% on points. It can be especially tricky and costly in points when, due to […]

Kayla shared her 8-day reader success story to the United Kingdom in our Facebook Group and said that we could share it with everyone here. We love, love, love to hear about your successes and know that they inspire all those who read about them.    Flights to the United Kingdom My husband and I […]

Hilton has a new way to book stays with points—you can now book luxury campsites with Hilton. This includes luxury campsites and custom Airstreams, cabins, and luxury tents in scenic locations near national parks and beaches across America. Billed as AutoCamps, they are a great alternative to hotels and Airbnb. There are mandatory fees with […]

I had an interesting thought today, “Do I spend more money with this points/miles hobby?” Of course, I save thousands yearly on travel using credit card points and miles. But as I pondered this question, the answer was, “Maybe.”    Spending Money on Travel While points and miles typically cover my flights and lodging, I […]

Before our recent African Safari on credit card points and miles (that didn’t happen), we were supposed to spend a couple of nights at the JW Marriott Nairobi. We used 37K Marriott points/night for this hotel, which has an average cash price of about $300-$350/night. We still stayed at this hotel before we left Africa […]

Ever dreamt of staying in luxury hotels from Paris to the beaches of Hawaii without breaking the bank? Well, buckle up, because today we’re diving into some of our all-time favorite hotels we’ve booked using points. From budget-friendly options that deliver luxury experiences to family-friendly resorts and bucket-list worthy stays, we’ve got you covered. Listen […]

This post about traveling to Sardinia, Italy on credit card points and miles, was not something I expected to write about today. I was supposed to be on an African Safari instead. If you’ve been following my adventures, you know how well that turned out. Sardinia is an enchanting island in the Mediterranean Sea, off […]

Amanda sent in our latest reader success story to Sedona and Scottsdale. The impressive thing is that she has only been in the points and miles hobby for about a year! Here’s her story: It’s been almost 11 months since I started following Travel Mom Squad, listening to the podcasts from episode 1, and joining […]

The trip I planned for my birthday was not the one I ended up taking. I had planned a safari in Kenya for my birthday in May. First, we went to Mauritius, and on our second to last night, we got an email at dinner that changed everything. This post is about when your safari […]

When we decided to use credit card points and miles to book an African safari in Kenya, I knew I wanted to go to another country or island since we had traveled so far. I considered the Seychelles and Mauritius and settled on Mauritius on credit card points and miles.  Mauritius is a small island […]

Last year, shortly after the  JW Marriott Masai Mara Lodge opened, I heard that rooms could be booked for about 75K Marriott Bonvoy Rewards per night, including a safari. Having previously been on a safari, I was anxious to see if I could book this with my stash of Marriott Bonvoy points. The 75k/night deal […]

Welcome back to another episode of Points Talk with the Travel Mom Squad, where today’s travel tale is all about adaptability and adventure! One of the most anticipated trips of the year was Pam’s African safari in the majestic Maasai Mara, complete with luxurious stays and game drives—all meticulously planned using points. Pam was ready […]

As someone who aims to visit all six of the Disney Parks, I couldn’t go to Japan without visiting Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea. This was Disney Castle #5 of 6 for me, and I could barely contain my excitement! The Tokyo Disney parks are located in the Tokyo Bay area of the city. It’s about an […]

We met Beth a couple of years ago before she knew anything about points and miles. Here is her first-year reader success story, and it is a doozy—congrats, Beth, on all your success!   For the past 27 years, I have focused on raising my three boys and working full-time for a nonprofit. I never […]

It’s no secret that we love Hyatt Hotels. We also love the Park Hyatt brand of Hyatt Hotels. Jess has raved about the Park Hyatt Aviara in Carlsbad, California, so when Alex was looking for a Spring Break location, this was a no-brainer. Luckily, she often invites my husband and me along for those trips. […]

I’m about to make a pretty definitive statement: Air France to Europe might be the best deal there is—at least consistently. I seem to find great deals on the Air France site repeatedly. I also find a lot of Air France flights on other sites like Virgin Atlantic, both in economy class and business class. […]

Ever wonder how you could wander through the romantic streets of Paris, explore the ancient ruins of Rome, or cruise the canals of Amsterdam without the steep price of airfare hanging over your head? Well, buckle up, because today’s episode is all about making those European dreams a reality for pennies on the dollar! Join […]

I love Southern California. My family always traveled there when I was younger, so I have wonderful memories of the beaches, amusement parks, and great weather. When Alex invited my husband and I to join them on their Spring Break vacation to Southern California, we were all in. Carlsbad, California, on points and miles, was […]

Our latest reader success story: Spring Break EuroTrip, comes from Elise. We love hearing from our readers about how they use credit card points and miles to create lasting memories with their families.   Getting Started with Credit Card Points and Miles I’d been lurking in the travel communities for a while, but I had […]

We enjoy our elite status through different hotels, particularly our Hyatt Globalist status. But did you know that there is an elite status you can buy instead of earning it? If you have ever stayed at an Intercontinental Hotel, IHG’s luxury brand, you know they are very luxurious. Think marble, elegant furniture, and chandeliers; you […]