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Transforming business expenses into adventures

02/07/2024

Another trip I could never have imagined without credit card points and miles! ❤️💳✈️

Europe is always a feast for my senses~incredible architecture, history and food to die for! This whirl wind tour of Dublin definitely wasn’t enough time and I’m sure we’ll be back for a longer trip but I will treasure this time making memories with my girls.

Whatever dreams you have, don’t wait! So many people think they will do things ‘someday’ and too many never actually get to reach that day.

01/07/2024

New core memory with my girls locked in thanks to travel hacking! ❤️💳✈️

Absolutely outstanding show by the one and only Taylor Swift in Dublin and I booked the whole thing less than a month ago!!

MSP-DUB 20k Avios + $115 fees each
Dublin Hilton City Center 50k/night x 3
DUB-ORD 57.5 AA miles + $42 fees each
ORD-FSD $210 cash ticket each
General Admission floor tickets $600 each!

15/06/2024

Our South African Adventure has come to an end after 20 days and I think we explored pretty much everything we wanted thanks to maximizing credit card rewards! ❤️💳✈️

All flights and hotels were paid for with points and miles, other than our 6 night all inclusive safari. With a family of five at $350/person/day it was a huge expense and while the safari added significant expense to the trip it was totally worth it!! 🐘❤️🦒❤️🦓

🥁~Final breakdown of this trip~🥁

FSD-DEN 8.8k x 5 United miles or $1300
DEN-JNB 60k x 5 Cathay Pacific miles or $11915

CPT-IAD 88k x 5 United or $26500
IAD-FSD 15k x 5 United or $1875

300k Cathay Pacific miles instead of $59575
559k United miles instead of $26500
158k Hyatt points instead of $5280

I paid $4075 in hotel/airlines fees and seat selection instead of $90,855! Other expenses included the safari, excursions and meals, which were easily four times cheaper than they would have cost is the US.

I am 100% certain that without maximizing credit card rewards this trip would never have happened and I will always be grateful for diving into travel hacking. If you’re ready to make some amazing memories, don’t wait, start researching now and enjoy your own epic adventures soon!

13/06/2024

Our final destination is The Cellars-Hohenort and it is easily one of the most impressive places we have ever stayed. ❤️💳✈️

A small boutique hotel located in the oldest wine region with over nine acres of immaculate gardens and views of Table Mountain, The Cellars was the perfect end to a perfect trip. Our points booking included an upgrade to suites for both rooms, a delicious full breakfast, snacks & wine. If you get to Cape Town put this hotel at the top of your list!

Cash price~$485/night/room=$2910
9k Hyatt points/night per room=54k points

11/06/2024

Next stop-Cape Town! ❤️💳✈️

Cape Town is a huge cosmopolitan city surrounded by nature’s beauty. A port city with beaches, mountains, shopping, dining and rich history~there’s something for everyone in CT.

Our first 2 night stay was near the city center, at the Hyatt Regency Cape Town which was convenient to many of the main attractions. My Hyatt member points booking included full breakfast with our two bedroom suite.

Cash price $525/night=$1050
7k points/night for our suite=14k Hyatt points

09/06/2024

After our incredible safaris we’ve moved to the southern coast for some relaxation and cage diving with sharks! 🌍🦈💳

The Marine Hotel is a Hyatt Small Luxury Hotel property situated in the spectacular whale watching town of Hermanus. As a large family we had to book 3 rooms but at only 15k points per room it was still a deal!

Three rooms for two nights:
90,000 points instead of $1320!

07/06/2024

So, you’re ready to take the leap but have no idea where to start? I can help!
🌍💳✈️

We are still soaking up Africa but next summers booking window will open soon and I have a few destinations in mind, one is New Zealand! Here is exactly what I’m doing to prepare for another amazing adventure.

~ Google “Award flights to New Zealand” to check for blog posts on what miles work best.
~ Google US to New Zealand routes to see what hub city I should search for in routes.
~ Google “New Zealand on points and miles” to see what hotel options and other posts are out there.
~ Google vacation itineraries to New Zealand to see what routes travel agents recommend so I can basically follow them.
~ Start regularly checking route availability so I can look for patterns.
~ Head to TripAdvisor to research the award hotel options.
~ Book hotels on points for multiple dates and locations as long as they are refundable.
~ Consider spending $12 for the month of desired travel on Point.me to simplify the award seat search process.
~ Open my Viator app and search for the best activities in the places we want to go, create a wishlist and save the interesting options for when the booking rewards are highest.

Yes, it takes planning but that’s part of the fun! Start planning and dreaming now!!

03/06/2024

My top five tips for getting started with travel hacking! 🌍💳✈️

1~Plan at least a year in advance, preferably 2 years. It takes a year to accumulate points. Then award booking windows open a year out which is especially important if traveling during peak times or more than 2 people.

2~Learn the game. This hobby is for those who like puzzles, strategy games and diving into minutia to maximize your returns. Follow influencers, read blogs and ask questions!

3~Apply for business cards before personal cards. Many companies allow you to apply for business credit cards with your SSN as a sole proprietor. Google this, there are many blog posts with clear instructions. Business cards will not count towards your personal credit information and having a strategy to accumulate points is crucial to success.

4~Be flexible! The world is full of amazing places, don’t be stuck on that one destination that is twice the points. Be willing to shift your travel dates a few days each way and you can get twice the value for your points!

5~Get organized. Know your expenses and find a way to charge everything. If there’s a small fee for the card calculate if you can get a greater return. I will happily pay a 2% fee when my return is 5-7X. Every single dollar you spend can help you get the trip of your dreams if you plan ahead and understand bonus spend categories and minimum spend requirements.

If you’re ready to get started and find my posts helpful please click the linktr.ee in my Instagram bio or DM me for a referral link!😘

31/05/2024

I often get asked how I arrange these trips without a travel agent. What’s my secret? Viator!!
🌍💳✈️

Redeeming points for excursions is usually a poor value. Try to think of booking excursions with Viator as an opportunity to earn points. I was able to use an American Express offer of $40 back when you spend $200 or more at Viator on four different cards. Then I went through the AA shopping portal to earn 7 pts/$ for the excursion bookings!

Our hot air balloon ride over the savanna was AMAZING!!! 🦒🦏🐗🐒🦓🦌

30/05/2024

First stop~Johannesburg for some African history.

The Hyatt House Rosebank was a great use of Chase points transferred to Hyatt for our first three nights. Our 2 bedroom suite was only 10k points per night which includes a wonderful breakfast and on site dining when needed.

Having the opportunity to travel to these amazing destinations means learning the history of the area. We hired an amazing guide through Viator for an exhausting tour of Constitution Hill, The Apartheid Museum, Mandela House, Hector Pieterson Memorial and many of the local neighborhoods. A necessary but uncomfortable day of history lessons for all of us.

28/05/2024

2024 Family Adventure to South Africa has begun! 🌎💳✈️

We made the most of our long layover with a Black Cab tour of London to see the sights and are hopping on our second leg to Johannesburg on the second floor of an A350!

Booking details for inspiration:
FSD-DEN $260 or 8.8k United miles each
DEN-LHR-JNB $11915 or 60k Cathay Pacific miles each transferred from Membership Rewards. Follow our adventure for more trip details and travel hacking hints to Africa!
🇿🇦🐘🦒🦁🦓

23/03/2024

Gear up for an epic family ski adventure at Beaver Creek, CO without breaking the bank!
❄️💳✈️

We used some travel hacking magic to score deals on a winter trip I never would have done without points and miles. Time to shred the slopes and make unforgettable memories!

135k Hyatt points instead of $4647
$1095 from my United Travel Bank money accumulated from my American Express business card travel credits.

04/02/2024

Flashback to one of our favorite trips, ringing in 2020 in Australia! ❤️💳✈️

Travel hacking is my passion! It is a puzzle for me that I’m constantly working to find great deals. Without credit card points and miles we would never travel like this and if you are passionate about travel you should get on it! Yes, having loads of business expenses will rack up points faster but there are plenty of opportunities and everyday people doing this without businesses. If you’ve got questions I’ll try to help. It requires some organization and studying but it’s all worth it when you can pull off a masterpiece like this trip! 🦘🐊🐍☀️

40k x 5 United miles FSD-SYD ($1685 x 5=$8425)
20k Hilton points for 10 hour long layover in LAX ($155)
6k x 5 Avios miles SYD-CNS ($236 x 5=$1180)
1-7 night Marriott certificate for 6 nights in Port Douglas ($3985)
6k x 5 CNS-SYD ($236 x 5=$1180)
160k x 2 Marriott points for 5 nights in Sydney with Harborview room ($3825 x 2 rooms)
6k x 5 SYD-BNE ($219 x 5=$1095)
105k Marriott points for 4 nights in Brisbane ($1240)
40k x 5 United miles BNE-FSD ($2504 x 5 =$12520)
30k Hilton points for 12 hour layover in ORD ($240)

18 days in Australia for our family of 5:

United miles-400k
Avios-90k miles
Hilton points-50k
Marriott points-450k plus a 7 night certificate

🤑CASH VALUE-$37,670!🤑

Cash spent only on food and excursions, which are all charged in order to accrue miles for our next trips.

29/12/2023

It’s always a great time to be on Maui!
❤️💳🤙🏽

Traveling during peak vacation weeks like Christmas through New Years is ridiculously expensive but if you’ve got points anything is possible!

Marriott hotels are always 5th night free for points bookings. We spent 5 nights at our favorite hotel, The Wailea Beach Resort, for 364k points and $384.91 in taxes, resort fees and parking.

With rooms going for over $1900/night we would have paid $9,565 for those same 5 nights! Start planning your 2024 holiday now as these peak weeks sell out fast!!

If you’re ready to up your game with some new credit cards message me or click my linktr.ee for a referral.😘

14/12/2023

Maximize your holiday gift card purchases with great deals this week! ❤️💳🎁

Staples is offering $200 Visa gift cards with no activation fee (max 5) through 12/16. Use your Ink Buisness Cash card for 5X Ultimate Rewards to purchase these. Use your American Express Gold card for 4x Membership Rewards plus a 10% bonus card on gift cards at Hy-Vee 12/15 only!

15/09/2023

Most business owners already know the power of the American Express Business Platinum cards but did you know that you can have more than one card?!?
❤️💳✈️

Membership Rewards points are one of the most valuable transferrable currency in travel hacking. While the annual fee may seem high the value of the points can easily come to 10x that fee and there are many luxury perks and benefits that come with each card. If you want to start accruing more points for 2024 travel please check the application link in my bio for a referral application. 😘

22/07/2023

Time is moving so fast and life is incredibly short. I will forever be thankful for diving in to this points and miles rabbit hole! ❤️💳✈️

Thanks to my travel hacking obsession we have made memories I never imagined with our children. Exploring the world with my family has given me endless opportunities for interaction to discover who each of them really are. Hopefully our adventures have inspired them to explore the world and be curious about people and cultures.

Life is short. 90% of the time we get with our children is gone by the time they turn 18. Spending time together is the most valuable thing you can offer your family. Don’t wait, start planning your next adventure today!!

20/07/2023

One card, seven nights of fun in the sun!
❤️💳✈️

The Hyatt Regency Puerto Rico is a great use of Chase points at 15k points/night. If you have a partner they can apply for that same card to cover your airfare! Right now it’s easier than ever to earn 108k points with the lowered spend requirement for the Chase Ink Preferred!!

If you are inspired by our travels please use my application link or message me for more information about this card.😘

https://www.referyourchasecard.com/21j/LUQCCNK4OB

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I’ll never regret taking this time. ❤️❤️❤️ Next summer will be here before you know it. Start planning your memories now.

What could be better than planning your next holiday while on your current one?!? ❤️💳✈️ Travel hacking has made trips I never could have imagined a reality. Summer vacation 2025 award booking dates open soon, don’t procrastinate planning or the award spots will be gone! #travelhackingdoctor #southafrica #muizenburgbeach #saltwatercureseverything #planahead

Shark bait! 🦈❤️🛥️ Another amazing booking thanks to Viator! Cage diving with sharks was a fantastic once in a life experience that only reinforced my need for PADI certification!🤿 #travwlhackingdoctor #sharkdiving #hermanus #everydayisanadventure #viator #marinedynamics

Hacking an African safari lodge is a challenge but absolutely worth it. 🌍💳✈️ It is possible to book with points through a credit card travel booking service but those can be difficult to deal with if there are issues. Instead, I chose to use this larger expense as a way to meet the minimum spend on a new card. A safari lodge is basically an all inclusive resort and definitely the way to go to really enjoy your stay! Our busy daily schedule at Umbumke: 5:30 wake up 6-9 safari drive 9:00 breakfast 10-11 bush walk 2:00 lunch 4-7 safari drive 7:00 dinner #travelhackingdoctor #umbumkeriverlodge #southafrica #worthit #adventure #makingmemories

Happy New Year! 🎉🤙🏽🥂 Planning new travel destinations for 2024 is exciting but this place will always be our #1 choice. Maui Nō Ka ʻOi!! Comment below with your 2024 travel plans and the award redemptions you’ll use to make it happen. #mauinokaoi #2024goals #travelhackingdoctor #makeithappen #travelisthebesteducation

Well, maybe a healthy addiction?🤣 #travelhackingdoctor #bali #healthyaddiction #pointsaddict

Enjoying this amazing adventure with my tired, ungrateful teenagers.🤣😂🤣

Headed off on our epic summer family vacation today thanks to points and miles! ❤️💳✈️ Hopefully our travel inspires you to dream big and plan ahead to make all of your travel dreams a reality. #travelhackingdoctor #adventure #pointsandmiles #travelhacks #familyvacation #malaysia #thailand #cambodia #bali

Maui Nō Ka ʻOi 🐋🌺🤙🏽 Maui is the best! Every time we go to Hawaii I am still amazed that we are able to travel to destinations I only dreamed of as a kid. All of these memories are only possible thanks to credit card travel hacking! ❤️💳✈️ A hui hou kākou ~ Until we meet again! #travelhackingdoctor #mauinokaoi #hawaii #aloha #creditcardpoints #travelhacks #dreambig #makingmemories #itsallworthit

Travel hacking isn’t always free travel but it is always about getting a great deal! ❤️💳✈️ Wyndham is a great example of an odd partnership opportunity. Wyndham partners with Vacasa which is similar to AirBnb or VRBO. For 30,000 Wyndham points you can choose a single queen with no view at a local Days Inn or use Vacasa to book this gorgeous oceanfront 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom condo. While you can easily earn points with Wyndham credit card sign on bonuses or their shopping portal sometimes it’s even a steal to actually purchase points. Currently you can buy 150k Wyndham points for $1417, those same 5 nights cash price for this condo would be $4150! #travelhackingdoctor #wyndham #vacasa #worksmarternotharder #creditcardrewards #travelhacks #mauinokaoi #bargainhunter #knowtherules

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