Travel hacking is the art of using points, special programs, and strategic choices to lower the cost of travel.
There are a million travel hack sites out there. I'm not going to pretend that I have some secret trick that NO ONE else has. These are just my favorite travel hacks — the ones I actually use — and I hope they give you a taste of what's possible.
If you know anything about cheap travel tips, it's probably this: collect credit card points. And that's exactly right.
But the trick is to get the travel credit card that works for YOU, and to rack up points strategically. I could tell you that Chase Sapphire Reserve offers 100,000 bonus points (If you spend $6,000 in the first three months) or that Capital One Venture Rewards Card gives you 2x miles on all everyday purchases. (As of July 2026 - all credit offers can change!) But there are annual fees, conditions, and ways to earn that may or may not fit your needs.
When I work with clients as a financial coach, I often talk with them about their lifestyle, budget, and travel needs, and work out personalized recommendations.
If you like to do the legwork yourself, check out BankRate's CardMatch Tool or check out the latest deals at Doctor of Credit, Frequent Miler, or the OG guru of all this, The Points Guy.
Sometimes I offer 1-off workshops on travel hacking. Watch my socials to find out more!
Let's say your parents can't travel anymore, but they want to help you have adventures.
Talk with them about opening up a travel credit card, using it for their everyday purchases, and then using their points to purchase flights, hotels, or cars for you. (And you pay the annual fee for them!) This worked very well for my Mom — she loved being able to gift me points when it might have been difficult to give money.
An important caveat: this only works if your friends or family do not feel pressured to spend extra just to earn points, and don't need the points to stay on top of their bills. Obviously, it's not about mooching off loved ones — just using up points they didn't know they could earn and won't use anyway.
This summer, my daughters and I wanted to go to Portugal. But it was expensive, and Italy was much cheaper. So our plan was to fly to Italy, take a side trip to Romania, and fly to Portugal from there. (Switzerland was an "in the moment" diversion!) For flights between countries, we used WizzAir — a low-cost carrier similar to RyanAir.
Bonus countries, cheaper flights!
This works best when:
Not practical for every situation, but for flexible getaway vacations, check out other airports, cities, and countries. You never know where you'll find a great deal.
How do we manage to live abroad for 4 to 6 weeks each summer? We often use HomeExchange — a platform that lets you swap days in your home for days in other homes around the world. There is no money exchanged — when someone stays in your home, you accrue Guest Points that let you stay in other homes. And you don't need to own your home — rentals are allowed as long as it's ok with the landlord.
With accommodations taken care of, there's a lot more room in the travel budget for that extra snorkeling trip or plate of tiramisu.
Every time I board a plane with my family, I feel how lucky I am to do this. And believe me — it takes work to make it all happen!
That's why I love what I do — walking beside others as they tell me their goals, clean up their financial life, and set up systems to reach their dreams. Let's make your dream travel plan a reality.
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Absolutely no pressure to sign up for anything. I love meeting new people and talking shop about travel credit cards 🙂