How one can Journey the World for (Nearly) Free Utilizing Miles and Factors – Melissas Meals Freedom

Do you wish to discover ways to journey the world utilizing miles and factors?

Right now, I’m sharing an thrilling interview with Megan, an professional in journey bank card rewards who has mastered the artwork of utilizing miles and factors to see the world for much less. Megan has traveled to unimaginable locations just like the Maldives, Europe, and even taken a Mediterranean cruise—saving tens of 1000’s of {dollars} alongside the way in which.

Megan’s ardour for journey began in her twenties, and she or he rapidly discovered how miles and factors may make her dream journeys a actuality, even on a finances. Now, as a part of Each day Drop (based by the very talked-about journey YouTubers Kara and Nate), a web site devoted to serving to others maximize their rewards, Megan teaches miles and factors methods by way of lessons and a podcast.

In as we speak’s interview, questions answered embrace:

• How did Megan get monetary savings on journeys just like the Maldives and Europe?
• What are the most effective bank cards for freshmen seeking to earn factors?
• How can somebody maximize factors with out overspending or entering into debt?
• What errors ought to freshmen keep away from when beginning with journey rewards?
• What are some well-liked locations you’ll be able to simply go to utilizing miles and factors?

Whether or not you’re simply beginning out or seeking to take your journey rewards to the subsequent degree, Megan’s suggestions and experiences will encourage you to begin planning your subsequent journey as we speak!

If you wish to discover ways to e book your subsequent journey for nearly free, the Each day Drop publication is a superb useful resource. It’s a free publication that teaches you earn and redeem miles and factors, discover low cost flights, and journey smarter—all in only a few minutes a day. Click on right here to affix over 1 million readers and begin saving in your travels as we speak!

How one can Journey the World for (Nearly) Free Utilizing Miles and Factors

In the event you’re prepared to begin touring with miles and factors, choosing the right bank card is step one. The suitable card may also help you earn factors quicker and get monetary savings in your journeys. Click on right here to check out the Finest Journey Rewards Playing cards to search out the most effective playing cards for incomes journey rewards.

1. Inform me your story. Who’re you, and what makes you an professional with regards to journey miles and factors?

Hello! I’m Megan and I turned obsessive about journey in 2015 once I lastly took my first worldwide journey in my twenties. I knew I wanted to make extra journey occur however my recent out of school finances wasn’t so positive. 

That’s once I got here the world over of miles and factors. I began, the place many individuals start testing miles and factors, by way of reserving a number of journeys utilizing the bank card journey portal. However once I met a pair in an airport lounge who had been additionally touring the world utilizing miles and factors I began to discover ways to make my factors go even additional utilizing switch factors and since then I’ve saved tens of 1000’s of {dollars} in journey. 

It’s allowed me to see areas of the world that I as soon as solely had on my Pinterest boards and studying alongside different vacationers has been my favourite solution to study and turn into an professional in touring utilizing factors. 

Since immersing myself on the planet of journey rewards I landed a job at Each day Drop, a media firm all about maximizing miles and factors. Now I get to show folks the methods that proceed to assist me to journey the world by way of our group areas permitting different folks to know the advantage of studying collectively. I additionally train all of our miles and factors 101 lessons, and co-host our podcast alongside our Head Author, Mike. 

The miles and factors world is all the time altering so I immerse myself in it day by day and proceed to study as I am going. Largely by way of Each day Drop as a result of our writing crew makes it so easy to study however I lean on our group areas so much too! 

2. What are the most effective journeys you’ve taken attributable to miles and factors? How a lot cash did you spend?

I went to the Maldives in 2017 and spent lower than $300 on the whole journey, together with flights, accommodations, meals, excursions… every little thing! 

This 12 months I did a two-month journey to Europe my flights there and again price about $200 in taxes and charges. For this journey, I combined level stays at accommodations with a number of housesits and for the whole 2 months, I spent lower than $1,000 on lodging. 

In 2023 I took a Mediterranean cruise with Virgin Voyages for $0.00. Because it was a cruise, all meals was included and I took benefit of that. We went to Athens, Greece, Cut up, Croatia, Dubrovnik, Croatia, Kotor, Montenegro, and Crete, Greece. To be truthful we did should e book a flight to get to the cruise. We had been already within the UK so we grabbed an affordable EasyJet flight over to Greece which price about $300 roundtrip. General for a seven-night cruise and visiting three new nations $300 just isn’t dangerous in any respect! 

3. Are you able to share your first expertise utilizing miles or factors to e book a visit? How did it really feel?

My first expertise utilizing miles and factors to e book a visit was to The Maldives, I began out setting a excessive bar for factors journeys to come back. I booked by way of the journey portal that almost all journey bank cards give you, nevertheless, after studying all that I learn about miles and factors now I do know that this usually isn’t the most effective worth or use of your factors. 

On the time it was extremely value it to me as a 20-something who had solely ever been to Mexico and Central America. 

I positively thought The Maldives was someplace I’d be capable to go on a honeymoon or for retirement, so whereas it wasn’t the most effective use of my factors, I’ll by no means remorse that journey. it’s nonetheless one in all my all-time favourite miles and factors recollections. 

4. How would you outline “incomes miles and factors” for somebody utterly new to the idea?

I’d outline incomes miles and factors as utilizing your on a regular basis spend to earn rewards that you should utilize for journey.

5. What are among the finest sorts of bank cards for freshmen seeking to earn factors?

I feel the most effective sort of bank cards for freshmen to take a look at are playing cards which can be going to permit you to earn versatile journey factors. 

For instance, when you have a Delta bank card, this looks as if the proper path to go as a result of it’s journey targeted. Nonetheless, that is what is named a “co-branded card” (it’s a financial institution + journey firm partnership) and your factors are then locked into solely getting used with Delta. 

Versus when you have an American Categorical® Gold Card, now you should utilize your factors with Delta however you can additionally use them with Virgin Atlantic, Air France, KLM, Air Canada, Hilton, and a number of other different journey companions. 

So that you wish to search for playing cards that earn versatile journey factors, due to this fact you’re not restricted to utilizing these factors in just one approach. 

At Each day Drop, we preserve our Prime Playing cards Web page updated with the most effective gives. You’ll positively discover co-branded playing cards on there when there’s an superior supply as a result of there’s area for these in your pockets as you develop your miles and factors abilities! This web page may also help you filter out what gives are too good to overlook on the time you’re in search of a brand new card. 

6. What ought to somebody take into consideration earlier than signing up for his or her first rewards bank card?

Nicely, the very very first thing somebody ought to take into consideration is; can I be accountable with my bank cards? Incomes factors whereas racking up debt is extraordinarily counterproductive. You’ll be able to solely maximize journey rewards on playing cards if you happen to’re paying off your card stability in full.

If that seems like one thing you’ll be able to handle, then I feel the three most vital questions somebody can ask can be: 

1. What airways do I fly typically?
2. What airways does my house airport serve?
3. Is there a visit that I bear in mind that makes it make sense to earn a selected sort of factors?

Now we have a free useful resource referred to as the Switch Accomplice Cheat Sheet that reveals you immediately what sort of factors try to be incomes primarily based on the airways and accommodations you wish to earn with.

7. How do sign-up gives work, and the way can freshmen benefit from them?

Signal-up gives are one of many best methods to rapidly earn an enormous lump sum of factors that won’t in any other case be accessible by on a regular basis spending.

Mainly, if you happen to’re new to the world of bank card factors, a sign-up supply is an incentive the banks supply so that you can be part of them.

Generally these gives are elevated, supplying you with much more factors.

It’s usually hooked up to a minimal spend in a sure time-frame. Oftentimes it is sufficient to cowl your whole journey or to land you a enterprise class seat if that’s one thing you’ve been dreaming about!

8. Are there any widespread errors freshmen make when attempting to earn miles and factors?

I all the time like to consider starting “errors” extra as classes with regards to miles and factors. Typically, even once you make a “mistake” with miles and factors there’s a journey on the finish of it. 

That being stated, listed here are some issues to look out for: 

1. Not studying use Switch Companions.
   Switch Companions are primarily particular journey companions that permit you to switch factors from financial institution to airline or financial institution to lodge. These factors usually provide you with extra worth than if you happen to e book in a portal.

   Whenever you e book in a portal your factors are fastened at usually one thing like 1 cent per level. Whereas if you happen to switch out you’ll be able to land offers which can be 2 cent per level all the way in which as much as 17 cents per level and past. So now all of the sudden your factors go even additional.

   For instance, if you happen to had been a $500 flight in a portal and the worth in that portal was 1 cent per level then you definitely would want 50,000 factors for that flight. Nonetheless, if that very same flight is on the market immediately with the airline for 20,000 factors, you’re now getting 2.5 cents per level and you’ve got 30,000 extra factors to make use of at a later date than if you happen to had gone by way of the portal.

2. Not taking step one.
   There can actually be so much to study on the planet of miles and factors however the easiest way to study it’s taking it one step at a time and beginning with incomes.

   Lots of people can get caught up with what’s the most effective card, or am I doing this the suitable approach? The reality is there are such a lot of “proper methods” to do that you simply have to search out the technique that works for you and never be afraid to start incomes. All of it begins with incomes.

9. How can folks maximize their factors with out overspending or entering into debt?

This one’s straightforward as a result of it’s the primary rule within the miles and factors world you might be solely placing in your playing cards what you’re already spending.

You all the time wish to match a sign-up supply with both your each day spend or a big buy you’ve developing. 

For instance, if a sign-up supply will get you 90,000 factors (simply to provide you an thought of how far 90,000 factors can go, I booked 2 enterprise class seats to Europe for 89,000 factors) after spending $4,000 in 90 days the query turns into – Do you already spend about $1,333 every month ($4,000/3)? Or do you’ve a big invoice developing that you simply’re already paying?
Generally folks will have a look at issues like whether or not they will pay sure payments in bulk, like paying their full 12 months of insurance coverage upfront.

In the case of a big expense an amazing instance of this and a approach that individuals earn tons of factors is if you happen to’re planning a marriage or one other occasion. As somebody who simply did this and earned a whole bunch of 1000’s of factors, I can inform you it’s completely value it.

Let’s say you’re occurring a bunch journey. You might be the one to place the lodging in your card and everybody sends you cash. 

There are such a lot of methods to get inventive with hitting your minimal spend with out entering into bother! 

10. How vital is it to repay your bank card stability in full when incomes rewards?

It’s crucial rule. Generally I really feel like I sound like a damaged report with the quantity of occasions I say this one however it actually is so counterproductive if you happen to’re incomes factors and never paying off your stability.

11. What are some misconceptions about incomes miles and factors that you simply’d prefer to clear up?

This can be a enjoyable query I’d say my high three are:

1. Bank cards are dangerous – There may be completely a approach to do that responsibly as I’ve talked about earlier than. There may be additionally a solution to have a number of bank cards whereas nonetheless sustaining an ideal credit score rating.
2. It’s a must to journey on a regular basis with a purpose to get the advantages – You’ll be able to actually maximize on journey it doesn’t matter what your journey model is! Since you might be maximizing in your on a regular basis spend, you don’t should journey in any respect with a purpose to earn tons of factors!
3. That miles and factors equal free journey — The reality is there are occasions it’s free however you might be nonetheless going to come back up towards some unavoidable charges, particularly airline taxes and charges. However typically even when it’s not free you’re saving 80%… 90%… or extra on a visit.
4. You may get into the entire airport lounges – A giant perk that usually will get talked about within the bank card reward area is accessing airport lounges. Oftentimes premium journey playing cards embrace lounge entry. What this doesn’t imply is you can enter each lounge in each airport. It’s vital to arrange your expectations appropriately for this perk. 

12. What are some well-liked locations folks can simply journey to utilizing factors and miles? Are you able to give some examples of journeys folks can take and what number of factors it might price them?

Wow, we might be right here eternally with this one! Our Each day Drop Group has wins shared inside virtually each single day. Our head author Mike travels full-time virtually solely utilizing miles and factors. So, actually, your prospects are infinite however only for the sake of giving a number of examples listed here are a few of my favorites that I’ve seen in our group.

• Chicago, USA to Edinburgh, Scotland enterprise class for 69,000 factors
• Seattle, USA to Dubai, UAE enterprise class for 95,000 factors
• New York, USA to Madrid enterprise class for 34,000 factors
• Chicago, USA to Amsterdam, Netherlands enterprise class for 56,000 factors
• Tokyo, Japan to Los Angeles, USA enterprise class for 50,000 factors
• Toronto, Canada to Florence, Italy enterprise class for 50,000 factors
• Michigan, USA to Hawaii, USA for 20,000 factors

13. What suggestions do you’ve for somebody who needs to dive deeper into this world of rewards and journey with factors?

Outdoors of taking it sluggish and one step at a time, earn factors first. I do suppose Each day Drop has among the finest instruments on the market within the miles and level area! Everybody on our crew implements what we train and we attempt to preserve all of it so simple as doable so that you can study. Listed here are 3 methods we may also help:

1. Positively join the Each day Drop publication, 5x every week we preserve you updated on the world of miles and factors together with instructing you earn and redeem alongside the way in which! (Oh and it’s free!)
2. Discover some journey buddies you’ll be able to study alongside! It’s all the time enjoyable to share offers and suggestions with one another!

Check out Each day Drop Professional at no cost right here, this provides you entry to money flight offers and likewise will provide you with 5 searches on the free plan so you’ll be able to experiment with discovering journeys utilizing factors that be just right for you!

Do you employ rewards bank cards to journey the world for (virtually) free utilizing miles and factors? What different questions do you’ve?

Really useful studying:

Disclosure in regards to the feedback part under: The responses under aren’t supplied or commissioned by the financial institution advertiser. Responses haven’t been reviewed, authorised, or in any other case endorsed by the financial institution advertiser. It’s not the financial institution advertiser’s duty to make sure all posts and/or questions are answered.