HOW I SAVED >$100,000 USD WITH TRAVEL HACKING: My Points & Miles Journey!
From a young age, I've always been passionate about travel – exploring new places, savoring different cuisines, and experiencing the local way of life. As I got older, married, and started a family, my husband and I dreamt of taking our daughter on incredible adventures around the world!
The Spark: A Serendipitous Bora Bora Encounter
A few years ago, during a trip to Bora Bora, we met a family who were enjoying their vacation... completely FREE! They had used points and miles to cover their entire trip. My mind was blown! How did they do that? How did they save THOUSANDS of dollars? How could I learn to do the same? Travel hacking, as it turned out, was a whole new world to me, but I was determined to dive in!
My Deep Dive into Points & Miles (Started in 2023!)
That chance encounter ignited my passion for travel hacking! I decided to learn everything I could about traveling for free (or practically free!). I had just given birth and couldn't travel, so I used that time to study up. I devoured travel blogs, joined countless travel communities, and practiced searching for flights and hotels for hundreds of different destinations, especially routes to Asia and Europe. It was eye-opening! I learned how to maximize the value of my points, find the best deals quickly, and, most importantly, spend smarter.
Smart Spending, Smarter Travel
Before discovering the world of points and miles, our monthly expenses – groceries, bills, everything – just vanished without a trace. Now, we spend the same amount, but we earn points on those purchases! By strategically opening the right credit cards and using them wisely, we're able to redeem those points for flights and hotels. I'm not about overspending just for the sake of points; our goal is to leverage our existing spending habits for incredible travel opportunities.
The Results? Mind-Blowing!
Over the past two years, we've accumulated a TON of points from various banks, airlines, and hotel chains. But what I'm most proud of isn't how many points we have, but how many we've *used* and how much we've *saved*!
- Total Points Earned: 3,901,470
- Total Points Redeemed: 3,891,274 (for flights + hotels)
- Total Trips Taken: 23 (16 international, 7 domestic)
- Total Savings: >$100,000 USD
My husband and I are just regular working folks, no businesses or side hustles here! We definitely didn't spend millions to earn those points 😂 (wish we could!). But thanks to travel hacking, we've been able to explore the world, save a fortune, and enjoy BETTER travel experiences than ever before!
Where We've Been... So Far!
- 🇨🇭 Switzerland
- 🇫🇷 France
- 🇦🇹 Austria
- 🇬🇷 Greece
- 🇦🇼 Aruba
- 🇩🇴 Dominican Republic
- 🇲🇽 Cancun
- 🇨🇦 Ontario, Niagara Falls
- 🇺🇸 Seattle
- 🇺🇸 Chicago
- 🇺🇸 Florida
Adventures on the Horizon: Our Booked Trips!
- 🇲🇻 Maldives
- 🇶🇦 Doha
- 🇮🇹 Italy
- 🇯🇵 Japan
- 🇰🇷 South Korea
- 🇭🇰 Hong Kong
- 🇹🇼 Taiwan
- 🇮🇩 Bali
- 🇨🇦 Montreal / Quebec
- 🇺🇸 Lake Tahoe
- 🇺🇸 Dallas
- 🇺🇸 New York
- 🇺🇸 Virginia
Luxury Experiences I Never Thought Possible!
Without travel hacking, I would never have experienced the luxury of first-class and business-class travel. Flights like Emirates First Class or Qatar Qsuite business class, which can cost tens of thousands of dollars, are now within reach! We always book business class for long-haul flights to Asia and Europe, saving economy for domestic flights and trips to the Caribbean.
Making Dreams a Reality
Travel hacking has allowed us to fulfill our dream of traveling the world with our daughter. It's also enabled us to help our parents and friends travel more, save money, and enjoy upgraded experiences like business-class flights and 5-star resort stays. I want to document every detail of our journeys – how we book flights and hotels, the amazing experiences we have along the way!
Sharing the Passion
I'm eager to share my passion for travel, photography, and the practical knowledge I've gained about travel hacking. I'm still learning, but I hope that my experiences can inspire others to explore more, create unforgettable memories, and maybe even snag that dream vacation!
Life is short, and the world is vast. If travel hacking can open doors to new adventures, experiences, and discoveries, why not give it a try?
Happy Travels and Happy New Year 😊!
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