How to Travel for Free With Credit Card Points
Updated
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As exciting as it is to travel, the experience is that much sweeter when you get to do it for free using credit card points.
You can take your trip without stressing out about how you're going to pay for it. Plus, you'll be able to do more at your destination since you saved money getting there. And let's be honest, you'll be the envy of your friends and family when they hear how little you spent on your vacation.
If you haven't used travel credit cards before, this might seem like a pipe dream. Fortunately, it doesn't take much time to learn how to turn your regular credit card spending into free travel.
Here's a basic breakdown of how you can travel for free with credit card points:
By using your card regularly, you'll keep earning points that you can use for more travel opportunities. If you're open to getting more than one card, you can also look for other top credit cards with sign-up bonuses that you like. After all, these bonuses are the fastest way to earn points.
That was a quick step-by-step look at the overall process. Next, we'll go into more detail on each step so you can choose the right travel card, earn as many points as possible, and get the most from those points.
TIP
Good credit is normally required to get the best travel rewards cards. If you don't know whether you'll qualify, learn how to find out your credit score so you can check yours. A FICO® Score of at least 670 is recommended before applying for a travel card. If you're not there yet, you may want to focus on improving your credit first.
When you check out the best travel credit cards, you'll see a lot of options. What's most important is that you choose a card with points that you can use for the travel you want. So, for starters, let's look at the different ways you can book travel with points:
Each rewards programs has its own lineup of airline and hotel transfer partners. Check to see which ones have partners you use regularly. Then, you can pick a card in that program. While it's important to compare the key features of each card, pay special attention to rewards rates. When a card earns bonus points in spending categories where you shop regularly, it's much easier to build your rewards.
Once you have your new credit card, it's time to earn points. You'll earn points on all your eligible purchases, so it makes sense to put as much of your normal spending as you can on your travel card. Many travel credit cards also offer lucrative sign-up bonuses, which you earn as a new cardholder if you spend a certain amount within a specific time frame.
For example, a card may offer 60,000 bonus points if you spend $4,000 in the first three months. Make sure you spend enough so you don't miss out on your bonus opportunity.
Outside of sign-up bonuses, it can take a while to accumulate enough points for free travel. For those who aren't big spenders, there's only so much you can earn through your regular bills. But there are many ways to earn points more quickly:
Now we've reached the fun part: You have your points and you want to travel somewhere.
The process for redeeming your points will depend on the travel rewards card you have. Here's how it normally works for different types of cards:
Make sure to learn how you can use your points and compare your options. Credit card rewards programs, in particular, offer several ways to redeem your points.
Let's say you have one of the Chase credit cards in the Ultimate Rewards program. You could transfer points to a Chase travel partner, which includes a long list of airlines and hotels. You could also use your points as cash for bookings with the Ultimate Rewards travel portal.
First, you'll need to see which option allows you to book what you want. If there's more than one way to do so, then see which one gets you the most value for your points. If booking airfare through the Ultimate Rewards travel portal would cost you 50,000 Chase points, but you could also book it by transferring 30,000 points to the airline, then you're much better off transferring your points.
If you have a good travel credit card and spend enough with it, you could significantly cut your travel spending -- or eliminate it entirely. Take your time comparing travel cards to find one that fits your needs, and then make it your main payment method. Try to shop for your travel early, too, as this often helps when you plan to pay with points.
One way to travel overseas for free is by opening travel credit cards. These cards earn rewards that you can use to cover travel expenses, including airfare and hotels.
The smartest way to pay for a vacation is in full, using either your savings or travel rewards. It's almost never a good idea to go into debt for a vacation. Save money and consider getting a travel credit card so you can pay for your entire vacation in full and don't need to borrow money for it.
You typically need at least 5,000 to 10,000 points to get a free flight, but this depends on the airline and the flight you want to book. Some frequent flyer programs have award tickets available on select routes for well under 5,000 points. To know how many points you need, check flight prices in points for where you want to fly.
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