The Ultimate Guide to Points Travel: How to Travel the World in Luxury for Free

You’ve seen the photos. The first-class airplane suites, overwater villas, and five-star resorts in dream destinations. It might seem out of reach, but what if we told you that you could experience world-class travel for FREE using credit card points and airline or hotel loyalty programs?

Welcome to the world of points travel, commonly referred to as travel hacking. It’s not about loopholes or tricks. It’s about understanding how to earn and redeem travel rewards the smart way to unlock free flights, luxury hotels, and unforgettable experiences.

Flying in First Class on Qatar Airways A380 booked for FREE with points!

Make a Points Travel Strategy

Before diving into the world of travel rewards, ask yourself:

• Do you want to earn free hotel stays or free airfare?

• Are you aiming for ultimate luxury or just cost-effective trips?

• Do you value flexibility, or do you want to be loyal to one brand?

The right points travel strategy starts with your goals and the RIGHT credit cards in your wallet.

Credit Cards 101: Understanding Credit Card & Reward Types

There are several types of credit card rewards, and not all offer the same value.

Here's what you need to know:

Flexible Points Programs (Best Option)

• American Express Membership Rewards (MR)

• Chase Ultimate Rewards (UR)

These points can be transferred to dozens of airline and hotel partners, often with higher redemption values than cash back or gift cards.

Travel Hack Pro Tip:

NEVER book with points using your credit card travel portal. See below for Maximizing Points.

Cash Back Cards

• Easy to use but low value for travel.

• Example: 80,000 AMEX points = $800 cash vs. $2,000+ in travel when transferred.

Travel Hack Pro Tip: Avoid cash back redemptions if you want to maximize travel value.

Hotel Credit Cards

Hotels have partnered with banks to offer co-branded credit cads. For example, the Hilton Amex or Marriot Amex are GREAT cards to have in your wallet and come with tons of free benefit like instant status, upgrades, and large sign up bonuses that will quickly get you to those free hotel rooms!

These cards will earn hotel loyalty points (example: Hilton Amex earns Hilton Honors Points instead of traditional AMEX Membership Rewards points.

Airline Credit Cards

Airlines have become more like banks than actual airlines. All airlines have now come out with co-branded cards with banks. Earn airline miles on your favorite airlines with your daily spending.

• Earn airline miles directly with specific carriers.

• Include travel perks like free checked bags, priority boarding, or airport lounge access.

  
  

Travel Hack Pro Tip: These cards are great to help offset fees, but status doesn't go as far as it used to back in the day unless you are a very frequent traveller. These cards can help people acheive that next loyalty status but often dont yield the best return for points value. For the biggest flexibility, try only using these cards for flight purchases only and use a flexible points card for every day spending.

Maximizing Points: Transfer vs. Direct Booking

One of the biggest mistakes in points travel is booking directly through your credit card’s travel portal at a flat rate (e.g., 1 cent per point).

Instead, transfer your points to a travel partner (like Singapore Airlines or Hyatt) for better value.

For Example:

• Booking a $1,000 flight on Singapore Airlines via Amex Travel will typically require 100,000 points.

• Instead, transfer points to Singapore Airlines and book the flight with POINTS. You may be able to book the same flight for 40,000 points yielding a 60% saving [

  **NOTE: this is easier to do with flights in economy vs premium seats which have less award availability. ALWAYS check award availability before transferring points to a partner.

Travel Hack Pro Tip: Credit Card companies liked AMEX and Chase will offer Transfer Bonuses to Partners. For example, I just transferred points from my AMEX to Qatar at a 30% bonus allowing me to book a flight on the world's best airline for free and at a 30% saving. These cards typically rotate partners and bonuses periodically throughout the year.

Smart Card Strategy: What’s In Your Wallet?

Don’t be afraid to hold multiple credit cards in your wallet. As long as the value you’re getting outweighs the annual fees then you shouldn't have any concern.

Annual Fee Cards Worth Considering:

• Amex Platinum: $695/year – great for flights, lounges, hotel perks.

• Amex Gold: $250/year – top-tier dining and supermarket rewards.

  
  

Maximize Your Spend:

• Use the right card for each category (e.g., 4x on dining, 5x on flights).

• If you're close to a redemption, temporarily shift all spending to that card to top up your points faster.

Hotels & Airlines 101: Loyalty Pays Off

Rule #1: Be Loyal

Stick with one hotel or airline brand to accumulate points faster and earn elite status perks.

Rule #2: Book Direct

Third-party travel sites may be cheaper, but booking directly ensures:

• You earn loyalty points.

• You receive elite benefits.

• You have more flexibility to change or cancel.

  
  

Rule #3: Pick the Best Brand for You

Choose a hotel or airline that aligns with your travel goals, location, and lifestyle.

Choosing the Right Hotel Brand

Top Hotel Programs:

• Marriott Bonvoy

• Hilton Honors

• Hyatt World of Hyatt

Each has co-branded credit cards that:

• Earn you more points per dollar.

• Offer annual free night certificates.

• Help you fast-track to elite status.

Example: The Hilton Aspire Amex gives you instant Diamond status and up to $500+ in annual travel credits making it one of my favorite credit cards to hold.

Choosing the Right Airline Program

• Be loyal to airlines with a hub in your city (Example: Delta in Atlanta or American in Dallas).

• Unless you are a frequent business travel, you don't need to always use the same airline. You will earn more rewards with booking flights with the right credit card than earning flying in the air.

Travel Hack Pro Tip: 

For example, if you book a $1,000 flight from LAX to NYC on your AMEX Platinum with American Airlines you will earn 5000 Amex Points for the purchase and another 2500 American Airlines miles. If you booked that same flight with an American Airlines Credit Card you would only earn 3000 and 2500 points earning you less points and with an inferior product since AMEX points are more valuable than Amerian Airlines miles.

Start Your Points Travel Journey

Whether you're planning your first free trip or trying to unlock first-class flights and luxury stays, points travel can change the way you see the world. It all starts with understanding the best ways to earn and redeem your points.