FREQUENT FLYER MILES AND HOTEL POINTS

Roscoe the dog says: "Can I come too?"
FREQUENT FLYER MILES AND HOTEL POINTS PACKING TIPS AND TRICKS 

The Secret to Packing Light: One “Weird” Trick and One Huge Advantage

Dana 0 Comments

(Roscoe the dog asking, “can I come too?”)

“That’s all you have?” The crew member was clearly puzzled when I checked-in for my Boston to Bali adventure. Yes indeed. All I had was a small day pack and a larger convertible backpack: one item for under the seat and another for the overhead compartment. This was in the dawn of prehistory when hardly any airlines charged for checked bags. “And you’ll be gone how long?” Two and a half weeks. But it could have been two and a half months. Her expression grew more perplexed. “How?”

Read more
Hawaii - Kapu means "it is forbidden"
BEGINNER CREDIT CARDS FREQUENT FLYER MILES AND HOTEL POINTS 

Top 3 Mile & Points Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Dana 0 Comments

(Kapu means “forbidden” in Hawaiian)

Nearly all of us have made regrettable points mistakes early on, and not so early on, in this hobby. Such is the case generally in life, right? “If only I knew then what I know now.” Or, “I should have known better.” Here’s a list of the top 3 frequent flyer mile and points mistakes and how to prevent them. Each could have its own post, so we’ll just hit the highlights.

Read more
St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican City. Is St. Pete pointing the way to free travel?
FREQUENT FLYER MILES AND HOTEL POINTS 

Credit Card Signup Bonuses: The Key to Free Travel. A Beginner’s Guide, Part III

Dana 0 Comments

In part I and part II, we learned how credit card sign up bonuses play a significant role in traveling free (or nearly so). In this third installment, we’ll explore an action plan to get started: which credit cards should a beginner go for first? If you’re new and haven’t already, please read parts I and II. Although there may be overlapping information, we assume knowledge from those posts. Less new but things still not making sense? Follow the Roman Numerals enumerated above.

Read more
Roving sunlight from the Oculus at Rome's Pantheon. Praise be to United Mileage Plus points for getting us there.
BEGINNER CREDIT CARDS FREQUENT FLYER MILES AND HOTEL POINTS 

Credit Card Signup Bonuses: The Key to Free Travel. A Beginner’s Guide, Part II

Dana 0 Comments

In Credit Card Signup Bonuses: The Key to Free Travel. A Beginner’s Guide, Part I, we discussed:

  • Truly free travel vs. “OMG, I’m Living My Dreams!” heavily subsidized travel
  • What the frequent flyer mile points game is about
  • Who should play it and who shouldn’t
  • The 5 chief types of credit cards used in The Hobby
  • Some variations on those credit cards and how to multiply your points take
  • What to put on credit cards–not cutesy little butterfly stickers…

In this second installment, we resume our Beginner’s Journey by adding actionable credit card signup bonus travel intelligence; answering the question “How do I really get started?” We also serve up a large heaping of Things You Just Need To Know to your fine self. Let’s do this thing.

Read more
Roscoe staying free on hotel points at the Country Inn & Suites Asheville Westgate; acting like he owns the place
FREQUENT FLYER MILES AND HOTEL POINTS HOTEL POINTS 

Hotel Points Eclipsed Cash in Asheville, NC: Club Carlson to the Rescue!

Dana 0 Comments

Two prescient friends of ours booked hotels with cash a year before the total solar eclipse. Friends don’t let friends pay cash (for hotels or flights)–but we’re working on them with the hotel points thing. The prescience was, being astronomy nerds, they suspected prices would grow more outlandish as media hype intensified. Booking by phone many moons prior, a puzzled local hotel manager asked why they were making reservations so early. “The eclipse,” they responded. “Huh,” must have been the response. #RevenueManagementFail.

Read more
St Maarten - you could get here free with credit card signup bonuses
BEGINNER CREDIT CARDS FREQUENT FLYER MILES AND HOTEL POINTS 

Credit Card Signup Bonuses: The Key to Free Travel. A Beginner’s Guide, Part I

Dana 2 Comments

“The only thing I’ve ever gotten free was 10 chicken wings,” joked a co-worker of mine. The conversation had been about another of my nearly free trips. To where I don’t recall: Hawaii, Rome, Paris, a Greek Isles cruise. Didn’t matter. What did was the notion that nearly anyone could do what I’d done: travel the world practically free through strategically planned credit card signup bonuses.

Read more
Complimentary birthday welcome gifts from the Hilton Waikaloa Village on the Big Island of Hawaii
FREQUENT FLYER MILES AND HOTEL POINTS HOTEL POINTS HYATT TRAVEL HACKING WYNDHAM 

Hotel Room Upgrade Success Stories: 4 Video Walkthroughs

Dana 0 Comments

In a previous post, we learned how to email hotel managers for free hotel room upgrades. Here, I’ll share some success stories. The point? I want to inspire you to do the same. Then you’ll have success stories of your own to share: with friends, family, colleagues, and, if you’ll have us, My Points Blog. Do so in the comments section below or reach out to us via the Contact page. No textual Deep Dives here–just plenty of eye candy sorted by year. Enjoy. Or try to. Please excuse the poor videography in advance.

Read more
Ancient road in ruins of Ostia Antica in Rome. Accessible via Metro, a good alternative for those who can't get to Pompeii. Travel hackers, of course, know these secrets.
FREQUENT FLYER MILES AND HOTEL POINTS HOTEL POINTS HOTELS TRAVEL HACKING 

Hotel Search Tools: a few of my favorite travel hacking things

Dana 0 Comments

Whiskers on kittens. Warm woolen mittens. Confess. You know the rest, right? If you don’t, you have no soul. If you do, you have no shame. But did you know about hotel search and other travel hacking tools unadvertised by TV and Film? Of course you don’t unless you’ve been in the frequent flyer miles and points Hobby. Let’s remedy that, shall we? Within, we’ll go round the travel search tool world and observe a few of my favorite ones. Fasten your seat belts. It’s going to be a bumpy night; I mean ride. 🙂

Read more