7 Tips for Getting Started on Your Points Journey
The advice I give every reader who's just getting started
I started The Point in the fall of 2024 when I got a New York Times feature on the cover of the business section. I ran to my hotel room, launched this newsletter — a smart, thoughtful dispatch on elevated travel with points and miles — and never looked back!
Today, I am so honored to be on the list of top Substack bestsellers in travel — #40ish among bazillions of Substack writers who cover the beloved theme of travel.
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✨ The #1 starter card for points travel now has a 100,000 point bonus for a limited time.
To earn 100,000 points on a card you already, you’ll need to spend ~$100,000. With this card, you’ll only need to spend $5,000 on the card in the first three months to earn the 100K bonus. Same spending, dramatically different points!
That’s why welcome bonuses like this one are so important.
If you have never had this card, go for it!
Already have this one? There are two other cards with 100K welcome bonuses — and no fee.
There’s this one and this one!
It’s unusual to have all of these elevated offers at once.
Take advantage of them!
In the nearly 13 years since having kids, I’ve never been away from either of them for more than 5 days. But by the time you read this, that tally will be at 9 days and counting and we’ll be in the sky heading to Paris sans kids! Sleepaway camp has been a time of growth for the kids — and for us as parents. I have so much to say about it (an essay for another day?).
It’s delightful as a parent knowing our kids are happy in nature with friends while we can finally have real uninterrupted time alone for the first time in over a dozen years.
So, hi from the skies on our way to Paris! On points (of course). We booked those saver fares I’m always talking about (using this secret trick) and transferred points over from this card to book the flights.
For hotels, we used points from this card’s 200K sign up bonus (it’s still going!) to book a couple nights at The Park Hyatt Paris-Vendôme, one of my all time favorite hotels.
7 Tips for Getting Started on Your Points Journey
The most common thing I hear from readers is how overwhelming points can feel.
Who has time to learn? My goal is to make points feel attainable to you at whatever level you can invest in learning. If that’s skimming this post, I’ll take it! Over time, you will become more familiar with these concepts and begin to make smarter choices around how you spend your money — and your points.
I would not be able to take these incredible trips without using points to do so. And I’m here to share some of the basics to make this your reality too.
Here are 7 rules I tell every reader who wants to get started with points:
You do not need to spend a fortune to earn enough points to travel. You can earn a ton of points by being strategic with credit cards and taking advantage of welcome bonuses. There is no room for debt — an no need to be spending more than you typically would. We spend our normal amount of spending each month to earn the points we use for travel! Very important.
A welcome bonus on a new card will almost always earn you more points than spending on a card you already have. Put $5,000 on a card you already have? You’ll earn around 5,000 points. Put the same on a card that earns you 100,000 points after spending $5,000 in 3 months? You’ll earn 105,000 points! Big difference. There are lots of great welcome bonuses right now - the elevated offers I’m always going on about. Look at the box at the top for info on some of the best ones right now! Hint.
Pay your balance on time: There is no point (pun intended) in earning points if you’re carrying a balance and paying interest. It will never be worth it. Traveling with points is for folks who always pay their balances on time. If that’s not you, no shame! But come back to welcome bonuses and new cards once things are under control and paid off. The last thing I would ever want anyone to do is to go into debt to fund travel. That’s the opposite of the point (literally).
Your credit score will likely increase by having more credit cards. It sounds counterintuitive but it’s true! The more credit you have available to you, the higher your credit score will likely be (as long as you pay on time). Here’s more on credit scores if you’re curious how this all works!
Transferable/flexible points are the name of the game. Rather than earning airline or hotel points, earning points that can be transferred to various hotels or airlines will make all the difference. If you redeem points through your bank’s portal, you are most likely significantly undervaluing your points. Instead, find the booking you want and then transfer the points out to that airline or hotel and book direct. To make sure you’re getting the most value out of your points, read this!
Getting the most out of your points will help stretch them farther. Here is the calculation to use to determine how much your points are worth and whether or not it’s the best time to use them. They have value and can literally take you far if you use them wisely.
The right card makes all the difference. The banks have a lot of rules to follow in terms of the order in which you can get various credit cards to take advantage of perks and welcome bonuses. If you are strategic, you can earn a ton of points. If you get excited and just start opening random cards, you will box yourself out of incredible opportunities. Consider me your guide to all things points and credit cards. If you don’t have this one, you want to get it now while the offer is high.
Whether you are a free subscriber or a paid member, you can email or DM me anytime with card questions. It’s complimentary and I appreciate when you use my links to apply for any cards! If you don’t have this card, it’s almost always the one I will recommend to start. Go for it! Or Message me :)
For paid members, you’re going to get the full Athens edit in your inbox Thursday! Can’t wait to share this!
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Get a FREE Wallet Edit via e-mail.
You might be very surprised what you find out!
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