Traveling (Somewhat) on Points: How We Really Use Miles & Rewards
When people hear “traveling on points,” they often picture everything being free flights, hotels, cars, tickets, the whole trip magically covered. The truth? That’s rarely how it works in real life… and honestly, that’s okay.
Our travel style is a mix of points, miles, companion passes, and good old cash (paid for using a credit card that earns said points and miles), and that balance has allowed us to travel more often without turning points into a second full-time job.
Here’s what that journey has looked like for us, and how I help my clients do the same.
How It Started: One Card, One Redemption
Before 2024, I wasn’t deep in the points world at all. I had one card that I held onto for probably five years. Eventually, I redeemed the points for:
A rental car
A 3-night hotel stay
That was it. Useful? Yes. Life-changing? Not quite.
2024: The Year I Got Hooked
In 2024, I opened my business and decided to apply for a business card and that’s when things clicked. I suddenly understood how welcome offers, transfer partners, and flexibility could really add up.
By the end of 2024, I had a few more cards with excellent sign up bonus welcome offers.
I wasn’t trying to “collect” cards, I was matching cards to how we already spend and travel.
2025: Putting Points to Work (Without Overthinking It)
Even now, we still pay cash for plenty of trip components:
Rental cars
Some hotels/vacation rentals
Theme park tickets
But once the points started stacking up, here’s what 2025 actually looked like:
Trips We Took in 2025
Orlando (twice)
Phoenix
Marco Island
Ireland
Los Angeles
San Antonio
Oregon
We paid for most of our flights using airline miles/companion passes and paid for 7 hotel nights using points.
That’s a lot of flights covered by points, without forcing every hotel stay to be a points redemption.
Looking Ahead: 2026 Is Already Taking Shape
Here’s what we already have planned using a mix of strategies:
Orlando
Europe
Arizona
Hawaii
We’re also planning at least one more summer or fall trip where we will cash in another airline companion pass.
And yes… now I’m already thinking about how to earn more points for 2027
The Big Takeaway: Points Are a Tool, Not a Rulebook
This is what I want people to understand most:
You do not need to book every single part of your trip with points for it to be worth it.
Sometimes:
Flights are the best use of miles
Cash hotels give you better locations or availability
Theme parks tickets and Cruises don’t make sense for points
The magic is in mixing strategies, not chasing perfection.
How I Help as a Travel Agent
This is exactly how I help my clients travel smarter, without forcing every part of the trip to be booked on points.
I help clients:
✈️ Find flights using airline miles or credit card points
🏨 Book hotels with cash in destinations where points options are limited or not a good value
💡 Decide when points make sense, and when cash is the better option
Not every destination (or hotel) has strong points availability, and part of my job is knowing where flexibility matters and where it doesn’t.
Cruises & Points: Using Them Where They Matter Most
Cruises are a great example of this balanced approach.
Most cruise lines don’t offer great options for booking the cruise itself with points, and that’s completely fine. Instead, I help clients use points and miles for the pieces around the cruise, which can still lead to big savings.
That often looks like:
Flights to the cruise port using airline miles
A hotel the night before the cruise using points (which I highly recommend to avoid travel-day stress)
Optional post-cruise hotel nights if flight schedules require it
Assistance with transfers, rental cars, or port transportation
You pay cash for the cruise, but reduce the overall cost of the trip by covering flights and hotels with points, especially helpful for families or longer sailings.
How My Travel Planning Fees Work
If you book hotels, tours, theme park package, or a cruise with me using cash, my travel planning service is free
If you want help planning a full trip using points and miles, including flights, hotels, and add ons, I charge a planning fee
Whether it’s a cruise, a theme park trip, Europe, or a quick weekend getaway, my goal is to make travel planning easier and help you use your points in a way that actually fits your life.
My goal is never to force points into every trip, but to use them strategically so your travel feels easier, not more complicated.
