Points + Miles
How we turned ordinary spending into free flights and hotels
Everything I've learned about points, miles, and credit card strategy over six years of slow travel with a child — broken down in plain English.
The Short Version
If you spend money anyway, you may as well spend it on flights.
The whole system is actually simpler than it often appears online. You earn points from everyday spending on credit cards you’d already be using groceries, rent through payment services, daycare, and even regular online shopping. Once you’ve built up enough points, you can transfer them to airline or hotel partners and book flights or stays for a fraction of the usual cash price.
For our family of two, this approach has turned everyday spending into meaningful travel experiences including business-class flights to Japan, a week in a suite in Lisbon, and plenty of domestic trips along the way, all while keeping our travel budget closer to everyday essentials than luxury vacations.
The real secret isn’t how much you spend it’s how you use it. Choose a few reliable cards, pay them off consistently each month, and transfer points strategically when the timing is right. That’s really all it takes the rest is just patience and planning.
Sarah's Playbook
Four principles I keep coming back to.
Earn flexibly, redeem specifically
Cards that earn transferable points (Chase Ultimate Rewards, Amex Membership Rewards, Capital One Miles) are worth far more than cards locked to one airline. You only commit to a partner when you're ready to book.
Pay in full, every month, no exceptions
Interest will erase any reward you could possibly earn. If you can't pay the balance in full, this hobby is going to cost you money — and that defeats the entire point.
Sign-up bonuses are the real prize
The 60,000–100,000 points you earn for opening a card and meeting a spend threshold are worth more than a year of regular spending on most cards. Be thoughtful about which one you open, and when.
Book early, redeem in shoulder season
Award availability is best 10–11 months out and during low season. If you're flexible by a week, you can save tens of thousands of points on a single booking.
In My Wallet
The cards I actually carry.
These are the cards I personally use. If you apply through the links below, I may receive a referral bonus at no cost to you — and you'll often get a better welcome offer than the public one. Always read the terms.
Chase Sapphire Preferred
My everyday earner · Annual fee $95
The single best first travel card. Flexible points, generous welcome offer, and a sweet spot for booking Hyatt stays for a fraction of cash rates.
Amex Platinum
Premium perks · Annual fee $695
Worth it for the lounge access alone when you're flying with a small person. The hotel credits and airline fee credit make the math work.
Capital One Venture X
Best value premium card · Annual fee $395
Earns its fee back with the annual travel credit and anniversary points. Plus you get Priority Pass and Capital One Lounge access, which is increasingly underrated.
Chase Ink Business Preferred
For freelancers and side hustlers · Annual fee $95