Travel Hacking: A Primo Guide

Learn how you can travel more often for less money with travel hacking.

If you’re reading this, you’re probably someone who travels a lot or wants to travel more. Exploring the world has so many benefits, from expanding your mind to enhancing your life to increasing your relaxation level. And you can get more of all these benefits without too much effort if you get into the travel hacking game. What’s travel hacking, you ask? Sounds made up? We assure you: it’s a thing.

What Is Travel Hacking?

Travel hacking at its most basic level is deliberately taking advantage of the vast network of airline miles, credit cards and other travel bonuses. Hmm. That sounds like something for these kids today. Well, it is, but travel hacking is for everyone. That means people without enough money to travel as well as people with lots of money looking to use that money in the smartest way possible can travel hack. You probably fit into one of those categories. So, what are you waiting for?

Get Started

Guess what? You might already be travel hacking and not even know it! Are you signed up for frequent flier miles with an airline or another airline rewards program? Congratulations. You’re already travel hacking. If you aren’t, then your first step is to sign up with an airline or program. Signing up is pretty easy, but you do have some decisions to make about which programs to choose. Click here for tips on what to look for.

Once you’re getting miles and rewards for traveling, you’re ready to level up by earning rewards for other kinds of spending. So, sign up for a credit card with travel rewards or one with more flexible rewards. Then start spending. Buying gas? Free travel money. Paying bills? Free travel money. See how easy this is? Now that you’re earning points and rewards, you can watch them add up and start planning that dream vacation.

Smart Travel Hacking

Travel hacking is easy, but there are some things to watch out for:

• Some airline miles and rewards come with expiration dates. If you don’t use them, you may lose them.
• All programs have rules around redeeming rewards. Make sure to check rules in advance and follow them to ensure you get what’s coming to you.
• If you’re signed up for more than two or three programs, tracking starts to get complex. Work on a system of tracking that works for you or use online tools to help you.
• If you don’t pay your credit cards off every month, you may find yourself paying more in interest fees than you’re earning in rewards.
• Every time you apply for a credit card, your credit is checked. Each of these inquiries causes a temporary drop in your credit score. However, if you use that credit wisely, you’ll make up that drop in time. But if you have reason to keep your credit really clean right now (maybe you’re buying a house?) then it’s wise to wait on the credit cards. But you can still sign up for all the airline miles and rewards programs without negative consequences.

Happy travels!

(Image Source: Pixabay)