{"id":6877,"date":"2023-02-23T14:00:58","date_gmt":"2023-02-23T14:00:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2023\/02\/23\/10-travel-hacking-mistakes-to-avoid\/"},"modified":"2023-02-23T14:00:58","modified_gmt":"2023-02-23T14:00:58","slug":"10-travel-hacking-mistakes-to-avoid","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2023\/02\/23\/10-travel-hacking-mistakes-to-avoid\/","title":{"rendered":"10 Travel Hacking Mistakes to Avoid"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Posted<\/strong>:<\/p>\n

I\u2019m a huge fan of travel hacking<\/a>. It\u2019s transformed my travels and saved me thousands of dollars over the years.<\/p>\n

Travel hacking is the art of signing up for travel credit cards and collecting points and miles that you can cash in for free flights, flight upgrades, hotel stays, and more \u2014 all without any extra spending. In short, it\u2019s a way to get more for less.<\/p>\n

Over the years, I\u2019ve enjoyed countless free upgrades, free flights, free hotel stays, and other perks \u2014 all without any extra spending. Travel hacking has helped open the world to me, so I\u2019m a huge advocate for it, as I\u2019ve seen what a difference it\u2019s made in my travels.<\/p>\n

And, while the best cards and perks are in the US, travel hacking is available all around the world too (Canada, the UK, Australia, New Zealand, and Europe all have travel hacking options these days). <\/p>\n

Since I\u2019ve been travel hacking for years, I\u2019ve talked with countless people about playing the points-and-miles game. I\u2019ve also seen tons of newbies make countless mistakes \u2014 mistakes that impact their ability to travel for free (or at least for cheap).<\/p>\n

Here are the biggest travel hacking mistakes that I see people making so that you can avoid them, save your points and miles, and make your travel dollar go further:<\/p>\n

1. Not Starting at All <\/h3>\n

When I ask most people why they don\u2019t travel hack, they just shrug their shoulders and say, \u201cI don\u2019t know. Seems hard, I guess.\u201d<\/p>\n

The biggest reason that people don\u2019t start travel hacking is that they think it\u2019s too complicated, it\u2019s only for people who travel often (or are big spenders), or that it\u2019s a scam<\/a>. <\/p>\n

But side-stepping the points-and-miles game entirely is the biggest mistake you could make. It\u2019s akin to saying no to free money. If you pay off your credit card each month, you\u2019re losing out if you aren\u2019t earning points and miles, which are simply perks that you get for being smart about your spending.
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2. Not Having a Goal<\/h3>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

Without making a goal, you\u2019ll have no idea what card (or cards) are best for you, as each offers different benefits that will fit different lifestyles, budgets, and travel goals. <\/p>\n

Remember: there is no perfect card. There is only the perfect card for you<\/a>. <\/p>\n

Are you interested in loyalty to a brand, free rewards, or avoiding fees? Do you want free flights and\/or hotel stays? Is elite status the most important perk for you? <\/p>\n

If you just want points to spend wherever you choose, get cards with transferable points (Chase, Amex, Citi, and Capital One are the main examples of these) because you can use their points with a variety of travel companies. They each have their own rewards programs and points that can be transferred to multiple airlines or hotel partners or used to book travel directly through their own travel portal websites.<\/p>\n

Determine your goal(s) and then find the cards that match it\/them, as well as your spending habits.
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3. Not Getting Cards with an Annual Fee <\/h3>\n

When it comes to choosing a travel credit card<\/a>, many people balk at high credit card fees, which can sometimes be hundreds of dollars per year. Surely the credit card companies are just taking your money, right?<\/p>\n

Not exactly. <\/p>\n

While it\u2019s true that you\u2019ll have to decide whether cards with higher fees are worth it for you, cards with annual fees are usually much better than no-fee cards: they offer more value, better bonus categories (so you can accumulate points faster), and other perks, such as better travel protection and access to special offers. For me, even the cards with the highest annual fees are worth it, as I have saved more money on travel than I have ever spent on fees.<\/p>\n

But you don\u2019t have to go for the cards with the highest annual fees right off the bat. There are many \u201cstarter\u201d cards that waive the fee the first year, and after that are just $95 per year. That way, you can see whether it\u2019s worth it to you. <\/p>\n

If you really don\u2019t want to pay a fee but still want to get in on the game, the Bilt Rewards card<\/a> is my favorite no-fee option. This game-changing card offers you the ability to earn points by paying your rent (the only card that does this), plus 3x points on dining and 2x points on travel. It offers solid travel protections too. If you\u2019re just starting out (and pay rent), this is a must-have card.
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4. Not Meeting Signup Bonuses <\/h3>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

These welcome offers are how I earn one million points each year<\/a>. They\u2019re super important, as they jump-start your account and immediately get you closer to a free flight or hotel stay. Sometimes these offers are even big enough to get you a free flight right off the bat!<\/p>\n

One of the biggest mistakes you can make is not taking advantage of these bonuses. Again, it\u2019s like leaving money on the table (I hope you\u2019re seeing a pattern here). <\/p>\n

With that in mind, only apply for cards if you can meet their minimum spending requirements for the welcome bonus with your normal spending. If you are spending more money than you usually do just to get these points, then the points are no longer free. Only spend what you normally would and not a penny more.<\/p>\n

If you find yourself close to reaching a sign-up bonus but are still falling short, these are some things you can do:<\/p>\n