How to Travel for Free (or Almost Free) Using Credit Card Points

Imagine booking flights to Europe for your entire family without paying thousands of dollars in airfare.

It might sound too good to be true, but it's absolutely possible with credit card points and miles.

My family of five traveled to Paris using just 150,000 Flying Blue miles for our flights. We still had to pay taxes and fees, but the savings compared with purchasing five airline tickets were substantial. I also just booked five flights to Venice from Washington, DC, leaving from Milan, all for 250,000 Flying Blue points that I transferred from Chase. This really is possible!

And no, we don't travel constantly for work, spend millions of dollars, or have some secret connection with the airlines. In fact, I am very frugal. I don't like spending money - which is why learning how to travel with points and miles was an eye opener, and has been a life-changer for our family!

How do we do it? How do we fly to Europe, stay in beautiful hotels, and take so many amazing vacations using points and miles? This guide will explain how it works — even if you're a complete beginner.

First, Is Travel Really Free With Credit Card Points?

Not entirely, and I think it's important to be upfront about that.

When people talk about "free travel," they're usually referring to flights and hotel stays booked using rewards points instead of paying the full cash price.

You may still have to pay:

• Airline taxes and fees
• Hotel resort fees or other charges, depending on the hotel and loyalty program
• Credit card annual fees, if you choose cards that charge them (P.S. The annual fee is almost always worth it if you use the benefits!)
• Meals, transportation, and other vacation expenses

But using points and miles can dramatically reduce the cost of a vacation.

The goal isn't necessarily to travel completely free. It's to travel more, spend less, and get better value for the money you're already spending.

Step 1: Understand How Credit Card Points and Miles Work

Many credit cards reward you with points or miles every time you make a purchase.

For example, depending on your card, you might earn:

• 3 points per dollar on dining
• 2 points per dollar on travel
• 1 point per dollar on everyday purchases
• Additional points through special promotions or shopping offers

Over time, those points add up.

But here's where things get interesting.

Some credit card rewards can be transferred to airline and hotel loyalty programs, where they may be worth considerably more than if you redeemed them for cash back.

This is one of the most important concepts to understand about points and miles.

Not All Points Are Created Equal

There are several major types of credit card rewards:

Chase Ultimate Rewards

Points earned through eligible Chase cards can be redeemed for travel, cash back, and other rewards. With an eligible card, they can also be transferred to airline and hotel partners such as United Airlines, Air Canada Aeroplan, and World of Hyatt.

American Express Membership Rewards

These points can be transferred to participating airline and hotel programs, including Air France-KLM Flying Blue, Air Canada Aeroplan, and Hilton Honors.

Capital One Miles

Eligible Capital One miles can be transferred to participating travel loyalty programs, including Air Canada Aeroplan and Flying Blue.

Citi ThankYou Points

Depending on the card, these points can also be transferred to participating airline and hotel programs.

Each program has different rules, partners, and redemption options.

You don't need to learn them all at once. Start with one program and understand how it works.

I created some really cool tools to show you how much your current points are worth (Points Value Calculator) as well as a Transfer Partner Tool that will show you which airlines you can transfer your points to!

Step 2: Earn Points on Spending You're Already Doing

One of the biggest misconceptions about travel rewards is that you have to spend a fortune to earn enough points for a vacation.

You don't. We don't!

In fact, the smartest approach is to earn rewards on purchases you're already making.

Think about your everyday expenses:

• Groceries
• Gas
• Restaurants
• Travel
• Household purchases
• Streaming services
• Phone and internet bills

Using the right credit card for these expenses can help you earn rewards without increasing your spending. Don't buy gas with a card that only earns 1x points on gas, buy it with the card that earns 3x points on gas! I even use these little stickers on my cards so I know which card to use for what - over time, it becomes a lot easier, I promise! Credit Card Category Stickers

Welcome Bonuses Can Make a Huge Difference

Many travel rewards credit cards offer a welcome bonus when you open a new account and meet a minimum spending requirement.

For example, a card might offer 60,000 bonus points after spending a specified amount within the first few months.

That single bonus could potentially cover a significant portion of an airline ticket or several hotel nights, depending on how you redeem the points.

Important: Never spend extra money just to earn a bonus. Only apply for cards when you can comfortably meet the spending requirement with purchases you were already planning to make.

And always pay your credit card balance in full. Interest charges can quickly wipe out the value of any rewards you earn.

Step 3: Learn the Secret to Getting More Value — Transfer Partners

This is where points and miles start getting really exciting.

Many people earn credit card points and then redeem them directly through their bank's travel portal.

There's nothing wrong with that, and sometimes it's a good option.

But it isn't always the best value.

Instead, you may be able to transfer your credit card points directly to an airline or hotel loyalty program.

Let's look at a hypothetical example.

You find a flight to Paris that costs $900.

Your credit card's travel booking option values your points at 1 cent each, meaning you would need 90,000 points to book that flight.

But suppose an airline transfer partner offers an award ticket for 30,000 miles plus $150 in taxes and fees.

If your credit card points transfer to that airline at a 1:1 ratio, you could transfer 30,000 points and book the flight.

In this hypothetical example, transferring points saves you 60,000 points, although you pay $150 in cash.

Actual award prices, transfer ratios, fees, and availability vary.

One critical rule: Always confirm award availability before transferring your points. Most transfers cannot be reversed.
I use seats.aero to search for award flights. Just enter your origination city and where you want to go and it will tell you what your flight options are and how many points it will require. It's a great tool. You can sign up here: Seats.aero

Need Help Finding Transfer Partners?

I've created a free Transfer Partner Finder on Simply Points Travel that helps you understand which airline programs work with your credit card points.

Explore the Free Transfer Partner Finder

Step 4: Use Airline Miles to Book Flights

Once you understand transfer partners, you can start looking for award flights.

An award flight is simply a flight booked using airline miles instead of paying the full ticket price in cash.

For example, you might find:

• Economy flights to Europe using Flying Blue miles
• Domestic flights booked through airline loyalty programs
• Flights to Asia using miles transferred from credit card programs
• Business-class seats that would otherwise cost thousands of dollars

The number of miles required depends on the airline, route, travel dates, cabin, and availability.

My Family's Trip to Paris

One of my favorite examples is when we booked flights to Paris for our family of five using 150,000 Flying Blue miles.

That's an average of just 30,000 miles per person.

We still paid the required taxes and fees, but using miles made a family trip to Europe much more affordable.

This is why I love teaching people about points and miles.

For a family of five, purchasing airfare can be one of the biggest expenses of an international vacation.

Using points can change what's financially possible.

Flexibility Is Your Best Friend

If you want to get the most out of your points, flexibility can make an enormous difference.

Consider:

• Flying a day or two earlier or later
• Checking nearby airports
• Traveling during less popular times of year
• Comparing multiple airline loyalty programs
• Booking when favorable award availability appears

You don't always have to be flexible, but it certainly helps.

Step 5: Don't Forget About Free Hotel Stays

Flights aren't the only way to save money with points.

Hotel loyalty programs can provide incredible value, especially when you're traveling as a family.

Some popular hotel programs include:

World of Hyatt

Hyatt is one of my favorite hotel programs because points can provide excellent value at certain properties.

Marriott Bonvoy

Marriott has an enormous selection of hotels worldwide, giving travelers plenty of destinations to consider.

Hilton Honors

Hilton offers properties at a wide range of price points, from budget-friendly hotels to luxury resorts.

IHG One Rewards

IHG includes brands such as Holiday Inn, InterContinental, and Kimpton.

Depending on the hotel, program, and dates, you may be able to cover some or all of your room cost with points.

Always compare the cash price with the points required before booking.

And remember to check whether resort fees, parking, or other charges apply.

Step 6: Earn Even More Points Through Shopping Portals

Here's something many beginners don't realize:

You can earn extra points and miles just by clicking through a shopping portal before making an online purchase.

Shopping portals partner with retailers and reward you for purchases you were already planning to make.

For example, instead of going directly to a store's website, you visit a shopping portal first, click through to the retailer, and complete your purchase.

Depending on the portal and current offer, you could earn additional rewards on top of the points you already earn from your credit card.

Some popular options include:

• Rakuten
• Chase Shopping offers
• Airline shopping portals
• Retailer-specific rewards promotions

Rakuten is particularly interesting because eligible members can choose to earn American Express Membership Rewards points instead of cash back. I have earned a lot of AMEX points simply by going to Rakuten first every time I buy something online. I have also signed up for TrakRak, which sends me alerts when the points multipliers for my favorite stores go up!.

I've created free shopping portal guides on Simply Points Travel to help you get started.

Explore My Free Travel Tools and Guides

Step 7: Learn How to Search for Award Availability

Earning points is only half the equation.

You also need to know how to use them.

One of the biggest challenges beginners face is finding flights that can actually be booked with miles.

Thankfully, several tools can make the process easier.

Some popular award search tools include:

• PointsYeah
• Seats.aero - The one I use
• point.me
• AwardTool
• Roame

These tools help travelers search for flights available through airline loyalty programs.

Some offer free search features, while others require paid subscriptions for additional functionality.

You can also search directly on airline websites.

The key is learning how to compare options before committing your points.

Step 8: Avoid These Common Beginner Mistakes

Before you start booking, there are a few mistakes worth avoiding.

1. Transferring points before finding an available flight

Transfers are generally irreversible. Always confirm availability first.

2. Assuming every redemption is a good deal

Sometimes paying cash makes more sense than using points. Use my Points Value Calculator to see if its a good redemption.

3. Carrying credit card debt to earn rewards

Credit card interest can easily cost more than the travel rewards are worth.

4. Ignoring taxes and fees

An award flight requiring fewer miles isn't necessarily the best deal if it comes with high cash charges.

5. Letting points or miles expire

Expiration rules vary by loyalty program. Know the rules for your accounts.

6. Thinking you need dozens of credit cards

You can accomplish a lot with just one or two well-chosen travel rewards cards.

7. Giving up because it seems complicated

Points and miles can feel overwhelming at first, but you don't have to understand everything to get started.

So, How Do You Actually Get Started?

If you're brand new to points and miles, here's the approach I recommend.

First: Choose one flexible travel rewards program to learn about. Get your first flexible Travel Rewards Card. My favorite and the one I always suggest starting with is the Chase Sapphire Preferred card. Learn more here:
You can also use my Card Finder tool to see which cards are the best for your specific spending and traveling:

Second: Understand how to earn points through your regular spending.

Third: Learn which airlines and hotels you can transfer those points to. Transfer Partner Finder

Fourth: Pick a specific travel goal. Maybe it's a family vacation to Europe, a weekend getaway, or visiting relatives across the country.

Fifth: Start researching how many points you'll need to make that trip happen.

Having a specific destination in mind makes learning points and miles much easier.

You don't have to master everything. You just need to learn enough to book your first trip.

Want Someone to Walk You Through It?

When I first started learning about points and miles, I realized how much money people were potentially leaving on the table simply because they didn't understand their credit card rewards.

That's one of the reasons I created Simply Points Travel.

I wanted to make this information accessible to everyday travelers, especially busy people who don't have hours to spend researching airline loyalty programs.

My Points & Miles Basic Training is designed specifically for beginners. Basic Training

It walks you through the fundamentals of earning points, understanding transfer partners, finding award flights, and using rewards to book travel.

No complicated jargon. No assumption that you already know how everything works.

Just practical information to help you get started.

[Explore Points & Miles Basic Training — Just $19](https://simplypointstravel.com)

You can also explore my free tools, guides, and resources to start learning at your own pace.

Final Thoughts: Travel More, Spend Less

You don't need to be wealthy to travel well.

And you don't need to be a frequent business traveler to earn meaningful credit card rewards.

With a little planning and the right strategy, everyday spending can help you earn points that reduce the cost of flights, hotels, and vacations.

My family has been fortunate to visit some incredible places, and points and miles have played a big role in making those experiences more affordable.

That's what I want for other families, too.

Because at the end of the day, it's not really about collecting points. It's about the places those points can take you.

Happy travels!

Chrissy

Simply Points Travel

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Disclosure: Some links on Simply Points Travel may be affiliate links, which means I may earn a commission if you make a purchase or sign up through them, at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products and services I believe offer value to travelers.

Credit card rewards, transfer partners, welcome offers, and loyalty program rules can change. Always verify current terms before applying for a card or transferring points.