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The tools I use every week to track our points, organize cards, and make sure we never miss a deal. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed trying to keep it all straight, these are for you.
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Have you ever wondered if you should add your partner as an authorized user on your card, or apply for their own card and earn a welcome bonus? This guide breaks it down simply, helps you travel sooner, and teaches you to protect your credit at the same time.
Have you ever wondered if you should add your partner as an authorized user on your card, or apply for their own card and earn a welcome bonus? This guide breaks it down simply, helps you travel sooner, and teaches you to protect your credit at the same time.
I used to watch school-break fares jump overnight and think, “Maybe next year.” The turning point was learning how to aim American Express Membership Rewards® points at the right partners, and only transferring once seats and fees checked out. That’s when “someday” trips started turning into actual vacations.
If you aren’t new to the points and miles hobby, you will know that elevated offers really help boost your numbers. It’s thrilling to open a card, meet a minimum spend, and see your account fill with all those points. Sometimes you are in between cards and don’t know what to open. Sometimes there are rumors of a “big” bonus were swirling, but nothing has been announced yet. So, should you wait for an elevated welcome offer, or go ahead and apply?
Last winter I was numbing out by scrolling on my phone, and I decided to look through flight prices for our family of six. Everything was SO EXPENSIVE. Out of frustration I typed “Anywhere” into Google Flights, and discovered its hidden Explore tab. Suddenly, I could see flights to places I hadn’t even considered, with live prices on a map. Using Google Flights explore to save has changed the way we plan.
The truth is, you don’t need to master every points program to book free (or almost free) international flights. You just need the right credit cards. The right cards will earn you points you can actually use for long-haul travel.
I’ll never forget the moment I stretched out in a lie-flat seat on my flight to Rome. The ticket would have cost nearly $2,800, but instead I used 60,000 points I’d earned from my credit card. If I had chosen cash back, those same points would have given me about $600 off my statement. Both are valuable, but in that moment, the difference between cash back and flexible points had never felt clearer.
I had a realization the other day that we could stretch our points farther at the same kinds of hotels we were already booking as a family. We don’t necessarily have to book a fancy resort, and we still have a great time.
With free nights worth 85k, you’re suddenly able to book stays at Marriott’s highest-end resorts like the Ritz-Carlton or St. Regis!
Every year, I look forward to getting my hands on Marriott free night certificates any way that I can. Some Marriott cards give you free night certificates as a welcome bonus. With a 50k certificate, the options feel even bigger than the 35k certificates, especially since you can add up to 25,000 points to stretch it into a 65k night. That little top-off opens the door to some incredible family stays.
I was curious one day and asked ChatGPT to round up the 100 most popular Marriott hotels on the internet. The list it gave me is pretty impressive. As a mom who leans on Marriott a lot for family travel, whether it’s soccer tournaments, Disney trips, or just finding a SpringHill Suites that fits all six of us, I can see why so many of these properties keep coming up in conversations.
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Our first year on points, we saved $53,726 on five family trips (before I had a single follower). Now you can get there three ways: learn it step by step in the 30-day TRM Points Challenge, let my AI Trip Planner map out your next trip, or join TRM+ for $9.99 a month and stay current on every offer and masterclass.
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I was curious one day and asked ChatGPT to round up the 100 most popular Marriott hotels on the internet. The list it gave me is pretty impressive. As a mom who leans on Marriott a lot for family travel, whether it’s soccer tournaments, Disney trips, or just finding a SpringHill Suites that fits all six of us, I can see why so many of these properties keep coming up in conversations.
