Transferable points give you a way around hotel or airline inflated rates. You can move your points to different partners and book smarter while getting more value.

My husband travels often for work, and that’s how we first got deep into the Marriott ecosystem. Once you build loyalty with a single hotel program, the perks start to matter—things like room upgrades, free breakfast, and late checkout can make travel a whole lot smoother, especially for a family.

Ever wonder if you’re actually getting a good deal when you use your points? You’re not alone. I get this question a lot—and the truth is, not all points are created equal. A quick calculation can help you decide whether to hit redeem or save those points for something better.

Once you understand how to transfer points to travel partners, like airlines or hotels, you unlock a whole new level of value. It might sound intimidating at first (I used to feel that way too), but once you do it once, it becomes second nature.