I’m sure many of you are eager to learn about the cost of my flight and the methods I used to fund it. Spoiler alert: I'm not wealthy yet! You might have caught glimpses of my thrilling adventures on social media. Today, I’m excited to share all the specifics and offer some practical advice on how you can also enjoy remarkable journeys without overspending on airfare. Let’s get started!

To kick off this travel narrative, it’s essential to understand the rules of the game and learn how to navigate them expertly. There are plenty of useful resources available to streamline your travel experience, many of which I’ve highlighted in previous posts. Don’t worry; I’ll reiterate these valuable tools for your convenience!

It’s vital to possess the right credit card in your wallet. If your goal is to become an astute traveler, relishing fantastic experiences while minimizing or eliminating expenses, integrating credit card usage into your daily routine is essential. Paying with cash or debit cards for regular expenses simply doesn’t offer the same advantages as utilizing a well-chosen credit card.

1. I suggest beginning your credit card journey with Chase Freedom Unlimited®. This is a FREE CARD. By signing up for Chase Freedom Unlimited®, you can earn a $200 bonus after spending $500 within the first three months of account opening. It’s a no-brainer! This could very well be the easiest $200 you'll ever earn! (Just be responsible with your purchases and pay on time.)

The Chase Freedom Unlimited® comes with a plethora of benefits:

For the next 6 to 12 months, make it a habit to use this card for all your expenses. During this period, you won’t just be earning points; you’ll accumulate valuable points that should not be wasted on cash back, covering purchases, or typical online shopping. Instead, I'll guide you on how to make the most of these points.

2. Your next card should be the CHASE SAPPHIRE PREFERRED®.

The CHASE SAPPHIRE PREFERRED® card offers an elevated travel experience. It’s your gateway into the world of points. However, it does require a bit more effort than the previous Chase card: you’ll need to spend $4,000 within the first three months, and there’s a $95 annual fee. The exciting part? Once you meet your spending commitment, you’ll be rewarded with a generous welcome bonus of 60,000 points, which can cover a one-way business class flight.

Please click here to apply for the Card!

3. Lastly, consider the Chase Ink Business Preferred®.

I have one more Chase card to suggest; however, there's a recent update to keep in mind — this one is a business card, and the good news is you don’t actually need a business to apply. The Chase Ink Business Preferred® has higher qualification standards, requiring $8,000 in spending within the first three months. The incentive? After meeting this requirement, you’ll earn a remarkable 100,000 points, which could easily fund a round-trip business class flight, depending on your destination and booking timing. Keep in mind that most international business class fares start around $6,500 or even higher for a one-way ticket.

……………………………….THE CARD BENEFITS …………………………………

This aspect is incredibly important. You can use your Chase Freedom Unlimited card for everyday purchases, whether in-person or online. For travel-related purchases, the ideal choice is your CHASE SAPPHIRE PREFERRED® card. If your expenses are business-related, make sure to utilize your newly acquired Chase Ink Business Preferred card to maximize your points.

In the near future, you may want to explore additional card options, but be mindful that these often come with higher annual fees, and their benefits may not be immediately apparent.

I’ll do my best to guide you on maximizing these points to enrich your travel experiences.

Now, it’s crucial to create accounts with travel partners; this is your best bet! The hotel partners you can explore with Chase include:

1. IHG One Rewards
2. Marriott Bonvoy
3. World of Hyatt

Personally, my favorite is World of Hyatt. It demands fewer points for room bookings while delivering a range of luxurious services.

Once you’ve successfully registered with these hotel partners, you can transfer your points at a 1-to-1 ratio, maximizing their value. Booking through the Chase travel portal often results in a significant loss of point value.

Sometimes, Chase travel partners present fantastic deals when you transfer your points, with discounts reaching up to 50%. For example, a night at a 5-star hotel might cost $950 in cash but only 30,000 points. With a 50% promotional discount, you’d pay just 15,000 points. Conversely, if booked through the Chase portal, those 15,000 points would only equate to $150. Therefore, transferring points to your hotel partner can significantly enhance their value.

You may be curious about how this translates to nearly free business or first-class flights. The good news is that, like hotel partners, Chase also has airline partners.

You can transfer Ultimate Rewards points to 11 airline programs, including:

• Aer Lingus AerClub
• Air Canada Aeroplan
• Air France-KLM Flying Blue
• British Airways Executive Club
• Emirates Skywards
• Iberia Plus
• JetBlue TrueBlue
• Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer
• Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards
• United Airlines MileagePlus
• Virgin Atlantic Flying Club

DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT transfer your points to a partner unless you are certain you'll use them. It’s a one-way transaction, and if things don’t work out, you won’t be able to reverse it.

Personally, I favor using points for international flights and accommodations, especially for long-haul journeys where the comfort of a higher class really shines, offering the best value for your points.

I’ve shared some excellent free tools in my previous blog post that can help you find the best way to maximize your points over time:

1. Roame.travel
2. MaxMyPoint
3. staywithpoints.com

I sincerely hope that the insights I’ve provided will enhance your travel experiences, enabling you to enjoy a more comfortable lifestyle while spending significantly less.

I want to clarify that I haven’t personally applied for any credit cards directly with airlines or hotel partners. You can open accounts with them without needing to obtain their credit cards. While having a credit card issued by these hotels and airlines can offer extra benefits when purchasing their products, I find it more beneficial at this moment to use a Chase credit card that earns points on all purchases.

BONUS MONEY REWARD FROM ME:

If you’ve read this far, I’d like to thank you with a small bonus. In this blog, I’ve included my referral links. If you choose to apply for one of the three recommended credit cards, I’ll send you a bonus of $10 for the Chase Freedom Unlimited, $15 for the CHASE SAPPHIRE PREFERRED®, and an impressive $20 for The Chase Ink Business Preferred®, in addition to the welcome bonuses from Chase.

To ensure you receive your bonus, please use my provided link and meet all requirements within three months. Once I receive my reward from Chase, I’ll promptly share your well-deserved bonus as a token of my gratitude.

This blog contains affiliate links that help keep my page free for you. I appreciate your support and understanding.

Please note that none of the above information should be construed as financial advice. These are simply recommendations based on my personal experiences.