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  The Magic Trick Behind Every "How Did You Afford That?!" Trip: Transferring Your Points to Travel Partners Every time we share that trip, the same question lands in our DMs: "Okay, but HOW?" Here's the honest answer: it wasn't the credit cards themselves. It was what we did with the points after we earned them. We transferred them to travel partners — and that single skill is the difference between points that are worth a penny each and points that are worth three, four, even five cents apiece. So today, we're breaking down exactly what transfer partners are, how to move your points, and the rules that keep you from making an expensive mistake. No gatekeeping, no jargon left unexplained. This is the lesson that changes everything. First, what IS a transfer partner? When you earn points with Chase, Amex, Capital One, or Citi, those points live in the bank's own rewards program. Think of them like money sitting in a checking account — flexible, ...

The Chase Sapphire Preferred Just Got a Major Refresh — Here's What You Need to Know The good news: more perks, same $95 annual fee. The not-so-great news: one change that Hyatt lovers are going to feel. If the Chase Sapphire Preferred has been sitting in your wallet (or on your wish list), you're going to want to read this. Chase just announced a significant refresh to one of my all-time favorite beginner cards, and the changes go into effect June 15, 2026 . Let's break it all down — the wins, the losses, and what you should actually do about it. First, a Quick Refresher on Why I Love This Card The Chase Sapphire Preferred has been my go-to recommendation for beginners since day one. It's the card I point people to when they say, "I want to start earning points, but I don't want to overcomplicate things." Here's why it's always made sense: $95 annual fee — low enough to be a no-brainer Flexible Chase Ultimate Rewards points — transfer t...

American Express American Express cards can feel overwhelming. Personal or business. Gold or Platinum. Points and perks. This guide simplifies it so you can build a smart Amex strategy without wasting annual fees or missing valuable benefits. At its core, Amex is powerful for families because Membership Rewards® points are flexible. And we love flexible, transferable points! The airline partners are fantastic and offer opportunities for both domestic and international air travel. While Amex has many airline partners, the hotel partners are limited. Of those three hotel chains, I prefer Hilton simply for the value. The transfer rate to Hilton is 1 Amex point: 2 Hilton points. This means that your Amex points go twice as far with Hilton. Additionally, if you hold the Amex Platinum (personal or business), you receive automatic Hilton Gold status. Hilton offers a Fifth Night Free benefit on standard room reward bookings for members with this elite status. In addition to this perk, you als...

  What Is the Companion Pass? The Companion Pass  allows you to bring one person with you  for free, excluding  taxes and fees  ($5.60 each way in the U.S.). You can change your companion up to three times a year. It works on flights booked with cash, points, or credits. Once you qualify, the pass is  valid for the remainder of that year  and the entire following  year. For my family of four, it’s the best perk out there. When my husband and I both hold Companion Passes, our kids fly free. Or he and I can take trips without the kids and only need to buy one flight! We’ve saved thousands this way (both in points and cash). Current Promo There is more than one way to earn a Companion Pass. There is the traditional way , where you are required to earn 135,000 Rapid Rewards points in a calendar year. Southwest also offers a promotional Companion Pass, where you can earn CP with just one card and one signup bonus. With each of the 3 personal cards, you...

  Capital One Venture Rewards The Venture Rewards card has a new, elevated offer! (as of 1/20/26) Spend $4k in 3 months and earn 75k points & receive a $250 Travel Credit to use in the Capital One Travel Portal. Annual Fee: $95 2x on ALL purchases $120 TSA Precheck on Global Entry credit Capital One miles can be transferred out to a variety of airline partners, but you can also use them to "erase" travel purchases made on your card (at a redemption rate of one cent per mile). This is perfect for cruises, vacation rentals, and other travel expenses that are more challenging to redeem points for. This is how we use our Capital One miles as of late. While this isn't the best value possible, it helps us to keep our out-of-pocket costs down with so much travel, and ultimately, some of it is not eligible for typical point redemptions. Capital One Transfer Details The Capital One Venture card earns a flat 2x miles on every purchase. You'll also earn 5x miles per dollar s...

If you’re new to travel hacking, now is a GREAT time to start . There are several elevated credit card offers available right now, and in particular, Chase has some of the strongest beginner-friendly points and miles offers we’ve seen in a while . If you’re searching for: The best credit card to start travel hacking How to use points and miles for your first free trip Which  Chase card makes the most sense for beginners This post walks you through exactly what I’d do today. If You’re Brand New to Travel Hacking, Start Here If I were starting from scratch, the first card I would open is the Chase Sapphire Preferred . It’s consistently one of the best credit cards for beginners who want to earn points and miles without opening too many cards or overcomplicating things. Why the Chase Sapphire Preferred Is a Great First Card 75,000 Ultimate Rewards after spending $4k in 3 months $95 annual fee: Reasonable and easy to justify long term Flexible Chase Ultimate Rewards p...