Travel the world for next to nothing

Twenty countries and fifty US states, with a travel record like this, many would think I must be rich. Since the late 90’s when I moved far from my family and began flying home a couple times a year, I’ve been learning ways to fly efficiently, on very little money. It started with one simple trick, that anyone can do if they have a flexible travel schedule: Volunteer to be bumped when your flight is oversold. There’s no guarantee this will happen on any given flight, but extremely likely when flying around the holidays. I’d say at least half of my trips back home have now been free just due to this alone. The airline offers you a voucher for a specific dollar amount (or what used to be a free flight in continental US) in exchange for your seat, and before you agree to the terms, they find you exactly what next seat you will use to get to your destination, and you can choose to say no if you don’t like what they’re offering. I’ve had upgrades to first and business for long international flights combined with $600 free credit, $800 credit for waiting just 2 extra hours, flights that ended up leaving before my originally scheduled flight (due to mechanical issues) while gaining $500, flights that got me closer to my real destination at a more optimal time with $700 credit (was going to land 2 hours from destination at midnight, instead landed at intended destination at 10 am the next day), and more! These days, the airlines don’t want bad press, so the offered value of voucher will go up and up if no one is taking the bait. Consider negotiating if no one else seems to be offering their seat. This idea works for people with flexible travel plans, but is obviously not optimal for everyone.

A travel voucher I received for taking a bump off my flight. My original itinerary would’ve required my family to drive 2 hours to pick me up at midnight. Instead, I received $700 to fly directly to the town my family lives and arrive at 10 am the next day.

Another extremely common way to travel cheaply is using points and miles programs to get free or discounted tickets (or hotel rooms, rental cars, etc.). There are all sorts of ways to get free points for things you would normally spend money on, interacting with social media of travel programs, or signing up for special offers. The largest point offers by far are in credit card new sign up bonuses. Basically, a travel associated company, like an airline or hotel, offers a credit card that is co-branded to themselves, like United Airlines or Hilton Hotels. For getting their card and spending a certain amount within a specified time (like spend $3000 in 3 months of account opening) you get a big chunk of bonus points or miles. Many airlines offer cards with 50,000 miles which is enough for two free domestic roundtrip tickets, or even a roundtrip to Europe! One of my favorites that gained tons of attention this year is the Chase Sapphire Reserve card which comes with 50,000 points that transfer to 11 different travel partners, $300 of travel credit, access to Priority Pass lounges, and TSA Pre-Check to skip the lines at security Get it here! https://www.referyourchasecard.com/19/E3YGHDJL6Z

My sister and I near the top of the tower of the Nativity Facade in La Sagrada Familia, in Barcelona, on our free open jaw, we booked with United Mileage Plus Miles.

Until last year, as I planned a trip to Europe with my sister, where our main goal was to fly and stay in free hotels, I had dabbled lightly in this game with just a couple airlines over the years. With just light normal spending, and a bonus or two along the way, I had gained several free flights, mostly within the US. Before this trip, my sister and I both had a pretty large stash of hotel and airline points so we decided it would be fun to see how much of the trip we could do for free. I signed up for Hilton Hhonors Citi card that came with 80,000 points to diversify some of the point options we’d have, and my sister found the Chase Sapphire Preferred (CSP) card which came with 50,000 points which can be transferred to a wide variety of travel programs. After hitting my bonus for the Hilton card, I decided I may as well go ahead and get the CSP too!
My sister is an extreme planner, kind of my opposite, and so we planned this whole trip 6 months ahead of time. Admittedly, when using points and miles, it is good to have some of your plans ahead as some reward programs only allow for a certain number of tickets/rooms to be sold for any given itinerary. All said here’s a breakdown of our cost for the trip (where we travelled to way too many places in way too short a time!)

Roundtrip flights from our homes in US to Europe which included Lisbon stopover, open jaw to Barcelona, and departing home from Rome: 60,000 United Mileage Plus miles each
1 night in Fontecruz Lisboa Marriott, Lisbon, Portugal: 35,000 Marriott points
2 nights at Aqua Natura Hotel in Porto Moniz, Madeira, Portugal $200 (not points but totally worth it! See why below) https://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g644297-d5982237-Reviews-Aqua_Natura_Madeira_Hotel-Porto_Moniz_Madeira_Madeira_Islands.html

2 nights in Barcelona Hilton Diagonal, Barcelona, Spain 80,000 Hilton Hhonors points
1 night in Hotel Syrene Best Western, Capri Italy 36,000 Best Western Points
1 night in Fortino B&B Capri, Italy $100 (again not points, only chain hotel on island was Best Western and we only had enough for the one night)
3 nights in Rome Marriott Park Hotel, Rome, Italy 75,000 Marriott points
1 night in Renaissance Tuscany II Ciocco Resort and Spa 30,000 Marriott points
The view of our pool at Aqua Natura Hotel in Porto Moniz, Madeira, Portugal. No way to pay with points, but there are credit cards that give you cash back, so you could cancel out the cost to enjoy a stay here.

All this for 2 people for 120,000 United miles, 140,000 Marriott points, 80,000 Hilton points, 36,000 Best Western points, and $300. This could be done for free without ever staying at the hotels or flying this airline by signing up for credit cards (2 people each sign up for United Card with 60,000 point bonus, Marriot Card with 80,000 point bonus, 1 person sign up for Hilton card at 80,000 point bonus, and Best Western Card at 70,000 point bonus). Almost two weeks in 5 places in Europe! Even though I’ve travelled in this way before, I’ll consider this my beginner trip for true travel hacking (the sport of finding ways to travel for free, and yes, it’s totally legal).

Now, I’ve become obsessed. I see that you can use these offers to your advantage to travel on their dime. Shortly after arriving home from this trip, I decided it was time to go for the gold again! I got the Chase Sapphire Reserve card which came with a 100,000 point bonus and started planning a trip to Africa that would begin just 3 months later! I can't recommend travel hacking more! People that have always dreamed of going places but felt they would never have the money, can now take advantage and go see the world!

La Sagrada Familia, the Gaudi cathedral in Barcelona, which is still under construction today, over 80 years after it began!