Points, miles, dollars, and time: Your Travel Currencies Deserve Better Returns
Welcome to Journey Currencies — Travel Smarter, Not Harder
Points, miles, dollars, and even your time are all travel currencies. I’m here to show you how to spend each of them smarter so you can have more adventure and less wallet pressure.
If you’ve ever thought, “There’s no way we can afford that trip,” you’re exactly where you need to be. I get it – My family manages a one-income budget, but I’ve still managed to fly upper class, visit amazing lounges, and stay in luxury hotels without breaking our modest budget.
This guide starts with the biggest, easiest win: mastering the secrets to credit card points and miles. That’s the fastest way to turn everyday spending into free flights and hotel stays.
From there, we’ll explore other strategies to:
→ find real deals (not just sales that sound good)
→ get more nights without spending more
→ help you decide when travel insurance adds real value — and when it doesn’t
→ stop paying for things others get free — like upgrades, lounge access, checked bags, and late checkout
Ready to get the biggest bang for your buck and travel smarter? Let’s get started.
My First Big Win With Points
Here’s what made it click for me:
I opened a premium travel card that came with a $695 annual fee—which honestly made me nervous. But it came with 175,000 points as a welcome bonus and I had a plan.
Using those points, I booked 2 business class seats to Europe.
✈️ Cash price if I had bought 2 seats in economy : $1,276
🛫 What I paid for 2 business class seats:
• 174,000 points (earned from my $695 annual fee card welcome bonus)
• $211 in taxes and fees
🧾 Total: $906 out of pocket — for a much better-than-economy experience.
So instead of paying more to fly economy…
I paid less and flew in lie-flat business class—with lounge access included (for free food, drinks, and a private shower before takeoff!).
That’s when I realized:
🤯 This isn’t just a way to save money — it’s a way to travel better for less.
Who Points & Miles Is For (and Who It’s Not For)
Credit cards aren’t magic—they’re tools. Points and miles are the rewards you earn by using them right—and how well it works depends on how you use both.
When done right: you earn, you never pay interest, and you turn points into outsized value—every time.
If you don’t pay off your credit card balance in full every month, the interest you pay will wipe out any travel value you earn. Use them like cash – No interest, no impulse buys—just everyday spending turned into real travel.
This approach fits you if you:
- Pay your credit card bill in full each month
- Keep your everyday spending steady and intentional
- Already put your everyday expenses on a card (groceries, gas, bills)
- Are open to learning key moves—like meeting minimum spend requirements and booking flights through transfer partners—to get the most from your points
- Want to travel more without spending more
It’s not the right time if you:
- Carry a balance and pay interest regularly
- Need to improve your credit score before diving into rewards
- Aren’t confident you can avoid overspending on your cards
💸 Did you notice how I didn’t say you need to spend gobs of money every month to make this work? The reality is, we’re already spending plenty—on food, clothes, childcare, and all the essentials. Use your credit card as the tool to turn those necessary expenses into something worthwhile. Just remember: this only works if you use your cards responsibly and avoid carrying debt. 💃
How Does It Work? Earning and Using Points & Miles
