Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility

This device is too small

If you're on a Galaxy Fold, consider unfolding your phone or viewing it in full screen to best optimize your experience.

Skip to main content
Advertiser Disclosure Many of the offers that appear on this site are from companies from which The Motley Fool receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear) and may influence which products we write about, but our product ratings are not influenced by compensation. We do not include all companies or offers available in the marketplace.
    |    Accessibility Options

How to Travel for Free With Credit Card Points

Updated
Brooklyn Sprunger
Author: Brooklyn Sprunger
Brooklyn Sprunger
Brooklyn Sprunger

Brooklyn leads the content team behind product reviews and ratings at Motley Fool Money, ensuring readers get well-researched, expert-backed insights to make smarter financial decisions. With nearly seven years working full-time in financial content -- four of them at The Motley Fool -- she has developed a deep passion for personal finance, from investing strategies to everyday money management. Her financial goals include buying a house and planning as many trips as her budget allows. In her free time, you’ll likely find her listening to a pop culture podcast or telling anyone who will listen to get a high-yield savings account.

See Full Bio

Many or all of the products here are from our partners that compensate us. It’s how we make money. But our editorial integrity ensures that our product ratings are not influenced by compensation. Citi is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money.

If someone told me five years ago that I'd be sipping wine in Tuscany, lounging poolside in Cabo, and hiking across Hawaii -- all without paying for flights or hotels -- I'd have laughed. But here I am, four years later, with stamps in my passport and thousands of dollars saved, thanks to one simple strategy: using credit card points.

I'm not talking about anything scammy or extreme. No couponing. No juggling a dozen cards. Just a solid travel rewards card and a plan. Here's how you can do it, too.

Understand how travel rewards actually work

Before you apply for anything, you need to know the basics:

What are credit card points?

Travel cards earn points (or miles) when you use them. Some give 2x points (or more) on travel and dining, 1x on everything else. These points can be redeemed for flights, hotels, rental cars, and more.

How valuable are points?

That depends on the card and how you redeem them. With flexible programs like Chase Ultimate Rewards®, Amex Membership Rewards®, or Capital One Miles®, you can get anywhere from $0.0125 to $0.02+ per point -- especially when transferring to airline or hotel partners.

Curious which cards earn the most points? See our favorite beginner-friendly travel cards.

Know your travel card types

Not all travel cards are the same, and which is right for you will depend on your travel goals. Here's a quick breakdown:

General travel cards

These offer flexible points you can redeem across many airlines and hotels. They're great if you want options.

Some of our top picks:

Premium travel cards

Luxury cards come with higher annual fees but pack in more perks -- lounge access, hotel status, travel credits, and boosted earning rates.

Some of our top picks:

Learn the different types of travel rewards

Not all credit card miles and points are the same. Think of them like different currencies -- points, airline miles, hotel points -- they each come with their own rules, redemption options, and quirks. And just because two programs both offer 100,000 points doesn't mean they're worth the same amount. One could stretch to a luxury Europe trip, while the other might barely cover a domestic flight.

There are three main types of travel rewards you'll want to know about:

Airline miles

These are tied to a specific airline and are typically earned by flying or using a cobranded airline credit card. For example, if you hold a United card, you'll earn United MileagePlus miles every time you spend on the card, and those miles can be used to book flights with United or its partners like Lufthansa or Air Canada.

Each frequent flyer program works a little differently, with its own award charts, sweet spots, and fees. Your go-to airline might depend on where you live -- there's no sense in collecting Alaska Airlines miles if you never fly out of the West Coast.

Hotel points

Hotel rewards work similarly. You can earn them through stays or by using a hotel-branded credit card (like the The World of Hyatt Credit Card or Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card). These cards often offer massive bonuses on hotel purchases and extras like free nights or elite status.

If you're loyal to one brand or love using points for free nights, a hotel card can be a solid addition to your wallet.

Transferable credit card points

These are the most versatile and valuable. Earned through most non-cobranded travel cards, transferable points let you move your rewards to different travel partners (including airlines and hotels), often at a 1:1 rate.

This flexibility opens the door to better deals. For example:

  • 60,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points can get you $600 in travel through the Chase portal with most Chase cards (or up to $900 with the Chase Sapphire Reserve®)...
  • ...or you could transfer them to World of Hyatt and potentially book multiple free nights at a top-tier hotel that would've cost over $1,000 in cash.

Popular transferable programs include:

These programs are ideal if you want to keep your options open, hunt down the best redemptions, and avoid being locked into one airline or hotel chain.

Credit card comparison

We recommend comparing options to ensure the card you're selecting is the best fit for you. To make your search easier, here's a short list of standout credit cards.

Offer Our Rating Welcome Offer Rewards Program APR Learn More
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
 = Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Best for cash back on rotating categories 		Discover will match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year. Circle with letter I in it. INTRO OFFER: Unlimited Cashback Match for all new cardmembers–only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year! There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. You could turn $150 cash back into $300. 1% - 5% Cashback Circle with letter I in it. Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places you shop each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.

Intro:

Purchases: 0%, 15 months

Balance Transfers: 0%, 15 months

Regular: 18.24% - 27.24% Variable APR

Apply Now for Discover it® Cash Back

On Discover's Secure Website.

Rates & Fees External Link Icon

Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
 = Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Best for cash rewards on everyday spending 		$200 cash rewards Circle with letter I in it. Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months. 2% cash rewards Circle with letter I in it. Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases.

Intro: Circle with letter I in it. 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers

Purchases: 0% intro APR, 12 months from account opening

Balance Transfers: 0% intro APR, 12 months from account opening on qualifying balance transfers

Regular: 19.24%, 24.24%, or 29.24% Variable APR

Apply Now for Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card

On Wells Fargo's Secure Website.

Rates & Fees External Link Icon

Rating image, 4.00 out of 5 stars.
4.00/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
 = Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Best for unlimited rewards on purchases 		25,000 points Circle with letter I in it. 25,000 online bonus points after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening - that can be a $250 statement credit toward travel purchases 1.5-3 points per dollar Circle with letter I in it. Earn unlimited 1.5 points per $1 spent on all purchases, with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees, and your points don't expire as long as your account remains open. Earn 3 points per $1 spent on travel purchases booked through the Bank of America Travel Center.

Intro: Circle with letter I in it. 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases. 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After the intro APR offer ends, 18.24% - 28.24% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers will apply. A 3% fee for 60 days from account opening, then 4% fee applies to all balance transfers. Balance transfers may not be used to pay any account provided by Bank of America.

Purchases: 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases

Balance Transfers: 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days

Regular: 18.24% - 28.24% (Variable)

Apply Now for Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

On Bank of America's Secure Website.

Start with the right travel card

Not all credit cards are created equal, especially when it comes to travel. I personally use the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, and it's gotten me some great deals.

But that doesn't mean it's the only great option out there. The best travel card for you depends on your spending habits and travel goals. Here's what to look for when choosing one:

A big welcome bonus

The fastest way to earn free travel is by nabbing a strong welcome offer. Many top travel cards offer 50,000-100,000+ points after you hit a minimum spend in the first few months. That's easily $750+ in free travel.

Before you apply, check the current offer and make sure you can meet the minimum spend without overspending. You want those points, not debt.

Points are flexible and valuable

Look for cards that offer transferable points like Chase Ultimate Rewards, Amex Membership Rewards, or Capital One Miles. These let you book directly or transfer to airline and hotel partners.

This is huge. It gives you options and lets you chase the best value.

Extra perks

Even basic travel cards come with perks that make international (or even domestic) travel smoother:

  • No foreign transaction fees (saves you 1%-3% per swipe abroad)
  • Bonus categories for travel and dining
  • Travel protections like trip delay coverage or rental car insurance
  • Access to transfer partners

Use the card strategically

You don't need to go wild with spending, but you do need to be intentional. Here's what's worked for me:

Put all your everyday spending on the card

Groceries, gas, streaming services, Target runs -- if I can put it on the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, I do. Just make sure you pay it off in full each month so you don't get hit with interest, and don't chase points with purchases you wouldn't have made otherwise.

Maximize bonus categories

Many cards offer extra points for travel and dining -- that includes restaurants, Uber rides, Airbnb stays, etc. I lean into these to rack up points faster. If you have multiple cards, consider which one gives you the highest rate per dollar and use that card accordingly.

Track your points

I check my points monthly and set mini-goals, like "Earn 30,000 points to fly to NYC this fall." It helps me stay motivated and plan ahead.

Book through your portal -- or transfer like a pro

Once you've earned the points, here's how to turn them into free travel:

Option 1: Book through the travel portal

Many card issuers have their own travel portals where you can redeem points just like cash. Perk: Some cards (like Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card) give you a 25% points boost when booking through the portal. So 60,000 points = $750 in travel.

Option 2: Transfer to travel partners

This takes a little more planning, but it can seriously stretch your points. Chase has 14 transfer partners, including:

  • Airlines: United, Southwest, JetBlue, British Airways
  • Hotels: Hyatt, Marriott, IHG

Transfers are 1:1, so 50,000 Chase points = 50,000 airline miles.

I did this to book a Hyatt hotel in Italy that would've cost $600+/night in cash.

Tips to maximize your points

  • Add an authorized user to earn even more points on shared purchases
  • Stack cards from the same issuer to rack up bonus points and combine them in your account
  • Watch for travel deals in your travel portal -- sometimes you'll find flash sales or discounted redemptions
  • Be flexible with dates when booking with points, especially for international travel

Final thoughts

Traveling with points isn't a magic trick, it's just smart planning. And once you get the hang of it, it's wild how fast the rewards add up.

I've used one credit card, booked more than three unforgettable trips, and saved well over $10,000 on travel. And the best part? I never carried a balance or paid a dime in interest.

If you're even remotely curious about using points to see the world, start with a good travel card and build from there. Your future self (lounging on a beach with a free cocktail in hand) will thank you.

Ready to turn your everyday spending into your next vacation? Take a look at our top travel cards today.

FAQs

  • It depends on the rewards program. Flexible credit card points usually don’t expire as long as your account stays open and in good standing. However, airline or hotel-specific points may expire after a period of inactivity, so it’s important to check the terms of each program.

  • Applying for a card will trigger a hard inquiry, which can cause a small, temporary dip in your credit score. But using the card responsibly -- by paying on time and keeping your balance low -- can actually help improve your credit over time.

  • Points can cover big expenses like flights and hotels, but you may still pay some taxes or fees (especially on award flights). That said, using points strategically can still save you hundreds, or even thousands, on travel.