Do you love to travel but hate the thought of spending a fortune on airfare and hotels? Well, did you know that you can travel the world for free (or almost free) by using your credit card points? It’s true! In this blog post, we will discuss how to rack up credit card points and use them to travel the world. We’ll also provide a few tips on how to make the most of your credit card points. So, whether you’re planning your next vacation or just dreaming about it, read on for some helpful advice!

To preface, I am by no means an expert on credit card point hacking but expertise is not required. Everything that I have learned has been from our good friends at https://10xtravel.com/. I am simply going to give a high-level overview of how to maximize credit card points, but head to their site for much more in depth articles on cards, trips, etc.

It is also important to note that these strategies are meant to have the credit cards paid off each month. If you have a history of credit card debt and fear that you will not pay the balances each month, then these strategies are not for you.

The first step is to determine how many credit cards you have opened in the past 24 months. To check on this, you can use a free credit reporting website, like Credit Karma for example, to see the history of credit cards that you have opened. This is important due to Chase’s unofficial 5/24 rule.

Here is a link to an article that explains the apparent 5/24 rule: https://10xtravel.com/chase-5-24-rule/.

Assuming you are under the 5/24 rule, Chase is the place to start. Chase cards are one of the most transferable to airlines, hotels, etc. Using one single airline card limits you to that airline and the points are usually not transferable. The overall strategy would be to open as many Chase cards as you can. You can check on which cards have the biggest bonuses at the time, but the Chase Sapphire cards are a relatively safe first bet. These cards generally offer 50,000-100,000 points for spending a certain amount in the first 3 months (usually somewhere around $3,000 in 3 months).

If you are a business owner, the Chase business cards are another way to rack up the Chase points. You must be under 5/24 to open a business card, which is not subject to the 5/24 rule. So, if you are at 4/24, you could potentially open multiple business cards without triggering the rule.

Once the Chase cards are completed (and you are over the 5/24 rule), you can move onto other companies. You will have to do some research to see what cards are offering the largest bonus points.

Another strategy to take advantage of is the Southwest companion pass. Here is a link to an article explaining the details: https://10xtravel.com/how-to-earn-the-southwest-companion-pass/

Credit card points should be done responsibly, but if done correctly, can be used to save an estimated $30,000/year on travel expenses by opening, closing, opening, closing, and taking advantage of sign on bonuses.  Please also consider how multiple card applications and open accounts may affect your credit score.

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Equilibrium Wealth Advisors is a registered investment advisor. The contents of this article are for educational purposes only and do not represent investment advice.

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