For the average person that does not accure millions of points if you cannot get a redemption of at least 2x the value of your points, save them and pay cash, IE $200 with cash. If the redemption is for more than 10K points, pay cash and use your points to get a higher value. Recently booked a $1500 hotel for 45K points. That is over 3x value plus get to stay in a fancy hotel that I would never actually willing to pay for. It is great to see videos like confirm what took me several years to learn that I am doing things correctly.
This was one of the most informative points and miles video I've ever seen!! I'm sitting on a bunch of points and this video will definitely help me deploy these points for my next trip
I appreciate your videos. They have been instrumental (packing, do’s and don’ts, credit card points, redemption strategies, traveling, gadgets, etc.) in allowing my wife and I to take our first trip to Europe. Well, the first of many!
Nik, I am a late bloomer on travel, widow beginning to travel abroad. You made this video so easy to understand!!! I watched another similar video recently and at the end, they offered a $99 purchase of materials. So glad I found this video! 😊 Thank you, thank you
Actually opening credit cards to earn massive points, but doing so strategically will pay off. But you must be able to meet the purchase requirements to get the points, while still being able to pay the bill in full every month. I saved for the trip that I was planning to take, then applied for a card that would give me the largest points value for my purchase, as well as be a card that would pay me highest points going forward. Then added another after that was done. And my credit score actually went up.
Great video and a very comprehensive travel 101 or even 201. And I'm glad you addressed the authorized user versus two-player mode. That is where a lot of power is. Also in two-player mode, don't forget to do the referral between yourselves. You refer your spouse and they sign up for a card, you can get anywhere from 10 to 20 or even 40K bonus when they are approved. I feel like I had seen part of this video, like maybe you edited together an old video with this one.
I just had my house repainted last month, I guess I could have gotten a free trip to Europe out of it. wow. I wish I had started these points years ago. Better late than never I suppose. Thank you for the helpful video!
It's always fun discovering a channel for a specific video/topic, then coming across the channel again way later and seeing how they've evolved. Great content, Nik and Allie, love seeing the growth!
In my experience, shopping and travel portals often charge higher prices or redemption rates than going direct. have you observed the same? What’s your opinion on paying a premium for points versus going for a lower price?
Yall have it going on, Nik! How long did it take you to save up those massive points for your 6 month travel? We are much older than you but enjoy your enthusiasm and that you are exploring while young. 😊
Thank you for the video! Great information! If I would like to open both the Venture X and Chase Saphire Preferred. Which do you recommend I open first? Also, how long should I wait to open the second one. I'm trying to get the benefits as soon as possible.
This video is phenomenal! You broke everything down just right, gave expert advice (from a true expert!), and provided the info with caution to those who shouldn't be trying this. From someone who will be booking free business class flights from the US to Japan soon, using my points wisely, I appreciate your information very much!
Thanks for sharing all these info. My credit is great, but my husband and I (due to financial constraint LOL) for now only are able to do a major travel every 2 years (sad!). This being said, will a capital one venture x still be wise to get?
We have the Discover It and we are in the first year so getting the match in which grocery stores are 5% right now. We have the Barclay Bank American Airline credit card. Not using because I feel like we weren’t seeking the rewards as quickly as I would like. Not ready to totally ditch at this time Thinking of applying for the Chase Preferred. Wanting to get ready to plan a trip to Gatlinburg next year and Yellowstone 2026. Both will be road trips so really only need for accommodations(hotels). Thoughts?
41:11 you showed the citi diamond preferred and my heart sank lol i just got a pre approval from them and threw it out was like why would i want this lol
I have recently obtained a Chase travel cc that awards 10x points for travel booked from the Chase travel portal vs 2x points when booking direct from the airline/hotel, etc. While I do comparison shop on various travel websites, ultimately I almost always book directly on the airline, hotel, car rental, etc. website. I’m a bit leery of booking through a third party portal. In the past I’ve experienced some problems while traveling because of circumstances that require changing or rebooking reservations made through third-party businesses. Is my hesitation warranted or unwarranted?
This was a great breakdown thank you! - looks like the chase Sappire preferred card is back to 60,000 miles for the welcome bonus - any idea how frequently that changes? thanks again!
Sadly there’s not really a predictable schedule but roughly once a year it happens. I typically try to keep opportunity cost in mind when trying to figure out if I should wait for an elevated sign up bonus. Will these points make or break the possibility on me going on this trip? If the current bonus will get me where I want to go then I’ll take it at the standard bonus, but if it’s a “nice to have thing” I’ll wait for it to be elevated
If you have a load of moderate income and a good credit score, be sure you can pay off your credit card balance in one month. Or else the interest will kill. I’m a retired person with a fixed income and a high credit score. I don’t want to be in debt. I’m not sure if I have enough monthly bills to make this work.
Great video! Couple questions, I just got married and my credit is 795+. My wife’s credit 750+ and only holds one credit card. Should I refer her to a Chase card to get the sign up and referral bonus, or should I add her to my preferred card? Second, how do you justify the $695 annual fee of the AMEX platinum card? Thank you so much for the wonderful video.
I’d say referring her for the Sapphire Preferred so you get a referral bonus, and she would also get a sign up bonus is the winning situation. There’s not much to gain by adding her as an authorized user.
What is your thought about "cash back" versus "miles" credit cards? For years I have used cards that offer a cash credit bonus which I can then apply to my balance. So, when I book a flight on that card, I earn cash, which I can then apply to a future balance. Have you thought about this option?
I've always used cash back cards, but now I'm wondering if we've been missing out. It seems that you can maybe get more "bang for your buck" with miles/points, but cash back is certainly simpler. And I do like simplicity. Decisions. Decisions. What did you end up doing??
Is there a site or app to check how many airmiles needed to purchase a plane ticket (based on destination) i can only see airmiles calculator (calculate how much you will earn)
Not obvious, great question! So, if the points are from a program where we can pool points (like Ultimate Rewards) and we both have points balances, I'll typically transfer hers to mine (or mine to hers - whoever has the bigger balance) so we've got one large sum. Then I'll book both our seats using the points that way. But sometimes pooling isn't allowed or we don't both have that same type of currency in our names. In that case, I'll transfer her points to the airline currency needed, and book her ticket individually in her name. E.g. when you transfer currencies like UR or Membership Rewards to transfer partners, the account names need to match. So in the Avianca example I gave in the video, I couldn't transfer her Membership Rewards points to my avianca account - needed to go to hers. Hope that makes sense!
Question. If I apply for the Chase reserve and get the 60k points. Can my spouse apply for a second card on her own to get her 60k? Is there a one card per household limit for the promotional points?
10X Travel offers a complete course on this and there multiple Facebook groups which can provide a wealth of guidance. At the end of the day you need to determine what your needs, interests, limits, and risk tolerance are. No question, however, that travel hacking can be very satisfying and rewarding if done right.
![Ultimate Beginner's Guide to Credit Card Points in 2024 [Updated]](/img/n.gif)
For the average person that does not accure millions of points if you cannot get a redemption of at least 2x the value of your points, save them and pay cash, IE $200 with cash. If the redemption is for more than 10K points, pay cash and use your points to get a higher value. Recently booked a $1500 hotel for 45K points. That is over 3x value plus get to stay in a fancy hotel that I would never actually willing to pay for. It is great to see videos like confirm what took me several years to learn that I am doing things correctly.
This was one of the most informative points and miles video I've ever seen!! I'm sitting on a bunch of points and this video will definitely help me deploy these points for my next trip
I appreciate your videos. They have been instrumental (packing, do’s and don’ts, credit card points, redemption strategies, traveling, gadgets, etc.) in allowing my wife and I to take our first trip to Europe. Well, the first of many!
Nik, I am a late bloomer on travel, widow beginning to travel abroad. You made this video so easy to understand!!!
I watched another similar video recently and at the end, they offered a $99 purchase of materials.
So glad I found this video! 😊
Thank you, thank you
Learned a ton watching a couple videos from you. Awesome work. Thank you.
Actually opening credit cards to earn massive points, but doing so strategically will pay off. But you must be able to meet the purchase requirements to get the points, while still being able to pay the bill in full every month. I saved for the trip that I was planning to take, then applied for a card that would give me the largest points value for my purchase, as well as be a card that would pay me highest points going forward. Then added another after that was done. And my credit score actually went up.
Great video and a very comprehensive travel 101 or even 201. And I'm glad you addressed the authorized user versus two-player mode. That is where a lot of power is. Also in two-player mode, don't forget to do the referral between yourselves. You refer your spouse and they sign up for a card, you can get anywhere from 10 to 20 or even 40K bonus when they are approved.
I feel like I had seen part of this video, like maybe you edited together an old video with this one.
King of travel has spoken!
I just had my house repainted last month, I guess I could have gotten a free trip to Europe out of it. wow. I wish I had started these points years ago. Better late than never I suppose. Thank you for the helpful video!
The amount of times I said sentences like you just said.... it's best not to think about all the missed opportunities haha. Happy travels!
It's always fun discovering a channel for a specific video/topic, then coming across the channel again way later and seeing how they've evolved. Great content, Nik and Allie, love seeing the growth!
The cost of a cruise may easily put you over the entry requirement. And I believe that some Am Ex cards include travel insurance when used for travel.
Wow! Fantastic information. Big thanks and I will need to see this again and take notes. I am so happy I found you.
Best video I've seen for travel points. Thanks
In my experience, shopping and travel portals often charge higher prices or redemption rates than going direct. have you observed the same? What’s your opinion on paying a premium for points versus going for a lower price?
Yall have it going on, Nik! How long did it take you to save up those massive points for your 6 month travel? We are much older than you but enjoy your enthusiasm and that you are exploring while young. 😊
Thank you for the video! Great information! If I would like to open both the Venture X and Chase Saphire Preferred. Which do you recommend I open first? Also, how long should I wait to open the second one. I'm trying to get the benefits as soon as possible.
This video is phenomenal! You broke everything down just right, gave expert advice (from a true expert!), and provided the info with caution to those who shouldn't be trying this. From someone who will be booking free business class flights from the US to Japan soon, using my points wisely, I appreciate your information very much!
Stellar video. Love how much work you put into it. Great info and very informative!
So much fabulous information. Saving this video for future reference!!! 😊
Thanks for sharing all these info. My credit is great, but my husband and I (due to financial constraint LOL) for now only are able to do a major travel every 2 years (sad!). This being said, will a capital one venture x still be wise to get?
Thanks! Your videos have been very helpful. You do an excellent job of picking places and topics and your presentation is top notch.
WOW, thank you so much!
This is the best, well thought out guide for all travellers!
We have the Discover It and we are in the first year so getting the match in which grocery stores are 5% right now.
We have the Barclay Bank American Airline credit card. Not using because I feel like we weren’t seeking the rewards as quickly as I would like. Not ready to totally ditch at this time
Thinking of applying for the Chase Preferred.
Wanting to get ready to plan a trip to Gatlinburg next year and Yellowstone 2026. Both will be road trips so really only need for accommodations(hotels).
Thoughts?
Great channel, great guidance, thank you!
Great information thank you so much
41:11 you showed the citi diamond preferred and my heart sank lol i just got a pre approval from them and threw it out was like why would i want this lol
Razorback here living in Austin. Love the videos, next trip to Fville would love to take you to out to dinner.
Great overview of the game covering a lot of topics within the niche!
Does this class include from Asian cities?
Wow, what a deep-dive video. Thank you.
It's my pleasure!
I have recently obtained a Chase travel cc that awards 10x points for travel booked from the Chase travel portal vs 2x points when booking direct from the airline/hotel, etc. While I do comparison shop on various travel websites, ultimately I almost always book directly on the airline, hotel, car rental, etc. website.
I’m a bit leery of booking through a third party portal. In the past I’ve experienced some problems while traveling because of circumstances that require changing or rebooking reservations made through third-party businesses.
Is my hesitation warranted or unwarranted?
Do not add a spouse as an authorized user, or they can't get the same card later for points.
Do you consult on an individual basis-on transferring points and booking of flights? Thanks
Amazing and informative video!!
You are amazing!!!
I do want to travel for 3-6 months 🎉😅
Your content is always SOOO helpful! Thank you!!
This was a great breakdown thank you! - looks like the chase Sappire preferred card is back to 60,000 miles for the welcome bonus - any idea how frequently that changes? thanks again!
Sadly there’s not really a predictable schedule but roughly once a year it happens. I typically try to keep opportunity cost in mind when trying to figure out if I should wait for an elevated sign up bonus.
Will these points make or break the possibility on me going on this trip? If the current bonus will get me where I want to go then I’ll take it at the standard bonus, but if it’s a “nice to have thing” I’ll wait for it to be elevated
If you have a load of moderate income and a good credit score, be sure you can pay off your credit card balance in one month. Or else the interest will kill. I’m a retired person with a fixed income and a high credit score. I don’t want to be in debt. I’m not sure if I have enough monthly bills to make this work.
great info!
Awesome content!
Great video!
Couple questions, I just got married and my credit is 795+. My wife’s credit 750+ and only holds one credit card. Should I refer her to a Chase card to get the sign up and referral bonus, or should I add her to my preferred card?
Second, how do you justify the $695 annual fee of the AMEX platinum card?
Thank you so much for the wonderful video.
I’d say referring her for the Sapphire Preferred so you get a referral bonus, and she would also get a sign up bonus is the winning situation. There’s not much to gain by adding her as an authorized user.
What is the points calculator???
What is your thought about "cash back" versus "miles" credit cards? For years I have used cards that offer a cash credit bonus which I can then apply to my balance. So, when I book a flight on that card, I earn cash, which I can then apply to a future balance. Have you thought about this option?
I've always used cash back cards, but now I'm wondering if we've been missing out. It seems that you can maybe get more "bang for your buck" with miles/points, but cash back is certainly simpler. And I do like simplicity. Decisions. Decisions. What did you end up doing??
Is there a site or app to check how many airmiles needed to purchase a plane ticket (based on destination) i can only see airmiles calculator (calculate how much you will earn)
Maybe obvious, but do you book your wife's flights with "your" points, or must you use her own points and airline account to book?
Not obvious, great question! So, if the points are from a program where we can pool points (like Ultimate Rewards) and we both have points balances, I'll typically transfer hers to mine (or mine to hers - whoever has the bigger balance) so we've got one large sum. Then I'll book both our seats using the points that way. But sometimes pooling isn't allowed or we don't both have that same type of currency in our names. In that case, I'll transfer her points to the airline currency needed, and book her ticket individually in her name. E.g. when you transfer currencies like UR or Membership Rewards to transfer partners, the account names need to match. So in the Avianca example I gave in the video, I couldn't transfer her Membership Rewards points to my avianca account - needed to go to hers. Hope that makes sense!
@@awaytogether Thanks. Very helpful when considering the best way to get both of us there.
@@awaytogetherdoes middle name matter? My passport has my middle spelled out but my chase sapphire preferred has my middle initial.
@@vantran-kf8wj that shouldn’t matter. My situation is the same
Thank you! Great video!
Doesn't function in Europe
Also “credit available”
Thanks!
Question. If I apply for the Chase reserve and get the 60k points. Can my spouse apply for a second card on her own to get her 60k? Is there a one card per household limit for the promotional points?
The limit is for a person, not a household. And send your spouse a referral, and if she is approved, you will get additional points for a referral.
I've been looking for a video like this. Can't wait to watch!
Hope it helps!!!!
10X Travel offers a complete course on this and there multiple Facebook groups which can provide a wealth of guidance. At the end of the day you need to determine what your needs, interests, limits, and risk tolerance are. No question, however, that travel hacking can be very satisfying and rewarding if done right.
wow too good
Exist an European alternative, or its valid for everyone?
Not really. Only US credit cards award you meaningful points
@@LK_EBM but I could use those US credit card here, or it's not possible?
@@TwT6 Yes, as long as you get approved for the card. I would also note which charge doesn't charge foreign transaction fees
@@LK_EBM thanks bro 🙏
Thankfully I have a good credit score 💯
Free Points Redemption Calculator: is worthless since it's a google doc.
Might be unpopular opinion- was it a little inconsiderate to book business class seats with a baby?
Oh no, the “ seat police” have joined the conversation.