My husband & I performed the ultimate travel hack 15 years ago when we bought into the Marriott Vacation Club program.
We’d bought one of these £97 weekend packages at a Marriott in Andalucia, provided we went to the talk sales pitch.
Little did we know we were about to be in exactly the right place at precisely the right time!
The lady who was pitching us was on her way out of the door of the company. In fact I’m pretty sure from memory we were her last clients on her last day of work. My husband is a fairly keen negotiator and we were far more interested in the associated ‘cheap deals’ website that came with the program, than owning a ‘slice’ of a holiday home.
For perhaps 4 hours or so, we pushed for the cheapest deal they had on the books and ended up buying a week in a hotel complex in Missouri, for a ridiculously low price!
Because it was a lock off, that turned neatly into two weeks and more importantly we got access to the deals site.
In the last 15 years we have both travelled and lived in, (yes I said lived in), the most beautiful Marriott hotels around the world for a fraction of the advertised prices.
Because we’ve been mobile, we’ve been able to take advantage of the most incredible deals and are looking forward to utilising it a lot more in the future.
I’ll talk more about this below with some great resources for you to find similar deals (even though Marriott has now moved to an expensive points system, there are still hacks to get the cheaper deals), but first let’s have a general chat about travel hacking and some of the cool tips and tricks to make travel cheaper!
Understanding Travel Hacking
The term travel hacking is used interchangeably for both ‘hacks’ to make travelling easier and more comfortable, like taking a sleeping mask on long flights or using compression cubes, and, how to leverage various strategies to score discounted or free travel accommodation, such as flights and hotels.
This post is about the latter and the more you arm yourself with the right knowledge, the more significant your savings and your ability to travel more frequently or luxuriously.
Knowing how to optimize points and miles can lead to significant savings on airfare and accommodations. The process involves a combination of staying informed about the latest deals, using the right tools and resources, and understanding the fine print associated with travel rewards.
Beyond flights and hotels, travel hacking also extends to finding cost-effective transportation options and securing additional travel perks, all while ensuring your trips are safe and protected.
Basics of Travel Hacking
Here’s a quick overview of how to get started:
1. Sign up for airline and hotel loyalty programs
- Airlines: Accumulate miles that can be redeemed for flights.
- Hotels: Earn points for free nights and upgrades.
2. Credit Card Bonuses and Rewards
Use travel credit cards to your advantage.
- Sign-up Bonuses: Some cards offer large bonuses after meeting initial spending requirements.
- Reward Maximization: Earn multiple points per dollar/pound on travel-related purchases.
3. Error Fares and Flight Deals
Stay alert for pricing mistakes or special deals that can offer significant savings on flights.
4. Points and Miles Management
Keep track of your rewards to use them effectively before they expire. (This sounds easy, but is a full time job!)
Setting Travel Goals
Start by defining what you want from your travels. Are you dreaming of beachside resorts, or are bustling cities calling your name?
Knowing your travel goals will guide your hacking strategies towards the rewards that matter most to you;
- Destination: Target loyalty programs and airlines that align with your desired locations.
- Flexibility: Being flexible with travel dates can open up more opportunities for discounted travel.
- Preferences: Decide on your balance between savings and comfort; whether that means direct flights, specific airlines, or hotel brands.
By clearly defining your travel goals, you will be able to focus your hacking tactics to achieve the most relevant and substantial benefits for your travels.
So with that being said, let’s dive into 10 Tips for Travel Hacking, plus my bonus section on leveraging vacation club ownership!
1. Start With the Right Credit Card
Travel hacking via credit card rewards offers a powerful way to earn free flights, hotel stays, and more. To make the most of this strategy, it’s essential to choose the right cards, manage your credit score effectively, and maximize introductory offers.
The biggest challenge with this strategy is knowing which credit cards to choose, especially if you’re not from the US, like moi!
The US has the biggest selection of points based credit cards