Travel Reward Programs – Are They Worth Your Time
Frequent Flier/Hotels/Points/Travel Card
I know a lot about the art of traveling, but I’m the first to admit that I’m not a travel reward programs expert. Because I travel so frequently I’m by far more concerned with getting a good value and supporting small business.
The last thing I’m worried about is how to best maximize my points.
It’s Okay To Seek Out a Travel Reward Programs Expert
There are a lot of very smart entrepreneurs who’ve built entire careers sharing tips and tricks to make the most out of reward systems.
Whether it’s frequent flier miles, credit card perks, rental car upgrades or hotel loyalty, I encourage you to seek out information from a full-time expert to make the most of whatever program you want to take advantage of.
Here are three sites that I’ve found that consistently offer good advice:
What I Do Know About Travel Reward Programs?
No much. Haha.
I prefer to use a credit card that earns cashback, that way I’m not limited to any specific brand.
I’m happy to share everything my general knowledge about travel reward programs.
Frequent Flier Miles
I’m a flight attendant so I fly around the world ticketless using my flight benefits.
I don’t get frequent flyer miles for the flights I work or non-rev on (you’d be surprised how often people assume I do).
I’ve bought two airplane tickets since 2006, and only used one. I didn’t bother to register for either foreign airline’s frequent flier programs.
That being said, with the post 9/11 mergers of US Airways-American, Delta-Northwest and United-Continental there are an ENORMOUS amount of people flying around on three fewer airlines while loudly flaunting their FF status.
If you’re just starting to travel, you’ll need to fly A LOT of miles to join their ranks.
If airline perks are important to you, you might consider getting an airline-branded credit card for the airline you plan to fly the most. All these cards offer airline-specific benefits which can save you money in the long run.
Be sure to use any credit card wisely.
Hotel Points
I book the majority of my personal hotels through Booking.com. I’ve earned “Genius Level 2” status which entitles me to:
- 5-15% off most hotel prices
- The ability to easily cancel a reservation without a fee
I’ve noticed that I’m also sometimes offered:
- Free breakfast
- Early check-in
- Late check out
These additional benefits depend on the hotel and the time of year we’re traveling.
Small Business is More Our Style
When we travel outside of the United States, we try to stay at family-owned hotels. Because of this, I’ve never found a pressing need to collect hotel points at any hotel chain for free stays.
When traveling across the United States we like to take our dog, Timber. We tend to stay at LaQuinta’s because they’re dog friendly.
Alex is loyal to Holiday Inn and his status has gotten us some nice surprise upgrades.
My Flight Attendant Hotel Chain Preference
As a flight attendant I’ve stayed at every major hotel chain (not motel, there’s a difference). If I had to pick a U.S. chain to collect points for it would be:
- Hampton Inn (comfortable beds, great breakfast)
- Embassy Suites (amazing breakfast, comfortable rooms)
- Renaissance (cool, quiet rooms, best comforter and consistently the best night of sleep)
I’d try a little harder to collect hotel points if they were consistently offered at our crew hotels.
I typically stay at two to three hotels a week and most hotels don’t offer us points because my company pays for our rooms.
I also have a Platinum American Express card which allows me Gold status at both Marriott and Hilton properties. I’ve never purposefully searched out a Marriott or Hilton while traveling for personal reasons, mostly because they don’t allow pets. I also don’t find either chain to be a good value.
Rental Cars
Most of the time I book my rental car on Priceline.com.
I’m not loyal to any rental car company, I choose the car rental company that offers the best price for a compact to full-size car.
I’ve waited in a few long lines but I’ve never experienced any trouble with any car rental I’ve had from any company, anywhere.
Credit Cards
I have two travel credit cards that I love, a Platinum American Express and a Capital One Mastercard.
Platinum American Express
The AMEX has a hefty fee of $550 a year. This fee gives me access to Delta, Centurion and Priority Pass Lounges and offers interesting cashback offers throughout the year.
I’ve read that the AMEX Platinum is a great points card that offers rewards for travel. Since I don’t buy airline tickets or stay at Marriott or Hilton properties on my own dime, I don’t rack up a lot of points.
I do frequently use the lounge and cashback offers which makes the big fee worth it to me.
Mastercard
I also carry a Capital One Mastercard. Although Discover and American Express are both accepted throughout the United States, you’ll need a Visa or Mastercard when traveling internationally.
I’ve used my no-annual-fee, no-international-transaction-fee Mastercard all over the world with no trouble. This card gives me 1.5% cashback on all purchases, which I’ve found adds up quickly.
International Fees – Avoid At All Cost
When shopping for a card to use internationally, make sure it doesn’t charge any international per-transaction fees. Those fees can add up quickly as you enjoy swiping or tapping your credit card across the world.
Cruise Ship Travel Reward Programs
I have a lot of cruise credit on both Norwegian and Holland America, but I still treat cruises much like I do rental cars.
While I prefer cruising Holland America, if the same cruise is considerably cheaper on Princess, I’ll go on Princess.
I avoid Carnival at all costs. Presently I’m a little put off by NCL.
I’ve taken a couple of cruises on Royal Caribbean and enjoyed my experience.
You have to cruise A LOT to earn perks like laundry or free Wi-Fi.
If you find a cruise line that speaks to you, spend most of your money with them for the best rewards.
Pick the Travel Reward Program That’s Best For You
As with all things travel-related, you’ll get the best bang for your buck if you do your research.
If you’re all about airline points, pick an airline, don’t deviate from it and rack up the miles. You might even consider getting a specific airline-branded credit card.
If you use the card wisely (pay it off every month) you’ll earn free tickets and/or upgrades faster. Some airline-branded cards allow you to check bags for free, board the aircraft first or get free passes to their airline lounge. These benefits can outweigh the annual cost of the card if you use it carefully.
Is There a Brand You Can Stand Behind?
As you research, ask yourself if there’s a specific car rental agency, hotel chain or cruise line that you can see yourself giving your hard-earned travel money to for the rest of your life.
Reward point systems work best if you are absolutely loyal. You’d have to like a chain an awful lot to be willing to give all your travel dollars over to the same company, which incidentally is the only way to reap the most loyalty benefits.
I love my Mastercard cashback and the travel perks I get from my AMEX, but reward points are not something I chase.
I spend so many nights at hotels that at this point I barely notice where I am unless the bed is extra comfortable or the hotel offers made-to-order breakfast.
Do I care if my rental car is National, Budget or Sixt? No, I really don’t.
I love Holland America but if Princess is offering a balcony at a better price, you know I’m taking that Princess Cruise.
If there’s an upgrade I REALLY want, like a nicer hotel room, or Wi-Fi on a cruise ship, I’ll use a little of the cashback from my Mastercard to splurge.
My Recommendation for Travel Reward Programs
I personally think you might be better off choosing a really great travel credit card and then using the points or dollars you accumulate to fund or upgrade your travel adventures.
Do your research, I have no doubt you’ll make the best choice for your personal situation.
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The Art of Travel (TAOT) ~ Written by Kylie, these awesome photos came from Unsplash.
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