If you want to take advantage of the travel deals your credit cards offer, then a “travel hack” is what you need. For those unfamiliar, travel hacking is the art of leveraging credit card points, loyalty programs, and travel offers to earn free or discounted travel experiences.
The goal of a travel hacker is to maximize reward points and leverage benefits to minimize the cost of flights, hotels, and other travel expenses. Here, we’ve listed a number of ways to use credit cards for travel hacking.
How to Master Travel Hacking
I. Choose the right travel card
Some travel credit cards offer nice sign-up bonuses as long as you meet the minimum spending threshold within the first few months. These bonuses often provide enough points to redeem for free flights or hotel nights.
Make sure you choose a card that offers higher rewards rates on purchases in the categories you use most, such as dining, groceries and travel.
2. Leverage expenditure categories
Some cards have bonus categories for specific purchases (for example, 3x points on travel or 4x points on dining). Use these cards strategically to get the highest points rate per rupee spent.
If your goal is to maximize your points, use your card for purchases whenever possible, from gas to groceries to utility bills (just make sure to pay off your balance each month to avoid interest charges).
three. Transfer to airline and hotel partners
By transferring points to specific airline or hotel partners, you can get better deals than booking directly through the card portal.
Sometimes, credit cards offer rewards when you transfer points to certain airlines or restaurants. These bonuses add extra points to your account when transferring funds.
Four. Take advantage of travel benefits
Many travel credit cards come with perks such as airport lounge access, free checked bags, and priority boarding. These benefits add convenience and cost savings.
Additionally, some premium cards offer valuable travel insurance, purchase protection, and other travel-related safeguards that can save you money if something goes wrong.
5. Annual fee
Some cards with higher annual fees offer benefits that outweigh the cost (such as free hotel nights or travel points), but it’s important to make sure you actually use them.
For international travel, make sure to use a card with no foreign transaction fees, as these fees can add up quickly.
These tips, along with some research on which credit card best suits your spending habits and travel goals, are sure to help you earn points quickly and redeem them for high-value travel experiences.
