How We Use Credit Card Points to Travel More (Without Spending More)
Travel can get expensive quickly — flights, hotels, rental cars, activities… it adds up fast. One of the biggest ways our family has been able to travel more without blowing our budget is by using credit card points.
We’re not doing anything overly complicated. In fact, our system is pretty simple: we put most of our regular spending on travel credit cards and pay the balance off automatically every month. The points accumulate surprisingly quickly, and over time they can make a big difference when planning trips.
Here’s how we use credit card points to help offset travel costs.
Our Simple Strategy for Earning Travel Points
Our strategy is extremely straightforward.
We use our credit cards for nearly all everyday spending, including:
• groceries
• gas
• dining
• travel purchases
• household expenses
Then we have the cards set to auto-pay the full balance every month.
This is important — the goal is to earn points without paying interest. We treat the credit card like a debit card that just happens to earn travel rewards.
Because most families already have regular expenses, the points add up surprisingly fast.
How We Used Points for Our Banff Trip
Points can make a huge difference when planning bigger trips.
For our recent Banff and Lake Louise trip, we used credit card points to cover three nights at the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise — including my mom’s room.
If you’ve looked up prices there, you know it’s not exactly a budget hotel. Using points made it feel like a much more reasonable splurge and allowed us to stay somewhere truly special.
Using points for bucket list hotels or destinations is one of our favorite ways to maximize their value.
Note the sour face in front of the Fairmont Lake Louise sign below — proof that kids will still kid, even at fancy hotels.
Our Go-To Travel Credit Cards
There are a lot of travel credit cards available, but these are the ones we personally use or recommend looking into.
(Offers and benefits change frequently, so always double-check the latest information before applying.)
Chase Sapphire Preferred
The Chase Sapphire Preferred is one of the most popular travel credit cards for beginners.
In spring 2025, Chase ran a limited-time 100,000 point sign-up bonus, which was one of the highest offers the card has had. Depending on how they’re redeemed, those points can easily be worth $1,000 or more in travel.
Pros
• Flexible Ultimate Rewards points that transfer to airlines and hotels
• 2x–3x points on travel and dining purchases
• $50 annual hotel credit when booking through Chase Travel
• Strong travel protections like trip cancellation coverage
• Reasonable $95 annual fee
Cons
• No airport lounge access
• Fewer luxury perks than premium travel cards
• Points values vary depending on how they’re redeemed
Best for: travelers who want flexible points and a beginner-friendly travel card.
Delta SkyMiles Credit Cards
Delta offers several versions of their credit cards through American Express. Many travelers choose the Delta Platinum or Delta Reserve cards.
Pros
• Annual companion certificate after renewal (second ticket for taxes and fees)
• Free checked bags on Delta flights
• Priority boarding
• Discounts when booking award flights with miles
Cons
• Miles are most valuable if you fly Delta frequently
• Higher annual fees depending on the card version
• Less flexible than transferable point programs like Chase
Best for: travelers who regularly fly Delta and want airline perks.
Other Travel Credit Cards to Consider
If you’re researching travel rewards cards, here are a few other popular options.
Capital One Venture Card
Pros
• Simple flat-rate miles on all purchases
• Flexible redemption options
• Often offers strong welcome bonuses
Cons
• Fewer premium travel perks
• No airline-specific benefits
Best for: travelers who want a simple points system without tracking spending categories.
American Express Gold Card
Pros
• Excellent rewards on restaurants and groceries
• Flexible Membership Rewards points
• Often strong welcome bonuses
Cons
• Higher annual fee than many entry cards
• Points sometimes require more strategy to maximize value
Best for: people who spend a lot on food and dining.
Chase Sapphire Reserve
This is the premium version of the Sapphire card.
Pros
• Higher travel rewards rates
• Airport lounge access
• Annual travel credits
• Premium travel protections
Cons
• Very high annual fee
• Best value mainly for frequent travelers
Best for: people who travel often enough to take advantage of luxury perks.
Southwest Rapid Rewards Credit Cards
Southwest cards (issued by Chase) are popular for domestic travel and families.
Pros
• Points are easy to redeem because they’re tied to the ticket price
• The Southwest Companion Pass lets a designated person fly with you for only taxes and fees on an unlimited number of flights after you earn it
• Good option for domestic U.S. travel
• Free checked bag for cardholders and companions on many reservations
• No blackout dates when using points
Cons
• Limited international flight network
• Fewer premium perks compared to airlines like Delta
• Some policies (like baggage rules) have been evolving recently
Unlike Delta’s companion ticket (usually once per year), the Southwest Companion Pass allows a companion to fly with you on unlimited flights for just taxes and fees once earned. That can be extremely valuable for families who travel together often. However, Southwest has gotten some recent criticism as it transitions toward assigned seating. Some families have noted that sitting together may require paying for specific seats, which is something most airlines already include.
Best for: families and travelers who primarily fly within the United States.
Another Travel Trick: Costco Travel
Another travel tool we use that doesn’t involve credit cards is Costco Travel.
Costco often negotiates excellent deals on:
• vacation packages
• hotels
• rental cars
• cruises
Sometimes the deal even includes a Costco Shop Card after your trip.
We’re currently looking at booking an Alaska cruise next year, and booking through Costco would give us about an $800 shop card after the cruise ends.
Even if cruises aren’t your thing, it’s always worth checking Costco Travel when planning larger trips.
Tips for Using Credit Card Points for Travel
If you’re just getting started with travel rewards, here are a few simple tips.
- Start with one good travel card: Cards like the Chase Sapphire Preferred are a great entry point.
- Watch for sign-up bonuses: These can be the fastest way to earn a large amount of points (follow me on social – I’ll share those when they happen!)
- Use the card for everyday spending: Groceries, gas, dining, and travel purchases add up quickly.
- Pay the balance in full every month: Interest charges will erase the value of points very quickly.
- Look at transfer partners: Sometimes transferring points to airlines or hotels can provide better value than booking through a travel portal.
Travel Smarter, Not Harder
Travel rewards don’t have to be complicated.
For us, it’s simply about using the right credit cards for purchases we’re already making and letting the points help offset travel costs.
Sometimes that means flights.
Sometimes it means a beautiful hotel we wouldn’t normally splurge on.
Either way, it helps us travel more while keeping costs a little more manageable — which means more adventures, more national parks, and more mountain views along the way.
And honestly… that’s the whole goal.
