I’ve always had a deep love of traveling! It began with fun adventures as a kid with my family, memorable trips that made a hug impact on my life and gave me a deep appreciation of nature and adventure. It was solidified when I took my first solo trip at the age of 23 (more about that below), which gave me confidence and independence at a critical time of my life. I have continued to travel to just over 20 countries which as given me a broader understanding of the world and different cultures. So now as a mother, I am determined to offer these valuable life lessons to my daughter. The benefits of travel are countless, but here is a short list to keep in mind:
Cultural Awareness: travel exposes you to different cultures, traditions, lifestyles all which result in a better understanding and ultimately respect for all of humanity.
Personal Growth: travel pushes you out of your comfort zone, helping you develop new skills and become more self sufficient.
Stress Relief: traveling allows you to disconnect from the daily grind and relax, which reduces stress and improves overall well-being.
Education: travel provides learning opportunities you can’t get in the classroom
Perspective and empathy: experiencing different cultures and meeting people from diverse backgrounds fosters empathy, tolerance, and a broader perspective on life.
Adventure and excitement: traveling allows you to try new activities, explore new places, and create lasting memories.
Health benefits: Travel often involves physical activities like hiking, swimming, or walking, and if you are on my retreats then yoga & nutrition too!
Networking opportunities: traveling gives you the chance to meet new people, make connections, and expand your personal and professional network.
Self-discovery: Traveling alone or with others can help you discover more about yourself, your passions, and what truly makes you happy.
Memories and experiences: Traveling creates unforgettable memories and experiences that shape your life and provide stories to share for years to come.
Sounds lovely but extravagant, right? Well, contrary to what you may think it’s not that out of reach. You just need to be savvy about it!
As someone who has been “travel hacking” for many years I can tell you first hand that it’s all attainable. My first big solo trip I mentioned above, was at 23 years old. I had earned enough miles with the United Mileage Plus Program (thanks to my United Explorer Chase Credit Card) to fly to the South Pacific. I used 50k miles (attainable with one credit card sign up bonus) I didn’t pay for the flight (other than the minor taxes/fees) AND it wasn’t a regular flight it was one with many stops (chosen destinations) some with extended time to explore. I flew from Los Angeles to Hawaii, where I stayed for a month and explored all the islands, my next leg flew me to New Zealand where I stayed for another month and explored the North and South Islands. On the same ticket I then flew to Fiji, where I explored the mainland and then took a boat to an island where I wanted to stay forever. But I made friends so they invited me to Australia for a few more weeks (this was an additional $200 flight RT) then I flew back to New Zealand and all the way back to LAX. How’s that for value!
That is just one example of how I have optimized my credit card spending to earn free travel. This was awhile ago but these same fares and credit card offers are offered today. To this day I still don’t pay for my flights, nor do my daughter or husband and we like to travel! If you are interested I am happy to have a discussion about your travel goals and optimal strategy if you want to join in on the fun of earning FREE travel.
It’s not for everyone, if you aren’t paying your credit card off every month I don’t suggest you take to this hobby but if you are using these major banks on a regular basis you might as well benefit from it. Just need to have a bit of organization and are smart with your spending.
In my opinion (and many others in this hobby), the best card to start with is the Chase Sapphire Preferred Credit Card, it has some pretty amazing benefits and earns 60K which can easily take you to New Zealand, Europe (currently only 24k to get to Paris or Amsterdam) or even a couple domestic flights.
There is a lot to learn about these programs and I am happy to help you find your way.
Please me know if I can help you, free consultations are available.
“In a world full of people, only some want to fly, isn’t that crazy” ~Seal