Ever feel overwhelmed by credit card points, airline miles, and rewards programs? You’re not alone. That’s why, in our latest episode, Kristen, Points Strategist and Travel Advisor at Abequa Travel, joins us to show families how to travel on points, turning everyday spending into nearly free travel.
For more family vacation inspiration, check out all the podcast episodes. Adventure Awaits!
Meet Kristen, Points Strategist & Travel Advisor
Kristen is a mom, business owner, and strategist who has traveled to more than 40 countries, many of them using points. She even credits points with helping her relationship, using an Amtrak credit card to keep a long-distance romance alive before they got married.
What started with friends and family asking for help booking trips has grown into a business where she now helps clients maximize their spending and habits to earn and redeem points for travel.
Her motto? Explore more for less.
How Kristen Helps Families Travel on Points
Kristen offers three ways to work with her:
- Points Coaching: A one-hour customized session teaching you how to use points based on your family’s travel goals strategically.
- Travel Booking: Guidance (or done-for-you help) on booking flights and hotels with points without the stress of wondering if you got the best deal.
- Concierge Service: A year-long partnership to strategically work together to help you earn points and plan multiple trips.
Top Tips for Traveling on Points
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Be financially ready. Make sure you’re in good standing with your credit before diving in.
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Match cards to your spending. Groceries and dining are common high-spend categories that can yield strong point returns.
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Think with the end in mind. Start with your dream destination, then work backward to determine which cards and points will get you there.
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Shop through portals. Enable credit card offers or shop through your card portals to multiply points on everyday purchases.
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Leverage welcome bonuses. Opening the right card at the right time can quickly unlock a substantial number of points.
Real-Life Travel Examples
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A family of four traveled to Orlando for four days for just $44 (plus points), saving thousands to spend on park tickets.
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A couple planning a trip to France and Spain reduced their $8,000 itinerary to just $1,500 by creatively utilizing points and Kristen’s travel advisor discounts.
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Host Shannon booked two round-trip flights this year (Washington, D.C., and Turks & Caicos) for a total of 35,000 points, which can be earned with a single credit card sign-up bonus.
Resources for Learning How to Travel on Points
Kristen recommends tools like AwardWallet, CardPoints, and Point.me for tracking and searching, as well as podcasts dedicated to maximizing rewards.
She also cautions that search tools don’t always show every option, which is why you should double-check with airline searches, as aggregators may miss deals.
Work with Kristen
Kristen offers personalized points coaching, travel booking on points, and concierge services at AbequaTravel.com.
Special for KeeKee’s Big Adventures listeners: mention the podcast to get $50 off her services.
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For more family vacation inspiration, tune in to all the podcast episodes. Adventure Awaits!
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