more adventures, more memories
Five-star family travel,
paid for with points.
We travel nearly free several times a year on points and miles — and we show you the whole system: the free guide, the calculators, the cards we use, and the resorts themselves, walked through room by room.
The guide is free for now — leave your email and it's yours.
Points & Miles 101 — Free To Download
Melissa's beginner guide to travel hacking: seven short lessons, from your first welcome bonus to the Player 2 strategy that doubles everything.
The guide downloads instantly. No spam — just the occasional genuinely useful update.
Free today. It'll be a paid guide eventually — grab it while it isn't.
- 01Why welcome bonuses are the whole game
- 02Your credit score (and why this won't wreck it)
- 03Goals, point types, and why you diversify
- 04Choosing the right card(s)
- 05Apply responsibly, hit the spend
- 06Redeem strategically (YAY!!)
- 07Player 2, and your next move
Calculators That Answer The Real Questions
No signup, no email. They run entirely in your browser and we never see what you type.
Cents Per Point
Is this redemption actually good? Enter the cash price and the points cost.
Transfer Partners
What your Chase, Amex, Capital One, Citi or Bilt points become in every partner program — with current transfer bonuses.
Annual Fee Breakeven
Work out whether a premium card's credits actually cover its fee for your family.
Award Booking Window
The exact day each airline program opens bookings for your travel date — with a calendar reminder.
The Travel Cards We Recommend For Families
The cards we use ourselves and the honest reason each one earns its place. Applying through our links supports the site at no cost to you.
Chase
Chase Sapphire Preferred
60,000 points after $5,000 spend in 3 months
Annual fee $95
Melissa's favorite personal travel card — and the one she recommends to almost everyone.
Why we use it →
American Express
American Express Gold
60,000 Membership Rewards after $6,000 spend in 6 months
Annual fee $325
4x at US supermarkets and restaurants — for a family, groceries alone can be worth the fee.
Why we use it →
Capital One
Capital One Venture X
75,000 miles after $4,000 spend in 3 months
Annual fee $395
The $300 travel credit and 10,000-mile anniversary bonus bring the real cost to about $95.
Why we use it →Offers change frequently — always confirm the current terms on the issuer's page before applying.
The Gear That Earns Its Bag Space
The travel car seat, the stroller that fits in an overhead bin, the blackout blind that buys you two extra hours — what each thing is for and what to look for when you buy it, plus our Amazon storefront.
How Else To Find Us
The trips happen on camera first — the site is where the numbers and the write-ups land.
