I used to take my mother and my grandmother to Iceland

Daisy Hernandez was a credit card editor in Point man Since 2023, it was mocked Credit card rewards For a longer period. Like many of its colleagues, it publishes its spending via multiple cards to Great rewards Like airlines miles, hotel points and cash back.

In January 2024, the SAPPHIRIRE ResERVE card opened and soon got a bonus of 60,000 points to spend at least $ 4,000 during the first three months. While she continued to raise points, Hernandez began chatting with her mother about re -creating a previous trip for her daughter Iceland.

When her 79 -year -old grandmother entered the conversation, Hernandez knew she wanted to use some points.

“She had stars in her eyes,” Hernandez says. “I thought, let me see what I can do.”

By May, more than 100,000 points accumulated, which she put on a trip for all three. With Guy Points estimates, each Chase Ultimate Rewards is about 2.05 cents, making it a little hide over $ 2000.

In all, she was able to cover the accommodations, a rented car with her travel. With these savings, they can push outside the other two flights.

“For my grandmother, it was a journey once in a lifetime,” says Hernandez.

Here is how you did so.

She chose a card strategically

Hernandez wanted a distinguished travel card and matters were narrowed into two main options. To choose between them, I looked at the reward points and their transportation partners, among other factors.

The Chase card worked with the “Favorite Hotels Series”, it turned out to be. This is how I realized, “This is a kind of not thinking.” Especially since the first card enables consumers with the airport hall privileges that will not be available at its local airport.

For card holders ready to pay annual fees, many travel cards offer excellent privileges and generous preliminary rewards. By converting the largest part of her spending on a new chase card for her, Hernandez managed to dismantle the $ 4,000 spending threshold over $ 3,000 to earn a 60,000 -point card bonus.

She was wise with her rewards

The Hernandez card offers a basic point one point per dollar spent on the card and three points on travel and dining, in addition to increasing values for the purchases made through the Thre Travel Gate. For about five months, it managed to raise a little more than 100,000 points.

More importantly, Hernandez was responsible for spending and realizing the dangers of opening a new card. She will tell you and other experts not to open a card unless you can use it with responsibility and avoid Enter debt to follow the rewards.

Hernandez used about 23,000 points – about $ 470, according to TPG estimates – to rent a four -day car. It was used around the same amount to reserve its journey, which came with the value of the nominal about $ 450. I was spent in the rest on three nights for three guests spread through two properties that were seized through the Chis Travel gate.

It has 100,000 points not covered everything. She was still paying nearly 900 dollars for her mother’s trips and grandmother, in addition to everything she spent on food and activities as soon as she was there.

“I still got a fatal value from a trip to three people,” says Hernandez.

You did not let the perfection is the enemy of goodness

Hernandez says she could have made more uproar for more opportunism with her points.

“If you have worked more hard to increase transportation bonuses, if there is anything available, which was not at the time you booked, perhaps I could have obtained more value than those points,” she says.

Credit cards partner programs offer incentives to periodically transfer your points. If Hernandez waited for a 50 % transportation hotel series, for example, it could be converted, for example, 50,000 from her credit card points to 75,000 hotel points.

But getting the maximum value of your points requires effort and flexibility. Transport rewards only appear. Even if you can find a profitable one, there will be no good deals available when you want to travel.

“During the peak season, it will be more expensive, whether it is cash or points. So you are at mercy when you decide to travel and where you are going,” says Hernandez.

In addition, if you leave your points sitting while waiting to find the ideal deal, you may lose some of its value. Hernandez warns: “Difficulties occur all the time,” Hernandez warns.

This is all that Hernandez does not regret using its points when it did.

“We are from Central America. My grandmother was not close to the northern country,” says Hernandez. “This cherry was at the forefront to be able to try it with it and with my mother.”

Do you want to earn some additional money on the side? Take the new CNBC cycle online How to start with a side bustle To learn tips for starting and strategies for success from the upper sides experts. Register today and use the early voucher code to get an introductory discount of 30 % $ 97 discount (+taxes and fees) until April 1, 2025.