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Showing posts from August, 2025

The Starbucks + Delta Hack Every Traveler Should Know

  Did you know you can earn extra airline miles just by sipping your morning coffee? ☕✈️ Starbucks has a hidden perk that lets you connect your account with Delta SkyMiles—so every latte gets you closer to your next flight. That’s just one of the many easy ways people leave points (and free travel!) on the table. Want to see all the insider tricks to stacking points   ✨ “Hop on over to Facebook and join our community in The Points Princess Group — and don’t forget to follow our Facebook Page for the latest updates!”

Big Picture of the Points World

  Think of your points like a map with hidden highways. The chart I shared shows four main routes: Credit cards → Airlines: Where most people start. Credit cards → Hotels: A second path that’s often overlooked. Airlines ↔ Airlines: Some programs secretly talk to each other. Hotels ↔ Hotels: Yep, even hotel programs have a few bridges. At a high level, it’s all about flexibility — your points aren’t stuck where they first land. With the right moves, you can redirect them and unlock options most travelers don’t even realize exist. I’m not going to spell out every trick (where’s the fun in that? 😉), but you can see a lot more about this, along with a handy chart, in the files section in our Facebook group The Points Princess

✈️🌴 How I Turned Points Into a $14,300 Kauai Vacation 🌴✈️

  Here’s the quick math: I spent 300,000 points total The cash value of the trip (flights + resort + extras) was about $14,300 That means I got 5 cents per point in value ✨ 👉 Most people settle for about 1 cent per point. I squeezed 5× more out of mine. The trick? It’s not about how many points you have—it’s about how you use them. 💡 Want to see exactly how I pulled it off (and how you can too)?  Want more tips? Join our Points Princess Group on Facebook and follow the Points Princess Page to stay in the loop.

💳✨ “Wait… you must spend a TON of money to have that many points!”

Not true. It’s not about spending more — it’s about spending smarter and knowing how to redeem. I turned 300,000 points into a $14,300 Kauai trip (that’s 5¢ per point vs. the usual 1¢ most people get). 💡 Join fellow travelers in our Points Princess Group on Facebook — and follow the Points Princess Page to never miss a deal or hack!

Why Hyatt Is the Smart Traveler’s Secret Weapon 🔑

If you want to maximize hotel rewards, Hyatt is one of the best brands for points redemption value. While most hotel loyalty programs give less than 1 cent per point, Hyatt points often stretch to 2 cents or more, making them a top choice for luxury hotels, all-inclusive resorts, and dream vacations. Earning Hyatt points is simple within the Chase credit card ecosystem, where you can transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards® points directly to World of Hyatt. This turns everyday spending into free nights, luxury getaways, and high-value redemptions. 💡 Join fellow travelers in our Points Princess Group on Facebook — and follow the Points Princess Page to never miss a deal or hack!

Thoughts?

Starting January 27, 2026, Southwest Airlines will require passengers who cannot fit between the armrests of a single seat to purchase an additional seat at the time of booking. A refund for the second seat is only possible under strict conditions, such as the flight departing with an empty seat or with passengers on space-available passes, and if both tickets were the same fare class. This change is part of Southwest's broader shift to assigned seating.

✈️💳 Travel Hack: How to Earn Points on Rent

  Paying rent usually means throwing away thousands of dollars a year with zero rewards. But savvy travelers know the secret: the Bilt Mastercard. It’s the only card that lets you pay rent with no transaction fees while earning transferable points you can send to top partners like Hyatt, American Airlines, and United. That means every rent payment can move you closer to business class flights, luxury hotels, and once-in-a-lifetime trips. 👉 I break down exactly why the Bilt card is a must-have for travel hackers inside my group The Points Princess. Join here: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1ALo2Ey9nZ/?mibextid=wwXIfr

The Trap Behind Paying Your Bill with Points

  Credit card companies make it so easy: you log in, see your balance, and right there is a button that says “Use Points to Pay.” It sounds perfect. But here’s the thing—while it feels simple and convenient, it’s usually not the smartest way to use your rewards. Here’s why: It hides the true value of your points. When you use points for a statement credit, the bank decides what they’re worth. And the value they give you is almost always on the low end. It’s designed for convenience, not benefit. The “pay with points” option is front and center because the banks want you to click it. It saves them money when you redeem this way. It can make you less aware of your spending. Applying points to your balance might feel like you’re paying down debt, but it’s not the same as making a payment from your bank account. It can give a false sense of progress. It locks your rewards into one choice. Once you’ve redeemed for a statement credit, that’s it—you can’t go back. If you later...

How I Saved 20,000 Miles on One Flight (and How You Can Too)

When it comes to stretching United miles, living near a United hub is like having a golden ticket. United’s hubs include Denver, Chicago (ORD), Houston (IAH), Newark (EWR), Washington Dulles (IAD), Los Angeles (LAX), and San Francisco (SFO). Being in one of these cities means you’ve got way more flights, way more availability, and often better deals. And honestly? Denver is the sweet spot. Because it’s so central, it’s easier (and often cheaper in miles) to hop just about anywhere. Earning United miles the old-fashioned way—by flying and swiping your United credit card—totally works. It’s a slow and steady climb, and your balance will grow bit by bit. But if you want to speed things up, the real accelerator is credit card bonuses, promos, and learning the tricks to squeeze the most value out of those miles once you’ve earned them. This is where it gets fun: redeeming miles. Flexibility is your superpower here. United’s award calendar (check it out at www.united.com ) shows you month-by...

Why Your Credit Report Matters Before You Even Think About Points

  Before you start dreaming of free flights, luxury hotels, and upgrades, let’s hit pause for a reality check: your credit report comes first. Credit card rewards are amazing, but they’re not for everyone — at least not right away. If your credit score isn’t strong, you may not get approved for the cards that actually make this whole game worth it. And even if you are approved, a weaker credit profile can mean lower limits, higher interest rates, or fewer offers. That’s why your very first step — before signing up for a single rewards card — should be to pull your credit report and know where you stand. You want to see: A history of on-time payments Low balances compared to your limits A score that’s in the very good range (think 740+ as a general target) If you’re not there yet, that’s okay! It just means your energy should go into strengthening your credit before diving into points. Once your credit foundation is solid, the doors to the best signup bonuses, premium tr...

Credit Card Points & Miles Made Easy

   Ever look at your credit card account and see points stacking up, but have no idea what to actually do with them? You’re not alone. That’s exactly why I started a Facebook group — a space where we break down the confusing world of points and rewards into simple, real-life strategies. Whether you want to finally take that dream trip, upgrade your flights, or just stop letting points go to waste, this group is for you. ✈️ Come be part of the conversation in our Points Princess Facebook Group — and while you’re there, follow our Facebook Page for daily rewards inspiration.

Are Your Credit Card Points Just Sitting There?

  If you’ve ever looked at your credit card account and noticed a pile of points stacking up, you’re not alone. Most people have them—sometimes thousands—and they have no idea what to do with them. And honestly, it’s confusing. Are these points even worth anything? Should you spend them now, or save them for later? Maybe you’ve even thought, “I should just use these to pay off part of my statement and be done with it.” Meanwhile, you see other people somehow flying first class with points while you’re still wondering how yours even work. That’s the thing about credit card rewards: the programs are designed to be complicated. Every bank has different rules, the values change depending on how you redeem them, and the fine print makes it feel like you need a law degree to figure it all out. So, what happens? Most people just ignore their points, or they use them in the quickest, easiest way possible—not realizing they could be worth so much more. Here’s the good news: ...

Why Pay Thousands for Business or First Class When You Don’t Have To?

Flying business or first class is the dream for many travelers—extra space, gourmet meals, champagne on takeoff, and the ability to step off the plane actually feeling human. But for most people, the price tag feels impossible. Let’s put it into perspective: A round-trip business class ticket from New York to London can cost $4,500–$7,000. Flying first class from Los Angeles to Tokyo? Expect $12,000–$16,000 round trip. A one-way Emirates First Class Suite from Dubai to New York can go for a jaw-dropping $20,000+. Yes, people really do pay that much. But here’s the thing— you don’t have to . There’s a Better Way Most travelers assume these kinds of luxury experiences are reserved for the wealthy or business executives. But that’s simply not true. There’s a way to get into the exact same seats, enjoy the exact same perks, and do it for a fraction of the cost. I’m not talking about last-minute deals or settling for a standby ticket. This is something far more powerful—and once you know...