How I Travel the World on Points: The Credit Cards That Make It Possible

All the time my friends and family ask me how I am able to travel so much. From a stunning staycation to literally traveling the world, they see me doing it all. All the while, they know that I don’t have the highest paying job, and I don’t come from generational wealth. Frankly, I’m always actively complaining about how little money I have, so it is a valid question. The answer is simple, though: I use credit cards. 

At first reflection, that answer feels almost too simple, but over time, it became a system rooted in intention rather than impulse. After knowing travel was something I needed to do to be who I am, it became second nature to find a way to do it without spending thousands when I didn’t have to.

Why Credit Cards Became My Travel Strategy

Now I know what you’re thinking, and no, I am not using a line of credit or debt to travel; rather, I use the points earned from various credit cards to travel, and I do this with research and intention. Using points is not the only thing to research; you have to find out which card is right for you. So today I want to discuss the travel cards I have, why I chose them, and how I use them. This approach didn’t happen overnight. It evolved slowly, starting with one card and a lot of trial and error, which honestly still happens nearly a decade after I got my first travel credit card.

My First Travel Credit Card: The Chase Sapphire Preferred

The first travel credit card I’ve ever gotten was the Chase Sapphire Preferred card. I got this credit card shortly after I started my first year of college. I will admit, when I got this card, I didn’t understand how to get the most out of it, so I missed a sign-up bonus, but for years this was my only credit card. I used it for dining out, gas, and groceries, treating it as a debit card and never putting more money on it than I had in my checking account. Over years of paying for meals, flights, and more, I eventually naturally accrued six figures worth of points I was always wary to use. 

Three Reasons I Love My Chase Sapphire Preferred Card:

1. 3x Points on Dining

2. 10% Annual Anniversary Point Bonus

3. No Foreign Transaction Fee 

For years, that card quietly did its job, until my life, income, and relationship with travel began to shift.

Stepping Into the Points Game: Choosing the American Express Platinum

After I graduated with my Bachelor's Degree and entered the workforce, I worked as a recruiter and earned far more money than I had ever imagined as a fresh graduate. I started living above my means and enjoying luxury. With this came my next card, the American Express Platinum. At this point, I had a better understanding of the points game, but I still hadn’t really played it. I waited for a strong sign on bonus, and an expense I knew was coming up. A sign on bonus is something credit cards offer for signing up and being approved for the card, for example if you spend $3,000 in your first three months of being a cardholder you can earn an extra 40,000 points. Using this strategy earned me another 100,000 points I could use now, but I kept hoarding them.

Who the American Express Platinum Card Is Actually For

I want to be transparent and clarify that the Amex Platinum is only meant for a specific type of person, and I don’t mean the flashy one. With a high and seemingly regularly increasing annual fee, this card can be costly if not used to its fullest capacity every year. That means traveling several times a year, using one specific US airline to use its $200 annual cash back on baggage or other airline fees, using its $75 Lululemon credit every quarter, using its $15 monthly Uber credit, or using its biannual $300 fine hotels and resorts credit. 

Over time, I did start playing the points game. I learned how to maximise the value of my credit card points, which cards to use for what purchases, when to transfer points? to partners of these cards and which partners to transfer to. These cards alone help me fly round-trips to the United States from London several times a year. Often, through transfer bonuses to Virgin Atlantic, I can use less than 10,000 points and around $300 to fly one of the best airlines globally. Transfer bonuses are a great tool as you can use your points and transfer them to hotel and airline partners at a better rate when there is a bonus, for example you may be offered 1.5x points if you transfer them to Virgin rather than 1x points.

Three Reasons I Love My American Express Platinum Card:

1. Top Airline Transfer Partners and Frequent Transfer Bonuses

2. Access to American Express and Priority Pass Airport Lounges Globally

3. Gold Status at Marriott and Hilton Properties 

Once I understood how to actually use these benefits, the value of points stopped feeling theoretical and started to become tangible.

Adding a Third Card: Why I Chose the Capital One Venture Card

With confidence came curiosity, and eventually, a desire for balance. With my new knowledge and understanding, I got my third travel card when I had a tuition payment come up as I started my international masters program in London. This card is the Capital One Venture card. While this is my least-used card, I do like to keep it in my arsenal as it offers some great benefits and helps me balance and be mindful of my spending habits. Some days, while I go back and forth on the idea of keeping my Amex, I know having my Capital One card will help fill some gaps I would lose with that card, but for the time being I keep it active for smaller international purchases and as more of a ‘back-up.’

Three Reasons I Love My Capital One Venture Card:

1. 2x Points on All Purchases

2. No Foreign Transaction Fees

3. Strong 1:1 Transfer Bonus Opportunities

Why I Don’t Regret Starting With a Travel Credit Card

Having three cards now, I have learned some lessons. Some on financial literacy and responsibility, others on stretching my points and seeing the world. There are definitely many give-and-takes when it comes to getting involved in the ‘points game’, but it’s not something I regret getting into at all. As I continue to understand and learn more about using and growing these points, I hope to delve deeper into sharing my best practices to help others travel the way that I’ve been able to. 

Whether it was a mistake to get my first travel card or not, I am glad I fell into that world, because I truly don’t believe I would have ever had the opportunity to travel the world as I do now without it, and for that I am grateful.

I only ever share cards I personally use and genuinely believe in. If you’re considering starting or refining your points strategy, I’ve linked each card below:

If you apply through one of my referral links, I may receive a referral bonus at no additional cost to you. It helps support Carry-Ons & Couture and allows me to continue creating thoughtful travel content.

• Chase Sapphire Preferred → https://www.referyourchasecard.com/19u/Y0O0P6J435

• American Express Platinum → not currently applicable

• Capital One Venture → https://i.capitalone.com/G1SoAzxhs