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What are the 10 most popular frequent flyer blogs for 2024?

Reading frequent flyer blogs can provide a person with valuable information and tips on how to maximize their rewards and earn more miles and points. These blogs often include reviews of different airline and hotel loyalty programs, advice on how to earn and redeem points, and updates on promotions and deals. Additionally, reading frequent flyer blogs can help a person stay up-to-date on changes in the industry and learn about new opportunities to earn and redeem miles and points.

• The Points Guy: This blog covers a wide range of topics related to frequent flyer programs and travel, including the latest news, tips, and reviews of airlines, hotels, and credit cards.
• One Mile at a Time: This blog focuses on maximizing frequent flyer miles and points, with a focus on luxury travel experiences. It offers detailed guides and reviews of airlines, hotels, and credit card offers.
• The Frequent Miler: This blog covers a wide range of topics related to frequent flyer programs, including news, tips, and reviews of airlines, hotels, and credit cards. It also offers a popular credit card database and calculator.
• View from the Wing: This blog offers news, analysis, and commentary on frequent flyer programs and the broader travel industry, with a focus on maximizing rewards and minimizing costs.
• InsideFlyer: This blog covers a wide range of topics related to frequent flyer programs, including news, reviews, and tips for maximizing rewards. It also offers a popular forum for discussing frequent flyer program strategies.
• The Forward Cabin: This blog focuses on luxury travel experiences, with a focus on maximizing frequent flyer miles and points. It offers reviews, tips, and analysis of airlines, hotels, and credit card offers.
• The Wandering Aramean: This blog covers a wide range of topics related to frequent flyer programs and travel, including news, reviews, and tips for maximizing rewards. It also offers a popular Q&A forum for discussing frequent flyer program strategies.
• Frugal Travel Guy: This blog focuses on maximizing rewards and minimizing costs, with a focus on budget travel. It offers news, reviews, and tips for earning and redeeming frequent flyer miles and points.
• Frequent Flyer Bonuses: This blog focuses on the latest promotions and bonuses offered by frequent flyer programs and credit card companies. It offers detailed guides and analysis of the best offers for earning and redeeming miles and points.
• The Points Blog: This blog covers a wide range of topics related to frequent flyer programs, including news, reviews, and tips for maximizing rewards. It also offers a popular forum for discussing frequent flyer program strategies.

Frequent flyer blogs 10 most popular topics that are covered in 2024:

We read all the frequent flyer blogs and it seems like these are the 10 most popular frequent flyer blog topics that are covered:

• Earning and redeeming miles and points
• Best credit cards for earning miles and points
• Strategies for maximizing rewards and benefits
• Top loyalty programs and their perks
• Upcoming promotions and bonus offers
• Best ways to save on flights and hotels
• Tips for maximizing travel experiences
• Trends and developments in the frequent flyer industry
• Tips for maximizing elite status and perks
• Best ways to redeem miles and points for maximum value.

And in case you didn’t find what you liked, we have tips on how you can find your own favorite airline frequent flyer blogs.

Tips on how to find your favorite frequent flyer blog:

• Start by reading blogs from reputable sources and authors with a proven track record in the frequent flyer industry.
• Look for blogs that offer detailed, in-depth analysis and insights into the latest trends and developments in the world of frequent flyer programs.
• Pay attention to the comments and feedback from other readers, as they can often provide valuable insights and perspectives on the information presented in the blog.
• Consider subscribing to a few different blogs to get a well-rounded view of the frequent flyer world and stay up-to-date on the latest news and developments.
• Take note of any recommendations or advice provided by the bloggers, as they often have extensive knowledge and experience in the industry.
• Be sure to read any disclaimers or disclosures provided by the bloggers, as they may provide important information about their personal experiences and opinions.
• Keep an open mind and be willing to try new things and explore different frequent flyer programs, as there are many different options available to suit different needs and preferences.
• Be cautious of any blogs that seem overly promotional or biased towards a particular frequent flyer program, as they may not provide objective or unbiased information.
• Don’t be afraid to ask questions or seek additional information from the blogger or other readers if you’re unsure about anything discussed in the blog.
• Remember that frequent flyer blogs are meant to provide information and advice, but ultimately the decision on which frequent flyer program to join and how to maximize your benefits is up to you. Use the information and insights provided by the blogs as a guide, but make sure to do your own research and analysis to determine what’s best for you.

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Points & Miles 101: A Beginner’s Guide to the Process

These days, there are a million and one ways to make budget travel a reality. From embracing the sharing economy to working overseas or volunteering abroad to hunting down cheap flights , traveling has never been easier or more affordable. Even with the pandemic-related price increases, travel is still relatively cheap and there are lots of deals out there to be found.

But the most incredible way to lower your costs even further? Points and miles .

It’s something I’ve been doing for years, which has enabled me to earn more free flights and free hotel stays than I can count. And if you’re not doing it, you’re leaving a lot of money on the table and paying way more for travel than you should be!

What are points and miles?

Collecting points and miles involves signing up for travel credit cards and collecting credit card points, hotel points, and/or airline miles you can cash in for free flights, flight upgrades, hotel stays, transportation, and much, much more.

While there are a ton of advanced tips and tricks to out there (and we go over a lot of them in my guide on the subject), many people don’t even know where to start. The process seems daunting because of all the programs and credit cards out there. Which card do you get? How do you know you’re maximizing your points? And just how do you redeem them for rewards?

It’s a lot to wrap your head around.

But it’s a lot easier than it seems. By just tweaking how you pay for groceries, gas, and dining out, you’ll be able to start earning points and miles toward free travel today .

In this points and miles 101 guide, I’ll explain the basics, so you can stop leaving money on the table and start making your travel dreams a reality.

Here is how you get started:

Step 1: Figure out your goal(s)

The first thing you want to do when it comes to points and miles is to figure out your goal(s). What are you looking to achieve?

Are you saving for a big family trip? Do you just want the odd free economy flight or hotel here and there? Or are you more interested in a huge first-class upgrade? Or are you an avid flyer who wants perks, like lounge access and free upgrades?

There’s no wrong answer, so spend some time pondering this. If you just go into points and miles without direction, you’re going to get lost.

You’ll need to do this because it will help you pick the cards and spending strategies that will get you closer to your goal(s). There are hundreds of travel credit cards to choose from, and they all have their own pros and cons.

For example, if you’re a loyal flier with American Airlines, the best cards to start off with would be those that are AA branded. That way, you can jump-start your point balance as well as get the perks that those cards come with (free checked bags, priority boarding, etc.).

If you’re looking to go to Europe on a United partner, you’ll want to apply for the cards that get you United or Star Alliance points.

Always like staying at a specific hotel chain? Get that particular brand’s card.

If you just want points to spend wherever you choose, get a Chase, Citi, Capital One, or American Express® Card, because you can use their points with a variety of travel companies.

Once you decide your goal(s), you can figure out the cards and programs that will get you there.

Step 2: Get a travel credit card

Once you know your goals to and what perks are important to you, you can start to browse for a credit card.

Note: Collecting points and miles is impossible without a credit card. You just cannot get enough points otherwise. Here’s everything you need to know about credit cards and why they aren’t as evil as society makes them out to be.

While many introductory cards are free, the best travel credit cards usually have an annual fee. However, this fee, which can range from $99 to $500, is usually waived for the first year. You can also often get it waived in subsequent years if you call and threaten to cancel the card. I do that often to avoid the fee.

Some things to remember before you apply for a card:

• There is no perfect card — each has its pros and cons based on your goals. Don’t listen to blogs touting some card as “the best.”
• Aim to get a card with a low annual fee and no foreign transaction fees (so you can use it abroad without paying extra).
• Make sure the welcome bonus is attainable (more on that below).

Remember that you need to pay off your monthly balances to make it worthwhile, so only apply for a card if you’re able to pay off your expenses each month.

Here’s what the ideal card should have:

• A huge welcome bonus – The best travel cards all offer a sizable introductory bonus. It will be these welcome points that jump-start your account and get you closer to a free flight or hotel stay. Typical travel credit card welcome bonuses range between 40,000 to 60,000 points, though sometimes they can be as high as 100,000. That’s why cards are so great: you get an instant balance of tens of thousands of points for very little work.
• A low spending minimum – Unfortunately, in order to get the great welcome bonuses these cards offer, there is usually a required spending minimum in the first few months. I typically sign up for cards with a minimum spending requirement of $3,000 USD in a three- to six-month period. While there are ways to temporarily boost your spending, it’s best to get the bonus using normal day-to-day spending. Only apply for a card or cards that you can meet the minimum spend(s) on to qualify for the welcome bonus(es). (More on minimum spending requirements in the next step.)
• An added category spending bonus – Most credit cards offer one point for every dollar spent. However, good credit cards will give you extra points when you shop at specific retailers, use their online portals, or, if it is a branded credit card, shop with a particular brand. This will help you earn points much more quickly.
• Special travel perks – All of these travel credit cards offer great perks. Many will give you a special elite loyalty status or other perks. Collecting points and miles is not just about just getting points and miles, it’s about what else comes with the card that makes your life easier!
• No foreign transaction fees – Credit cards are great to use overseas because you get the best possible exchange rate from them. But if you are paying a fee every time you use the card, then it’s less good. Nowadays there are so many cards offering no foreign transaction fees that you should never, ever, ever have to get one with a foreign transaction fee.

Step 3: Earn the welcome bonus

As mentioned, the most important part about signing up for a new credit card is to make sure you earn the welcome bonus. Most cards offer this bonus if you spend a set amount within the first few months of receiving a card (usually the first three months). These offers can be huge, often equal to the cost of a round-trip flight.

Obviously, it would be silly to pass up the chance at a free flight, so make sure you can meet the minimum spending requirement for the welcome bonus before you pick a card. If you can’t meet the spending requirement, there’s no point in signing up just yet.

That might mean waiting until your next big purchase (e.g., waiting until you need a new computer, a new couch, etc.) or waiting until a big holiday like Christmas or a loved one’s birthday, so you can earn more points than your normal spending.

If even that isn’t going to do the trick, you’ll need to get creative.

For example, when you go out for dinner, pay for the bill on your credit card and have everyone pay you back. That way, the cost will go toward your minimum spending requirement. Additionally, if any friends or family are planning big purchases, ask them if you can put them on your card so you can get the points. That’s another easy way to meet the minimum spend without having to shop til you drop.

Step 4: Maximize your category spending

Most travel credit cards offer category bonuses. That means that instead of getting just 1 point per every dollar spent, you might get 2 or 3 or even 10 when you shop in particular categories. Restaurants, supermarkets, and gas are three of the most common ones, but there are lots more too.

To maximize your points, always use the right card for each purchase.

If you just have one card to start, just put everything on that card to maximize your points. Once you start branching out and have a few cards, just keep track of the main category bonuses so you don’t miss out by using the wrong card. Earning double, triple, or even 10x the points can drastically speed up your earnings, so don’t skip out on the category bonuses!

Step 5: Redeem your points and miles

It’s time to cash those points in and make your travel dreams a reality! Depending on your spending and financial situation, maybe you’ve been able to save up enough in just a few months. Maybe it’s taken you a couple years. Either way, it’s time to reap the rewards! (If you want to learn more on how to do that, get this guide I wrote .)

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Now that we’ve laid out the steps, I wanted to answer some common questions I get about collecting points and miles.

Can non-Americans collect points and miles? Yep! While the US definitely has the best travel cards, many other countries have similar cards too, including Canada, the UK, Australia, and most of Europe.

Start by checking with your local airline to see if it has a branded credit card. You can also check in with your bank and ask what cards are available. Every country is different, so you’ll need to ask around to get the ball rolling.

Here are some posts to help you get started:

• How to Collect Points & Miles in Canada
• How to Collect Points & Miles in Australia & New Zealand
• How to Collect Points & Miles in the UK

Do I need to pay off my bill every month if I want to do this? Yes. Credit cards charge huge interest fees, which will eat up whatever small benefit you get from the points.

Can you collect miles even if you have bad credit? Yep! You’ll likely need to start slow, with a card that doesn’t have amazing perks. However, over time, you can build your credit up as long as you’re paying off your bill every month. If you have bad credit, start with a prepaid or secured credit card to build back your credit.

Does opening a new card hurt my credit rating? Opening or closing a lot of credit cards at once can hurt your credit. However, applying for a few credit cards over a period of time won’t ruin your score. Sure, it will slightly dip every time there is an inquiry, whether for a credit card or home loan or car loan — that’s how the system is set up. But so long as you space out your applications and pay off your bills each month, you won’t find any long-term damage to your credit. I have dozens of cards and apply for and cancel them regularly, and my credit score is excellent.

Collecting points and miles can be intimidating, but it’s really just the art of being smart with your spending on the right one or two credit cards. You don’t really need to do more than that. While you can also dive much deeper in the game (some people really go down the rabbit hole on this!), it’s not all that necessary.

Don’t leave money on the table. Get a card, earn the welcome offer, maximize your points — and then do it all over again! Eventually — with no unnecessary spending — you’ll reach your goal and get to enjoy some awesome travel perks!

Book Your Trip: Logistical Tips and Tricks

Book Your Flight Find a cheap flight by using Skyscanner . It’s my favorite search engine because it searches websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is being left unturned.

Book Your Accommodation You can book your hostel with Hostelworld . If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, use Booking.com as it consistently returns the cheapest rates for guesthouses and hotels.

Don’t Forget Travel Insurance Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:

• SafetyWing (best for everyone)
• Insure My Trip (for those 70 and over)
• Medjet (for additional evacuation coverage)

Want to Travel for Free? Travel credit cards allow you to earn points that can be redeemed for free flights and accommodation — all without any extra spending. Check out my guide to picking the right card and my current favorites to get started and see the latest best deals.

Need Help Finding Activities for Your Trip? Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace where you can find cool walking tours, fun excursions, skip-the-line tickets, private guides, and more.

Ready to Book Your Trip? Check out my resource page for the best companies to use when you travel. I list all the ones I use when I travel. They are the best in class and you can’t go wrong using them on your trip.

Got a comment on this article? Join the conversation on Facebook , Instagram , or Twitter and share your thoughts!

Disclosure: Please note that some of the links above may be affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, I earn a commission if you make a purchase. I recommend only products and companies I use and the income goes to keeping the site community supported and ad free.

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Alex Miller

Founder & CEO

Founder and CEO of Upgraded Points, Alex is a leader in the industry and has earned and redeemed millions of points and miles. He frequently discusses the award travel industry with CNBC, Fox Business, The New York Times, and more.

Erin Miller

Content Contributor

An experienced points hacker, Erin is Alex’s partner-in-crime and contributes to Upgraded Points with in-depth guides and relationship management. Erin’s work has been cited in multiple major publications.

Leigh Rowan

Director of Special Projects

Leigh brings a wealth of travel expertise and connections to the growing UP Team. Leigh has visited over 60 countries, often traveling with his family in premium classes for little more than the cost of an economy ticket.

Director of Operations & Compliance

Kellie’s professional experience has led her to a deep passion for compliance, data reporting, and process improvement. Kellie’s learned the ins and outs of the points and miles world and leads UP’s compliance operation.

Keri Stooksbury

Editor-in-Chief

With years of experience in corporate marketing and with a nonprofit, Keri is now editor-in-chief at UP, overseeing daily content operations and reviewing thousands of UP articles in the process.

Editor & Content Contributor

Nick’s passion for points began as a hobby and became a career. He worked for over 5 years at The Points Guy and has contributed to Business Insider and CNN. He has 14 credit cards and continues to leverage the perks of each.

Senior Editor & Content Contributor

Juan has extensive experience in writing and editing content related to credit cards, loyalty programs, and travel. He has been honing his expertise in this field for over a decade. His work has been featured in various prestigious publications, such as USA Today, CNN Underscored, Forbes and The Points Guy. Juan is the visionary behind JetBetter, a premier award booking concierge service.

Stella Shon

News Managing Editor

With a degree in media and journalism, Stella has been in the points and miles game for more than 6 years. She most recently worked as a Corporate Communications Analyst for JetBlue. Find her work in The New York Times, USA Today, and more.

Jessica Merritt

A long-time points and miles student, Jessica is the former Personal Finance Managing Editor at U.S. News and World Report and is passionate about helping consumers fund their travels for as little cash as possible.

Chris is a freelance writer and editor with a focus on timely travel trends, points and miles, hot new hotels, and all things that go (he’s a proud aviation geek and transit nerd). Formerly full-time at The Points Guy, his work can now be found at AFAR, Travel + Leisure, Condé Nast Traveler, The Washington Post, and Lonely Planet, among others

Chris Hassan

Social Media & Brand Manager

Chris holds a B.S. in Hospitality and Tourism Management and managed social media for all Marriott properties in South America, making him a perfect fit for UP and its social media channels. He has a passion for making content catered toward family travelers.

Jarrod West

Senior Content Contributor

Boasting a portfolio of over 20 cards, Jarrod has been an expert in the points and miles space for over 6 years. He earns and redeems over 1 million points per year and his work has been featured in outlets like The New York Times.

Christine Krzyszton

Senior Finance Contributor

Christine ran her own business developing and managing insurance and financial services. This stoked a passion for points and miles and she now has over 2 dozen credit cards and creates in-depth, detailed content for UP.

Katie Seemann

Senior Content Contributor and News Editor

Katie has been in the points and miles game since 2015 and started her own blog in 2016. She’s been freelance writing since then and her work has been featured in publications like Travel + Leisure, Forbes Advisor, and Fortune Recommends.

Stephen is an established voice in the credit card space, with over 70 to his name. His work has been in publications like The Washington Post, and his Au Points and Awards Consulting Services is used by hundreds of clients.

Amar Hussain

Amar is an avid traveler and tester of products. He has spent the last 13 years traveling all 7 continents and has put the products to the test on each of them. He has contributed to publications including Forbes, the Huffington Post, and more.

James Larounis

James (Jamie) started The Forward Cabin blog to educate readers about points, miles, and loyalty programs. He’s spoken at Princeton University and The New York Times Travel Show and has been quoted in dozens of travel publications.

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Carissa served in the U.S. Air Force where she developed her love for travel and new cultures. She started her own blog and eventually joined The Points Guy. Since then, she’s contributed to Business Insider, Forbes, and more.

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Daniel has loved aviation and travel his entire life. He earned a Master of Science in Air Transport Management and has written about travel and aviation in publications like Simple Flying, The Points Guy, and more.

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After having “non-rev” privileges with Southwest Airlines, Christy dove into the world of points and miles so she could continue traveling for free. Her other passion is personal finance, and is a certified CPA.

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Ashley discovered a love for travel in college that’s continued as her family has grown. She loves showing parents how they can take their families on trips using points and has contributed to numerous publications and podcasts.

Lori is an intrepid traveler who loves creating itineraries that exude “luxe on a budget.” She’s written for CNN, NBC, The Infatuation, and more, and loves to muse about points-fueled trips to Sri Lanka, Sicily, and Myanmar.

Ryan completed his goal of visiting every country in the world in December of 2023 and now plans to let his wife choose their destinations. Over the years, he’s written about award travel for publications including AwardWallet, The Points Guy, USA Today Blueprint, CNBC Select, Tripadvisor, and Forbes Advisor.

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Michael Y. Park is a journalist living in New York City. He’s traveled through Afghanistan disguised as a Hazara Shi’ite, slept with polar bears on the Canadian tundra, picnicked with the king and queen of Malaysia, tramped around organic farms in Cuba, ridden the world’s longest train through the Sahara, and choked down gasoline clams in North Korea.

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6 great miles-and-points blogs to learn the art of travel hacking

Traveling on a budget and enjoying first-class airline seating and luxury hotel amenities don't need to be separate endeavors if you know how to use miles and points. And if you don't, the following blogs can help you maximize rewards to the fullest, even if you're not a travel hacker.

1.  View from the Wing .  Points guru — and occasional Road Warrior Voices contributor — Gary Leff knows as much about miles and points as anyone, and he's a master of going in depth without being dense. Along with advice on award travel, Leff lists the latest travel deals and credit card offers. He also has a Trip Reports section with reviews of lounges, airlines, hotels, restaurants and more.

2. The Points Guy .  Brian Kelly is another master of miles and points. In addition to in-depth coverage of miles and credit cards, TPG has the option to search specific destinations for more niche deals and advice. Those new to travel hacking should start with the  Beginner's Guide , while all readers can appreciate the various TPG Tools, such as a Wallet Maximizer, TPG Chrome Extension and a TPG To Go app , which allows travelers to input credit cards and reward programs to get custom advice on how to maximize points, see travel deals and track spending.

3. The Faraway Guide .  Kyle Zuvella and Andrea Cortina offer a dose of love with their travel tips. For this couple, a first date ultimately turned into a 31-country round-the-world-trip funded mainly by frequent-flier points. Kyle personally has used more than 2.5 million points to visit almost 50 countries, all while his credit score has risen to over 800 — that's despite having more than 30 cards (make sure you know how to protect your credit score if you think about following a similar route). On their blog, the couple inspires readers to get out and explore the world, sharing their tips for how to travel on a budget without making too many sacrifices.

4.  Extra Pack of Peanuts .  Along with offering a slew of travel hacks, Travis Sherry teaches readers how to find and book flights with miles. Sections are separated into "beginner" and "advanced" strategies. Newbies will appreciate his 7-part  Free Flight Primer   series, which offers step-by-step advice on the process of booking an award ticket. Sherry also hosts one of our favorite podcasts , covering topics like career breaks, mindset hacks for longterm travel and the costs of popular destinations.

5. Miles Momma . With a focus on family travel, Miles Momma goes beyond miles and points to also talk about banking, investments, and travel bonuses. One handy feature of the site is a menu separating credit cards by type — best card bonuses; airline cards; hotel cards; cash-back cards; business cards and cardmatch (offers matched to you). Moreover, the site has plenty of award-booking tools , as well as tips on how to gain bonus points through activities like dining out or doing online reviews.

6. One Mile at a Time .  Ben Schlappig is obsessed with aviation and travel, as well as using miles and points to enjoy the best of both on a budget (he flies about 400,000 miles a year, almost always in business and first class). Along with essential advice, the site offers an Ask Lucky forum  where road warriors can post questions and get answers from Schlappig and other travelers.

What's your favorite miles and points blog?

Jessica Festa is the founder on the solo and offbeat travel blog, Jessie on a Journey , and the online responsible tourism and culture magazine, Epicure & Culture . She's constantly searching for local experiences beyond the guidebook. You can follow her travels on Facebook , Twitter and Instagram .

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Sometimes you just don't have enough time to dig into the points game, search for good award redemptions, or stay up to date on the latest airline news. Enter travel bloggers -- these dedicated folks post daily to help make sorting this stuff out easier for you and me. We recommend setting up a feedly account to read all of these blogs in one place.

A note about the blogs: the credit card offers listed on a given site may not be the best ones available at the time. Also, these bloggers generally make their money from advertising and referral fees, so if you wish to support a particular blogger and plan on signing up for a new credit card, using a link from their blog to the application will make sure they're paid nicely for their hard work.

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Home » Blog » Top 10 Frequent Flyer Blogs and Air Travel Sites to Follow

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Top 10 Frequent Flyer Blogs and Air Travel Sites to Follow

Whether you’re a frequent flyer who’s obsessed with collecting air miles or you’re a newbie who’s just starting to discover the art of travel hacking, frequent flyer blogs are really useful if you’re looking for ways to increase your frequent flyer points and find killer flight deals. There are lots of bloggers out there on there who can show you how to fly business class (or even first class) for less than the price of an economy class ticket. Here’s our list of the best frequent flyer blogs and air miles sites to add to your bookmarks:

The Points Guy

Easily the most famous points blogger out there, Brian Kelly of The Points Guy  was once a recruiter for Morgan Stanley but eventually quit his job to become one of the world’s top influencers in travel. After buying his domain name for just $10, Kelly built up a loyal following of 4 million readers and now runs a travel-themed office in New York’s Flatiron District. His Instagram feed is enough to make us all green with envy. Naturally Kelly pays for most of his travel with points and shows readers how to score first and business class seats for free.

Head for Points

While The Points Guy dominates the US market, Head for Points is aimed at UK travellers, covering Avios, British Airways Executive Club, Virgin Flying Club and other major airline, train and hotel loyalty schemes. Rob – known as “Raffles” in frequent flyer forums – has redeemed over 10 million air miles and hotel points in the last decade. He currently has over 1.5   million Avios points, 1.5 million Virgin miles and 7   million airline, hotel and credit card points in total, so he’s definitely qualified to talk about travel hacking.

The Design Air

More of a news site than a travel hacking site, The Design Air is a design-led website focusing on airline product news and updates. The owner Jonny Clark juggles his time as a commercial pilot in Europe with running thedesignair.net, as well as collaborating with magazines around the world. This sleek site is really useful if you’re looking for flight reviews and information about new innovations regarding first and business class products.

One Mile at a Time

Ben Schlappig, also known as “Lucky”, writes One Mile at a Time – a flights and points blog covering aviation, travel, and more specifically, using airline miles and credit card points to elevate the travel experience. He loves airports and flies more than 400,000 miles a year, which is more than 16 times around the globe. His blog offers reviews of the best airlines, hotels, and airport lounges and also provides detailed guides on how to collect and redeem air miles.

Million Mile Secrets

Daraius and Emily (friends who were once married) started their blog Million Mile Secrets in 2011 to share previously-hidden travel tricks that airlines, hotels, and rental car companies don’t want you to know. They’ve visited over 30 countries in 6 out of 7 continents, and have flown International First Class to Europe, Asia, and the US, many times for virtually no money. Their blog is aimed at US travellers, offering step-by-step guides and deals that will allow you to earn miles quickly.

Frugal Travel Guy

Frugal Travel Guy  was founded in 2007 to educate readers about the value of frequent flyer miles and points and is now run by a team of people who travel extensively in first and business class for minimal out-of-pocket cost. The site features travel tips, travel deals and rookie guides to airline alliances, hotel programs and reward schemes.

Johnny Jet started his newsletter just for fun to help his friends earn miles but the list just kept on growing so he decided to started a website. Fast forward to 2017 and his site is the first stop for thousands of travellers who are looking to travel economically, comfortably, efficiently, and with plenty of style. Johnny Writes about his personal travels, as well as sharing hot travel deals, travel tips and information about the best credit cards for earning miles.

Extra Pack of Peanuts

Extra Pack of Peanuts is a site that shows you how to travel like a millionaire even if you don’t have the bank account to back it up. Travis and Heather are travel hackers who have gone all over the world by scoring $5 plane tickets, cheap apartment rentals, and even free stays in some amazing homes. They show you how travel is not a pipe dream, but something that is actually really attainable.

The Cranky Flier

Brett Snyder aka  The Cranky Flier , has been an aviation enthusiast ever since he was young and after several jobs in the airline industry, he now runs his blog full time alongside his Cranky Concierge Travel Assistant service.  Despite the title, he doesn’t whine about bad experiences when flying or how airlines are evil. Instead, his blog offers opinion pieces on airline news, providing an understanding of why airlines do the things they do.

View from The Wing

Frequent travel expert Gary Leff is Chief Financial Officer for a university research centre but also loves to blog about his points and miles obsession. Dubbed an “Air Genius” and “an airline industry brainiac”, Gary has made numerous appearances on television and radio, and his blog View from the Wing has been recommended by major sites such as The New York Times and Wall Street Journal.

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15 Best Frequent Flyer Blogs and Websites

• The Points Guy
• Point Hacks
• BoardingArea | Required Reading for Frequent Flyers
• The High Life | The Best Travel and Frequent Flyer Tips, Insights and Deals
• Australian Frequent Flyer
• MightyTravels
• InsideFlyer
• Frequent Flyer Bonuses Blog
• Expert Flyer Blog
• Kara and Nate | The Frequent Flyer Blog
• The Fit Frequent Flyer

Frequent Flyer Bloggers

• Frequent Flyer Newsletter

Frequent Flyer Blogs

Here are 15 Best Frequent Flyer Blogs you should follow in 2024

1. FlyerTalk

2. The Points Guy

3. Johnny Jet

4. Point Hacks

5. BoardingArea | Required Reading for Frequent Flyers

6. The High Life | The Best Travel and Frequent Flyer Tips, Insights and Deals

7. Australian Frequent Flyer

8. MightyTravels

9. InsideFlyer

10. Frequent Flyer Bonuses Blog

11. Expert Flyer Blog

12. Kara and Nate | The Frequent Flyer Blog

13. The Fit Frequent Flyer

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Key travel tips you need to know — whether you’re a first-time or frequent traveler

The holiday travel season is fully upon us. The Transportation Security Administration expects to screen a record number of passengers this Christmas, and the TSA already broke a daily record. They screened a whopping 2.9 million travelers on Nov. 26, 2023, alone ... the most passengers ever screened in a single day.

As millions of travelers take trips by plane , cruise ship or road , we've gathered some essential travel tips on how best to book and enjoy your journeys.

Whether you're an occasional road-tripper or a frequent globe-trotter, these TPG-backed top travel tips can help you avoid unnecessary headaches when you spend time away from home.

How to find travel deals

Flexibility is key when it comes to finding cheap airfare any time of year.

Changing your arrival or departure date by a single day can save you hundreds of dollars on airfare. If you don't mind altering your family's plans slightly, consider booking travel directly on major holidays like the Fourth of July, Thanksgiving and Christmas for cheaper prices and thinner airport crowds.

One of our favorite tools at TPG for finding deals is Google Flights . You can use the search field to find the cheapest (or best) flights. Google will also give you a historical view of how prices have ranged and will even send you email alerts if fares jump or drop on specific routes you've selected.

It also has some fun tools you can use to find a cheap destination. By clicking the "Explore" button on the sidebar and putting your departure airport, Google will give you a map or list view of the most wallet-friendly destinations.

However, Google isn't the only place to find deals: TPG publishes regular deal alerts. You can sign up for Twitter alerts and subscribe to our daily newsletter for the latest deals news.

Don't sleep on mileage awards, either. If you've been hoarding miles during the pandemic, it's time to spend them. Cash prices are high, so it can be a good time to burn those miles.

No matter how much you think you know about redeeming miles for flights , there are always new tips and tricks for turning those earnings into dream trips. Turn to TPG for guidance on sweet spots for redemptions. Sites like ExpertFlyer (part of Red Ventures, like TPG) supply additional redemption ideas or even business class upgrade inventory.

You may even want to consult a travel agent to get access to special deals that aren't available anywhere else. Travel agents can sometimes get you extra perks at hotels or even cheaper business-class airfare to your dream destination.

Be your own best advocate

Since there are still air traffic controller shortages and little room for error in the system these days, travelers have to be their own best advocates.

There are ways to get ahead of any possible travel nightmares.

First, be smart when booking. Try to find a nonstop flight rather than one with connections, even if it costs a little more. You'll eliminate the risk of missing connections and lessen the chance of having your luggage go in a different direction than you during a transfer.

You could also take one of the first flights of the day, as those are least likely to face afternoon thunderstorms and most likely to depart on time. Read our article 5 reasons to book the first flight of the day for all the data.

Related: Your flight is canceled or delayed – here's what you should do next

Download your airline's mobile app to keep track of potential flight delays in real time. The airline app is a secret weapon in case things go wrong. Not only will you know when boarding starts, but you'll also learn of any delays first. Some airlines allow you to even rebook yourself in the app.

If your flight is canceled, you'll want to beat everyone else on your flight who is also looking to get rebooked.

We recommend heading for the customer service desk (or lounge desk if you have access). You could also get on the phone with the airline or contact them via social media if there's a delay . Sometimes, an airline's Twitter representative will help you faster than a phone or in-person agent can. You have to use every tool at your disposal when things go south.

Many airlines also now have live chat capabilities to help navigate delays and cancellations.

I always have an alternate plan (or two) in the back of my mind in case a flight gets canceled or delayed. I also look to see what other airlines are flying the route I'm booked in case something goes awry. This way, I'll know what to ask for if I need to be rebooked.

Also, save all the receipts for the expenses you incur during delays or cancellations. You'll want excellent documentation in the case of meltdowns like the one Southwest passengers experienced during the holidays .

If you're stuck at an airport for an extended period, seek out your airport's secret quiet spaces for a brief escape from the travel chaos.

Get Global Entry and/or TSA PreCheck

One of our favorite ways to speed through the airport and avoid those summertime mega lines is via Trusted Traveler programs like TSA PreCheck and Global Entry .

Essentially, the government pre-screens you for security and thus you save a bit of time during your travels. You'll need to apply ahead of time and pay a fee. The great news, however, is that many credit cards will give you a statement credit for these fees. TSA PreCheck is a $78 application fee for five years, and Global Entry is $100.

Related: 7 ways to get Global Entry, TSA PreCheck and/or Clear for free

TSA PreCheck allows you to speed through airport security without removing your shoes, laptops or liquids. With Global Entry , you can breeze through customs when you return from an international trip.

If you have the time, going for Global Entry rather than simply TSA PreCheck makes sense. Global Entry requires an interview with Customs and Border Patrol ahead of time, but once you're approved, TSA PreCheck will be included.

Get Clear for the ultimate security trifecta

The other security tool we recommend you have in your travel toolbelt is Clear .

Related: Why you should get TSA PreCheck and Clear

The expedited security program allows you to bypass long security lines by using a separate lane at many airports. You'll approach a kiosk where your identity is confirmed via an iris scan or fingerprint. A Clear employee will then escort you to the front of the security screening line.

A Clear membership combined with TSA PreCheck will enable you to go to even shorter lines at some airports with designated Clear/PreCheck lines. Clear isn't perfect at all airports where it's so popular, and there are now long lines (cough, Atlanta). However, it will still generally lead to shorter lines overall.

Related: Guide to using the Amex Platinum Clear benefit

Make copies of your important documents

Make digital and hard copies of all your important travel-related documents. Start by photographing your driver's license, your state ID and/or your passport.

You should have copies of your IDs in your phone's library in case you get separated from the actual document. Sometimes, it also helps in a pinch if you are asked for ID, and you didn't bring the hard copy. For example, I was recently asked for my ID to enter One Vanderbilt to have dinner at the new American Express Centurion Lounge in New York. The receptionist would have accepted a photograph of the ID if I didn't have the physical document.

TPG also recommends having an actual photocopy in a separate place. Editor Kristy Tolley says she stores a hard copy in a separate place from where she keeps her passport in case she loses a bag. "I also leave a copy of it at home if I'm traveling alone," she said.

Check expiration dates

If you aren't 100% certain of the expiration date of your passport and other travel documents, go check them now. Renewing passports takes time, and some countries require six months of future passport validity to allow entry. Remember that child passports expire every five years, which can sneak up on you.

Related: How and when to renew your passport

Double-checking the expiration dates for your driver's licenses and state IDs is also a good idea. Remember that TSA checks the expiration dates on your documents when they screen you for security. Don't forget to check the expiration dates for your Trusted Traveler programs like Global Entry, Clear and TSA PreCheck, too. It can take a while to get a Global Entry interview appointment if you need one to renew.

Few things are worse than getting to the front of the security line and realizing the PreCheck mark is gone from your boarding pass.

Finally, check the entry requirements if you are traveling internationally. Some countries require visas that you must acquire before arrival.

Consider travel protection

When booking your travel, try to use a credit card that offers some built-in travel protection . Many credit cards, including TPG favorites like the Chase Sapphire Reserve or The Platinum Card® from American Express , offer this when you use those cards to purchase your airfare and similar.

Related: Best credit cards for trip delays and cancellations

If the coverage offered by your credit card isn't enough, you might also want to purchase travel insurance . These policies can sometimes go beyond trip cancellations to cover things like medical evacuations. Warning: Read the fine print on any extra policies very carefully to ensure it covers the situations that matter the most to you.

Those who frequently travel abroad may want to consider purchasing an annual travel insurance policy instead of buying one on a trip-by-trip basis. Some TPG staffers purchase annual policies because of the cost savings for multiple trips. Some will find having an annual policy is easier than juggling separate policies or various credit card coverage terms and conditions.

Tips for your luggage

TPG has a ton of tips when it comes to luggage.

First and foremost, try to be on "team carry-on" whenever possible. If you don't check baggage, you are much less likely to become separated from it. Many of us at TPG refuse to check luggage except under extreme circumstances.

Of course, other folks with families or those embarking on long journeys may still want to check bags. If that's the case for you, you can still do many things to lessen the chance you get separated from your stuff. For example, make sure your luggage is in good working order, your contact info is attached, the bag is within the weight limits, you get to the airport early (but not too early) to check it and confirm your luggage is tagged to the right destination or connection.

Related: 7 tips to keep the airline from losing your luggage

After last year's baggage delays and luggage disasters , we strongly suggest you put Apple AirTags (or the Android equivalent ) into your luggage so you can track your items if they go missing .

If you check a bag, keep extra medicine or medical supplies in your carry-on bag in case your luggage goes missing or gets delayed. "As a diabetic, I keep a tiny emergency kit in my backpack with enough supplies to keep me going in an emergency," TPG writer Tanner Saunders said.

Former TPG credit card writer Ryan Smith also offered words of advice regarding luggage. "The last items you pack in your carry-on will be most accessible, so use this for your passport, ID, ticket, headphones or whatever else you need during the trip," he said. By making sure those items you'll use most are easiest to reach, you'll save yourself the hassle of having to dig around (or partially unpack) your bag to grab what you need.

Finally, be sure and get compensated if your bags are late or lost. Many airlines will give you points or even cash for delayed bags, and the government has rules on compensation if your bags are lost.

Staying safe on your journeys

From potentially getting robbed while on the road to experiencing bad weather or natural disasters while traveling, there are many scenarios that could arise when you're away from home.

To mitigate those risks, pay attention to U.S. Department of State warnings about a destination you plan to visit and check local sources for the latest news from that country or region for additional context. Although the State Department tends to err on the side of caution with its warnings, it's still best to be aware of what you may face during your trip.

Also, know the local number in case of emergencies. In many places, including Mexico and much of Europe, if you dial 9-1-1 on your cellphone, you will be connected to emergency services just like in the U.S. However, you should know the local emergency numbers of whichever country you visit.

Let people at home know your itinerary and stay in touch with them throughout your trip. If something goes amiss, at least someone will know where you're supposed to be or the last place you visited.

If you're arriving at night, contact your hotel or home-share host to ask about the best way to get there at the time you're arriving and the safest ways to travel at night in that area.

Also, be strategic about how you check into a hotel. Some solo travelers request two keycards to imply someone else is on the trip. Giving thought to the hotel room's security swing bar can also make sense, with some taking steps like placing a hand towel over it to make it harder to dislodge from the outside.

Some final tips

• For cruisers, TPG principal cruise writer Gene Sloan suggests arriving in port at least a day in advance (if not several days ahead of time). This will eliminate the risk of missing your ship's departure time and help you get acclimated to the local time zone.
• When taking road trips to out-of-the-way destinations, go old school and bring paper maps with you or download offline maps from Google. Using a paper map or an offline version means you always have a way to navigate around your chosen destination, even if you lose cellular service.
• One other note, you should reserve airport parking ahead of time during peak travel times. Some airport parking areas fill up fast around holidays, so reserving your spot ahead of time will save you from wasting time looking for a space when you need to catch a flight. You can also sometimes save by booking online in advance, too.

Bottom line

Whether you're fresh to the world of traveling or a seasoned expert, you can always learn new tips to maximize your time away from home. The more research and preparation you do before your trip, the better your experience will be — especially if things go wrong, as they sometimes do.

Some of our favorite tools are deal alerts, Google Flights , sign-up bonuses and credit card rewards . Learn those tools and use them for better travel every time.

Remember that these days when things go wrong, you have to be your own best advocate. For more travel tips and tricks, read the stories below.

Related reading:

• Your flight is delayed or canceled: Here's what to do next
• The best travel credit cards
• The 18 best places to travel in 2023
• 6 real-life strategies you can use when your flight is canceled or delayed
• 8 of the best credit cards for general travel purchases
• Here's how to get through airport security faster

Best Airline Travel Blogs

by Flying Angels Editorial Team | Jun 23, 2021 | News & Resources

From frequent flyers to travel newbies, everyone can use a site that shares ways to increase air travel points and find great airline deals. The best airline travel blogs to add to your bookmarks include The Points Guy, One Mile at a Time, Johnny Jet, Loyalty Lobby, Airline Reporter and Airline Geeks.

For those looking for medical travel resources and tips, Flying Angels provides an in-depth library of articles, videos and podcasts that offers an insider’s perspective you will not get anywhere else.

Medical Travel Resources

Six Of The Best Airline Travel Blogs

Over the years, the best airline travel blogs have proven again and again that they stay on top of the latest flight deals, airline perks and methods to get the most out of frequent flyer points. They are required reading if you want to stay on top of hidden ways to make the most of your travel dollars.

Travel Hacks You'll Love

The Points Guy

Brian Kelly, who writes The Points Guy, ranks as the premiere travel writer when it comes to getting the most from frequent flyer and credit card points. The site offers news on travel deals, advice on the best credit cards for travel, and destination guides and reviews. If you have time for only one of the best airline travel blogs, this one is it.

One Mile at a Time

Blog author Ben Schlappig logs more than 400,000 miles per year in air travel. He simply loves flying. Also, like The Points Guy, he keeps his eye out for ways to get the most bang out of your airline miles and credit card points. He posts reviews of places he visits and the latest airline news.

5 Ways to Improve Senior Air Travel

John DiScala, also known as Johnny Jet, started by helping friends find travel deals. Then, as more and more people wanted the information, he launched his own site. Since then, it’s grown into one of the best airline travel blogs. “Johnny Jet” travels to about 20 countries per year. He shares travel stories and offers advice on how to travel in style while on a budget.

Loyalty Lobby

A great site to find the best loyalty programs offered by airlines and hotels. The site’s main writers are a trio of travelers who log hundreds of thousands of flight miles each year. They offer travel tips with a focus on the latest deals offered through hotel and airline loyalty programs. You can also learn which ones offer the best service at your destination.

Medical Transportation Options Explained

Airline Reporter

Airline Reporter offers complete coverage of the airline industry and travel. The site features 35 writers in 25 cities on four continents. The site includes daily updates on airline news, travel deals and all things related to aviation. It’s a must-read for those who want to keep up with what is happening in the airline industry.

Airline Geeks

Like Airline Reporter, Airline Geeks offer news from around the world on airlines, including travel deals. You’ll also find first-hand accounts of travel, advice on all things travel-related, and exclusive news stories. Readers have ranked these six sites among the best airline travel blogs for years for good reason. Each provides vital information you can use to make your next trip as good as possible while staying within your budget – and grabbing a few perks along the way!

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Founded by Nomadic Matt, this blog is one of the best travel blogs for budget travelers. You’ll find articles on how to save money during your trip, expert reviews of accommodations and attractions, and detailed destination guides to help you plan your journey.

Matt is a top travel blogger who shares his best tips to travel smarter, cheaper, and longer. His blog also gives travel resources like travel insurance, tour companies, travel credit cards, gear, transportation, etc.

Nomadic Matt is your travel blog if you want to travel to Paris, New York, Iceland, Thailand, and more destinations.

2. Expert Vagabond - Top Travel Blogger

How can we continue this list without mentioning another top travel blog: Expert Vagabond?

Run by Matthew Karsten, Expert Vagabond is one of the most popular travel blogs for adventure seekers. Matt’s adventurous spirit and off-the-beaten-path explorations make this blog an essential read before your next trip.

His detailed destination guides include information on must-see attractions, hikes, transportation tips, tips on staying safe, and more. You can also find plenty of interesting stories from his journeys around the world.

Want to know what to put in your backpack? Matt got you covered. Scared of going to a specific country known for its lifestyle and exotic animals? Don’t worry, ask Matt. Get ready to be inspired!

If you also want to share your journey with fans around the world, consider starting a travel blog . Share your stories and help others prepare for their best trip.

3. Dan Flying Solo

Dan Flying Solo is a solo travel blog written by Dan, a British traveler who has been on the road since 2014, taking a chance to change his career from restaurants to capturing the world.

His blog focuses on budget-friendly and sustainable ways of traveling the world.

Dan shares his best tips to make your trip easier, cheaper, and more enjoyable.

He also writes about his interesting experiences in various countries. Want to learn how to stay safe while traveling solo, find cheap flights and accommodations, and much more? You know where to go.

Dan Flying Solo is an absolute must-read for anyone planning a long-term trip or simply curious about the world.

4. Uncornered Market

Uncornered Market is a top travel blog written by Daniel and Audrey, two experienced travelers who have been traveling the world since 2006.

This couple has explored more than 80 countries together. They write about their inspiring adventures, share useful tips on budget travel, tell intriguing stories, and provide helpful advice for long-term travelers.

If you’re looking to plan an unforgettable trip, Uncornered Market should definitely be on your list of the best travel blogs in 2023.

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5. Y Travel Blog -Travel Blog for Families

Another top travel blog is Y Travel Blog. This blog is a great source of information for travelers looking to get off the beaten path and explore unique destinations with their families.

In fact, that’s exactly what Caroline and Craig teach on their blog. Their blog has a whole section dedicated to family trips.

They share inspiring stories, helpful tips on planning your trip, and affordable travel ideas for singles, friends, and families. And this is not all – they also provide resources such as budget-friendly accommodations and activities, transportation, freebies, and more.

If you’re looking for a family-friendly blog to read before heading out on your next adventure with your partner and kids, Y Travel Blog should definitely be worth your time.

6. Nomad Revelations

Looking for another great travel blog? Sure, let’s talk about Nomad Revelations.

On Nomad Revelations, you find a passion for adventure and cultural experiences. The author offers plenty of resources for fellow travelers, including ways to experience culture with locals and much more.

You will learn how to prepare for budget-friendly destinations and ways to travel without breaking the bank. Do you want to learn how to travel by boat or van? Nomad Revelations has all the tips for you.

Read more: How to start a blog and make money?

7. The Blonde Abroad - One of the Best Travel Blogs for Women

Now, you may be a woman and prefer to learn from another woman who understands your feelings better. If so, you will like The Blonde Abroad.

The Blonde Abroad is one of the best travel blogs for women. It’s an inspiring blog written by Kiki, a solo female traveler on a mission to explore more than 50 countries around the world.

Kiki’s mission on her blog is to provide women with inspiration and information about traveling safely and comfortably. She has certainly visited your dream locations and is the right person to guide you.

Men and women have different ways of preparing for important trips. If you’re a woman, The Blond Abroad should be your go-to source for travel inspiration and tips.

8. Travel Tom Tom

Travel Tom Tom is another great travel blog written by an avid adventurer who has been traveling the world for more than 10 years.

The blog is full of helpful advice on how to work while traveling, budget management, ticket purchases, and detailed guides to popular destinations around the world. You will also find reviews, food recommendations, and interesting stories about various cultures.

If you are afraid to visit some destinations because of the culture, food, and people, you must check Travel Tom Tom, especially his Instagram . The pictures he shares will impress you and will push you to go to the same places.

9. One Mile at a Time

One Mile at a Time is one of the best travel blogs focusing on traveling with miles and points. It’s a great source for learning about how to earn, use, and maximize credit cards and loyalty programs such as airline rewards, hotel loyalty programs, and more.

You will never go wrong with One Mile at a Time if you want a blog that works like a news website.   It shares the latest news in aviation to make sure you don’t miss great travel opportunities.

Moreover, Ben, the author, gives in-depth reviews of hotels and airlines. He also offers tips on how to get the most bang for your buck when it comes to booking travel. By the way, did you know that travel credit cards exist? I didn’t know that until I read this blog.

Check out One Mile at a Time if you want the best deals for your next trip.

10. The Planet D

If adventure travel is more your style, The Planet D might be the blog for you.

The Planet D is one of the most popular travel blogs written by two adventurers who share stories and tips on their journey worldwide. The blog has, in fact, been featured in news and magazines.

The authors of this blog have been to over 100 countries, so they know a thing or two about adventure travel.

They provide resources on exploring the world, with topics ranging from cultural explorations to extreme sports and activities.

The Planet D should have what you need whether you’re looking for a unique way to experience culture or just want inspiration and motivation. So check out their blog and social media accounts for the best advice on adventure travel.

11. Alex in Wanderland

Alex in Wanderland is a travel blog written by Alex, a full-time traveler on the road for years.

The blog covers everything from helpful traveling recommendations to unique reports about experiences and people she’s met along the way. She also shares her insights on how to save money while traveling, finding the cheapest flights and accommodation, as well as other smart ways to make travel more comfortable.

Alongside The Blonde Abroad, Alex’s blog has everything for women who want to take a gap year to those who just need stimulation for their next trip.

Her stories are full of color and will make you realize that even if you don’t have much money, you can still have an adventure, YOUR adventure.

12. The Poor Traveler

I know the name sounds strange, but it doesn’t insult you. The author called it Poor to mean “unfortunate or unlucky” — as in poor soul, poor choices, you poor thing.

In fact, Yosh and Vins say their blog is not about the cheapest ways to travel. It is “about being smart when traveling, planning, and budgeting. And in most cases, the cheapest is not always the wisest”.

Both authors talk about their mistakes when they started out. They talk about how their first trip was a disaster and the hard lessons they learned. They ultimately want you to experience these feelings when traveling alone to unknown destinations.

The 800K Facebook followers they have gained over the past 10 years show how authoritative they are in the travel-alone industry. It’s undoubtedly one of the most popular travel blogs on the Internet.

If you don’t want your first adventure to be a disaster, spend some time on The Poor Traveler.

13. Adventurous Kate

Want another blog like The Blond Abroad and Alex in Wanderland? Then check out Adventurous Kate.

Also written by a solo female traveler, this blog gives you all the resources to travel alone and the precautions to take as a woman. Want to travel with friends instead? No problem.

The articles published on the Adventurous kate will definitely help you prepare for the best trip of your life. Want to visit beautiful countries like Cuba, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Colombia, Guyana, and Belarus? You may be skeptical if you are a woman, but thanks to Kate’s safety tips, you will have more fun than worries.

Combine it with the two female blogs mentioned above, and you are all set.

14. Goats on the Road

I had a hard time choosing a blog among my favorite travel blogs, but I think you deserve the best for making it to the end.

I cannot complete this list without talking about Goats on the Road.  Started in 2012 by Nick and Dariece, this blog is about turning travel into a lifestyle. What I like the most about Goats on the Road (other than their stunning photos) are the valuable resources to become a digital nomad or work remotely while traveling around the world.

Goats on the Road is a must-visit blog if you are a freelancer and want to become a full-time traveler. Both authors and their professional team will answer your questions to help you decide if this kind of lifestyle works for you.

Now, It’s Your Turn

Whether you are a solo female traveler or a family looking for an adventure, these travel blogs will provide you with all the guidance to make your trip unforgettable.

You will find tips on how to save money while traveling and destinations that will motivate you to step out of your comfort zone.

Adventure travel can be as rewarding as it is challenging. The most important thing to remember is that you don’t have to be rich or well-traveled to make your dreams come true. All you need is the right information and a little bit of courage!

Now, it’s your turn. Which blog will you read first? What’s your destination? I’d be happy to chat with you in the comment section below.

Piaff Dibota

Piaff brings a unique blend of creativity and expertise to the blogging world. Having worked as a content writer for multiple companies in different niches, he shares his blogging expertise through professional and engaging blog posts. 

53 Best Travel Blogs and Bloggers To Follow (in 2024)

Written by Ankit Singla

3K Followers

Last Updated on:

by Ankit Singla

If you’re searching for the best travel blogs today, look no further.

As always, I created this list to help aspiring travel bloggers learn a thing or two from these established sites.

However, people who are only looking for travel ideas and tips will also enjoy this post.

Without further ado, let’s take a look at the top travel blogs to follow in 2024.

Best Travel Blogs

• Nomadic Matt
• Backpacking Matt
• Adventurous Kate
• The Blonde Abroad
• California Through My Lens
• Dan Flying Solo
• Travel With Lakshmi
• Fluent in 3 Months
• Cheapest Destinations Blog
• Alex in Wanderland
• I Am Aileen
• Wandering Earl
• Be My Travel Muse
• Followtheboat
• Matthew Woodward
• The Opposite Travellers
• We Seek Travel
• Bucket List Journey
• Migrationology
• The Cranky Flier
• Never Ending Footsteps
• A Dangerous Business
• Against The Compass
• Everything Everywhere
• The Longest Way Home
• Global Grasshopper
• Girl Gone Travel
• Oneika The Traveller
• The Adventurists
• Time Travel Turtle
• Hand Luggage Only
• Travel4Wildlife
• The Insatiable Traveler
• View From The Wing
• Uncornered Market
• Jessie On a Journey
• Legal Nomads
• TravelFreak
• The Everywhereist
• Keep Calm and Travel
• Practical Wanderlust
• Expert Vagabond
• The Voyageur
• Amateur Traveler
• Girl Eat World
• The Adventure Junkies
• A Broken Backpack
• The World Travel Guy
• Life Part 2

1. Nomadic Matt

By:  Matthew Kepnes

I have to be honest with you — I love everything about  Nomadic Matt .  

Everything from his website’s design to his personal writing voice makes for an engaging reading experience. Not to mention that the name “Nomadic Matt” really sticks with me. 

Matthew Kepnes, AKA Nomadic Matt, was once a cubicle worker who admittedly wasn’t always a big traveler. On his first trip back in 2004, he went to Costa Rica where his perspective in life transformed forever. 

A single trip — that’s how easy it is to fall in love with travel. 

Today, Matthew continues living the life he was born for. He primarily blogs about travel tips, encompassing topics like how to save for a trip and things to do in Singapore. 

Blog Topics 

• Travel Insurance
• Travel planning
• Saving money on travel
• Travel gear
• Destinations

Monetization Strategies

• Display advertisements
• Superstar Blogging online course
• Affiliate marketing ( Check: Best Travel Affiliate Programs )

2. Backpacking Matt

By:  Matt Kyhnn

I think there’s something about the name “Matt” that raises a person’s affinity for traveling. 

Backpacking Matt , owned and run by Matt Kyhnn, is a travel blog that has similar vibes with Nomadic Matt. It has a simplistic design, a memorable content tone, and striking travel photos that bring the blog’s stories to life. 

Matt Kyhnn also leverages videos — providing his audience a more immersive way to enjoy his content. 

Fresh out of college, Matt simply decided that he won’t settle for a 9-5 job. Instead, he spent months working and traveling across Ireland, Scotland, and other regions in mainland Europe. 

He then booked a one-way ticket to New Zealand where he now resides. In addition to his blog, Matt also runs his own travel planning and booking website — Planit NZ. 

Blog Topics

• Affiliate marketing
• Planit NZ travel planning and booking services
• Brand collaborations

3. Adventurous Kate

By:  Kate McCulley

Kate McCulley, AKA  Adventurous Kate , is a travel blogger with lots of adventures to tell.

She’s been to 83 countries, seven continents, and plenty of experiences to help women appreciate the traveling life. 

Kate’s blog was built during her time in Southeast Asia along with her freelance portfolio, which helped fund her travels. Her target audience is women who want to travel, but required guidance on how to do it safely and easily. 

The “Solo Female Travel” category on her blog consists of posts about travel safety, travel planning, destination guides, and more. She also compiled a list of travel resources that help turn her audience’s travel ideas into action plans. 

• Travel safety for women
• Sponsored posts

4. The Blonde Abroad

By:  Kiersten “Kiki” Rich

I covered Kiersten “Kiki” Rich of  The Blonde Abroad   in my list of the top lifestyle bloggers to follow in 2024. 

As her blog’s name suggests, she’s mainly a travel blogger who also discusses two other lifestyle-related topics — blogging and photography. 

Kiersten spent three, eye-opening months in multiple countries to re-envision the idea of “ success .” She succeeded in her goal and is now one of the most accomplished travel bloggers on the web. 

The Blonde Abroad covers a range of topics from travel photography to foreign cuisine. All of which draws wisdom from Kiersten’s personal travel experiences.

• Photography
• Travel destinations
• The Travel Shop
• Social media and influencer marketing consulting

5. California Through My Lens

By:  Josh McNair

Josh McNair, owner of  California Through My Lens , has a distinct writing style that vividly describes details of travel destinations. 

Unlike bloggers who discovered the love for travel in their adulthood, Josh has always been a passionate traveler at heart. He created California Through My Lens to document his adventures with the online audience. 

California Through My Lens is run by both Josh and his wife, Amy. The pair also has an active YouTube channel called Through My Lens where they share their experiences in video form. 

As you may have guessed, Josh’s content focuses on the beaches, caves, hiking trails, waterfalls, and various landmarks in California. Intricate details of each location, from hike distances to specific travel tips, are often included in his posts. 

• National parks in California
• Driving around California
• California destinations
• Selling eBooks
• Advertisements through YouTube 

6. Dan Flying Solo

By:  Daniel “Dan” Clarke

Dan Flying Solo   is by Daniel Clarke — a travel blogger, photographer, and creative director at his own Portugal-based media company. 

Dan’s blogging life was ignited by his passion for photography. He was originally a frustrated restaurant manager who wanted more out of life.

Like me, Dan is a self-taught blogger. He worked day in and day out by doing free online courses, YouTube tutorials, and heaps of informative guides. 

What makes Dan Flying Solo an extra noteworthy blog is its library of video content. Daniel also makes it clear that the site has no particular theme — not unlike everything else in life.  

“ There’s not one particular theme to this blog because I don’t think that’s how life really is. We change and what we enjoy changes.”

7. Travel with Lakshmi

By:  Lakshmi Sharath

Lakshmi Sharath worked on a desk job for multiple media organizations for 15 years. She then started her personal travel blog in 2005 — traveling to over 25 countries and across every corner of India. 

Travel with Lakshmi has only grown steadily ever since. It won multiple awards, including “India’s best travel blog of the year” award from Indiebloggie.  

As an Indian herself, Lakshmi made sure to highlight the country’s top travel destinations on the blog. She also documented her travels to foreign countries — from Abu Dhabi to the United Kingdom. 

As a way to support aspiring travelers around the world, Lakshmi also covers important tips on starting a travel blog. This includes essential tips on photography, travel planning, and travel writing.

• Social media marketing campaigns
• Content marketing and writing services
• Digital media consulting services

8. foXnoMad

By:  Anil Polat

foXnoMad   is a unique travel blog run by digital nomad Anil Polat.

Anil was exposed to travel at a young age because his parents were journalists. Other than routine trips between Turkey and the United States, they also visited multiple destinations around the world. 

Even in his professional life as a computer security consultant, travel was a big part of Anil’s life. He eventually decided to quit his job and fixate on one goal: to visit every country in the world.

What makes foXnoMad unique is that Anil utilizes his knowledge in tech to provide insightful tips on traveling smartly. He also develops apps that can help travelers in situations like determining water drinkability and calculating tips.

You can check out his podcast where he talks about current events, new product tech releases, and all things travel-related. 

Blog Topics                                           

• foXnoMad Shop
• Paid mobile apps

9. Fluent in 3 Months

By:  Brendan “Benny” Lewis

Fluent in 3 Months   by Brendan Lewis is created for travelers with a purpose. 

Apart from regular posts about travel planning and destinations, Brendan also writes a lot of guides on foreign languages. 

Remember, language is a crucial part of every culture. Brendan makes sure you learn dozens of useful words and phrases that will enrich your visit to any country. 

Some of the most prominent content formats in his blog are “ways to say” posts and phrase listicles. There are also fun, bite-sized stories like “How I Learned French on the Toilet in 6 Months.”

For more serious language learners, Fluent in 3 Months offers “The Challenge.” It’s a full-fledged online course that will enable you to hold a 15-minute conversation in a new language.

• How to speak foreign languages
• Language hacking 
• Traveling jobs
• The Challenge online course
• Speaking engagements

10. Cheapest Destinations Blog

By:  Tim Leffel

Cheapest Destinations Blog   is one of the oldest travel blogs on this list. 

It is created and run by Tim Leffel — an award-winning travel writer and author.  

Tim has made it his life’s goal to help people make the most out of travel while spending less. His blog contains posts that teach how to spend your travel money wisely and how to make every cent count. 

Other than Cheapest Destinations Blog, Tim also runs a handful of other blogs on different, travel-related topics. This includes Perceptive Travel, Travel Writing 2.0 Blog, and Cheap Living Abroad.  

• Travel budgeting
• Influencer marketing through 360 Degree Travel Network

11. Alex in Wanderland 

By:  Alexandra Baackes

Alexandra Baackes created  Alex in Wanderland   for two reasons. 

First, she’s been dealing with a case of wanderlust all her life. And second, she’s a fan of a beloved, fictional character — Alice in Wonderland. 

Alexandra is originally from Brooklyn, New York where she purchased her one-way ticket into the traveling life. She now blogs about the best travel destinations, outdoor activities, and her personal, travel-related gear.

One of the things I like about Alex in Wanderland is the presentation and categorization of content. 

On the “Categories” page, Alex makes sure articles are well-organized based on topics like travel inspiration, activities, and planning. This makes it easy for her audience to find the information they need at any given time. 

• Outdoor activities

12. Hey Nadine

By:  Nadine Sykora

Nadine Sykora of  Hey Nadine   is a popular travel blogger, YouTuber, and social media influencer.

Over the past 10 years, she has traveled across 55 countries, spoken on expert panels, and became a keynote speaker. 

Nadine’s goal is simple: share her travel experiences with the world and help others do the same. 

Hey Nadine contains a host of content on travel advice, hacks, destinations, and inspiration. As a seasoned YouTuber, you can expect her blog content to contain a lot of embedded videos from her channel. 

• Video production
• Advertisements through YouTube
• Sponsored content

13. I Am Aileen

Just like Kiersten Rich, Aileen Adalid is another travel blogger whom I also featured in my top lifestyle blogs listicle.

Aileen runs  I Am Aileen   — an award-winning blog that discusses just about everything there is to discuss in travel. She writes about destinations, the best travel activities, foreign cuisine, and more. 

What interested me the most about Aileen is her blogging background. At age 21, she quit her corporate job, which only paid $300 a month, to become a professional traveler. 

Since then, she’s been on a streak of smashing goals and breaking barriers. Thanks to her commitment to quality content, she’s recognized as one of the top bloggers in Asia. 

• Online shop

14. Wandering Earl

By:  Derek Earl Baron

Here’s a fun trivia about  Wandering Earl . 

Unlike most bloggers who use their first names, the “Earl” in “Wandering Earl” is actually a middle name. Blog owner Derek Earl Baron only thought that “Wandering Derek” didn’t sound as catchy.

Derek is a one-of-a-kind, adventurous soul who discovered his purpose as a modern nomad relatively early into adulthood. After graduating in 1999, he planned a three-month vacation across Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam. 

That three-month vacation continues to this very day. 

And that’s how Wandering Earl was created — documenting Derek’s adventures in over 100 countries. He also shares valuable pieces of wisdom on travel planning, food, budgeting, gear, and so on. 

Wandering Earl has that “old-school” look and feel to it. On the plus side, the site’s design only highlights 

• Working while traveling
• Selling “eGuides”

15. Be My Travel Muse

By:  Kristin Addis

Be My Travel Muse  is a solo female travel blog created by Kristin Addis. 

She studied in Taiwan and kept an investment banking job for four years. The only problem was, her daily routine rendered her creative, dreamer side claustrophobic. 

Her first step was a one-way ticket to Bangkok — envisioning a life of writing and travel. That’s exactly what she accomplished with her blog, which now caters to millions of readers all over the world. 

Kristin believes that solo traveling is the best way for women to feel empowered and more confident. She prioritizes solo female travel tips on her blog, including guides on safety, packing, and maintaining relationships. 

Be My Travel Muse also has heaps of content on popular travel destinations and self-care for women. 

• Self-help for women
• Relationships
• The Photo Muse Masterclass online course

16. Followtheboat

By:  Liz Cleere and Jamie Furlong

Followtheboat   is a unique travel blog that focuses on a specific mode of transport: sailing. 

It is created with love by a travel writer Liz Cleere and photographer Jamie Furlong. There’s also Millie the rescue cat, which functions as a source of inspiration and encouragement for the blog’s human founders. 

Despite the focus on sailboats, Followtheboat’s content isn’t just made for sailors. The posts are tailor-made for travelers who also happen to be interested in the art and joys of sailing. 

Don’t be surprised at the humor and dynamic range of topics on the blog. You’ll find posts like “tools you need on a sailboat” and “is this the weirdest loo in the world?”

Followtheboat also has a library of podcasts, which record Liz and Jamie’s experiences on their travels. 

• Boat maintenance
• Patreon donations

17. Matthew Woodward

By:  Matthew Woodward

If Followtheboat is about boats, you can probably guess what  Matthew Woodward   is a blog about trains. 

Not to be mistaken for  Matthew Woodward  the internet marketer, Matthew Woodward the rail adventurer loved trains as a child. He owned model railway sets, traveled alone by train, and watched shows about trains on TV. 

In his time as a geography student, he explored Europe with his trusty Interrail pass. He set his passion aside to focus on his career, which he eventually gave up to become a travel writer. 

Today, he blogs about railway systems over different continents. He’s also an accomplished author of three books: “The Railway to Heaven,” “A Bridge Even Further,” and “Trans-Siberian Adventures.”

• Railway systems
• Traveling by train
• Selling books

18. The Opposite Travellers

By:  Ryan and Rachel Riel

The Opposite Travellers   were created by married couple Ryan and Rachel Riel. 

While both loved to travel, Ryan and Rachel had contrasting preferences when it comes to traveling. 

Rachel prefers to travel in style and luxury — through the accommodations and services offered by establishments and travel agencies. Ryan, on the other hand, leans toward daring adventures like biking and trekking — on $5 per night accommodations. 

The couple, however, utilized their differences as a selling point in The Opposite Travellers. 

As such, the website’s “Travel” section has two main categories: “Luxury Travel” and “Adventure Travel.” In other words, the blog has a diverse content library for travelers of all tastes and budgets.

The Opposite Travellers also boasts high-quality visuals taken and produced by Ryan Riel. All of the site’s videos are published on Ryan Riel Media — Ryan’s official YouTube channel.  

• Content production
• Social media marketing 
• Influencer marketing

19. We Seek Travel 

By:  Olly Gaspar

We Seek Travel is an adventure travel blog by traveler and adventure photographer Olly Gaspar.

Olly has been living out of his bags full-time since 2018, turning his passion for global adventure into a treasure trove of useful travel guides accompanied by his inspiring photography.

His travel blog serves as a window to extraordinary experiences around the world– from backpacking in India to climbing Himalayan peaks, crossing deserts on camelback, cycling over the Arctic Circle, hiking with gorillas in Uganda, and even fighting Muay Thai in Thailand.

But We Seek Travel is more than just a diary of adventures. It’s a resource-rich hub where Olly shares his firsthand experiences to help modern explorers discover unique outdoor adventures, off-beat hiking trails, travel photography gear, and helpful accommodation and digital nomad resources.

• Travel Planning & Accommodation
• Outdoor Adventure
• Hiking & Trekking
• Travel photography
• Travel Gear
• Photography licensing
• Adventure Photography shoots
• Tourism development

20. Bucket List Journey

By:  Annette White

Travel is all about adventures, and so is life. 

That’s the essence of the  Bucket List Journey   by Annette White. 

The blog’s tagline is “tools and inspiration to live your list.” It refers to a person’s “bucket list,” which is basically a list of goals and experiences they want in life. 

Annette didn’t always have such a positive outlook in life. She used to be diagnosed with anxiety, which caused her to miss out on life-enriching experiences and opportunities. 

Eventually, she decided that she’ll no longer become a prisoner of fear and uncertainty. She had courage and took charge of her life’s direction — something every aspiring blogger needs to do at one point. 

Bucket List Journey talks about bucket list-worthy destinations, motivation, money, and travel tips. Annette also imparts knowledge on people who also struggle with facing fear and making braver life decisions. 

• Overcoming fear and anxiety

21. Migrationology

By:  Mark Wiens

When I first visited  Migrationology , I wasn’t sure whether to classify it as a food or travel blog. 

Then I checked out Mark Wiens’s “About” page. There, I learned that he viewed food as a way to connect with people in various cultures. 

And to be exposed to these cultures, Mark dedicates his time, money, and efforts to travel. 

Mark makes sure the blog only focuses on content based on his personal travels. It’s made for people who want to experience the flavors of the world — in person or through Mark’s posts. 

Apart from general food travel blog posts and city guides, Migrationology also offers readers a “Food Tour” service. It is the result of a year of research done by Mark himself — in partnership with  Bangkok Vanguards . 

• Bangkok Food Tour

22. The Cranky Flier

By:  Brett Snyder

We already mentioned a blog about boats and another about trains. It’s time to talk about a blog on airplanes and air travel.

Cranky Flier   is a unique blog created by Brett Snyder — President and “Chief Airline Dork” of Cranky Flier LLC. 

Brett has been fascinated with airlines all his life. When he was young, he collected airline timetables and even spent a birthday with his grandmother watching planes land. 

As an adult, he spent several years in the airline industry fulfilling multiple roles. He became a sales intern at USAir, senior analyst at America West, marketing planning product at United, and so on.

Today, Brett publishes his opinions about the airline industry on Cranky Flier. He also updates several series, like “Worst Airline Ever,” “Airlines We Lost,” and “Across the Aisle Interviews.” 

I’ll let you determine what these series are all about based on what they’re called. 

• Airline industry
• Cranky Concierge service

23. Never Ending Footsteps

By:  Lauren Juliff

Lauren Juliff is one of those bloggers who already knew what they wanted to be from an early age. 

She dreamt of traveling to new places, meeting new people, and exploring new cultures.  Never Ending Footsteps   is proof that she accomplished all three. 

The blog consists of posts about Lauren’s fulfilling travels to different countries. But unlike a lot of famous travel bloggers, she also talks about the downsides of being a digital nomad.

Never Ending Footsteps has a “The Incidents” blog section where Lauren discusses the not-so-sexy aspects of traveling. She has been scammed, attacked by monkeys, locked out of her room, lost her passport, and more. 

Despite these incidents, Lauren’s love for travel only grew. Such experiences increased her wisdom and travel acumen — resulting in some of the most insightful travel articles ever published.

Lauren also helps her audience get into the world of travel blogging. Check out “How to Start a Travel Blog” for information on web hosting, working with WordPress, and so on.

• Travel safety

24. A Dangerous Business Travel Blog

By:  Amanda Williams

A Dangerous Business Travel Blog   is a straightforward blog made to help people travel. 

It is created by Amanda Williams, who is a former journalist with degrees in journalism, hospitality, and tourism management.

Amanda first got into journalism by editing obituaries — eventually becoming a copy and layout editor at a newspaper company. She started A Dangerous Business Travel Blog in 2010 out of boredom and her need for a creative outlet. 

Fast forward to 2024, the blog now averages over 340,000 page views per month. Amanda also maintains a strong social media presence with thousands of followers across networks like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. 

A Dangerous Business Travel Blog contains posts about travel planning, packing, destinations, and inspiration. Everything is sprinkled with high-quality photos to keep readers engaged and enthused.  

The centerpiece of A Dangerous Business Travel Blog is “The 10-Day Adventure Project.” Put simply, it’s a collection of ready-to-use, self-guided itineraries that will shave hours off your travel planning process.

• Packing 
• DangerousBiz online course
• Freelance writing

25. Against the Compass

By:  Joan Torres

How do you make a travel blog stand out?

Joan Torres has a surefire answer: covering the most unusual and “off the beaten track” destinations.

Against The Compass   is a unique blog that talks about the travel routes and destinations you probably haven’t heard of. It covers destinations that people don’t normally include in their bucket list, like Pakistan, Tunisia, Syria, and other high-risk countries. 

Of course, Joan makes sure to highlight the importance of safety when traveling in relatively low-popularity destinations. He has comprehensive guides for solo female travel, travel insurance, and general travel safety.

• Travel insurance

26. Everything Everywhere 

By:  Gary Arndt

In travel blogging, a picture is undeniably worth a thousand words. There’s simply no excuse for any travel blogger to forego the inclusion of visual content in their posts.

Gary Arndt’s absolutely nailed it with his photography work for  Everything Everywhere .

Gary actually won multiple, major travel photography awards — more than any travel photographer. His photography is so good that I suggest you check the “Travel Photos” page on Everything Everywhere.

Go ahead, take a break and thank me later. 

Other than taking breathtaking photos, Gary also publishes detailed blog posts about the places he’s been. He’s been on the go for roughly 9 years non-stop, which means readers will never run out of material.

27. The Longest Way Home

By:  David Ways

The Longest Way Home   started as the personal travel journal of David Ways — a solo traveler in search of home. 

The blog originally started as David’s private, digital diary. As he journeyed across Europe and gained experience, it turned into a full-on blog with travel guides to specific locations. 

David finally found home in Nepal before traveling to other parts of Southeast Asia. 

He’s not the most nitpicky blogger in terms of grammar and spelling, but he’s definitely a brilliant storyteller. He’s also skilled in capturing and immortalizing moments into photos, which you can view on his blog’s gallery. 

The Longest Way Home has a library of content about various destinations, trekking, and travel planning. It also features in-depth travel guides to Nepal, Thailand, and overland travel — plus a mini-guide to Portugal.  

• Travel planning 
• Overland travel

28. Global Grasshopper

By:  Becky Moore

Global Grasshopper   is a travel blog run by Becky Moore and her team of professional travel photographers and writers. 

Becky’s first adventure was a six-month voyage in Southeast Asia. She considers herself a “semi-nomad,” traveling from country to country while nestling in Ireland, Australia, or parts of Southeast Asia. 

Global Grasshopper contains posts about popular travel destinations, hotels, and other places that deserve more attention. Readers will also enjoy the blog’s posts about dog-friendly travel — covering topics like dog booster seats and pet-friendly hotels. 

Since the blog is run by a team of experts, expect the content quality to be top-notch across the board. The team also organizes boutique tours, which readers can participate in for a memorable travel experience. 

• Traveling with a pet
• Boutique tours bookings

29. Girl Gone Travel

By:  Carol Cain

Carol Cain is an accomplished professional in the field of communications. She is a social media marketing expert, public speaker, branding agency owner, and award-winning travel blogger.

Girl Gone Travel   is the result of Carol’s innate passion for travel and knack for digital marketing. It is a well-designed, engaging, and filled with quality content that shines with Carol’s personality. 

Other than her travel-related posts, Girl Gone Travel also publishes a lot of posts about blogging and online branding. This makes it an excellent place to start for hopeful travelers who plan to have their own blog one day. 

• Destinations 
• Online branding
• Brave World Media company

30. HoneyTrek

By:  Mike and Anne Howard

Believe it or not,  HoneyTrek   is a travel blog about a honeymoon.

Yes — it’s probably the longest honeymoon ever.

Founders Mike and Anne Howard are a power couple with skills that can make any blog great. Anne is a former magazine editor whereas Mike’s a veteran digital media strategist and photographer. 

Together, they’ve honeymooned to over seven continents and 60 countries while creating the most romantic travel blog in the process. 

HoneyTrek contains a collection of posts about their travel destinations, experiences, and travel tips for all budgets. They also wrote two successful books: “Comfortably Wild” and “Ultimate Journeys for Two.” 

• Travel budgeting 
• Travel skills

31. Oneika The Traveller

By:  Oneika Raymond

Oneika The Traveller   is an award-winning travel blog by journalist, keynote speaker, and media personality Oneika Raymond. 

For those who don’t know Oneika, she’s the on-air travel and lifestyle correspondent for CTV Canada and NBC New York. Even more impressively, her blog won her a gold medal in the 2018 SATW Lowell Thomas Travel Journalism competition.

Oneika talks about travel destinations and her go-to tips for life on the road. With her experience in the field of journalism, she’s definitely one of the most engaging storytellers on this list.

• Fashion and style while traveling
• Traveling as a minority
• Personal opinions
• Social media marketing

32. The Adventurists

By:  Tom Morgan

The Adventurists   is hands down one of the most well-designed travel blogs in this post. 

The blog proves that integrating tons of video content into one page doesn’t have to affect its loading speed. In fact, the site loads surprisingly fast despite having several video panels on the homepage.

I’m not going to delve too deeply into this technical feat. What I’m going to focus on, however, is the brilliant team behind The Adventurists. 

The site is founded by “Chief Idiot” — Tom Morgan. Apparently, most of the crazy ideas featured on the blog were his. 

Every page on the site reflects Morgan and his team’s wackiness and passion for great adventures. They do, host, and document daring outdoor activities on air, land, and sea — plus, a whole lot of charity.

Their audience can also participate in these activities, which can be held in various parts of the globe. The “Monkey Run,” for example, is an event where participants race through dirt trails on tiny bikes.

The bottom line is, it’s hard to come up with unique ideas that set you apart in the blogging landscape. The Adventurists, on the other hand, managed to do so multiple times. 

• “The Adventures” events
• The “Shop of Stuff”

33. Time Travel Turtle

By:  Michael Turtle

Time Travel Turtle   is created by Australian Journalist Michael Turtle. 

Michael was born to be a storyteller and he knew it from an early age. 

In school, he ran the student newsletter and contributed a weekly column. He also filled the role of deputy editor of a university newspaper. 

Time Travel Turtle’s contains mainly posts on the locations that Michael has visited over the years. 

Like most renowned travel bloggers, Michael captures amazing photos that travel enthusiasts can fall in love with. He puts some of these photos up for sale to companies who’d like to feature those locations or properties. 

Michael continues to explore the world as a digital nomad. He also shares practical travel tips so readers can experience these adventures themselves. 

• Selling photography

34. Hand Luggage Only

By:  Yaya and Lloyd

Hand Luggage Only   is a hugely successful travel blog by couple Yaya and Lloyd. 

The site doles out travel advice, inspiration, photography tips, food reviews, and posts about must-see destinations. It also has a library of high-quality videos where Yaya and Lloyd describe their experiences in detail.  

Yaya and Lloyd started the blog in 2014 with a plan to share their travel stories with the world. Within a few hours, they published their first posts using photos they already took and edited. 

The moral of the story is, consider starting a blog if you already have a library of unused travel photos. 

35. Travel4Wildlife

By:  Christina Garcia and Hal Brindley 

It should only take anyone a second to figure out what  Travel4Wildlife   is all about. 

The blog is created by couple Christina Garcia and Hal Brindley out of their passion for wildlife. 

Hal is an experienced wildlife photographer for organizations like the Nature Conservancy Magazine, SEE Turtles, and RARE Conservation. Christina, on the other hand, is an experienced zoologist who worked on studies on wolves, cheetahs, and leopards. 

Travel4Wildlife’s goal is to increase awareness and increase the appreciation for wildlife. More importantly, it was Christina and Hal’s life goal to promote wildlife conservation through responsible tourism. 

Behind the scenes, the couple teams up to create compelling articles that focus on wildlife in specific destinations. The blog covers a range of species on different continents — from owls in South Africa to polar bears in Canada. 

• Wildlife tour reviews
• Responsible travel

36. The Insatiable Traveler

By:  Susan Portnoy

Susan Portnoy, also called  The Insatiable Traveler   on her blog, is a seasoned travel writer and photographer. 

Susan’s last full-time job was VP of corporate communications at Condé Nast. When that door closed, she took on a freelancing career as she learned the art of photography. 

Fast forward a few years, and she has enough accolades to make photography degree holders envious. 

Her photographic works were featured by organizations like National Geographic and companies like Bing. She also won awards like the SATW Lowell Thomas Award and the 2018 Gold in the Muster Photo Competition. 

The main focal points of The Insatiable Traveler include destinations, cruises, photography, and travel gear. Susan also covers the safaris in various regions, like Tanzania, Namibia, and Kenya. 

37. View from the Wing

By:  Gary Leff 

Just like Brett Snyder, Gary Leff of  View From The Wing   is an expert in all things air travel. 

Gary was named one of the “World’s Top Travel Experts” by Condé Nast Traveler since 2010. He also co-founded InsideFlyer.com — a community made by and for frequent flyers.

View From The Wing is a goldmine of timeless tips on airline miles, credit cards, hotels, and business travel. No matter your sub-niche in travel, I recommend checking it out for ways to maximize your frequent flyer miles. 

Gary also publishes posts called “Trip Reports” about establishments, food, and various attractions. 

• Hotel reviews
• Credit cards

38. Uncornered Market

By:  Daniel Noll and Audrey Scott

Dan Noll and Audrey Scott are a pair of adventurers, storytellers, and tourism advisors who advocate for responsible traveling. 

They created  Uncornered Market   — a responsible tourism blog — after leaving their secure and stable lifestyle in Prague. Prior to that, they lived in San Francisco and took a leap of faith for the sake of avoiding regrets.  

It’s clear that both Dan and Audrey believed that fulfillment can’t be found within the confines of your comfort zone. They explored, made connections, and shared their experiences through their travel blog. 

Some of the topics you’ll find in Uncornered Market are about destinations, sustainable tourism, food, and trekking. Dan and Audrey also write about personal growth and experiential travel. 

Uncornered Market is also a tourism development and marketing consultancy company. They help travel companies, destinations, and tourism organizations build their brands and deliver their message to a wider audience. 

• Responsible tourism
• Tourism development and marketing consultancy services

39. Jessie on a Journey

By:  Jessica “Jessie” Festa

Like plenty of bloggers, Jessica Festa needed a taste of life before discovering her true calling. 

In her youth, Jessie traveled to mostly cruises in the Caribbean and road trips in North America. She also experienced being a sightseeing guide in New York. 

Jessie on a Journey   is the result of her pursuing her dreams of getting paid to do something she loves. She now blogs about being a solo female traveler, blogging it, and profiting off of it. 

I’m sure a lot of big-name bloggers are all too familiar with how Jessie made the blogging vision a reality.

For a long time, she felt that the workaday lifestyle isn’t for her. It made her feel like she’s living everyone else’s life — not the kind of life she wanted to keep. 

Despite the disapproval of loved ones, Jessie decided to quit her secure job in favor of being a travel blogger. 

She was just as unprepared as most people before starting their own blog. The key difference is, she went out there and took her first step. 

• Travel blog consulting
• Tour company consulting

40. Legal Nomads

By:  Jodi Ettenberg

Back when Jodi Ettenberg was in law school, she never would’ve guessed she’d run a successful travel and food business. 

That happens to a lot of people, especially those who never thought of giving priority to their passions. 

It’s just a hunch, but I think the name  Legal Nomads   had something to do with Jodi’s background in law. 

Legal Nomads highlights destinations and local cultures just as insightfully as other travel blogs. What makes it different is that Jodi focuses on local cuisines to experience and tell the stories of each destination. 

A huge part of Jodi’s blog is about wellness and gluten-free eating. She then utilized her knowledge and experience to create detailed restaurant cards, which travelers can use when visiting certain countries. 

• Gluten-free restaurant cards
• The Legal Nomads Shop

41. Indiana Jo

By:  Jo Fitzsimons

Like Jodi Ettenberg, Jo Fitzsimons also used to practice law before becoming a successful travel and lifestyle writer. 

Indiana Jo   started way back in 2010 where Jo can comfortably type away her thoughts and musings. Fed up with her full-time job, she went out to see the world as a digital nomad.

It wasn’t always smooth sailing for Indiana Jo, however. According to her, she thought about quitting the blog several times before finally realizing that it’s a lifetime thing. 

Jo writes about her travel experiences, destinations, wine, and food. She also shares travel planning tips along with a long list of content about topics that personally interest her. 

• Travel health and safety

42. TravelFreak

By:  Jeremy Scott Foster

TravelFreak   is the brainchild of Jeremy Scott Foster who left America in the middle of a recession and to Australia. 

For a while, he racked up some savings as a traveling bartender. It took some time before he finally made the switch to be a digital nomad and online entrepreneur. 

Jeremy created the blog to help people create opportunities to achieve the fulfilling life they deserve. 

He writes about travel advice, destinations, gear, and ways to get your finances in order as you travel. This includes guides on how to land and keep a job abroad along with resources on reliable booking websites. 

I personally like the way Jeremy designed TravelFreak to provide the best possible user experience. Unlike a traditional layout, the site features a search bar so readers can jump right into the content they need.

TravelFreak has been featured in Forbes, National Geographic, The New York Times, and a few other big-name publications.   

43. The Everywhereist

By:  Geraldine DeRuiter

Before anything else, yes — that’s Rand Fishkin in the photo above. 

And yes, the next travel blogger on this list is Rand’s longtime sweetheart and wife. 

Geraldine DeRuiter was a former copywriter and went with Rand in his travels, which are often business-related. She then turned to the habit of documenting their travel experiences, which she described as “love letters” to her husband. 

Today, Geraldine works full-time on  The Everywhereist   — named by Time magazine as one of the best blogs in 2011. 

The Everywhereist contains posts about food and Geraldine’s travel experiences along with a comprehensive Philadelphia travel guide. The guide contains information on where to go, eat, shop, and stay. 

Geraldine also wrote a book called “All Over The Place.” It chronicles how she embraced her love for blogging after being laid off, which aspiring bloggers can draw inspiration from. 

• All Over The Place book sales

44. Keep Calm and Travel

By:  Clelia Mattana

Keep Calm and Travel   is a travel blog created by serial traveler Clelia Mattana. 

Ever since she was 19, Clelia is a certified sea lover and globetrotter. But like many travel bloggers, she was given a choice between a secure job and the traveling lifestyle. 

Clelia’s finalized her choice when she bought a one-way ticket to Asia. She then created Keep Calm and Travel to send a simple message:

“No matter what your age is, or your budget, or status, you can travel and live your life on your own terms.”

The blog’s topics include destinations across continents, photography, and travel gear. She also has a dedicated page for Sardinia, which is one of her absolute favorite travel destinations.

45. Practical Wanderlust

By:  Lia and Jeremy Garcia

Lia and Jeremy Garcia, who aptly labeled themselves a “travel couple” on Instagram, are the minds behind  Practical Wanderlust .  

Jeremy is a film degree holder whose passions include writing and directing. He also became a high school teacher who taught filmmaking and digital media art.

Lia, on the other hand, has a fashion design and apparel merchandising degree. She took on roles in corporate merchandising before becoming a business systems analyst. 

Why did I tell you all this? Simple: I want you to know what the pair had to give up pursuing their dreams of traveling. 

Practical Wanderlust’s goal is to help other people enjoy travel in the most realistic and sensible approach possible. The blog is filled with detailed content on planning memorable trips on a budget, where to go, and staying safe.   

Lia and Jeremy also host their own podcast, which is available on Google Podcasts, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts. 

• Coaching and mentoring services
• Sponsored podcast episodes

46. Expert Vagabond

By:  Matthew “Matt” Karsten

Matthew Karsten, AKA the  Expert Vagabond , has been a travel blogger, photographer, and digital nomad for nine years.

He talks about budget travel tips, destinations, travel photography, and strategies to make the digital nomadic life work. 

Matt is a business degree holder who spent time freelancing as a nightlife and event photographer. While he admits it was fun, he knew that he wants and deserves something more. 

After a year of downsizing his life, eating homemade food, selling eBooks, and saving every penny, he was ready. He set out to obtain a different kind of wealth — that which is made with adventures and experiences.

• Nomadic living

47. The Voyageur

By:  Pauline Chardin

Pauline Chardin is a France-based fashion designer, photographer, and art director. 

She always had a soft spot for travel — driven by her appreciation for picturesque architecture, landscapes, and good food. She started  The Voyageur   to help people view the world through her voice and eyes. 

The Voyageur is a simple, yet aesthetic website achieved through Pauline’s incredible photography skills. Apart from itineraries and posts about hotels, food, art, and architecture, the site also has a sizeable photo gallery.

Images are accompanied by a brief article that describes the destination’s history and Pauline’s thoughts and emotions during her visit. I’m not sure what it is, but there’s something about this content format that’s truly engaging and relaxing. 

• Art and architecture

48. Amateur Traveler

By:  Chris Christensen

Don’t be fooled by the name —  Amateur Traveler   is by no means run by an amateur.

Chris Christensen is a skilled photographer, travel writer, and podcast host. The site also utilizes a long list of monetization strategies that I believe every blogger should learn. 

True, he wasn’t the most experienced traveler when he started the blog. Before he created Amateur Traveler, he was a full-time EVP of engineering and operations for a company based in Silicon Valley. 

In his defense, he grew up in a family that traveled a lot to national parks in a trailer. He also learned a lot of foreign languages, which he believes is a window into understanding and embracing different cultures. 

Amateur Traveler discusses destinations, travel budgeting, planning, gear, and booking. The site also features a weekly podcast on the top destinations around the world. 

• Amateur Traveler Shop powered by Etsy
• Podcast advertisements
• Social media and content marketing consulting services
• Content writing services
• Paid guest posts

49. Girl Eat World

By:  Melissa Hie

Melissa Hie is the “Girl” in  Girl Eat World  — a name that encapsulates what the whole blog is all about. 

You see, Melissa’s three passions are food, travel, and storytelling. She started the blog in 2015 as a digital diary for herself and friends who need travel tips. 

Prior to her blog’s success, she amassed quite a following on Instagram. This springboarded her blogging career, which she put in the back burner after focusing on her full-time career.

Girl Eat World is essentially a compendium of Melissa’s travel stories and travel planning guides. She also has an iconic style of capturing Instagram posts, which must be seen to be appreciated. 

50. The Adventure Junkies

By:  Antonio Cala and Amanda Zeisset

The Adventure Junkies   is definitely not your average travel blog. 

It’s not just about the travel stories of founders Antonio Cala and Amanda Zeisset. Upon visiting the blog for the first time, you’ll realize that it’s all about the community the blog has built. 

New visitors are encouraged to join “ Summit ” — a free community for people who seek adventures through travel and outdoor activities. There, members can connect, plan events, share posts, ask questions, form groups, and discuss anything related to travel. 

The Adventure Junkies also compile guides and resources about outdoor activities like diving, kayaking, mountain biking, and snowboarding. There’s also a section for visitors who’d like to learn about outdoor and underwater photography.

Antonio and Amanda started The Adventure Junkies as a personal blog about their three years of cycling. Over time, their readers began asking questions on how they can plan their own adventures. 

The couple then realized that they need to create something more than a personal blog. As such, they transformed The Adventure Junkies as a one-stop shop for adventurists.  

• The Adventure Junkies Store
• Paid digital guides

51. A Broken Backpack Travel Blog

By:  Melissa Giroux

Melissa Giroux used to be a social worker who only traveled once a year. 

Melissa created  A Broken Backpack   a year after her journey in the Canadian Rockies — hitch-hiking from point A to B. She continued working on her blog as a creative outlet while working on a farm in Australia. 

It didn’t take long before A Broken Backpack’s popularity gained momentum and gave Melissa a new frontier. 

The website contains crucial tips on travel gear, budgeting, destinations, and the life of a digital nomad. Melissa also put together in-depth guides on travel blogging, moving to another country as an expat, and backpacking.

• SEO eBook on Nomad Life 101

52. The World Travel Guy

By : David Leiter

David Leiter is an American travel blogger currently based in Bali, Indonesia, with his wife Intan (who’s a Bali local).

They travel around the world and try to document the most scenic destinations by creating articles, photos, videos, and guides for other travelers.

David runs  The World Travel Guy , an adventure travel blog that he started when he was a solo traveler, but now covers their travels around the globe as a couple.

In total, they’ve visited dozens of countries, while also checking off some bucket list adventures like a Komodo dragon safari in Indonesia, the Mount Everest Base Camp trek in Nepal, and a bunch of world monuments like the Angkor Wat and Taj Mahal.

• Adventure Travel
• Destination Guides
• Budget Tips
• Travel Photography
• Drone Videos
• Affiliate Partnerships
• Display Advertisements
• Sponsored Trips
• YouTube Videos

53. Life Part 2

By:  Jonathan Look Jr. and Sarah Wilson

The last blog on this list that your best life can start at any time you choose. 

Let me tell you the story behind  Life Part 2   and the people behind it.

Jonathan Look Jr. and Sarah Wilson are both happy retirees with a simple mantra: “don’t waste your retirement.”

To them, retirement isn’t about being comfortable and secure. Rather, it’s all about the freedom to listen to your heart and follow where it takes you. 

Jonathan and Sarah met in Chiang Mai, Thailand where they both agreed to see the world as a couple. 

Life Part 2 is a mix of all things travel. At times, there’ll be a post about remote destinations and backpacking, and at other times, the theme is luxury travel. 

You will, however, notice that the content topics on the blog often revolve around retirement, minimalism, and travel. 

Planning to go on your own travel adventures? Perhaps you’re thinking of starting your very own travel blog?

It doesn’t matter if you’ve got a case of wanderlust or the desire to be a travel blogger yourself. 

The list above has some of the best travel blogs ever created. They can provide you with ideas and inspiration for your next trip or first-ever travel blog post. 

If you think I missed a great travel blog that everyone should read, let me know in the comments below. Good luck!

Disclosure: This article includes affiliate links. If you purchase through these links, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting us.

Ankit Singla

Ankit Singla is a full-time blogger, YouTuber, author, and public speaker. He founded and leads Master Blogging . With over 13 years of blogging expertise, he has assisted numerous aspiring bloggers in achieving their dreams of creating successful blogs.

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A Beginner’s Guide to Traveling on Points for Families

If you’ve ever though “Gosh I really wish we could go to ______…but it’s just not in the budget”…then this post is for you 🙂 We like to say we have champagne family travel dreams, on a beer budget. Thankfully traveling on points has helped stretch our dollars a bit further and close that gap between dreaming and GOING. Read on below about how you can start earning free or nearly free travel, so you can make family adventures happen that you thought were totally out of reach.

Leveraging credit card rewards has gotten us:

• Fully covered tickets to Italy for our family of 4
• Tickets to Europe on repeat for $200
• Spring break in Cabo (flights and hotel!) for $115
• A all inclusive kid free getaway for FREE (when the cash price was $2,500/night)

…and honestly SO much more! (and if you want to level up your traveling on points even FURTHER see our other trick here !)

So what does this mean to travel on points?

Simply put, traveling on points is using credit card miles and points to get free (or nearly free) travel! We honestly didn’t start really intentionally leveraging credit card points and rewards until a few years ago. When we first got married over a decade ago, we used our debit card for everything (so much free money left on the table…insert crying face emojis here). Then about 5 years in, we discovered the beauty of using a credit card for all your normal purchases to earn reward points.

Now 11 years laters, we are fully reaping the benefits of travel rewards and leveraging our credit cards to their full capacity for OUR benefit. We wanted to travel with our two young girls, but transparently had little to no disposable income. One ticket to Europe on its own was pricey, but FOUR tickets to Europe was out of the question. So with a little bit of creativity and work, we’ve been able to travel on some EPIC family adventures. ( Our month in Italy at the top of that list!)

Traveling on points isn’t for everyone…and that’s ok! BUT it can be an amazing tool to help maximize your budget and make your family travel dreams a reality. Even if you get just one travel reward credit card, it will make that bucket list trip that much more attainable.

…But is it sketchy??

Anyone who knows me, knows I am an avid rule follower. That is why I love this tactic for leveraging free travel! It completely abides by the already determined rules set up and simply maximizes it.

I like to think about it more as a shortcut, or expert recommendation. As long as you are earning and redeeming your points legally, traveling on points isn’t sketchy at all. I know it takes a bit of a mindset shift from the “avoid credit cards” at all costs message we grew up with, BUT this can be an incredible way to drastically reduce your expenses when it comes to your next family adventure.

What about my credit score?

I would say this is people’s number one concern with entertaining this strategy for earning free travel. However, if done responsibility leveraging credit cards, paying off your balance in full every month, and earning crazy discounted trips will most likely only increase your credit score.

Credit scores are determined by a vast number of things, but the main factor is debt to income ratio. So having lots of available credit (many open cards) and very little debt (paying off your card in full each month), can do wonders for your credit. Since starting traveling on points, our score has only gone up! Most serious points travelers have scores of 800+ and above.

So no need to fear…IF done responsibility. That’s why I definitely recommend having some help and recommendations as you begin to navigate the world of travel rewards.

Is there a downside to traveling on points?

If you and open and close a ton of cards at once, yes your credit score will take a dive. If you open credit cards and don’t pay off your balance in full each month, yes your score will take a dive. I would say the only “downside” to traveling on points is if opening a new credit card makes you spend beyond your means, there can be serious consequences. If you make purchases you don’t have the money for…well then travel hacking just honestly probably isn’t for you at this time!

So you just keep opening new cards indefinitely?

This was personally my number one question as we jumped into the points world. Soooo you just continue to open a handful of cards each year? Won’t that get to be too much eventually?!?

Although, you can absolutely still earn rewards on continuing use of your credit card, the welcome bonuses are where you really reap the benefits. (i.e. “Spend x amount in the first 3 months and get 60,000 bonus points)

So some of the serious travel hackers I follow yes open a handful of cards every single year (and still have credit scores of 800+ mind you). However, you can totally keep it simpler and not get SUPER deep into reward travel. Right now we think through the breaks and trips we have during the year and try to leverage opening new cards to help offset costs on those specific vacations only.

Long story short, it isn’t the number of cards you have open, it is if you are using the cards you do have responsibly . Are you paying off your balances in full each month? Are you allowing at least 90 days in between each new application? For example, Chase has the 5/24 rule, which says you can’t open more than 5 cards in a 24month period.

You can absolutely close cards if needed (I like this article on traveling on points responsibly from MoneyGeek ). I would just always try to avoid closing your longest standing cards. Just like a good wine, credit bureaus like a good “aged” credit.

How to Travel on Points – Getting Started!

Alright now that you know some of the basics (and we hopefully put some of your concerns at bay), you’re ready to get started in the world of travel rewards! Here are a few steps as you get started so you don’t feel in over your head.

1. Start slow and with a goal in mind

*goes and opens 5 credit cards to earn free travel*…nope, nope, don’t go do that my friend!

Take it slow, start with one card or one trip you have in mind you’d really love to do with your family but maybe don’t quite have the funds for. There is going to be a learning curve and you’re not going to earn a million points in one day. Take it slow…choose one card to start, see if travel hacking is for you, and go from there!

2. Pick the right card and apply!

There are a hundred and one travel credit cards out there, but hands down the one recommended over and over for travel rewards (from us and points travel experts alike) is the Chase Sapphire Preferred .

If you are looking at more domestic travel, the Southwest Rapid Rewards Card is our favorite entry card – and if you can earn that Companion Pass, that is GOLD. These two cards are what allowed us to book our spring break trip to Cabo (flights and hotel for $115!!).

Overall though, when looking at which card to open you want to look at a few key factors:

• A strong welcome offer – Remember this is where the bulk of your points are coming from. (40k-75k is average…sometimes 100k depending on the time of year)
• A realistic minimum spend – Spending $15,000 in the first 4 months is STOUT. Choose a card with a initial minimum spend that is in line with your normal monthly expenses
• Low annual fee – Some of the more intense luxury cards have fees upwards of $695 a year (whoa!)
• Ongoing Perks – 3x points on dining, 5x points on travel? TSA Pre-Check? Airport Lounge access? There are SO many perks that come along with cards

3. What about the minimum spend?

“Spend x amount in the first 3 months, and get 60,000 bonus points.” That minimum spend can be intimidating if you think about some massive purchase you need to make. BUT all you need to do is take your normal every day spending and put it on this new card.

For example on the Chase Sapphire Preferred I mentioned above, you need to spend $4000 in the first 3 months. That’s just over $1,300/month…between groceries, dining out, utility bills, insurance, all the extras of life- that is totally doable!

Again, the key here is not spending a dime more you normally would. Nor, putting more on the credit card than you can pay off in full…then it’s not actually FREE money is it?! Simply transfer your normal monthly spending to this new card- and BOOM you just earned yourself some free or greatly discounted travel!

*We also like applying for a new card when we know we have a big purchase coming up. That makes meeting that minimum spend and maximizing those welcome bonuses easy peezy lemon squeezy.

4. What about the annual fee?

Many cards have no annual fee or as low as $89 a year. And most times the perks of the card MORE than make up for the annual cost. For example, on the Chase Sapphire Preferred you get the 60,000 welcome bonus points (worth $750 in the Chase Travel Portal!), a $50 annual hotel credit, a free DoorDash subscription, 10% annual anniversary points, travel insurance, 5x points on travel through Ultimate Rewards, and 3x points on dining!

If you see that you really are not using the benefits of the card and that annual fee is not worth it you can do one of three things:

• Call the credit card company to ask what their current “retention offers” are. (i.e. awarding you bonus points to stay or offering to waive the annual fee)
• Call the credit card company and ask to downgrade to a free version of the same card
• Cancel the card

5. Pay off your card at the end of each month

I’ve said it over and over in this post, but it can’t be emphasized enough! With travel hacking, if you’re not paying off your cards in full each month…those travel rewards aren’t *actually* free money.

6. Earn rewards and redeem for FREE travel! Repeat!

Alright! You’ve signed up for your first travel rewards card, you’ve met the minimum spend, you earned that sweet, sweet welcome bonus. NOW is the fun part- redeeming your rewards!

Refer your husband for the same card, and now you’ve got an additional referral 15,000 points and he’s got his 60,000. Combine them all, and BAM your family is set for an epic adventure…and that’s just from ONE card! You will probably have to pay for the taxes and fees on the booking, but that is usually very minimal.

If not using a Chase card, we like cards that have transfer capability (most of the large ones do). Your points go SO much further when you can transfer them to the credit card’s transfer partners (i.e. airlines, hotels groups). For example, we were just looking at tickets to the Azores that were showing as upwards of $900RT in GoogleFlights, but 50k points round trip on United’s Award Flight Booking portal. (holy savings I KNOW!) This is the way to really maximize your benefits and make those far fetched family travel dreams a reality!

One of the best parts of reward travel is that you can do it at your pace. If you want to be aggressive and apply for a few cards a year, the world is your oyster. If you want to start with earning just one trip for your family that is totally doable too! But traveling on points is hands down the best way to maximize the spending you are already doing and not leave (free!) money on the table. Pick the right card, earn that welcome bonus, and repeat! It is truly amazing where those points can take you!

SO we hope this super packed, fully comprehensive beginner’s guide to traveling on points was helpful! It’s not for everyone…but it has afforded us some family trips we never thought possible! And THAT is the greatest gift of all 🙂 Happy adventuring all!

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The Best Travel Blogs: Top Luxury Travel Bloggers to Follow

As a travel blogger, I believe it is important to share other great creators that are great at their job. I use these blogs to plan my own travels or learn new tips almost daily.

This list of the best travel blogs includes experts on world travel, luxury destinations, and general travel advice.

In addition to providing inspiration for planning my trips, these travel bloggers inspire me and help teach me to improve my own blogging.

Keep reading for my favorite travel bloggers, my favorite destinations they cover, their popular posts, and why they are a great follow. I hope you enjoy their work as much as I do!

Some links on this blog are affiliate links, meaning I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you if you make a purchase through them. All opinions are my own, and I only recommend products and services I personally use and believe in. Thanks for your support!

The Best Luxury Travel Blogs to Follow

1. the blonde abroad.

Expertise : Solo Female Travel & Adventure

Destination Highlights : South Africa, Greece, Bolivia

Kiki aka The Blonde Abroad, is a huge reason that I became a travel blogger. At the beginning of quarantine in 2020, I stumbled upon her blog through Pinterest and spent hours reading about amazing travel destinations.

Reading about bucket-list destinations through her voice gave me hope that we’d once again return to travel. This inspired me to spend 2020 starting my blog to share my travels and inspire others!

Kiki writes about many different types of travel from solo travel to girl’s trips, backpacking to luxury, beach vacations to high-adrenaline adventure travel.

If you are planning a trip or just dreaming about visiting a destination, I highly recommend checking out The Blonde Abroad, because chances are she has information about it.

2. Lindsay Silberman

Expertise : Luxury Resorts & Lifestyle

Destination Highlights : St Barths, New York, Miami

Lindsay has created a fantastic community through her blog and Instagram, loving called the Silb Squad.

Lindsay has a way of making each of her blog posts feel like you are talking to a close friend. She’s a no BS kind of gal, which makes me trust every word she writes.

Lindsay is a magazine editor turned lifestyle and travel influencer. I turn to her blog for all things skincare, fashion, and luxury travel.

I have her to thank for my new-and-improved skincare routine and a long list of aspirational destinations. Lindsay, her husband, and their dog Pierre, split their time between New York and Miami, making her an expert on both cities.

She also frequents high-end destinations such as the Maldives, St Barths, Bora Bora, and more. Based on her blog posts, I’m even planning a trip to Banff in the spring!

Check out lindsaysilberman.com to join the Silb Squad and be inspired to live your best life!

3. Jetset Christina

Expertise : Small Business Ownership & Beachy Destinations

Destination Highlights : Napa, Colombia, Bali

Christina is another ultra-luxury traveler that writes killer blog posts about the most luxurious destinations and hotels.

She also runs a swimsuit and resort wear company that produces the cutest clothes! (Be sure to check out watercolor swim).

Christina and her husband, Kenny, split their time between Bali, Columbia, and tropical destinations around the world.

Check out the Jetset Christina blog for bachelorette inspiration, all things Napa and good wine, and any sunny destination you can imagine.

Prepare to be wowed by the amazing properties she has visited and her fantastic advice in every post.

4. Helene in Between

Expertise : Living Abroad & RV Travel

Destination Highlights : Germany, Christmas Markets, United States

Helene runs another of my favorite travel blogs and writes the most detailed blog posts I have ever seen! For each travel guide, she answers every question you have and every question you didn’t even think to ask.

Along with her husband and dogs, she lived abroad in Heidelberg Germany and is the expert on all things Europe. She also has a ton of great tips on RV travel around the United States.

If you are planning a trip, be sure to check out the Helene in Between blog because if there is a guide, your trip will basically be planned for you.

5. Brown Eyed Flower Child

Expertise : Boutique Hotels & Solo Travel

Destination Highlights : Caribbean, East Coast, Adriatic

Taylor is another great travel blogger. She writes thoughtful and insightful guides to every destination she visits.

She covers solo travel and world travel with friends, which is very relatable as a fellow millennial.

What I love about Taylor’s blog is how she covers a wide variety of destinations and many boutique hotels around the world.

Taylor shares great travel stories that make you feel like you were with her on the vacation. Follow the Brown Eyed Flower Child blog for great travel photography and travel guides.

6. The Points Guy

Expertise : Travel Hacking & Rewards Programs

Destination Highlights : Airlines, Hotel Networks

A couple years ago, I never knew travel hacking existed. When I stumbled upon the Point Guy blog, I was blown away by the world of loyalty programs, credit card points, and miles.

The Points Guy has a large team that produces informational content daily.

Check out the Points Guy for a list of the best travel credit cards and how to use them, to learn how to earn and redeem points, and reviews of hotels and airlines around the world.

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Lauren is the creator of The Traveling Moore blog. She's travel obsessed, having been to nearly 50 countries and all 7 continents. She has a full time corporate job, and loves showing others that it's still possible to travel the world with limited PTO hours. Lauren is also travel hacking obsessed, finding every way to travel more often and more luxuriously.

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A beginner's guide to travel credit cards

Key takeaways

• Travel reward programs allow you to earn points or miles when you make purchases with certain credit cards.
• Once you hit a specific spending threshold, points can be redeemed for flights, hotel stays, and other travel-related perks.
• The point-to-dollar exchange rate varies widely with each program and could add up to big savings, but program fees could offset the benefits in some cases.
• Rewards cards that aren't tied to a specific company often let you transfer points to a participating travel partner like a hotel or airline.

Using credit to book travel can unlock cheaper, even free ways to see the world if you play your cards right. Travel credit cards also may offer airport lounge access or rewards you can redeem for travel-related perks like hotel or flight upgrades. There's a reason why 41% of Americans already use a travel rewards credit card, according to a 2023 NerdWallet survey. 1 But choosing one can be daunting. Here's how travel rewards work and how to navigate the options.

Feed your brain. Fund your future.

How do travel rewards work?

Travel reward programs function on a simple premise: You earn points or miles by spending on a designated credit card. Depending on the specific card, transactions such as booking flights or hotel stays through partner companies can earn you these points. Some cards even offer points on everyday purchases, like groceries or gas, or for every dollar spent. You could even earn bonus incentives by signing up (these are called introductory offers) or by passing a spending threshold on certain types of purchases.

Once you've accumulated enough points, you can then spend them on benefits within your travel rewards programs, such as flights, hotel stays, upgrades, and more, depending on the program. And these points can add up to some serious savings. Although it's tricky to assign a specific dollar value to points (more on that later), a 2023 survey found that the average travel card holder had a balance of over 50,000 points. 2

If these rewards would act as a coupon for your current spending habits, a travel rewards credit card could be a good financial move if you'd save more than the annual fees and pay off your balance each month. But if one of these credit cards would encourage you to spend more than you would without it, then a travel rewards program may end up costing you more money than it saves.

Travel rewards and credit card features to consider

Every travel rewards program is unique, but here are some common features to consider when trying to score travel rewards with a credit card.

Annual fees

An annual fee is the cost of owning a travel rewards credit card and reaping the benefits that come with it. Not all travel rewards credit cards have annual fees, but those that do can range from less than $50 to more than $500. 3 While these fees may sound like a drawback, they often correlate with enhanced benefits and rewards potentially including lucrative sign-up bonuses, complimentary travel insurance, and airport lounge access, to name a few.

Before committing to a card with an annual fee, it's important to do a cost-benefit analysis first. Weigh the value of the benefits against the annual fee and decide whether the card would save you money, based on your spending habits and travel aspirations. Also, keep an eye out for waived annual fees in the intro period enabling you to test-drive the card's features without an immediate financial commitment. An introductory bonus offer may cover a card's annual fee for one year, for example, which could be a good trial run to see if the card's perks are worth it.

Initial spend/sign-up bonuses

Sign-up bonuses are an incentive to join a credit card travel rewards program. These bonuses typically come in the form of points or miles awarded to your account—commonly in bulk, at one time—after meeting a minimum spending requirement in a specific timeframe. It gives you a head start on accumulating rewards and can help justify an annual fee (if there is one). Like many promotions, rewards for new cardholders can change at any time, so keep in mind that an offer you see today could be different tomorrow.

And while the allure of a boatload of points may seem irresistible, read the fine print so you know up front whether the required spending aligns with your budget and financial habits. Ultimately, sign-up bonuses (and travel rewards in general) are designed to encourage you to spend more on a given card. This gamification of spending may seem exciting, but it can also foster bad financial habits if you aren't careful. A good guideline to help keep spending in check is to never put more on a credit card than what you can pay off when the bill comes. If the card offers a reward for signing up, consider the long-term value beyond that initial bonus.

Cash-conversion rate for points

Once you've narrowed down your travel rewards program options, get a rough estimate of the cash conversion rate for points or miles. Some programs allow you to directly convert your points to cash and pay down your credit card bill, in which case, the point-to-dollar ratio shouldn't be too hard to figure out. But many don't, only allowing you to spend those points or miles to book travel.

The value of your points or their redemption value aren't always a one-for-one exchange. Online calculators are one way to check whether a specific rewards deal is a good one.

Although it varies from card to card, points may have more lucrative redemption values for some rewards over others. For instance, booking travel through the card issuer's portal might mean 100,000 points gets you a $100 flight—but booking that same flight on another platform might cost 150,000 points. If this sounds confusing that's because it is, and each program has its own incredibly nuanced points exchange program. Online communities for travel rewards points could be another resource for decoding the points value for your specific program and getting info about how other travelers have used their points.

Foreign transaction fees

A foreign transaction fee is an extra charge added to transactions that aren't in US dollars. This includes charges on the ground in another country and purchases online from retailers that work in different currencies. Although these fees vary from card to card, they usually range from 1% to 3% of the transaction. 4

If all your travel is domestic or in countries that use US dollars, you won't have to worry about these fees. But if you plan to travel internationally, you might want to look for a card that waives foreign transaction fees. This will ensure that you're not charged extra for that croissant in Paris or for those souvenirs in Tokyo.

General travel vs. specific travel company rewards

Some travel rewards programs are tied to a specific airline or hotel, while others reward you for spending no matter who you book with. If you always book with a specific airline, stay at one brand of hotel, or use a specific rental car company, you could get more value for your points—or earn more points—if you use that company's travel rewards credit card.

Transfer point programs

Many general travel rewards credit cards let you transfer their points to loyalty programs at different hotels and airlines, which you can then redeem for hotel stays and flights. These exchange programs tend to have a higher redemption value than programs offering cash back and, by most estimates, are the best way to maximize the benefits of a travel rewards credit card. Keep in mind that credit card companies have different exchange rates for each hotel and airline partner, so you'll have to determine on a case-by-case basis whether an exchange program is worthwhile for your specific card.

Airport perks

Airport lounge access is a popular perk for travel rewards credit card holders, especially those who travel often. Some programs will also cover the cost of programs that make getting through airport security easier. Consider the annual fees associated with each card and whether these perks would cost less if you paid for them with cash—and without paying for the card.

Consider general cash-back cards

Making the most of a travel rewards program can be a lot of work. Not to mention, travel rewards points can't always be easily redeemed unless you plan to travel. If you're looking for a less fussy and more liquid way to earn rewards for your credit card spending, consider a general cash-back card. Typically, these credit cards give you a percentage of your total spending back in cash without having to calculate exchange rates or redemption values.

One to consider: the Fidelity® Rewards Visa Signature® Credit Card, which can earn you unlimited 2% cash back on everyday spending. 5 That cash back can be deposited into any eligible Fidelity account, 6 giving your money more chances to grow.

Spend and earn at the same time

Spending on your Fidelity ® Rewards Visa Signature ® Card can put money in your Fidelity account.

More to explore

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Oh, hello again, thanks for subscribing to looking for more ideas and insights you might like these too:, looking for more ideas and insights you might like these too:, fidelity viewpoints ® timely news and insights from our pros on markets, investing, and personal finance. (debug tcm:2 ... decode crypto clarity on crypto every month. build your knowledge with education for all levels. fidelity smart money ℠ what the news means for your money, plus tips to help you spend, save, and invest. active investor our most advanced investment insights, strategies, and tools. insights from fidelity wealth management ℠ timely news, events, and wealth strategies from top fidelity thought leaders. women talk money real talk and helpful tips about money, investing, and careers. educational webinars and events free financial education from fidelity and other leading industry professionals. fidelity viewpoints ® timely news and insights from our pros on markets, investing, and personal finance. (debug tcm:2 ... decode crypto clarity on crypto every month. build your knowledge with education for all levels. fidelity smart money ℠ what the news means for your money, plus tips to help you spend, save, and invest. active investor our most advanced investment insights, strategies, and tools. insights from fidelity wealth management ℠ timely news, events, and wealth strategies from top fidelity thought leaders. women talk money real talk and helpful tips about money, investing, and careers. educational webinars and events free financial education from fidelity and other leading industry professionals. done add subscriptions no, thanks. 1. erin el issa, "how the 41% of americans with a travel credit card can boost rewards," nerdwallet, march 28, 2023. 2. erin el issa, "how the 41% of americans with a travel credit card can boost rewards." 3. beverly harzog, "best travel rewards credit cards of 2024," u.s. news and world report, april 9, 2024. 4. lyle daly, "what happens if a credit card's sign-up bonus increases after you get the card," the accent: motely fool, november 14, 2024 5. you will earn 2 points per dollar in eligible net purchases (net purchases are purchases minus credits and returns) that you charge. account must be open and in good standing to earn and redeem rewards and benefits. upon approval, refer to your program rules for additional information. subject to applicable law, you may not redeem reward points, and you will immediately lose all of your reward points, if your account is closed to future transactions (including, but not limited to, due to program misuse, failure to pay, bankruptcy, or death). reward points will not expire as long as your account remains open. certain transactions are not eligible for reward points, including advances (as defined in the agreement, including wire transfers, travelers checks, money orders, foreign cash transactions, betting transactions, lottery tickets and atm disbursements), convenience checks, balance transfers, unauthorized or fraudulent charges, overdraft advances, interest charges, fees, credit insurance charges, transactions to fund certain prepaid card products, u.s. mint purchases, or transactions to purchase cash convertible items. the 2% cash back rewards value applies only to points redeemed for a deposit into an eligible fidelity ® account. the redemption value is different if you choose to redeem your points for other rewards such as travel options, merchandise, gift cards, and/or statement credit. other restrictions apply. full details appear in the program rules new card customers receive with their card. establishment or ownership of a fidelity ®  account or other relationship with fidelity investments ®  is not required to obtain a card or to be eligible to use points to obtain any rewards offered under the program other than fidelity rewards. 6. eligible accounts include most nonretirement registrations as well as traditional ira, roth ira, rollover ira, sep ira, fidelity charitable ® giving account ® , fidelity hsa ® , and fidelity ® -managed 529 college savings plan accounts. the ability to contribute to an ira or 529 college savings plan account is subject to irs rules and specific program policies, including those on eligibility and annual and maximum contribution limits. full details appear in the program guidelines new card customers receive with their card. contributions to fidelity charitable ® are generally eligible for a federal income tax charitable deduction. please consult with your tax advisor. the list of eligible registration types may change without notice at fidelity’s sole discretion. for more information about whether a particular registration is eligible, please call 1-800-fidelity (800-343-3548). the third parties mentioned herein and fidelity investments are independent entities and are not legally affiliated. the views expressed are as of the date indicated and may change based on market or other conditions. unless otherwise noted, the opinions provided are those of the speaker or author, as applicable, and not necessarily those of fidelity investments. the third-party contributors are not employed by fidelity but are compensated for their services. the fidelity investments and pyramid design logo is a registered service mark of fmr llc. the third-party trademarks and service marks appearing herein are the property of their respective owners. fidelity brokerage services llc, member nyse, sipc , 900 salem street, smithfield, ri 02917 © 2024 fmr llc. all rights reserved. 1141513.1.0 mutual funds etfs fixed income bonds cds options active trader pro investor centers stocks online trading annuities life insurance & long term care small business retirement plans 529 plans iras retirement products retirement planning charitable giving fidsafe , (opens in a new window) finra's brokercheck , (opens in a new window) health savings account stay connected.

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Bucket list travel on a budget: Expert tips for airfare, loyalty programs, credit card perks and more

Nicky Kelvin from The Points Guy dives into ways to save this summer.

Many travelers have their sights set on summer getaways , but with everything from baggage fees to fuel costs impacting the price of a ticket, "Good Morning America" is asking travel experts to share tips for booking bucket list destinations on a budget and finding savings along the way.

Travel expert Nicky Kelvin, senior director of content for The Points Guy, offered his tips for affordable travel techniques.

Where to find the best flight deals

Kelvin encourages travelers to utilize Google Flights and other free price-tracking tools to compare fare prices and snag the best deal.

He also suggests using both the calendar and map features within Google Flights to see which airports, dates and destinations how the lowest fare.

From the Google Flights homepage on a computer, click "explore destinations" and select a departure city without adding a destination. Then zoom out on the map to see the best prices for destinations all over the world.

Get the most out of free travel loyalty programs

Travelers should be earning points for anything and everything that they are buying or booking from airline and hotels to car rentals, Kelvin said.

In addition to the points that can can help travelers earn free flights and hotel stays, Kelvin said to look for extra perks just for joining.

Hyatt rewards, for example, offers all guests free breakfast.

For Thrifty Car Rental and Dollar Car Rental, he said you can add your spouse or domestic partner as an additional driver for free.

Loyalty programs are great for airlines too. JetBlue, for example, allows enrolled customers -- even if they don't have enough points for a flight -- to use points for discounts. Plus, with any airline, as you accumulate points to earn status, you can get free seating upgrades.

Travel credit cards with cash back perks

Along with earning points, travel credit cards give you protection for your trip like insurance to help with lost or damaged baggage and trip cancellation protection

Chase debuts new airport lounge: Gourmet menus, sleek interiors, free facials redefine hospitality for airport travel

As for credit cards, The Points Guy team suggests the Capital One Venture Rewards credit card as an all-around pick -- you get 75,000 miles after meeting your minimum spend in the first three months. Which Kelvin said is a value of over $1,300.

If you're looking to earn the most miles, he said look to the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card.

"You'll earn the most points on all your purchases with this one," he said.

Finally, if you want a credit card with no fee, Kelvin suggested the Bilt Mastercard, which he said is particularly great for renters because you can earn points on what's likely someone's biggest expense.

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Save money on international phone plans for summer trips

If someone's trip is taking them out of the country, using a cell phone internationally can cost $10 to 15 per day. For a family of four, that's more than $400 for a week.

If your phones support eSIM, Kelvin suggested purchasing a data plan for your destination through an app such as Airalo, Truphone or GigSky.

For example, one of Airalo's global SIM plans costs $9 for one week, which could save a family close to $350 dollars, depending on their existing international coverage.

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Chase Sapphire Reserve Review: A First-Class Premium Travel Card

What’s on This Page

The bottom line, pros and cons, detailed review, compare to other cards, benefits and perks, drawbacks and considerations, how to decide if it's right for you.

With a big sign-up bonus, elevated rewards on travel and dining, hundreds of dollars in annual credits and other perks, this card is a good choice for frequent travelers.

Rewards rate

Bonus offer

• Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

Ongoing APR

APR: 22.49%-29.49% Variable APR

Cash Advance APR: 29.99%, Variable

Penalty APR: Up to 29.99%

Balance transfer fee

Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.

Foreign transaction fee

• $300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
• Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
• Get 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $900 toward travel.
• 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
• Access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide after an easy, one-time enrollment in Priority Pass™ Select and up to $100 application fee credit every four years for Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck®
• Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more
• Member FDIC

High rewards rate

Luxury perks

Premium travel protections

Transfer partners

Primary rental car coverage

High annual fee

Requires excellent credit

For avid travelers, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® is a good deal — even with its $550 annual fee.

Thanks to features such as an annual $300 travel credit, as well as bonus rewards that can be transferred at a 1:1 ratio to several loyalty programs, it stands out as one of the best premium travel cards available.

However, to earn the card’s highest rewards rate, you’ll have to make travel purchases through the Chase portal, which can be limiting. And while the card offers excellent overall value for those who spend heavily on travel and dining, if you can't take advantage of its more niche benefits, a different travel card could be a better fit.

» MORE: Full benefits of the Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Chase Sapphire Reserve® : Basics

Card type: Travel .

Sign-up bonus: Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

Annual fee: $550 .

Ongoing rewards:

10 points per dollar spent on Chase Dining purchases.

10 points per dollar spent on hotel stays and car rentals purchased through Ultimate Rewards®.

5 points per dollar spent on air travel booked through Chase.

3 points per dollar spent on travel and dining not booked with Chase.

1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases.

Through March 2025: 10 points per $1 spent on Lyft (7 points per dollar spent on Lyft plus 3 points per dollar spent on travel).

Foreign transaction fees: None.

Other benefits:

Up to $300 a year in statement credit automatically applied to travel purchases.

Complimentary Priority Pass Select airport lounge membership.

Access to Chase's Sapphire Lounges in select airports.

Multiple hotel and airline transfer partners.

Primary rental car coverage of up to $75,000 for theft and collision damage.

TSA PreCheck, Global Entry or NEXUS credit, worth up to $100.

“Reserved by Sapphire” restaurant-booking feature, which grants cardholders access to reservations at popular restaurants across the country.

Trip delay reimbursement.

Trip cancellation or interruption insurance.

Lyft Pink All Access membership free for two years and 50% off for the third year when you enroll (must activate by Dec. 31, 2024). This is the highest tier membership available from Lyft and retails for $199.

How much is a point worth?

Chase Ultimate Rewards® points earned on this card are worth 1.5 cents each when redeemed for travel booked through Chase. Cardholders can also get more value per point by transferring them to Chase's airline and hotel partners.

Otherwise, points are worth less when redeemed for cash back, gift cards and merchandise.

Big sign-up bonus

The Chase Sapphire Reserve® features the following generous sign-up bonus: Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

To find out whether you pre-qualify for this card, check out NerdWallet’s pre-qualification tool.

Bonus rewards

Holders of the Chase Sapphire Reserve® can earn the following:

10 points per dollar spent on hotel stays and car rentals booked through Chase.

5 points per dollar spent on air travel purchased booked through Chase.

Travel and dining-related purchases made through the Chase portal will get you the highest rewards rates, which are lucrative for those who spend heavily in those categories.

And even for travel and dining purchases not made through the issuer, cardholders will still earn bonus rewards.

Plus, if you redeem those points through Chase for travel, they are worth an elevated 1.5 cents, which gives the card an impressive 4.5% effective rewards rate in those popular categories. That's a boon for folks who spend plenty in these areas — in the U.S. and worldwide as well.

Additionally, through March 2025, you can earn a total of 10 points per $1 spent on Lyft (7 points per dollar on Lyft plus 3 points per dollar on travel). That’s one of the highest earn rates you’ll find for ridesharing purchases on any credit card.

» MORE: NerdWallet's best credit cards for transit spending

Travel statement credit of up to $300

While many premium cards offer airline fee credits for baggage fees and other select purchases, the travel credit of up to $300 on the Chase Sapphire Reserve® covers a much broader range of travel purchases , including taxi rides, campground fees and train fares.

Because this credit is applied automatically, taking advantage of it is effortless. Use this card to pay for a $20 Uber ride and — poof! — that travel credit is applied to your credit card statement right away.

Airport lounge access and Global Entry/TSA PreCheck/NEXUS reimbursement

With the Chase Sapphire Reserve® , your next layover could be spent in an exclusive lounge with a complimentary cocktail in hand. The card comes with Priority Pass Select membership, with access to over 1,000 airport lounges internationally and meal credits at select airport restaurants and bars. Plus, you'll get access to Chase's own Sapphire Lounges . As of February 2024, there are Sapphire lounge locations in Boston, New York (LaGuardia and JFK) and Hong Kong, plus a Sapphire Terrace location in Austin.

With the card's TSA PreCheck, Global Entry or NEXUS reimbursement, you can also speed through security and get to those swanky lounges a little sooner. The card offers reimbursement for the application fee for TSA PreCheck ($78) or Global Entry ($100) or NEXUS ($50) once every four years.

» MORE: The guide to Chase Lounges

With the Chase Sapphire Reserve® , you can move points to several other loyalty programs at a 1:1 ratio. Transferring points and redeeming them strategically can be incredibly lucrative. NerdWallet values the points earned on this card at more than 1.5 cents per point when transferred to some partners.

Here are Chase’s transfer partners:

Aer Lingus (1:1 ratio).

Air Canada (1:1 ratio).

Air France-KLM (1:1 ratio).

British Airways (1:1 ratio).

Emirates (1:1 ratio).

Iberia (1:1 ratio).

JetBlue (1:1 ratio).

Singapore (1:1 ratio).

Southwest (1:1 ratio).

United (1:1 ratio).

Virgin Atlantic (1:1 ratio).

Hyatt (1:1 ratio).

InterContinental Hotels Group (1:1 ratio).

Marriott (1:1 ratio).

Complementary cards

Like a handful of other Chase cards, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® earns Ultimate Rewards® points. That means if you already have another card in the Ultimate Rewards® family, you can generally transfer points to your Chase Sapphire Reserve® , potentially allowing you to get more value on the points earned.

Say you already have the Chase Freedom Unlimited® , which earns a minimum of 1.5% cash back on purchases, but lacks 1:1 transfer partners and bonuses when redeeming for travel through Chase. When you log on to your Chase account, you have the option of moving the rewards earned on that card to your Chase Sapphire Reserve® , where you can then transfer them to partners or book travel for 1.5 cents per point. That could effectively boost your rewards rate on the Chase Freedom Unlimited® to 2.25% or more.

» MORE: How the Chase Sapphire Reserve® fits into the 'Chase trifecta'

The Chase Sapphire Reserve® and its lower-priced sibling, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card , have had their rewards, perks and bonuses tweaked over the years as the issuer has worked to keep them at the top of travelers' wallets. See our Chase Sapphire cards news page for a rundown.

Sapphire Reserve vs. Sapphire Preferred

If you're looking at the Chase Sapphire Reserve® , you might also have your eye on its lower-cost sibling, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card . That card has an annual fee of $95 , but it lacks the same rich benefits.

Which card is the better deal for you depends on your spending. For frequent travelers, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® offers far more long-term value. The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is a better choice for those who don’t plan on using so many perks but still want a large sign-up bonus and elevated point values.

For a more thorough breakdown of the differences, read NerdWallet's full comparison of these two cards. Here's how they stack up at a glance:

Restricting rewards

Although the Chase Sapphire Reserve® offers competitive earn rates for dining and travel spending, you’ll be able to get the highest rewards rate only if you make purchases through the Chase portal. This can significantly limit your options.

For example, restaurants available to you through the Chase Dining portal will depend on your location. This means that cardholders based in larger cities like New York, for instance, will have more options available to them than those based in smaller areas.

Similarly, to earn the card's 10x and 5x rate for travel-related spending, you’ll have to book through the Chase portal, which can prove limiting compared with buying flights or renting cars directly, for example.

Moreover, if you're not an avid spender in either of the card’s bonus categories, travel and dining, you won’t get much use out of the card. A cash-back credit card that offers more diverse and flexible rewards options would be a better fit.

Somewhat limited lounge choice

If your go-to airport doesn’t have a Chase Sapphire Lounge or Priority Pass lounge, you'll be missing out on a key benefit of the Chase Sapphire Reserve® . Capital One offers a similar alternative with the $395 -annual-fee Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card . Cardholders also have access to Priority Pass lounges, plus Plaza Premium Lounges and Capital One Lounges at Dulles International Airport, Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport and Denver International Airport.

But if lounge access is a priority for you, a better option might be The Platinum Card® from American Express .

Though The Platinum Card® from American Express has a higher annual fee ( $695 ), this card comes with much broader airport lounge coverage, along with plenty of other top-tier benefits. In addition to giving cardholders Priority Pass Select coverage (once you enroll), the card also offers access to several other lounge networks, including AmEx's own Centurion lounges and Delta Sky Clubs (for folks flying with Delta on the same day). Keep in mind, however, that the Priority Pass Select coverage on this card no longer includes credits to select airport restaurants, unlike the Chase Sapphire Reserve® . The card also offers several other premium benefits and statement credits, including up to $200 in Uber Cash, which can be used toward free Uber rides in the U.S. (up to $15 each month, plus a bonus $20 in December). Plus, it comes with a big welcome offer. Terms Apply.

» MORE: Credit cards with airport lounge access

If the $550 fee on the Chase Sapphire Reserve® is too rich for your blood — even with all of its big perks — look to the less-expensive Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card instead.

As mentioned earlier, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card has an annual fee of $95 . It has the same 1:1 transfer partners as the Chase Sapphire Reserve® and a similarly robust sign-up bonus: Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠. Although it lacks the most attention-grabbing perks, such as the $300 travel credit, it's ideal for folks looking for a versatile travel card with a lower price. Check out NerdWallet's best credit card deals to see how these cards stack up.

» MORE: NerdWallet's best no-annual-fee travel credit cards

Spending $550 a year on a credit card is a big deal — and probably isn’t worth it in this case if you’re not a frequent traveler. But if you fly often and can take advantage of the card's many perks, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® is worth every penny.

To view rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express , see this page .

No appetite for actively managing your credit card travel rewards? This card gives you a flat 2 miles per dollar spent on most purchases. Redeem miles to "erase" any travel purchase at a penny per mile. There's a great sign-up bonus, and the annual fee is $95 .

Looking For Something Else?

Methodology.

NerdWallet reviews credit cards with an eye toward both the quantitative and qualitative features of a card. Quantitative features are those that boil down to dollars and cents, such as fees, interest rates, rewards (including earning rates and redemption values) and the cash value of benefits and perks. Qualitative factors are those that affect how easy or difficult it is for a typical cardholder to get good value from the card. They include such things as the ease of application, simplicity of the rewards structure, the likelihood of using certain features, and whether a card is well-suited to everyday use or is best reserved for specific purchases. Our star ratings serve as a general gauge of how each card compares with others in its class, but star ratings are intended to be just one consideration when a consumer is choosing a credit card. Learn how NerdWallet rates credit cards.

Frequently asked questions

The Chase Sapphire Reserve® 10 earns points per dollar spent on Chase Dining purchases through Ultimate Rewards®, 10 points per dollar spent on hotel stays and car rentals purchased through Ultimate Rewards®, 5 points per dollar spent on air travel purchased through Ultimate Rewards®; 3 points per dollar on dining and travel not booked through Chase and 1 point per dollar everywhere else. But rewards alone aren't enough to justify the hefty $550 annual fee. The card comes with an array of travel perks that can significantly reduce the cost of carrying it.

For its higher fee ( $550 , versus $95 for the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card ), the Chase Sapphire Reserve® earns richer bonus rewards, provides more perks and protections (travel credits, airport lounge access and more) and gives you a higher point value when you redeem for travel (1.5 cents apiece versus 1.25 cents). Both cards offer the option of transferring points to about a dozen airline and hotel loyalty programs.

If you’ll use the travel perks — like the $300 annual travel credit and lounge access — and maximize the way you earn and redeem points, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® can be a good value . If you don’t travel much, you're better off with a different card.

You’ll need excellent credit to qualify for this card. That generally means a score of 720 or better, but credit scores alone do not guarantee approval. Your income and other factors will also be considered.

When you pay for your rental car with the Chase Sapphire Reserve® , you’ll get primary collision damage and theft protection up to $75,000. The card also offers trip delay/cancellation insurance, lost luggage reimbursement and emergency medical evacuation.

You can transfer Ultimate Rewards® points earned on the Chase Sapphire Reserve® to 13 travel partners , including United Airlines, Southwest Airlines, JetBlue, Marriott, Hyatt and IHG.

Chase issues some of the better rewards credit cards on the market, including outstanding options in travel, cash-back and small-business cards. See the best Chase cards here .

About the author

Claire Tsosie

10 Best Credit Cards for Uber and Ridesharing of 2024

Best credit cards for uber & ridesharing of 2024, best overall: chase sapphire reserve®.

Why We Chose It: The Chase Sapphire Reserve is a premium travel rewards card that lets you earn Ultimate Rewards points on every purchase—but we love the 10X points you can earn on qualifying Lyft rides. You also get a Lyft Pink All Access membership for free for two consecutive years when activated by 12/31/2024 (then automatically enrolled half-price the third year and full price after unless canceled). If Uber is your rideshare service of choice, you can still benefit by earning 3X points on other travel purchases, including Uber rides, after the Reserve’s $300 annual travel credit is spent.

• 10X points on qualifying Lyft rides through March, 31 2025 and a free Lyft Pink All Access membership
• $300 annual travel credit
• 3X points on other travel not booked through Chase, including Uber (after the annual travel credit is spent)
• $550 annual fee
• Must travel frequently to get the most value
• Missing Uber premium perks

Best for Uber Rewards: Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card

Capital one savor cash rewards credit card.

Why We Chose It: Uber riders will benefit from the enhanced benefits offered by the Capital Savor Cash, which provides 10% cash back on Uber and Uber Eats purchases through November 14, 2024. You’ll also get your Uber One membership covered as a statement credit each month until November 14, 2024. The Savor card also offers solid cash back rewards on dining, streaming, entertainment and at grocery stores.

• 10% cash back on Uber and Uber Eats (through November 14, 2024)
• 4% cash back on dining, streaming services and entertainment
• Extended warranty protection
• You’re recommended to have excellent credit for best approval odds
• $95 annual fee
• No intro APR offers

Best for Uber Rewards with No Annual Fee: Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card

Capital one savorone cash rewards credit card.

Earn a one-time $200 cash bonus after you spend $500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening

Why We Chose It: If you want the Uber perks you get with the Savor card but with no annual fee plus an introductory APR offer, the Capital One SavorOne Rewards card has you covered. You’ll get 10% cash back on Uber and Uber Eats purchases plus the monthly statement credit for the complimentary Uber One membership when charged to your card until November 14, 2024, giving you extra discounts including no delivery fee on Uber Eats groceries and food delivery.

• No annual fee
• 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers (then 19.99% – 29.99% variable APR; 3% balance transfer fee for the first 15 months)
• Complimentary Uber One membership statement credits each month through November 14, 2024
• Just 1% cash back on other eligible purchases
• Applicants who have less than excellent credit may be approved for a different version of this card
• Limited travel benefits

Best for Uber Credits: The Platinum Card® from American Express

Why We Chose It: With the Platinum Amex in your wallet, you’ll get $15 in Uber Cash each month that you can put toward your eligible Uber rides and Uber Eats orders, plus a bonus $20 Uber Cash in December. That’s up to $200 a year in Uber Cash annually, plus all the other luxury travel perks and statement credits you’ll get as a Platinum card member.

• Up to $200 in Uber Cash each year
• Cell phone protection*
• Up to $1,384 in statement credits for fitness, streaming, hotel, airline and shopping by our calculation
• $695 annual fee
• No intro APR offer
• Annual fee for additional Platinum Cards is $195 each ( see rates and fees )

Best Rewards for Uber Foodies: American Express® Gold Card

Why We Chose It: The American Express Gold Card offers up to $120 in Uber Cash per year, which you can use toward Uber rides in the U.S. or Uber Eats purchases. You’ll also earn 4X points at restaurants worldwide, plus on takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000 per calendar year in spending, then 1X).

• Generous rewards at U.S. supermarkets and restaurants worldwide
• $10 monthly in Uber Cash
• Earn Member Rewards on Uber Eats purchases
• Rideshare spending earns just 1X points
• $250 annual fee
• Uber Cash doesn’t roll over

Best for Lyft Rewards: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

Why We Chose It: If you’re a regular Lyft rider, the Chase Sapphire Preferred offers extra rewards for you. You’ll earn 5X Chase Ultimate Rewards points on eligible Lyft rides (until March 31, 2025), which is a remarkable rate—plus you can redeem points for 25% more value when you use them to redeem for travel through Chase Travel.

• $95 annual fee is lower than some other travel cards
• 5x points on qualifying Lyft rides
• Points transfer 1:1 to Chase transfer partners
• No free Lyft Pink membership
• Other purchases earn just 1X points
• Not as many perks as some other travel cards

Best Lyft Rewards with No Annual Fee: Chase Freedom Unlimited®

Chase freedom unlimited®.

On Bankrate Credit Cards's secure site

Earn an extra 1.5% on everything you buy with your card (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) — worth up to $300 cash back. That's 6.5% on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 4.5% on dining and drugstores, and 3% on all other purchases.

Why We Chose It: Like the Chase Sapphire Preferred and Sapphire Reserve cards, the Chase Freedom Unlimited offers special Lyft rewards, too. But unlike the Sapphire family of cards, the Freedom Unlimited comes with no annual fee. You’ll earn 5% total cash back on qualifying Lyft rides through March 31, 2025 when you purchase in the Lyft app with your Unlimited card.

• 5% cash back on qualifying Lyft rides
• Multiple point redemption options
• 3% foreign transaction fee
• Variable up to 29.99% penalty APR
• No Lyft Pink membership credits

Best for iPhone Users: Apple Card

Why We Chose It: You’ll get 3% cash back on Uber and Uber Eats purchases when you use Apple Pay and set your Apple Card as the payment method. For Lyft rides, you’ll earn 2% Daily Cash back when you use your Apple Card and Apple Pay to make your purchase. You’ll need an iPhone, though, to use Apple Pay.

• 3% Daily Cash back on Uber and Uber Eats purchases
• 2% Daily Cash back on other purchases when you use Apple Pay
• You can sweep Daily Cash to a savings account
• Must have an iPhone to use Apple Pay
• Must use Apple Pay to earn Daily Cash
• Purchases earn just 1% if you use the physical card

Best for Ride-Share Flexibility: Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express

Why We Chose It: You don’t have to declare allegiance to a certain ride-share company if you carry the Blue Cash Preferred from American Express . You’ll earn 3% cash back on eligible transit purchases, including Lyft, Uber, taxis—even subway, bus and train fare.

• 3% cash back on transit
• Car rental loss and damage insurance* included
• Earn just 1% back on all other purchases
• $95 ongoing annual fee after the first year
• Limited redemption options

Best for Flat-Rate Rewards: Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card

Wells fargo active cash® card.

After spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months

Why We Chose It: When simpler is better, the Wells Fargo Active Cash Card delivers. It offers a flat-rate 2% cash rewards on every purchase—no rotating categories, no complicated redemptions. You’ll earn the same whether you use Uber or Lyft for ridesharing, and few other flat-rate cards offer 2% back like the Active Cash does.

• Unlimited 2% rewards on purchases
• 0% intro APR for 15 months (20.24%, 25.24% or 29.99% variable APR thereafter)
• Limited travel perks

A Closer Look at the Best Credit Cards for Rideshares

Why we love this card: Though it carries a hefty annual fee of $550, the Chase Sapphire Reserve offers so many perks that frequent travelers will find it easy to get at least that much value from the card. Lyft riders especially will benefit from the card’s bonus earnings on Lyft rides (10X points on qualifying Lyft rides through March 31, 2025), not to mention the two free years of Lyft Pink All Access membership.

Who should have this in their wallet: This card is best for Lyft riders and frequent travelers who can get the most value from the card’s steep annual fee.

Other cards to consider: For 5X points on qualifying Lyft rides (through March 31, 2025), numerous travel benefits and a $95 annual fee, the Chase Sapphire Preferred makes a sensible alternative.

Why we love this card: If you live to eat instead of eat to live, then the Capital One Savor Rewards card was made for you. You’ll get a relatively unbeatable 10% cash back on Uber rides to your favorite restaurants (until November 14, 2024), plus 4% cash back on dining when you get there. Eating in instead? You’ll still get 10% cash back if you order delivery or pickup with Uber Eats (through November 14, 2024), and 3% cash back at grocery stores to cook (excluding superstores like Target and Walmart).

Who should have this in their wallet: This card could be a great pick for foodies with excellent credit who use Uber regularly.

Other cards to consider: If you don’t want to pay the $95 annual fee and don’t mind earning 3% instead of 4% back on dining, the SavorOne is an easy swap. If your rideshare service of choice is Lyft, then the Chase Sapphire Preferred offers perks you can use for the same $95 annual fee.

Why we love this card: As far as rewards go, it’s tough to beat the 10% cash back on Uber purchases that you get with the Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card (until November 14, 2024). We love that the 10% extends to Uber Eats purchases too—combined with the complimentary Uber One membership when you charge your monthly membership fee to your card (through November 14, 2024), you can save a lot (whether it’s you or your food that’s getting a ride). And there’s no annual fee with this card, either.

Who should have this in their wallet: The SavorOne could be a great pick for you if you’re a regular Uber rider or you order on Uber Eats frequently. You’ll also rake in cash back if you frequently dine out and spend money on entertainment.

Other cards to consider: If you love the card and want the Uber benefits but don’t have excellent credit, check out the Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards for Good Credit or the Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card , which is geared towards applicants with fair to good credit. You’ll miss out on an introductory APR offer with these cards, though.

Best for Uber Cash: The Platinum Card® from American Express

Why we love this card: The hulking annual fee of the Platinum Card from American Express starts to look much more reasonable as you add up the available perks, benefits and credits, including up to $200 in Uber Cash each year.

Who should have this in their wallet: Jetsetters with a taste for the finer things will appreciate the global airport lounge access, Platinum travel service, elite hotel and car rental status and many other luxury travel perks extended to Platinum card members.

Other cards to consider: The $695 annual fee may still be too steep for some Uber riders, making a card like the American Express Gold Card ($250 annual fee) a better pick.

Why we love this card: Add the American Express Gold Card to your Uber wallet to receive $10 monthly in Uber Cash; add it to your regular wallet to earn 4X points at restaurants worldwide (plus on takeout and delivery in the U.S.) and at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points).

Who should have this in their wallet: The Amex Gold Card will be a good fit for Uber riders who spend a lot on food, whether at U.S. supermarkets or restaurants worldwide.

Other cards to consider: If you’re skittish about the $250 annual fee, consider a card that offers similar food perks but with a $95 annual fee: the Savor Cash Rewards card, which lets you earn 4% cash back on dining and 3% back at grocery stores (excluding Target and Walmart), plus 10% cash back on Uber and Uber Eats through November 14, 2024.

Why we love this card: For just $95 annually, we think the Sapphire Preferred offers a number of useful benefits for Lyft riders beyond the 5X points they can earn on qualifying rides through March 31, 2025. You can protect your purchases for 120 days against theft or damage with purchase protection, plus extended warranty protection extends the time period of eligible warranties an additional year. You’ll also get travel protection and benefits that come in handy even if you don’t travel often, such as 2X points on other travel purchases, an up to $50 annual hotel credit on hotel stays purchased through Chase Travel and trip cancellation/interruption insurance.

Who should have this in their wallet: Lyft riders who travel will get the most value from the Chase Sapphire Preferred with the points boost, but Uber riders can also enjoy 2X points on their rides, too, as they’ll count as travel.

Other cards to consider: For a higher annual fee, you could choose the Chase Sapphire Reserve instead to receive complimentary Lyft Pink All Access membership (valued at $199 per year) and $300 in annual travel credit, which more than covers the cost difference. If you’d prefer no annual fee instead, you’ll still earn 5% cash back on Lyft rides through March 31, 2025 if you go with the Chase Freedom Unlimited.

Why we love this card: This card offers a solid, unlimited minimum of 1.5% cash back on purchases, but sweetens the deal for Lyft riders with 5% total cash back on qualifying Lyft rides through March 31, 2025, plus you’ll get 3% cash back on dining at restaurants (including takeout and eligible delivery service) and drugstore purchases. New cardholders can also take advantage of 15 months of 0% intro APR from account opening on purchases and balance transfers (balance transfer fee applies), then 20.49% – 29.24% variable APR after that.

Who should have this in their wallet: Lyft riders who don’t want to pay an annual fee and who value a decent intro APR for balance transfers will appreciate this card. It also makes a nice companion card for someone who holds the Chase Sapphire Preferred or Sapphire Reserve, because you may be able to transfer points to your Sapphire account for boosted redemptions.

Other cards to consider: Other Chase no-annual-fee cards that earn 5% total cash back on Lyft rides through March 31, 2025 include the Chase Freedom Flex℠ and the Chase Freedom Rise℠ Credit Card. The Flex offers 5% cash back in bonus categories you activate, while the Rise offers 1.5% cash back on every purchase.

Why we love this card: As long as you have an iPhone and are comfortable using Apple Pay, the rewards on the Apple Card will earn you 3% Daily Cash on Uber rides plus 2% Daily Cash on other purchases, which are solid rates. We also like the card’s financial tools for tracking spending and no annual fee.

Who should have this in their wallet: This one’s for Apple enthusiasts; you’ll need an iPhone to get the boosted rewards and other benefits, plus that’s how you’ll activate the titanium physical card. You’ll also need to make sure you can use Apple Pay to get the most from this card.

Other cards to consider: If you have an Android or don’t use Apple Pay, the Wells Fargo Active Cash is an alternative that lets you earn 2% cash back on rideshares and other purchases without the iOS restrictions.

Why we love this card: You can get 3% cash back on rideshares regardless of which company you’re loyal to. The Blue Cash Preferred also offers an outstanding 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%), plus 6% on select U.S. streaming services, too (you can redeem cash back as a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout). Though there’s a $95 annual fee, you can offset it with the intro offer if you earn the $250 statement credit after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first six months from account opening.

Who should have this in their wallet: We think this card would be a good fit for anyone who regularly uses Uber or Lyft in conjunction with public transportation. If you tend to cook at home (spending up to $500 a month), we think you’ll also get a lot of value from the boosted 6% cash back on up to $6,000 on U.S. supermarket purchases (then 1%).

Other cards to consider: You can also earn 3X Membership Rewards points on transit purchases, including rideshare services with the American Express Green Card®, though you’ll earn 3X Membership Rewards points on dining at restaurants worldwide instead of 6% cash back at U.S. Supermarkets. The Apple Card also offers 3% back, but only on Uber (and only if you use Apple Pay).

All information about the American Express® Green Card has been collected independently by Newsweek.com. The American Express® Green Card is no longer available through Newsweek.com.

Why we love this card: We love the easy, no-frills 2% back you earn with the Active Cash card. It simplifies earning credit card rewards on rideshare purchases because it doesn’t matter whether you use Lyft or Uber, and you’ll earn the same great cash rewards rate on all of your other purchases, too.

Who should have this in their wallet: If you’re a set-it-and-forget-it type, the Active Cash card lets you earn solid cash rewards with no fuss. It’s also a useful card to carry when you want to maximize your cash rewards, because you can use another card for boosting rewards in certain categories and this card for 2% cash rewards on everything else.

Other cards to consider: The Citi Double Cash® Card also gives an unlimited 2% cash back, although you’ll have to pay for your purchases before you earn the full amount. The Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card offers a flat 1.5% unlimited cash back on purchases, no annual fee and a 15-month 0% intro APR offer on purchases and balance transfers (then 19.99% – 29.99% variable APR after that).

How To Choose the Right Credit Card for Ridesharing for You

The best card for ridesharing is one that earns rewards and fits your lifestyle. Before you choose, keep in mind your typical monthly spending, your preferred rideshare service and how you prefer to redeem rewards. Then, look for a card that meets those criteria and also provides the kind of benefits you’ll actually use.

Note Your Preferred Rideshare Service

Which do you use (or use most): Uber or Lyft? How much do you spend on ridesharing? Will benefits like Uber Cash help you? Make sure the card you’re considering rewards your preferred rideshare service, ideally with boosted points, cash back or membership perks.

Track Your Monthly Spending

In addition to your monthly rideshare spending, where else does your money go? For the best value, pick a card that rewards categories you already spend in, whether that’s groceries, restaurants, transit or something else.

Strategize Around Rewards Rates

Consider the potential rewards earning rate on both your rideshare spending and other category spending. Will you be able to maximize your earnings in a particular category with that card? Or will it make more sense to choose a flat-rate cash back card instead? Only you know your tolerance for tracking rewards by category.

Know How Often You Travel

Do you travel a lot or fly frequently? Cards that offer points that you can redeem for miles with your preferred airline or transfer to travel partners will likely be a good fit for you. You’ll also get more use out of a card with travel benefits (such as trip protection or airport lounge access) than someone who rarely travels.

Decide Whether You’ll Carry a Balance

If you tend to carry a balance, be sure to carefully compare annual percentage rates (APR), including penalty APRs and any introductory APR offers. You might also get more value out of a balance transfer offer with low fees if you need extra time to pay down a balance.

Determine your Tolerance for an Annual Fee

Will the annual fee be worth it? Calculate whether you’ll earn enough in rewards or use enough of the card’s perks and credits to offset the annual fee. If it’ll cost you more to carry the card than you’ll earn in benefits, consider a different card instead.

Alternatives

A new credit card isn’t the only way to benefit from your many Uber or Lyft rides. Review the cards already in your wallet for more ways to earn rewards or connect your account to other loyalty programs for boosted points or miles.

Buy Gift Cards

If you already have a rewards credit card, check what categories give you increased rewards. If they include supermarkets, gas stations or office supply stores, use that card to buy Uber or Lyft gift cards and load them to your account. Your gift card spending will earn you added rewards for that spending category.

Use Your Mastercard

If you already have an eligible Mastercard, you can earn a $5 or $10 Lyft credit each month when you take three or more rides with Lyft. World Mastercard®, World Elite Mastercard® and Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive Mastercard® are eligible. You can also score a 10% discount on scheduled airport rides with a World Elite Mastercard®, World Elite Mastercard® for Business or World Mastercard® for Business.

If you have a Bilt Mastercard®, you can earn 3X Bilt Points on your Lyft rides when you pay with your Bilt card and 2X points when your Lyft account is linked to your Bilt Rewards account and it’s selected as your loyalty rewards partner.

The PayPal Cashback Mastercard lets you earn 3% cash back when you add it to your PayPal account and use PayPal to check out. You’ll also earn 2% cash back on other purchases.

Connect a Loyalty Program

If you’re a Lyft rider, you can connect your Delta SkyMiles®, Hilton Honors® or Alaska Mileage Plan® accounts to your Lyft account to earn 1x, 2x or 3x points or miles with each ride.

As an Uber rider, you can earn 2x, 3x or 6x Marriott Bonvoy points when you connect your accounts and take eligible Uber rides or place eligible orders with Uber Eats.

*Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which credit card gives you free uber one.

You’ll get monthly statement credits to cover an Uber One membership through November 14, 2024, with the following Capital One credit cards when the membership is paid with your card: Savor, SavorOne, SavorOne Student, Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card. You’ll get up to six months of credits until November 14, 2024 with the Quicksilver or Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card.

What Credit Card Gets Uber Points?

For Uber Cash, American Express offers $10 per month with the Gold card and $15 per month with the Platinum card (plus a bonus of $20 in December).

For the best points earnings on Uber purchases, the Capital One Savor, SavorOne, SavorOne Student and Quicksilver Student cards each offer 10% cash back on Uber and Uber Eats purchases through November 14, 2024.

Which Credit Card Is Best for Lyft?

We think the Chase Sapphire Reserve is the best credit card for Lyft, thanks to its hefty rewards earnings of 10x points on qualifying Lyft rides through March 31, 2025 and complimentary Lyft Pink All Access membership for two years. Our other picks for the best card to use with Lyft are the Chase Sapphire Preferred and Chase Freedom Unlimited, which earn 5X points and 5% total cash back on qualifying Lyft rides through March 31, 2025, respectively.

The post 10 Best Credit Cards for Uber and Ridesharing of 2024 first appeared on Newsweek Vault .