Resources
Love to Travel? Here are some of my Favorite Essentials
Chase Sapphire Preferred
If you only carry one card in your wallet, make it this one! I love it because the points are super versatile—you can transfer them to World of Hyatt, Southwest, and tons of other travel partners to maximize their value.
It also earns 3x points on dining, 5x on travel booked through the Chase portal, and 2x on other travel purchases. You’ll also get a $50 hotel credit to use annually which helps offset the $95 annual fee.
World of Hyatt
I’m a big fan of all things Hyatt—especially because they use a fixed award chart. That means point prices stay relatively steady, even when cash prices surge. Most other hotel chains you’ll often need way more points for the same stay.
This card has a $95 annual fee but you’ll earn 9x points on Hyatt stays, get a free night every year, and another one when you spend $15,000 annually. Plus, just having the card helps you earn nights toward elite status!
Capital One Venture X
The Venture X is one of the top travel cards out there. While it doesn’t transfer to Hyatt, you can move your miles to great partners like Flying Blue, British Airways, and more. You’ll earn 10x on hotels, 5x on flights (when booked through Capital One Travel), and 2x on all other purchases.
With a $300 annual travel credit, access to airport lounges, and 10,000 bonus miles every year, the perks easily outweigh the annual fee.
Other Resources
Rakuten
Rakuten is one of the easiest ways to earn extra cash back (or Amex points!) on everyday purchases. Just start your shopping through their site or browser extension, and you’ll earn rewards at thousands of popular stores. You can even link your card for in-store offers. It’s totally free to use—and those payouts add up fast!
Southwest Hotels
Booking through Southwest Hotels is a great way to earn extra Rapid Rewards points—sometimes thousands per stay! You’ll often earn more points than you would by booking directly with the hotel. Just search through their portal, choose a property, and watch your Southwest points pile up. It’s an easy way to boost your balance toward your next free flight or even a Companion Pass.
Max My Point
Max My Point is a powerful (and free!) tool for checking award availability at top hotels—especially Hyatt. Instead of clicking through each date manually, you can instantly see which nights have standard room awards available. It saves tons of time and helps you snag those hard-to-find points stays before they’re gone. Perfect for planning around peak travel times or chasing Hyatt free night redemptions!
Travel Essentials
Products that I use often for my traveling essentials.
Travel Resources
Activities
Viator
Viator is a go-to site for booking tours, activities, and excursions all over the world. From city walking tours to bucket-list adventures, you can reserve it all in one place. It’s especially great for planning ahead and skipping the lines. Bonus: you can often earn credit card rewards or use travel portal points when booking if you go through a site like Rakuten or travel portals such as Chase or Capital One!
Trolley Tours
We love using hop-on, hop-off trolley tours—like Old Town Trolley Tours—when exploring a new city, especially if we’re not renting a car. It’s an easy and fun way to see the sights, with the freedom to hop off and explore different neighborhoods at your own pace throughout the day.
Priority Pass
With the Capital One Venture X card, you receive a complimentary Priority Pass Select membership, granting you unlimited access to over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide. You can also bring up to two guests per visit at no additional cost. To activate your membership, simply enroll online after receiving your card.
Car Rental
Hertz
Hertz is a solid choice for car rentals—and even better when you have the Capital One Venture X card. As a cardholder, you get complimentary Hertz President’s Circle status, which means free upgrades when available, expedited pickup, and the ability to skip the counter at many locations. Combine that with your Venture X travel protections and points earning, and it’s a win-win every time you rent.
Costco Travel
This is one of the best-kept secrets for scoring great rental car deals. Members get access to discounted rates from major rental companies —with no additional fees and free cancellation. The best part? You can easily compare prices across brands and often add an extra driver for free. If you’re a Costco member, it’s a no-brainer for car rentals!
Turo
Turo is like Airbnb, but for cars. Instead of renting from a traditional rental company, you book directly from car owners—often at lower prices and with more vehicle options. It’s especially handy when rental car inventory is low or prices are sky-high.
Vacation Home Rental
Vacasa
You can transfer Capital One Venture X miles to Wyndham Rewards to book Vacasa vacation rentals. Most one-bedroom properties cost just 15,000 points per night, and you’ll get way more space than a typical hotel. Just find a Vacasa home, confirm availability, transfer your miles, and book through Wyndham!
AirBNB/VRBO
These sites are an awesome alternative to hotels—perfect for group trips or longer stays. It is harder to redeem points for vacation homes but you can erase the charge using Venture X miles although it’s not always the best redemption.