Think travel has to be expensive? Think again. This introductory slideshow will show you the basics of travel hacking, or the art of getting free airfare and hotels. It's a simple and straightforward method that uses loyalty programs against themselves so you can go anywhere you want....without having to fly thousands of miles per year.
You can collect miles from your couch and get you, your spouse, or your family someone exotic anytime you want without breaking your bank.
http://www.nomadicmatt.com
Ride the Storm: Navigating Through Unstable Periods / Katerina Rudko (Belka G...
How to Get Free Airfare and Hotel Rooms
1. G E T N O M A D I C M A T T ’ S T R A V E L H A C K I N G G U I D E
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A QUICK GUIDE
by NOMADIC MATT
TRAVEL HACKING
to
2. G E T N O M A D I C M A T T ’ S T R A V E L H A C K I N G G U I D E
Brought to you by
NOMADIC MATT
3. G E T N O M A D I C M A T T ’ S T R A V E L H A C K I N G G U I D E
What is
TRAVEL
HACKING?
4. G E T N O M A D I C M A T T ’ S T R A V E L H A C K I N G G U I D E
...the technique of legally
collecting loyalty points for
travel programs and then gaming
said programs to obtain free or
severely cheap travel.
You can summarize
TRAVEL HACKING as...
5. G E T N O M A D I C M A T T ’ S T R A V E L H A C K I N G G U I D E
they mean they are...
TRAVEL HACKER,
When someone says
they are a
6. G E T N O M A D I C M A T T ’ S T R A V E L H A C K I N G G U I D E
...a
travel fanatic,
LOYALTY-OBSESSED
7. G E T N O M A D I C M A T T ’ S T R A V E L H A C K I N G G U I D E
...a
travel fanatic, who is addicted to
GETTING REWARD POINTS,
LOYALTY-OBSESSED
8. G E T N O M A D I C M A T T ’ S T R A V E L H A C K I N G G U I D E
GETTING REWARD POINTS,
MILKING THE SYSTEM,
...a
travel fanatic, who is addicted to
LOYALTY-OBSESSED
9. G E T N O M A D I C M A T T ’ S T R A V E L H A C K I N G G U I D E
TRAVELING FOR FREE!
...a
travel fanatic, who is addicted to
LOYALTY-OBSESSED
and
GETTING REWARD POINTS,
MILKING THE SYSTEM,
10. G E T N O M A D I C M A T T ’ S T R A V E L H A C K I N G G U I D E
After all,
FREEis the best kind
OF TRAVEL!
11. G E T N O M A D I C M A T T ’ S T R A V E L H A C K I N G G U I D E
&
are like money.
Miles
(what airline
points are
called)
Points
(what
everything
else is called)
✈ 2 5 0 0,
12. G E T N O M A D I C M A T T ’ S T R A V E L H A C K I N G G U I D E
There are hundreds
of loyalty programs
in existence — just
about every major travel
brand you can think of offers one.
13. G E T N O M A D I C M A T T ’ S T R A V E L H A C K I N G G U I D E
There are hundreds
of loyalty programs
in existence — just
about every major travel
brand you can think of offers one.
The more “money” you have,
the more free or discounted
travel you can “buy”.
14. G E T N O M A D I C M A T T ’ S T R A V E L H A C K I N G G U I D E
You do all you can to
collect money right?
15. G E T N O M A D I C M A T T ’ S T R A V E L H A C K I N G G U I D E
Well, collect miles and
points the same way!
✈ 2 5 0 0,+ =
You do all you can to
collect money right?
16. G E T N O M A D I C M A T T ’ S T R A V E L H A C K I N G G U I D E
How do
LOYALTY
PROGRAMS WORK?
17. G E T N O M A D I C M A T T ’ S T R A V E L H A C K I N G G U I D E
LOYALTY PROGRAMS are
designed to reward consumers
for their continued patronage
by offering them perks, special
discounts, upgrades, and
added points for every dollar
spent that can be redeemed
for freebies.
18. G E T N O M A D I C M A T T ’ S T R A V E L H A C K I N G G U I D E
The idea behind these
programs is that if you work
hard to collect all these points,
you’re less likely to switch
to another company, since
you would have to start all
over again.
19. G E T N O M A D I C M A T T ’ S T R A V E L H A C K I N G G U I D E
How do the
HOTEL PROGRAMS
WORK?
20. G E T N O M A D I C M A T T ’ S T R A V E L H A C K I N G G U I D E
With hotel loyalty programs,
you only earn points and status
when you book directly through
the hotel.
For example, if you stayed at the
Hilton but booked via Expedia or
Hotels.com, you won’t earn points
from your booking or have the stay
count towards elite status.
21. G E T N O M A D I C M A T T ’ S T R A V E L H A C K I N G G U I D E
With hotel programs, the more
nights you stay, the higher your
elite status, which earns you:
‣ Later check-outs
‣ Free Wi-Fi
‣ Breakfast
‣ Room upgrades
22. G E T N O M A D I C M A T T ’ S T R A V E L H A C K I N G G U I D E
How do the
AIRLINE PROGRAMS
WORK?
✈
23. G E T N O M A D I C M A T T ’ S T R A V E L H A C K I N G G U I D E
With airline programs, elite
status gets you upgrades, priority
boarding, priority check-in, lounge
access, and dedicated customer
care lines.
Also, the higher your elite status, the
more bonus miles you earn when you
fly. You can earn between 25% and
100% bonus miles, helping you to get
free flights faster.
✈
24. G E T N O M A D I C M A T T ’ S T R A V E L H A C K I N G G U I D E
To gain status and benefit, you
need to actually fly. Miles gained
through non-flying means (i.e.,
credit card purchases) don’t
count towards status.
But it doesn’t matter where you
book your flight, whether it’s with
the airline directly or through a
website like Kayak!
✈
25. G E T N O M A D I C M A T T ’ S T R A V E L H A C K I N G G U I D E
How to Gain Points:
TRAVEL CREDIT CARD
BONUSES
26. G E T N O M A D I C M A T T ’ S T R A V E L H A C K I N G G U I D E
CREDIT CARD BONUSES are
what makes travel hacking
possible on a grand scale.
Since the United States is a credit
card-hungry nation, competition
for customers is fierce and, as a
result, the card company partners
often offer sign-up bonuses of
up to 100,000 POINTS!
27. G E T N O M A D I C M A T T ’ S T R A V E L H A C K I N G G U I D E
Thanks to bonuses, these are
SOME of the goodies I’ve earned:
★ 500,000+ America Airlines miles
★ 100,000+ British Airways miles
★ 150,000+ Hilton HHonors points
★ 200,000+ Chase Ultimate Rewards points
★ 4 free nights at the Marriott
★ Citibank points for two free flights to Europe
and $300 USD cash
★ A dozen free nights at Starwood Hotels
★ Free first-class ticket from London to China
28. G E T N O M A D I C M A T T ’ S T R A V E L H A C K I N G G U I D E
So how do you get
all that for yourself?
Ask yourself this:
29. G E T N O M A D I C M A T T ’ S T R A V E L H A C K I N G G U I D E
So how do you get
all that for yourself?
Ask yourself this:
WHAT IS YOUR
GOAL?
30. G E T N O M A D I C M A T T ’ S T R A V E L H A C K I N G G U I D E
It’s important when travel hacking
with credit cards to come up with
a plan to direct your efforts.
For example:
‣ If you are a really loyal flier with
American Airlines, then the best
cards to start off with would be the
Citi American AAdvantage card or the
Starwood Amex since you can
transfer points to your AA account.
31. G E T N O M A D I C M A T T ’ S T R A V E L H A C K I N G G U I D E
‣ If you just want points to spend
wherever you choose, get the Chase
or American Express cards because
you can redeem their points with a
variety of companies.
‣ Want free hotel rooms? Sign up for
the hotel brand-specific cards.
By focusing on what you want first,
you maximize your time and efforts.
32. G E T N O M A D I C M A T T ’ S T R A V E L H A C K I N G G U I D E
How to pick the
BESTCREDIT CARD
33. G E T N O M A D I C M A T T ’ S T R A V E L H A C K I N G G U I D E
Look for the cards that offer the
following things:
‣ A huge sign-up bonus – Always get
a card with a high sign-up bonus of
35,000 points or more.
‣ Additional category bonus –
Good credit cards will give you extra
points when you shop at specific
retailers, or, if it is a branded credit
card, with a particular brand.
34. G E T N O M A D I C M A T T ’ S T R A V E L H A C K I N G G U I D E
‣ Low spending minimum – In order to
claim the large bonuses, you must
make either a single purchase or
meet a minimum spending threshold
in a certain time frame. I typically
sign up for cards with a minimum
spending of between $1–2,000 USD
in a 3–6 month period.
Many fees for company branded credit
cards range from $50-$95 per year but
most are waived the first year.
35. G E T N O M A D I C M A T T ’ S T R A V E L H A C K I N G G U I D E
RISKS a
36. G E T N O M A D I C M A T T ’ S T R A V E L H A C K I N G G U I D E
A lot of people worry that signing
up for numerous credit cards will hurt
their credit score. It’s a valid concern.
Your credit score is determined by a
lot of factors. What really matters is
your overall history:
‣ Do you pay your bills on time?
‣ Do you have a good debt-to-credit ratio?
‣ Have you had cards for a long time?
a
37. G E T N O M A D I C M A T T ’ S T R A V E L H A C K I N G G U I D E
While getting a lot of cards at once,
hurts your credit, you bounce back
and if you have a lot of available
credit but very little debt, this
will count even more to a good
credit score.
Travel hacking actually
makes your credit better.
8
38. G E T N O M A D I C M A T T ’ S T R A V E L H A C K I N G G U I D E
How to Get Points:
WITHOUT
CREDIT CARDS
39. G E T N O M A D I C M A T T ’ S T R A V E L H A C K I N G G U I D E
Let’s talk about some
OTHER WAYSTO EARN
POINTSwithout relying on large
credit card bonuses.
40. G E T N O M A D I C M A T T ’ S T R A V E L H A C K I N G G U I D E
‣ Everyday spending – If you already
have a credit card with rewards, the first
thing you should do is put all of your
purchases on that card.
‣ It’s such a simple thing but it’s worth it;
every dollar spent off your card is a
point lost. I never pay cash unless I
have to. If you spend $3,000 a month,
that equals 36,000 points earned per
year without spending anything more
than you already do.
41. G E T N O M A D I C M A T T ’ S T R A V E L H A C K I N G G U I D E
‣ Use the airline shopping portals –
All airlines, hotels, and travel brands
have preferred merchants.
‣ These companies—ranging from
clothing retailers to sporting goods
stores to office supply businesses and
everything in between—partner with the
airlines’ special shopping malls. By
ordering online through the airline’s
website, you can earn additional points.
42. G E T N O M A D I C M A T T ’ S T R A V E L H A C K I N G G U I D E
‣ Sign up for newsletters – I sign up
for all the airline newsletters, as well
as those for credit cards, so I can stay
updated on special fares, deals, and
offers. Many of the best deals in the
world are only sent via a newsletter
and if you don’t sign up, you’ll never
know. Recently, I earned triple miles
for three months on my Citi American
Airlines AAdvantage card through an
alert sent to me via e-mail.
43. G E T N O M A D I C M A T T ’ S T R A V E L H A C K I N G G U I D E
‣ Take surveys – Every little bit counts
and for signing up for surveys, liking
Facebook pages, and more, many
companies offer 250–2,500 points.
‣ Dining Rewards Programs – Nearly
every loyalty program in the world
offers a dining rewards program.
You simply sign up, register your
credit card, and receive points when
you dine at select restaurants within
the network.
44. G E T N O M A D I C M A T T ’ S T R A V E L H A C K I N G G U I D E
‣ Stay up-to-date on bonus offers –
Be sure to constantly check for bonus
offers on airline websites.
‣ Paying your taxes online – For as
little as a 1.88% fee, you can gain miles
easily. On a $10,000 tax bill, that’s only
$188 and if it helps you meet the
minimum spending on, say, 2 cards
with a 50,000 point bonus offered on
each, then for $180 extra dollars you
unlock 110,000 points!
45. G E T N O M A D I C M A T T ’ S T R A V E L H A C K I N G G U I D E
How to Get Points:
FAKE SPENDING
46. G E T N O M A D I C M A T T ’ S T R A V E L H A C K I N G G U I D E
Can’t make those minimum spending
requirements? Don’t spend much? Want
to jump start your spending? Here’s how
to (legally) fake your spending!
‣ Amazon Payments – Lets you send up
to $1,000 per month to anyone for free!
Find a friend who also has an Amazon
Payments account, use a credit card to
send them $1,000, they cash it out, write
you a check, and you pay off your card!
47. G E T N O M A D I C M A T T ’ S T R A V E L H A C K I N G G U I D E
‣ Gift Cards – Purchasing Visa and
MasterCard gift cards is one of the best
ways to manufacture spending because
you can buy as many of these as you
want. Most Visa and MasterCard gift
cards are PIN enabled, making them
easy to cash out via cash back at the
grocery store register, money order
purchases, or Amazon Payments –
pretty much any way a debit card
could be used.
48. G E T N O M A D I C M A T T ’ S T R A V E L H A C K I N G G U I D E
Now that you have all
those gift cards, what do
you do with them?
CASH THEM OUT WITH A
BLUEBIRD
ACCOUNT!
49. G E T N O M A D I C M A T T ’ S T R A V E L H A C K I N G G U I D E
Bluebird is a reloadable, prepaid card
launched by American Express and
Walmart.
It’s one of the greatest tools for
manufactured spend because it is
relatively inexpensive to use, has many
ways to withdraw your balance (to pay off
the credit cards you used to fund it), and
has a much higher limit than Amazon
Payments. With Bluebird, you can load up
to $5,000 per month.
50. G E T N O M A D I C M A T T ’ S T R A V E L H A C K I N G G U I D E
THE BASIC STRATEGY IS:
1. Buy $5,000 in gift cards using a travel
credit card from your favorite store,
preferably one that has a bonus like
5X on office supplies or 3X on groceries.
2. Load the gift cards onto the Bluebird
card.
3. Use your Bluebird account to write a
check or just tell Bluebird to make a
direct payment to your credit card
issuer to cover the bill.
51. G E T N O M A D I C M A T T ’ S T R A V E L H A C K I N G G U I D E
USING YOUR
MILES!
52. G E T N O M A D I C M A T T ’ S T R A V E L H A C K I N G G U I D E
Now that you have gained all those
points, it’s time to use them. First,
let’s discuss the three award types:
‣ Zone- or Category-Based Awards –
the majority of airlines and hotels have
fixed-cost award charts. Hotels are
grouped into categories, while most
airlines use zone-based award charts
that place more emphasis on where you
start and stop than how you get there or
what the real ticket price is.
53. G E T N O M A D I C M A T T ’ S T R A V E L H A C K I N G G U I D E
‣ Distance-Based Awards – a few
frequent flyer programs focus on the
distance traveled and ignore where you
start and stop. Two major examples are:
– ANA (All Nippon Airways, a
Star Alliance member)
– British Airways’ Avios
(a Oneworld member)
The miles used depend on how far you
are traveling. The longer the route, the
more miles you use.
54. G E T N O M A D I C M A T T ’ S T R A V E L H A C K I N G G U I D E
‣ Fixed-Value Awards – finally,
fixed-value award charts assign a
specific value to their points and treat
them like cash. There is no way to
game these systems. But they can
be useful when no other option is
available or when the flight happens
to be relatively cheap. Examples:
– Capital One
– Barclays
55. G E T N O M A D I C M A T T ’ S T R A V E L H A C K I N G G U I D E
TRAVEL HACKING CAN
BE COMPLICATED.
It’s not the easiest thing to
understand since there are many
different programs and they are
constantly changing.
56. G E T N O M A D I C M A T T ’ S T R A V E L H A C K I N G G U I D E
But travel hacking will make
YOUR LIFE EASIER,
57. G E T N O M A D I C M A T T ’ S T R A V E L H A C K I N G G U I D E
But travel hacking will make
your TRAVEL GOALS
ATTAINABLE,
YOUR LIFE EASIER,
58. G E T N O M A D I C M A T T ’ S T R A V E L H A C K I N G G U I D E
But travel hacking will make
your
THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS.
and save you
TRAVEL GOALS
ATTAINABLE,
YOUR LIFE EASIER,
59. G E T N O M A D I C M A T T ’ S T R A V E L H A C K I N G G U I D E
Don’t leave
MONEYon the table. Start
TODAY!
60. G E T N O M A D I C M A T T ’ S T R A V E L H A C K I N G G U I D E
Learn everything you
need to know to take
your dream trip for
FREE:
‣ How to use the world’s best booking site
‣ How to earn points without a credit card
‣ How to pick the right credit card
‣ How to redeem miles
MORE IMPORTANTLY, you’ll get 80 pages
of tips for understanding airline loyalty
programs so you can become a travel
master and go anywhere you desire!
GET THE BOOK!
61. G E T N O M A D I C M A T T ’ S T R A V E L H A C K I N G G U I D E
Nomadic Matt is an American
travel expert, author, and blogger.
His blog, receives more than
650,000 unique visits a month.
His writing has been featured
in the The New York Times,
CNN, National Geographic,
The Huffington Post, and
The Guardian.
NomadicMatt.com