Welcome to Top Travel On Points where I’ll show you how to take luxury vacations without breaking the bank!

Points and Miles Beginner’s Guide

Yes, it’s possible to fly first class or stay at luxury hotels for free (not including taxes and fees). You can even use points for hotel upgrades or amenities.

So how do you earn points?

Strangely enough, traveling is probably the least likely way you’ll earn points or miles. Credit card sign-up bonuses are the easiest ways to boost your points balances, but points will also add up quickly through other means as well.

Before you do anything consider whether earning points and miles is for you. These are my golden rules:

Pay off your credit cards in full every month
Make sure your credit score is at least 700
Be organized
Track your credit card balances

If you don’t know your credit score, most banks offer it for free these days. Check your bank’s website or app and see your credit score with the click of a mouse or touch of a finger!

You can also get an estimated credit score from Credit Karma. It’s also not a bad idea to review your credit reports from the three major credit bureaus via AnnualCreditReport.com.

Also note that if you plan to take out a major loan (mortgage, student loan, auto loan) in the next 2 years, you probably should think twice about proceeding.

So are you ready to get started?

Below you’ll find my step-by-step guide to beginning your points and miles journey! Here’s how to begin: