Like anyone who plays the miles and points game, we often have friends ask how we can suddenly travel so much. So I dive in and tell them the basic premise, and usually their eyes are glazed over within a couple minutes. Once in a while someone actually wants more info and details, so I send them an email offering to help them figure out, plan and book one trip. Along with a warning that they will be spending lots and lots of time learning a new language, researching all kinds of things and memorizing rules of constantly changing rewards programs if they want to go beyond that one trip at a time approach. So before you click that next link for a deal that’s too good to pass up, take a quick look at what it has done to our travels and travel budget:
2012
2012: 2 trips, 2,500 miles driven, 6,000 miles flown. Out of pocket cost of tickets and gas: $2800
Grand Canyon, November 2012
2013
2013: 4 trips, 950 miles driven, 16,000 miles flown. Out of pocket cost of tickets and gas: $800
Big Bend, April 2013
2014
2014 as booked: 8 trips, 48,500 miles flying. Out of pocket cost of 30 roundtrip tickets: $2000. Mostly covered, of course, with Arrival points.
Roatan, February 2014
Maps courtesy of Great Circle Mapper.
Yes, the out-of-pocket cost for our 30 roundtrip tickets in 2014 is lower than for the 4 in 2012. And hopefully there is one more trip to squeeze in there to wherever Milemadness part 2 happens to be. Which, if you were on Saverocity forums, you would know is scheduled for someplace West of somewhere else and will be announced by Matt June 1st last week this week very soon!Do not let this happen to your family! Whatever you’d like your own map to look like, it can be done. Not with one or two magic credit cards, but with a plan that actually fits your situation. We hope to be helpful in crafting and enacting that plan as well as helping you to stay on top of ever-changing opportunities.
Disclosure: If you pay interest on them, credit cards cost way more than they could ever save. Please swipe responsibly.
– Kenny
I’m sorry for slacking off on the DO… we were about to close on a place then we decided to rip it up and start over again, we are working on it!
Measure twice, cut once! Unlike me who usually does it the other way around.
Can’t wait!
I love it! This is a cautionary tale and inspirational story at the same time. That’s what this hobby is all about. The biggest challenge is to not let it take over your life, something I’m struggling with on a regular basis.
Thanks Leana! Juggling all the kids stuff and activities as well as traveling this amount makes for a very full schedule, but it’s totally worth it!