At Travel Freely, we often think of our origin story (yes, for those following, Zac’s proposal in Southern France laid the groundwork for our site!) and all of the points and miles redemptions we’ve scored since we began this free travel journey. Like us, you probably have that one trip that ultimately convinced you free travel was attainable and made you realize you could do and see more than you ever thought possible, right? Since then, how many other trips and experiences have you made possible by points and miles? And where are you going next?
While our Member Success Story series typically highlights one trip that a Travel Freely member shares, we decided to switch things up a little this time. The reality is that we often receive emails from our community about the MANY trips our members are going on, funded either entirely on points, or more often where points offset the cost of significant travel expenses (flights and hotels) so members can focus on the added experiences (tours, food and fun).
Today, we’re excited to share Mark’s story. He emailed us about how he went from being an occasional traveler to a points and miles enthusiast. Mark says that with the help of Travel Freely, he and his wife have embarked on incredible adventures, including dream trips to London and Italy, all while saving a significant amount of money.
We love these stories – and can hear the excitement when you share them with us – so keep sending them!
Mark’s Journey
Mark’s journey with points and miles started years ago when he traveled a couple of times a year for work, accumulating a few Continental Airlines miles that sat idle in his account. His story goes so far back that Continental Airlines doesn’t exist anymore, having merged with United Airlines in 2012! This was well before Travel Freely was even born. Later, Mark got an American Airlines credit card but accumulated miles at a slow rate without really using it. It wasn’t until 2017 that Mark redeemed some points for a free night at a beachfront hotel in Santa Cruz, California using all of his points. The seed was planted.
In 2020, Mark’s interest in points and miles grew, and he began accumulating hotel points with a few hotel credit card welcome bonuses. He redeemed those points for a nearly free 5-night vacation the following year. Alas, that’s when he got really hooked on the possibilities of travel rewards.
Dream Trips and Savings
Since then, Mark and his wife have taken several incredible trips, saving substantial money along the way. They flew out of the country for the first time, spending 5 nights in Belize, and have already booked a second trip there for next month.
But their most exciting adventure was a trip Mark’s wife had dreamed of for years—a 4-night stop in London to visit friends, followed by a 21-day road trip around Italy. By strategically using points and miles, they covered half of the nights and part of the flights for free!
Mark’s wife is now a points and miles enthusiast herself. =)
Mark’s Points and Miles Redemptions
Here’s a breakdown of the points and miles Mark has used since 2017:
- September 2017 – 1 night hotel in Santa Cruz, CA, using Continental Airlines points
- May 2022 – 2 nights at the Doubletree in Savannah, GA, using Hilton points
- May 2022 – 3 nights at the Westin Hilton Head Island Resort, using Marriott points
- August 2022 – 2 nights at the Fairfield Inn and Suites Rockport, using Marriott points
- April 2023 – 2 nights at the Holiday Inn Dallas DFW Airport, using 38K IHG points
- April 2023 – 2 last-minute round-trip economy tickets from Dallas to Belize City, using 61K AA points + $200 (would have cost ~$2,000)
- September 2023 – 4 nights at Mr & Mrs Smith in Spoleto, Italy, using 45K IHG points with the 4th night free (would have cost ~$560)
- September 2023 – 5 nights at the Renaissance Tuscany, Italy, using 111K Marriott points + $190 with the 5th night free (would have cost ~$1,300)
- October 2023 – 2 one-way business class tickets from Milan to London on British Airways, using 45K AA points + $59 (would have cost ~$782)
- October 2023 – 1 night at the Holiday Inn London Heathrow, using 19K IHG points (would have cost ~$212)
- April 2024 – 2 round-trip tickets from Houston to Belize City, using 66K United miles + $196.80 (would have cost $1,198.60)
Conclusion
As Mark demonstrates above, free travel to a bucket list destination is often the gateway experience to more free travel! In his email to us, Mark credited Travel Freely with helping him and his wife stay organized to turn their travel dreams into reality while saving thousands of dollars. We’re thrilled to have played a role in their journey and can’t wait to see where their points and miles take them next!
Are you ready to start your own travel success story? Sign up for Travel Freely today and discover how you can turn your everyday spending into unforgettable travel experiences. With the right strategies and tools, you, too, can make your travel dreams a reality!
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