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FREE, FREE, FREE
It’s easy to see all the FREE headlines in the points and miles world, and forget the expenses that may come with it. But, as much as we can save with this hobby, there are some expenses to take into account. When you can travel more often for less, it can be easy to forget that you are still paying SOMETHING when you travel.
Card Fees
This is a big hindrance for a lot of people looking to get into this hobby. And while we believe that the benefits outweigh the costs on a lot of the cards we carry with fees, it is understandable to be leery of them because they can add up.
My recommendation is to find a dollar amount you would be comfortable with to get “free” hotels or flights for your trip. Maybe that number is $100, maybe it’s $500. But think of that as your flight and hotel budget. That will allow you to have a better gauge for what fees you can accept.
Food
Food is a huge cost when you travel, and it’s easy to lose sight of that, especially for a large family, when planning a “free” trip to an exciting locale. Each location is going to have different food prices. The Maldives, Bora-Bora, and Disney being on the high end of the spectrum. Although, we had read that food in Costa Rica would be cheap and we did not necessarily feel that was the case. It wasn’t horrid, but it wasn’t what I would call cheap.
I have a couple friends who travel with crockpots or rice cookers. Many friends, especially with food allergies strive to book an Airbnb or a hotel with a kitchen. We often try to buy some groceries on arrival that allow us to make some lunches or quick dinners in the hotel room. Whatever you do to mitigate food costs, good for you! Don’t let this cost deter you from enjoying your travels.
Rental Car
Rental Cars can be a minor expense that can be covered by an American Express or Capital One credit, or they can be a MAJOR cost of your travels. Both our trips to Costa Rica and Alaska proved to be real doozys as far as rental cars were concerned. As long as you are budgeting appropriately for these costs in the more touristy locations, you should be fine, but it is something to be aware of. Also, if you are in a city with good public transportation, we always recommend that as a great way to save on your trip!
Extra Travel
The truth of the matter is, now that we can travel without paying for flights or hotels, we travel a whole lot more. This is a blessing and we couldn’t be more grateful for it, but we have noticed that those extra costs which seem small at first, can really start to add up by the 5th trip of the year. Again, don’t let this deter you from travel. Just be cautious of these hidden fees, and wise with your budgeting and you will be on your way. Looking for an easy way to keep track of your budget and points for your next trip? Check out our Travel Planner!
This trip is free so I can….
The “this trip is free so I can….” fee may be the worst of all. This trip is free so I can get a massage. This trip is free so we can pay for theme park tickets. This trip is free so we can eat out the whole time. It’s very easy to transition from this being a money saving hobby to this being a money allocating hobby. And if your goal is to travel in luxury for less, you’ve got it. If your goal is to make your trip as inexpensive as possible, beware of the “this trip is free so I can…” fee.
The Whole Picture
No, these trips aren’t completely free. However, the costs that I have consistently covered through points and miles has allowed my family to take far more trips to places we never would have gone without breaking the bank. Free? Maybe not. Heavily discounted? Absolutely.
