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Message
re: How do people afford the constant travel lifestyle?
Posted on 8/20/25 at 9:18 am to makersmark1
Posted on 8/20/25 at 9:18 am to makersmark1
quote:
I see people going everywhere all the time, but when I check prices the costs seem pretty steep.
I travel as much as I can with 2 young kids. It is expensive.
quote:
I’m cheap so maybe I just don’t like forking over money for much.
Same. I pretty much control planing because my wife would choose the most expensive routes.
quote:
Are people getting great deals that I don’t know about?
doubtful. Most travel deals a you will get lesser accomodations, around poors, etc.
quote:
Is there some discount after lots of travel?
You may get some miles or perks if you travel a bunch for work, but not really.
quote:
It seems like wherever I want to go is more than I want to spend.
yep. Gotta make more money!
0
Posted on 8/20/25 at 9:25 am to Suntiger
quote:
Wife and I love to travel, so we prioritize it. We spend frugally on almost everything else and save up for travel. We use CC points, visit in shoulder seasons and look for the best deals. Typically travel somewhere 2 to 3 times a year.
Same. Utilizing things like Going (formerly Scott's cheap flights) or other similar services to help find really good flight deals helps a ton. Can make trips exponentially more reasonable, when you don't care as much when you go and just focus on making the trip hit the budget you need it to.
Posted on 8/20/25 at 10:04 am to makersmark1
I don't travel all that much but every vacation I do go on the flight and/or the hotel is free through points I get from everyday spend on my credit cards
Posted on 8/20/25 at 11:28 am to makersmark1
I look for the best bang for buck credit card sign up bonuses. Usually can get enough value out of 1-2 credit card signups per year to pay for a 5-7 long stay somewhere and only need to pay for food/gas. And can normally also stay in a hotel another 2-3 days using those same rewards.
With 3 young kids we don't end up flying much, most are vehicle trips.
With 3 young kids we don't end up flying much, most are vehicle trips.
Posted on 8/20/25 at 12:01 pm to makersmark1
Credit card points helps a lot.
Southwest has a credit card sign up bonus right now of 100k miles after spending $4k in 3 months.
You sign up and then get your spouse to sign up. That's about $2500 in flights for buying things you already buy.
Southwest has a credit card sign up bonus right now of 100k miles after spending $4k in 3 months.
You sign up and then get your spouse to sign up. That's about $2500 in flights for buying things you already buy.
Posted on 8/20/25 at 12:32 pm to Sterling Archer
The better play for Southwest CCs is for one person to get a personal and business card and that gives them the companion pass for up to 2 years. Then you alternate and have your spouse do that for the next 2 years, etc. That should also help OP understand, like others have said, how you can make the miles/points game work for you. My wife and I travel all the time to some great locations. We're in Spain right now for 2+ weeks then head to Boston for a Red Sox game and then to NY for the US Open. Flew direct to Madrid from LAX in lie-flat seats for 62k points on Iberia. Same back from Madrid to Boston for 50k points and then first class on Hawaiian direct from JFK to HNL, again on points.
Posted on 8/20/25 at 1:17 pm to Sho Nuff
quote:
Flew direct to Madrid from LAX in lie-flat seats for 62k points on Iberia.
Shhh, that's my secret.
Iberia is the reason that I keep a large bucket of Avios at all times. They make getting to Spain and Italy much more comfortable and cheaper.
Posted on 8/20/25 at 1:22 pm to Sho Nuff
quote:
The better play for Southwest CCs is for one person to get a personal and business card and that gives them the companion pass for up to 2 years. Then you alternate and have your spouse do that for the next 2 years, etc. That should also help OP understand, like others have said, how you can make the miles/points game work for you. My wife and I travel all the time to some great locations. We're in Spain right now for 2+ weeks then head to Boston for a Red Sox game and then to NY for the US Open. Flew direct to Madrid from LAX in lie-flat seats for 62k points on Iberia. Same back from Madrid to Boston for 50k points and then first class on Hawaiian direct from JFK to HNL, again on points.
Southwest won't fly you to Europe
Posted on 8/20/25 at 2:11 pm to makersmark1
It blows my mind too
Flexibility and credit card points are great but can only take you so far
When you start making a good income and you realize how much everything costs it becomes a mindf&ck to see how many people are taking luxury vacations, drive luxury cars, etc. If your income is good and far above average, you know all these other people either can't afford it, are in debt up to their eyeballs, not saving a cent for retirement, or all three.
Flexibility and credit card points are great but can only take you so far
When you start making a good income and you realize how much everything costs it becomes a mindf&ck to see how many people are taking luxury vacations, drive luxury cars, etc. If your income is good and far above average, you know all these other people either can't afford it, are in debt up to their eyeballs, not saving a cent for retirement, or all three.
Posted on 8/20/25 at 2:50 pm to metallica81788
yeah, credit card points are cool, but that means you're spending multiples more every day. Sure, some companies let people use personal CCs for expenses, but 99% of people are not spending $10k/mo on their personal card for work.
Posted on 8/20/25 at 3:11 pm to VABuckeye
quote:
Iberia is the reason that I keep a large bucket of Avios at all times
Yeah, I take advantage of the 30-40% Avios bonuses for sure so the reality is that trip cost 30% less points (87k rt each)
Posted on 8/20/25 at 3:15 pm to Ostrich
quote:
Southwest won't fly you to Europe
No shite
The OP didn't ask about Europe, he asked about traveling cheaply. The WN Companion Pass is the gold standard for that as it's 2:1. I mentioned my Europe trip as a subtle brag and to echo what others said about points and miles being the way people do these trips. BTW, WN has a partnership with Iceland Air now so you can get to Reykjavik.Posted on 8/20/25 at 4:28 pm to TheOcean
How long ago did you buy? Prices have spiked in the last few years. I know Portugal and Spain have had huge price growth since COVID. How’s the affair in Italy these days?
Posted on 8/20/25 at 4:32 pm to CheesyF
quote:
yeah, credit card points are cool, but that means you're spending multiples more every day.
At least for the credit cards I use, cash back is usually the best option. I can find better deals on flights and hotels in the open market than I can on the credit card platforms.
People who forego cash back in order to put the points towards travel are still spending money. And usually overpaying.
Posted on 8/20/25 at 4:36 pm to JohnnyKilroy
the travel board is depressing. Almost every person traveling is asking about a 2-3 week trip all over Asia and Europe. Those are 20-30k trips and people reply they go every year.
Posted on 8/20/25 at 4:43 pm to dallastiger55
I went to Europe last year and tried to splurge. I spent $17k in 2 weeks. 20-30k for a 2-week vacation is just very frivolous spending.
Posted on 8/20/25 at 5:02 pm to makersmark1
First, we live in a reasonable sized house and haven't had a car note in years. As an example, on the OT there were multiple people who had $1K energy bills from June-September due to having huge houses. That $3K we aren't paying by living in a smaller house can easily cover 1 international trip, or two 3-4 day extended weekend US trips.
Next, depending on where we are traveling we try to have fun, eat well and do stuff, but also within reason. Sometimes its small things like only renting a car if we absolutely need it vs. using public transit in big cities that saves a good bit off money. Or staying hotels with free breakfast or credit card food credits.
CC points help, but I didn't truly start playing that game till I had enough money to pay off the statement balance each month, which frankly, took years due to decisions when I was younger.
Last, sometimes we add on to work travel, extending a 1.5 day NYC work trip into a 4 day long weekend is much easier if one airfare and 2 of nights are paid for by work, and you can use points for the other airfare(s) and extra nights.
Next, depending on where we are traveling we try to have fun, eat well and do stuff, but also within reason. Sometimes its small things like only renting a car if we absolutely need it vs. using public transit in big cities that saves a good bit off money. Or staying hotels with free breakfast or credit card food credits.
CC points help, but I didn't truly start playing that game till I had enough money to pay off the statement balance each month, which frankly, took years due to decisions when I was younger.
Last, sometimes we add on to work travel, extending a 1.5 day NYC work trip into a 4 day long weekend is much easier if one airfare and 2 of nights are paid for by work, and you can use points for the other airfare(s) and extra nights.
Posted on 8/20/25 at 5:15 pm to makersmark1
In my case I get a ton of points from my business and personal spending.
Posted on 8/20/25 at 5:20 pm to dallastiger55
quote:
Those are 20-30k trips and people reply they go every year.
You can do extended stays in europe/asia for a LOT less than 20-30k.
Want to know something crazy? You can fly over and ski the french/swiss alps for cheaper than you can the rockies these days.
Maybe my perception is totally off, but I feel like domestic travel is "pound for pound" much more expensive than international right now.
Posted on 8/20/25 at 5:27 pm to JohnnyKilroy
thats hard to believe considering round trip for 2 is around 2500-3000. Me and my wife to Denver is $400
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