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Message
re: How do people afford the constant travel lifestyle?
Posted on 8/21/25 at 8:01 am to makersmark1
Posted on 8/21/25 at 8:01 am to makersmark1
quote:
I see people going everywhere all the time, but when I check prices the costs seem pretty steep. I’m cheap so maybe I just don’t like forking over money for much. Are people getting great deals that I don’t know about? Is there some discount after lots of travel? Is it work related flyer miles and hotel points covering costs? It seems like wherever I want to go is more than I want to spend.
I’m not sure. Seems like every time I check Facebook certain people I know are posting pics from a tropical destination or Europe.
I feel like I’m never home between the 3 places I hunt but they all have cabins on them so it’s just gas/food/beer for a 3 to 5 day hunt. I typically only buy about 2 to 3 flights per year 2 to somewhere in the US and 1 work event that I usually extend and pay to upgrade to 1st class for my wife and I. We get the corporate room rate and usually extend it from 3 nights to 5 to 7. My wife hates it because it falls on our anniversary every year and for the past 11 years.
This post was edited on 8/21/25 at 8:09 am
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Posted on 8/21/25 at 8:21 am to CenlaLowell
Never go in debt to travel. It is part of the maxim that includes, one wife, one house, cars paid for with cash, and save every single month. That said, with CC miles and some discipline, there are trips to Europe that can be in line with or relatively close to a lot of the trips I see Brayden and Jaxton taking with their photo-heavy moms and dads.
Posted on 8/21/25 at 9:08 am to Ham And Glass
I think not going in debt to travel is generally a good rule. I have a few friends who came from money and travel alot. We didn't, so for us its about priorities and choices. We travel often, work, pleasure and often both on the same trip.
How do we afford it...we live in a modest house (which outside of mortgage means we have modest utility/house expenses) and drive modest cars. I had LSU fb season tickets, gave those up but still attend 1 or 2 games and most seasons do one road trip, still come out way ahead. Don't hunt anymore, another huge expense for many folks. I could go on and on...
Outside of family and those needs and local hobbies/activities that are mostly inexpensive, travel is a big priority for us. Last, travel doesn't have to be expensive. Yes, a week-long ski-trip will cost you as will the once in a lifetime 2-3 weeks in Europe, but all travel doesn't need to be that complicated or expensive.
How do we afford it...we live in a modest house (which outside of mortgage means we have modest utility/house expenses) and drive modest cars. I had LSU fb season tickets, gave those up but still attend 1 or 2 games and most seasons do one road trip, still come out way ahead. Don't hunt anymore, another huge expense for many folks. I could go on and on...
Outside of family and those needs and local hobbies/activities that are mostly inexpensive, travel is a big priority for us. Last, travel doesn't have to be expensive. Yes, a week-long ski-trip will cost you as will the once in a lifetime 2-3 weeks in Europe, but all travel doesn't need to be that complicated or expensive.
Posted on 8/21/25 at 9:11 am to SaintsTiger
quote:
On my Chase credit cards the flight options always cost more than literally the exact same flight booked direct. And I have the ability to select from more airlines and flight times. Of course there are more hotel options too.
You're doing it incorrectly. You don't book through the credit card portal. You transfer the points to a partner and book there. For example, I booked a LHR-MSY business class flight for 90k avios + $475. I used a 30% transfer bonus from Amex to BA, so only used ~70k Amex MR points. That's a $2500 flight for about $700 in points + $400 cash. I'd say that's a decent deal.
Posted on 8/21/25 at 9:32 am to makersmark1
quote:
I see people going everywhere all the time,
Who are all these people you talk about?
Posted on 8/21/25 at 9:47 am to dallastiger55
quote:
thats hard to believe considering round trip for 2 is around 2500-3000. Me and my wife to Denver is $400
Skiing in Europe is cheaper, if you go long enough. Letting AI do the heavy lifting
If you are looking at a 4 day ski trip, probably not worth it. 5 days plus and you should run the numbers.
The skiing there is also a different experience with the tree line being much lower than the Rockies or Sierra Nevada. You are also going to be treated as an adult, and ski patrol will not save your butt. You go out of bounds, which is easy, you are on your own. Trust me, from a guy that walked down a mountain in a snowstorm at night cause he missed the tram down at closing
.Posted on 8/21/25 at 9:59 am to DarthRebel
Thats good info. Although for the purpose of this thread I think we should exclude traveling solely for skiing, hunting, and other hobbies where you travel to a specific location and spend all of your time at one place.
Lots of people hunt, some folks ski, but its a very, very small percentage of both populations who travel long distances from where they live to do both.
Lots of people hunt, some folks ski, but its a very, very small percentage of both populations who travel long distances from where they live to do both.
Posted on 8/21/25 at 10:09 am to DarthRebel
quote:
Who are all these people you talk about?
Like many, he's probably seeing the relatively small percentage of his friends who are on vacation at any given time post about it on social media, so his perception is that "everyone is going on trips all the time"
Social media is not and never has been a representation of real life.
I can easily (and relatively cheaply) craft my social media to appear that I'm on vacation/traveling for much of the year, despite only taking 3 or 4 trips in a year. Hell there's probably thousands and thousands of "influencers" out there that travel not even 10% as much as their social media profiles would have you believe. You can easily turn a week or two in Europe into many months worth of "content" to keep up the perception that you spend most of your time on vacation. One Mediterranean cruise and you have enough different locations to make it seem like you took 2 or 3 different trips to Europe, or that you were there for a much, much longer time than you actually were.
This post was edited on 8/21/25 at 10:18 am
Posted on 8/21/25 at 11:10 am to makersmark1
Posted on 8/21/25 at 12:00 pm to VABuckeye
quote:
Amex Platinum and Chase Sapphire.
Yeah, I have AMEX reg and Biz Plats + biz Gold as well as the biz cash. Chase Sapphire Reserve as well as the Ink+ and the Venture X as well as quite a few others
Although, with all the new fees and coupon books, i may change some things.
quote:
Do not use the Chase or Amex travel portal to purchase flights. Sign up for free airline rewards programs and then transfer your Chase or Amex points to the airline and book directly through the airline.
90% of the time it agree, but I think it's always worth a quick look into the portals to see if they have a better deal. Mostly when that happens it would be an economy flight. But yes, most times just simply transfer your credit card points to an airline, especially during a bonus transfer.
Posted on 8/21/25 at 12:05 pm to Sho Nuff
Honestly, if someone really has a nice pile of points using the Chase portal or Amex portal is better than redeeming hotel points for rooms. Amex and Chase also give you much more flexibility in hotels to choose as tehy have tons of hotels you couldn't otherwise use (hotel) points on.
This post was edited on 8/21/25 at 12:06 pm
Posted on 8/21/25 at 12:09 pm to VABuckeye
quote:
Chase portal or Amex portal is better than redeeming hotel points for rooms.
The new Chase portal for the Reserve with the Points Boost has shown some nice 2% value for sure. Even better than transferring to Hyatt in a couple cases. However, that's one of the best parts of Chase Points is transferring them to Hyatt.
Posted on 8/21/25 at 12:19 pm to Sho Nuff
Not for European travel. Using points for European hotels via Chase or Amex opens up a world of hotels to choose from and in cities where American hotel brands have little to no presence. 
Posted on 8/21/25 at 12:27 pm to makersmark1
We use cc miles. Go on an overseas trip just me and the wife. Once every 2 years. Enough miles to cover flights and hotels
Posted on 8/21/25 at 12:52 pm to VABuckeye
quote:
Using points for European hotels via Chase or Amex opens up a world of hotels to choose from and in cities where American hotel brands have little to no presence.
Agreed. Although there's been some good movement with the Hilton and Hyatt portfolios recently.
Posted on 8/21/25 at 5:39 pm to Suntiger
quote:
We run everything through one card
Lately many merchants add a credit card service charge.
I usually pay cash/debit if they do this.
Posted on 8/21/25 at 5:44 pm to makersmark1
quote:
Lately many merchants add a credit card service charge.
I can count on one hand how many times I’ve encountered this
Posted on 8/21/25 at 7:42 pm to makersmark1
quote:
Lately many merchants add a credit card service charge.
I usually pay cash/debit if they do this.
Not often. And again, the perks for my card far outweigh the few times I get charged a service fee. Besides, who in this day and age carries cash or writes a check?
Posted on 8/21/25 at 7:50 pm to Suntiger
quote:
Besides, who in this day and age carries cash or writes a check?
They take debit cards.
Posted on 8/21/25 at 8:45 pm to JohnnyKilroy
quote:
You can do extended stays in europe/asia for a LOT less than 20-30k.
This is absolutely, positively correct. You can fly to anywhere in the world in Turkish Biz for about $3,500. Coach on the main carriers is fine, even to Japan, as long as you're smart about selecting your seat.
It's also pretty easy to find another hotel in the Marriott brand for half of the cost of where your wives will insist on staying not far away. I almost always just eat where the locals eat, it's not difficult. Two adults and two kids, in business, for two weeks in Europe cost me under $11k IIRC. The airfare was a mix of points used to upgrade qualifying coach tickets.
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