My 2026 strategy for earning more points and traveling for less

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Life isn’t getting any more affordable, which is why 2026 is a year of strategy for me — figuring out the best ways to earn more points, redeem them for a higher value, and think outside the box for the best award opportunities.

When you hold 11 credit cards and dozens of frequent flyer and hotel loyalty accounts, it takes some extra work, but it’s worth it when I’m able to maximize my points and miles to travel better and more affordably. These are my 2026 travel, credit card, and points and miles strategies for an incredible year of earning, redeeming, and traveling.

User-friendly tools such as Points Path and CardPointers make it easy to find the best award deals and track my credit card benefits. I use Points Path every time I search for flights to decide whether to pay with points or cash, and CardPointers+ to automatically add my credit card offers to all my cards.

Rakuten allows me to double-dip and earn points for all my shopping and dining purchases using a browser plugin. I’ve connected my Rakuten to my Amex Membership Rewards account, so for every Sephora or Carter’s purchase, I’m earning additional Amex points. My goal is to build up a balance and transfer my points to Marriott for a hotel stay in Koh Samui this summer — I’ve got my eye on the Renaissance Koh Samui.

I’m also starting to book some accommodation through Rove Miles, a travel deals site. I get both hotel miles and Rove miles for booking via the site, and Rove has 13 hotel and airline transfer partners. For example, I got both Rove miles and IHG One Rewards points for a recent hotel booking. I’ve also joined Bilt Neighborhood Rewards, which allows me to double-dip at local fitness studios, pharmacies, and restaurants.

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Instead of focusing on earning high-level elite status with one hotel loyalty program, I’ll use co-brand credit cards to secure entry-level or mid-tier elite status with many different programs.

This means regardless of which brand I stay with, I can expect at least slightly preferential treatment, including the possibility of room upgrades, discounts, additional points, early check-in, late checkout, and beyond.

I’m entering 2026 with Hilton Honors Silver status, IHG One Rewards Platinum status, Marriott Gold status, Wyndham Diamond status, I Prefer Titanium status, and World of Hyatt Discoverist status — and I plan to keep them all.

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One of the best ways to travel for free is by earning points and miles. And while you might think you need a credit card to earn rewards, we have a secret for you — you don't, thanks to this program. This company offers plenty of ways to earn its points just by going about your daily life. (And spoiler alert: their points are incredibly valuable!) So take a look and see how you can start earning travel rewards right now with no credit card required.

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2026 is the year I’ll be focusing on deals and transfer bonuses, and putting airline elite status on the back burner. Airlines are making it harder and harder to earn elite status, and I’m tired of overspending for flights just to reach low-level status. Instead, I’d rather pay for added benefits when I need them and use my points and miles to book business-class flights.

For example, I recently booked a flight on Delta (ORD-ATL) using cash (because Points Path advised me it was a better deal than using points) in a higher fare class that offers priority boarding and a free checked bag, even though I hold no status with the airline. Even that higher-priced ticket was $200 cheaper than flying on American, where I hold AAdvantage Gold status (which I’ll soon lose). I'm chasing value, not status, in 2026.

My goal for 2026 is to earn a solid balance of Capital One miles, Chase Ultimate Rewards, American Express Membership Rewards, and Citi ThankYou Points. This means I’ll have many options for transferring rewards to book travel, and I plan to focus on using underdog transfer partners, such as TAP, Qatar, JAL, and Avianca.

I’d also like to use Chase Ultimate Rewards for Hyatt, Capital One miles for Qatar, American Express points for Iberia, and Citi Points for I Prefer, which gives me an excellent 1:4 transfer ratio. I’ll also stay alert regarding transfer bonuses to get the utmost value for my points.

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