If you were raised with limited funds — or, like a lot of people, still live on a shoestring — you might assume travel is out of reach.
That was Emily Jablon’s belief. She longed to explore the world, but being raised by a single mother who labored to make ends meet, she figured it simply wouldn’t happen.
Then she met Daraius Dubash. It wasn’t that her future husband was wealthy — it was that he had become adept at the nuanced craft of travel hacking.
Since then, the two have voyaged across the country and globe, frequently flying first class and staying in upscale hotels. They’ve even hosted lavish getaways for their parents — all funded by frequent flyer miles and points.
Over the last eight years, they’ve spent $16,654 on trips worth $236,382 — a saving of $219,728. On their site Million Mile Secrets, they chronicle their adventures and tactics.
We wanted to know how everyday people can begin collecting travel rewards, so we spoke with them about miles, points and finances.
How They Began
As a tax accountant at a Fortune 500 firm, Dubash traveled extensively to conduct audits, accumulating frequent flyer miles and achieving airline elite status.
When he left his job to return to school, his travel dropped — and so did his miles and points accumulation.
“He Googled something like ‘how to travel cheap without flying’ or ‘how to travel on miles,’” Jablon recalls. “He discovered a frequent flyer blog and really ran with the idea.”
Early on in their relationship, he encouraged Jablon to join the journey.
“I remember six months after we met, he asked if he could apply for a credit card in my name,” she says. “I declined… but then he took me on my first flight.”
When she learned he’d essentially scored that first-class seat for free, she came around. “It was what really cemented my belief in the whole credit card rewards hobby,” she says.
They didn’t stop at credit card bonuses; they’ve taken some wild routes to rack up miles and points.
“I went for a consultation about hair loss once in my 20s because they were offering 25,000 miles just for showing up,” Dubash admits. “I still get mail from them eight years later.”
He once drove round-trip to Illinois in a single day (seven hours each way!) because there were no Chase branches near them. On that trip he opened four checking accounts and earned 100,000 miles.
“I’d say it was worth it,” Jablon notes.
Their $27,000 Bucket-List Vacation
Using those accumulated miles and points, Dubash and Jablon have seen much of the world for very little out-of-pocket.
Dubash has visited over 40 countries, and Jablon has been to 32 — though she emphasizes, “It’s not so much about the number of countries; it’s about the depth of experience.”
Generally, they depart from their home in Austin, Texas roughly twice a month to both domestic and international spots.
One standout trip was to the Maldives, an idyllic chain of islands in the Indian Ocean.
“This vacation was incredible for many reasons,” Jablon explains. “One big reason was that we brought both sets of parents, so it turned into a wonderful family trip. And the Maldives’ natural beauty is stunning; the beaches are crystal clear and the snorkeling was the best I’ve done.”
If they’d paid cash, that luxurious vacation would have rung up about $27,000. Instead, they used miles and points and spent only $4,300. While that isn’t pocket change, Jablon describes the experience as “once-in-a-lifetime” — even for them. (You can read their full trip report here.)
Because they’re always “earning and burning” points, Dubash couldn’t say exactly how long it took to accumulate the points for that Maldives escape.
For newcomers, he estimates about a year to collect enough miles and points to reserve the trip, and then another year or so between booking and travel.
Put another way: if you begin today, you could be on a dream vacation in 18–24 months. For a more modest journey, he figures 6–12 months from start to travel.
And the quickest way to amass points? Credit card sign-up bonuses. “Banks distribute more airline miles than airlines do,” Dubash explains.
How to Begin Gathering Miles and Points
If you’re unfamiliar with rewards credit cards, you likely have a bunch of questions. With Dubash and Jablon’s guidance, here are answers to some common ones.
Should I Get a Travel Rewards Card?
Only if you can manage it responsibly.
The top warning from Dubash and Jablon — which I firmly agree with — is: Don’t apply for credit cards if you won’t pay your balance in full each month.
If you can’t treat your credit card like a debit card, don’t get one. Points and miles aren’t worth accumulating debt. Interest charges erase the advantages of any rewards you earn.
How Many Cards Should I Apply For?
“Begin with one card and see how you handle it,” Jablon advises.
“Are you able to meet the minimum spend requirement? Can you pay the balance in full each month?… If that goes smoothly, then you might consider applying for two or three more,” she says.
While you’ll hear stories of extreme techniques from other travel hackers, you don’t need to begin with such intensity.
“Do what feels comfortable for you,” urges Dubash. “You’ll read wild tales online — people applying for 10 or 15 cards at once or trying to manufacture spend… There’s no need to go overboard.”
Which Card Should I Pick?
“Have a destination or goal,” Dubash says. “If you want to go to Europe, collecting Southwest miles won’t help since Southwest doesn’t fly there… Find which miles or points will get you where you want to go most efficiently, then start earning those.”
To determine which carriers fly to your desired destinations, Dubash suggests reading their beginner’s guide and browsing other miles-and-points blogs.
If you don’t have a firm destination but want to begin, Dubash recommends a transferable points card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred.
“A card whose points transfer to multiple airlines or hotels is a good way to dip your toe into the program,” he says.
What About My Credit Score?
Worry about credit impact is probably the main reason people shy away from rewards cards. It’s also one of the biggest myths, say Jablon and Dubash.
“When I started, my credit score was around 660,” Jablon recalls. “Eight years later it’s climbed to about 760–780 — and that’s while applying for, on average, maybe 10 cards a year.”
That doesn’t mean you must apply for many cards; just sign up for one and observe how it affects your credit.
“Monitor your credit score so you can see the impact yourself,” Dubash advises. “At first you’ll see a small drop because of another credit inquiry, and then after a few months the score usually improves.”
The somewhat counterintuitive reason your score can rise after opening a new card is credit utilization ratio — a major factor in credit scoring.
It’s the percentage of your available credit that you’re using. If you gain more available credit while maintaining the same spending level, your utilization falls, which can boost your score.
What Should I Do With My Miles?
Resist the urge to hoard points and miles — take a cue from Jablon and Dubash and aim to “earn and burn.”
“There’s no point in stockpiling them, because airlines keep devaluing award charts,” Dubash explains. “For example, a flight today will almost certainly need fewer miles than the same flight five years from now.”
Isn’t This a Lot of Work?
In short: yes.
“It’s a puzzle,” says Dubash. “If you dislike details, don’t enjoy being hands-on, or can’t be flexible about travel dates, this isn’t the game for you.”
While some spectacular redemptions require patience and meticulousness, Jablon and Dubash acknowledge it’s not for everyone — and that’s fine. You can participate casually and still benefit.
“I’m a bit more relaxed about miles and points, but I still use them,” Jablon says. “I really like Chase cards because I just charge regular spending and earn points… I don’t have to apply for many cards and I still get a solid amount of miles.”
One favorite redemption method is via Southwest Airlines, a Chase Ultimate Rewards transfer partner. Using that program, she’s saved thousands on flights to visit family and friends around the U.S.
Her best advice for beginners: “Start slowly, enjoy it, and never underestimate the value of research.”
Yes — You Can Travel on a Tight Budget
Travel — whether beyond your hometown or abroad — is an enriching experience, and with miles and points it’s more achievable than you might think.
“My parents divorced when I was eight,” Jablon shares. “My dad couldn’t support us financially after the split, so my mom worked incredibly hard for the both of us. We didn’t have extra money to travel. I always wanted to, but I never thought it would be possible.”
“Rewards travel opened up a whole new world to me… so I’m passionate about showing others this possibility: Even if they don’t earn much money, they can still see the world.”
“If you’ve always wanted to travel but have been waiting for retirement or more money, there’s a way that doesn’t require a lot of cash,” adds Dubash. “It just takes some time and attention to detail.”
For Jablon and Dubash, who now run their blog full time, the miles-and-points lifestyle is a dream realized.
“I’m fortunate,” Jablon says with a laugh. She is — and with effort and smart travel-hacking, many others could be, too.
Jane Doe, a senior writer at Savinly, enjoys budget-friendly adventures. Visit her blog at janedoe.com, or say hi on Twitter @jane_doe.
