My Christmas Thoughts on Travel Hacking

Merry Christmas and happy holidays everyone!  I apologize if my previous post put a damper to your holiday spirit.  I guess I could have waited until New Years Eve or New Years Day to post my 2014 predictions, but I am not very patient and hate waiting (which is why I am difficult to buy Christmas/birthday gifts for).  Anyways, after spending the evening with my extended family, I realized how lucky us “travel hackers” are.  We go on our fair share of trips and pay a fraction of the “normal” cost.  Some people (mainly friends, relatives, and complete strangers) have a hard time believing that travel can be a lot cheaper and more relaxing than they think.

I might even say that helping a friend, a friend of a friend, or a family member book a “once-in-a-life-time” trip is even more rewarding than booking the same trip for myself.  To me, I see “travel hacking” as a big game: us vs. the airline/hotel/rental car/credit card industry.  We brag about getting the most miles for the cheapest price, how the wine selection in one lounge is better than another, or how business class is unbearable compared to first class.  To most people, the bigger game is how to get from point A to point B without spending so much money that we can’t afford presents for our family.  

In my extended family, my mom’s side is much better off than my dad’s side, both financially and educationally, but I love both sides equally.  I don’t like sharing my travel plans (both past and future), since I don’t want to seem spoiled/rich/lucky.  I try to help them get the most value out of their hard earned miles.  Maybe it has taken them 10 years to accumulate enough miles to fly across the country one way.  Don’t worry, I say, I can show you how to get back home and still have miles left over.

Sharing the information I have learned, the deals I have discovered, and the photos I have taken brings a smile to their faces.  If I can do, they can do it too.  If I learned how to do it, I can teach them how to do it.  Just have an open mind and follow my advice.  Heck, most of the information is posted on my blog somewhere.  The biggest reason people don’t travel as often is they like is because they think the cost is too overwhelming.  That may be true some of the time, but there are many ways to take that trip without breaking the bank.  How badly do you want that dream trip?  If you want it badly enough, there are ways to make it happen for hundreds of dollars less than you thought.

At the end of the day, they just need someone to give them a push in the right direction.  If you have friends or family members, ask them if there is a trip they have always wanted to take.  Now show them how they can do it.  Being a blogger doesn’t make me any smarter than the readers who are reading this right now.  You know which credit cards to get, you know how many miles you will need to get from point A to point B, and you know what hotels have the best award rates.  You may not earn any credit card affiliate commission, but the memories your friend/family member brings back are worth much more than a few bucks here or there.  Who knows, maybe they will win the lottery next week and send you on that dream trip (Virgin Galactic anyone?) that you have always wanted.

To make a long story short, share our “travel hacking” ways with those you care about and let them experience the joys and wonders the world has to offer.  Like I always say, “On my deathbed, what would I rather say: ‘I wish I worked more or I wish I traveled more?'”.  Hopefully the answer is clear.  Happy holidays to all, and to all, a good night!