Travel Smarter With Points, Rewards & Strategic Spending
Over the past few years, I’ve learned how to turn everyday business and personal spending into free flights, hotel stays, travel upgrades, and thousands of dollars in rewards.
These are the exact cards, tools, memberships, and referral programs that help me:
- Fly to Alaska every year using points instead of cash
- Earn free Hyatt stays through Chase transfer partners
- Upgrade flights and travel more comfortably
- Earn rewards on gas, office supplies, online shopping, and business expenses
- Stack points through programs like Rakuten and referral bonuses
- Maximize everyday purchases I was already making anyway
I’m not a financial advisor — just someone who has become obsessed with making my spending work harder for me.
If you run a business, travel often, shop online regularly, or even just want to offset vacation costs, these tools can make a huge difference when used responsibly.
Below are the cards and programs I personally use, along with tips on how I maximize them.
Some links on this page may be referral links, which means I may earn points, rewards, or commissions at no extra cost to you. I only share tools and programs I personally use and genuinely recommend.
Please use my referral links so we both earn points!
Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express
My first travel card because I wanted to save money on flights to Alaska. This card has been one of my favorite tools for flights. I primarily use it for Delta purchases, travel perks, and earning SkyMiles that now help me fly on points to my annual Alaska trip.
Some of my favorite perks:
- Free checked bags
- Priority boarding
- Companion certificate
- Travel protections
- Upgrade opportunities
- SkyMiles earning on everyday spending
One of my favorite experiences was getting upgraded to First Class on a Delta flight — an experience that felt completely out of reach before I started learning points strategy.
Delta Skymiles
American Express
I started with the Gold and moved to platinum after a year to get more benefits.
One of my favorite experiences was getting upgraded to First Class on an extended Delta flight — an experience that felt completely out of reach before I started learning points strategy. Full Meal included and having a flight attendant actually pay me attention. Elite!
American Express Business Gold
This is one of my powerhouse business cards because of the flexible Membership Rewards points and strong earning categories.
I especially love using it for:
- Gas purchases
- Business expenses
- Advertising
- Travel spending
Watching points pile up from everyday business operations completely changed how I view spending.
My American Express Business Gold card earns me 4x the points on my top 2 categories of purchase each month which for me is gas and restaurants.
American Express Blue Business Plus
One of my favorite no-annual-fee business cards.
Simple, easy, and great for earning Membership Rewards points on everyday purchases without overthinking categories.
Perfect for:
- General business spending
- Backup spending card
- Building Membership Rewards balances
Chase Sapphire Preferred
This is the card that really unlocks the Chase travel ecosystem.
Why I keep it:
- Ability to transfer Chase points to Hyatt and airline partners
- Excellent travel protections
- Flexible redemption options
- Great beginner-friendly travel card
This card is a major reason I’m able to book Hyatt stays using points.
Chase Ink Business Cash
This card is one of the most underrated points cards in my wallet.
One of my favorite strategies:
Buying gift cards at office supply stores like Staples to earn elevated rewards categories.
Example:
- Buy Amazon gift cards at Staples
- Earn 5x points
- Use the gift cards later for normal purchases
That means many purchases effectively earn far more points than standard spending.
Chase Ink Business Preferred
A strong business travel card that pairs really well with other Chase cards.
I use it to:
- Pool Chase points
- Maximize business spending categories
- Access transfer partners
- Build points for future travel
[Referral Link Button]
Rakuten: One of My Favorite “Hidden” Travel Tools
Rakuten has quietly become one of my favorite ways to earn extra travel rewards.
Instead of earning simple cashback, I have my Rakuten account connected to American Express Membership Rewards — meaning my online shopping earns travel points instead.
Over the past year alone, I’ve earned more than 30,000 Membership Rewards points from purchases I already planned to make.
That’s points from:
- Clothing purchases
- Business supplies
- Travel purchases
- Home items
- Everyday online shopping
The key is stacking:
- Credit card rewards
- Rakuten rewards
- Sales/coupons
- Referral bonuses
Once you start layering rewards together, the points add up surprisingly fast.
Disclaimer
The information shared on this page is based on my personal experiences using travel rewards programs, credit cards, affiliate tools, and points strategies. It is provided for informational and educational purposes only and should not be considered financial, legal, tax, or investment advice.
I am not a financial advisor, lender, or credit professional. Everyone’s financial situation, credit profile, and approval odds are different. I cannot guarantee approval for any credit card, rewards program, or referral offer mentioned on this page.
Please research all programs carefully, review current terms and annual fees, and make financial decisions responsibly and within your own budget and means. Credit cards should only be used responsibly, and rewards are generally most beneficial when balances are paid in full and interest charges are avoided.
Some links on this page may be affiliate or referral links, which means I may receive points, rewards, commissions, or other benefits if you choose to sign up through them — at no additional cost to you. I only share products, programs, and services that I personally use, value, or believe may be helpful to my audience.
Offers, benefits, rewards structures, annual fees, and terms may change at any time and should always be verified directly with the issuing company before applying.
Business cards can be obtained without an official business. If you have a side hustle, your in! I use different business cards for different businesses and I’m always available for recommendations if you need it.
Jessica Monroe 