Travel Rewards and the Holidays: Season of Giving and Receiving

Wat Arun Bangkok Thailand

The following post has been sponsored by Marriott Rewards Premier Credit Card from Chase, but as always, all thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.

Who doesn’t love to travel for free? For most folks this is little more than a fantasy, but if you belong to a travel rewards program then you know it’s much more than a dream. For anyone who likes to travel, this is a case where spending a little time doing your homework when it comes to rewards can absolutely pay off in the long run.

Hotel rewards programs in particular are an easy way to see real benefits in a short period of time. Not only do hotel brands make it easy to add up points, but it’s also simple to use the points. With thousands of properties around the world, the options seem limitless, and that is particularly true with Marriott International. I myself have used Marriott points for amazing trips, including a luxury adventure I took to Bangkok several years ago. I parlayed my points into over-the-top suites not only in Bangkok, but also on the relaxing Thai island of Koh Samui. Two weeks in some of the best hotels in Thailand cost me absolutely nothing, and that’s because I knew how to use miles and how to get them in the first place.

Marriott Marina del Rey

Maximizing rewards

There are many ways to earn hotel rewards points, from actually staying at a hotel, to making online purchases, to the most popular method: credit cards. When talking about credit card rewards programs there are a few things to keep in mind. First, if you don’t already have a rewards credit card, then signing up for a new one comes with tremendous benefits. Depending on when you apply, you could see sign up bonuses that will already equate to free travel before you’ve even had the chance to maximize the benefits of the card. Second, once you have and use a travel rewards credit card, there are special opportunities throughout the year to help you save money on what you buy while accruing more points that in turn lead to more free travel.

Marriott Curacao

Marriott Rewards Premier Credit Card from Chase

Maximizing your points is key for achieving that goal of free travel. Marriott has always been one of my favorites thanks to the wide variety of options, from budget to luxury, around the world. One of the best ways to further optimize your miles is by using the Marriott Rewards Premier Credit Card from Chase. Even without any special offers this is a great card to have. You get 5X points per $1 spent at Marriott properties around the world, plus 2X points per $1 spent directly at restaurants, car rentals and airlines. Other perks include 1 free night stay at a Category 1-5 hotel every year, guaranteed elite status and no foreign transaction fees.

We all love to save money – in fact, according to a survey from Marriott Rewards Premier Credit Card from Chase, 47% of Americans have shopped at stores where they had a coupon or there were discounts in order to save money to spend on holiday shopping. So you’re not alone: We all want to stretch our money, especially during the holidays, and what’s even better is that you can earn points toward your next trip in the process.

I have always depended on travel rewards programs to help augment my trips. Whether it’s airlines or hotels, I have gotten the most out of these programs to enjoy some extraordinary adventures. Luckily, it’s easy to earn those coveted points and turn travel dreams into reality. You just have to know which cards to use and how to make them work for you, and Marriott Rewards Premier Credit Card from Chase is a great place to start!

By: Matt Long

Matt has a true passion for travel. As someone who has a bad case of the travel bug, Matt travels the world in order to share tips on where to go, what to see and how to experience the best the world has to offer.

I help you experience the best the world has to offer!

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