3 Travel Myths Costing Families Thousands in Free Travel (And How to Fix Them)

Believing these travel myths could be quietly draining thousands of dollars in free travel from your family every single year — and most moms don’t even realize it.

Quick Take: Most families already earn enough points to travel. The problem isn’t earning more — it’s believing myths that lead to low-value redemptions, missed award flights, and unnecessary cash bookings.

Many women believe that traveling on credit card points requires extreme couponing, endless spreadsheets, loopholes, or opening dozens of credit cards. Others assume you need an enormous stash of points just to book one flight. Are awards flights hard to find? There are so many common travel points misconceptions!

None of that is true.

In this guide, I’m breaking down the three biggest reward travel myths keeping families stuck paying cash for vacations — and exactly what to do instead so your next family trip can cost hundreds less (or even be nearly free).

Why Most Families Struggle With Reward Travel

The problem isn’t that families don’t spend enough money.
The problem is that most families earn points accidentally, not strategically.

When points are earned and redeemed the wrong way, travel feels expensive, complicated, and out of reach — especially for moms juggling busy households.

But with the right strategy, families can turn their existing budget into flights and hotels without changing their lifestyle.

Let’s break down the myths holding most families back.

Myth #1: “I Need a Huge Amount of Points to Book Anything”

One of the most common beliefs I hear from moms is:

“You need hundreds of thousands of points just to book one seat to Europe.”

If you’re booking through a credit card travel portal, that might appear true. Many portals price flights similarly to cash prices, making award travel look completely unrealistic.

The Reality: You Don’t Need More Points — You Need Smarter Points

Here’s what most people never hear:

The average American family already spends enough on groceries, gas, utilities, and bills to earn hundreds of thousands of points every year — without increasing their budget at all. You can see my video here on exactly how to accomplish that)

You don’t need to make more money.
You don’t need to spend more money.
You just need to funnel your existing spending through the right cards.

With the right setup, most families earn enough points every year to:

• Cover flights for an international trip

• Book hotels or vacation rentals

• Travel without going into debt

And yes — I’m talking about real travel, not just budget weekend trips.

In the last 18 months alone, my family of six has:

• Flown internationally to France, Mexico and Switzerland

• Flown domestically to Las Vegas, Nevada (twice) and Santa Fe, New Mexico

• Booked a luxurious anniversary trip to Costa Rica

• Traveled for work to Hawaii

• Taken a girls’ trips to Phoenix, AZ — all using points

No churning.
No increased budget.
Just smarter strategy.

Myth #2: “Award Flights Are Impossible to Find”

This myth keeps more moms stuck than almost anything else.

If you’re searching for award flights on the same domestic airlines you normally fly — like Delta, United, or American — it can feel impossible. Prices look sky-high, availability looks limited, and frustration sets in fast.

The Reality: You’re Searching in the Wrong Places

Award flights are not hard to find — but they are hidden from most people.

The secret is using airline partners, not the airline you normally fly.

Here’s what that looks like:

• Use Virgin Atlantic to book Delta-operated flights

• Use British Airways for American Airlines routes (especially to Europe)

• Use Air Canada Aeroplan for Star Alliance flights

These travel points  partner programs release award seats that domestic airlines don’t want you to see.

In an upcoming tutorial, I’ll show you exactly how I booked a Delta-operated flight that would’ve cost 120,000 points one way, but instead cost me 22,000 points by booking through a partner.

Same flight.
Same seat.
Radically different point cost.

Myth #3: “Travel Hacking Is Only for Extreme Couponers”

Many moms believe reward travel requires:

• Constant tracking

• Complicated spreadsheets

• A dozen credit cards

• Hours every week managing loyalty programs

I believed that too — until I built a system that actually fits real family life.

The Reality: Reward Travel Can Be Simple and Automated

My approach to travel hacking is designed for busy moms — not hobbyists.

Here’s what it actually looks like:

• Opening 1–3 strategic credit cards that match your spending and goals. You can find my top recommendations in my free guide here.

• Automating bill pay so you never pay interest

• Using free award search tools to find the best credit card points redemptions

• Booking family flights for under $10 in taxes and fees

No obsession.
No part-time job.
No complicated math.

If you can shop online and check your email, you can do this.

You don’t need more time.
You need the right system.

If These Myths Sound Familiar, You’re Not Alone

If you’ve ever thought:

• “It’ll take forever to earn enough points”

• “I don’t know where to find award flights”

• “I’m not organized enough for this”

I want you to know something:

You are far closer to incredible family travel than you think.

These myths are costing families thousands of dollars every year — and once you understand the truth, everything changes.

What’s Next: How Families Book International Flights Almost Free

If you're ready to take the next step, I’m sharing three insider strategies I use to fly my family of six internationally for almost nothing in this article.

I’ll walk you through:

• How I stretch points further

• Where I search for the best award deals

• The exact steps I use to book high-value flights

This is where everything starts to click — and where free and hugely discounted travel becomes realistic.

👉 Grab the free resources linked here to start your own journey with points.

You’re capable of more than you’ve been told.
And this is just the beginning.