How To Earn Free Family Vacations With Reward Travel—Without Opening a Ton of Credit Cards

 You’ve probably seen those glamorous social media posts about travelers flying business class to Milan or taking luxury vacations for free using credit card points. But if you’ve ever wondered how to make that possible without opening a dozen new credit cards or turning it into a part-time job, you’re in the right place.

I’m Lisa Mecham, founder of Her Travel Club, where I teach women how to optimize their existing spending using travel rewards credit cards. My goal? To help families travel more often—without breaking the bank.

The Truth About Reward Travel Strategies

When it comes to reward travel strategies, most people fall into one of two camps:

1. The Multi-Card Strategy: This approach involves opening several new credit cards every year to collect welcome bonuses.

   While effective, it can also be stressful and hard to manage.

2. The Micromanagement Strategy – Tracking every bonus category, transfer partner, and quarterly offer.
   This can yield massive points and incredible results.. but it often feels like a part-time job.

My approach is different. I’ll show you how to earn hundreds of thousands of travel reward points every year using the budget you already have.. and without opening new cards constantly. No overwhelm, just smarter spending.

What Is Reward Travel (and Why It Works)

Reward travel means using the points you earn from your everyday credit card purchases to book free or discounted flights, hotels, and even full vacations.

The secret isn’t spending more, it’s spending smarter!

By funneling your existing household budget through the right travel rewards credit cards (and paying them off each month), you can accumulate enough points for an annual family vacation without adding extra debt.

✅ Example:
Using this system, my family of six flew round-trip to Paris during peak season for only 108,000 points total. We’ve also traveled to Puerto Vallarta, Santa Fe, Costa Rica, Las Vegas, and soon—Hawaii.

The Two Types of Reward Credit Cards

When you start exploring credit cards for travel points, you’ll see two main types of cards:

1. Co-Branded Cards

These are tied to a specific airline or hotel, such as:

• Delta SkyMiles® American Express Card

• World of Hyatt® Credit Card

While great for loyal travelers, they limit your options and flexibility. Points can only be redeemed within that airline or hotel chain.

2. Flexible Points Cards

Flexible-point cards allow you to transfer points to multiple airlines and hotels, giving you freedom to chase the best deals. They offer the most versatility and value.

Two of my favorites:

• American Express® Gold Card: Earns 4x points on groceries and restaurants.

• Capital One® Venture Rewards Card: Earns 2x points on every purchase.

By focusing on flexible points credit cards, you unlock a world of travel options and get more value for every dollar spent.

What To Do (and Not Do) With Your Points

Let’s break down the best and worst ways to redeem your points:

Pro Tip: Whenever possible, transfer your credit card points to airline or hotel partners. Programs like Amex often run transfer bonuses—e.g., 1,000 Amex points → 2,000 Hilton points—which can double your reward value overnight.

My Three-Card Travel System

This is the exact setup that helps my family earn over 250,000 reward points every year—on autopilot. It’s simple, sustainable, and works even for large families.

🥇 1. American Express® Gold Card

Use for:

• Groceries

• Restaurants

Earn 4x points per dollar and transfer them to airlines or hotels for maximum flexibility. When you get started, with this card, the welcome bonus is up to 100,000 reward points: a huge jumpstart toward free flights.

🥈 2. Capital One® Venture Rewards Card

Use for:

• Utilities

• Kids’ extracurriculars

• Miscellaneous expenses

Earn 2x points on every purchase and transfer them to multiple airlines and hotels.

When you get started with this card, you can earn 75,000 bonus miles and enjoy a $300 Capital One Travel credit for hotels and vacation rentals through my referral link here. 

🥉 3. Chase Sapphire Preferred® (or Reserve®)

Use for:

• Business expenses

• Travel bookings

• Technology and services

Both Sapphire cards offer robust travel protections and strong transfer partners. At the time of this writing, when you get started you can earn 100,000 bonus points with Sapphire Reserve® or 75,000 bonus points with Sapphire Preferred® through this link. 

These three cards form the foundation of a strong, low-maintenance travel hacking for beginners setup.

The Travel Advisor Advantage

Here’s a unique twist I've added to my strategy that most families overlook:
I became a certified travel advisor, and it changed how I used my points. (click here to learn more and get your first month free).

This gives me access to:

• Exclusive hotel and flight deals

• Commission on my own family’s bookings

• Eligibility for premium business credit cards with higher reward potential

When I booked our Costa Rica trip, I used points for flights and hotels—but earned commissions on our VRBO, excursions, and car rental. Total win-win.

Real Results From a Real Family

By funneling our family’s regular expenses through these three cards (and paying them off every month), we earn enough points to cover at least one major family vacation per year—completely with credit card points.

We’ve flown to Paris, relaxed in Costa Rica, explored Santa Fe, and soaked up the sun in Puerto Vallarta—all while staying on budget.

And we didn’t need to juggle ten credit cards or track a dozen reward portals. Just three cards, one strategy, and smart spending.

Next Steps: Start Your Own Reward Travel Journey

If you want to start your own reward travel journey and follow this same system, download my Everyday Points Playbook below.
It’s a 40-page guide that walks you step-by-step through:

• Setting up your cards

• Structuring your family budget

• Maximizing transfer bonuses

• Redeeming your points for high-value travel

👉 Download The Free Guide Here 

Frequently Asked Questions About Travel Rewards Credit Cards

1. What is the best credit card for travel points?

For most families, a flexible card like the American Express® Gold Card or Chase Sapphire Preferred® offers the best long-term value.

2. Can I really travel for free with credit card points?

Yes.. but “free” depends on how you redeem them. Flights and hotels can often be covered 100% by points, but taxes and fees still apply.

3. How do I maximize credit card rewards?

Use cards strategically: assign each to specific spending categories, pay off your balance in full, and transfer points instead of cashing them out.

4. Is reward travel worth it for families?

Absolutely. With consistent spending and smart card use, even large families can earn enough points for annual trips without adding financial stress.

5. What are the biggest mistakes to avoid?

• Opening too many cards too quickly

• Carrying a balance (interest negates rewards)

• Redeeming points for low-value options like gift cards or statement credits

Disclaimer

I’m not a financial advisor. Always consult a financial professional before making major financial decisions. Some links may be affiliate or referral links, which means I may receive a small commission—at no extra cost to you. I only recommend cards I personally use and love.