Earn More.Redeem Smarter.Travel Better.
Simply Points Travel™

Earn More Points.
Without Spending More Money.

You don't need to spend more money to travel more.

You simply need to earn more rewards from the purchases you're already making.

We'll show you exactly how.

The average family spends tens of thousands of dollars every year.

GroceriesGasAmazonDiningTravel

What if every dollar worked harder?

That's exactly what award travel is all about.

Ways to Earn Points

01

Credit Card Welcome Bonuses

The fastest way to earn travel.

Welcome offers are the fastest way to earn points and miles. Before applying, be sure you can pay your balance in full each month and understand the issuer's approval rules, such as Chase's 5/24 policy. Most importantly, have a plan to meet the minimum spending requirement so you can earn the full welcome bonus.

The starter card we recommend for most beginners is:

  • Chase Sapphire Preferred, Reasonable annual fee, flexible points, and strong travel benefits. Depending on the redemption, the welcome bonus may be enough to help cover multiple international airline tickets.

Personal referral link: If you apply through this link and are approved, we may receive referral rewards. The offer available through this link may differ from other offers available for this card.

Apply here
02

Everyday Spending

Earn rewards from the purchases you are already making.

Use the right card for each purchase, from groceries and gas to dining and travel, so every dollar earns the maximum possible rewards.

03

Shopping Portals

Check for extra rewards before you shop online.

Shopping portals reward you for purchases you were already planning to make. This is one of the easiest ways to earn thousands of additional points every year.

Rakuten is one of the easiest places to start

We recommend Rakuten to beginners because it can be an easy way to earn more rewards without changing what you're already buying. Click through Rakuten before shopping online, or add the Rakuten extension for 1-click point earning!

This page contains a Rakuten referral link. If you sign up and qualify, we may receive a referral bonus at no additional cost to you.

JOIN RAKUTEN
04

Credit Card Offers

Almost every major card issuer provides bonus offers.

Activate them. Use them. Get rewarded.

Learn how to stack them with shopping portals.

05

Dining Programs

Did you know you can earn airline miles just for eating at restaurants?

06

Business Credit Cards

You don't need a Fortune 500 company. Many side hustles and small businesses qualify.

Business cards can dramatically increase your earning potential.

Our favorites are the Chase Ink cards.

If you apply using our link, we may receive bonus points/cash, and you may earn a welcome offer.

07

Family Strategy

Player 1 + 2

When two "play the game," you win faster.

  • When eligible, one partner may be able to refer the other and earn a referral bonus if the application is approved. Always review the issuer's current referral terms.
  • Teach family "the basics" so they know which card to use when, there are even stickers you can add to cards!

As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

Purchase Stickers Here
08

Stacking Rewards

This is where things get fun.

Combine a shopping portal, a bonus credit card, an activated offer, and a store loyalty program on a single purchase, and earn rewards four different ways.

Stacking in action
The Foundation

Why We Prefer Flexible Points

When you're new to points and miles, it's tempting to immediately get a credit card for the airline you fly most often. But that's not usually where we recommend starting.

Why?

Because airline miles generally stay with that airline's loyalty program.

Flexible credit card points give you more options.

The four major flexible currencies are:

  • Chase Ultimate Rewards®
  • American Express Membership Rewards®
  • Citi ThankYou® Points
  • Capital One Miles

These points can be transferred to a variety of airline and/or hotel loyalty programs.

And that flexibility is incredibly valuable. Let's say you have Chase Ultimate Rewards points. Instead of being committed to one airline, you may be able to transfer those points to programs such as United, Southwest, Air Canada Aeroplan, British Airways, Air France/KLM Flying Blue or World of Hyatt. That means when it's time to book a trip, you can look for the option that gives you the best combination of availability, schedule and value.

Earn flexible points first. Decide how to use them later.

That's a strategy every beginner should understand.

Our Favorite Way to Earn

Why We Love Rakuten

Rakuten shopping portal

We recommend Rakuten to every beginner because it's the easiest way to earn more points without changing your shopping habits.

Simply click through Rakuten before shopping online.

That's it.

You'll earn:

  • American Express Membership Rewards (with eligible MR earning card)
  • Cash Back (if you prefer)
  • Holiday bonuses
  • Special promotions
  • Bonus multipliers

Then use your rewards credit card. Now you've earned points twice. Sometimes three times. Sometimes even four.

This page contains a Rakuten referral link. If you sign up and qualify, we may receive a referral bonus at no additional cost to you.

Join Rakuten
Real Example

Buying Dog Food

Watch a single $120 purchase turn into 2,580+ points.

1

PetSmart

$120 Purchase

Starting point

2

Rakuten

20× Membership Rewards

Click through the portal

3

Chase Ink Unlimited

1.5× Ultimate Rewards

Swipe the right card

4

PetSmart Rewards

Store loyalty program

Enter your account

Total Earned

2,580+

points from one purchase

Example based on a past 20x Rakuten promotion. Rakuten earning rates change frequently.

Avoid These

Biggest Mistakes Beginners Make

  • Using debit cards
  • Shopping without Rakuten
  • Not activating offers
  • Using the wrong credit card
  • Redeeming for cash back
  • Missing welcome bonuses
Next Up

Now that you know how to earn, it's time to redeem.

Learn How to Redeem

Not sure where to start?

Follow our page to learn more, and for specific hints and tricks!

Then, take the Points IQ quiz to see what you need to learn!

Take the Quiz

Support Simply Points Travel™

Simply Points Travel™ was created to make points and miles easier to understand, so everyday travelers can spend less, travel more, and get more value from the money they’re already spending.

We share free guides, tools, travel tips, and recommendations to help you along the way. If you find them helpful, you can support Simply Points Travel simply by using one of our links when you’re planning a trip or making a purchase. It doesn’t cost you anything extra, but it helps us keep creating free resources for you.

SHOP AND BOOK WITH OUR LINKS