Happy Sunday Reader,

By now, you probably know I’m all about leveraging travel credit cards to score nearly free trips with points and miles. But what if I told you that you don’t even need a credit card to get in on the travel hacking game?

Yep, you read that right. You can actually buy points - and in certain cases, it can save you hundreds (or even thousands) of dollars on flights and hotels.

I know what you're thinking... Why would I buy points? Doesn't that defeat the purpose? Stay with me. Here’s when it actually makes sense:

• Topping off your points balance for a redemption. For example, you have earned loyalty points from staying with a certain hotel brand over a number of years, but don’t have another way to transfer points. In this case, buying points to make a hotel booking might make sense.
• High value redemptions. Some premium cabin flights (like business or first class) offer great redemption value when compared to their cash price. If the cost of buying points is significantly lower than paying for the flight outright, it can be worth it. For example, if a business class flight costs $5,000 but you can buy the necessary miles for $1,500, you get a great deal.
• Limited time bonus offers. Airlines and hotels frequently offer bonuses on purchased points (e.g., 50%-100% more points). If the cost per point is lower than its redemption value, it can be a great deal. For example, buying IHG points during a 100% bonus sale can make certain redemptions significantly cheaper than booking with cash.

Let’s dig into that last scenario with a specific example using an IHG property. One of the best ways to get a ton of bang for your buck is redeeming points at all-inclusive resorts, because all of your food and drinks will be taken care of.

I recently stayed at the Iberostar Waves in Cozumel, you can read about that redemption and experience HERE (highly recommend this property btw).

• Cash price for a 4-night stay in a refundable premium room in early May = $1,285
• Points price for the same 4-night stay = 198k points
• Cost to buy 200k points during the current 100% points bonus sale = $1,000

By taking the extra simple step of buying the points, you save an easy $285.

Buying points isn’t always the best deal, but in the right situations, it’s a no-brainer. Before making a purchase, compare the cost of buying points to the actual cash price and see if it works in your favor.

Want more travel hacks like this, Reader? Hit reply and let me know what you’d like to learn next!

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Happy travels,

Michelle

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