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9 Easy Ways to Earn Travel Rewards You’ll Actually Use

Many or all of the products featured here are from our partners who compensate us. This influences which products we write about and where and how the product appears on a page. However, this does not influence our evaluations. Our opinions are our own. Here is a list of our partners and here's how we make money .

You can book that next vacation for free — or almost free — with points and miles. The crucial first step: raking in rewards.

It might sound tedious, but it doesn’t have to be. It’s completely possible to reach your points-and-miles goals without taking unnecessary flights or stocking up on gift cards.

» MORE: Make the most of your next trip

Here’s how you can earn more rewards with minimal effort.

1. Create an account with your favorite travel provider

Have a favorite airline or hotel chain? Go online and set up a rewards program account with that company for free. This gets you a membership ID that can be used to earn rewards for future flights or stays.

2. Earn a credit card sign-up bonus

Next, look for a solid travel credit card — preferably, one that offers a big sign-up bonus and waives the annual fee for the first year. You can choose one that offers points or miles for a certain airline or hotel program, or a general travel card with more flexible rewards.

“If you're getting a new credit card, and they're offering 50,000 bonus points if you spend $3,000 within a couple of months, that is a very quick way to get points,” says Charles McCool, founder of the blog McCool Travel, based in Reston, Virginia. Such a bonus could be worth $500 or more, if you meet the spending requirements. In a post, McCool notes how lucrative these bonuses can be .

3. Add an authorized user

Adding a trusted partner or family member as an authorized user on your new card might be the easiest way to score some quick points. Many travel cards offer bonuses for this, often worth about $50. Just keep in mind that, as the primary cardholder, you’ll still be liable for footing the bill.

4. Pay for business travel and get reimbursed

To earn more rewards, "one thing we do is to get as many points and miles from business travel as possible and leverage them for personal use,” says Laura Longwell, co-founder of the blog Travel Addicts, based in Philadelphia. She and her husband and blog co-founder, Lance, have traveled extensively on business. On their blog, they’ve also written about how to earn more rewards .

If your company travel policy allows it, follow the Longwells’ example: Pay for travel expenses with your personal rewards card and get reimbursed later.

5. Pick up the dinner tab and ask for cash

Footing the bill for a night out can fetch plenty of rewards, as long as your friends pay you back.

If your card offers bonus dining rewards , you’ll walk away with even more.

“If you go to dinner with five friends, you pay for the dinner on your credit card and you get the points and the miles, and your five … friends all pay you cash. You're getting the benefit and you're getting cash to pay it off,” Lance Longwell says.

6. Always pay with a credit card

If you can pay by credit card without overspending or incurring interest charges or convenience fees, whip out that plastic more often. It’s a simple way to boost your rewards — especially when purchases fall within your card’s bonus categories, potentially more than doubling your earnings.

7. Shop through bonus malls

Bonus malls are online marketplaces offered by issuers, airlines and hotel chains that allow you to earn rewards for free by shopping with certain retailers .

For example, an airline bonus mall might offer 2 points per dollar spent at Target. By following that link and completing the purchase on Target’s website, you’ll earn those points.

“We almost exclusively do all of our shopping through portals,” says Jalyn Roberson, of Dallas, who maximizes travel rewards with her husband. Roberson, founder of the travel firm Jaunts and Gems, notes in a blog post that you don’t need a credit card to take advantage of certain bonus malls.

8. Participate in dining programs

Most major airlines also offer dining programs you can join for free .

Sign up, and you’ll earn bonus rewards through local eateries when paying with the debit or credit card linked to the account.

9. Watch for limited-time offers

For Roberson, limited-time offers from her favorite bonus malls proved especially useful.

“Exclusively through holiday shopping and maximizing for some of the bonuses that were offered between Christmas holidays and Black Friday and the back-to-school sales … we were able to get enough for a round-trip flight to Jamaica from Dallas,” Roberson says.

Check your email and snail mail regularly so you don’t miss out on rewards.

This article was written by NerdWallet and was originally published by Forbes .

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Jaunts and Gems

by: Jalyn Roberson

A few days ago, a co-worker came into my office and asked “How do you find the time and money to travel so often?” While this wasn’t a new question for me (my parents ask me the same thing all the time), it did make me think about how I’ve learned to incorporate travel into my lifestyle. To be honest, I don’t travel nearly as much as I’d like to. These past couple of months of travel have been more like the exception to the rule. Because I work a full-time job that isn’t travel-related and does not require me to travel often, I’ve had to learn to get creative and resourceful when incorporating travel into my life.

So I’ve gathered some of the approaches I use to incorporate travel in my life, while still working a full-time job. Every person’s job is different so some of these tips may be easier for some people and a little more difficult for others. Use the ones that work best for you and travel more this year and beyond!

Make travel a priority

Only within the past couple of years have I begun to dedicate more time to traveling. I realized the enjoyment and pleasure that I felt experiencing new places with friends and eventually with my husband and decided to position myself to be able to travel more often. Financially and socially, I’ve learned to cut back on things that don’t bring me joy or that I can do without, to dedicate time to being able to travel and still saving and preparing for life as an adult. I pass on happy hour and nights out often, my car is 10 years old (but she’s so reliable), and aside from special occasions, I do my own hair and nails. We’d like to buy a house eventually, but still want to travel in the process, so we said goodbye to our pricey downtown apartment and moved to the burbs (or “Egypt” as my friends affectionately call it.) These things work for me. Find what works for you.

Use Your Vacation Days:

Sounds simple…but a few months ago I stumbled upon a  study by the U.S. Travel Associations Project Time Off  that showed 55% of Americans did not use all their vacation days. According to the study, these workers gave up 658 MILLION unused vacation days and 222 million of those days couldn’t be rolled over. That’s 222 million vacation days forever lost! For most jobs, vacation days are built into the compensation package, so when you don’t take them, you leave money on the table. Taking your vacation days is also beneficial for your health, leaving you less stressed and more productive and positive when you’re at work. Seriously yall, #NoVacationDaysLeftBehind in 2017.

Plan trips around holidays and weekends

This is an approach I use often for traveling.  Bookending holidays and weekends can turn a 3-day weekend into a 5 day vacation. My husband I got married Labor Day weekend and was able to have a 15- day vacation while only using 9 vacation days. On our most recent trip to Denver, we flew out Thursday evening after work and came home late Sunday evening: 4 day trip, 1 vacation day used. Plan your trips strategically to maximize the time you’re at your destination.

Take advantage of business trips

If you do get to travel for work, plan to add on a couple of days before or after your meeting or conference to maximize your time in a new place. Not only does it cut down on costs because part of your travel is paid for, but you’ll get to spend more time in the place you’re visiting. Depending on where you are, you may even be able to make a stop in a nearby city or state.

Don’t be afraid to go solo

One of the things I wish I would have experienced in my twenties, or before I got married, is the pleasure of traveling alone. Not saying that I couldn’t travel alone now, but I enjoy and prefer traveling with my forever travel partner now. Fear of the unknown kept me from trekking out solo, but don’t let the fear hold you back. There are tons of resources and communities out there for solo travelers and sometimes if you wait on other people to be ready to go….you’ll never actually go.

If you’re looking to start traveling more, let Jaunts and Gems take care of all of your travel needs! Jaunts and Gems is a full service travel firm that creates travel experiences to fit the needs of any traveler. Through both traveling and extensive research, we seek out the best destinations, properties and experiences to suit our travelers’ needs. We’re basically your personal travel consultant that provides services tailored just for you! Check out our services at www.jauntsandgems.com/services or email [email protected] to start planning your next getaway.

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Create Trip

Create group.

Jalyn Roberson

Jaunts and gems travel, girlfriends’ getaway st. lucia 2022, jun 23, 2022 to jun 27, 2022.

Full Package Includes:

4 Nights All-Inclusive Lodging at Hideaway at Royalton St. Lucia

Roundtrip Airport Transfers from UVF

• Unlimited Meals & Beverages (including beer, wine and spirits)

Welcome Gift

Welcome Cocktail Party

• Catamaran Day Trip
• Beachfront Dinner
• On-site nightly entertainment

Trip Photographer

• Jaunts and Gems Host
• All taxes & gratuities at resort

What’s Not Included: 

Airfare to St. Lucia- You'll be flying into Sangster International Airport (UVF)

Optional Travel Insurance ( but Strongly Suggested ) 

Excursions, activities, and meals not stated in this package

Trip Preparation and Details: -

Travel Insurance is strongly recommended to protect your investment. Click HERE to get a quote for travel insurance. 

Provided that your full payment is received no later than your Final Payment Due date, travel documents, itineraries, and travel instructions will be sent via email 30 days or earlier prior to travel. .

Late Payment of $50 per person is required after the Final Due Date. All late payment requests must be approved before the Final Due Date.

Things happen and even airlines give you a refund within 24 hours. So, your deposit is refundable up to 72 hours after booking. Beyond that, it is non-refundable.

ALL payments to Jaunts and Gems Travel are non-refundable and non-transferable. This is because Jaunts and Gems Travel has contractual agreements with the hotels and other vendors that will not allow us to obtain any refunds. This helps to keep the package prices low and allow you to make monthly payments on your trip.

Payment Plan Details:  

When making your reservations, you can choose to pay in full or select our convenient payment plan. If you select a payment plan, you will be added to our automatic monthly payment plan option. Please note that when opting out of automatic billing, you are still required to make a monthly payment of at least $50 per person to keep your reservation current. 

When you book, we’ll calculate an evenly divided automatic billing plan for you and you will know in advance the day of every month that your payment will be processed. Your initial deposit is due at the time of booking, and your future payments will be charged according to the schedule you see on your invoice.

If you choose the auto monthly payment plan, you will receive monthly notices when your payment is due. Monthly payments are required in order to keep your reservation current.

Monthly payments are AUTOMATICALLY deducted each month based on when you submit your deposit. 

Please see the notes for more information about payment options. Full Balances are due no later than April 1st, 2022.

Terms and Conditions:

Making reservations for this package signifies your acceptance of ou r Terms and Conditions.

Reservations must be made in your FULL NAME as it appears on your passport. Your name on your invoice MUST match your passport.

Prices are subject to change without notice. Please make your reservations today at this low price to be locked in.

You must ensure your roommate, if applicable, is also making timely monthly payments.Your roommate should make their reservation within 30 days of your reservation if booking separately. Enter your Roommate Info HERE

Available Packages

Girlfriends’ getaway st. lucia- single occupancy unavailable as of march 1, 2022, $1,545.00 deposit: $100.00 per person.

4 Days/ 3 Nights All-Inclusive Lodging at the Riu Palace Jamaica

Unlimited Meals and Snacks

Unlimited Beverages including top shelf spirits

Roundtrip Airport Transfers

Party Boat Cruise

On-Site Nightly Entertainment

Jaunts and Gems Host on-site

All taxes & gratuities at the resort

Girlfriends’ Getaway St. Lucia- Double Occupancy Unavailable as of March 1, 2022

$1,195.00 deposit: $100.00 per person.

4 Nights All-Inclusive Lodging at Hideaway at Royalton

Girlfriends’ Getaway St. Lucia- Triple Occupancy Unavailable as of March 1, 2022

$1,125.00 deposit: $100.00 per person, girlfriends’ getaway st. lucia- quad occupancy unavailable as of march 1, 2022, $1,095.00 deposit: $100.00 per person.