Updated on March 1, 2017
Welcome. Thank you for stopping by!
who am i?
I love to travel and love to do it for free. Yes, free. Traveling means the world to me. And that is what this site is about.
How it all started…
I spent 3 years working as a consultant and lived in hotels the entire time. I gave up my apartment and sold my car because I didn't use or need either. When I was not living in a hotel for work, I was usually staying in a hotel for pleasure. That's a lot of time in hotel rooms — I spent some of this time learning how to take advantage of the point/mile system to travel the world for free. There were so many promotions at the time that every quarter, I would earn over 12 free nights (which had to be used within 90 days). This, of course, meant that I had to constantly find some ways to use the free nights. I would not have been able to travel as much as I have otherwise. So far my obsession has brought me to 5 6 continents (only Australia and Antarctica remains), 27+ countries, about 100 cities. The next two goals are is to cross off the remaining two continents and then work towards visiting most countries. My trips are fast paced to see many things but I prefer to take my time to get to know a country vs 5 countries in a week (and way too much time in airports)
what is my site about?
I have earned and used millions of miles and points to travel the world for next to nothing. During my trips, I may stay in some of the best and most expensive hotels and fly first, business, or coach class. Since I love remote places and the outdoors, sometimes points cannot be used so I usually find a low cost place to stay (like that $5 hostel in the middle of nowhere on the way to Chang Mai, Thailand).
I write about travel/miles/points related deals that I'm usually taking advantage of and recommending for my friends and family (too bad my family doesn't share my passion to travel). I check everything I post myself to make sure it works and really is a good deal (read: lots of miles and points as easily as possible) or something that will help you earn and redeem miles. When a deal requires some effort, I try to figure out the fastest and cheapest way and show readers the shortcuts I find. Although I don't have many credit card affiliate links (meaning those where I get paid if you apply using my link), I post the best offers I can find, even if I don't get paid. If my site gets more popular, maybe the big banks will consider me (but I will still post only the best I can find, commission or not).
You can spend hours on end cutting through all the junk on the internet for great deals — I know I do. Follow along to learn how to accumulate and redeem points without wasting them and feel free to ask questions.
Starwood hotels are my favorite! I've been Platinum 6 years and working towards Platinum for Life. Most of my trips, therefore, focus on staying at as many Starwood hotels as possible (it helps me maintain my platinum status, I usually get upgraded to a suite, get lots of free stuff, and I dont spend much).
my status history:
Starwood: Platinum (6 years)
Hyatt: Formerly Diamond (3 years), Platinum currently since most of my business goes to Starwood
IHG Club: Platinum (5 years)
Hilton disHHonors: formerly Diamond VIP (3 years) (not a big fan after the huge point devaluation)
Marriott: Formerly Gold Elite (2 years)
Avis: First
Hertz: Five Star
my goals / bucket list:
My time on this earth is limited. My goal is to live life to the fullest, as best I can, right now. I spent a lot of my life focusing on studying and working my butt off – almost nothing else. Back then money and time were the big limiting factors. As I get older, there may be things I may not be able to physically do. I would like to do these things now, use miles and points to pay my way there, and to share these experiences with you. Here is my bucket list so far:
- Visit every continent. 6 down, only
AustraliaONE LEFT: Antarctica! - Visit every country in South America
- Visit every country in Central America
- Visit most countries – 27 down, lots to go
- Hike Mount Kilimanjaro (to the summit)
Visit Australia and New Zealand- Lifetime Starwood Gold & Platinum status
- Join the Mile High Club
- to be continued
favorite movies
I'm not just ocd about travel and deals. When it comes to movies, I love documentaries… about food… are some of my favorite. Ignorance is bliss. Watching these might make you change your ways
- Food Inc (2009)
- Food Matters (2008)
- American Meat (2013) – organic sustainable farming system IS possible
- King Corn (2007) – “you are what you eat”
- Fed Up (2014) – American's obesity & sugar
- Cowspiracy (2014) – “A documentary that will rock and inspire the environmental movement.”
