STOP Wasting Money! Here’s How To TRAVEL For FREE !

Summary

In this video, Brian shares his travel hacks, revealing how he manages to travel extensively on a tight budget. His tips include using frequent flyer miles, booking early, driving instead of flying when possible, and utilizing free or discounted charging for his electric vehicle. Brian also highlights the benefits of staying with friends or sharing accommodations like Airbnbs, and maximizing credit card rewards through strategic spending. With a focus on flexibility and resourcefulness, Brian demonstrates how to make travel more affordable, even with limited funds.

Takeaways

• 😀 Book early to save on flights and hotels, as prices rise closer to the departure date.
• 😀 Utilize free or cheap charging options for electric vehicles, including home chargers or apps like PlugShare for free charging locations.
• 😀 Stay with friends or share accommodations like Airbnbs to save money on lodging.
• 😀 Use referral programs and sign-up bonuses from credit cards to earn frequent flyer miles for future travel.
• 😀 When using credit cards for miles, pay off the balance in full each month to maximize miles without accruing interest.
• 😀 Delta Gold SkyMiles credit card offers priority seating, a free checked bag, and bonus miles for every purchase.
• 😀 The American Airlines miles program may not be worth the cost due to high fees and long layovers for reward flights.
• 😀 With SkyMiles, you can book flights like JFK to Paris for only 27,000 miles plus taxes, making travel affordable.
• 😀 Domestic flights with Delta can cost as little as 12,700 miles, making it a cost-effective way to travel frequently.
• 😀 For international flights, frequent flyer miles may not always work well unless the airline flies directly to your destination.
• 😀 Consider switching to a no-annual-fee card if you're not using your credit card enough to justify the fees, but still want to retain some benefits.

Q & A

How does Brian afford to travel so much despite claiming to be poor?

Brian uses a combination of frequent flyer miles, early bookings for flights and hotels, charging his electric vehicle cheaply, and staying with friends or sharing accommodations to keep costs down.

What is the benefit of booking travel early?

Booking travel early saves money, as flight and hotel prices tend to rise as the departure date approaches. Early booking also ensures more options, especially for hotels during peak seasons or events.

How does Brian use frequent flyer miles to save on flights?

Brian takes advantage of sign-up bonuses from credit cards like the Delta Gold MX card. He uses the miles earned from regular spending and takes advantage of promotions to rack up even more miles.

What credit card does Brian recommend for earning frequent flyer miles?

Brian recommends the Delta Gold MX card, which offers a sign-up bonus of 30,000 to 60,000 miles, depending on the promotion. He also mentions the importance of using a card where the miles don’t expire.

What strategies does Brian use to keep his electric vehicle charging costs low during road trips?

Brian uses referral credits to charge at Tesla superchargers for free or at a lower cost. He also charges at friends' houses or uses apps like Plug Share to find free charging stations at places like shopping malls.

How does Brian manage accommodation costs during his travels?

Brian often stays with friends, shares Airbnbs, or has his lodging covered by others in exchange for content creation. He also helps reduce costs by being a respectful and gracious house guest.

Why does Brian prefer driving over flying, especially on the West Coast?

Brian prefers driving because it gives him more flexibility and allows him to see people along the way. Additionally, it often saves money compared to flying, especially when factoring in expensive flight tickets and limited options.

What tips does Brian offer for finding cheap or free places to charge an electric vehicle?

Brian suggests using apps like Plug Share to locate free charging stations, often found at shopping malls or supermarkets. He also recommends asking friends if you can plug in at their house, which is cheaper than using paid charging stations.

What is the downside of using American Airlines frequent flyer miles, according to Brian?

Brian found that American Airlines' frequent flyer miles program isn’t very cost-effective, as booking flights often involves long layovers or inconvenient flight routes, making the miles not worth the trouble. He advises against using it.

What should people consider when choosing a frequent flyer card?

When choosing a frequent flyer card, it's important to check for good sign-up bonuses, low annual fees, and miles that don’t expire. Brian recommends using a card that offers extra perks like priority seating and free checked bags.