Condé Nast asked how we booked our spring break on points
The trip in precise detail, a list of points terms you need to know and the one mistake we would never make again in Eastern Europe (or anywhere) 😳
The incredible trips we’ve taken as a family require significant planning and a lot of time, but the real MVP (sorry for the baseball analogy but I am IN it with little league right now!) are the points.
More than the points though is the knowledge of how to use them wisely. I’m grateful daily for knowing what I know. It’s saved us a literal fortune and made travel accessible at times it otherwise may not have been.
So, when Condé Nast reached out and asked for a behind the scenes view of how my family used our points for a recent trip, I said yes, knowing it could help others see what’s possible. They highlighted one of our favorite trips of all time, spring break 2024 — Budapest, Vienna and Prague (the Golden Triangle)! This feature starts here and digs deep into this trip:
“From their home in Park Slope, Brooklyn, Rachel—who runs the popular substack Brooklyn Family Travelers—meticulously planned an itinerary that combined smart budgeting with luxurious touches, primarily through savvy use of credit card points and miles. The family aimed to dive deep into Eastern Europe's rich history and vibrant culture, and Rachel's strategy ensured they traveled comfortably without blowing their budget. "Eastern Europe was high on my list," Rachel explains. "I loved the idea of hopping between these iconic cities by train, making the most of each place without feeling rushed."
Check it out here to see real numbers of how much we spent (in cash and points), the places we stayed and the one thing we’d do differently next time (hint: we almost got arrested!)…
Thank you, Condé Nast and Jordi Lippe-McGraw, for thinking of my family — and for including some of my photos in this piece. One of my favorite shots I’ve take in years is in this article and that made my day ❤️
Here it is:
As I was putting together the class on how to spend 100K points, I was thinking back to when I first got started with points and the things that tripped me up most.
I have been asked by many of you to make a super basic, starter class to help people who are overwhelmed by all of the points stuff and have no idea where to start. The focus of this class will be on how to spend the 100k points from that elevated offer I posted about constantly.
Here’s the link to sign up! It’s on June 17th at 1pm ET, with a recording if you can’t make it live:
And remember, paid memberships are 10% off through Friday June 6th! Click here! The 200th paid subscriber will win a 1:1 travel coaching session with yours truly 🖤
In the spirit of the class, below the paywall, you will find a shortlist of seven terms and definitions that will help you on your points journey.
Between the lingo and abbreviations, some of this stuff can make your eyes cross. This list distills some of the most common terms so you can get them, understand them and move along, armed with knowledge that can help save you a lot of money.