Best Travel Hacking Credit Cards of 2023! {FREE Flights, Hotels + BIG Bonuses}

Start scoring free trips to your dream vacation destinations with my favorite travel hacking credit cards!

Are you wondering how to get FREE hotel nights + serious cash back on every purchase to help pay for your next vacation?  Credit card hacking is one of the EASIEST tricks to travel for FREE!

I’ve flown from Phoenix to Washington D.C. for $12 using points {seriously}, I’ve flown from Phoenix to California for $11 using points, and have stayed 7 nights FREE in Rome using points!

If you’ve been dreaming of an adventure getaway, or a relaxing tropical beach with sand in your toes… you’ll love credit card hacking!  Traveling is always fun, but it’s so much MORE fun when it’s free!

It’s time to start packing your bags, and planning your next adventure!

How Does Travel Hacking Work?

• Apply for one of the travel hacking credit cards below
• Meet the Minimum Spend to earn your Sign-up Bonus
• Pay your card off in full each month
• Use your bonus points for FREE hotel nights {on the hotel cards}, or get FREE cash bonuses {on the cash back cards}!
• Then… repeat with another card!

How to Make Minimum Spend on Credit Card:

To get the sign-up bonuses, you’ll need to make the minimum spend on your new card within the specified time frame.  It’s easier than you think!  Following is what I charge on my card until my minimum spend is met…

• Auto Maintenance
• Cell Phone Bill
• Charitable Giving
• Gas
• Gifts
• Groceries
• Electricity Bill
• Home Repairs
• Medical Appointments or Prescriptions
• Restaurants
• Subscriptions {Netflix, Spotify, etc}
• Water Bill

Double the Rewards When Your Spouse Applies, Too!

Want even MORE rewards?  Don’t forget that your spouse can apply for a card too!  My husband and I both apply for cards so we can get DOUBLE the FREE hotel nights, both get FREE flights, and both get BIG Cash Back Signup Bonuses!

What Your Frugal Friends Are Saying About Travel Hacking Credit Cards…

Jamie writes: “Get a credit card that offers points or cash for travel. Use that card to pay monthly bills and then pay it off before interest is charged. Use those points to get free hotel stays.”

Kate writes: “We use a credit card for all of our monthly expenses (excluding utilities which will not bill to a CC without a fee). We pay the bill in full every month (meaning we have to track our spending on a weekly basis to make sure we are not overspending). This nets us several thousand more points every year!”

Rick writes: “I like to use credit cards that reward you with frequent flier miles, then I exchange those for miles on whatever airline I need.”

Meghan writes: “Before we went to Oahu, we took out a travel credit card that had a promo for free miles if you spent money within the first 3 months.  We just charged our airfare and Airbnb to that card and the points were enough to cover the entire fee of our rental car plus a kayaking excursion!”

Tiffany writes: “We travel for free using credit cards and their points systems.  We just came home from visiting Maui a few days ago!! Loved Hawaii!  We spent $3k for 4 people for 9 days (food, drinks, souvenirs and excursions)  We saved $12k by travel hacking.  Southwest flights free, Hyatt regency resort free and 9 day car rental free.  Travel hack and see the world!”

If you regularly pay off your balance, you definitely want to check out these cards with BIG benefits!

Best Travel Hacking Credit Cards

Following are some of my favorite travel credit cards, thanks to generous welcome bonuses and fantastic rewards for everyday spending…

Card #1: Southwest Airlines Visa {Signup Bonus Points = FREE Airfare!}

Of all my travel hacking credit cards, my favorite is my Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards Visa!  This is my #1 secret to earning multiple FREE flights every year!

Card Perks:

Right now with all 3 Southwest Credit Cards, you can score a 50,000 point introductory offer after spending just $1,000 within the first 3 months after you open your account.

At A Glance:

Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Card

• Score a 50,000 Point Introductory Offer after you spend $1000 in first 3 months.  Then get 7,500 more points after your account anniversary each year  – $149 Annual Fee.
• Earn 3x points for every $1 spent on Southwest purchases.
• Score 4 Upgraded Boardings per year when available.
• Get a $75 Southwest Annual Travel Credit.
• No Foreign Transaction Fees.

Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Card

• Score a 50,000 Point Introductory Offer after you spend $1000 in first 3 months.  Then get 6,000 more points after your account anniversary each year  – $99 Annual Fee.
• Earn 3x points for every $1 spent on Southwest purchases.
• Get 2 Free Early Bird Check-Ins per year.
• No Foreign Transaction Fees.

Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Card

• Score a 50,000 Point Introductory Offer after you spend $1000 in first 3 months.  Then get 3,000 more points after your account anniversary each year  – $69 Annual Fee.
• Earn 2x points for every $1 spent on Southwest purchases.
• Get 2 Free Early Bird Check-Ins per year.

Why I Like It:

By simply watching for the frequent Southwest Airlines Sales, I regularly score one way flights on Southwest for as little as 6,000 points + a few dollars in taxes.  When you can book flights for as little as 6,000 points, a 50,000 point sign up bonus will buy you a lot of flights.

Plus, with Southwest, your points never expire!

Scoring FREE Southwest Airfare is one of my favorite money saving travel tips!

Card #2: Marriott Bonvoy Visa {Signup Bonus Points = up to 3 FREE Hotel Nights!}

One of my favorite travel hacking credit cards that I use to pay for my vacations is the Marriott Bonvoy Visa Card!  This credit card comes with some serious rewards, and is one of the fastest ways to start racking up FREE hotel nights!

Card Perks:

Earn 3 Free Night Awards with the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless™ Credit Card or 1 Free Night Award with the Marriott Bonvoy Bold™ Credit Card.  FREE hotel nights are a fantastic way to cut the cost of your trip!

At A Glance:

Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Card

• Score a 3 Free Reward Nights Introductory Offer after you spend $1000 in first 3 months.  Then get a Free Night Award after your account anniversary each year  – $95 Annual Fee
• Earn up to 17x points for every $1 spent at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy.
• Get complimentary Premium Wifi while staying at participating hotels.
• No Foreign Transaction Fees
• Your points won’t expire as long as you make a purchase with your card every 24 months.

Marriott Bonvoy Bold Card

• Score a 1 Free Reward Night Introductory Offer after you spend $500 in first 3 months – $0 Annual Fee
• Earn up to 14x points for every $1 spent at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy.
• No Foreign Transaction Fees
• Your points won’t expire as long as you make a purchase with your card every 24 months.

Why I Like It:

With such a vast hotel network, Marriott reward points are really easy to use.  I’ve personally stayed at Marriott brand hotels in at least 6 different states.

I also really like how the Marriott Bonvoy Bold card doesn’t have an annual fee.  Plus with no foreign transaction fees, this card is really handy to have if you plan to travel anywhere outside of the country.

Card #3: IHG Mastercard {Signup Bonus Points = up to 3 FREE Hotel Nights!}

Another one of my favorite cards to earn FREE Hotel Nights is the IHG Mastercard! FREE hotel nights are a fantastic way to cut the cost of your trip!

Card Perks:

Earn 140,000 points good for up to 3 Free Night Awards with the IHG Rewards Premier Credit Card.  OR Earn 80,000 points with the IHG Rewards Credit Card.  With both cards, you can score one additional Free Night when you book 4 or more nights using your points.

At A Glance:

IHG Rewards Premier Credit Card

• Earn the 140,000 Points Introductory Offer after you spend $3000 in first 3 months.
• Plus you’ll score an additional Free Night on your anniversary – $99 Annual Fee
• Get an additional Free Night when you book 4 or more nights using your points.
• Get up to a $100 Global Entry, TSA Precheck or NEXUS Statement Credit.  I used my IHG card to pay for TSA Precheck (valid for 5 years) and then received a statement credit for the $85 charge, making TSA Precheck FREE!
• Earn up to 26x points for every $1 spent at IHG Hotels & Resorts when you combine your IHG Rewards Premier Credit Card with your IHG Rewards member benefits.
• Earn 5x points for every $1 spent on travel, dining and gas.
• Your points won’t expire as long as you make a purchase with your card or earn new IHG Rewards every 12 months.

IHG Rewards Credit Card

• Earn the 80,000 Points Introductory Offer after you spend $2000 in first 3 months + NO Annual Fee!
• Get an additional Free Night when you book 4 or more nights using your points.
• Earn up to 17x points for every $1 spent at IHG Hotels & Resorts when you combine your IHG Rewards Premier Credit Card with your IHG Rewards member benefits.
• Earn 3x points for every $1 spent on dining, utilities, cable, phone, cell and gas.
• Your points won’t expire as long as you make a purchase with your card or earn new IHG Rewards every 12 months.

The FREE TSA Pre Check is amazing!  You can bypass the long lines, and breeze through security FAST without pulling liquids out, AND without taking off your shoes and jacket!  We had just one person in line front of us the last time we flew! {woohoo!}

Why I Like It:

Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express have so many fantastic properties across the country, and FREE hotel nights mean more FREE trips!

Card #4: Chase Freedom Unlimited Visa: $200 Sign Up Bonus! {+ Cash Back}

{+ Earn 5% Cash Back on Travel, 3% Cash Back on Dining & Drugstores, and 1.5% Cash Back on Everything Else!}

Another one of my favorite cards is the Chase Freedom Unlimited Visa Card.

In addition to the generous $200 signup bonus promo {which I applied to my travel savings fund}, it has fantastic cash back, too!

New cardholders can also earn 5% cash back on gas for the first year!

I personally like to use this card every time my family eats out for an extra 3% cash back at restaurants.  It’s also my preferred card for drugstores, because it gives 3% cash back in that category, too!  Plus, at the end of every month, I always apply the cash back that I’ve earned to my travel savings fund, too!

It’s also my favorite card to use when booking any travel, because I can also earn a whopping 5% cash back when booking through Chase Ultimate Rewards:

• Login to your chase account.
• Select “Ultimate Rewards” on the right of your screen.
• Book Your Travel and earn 5% Cash Back!

Card Perks:

$200 Sign Up Points after you spend just $500 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.  Talk about a sweet deal!

At A Glance:

• Earn 5% Cash Back on Gas for the 1st Year
• Earn 5% Cash Back on travel booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards
• Earn 3% Cash Back at Restaurants {including some takeout & delivery}
• Earn 3% Cash Back at Drugstores
• Earn 1.5% Cash Back on Every Purchase
• $0 Annual Fee

Why I Like It:

I personally love knowing that no matter where I am shopping, I am always earning at least 1.5% in cash back.  I also love scoring that extra 3% in cash back at restaurants and drugstores.  The cash back I earn is such an easy way to supercharge my Vacation Savings Fund!  Then I use my savings to help pay for airfare, car rentals, and hotels!

In addition to simply cashing in your points for Cash Back, you can also cash out your points for your favorite Store Gift Cards.

One reader writes: “I use my credit card reward points to get FREE restaurant gift cards because I know Fast Food is in my future.” 🙂

Apply Today:

So what are you waiting for?  Take the next step towards saving for your dream vacation!  Learn more about the Chase Freedom Unlimited Visa Card and apply here…

Card #5: Capital One Quicksilver Visa: $200 Sign Up Bonus! {+ Cash Back}

{+ Earn 1.5% Cash Back on Everything!}

Another one of my top choices right now for the best travel credit card of 2022 is Capital One Quicksilver Visa Card.

I use the Capital One Quicksilver Visa Card every month to earn cash back to help pay for my vacations!  Not only is it great to use when traveling, it’s also an ideal credit card even if you’re not traveling!

Card Perks:

$200 Sign Up Points after you spend just $500 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.  Talk about a sweet deal!

At A Glance:

• Earn 1.5% Cash Back on Every Purchase
• $0 Annual Fee
• No Foreign Transaction Fees
• Virtual Card Numbers for More Secure Online Shopping
• Capital One Shopping Portal {for more Cash Back!}

Why I Like It:

I personally use this card for almost every purchase I make, and love knowing that I am earning 1.5% in cash back no matter where I shop.  I always apply the cash back that I earn each month to my Vacation Savings Fund!  Then I use my savings to pay for my airfare, car rentals, and hotels!

The no foreign transaction fee feature especially came in handy when I visited Rome a few years back.  I was able to use the card for our hotel, cab fares, and at restaurants.  By primarily using this card for almost every transaction, I saved so much money by not having to pay to exchange as much currency.

In addition to cashing in your points for 1.5% Cash Back, you can also cash out your points for your favorite Store Gift Cards and even PayPal.

Apply Today:

So what are you waiting for?  Go make your next dream vacation more than just a dream!  Learn more about the Capital One Quicksilver Visa Card and apply here…