Miles Within Reach

12/09/2019

Did you know you can earn points while you’re doing your holiday shopping online? Our favorite cash back portal Rakuten now offers American Express points back at hundreds of stores.

If you’re not a Rakuten member yet, just click the link below to sign up. Then download the Rakuten browser extension or just shop directly through the portal. To get you started, you’ll get $10 after your first purchase by using our link (and we get a little bit too, thanks!)

To share a recent example of how this can stack up, I bought a new pair of boots from Saks Fifth Avenue over Black Friday and was able to get 16% cash back from Rakuten. My boots were $150 (marked down from $450), so with 16% cash back, the cash rebate was $24. By converting it to 2400 American Express points which are valued at $0.02/point, the value of the points back is $48—effectively doubling our value with a few quick clicks!

https://www.rakuten.com/r/HUDSON2460?eeid=28187

11/26/2019

We had the treat of starting off our grand Asian vacation at the United Polaris lounge and they really rolled out the red carpet for us!⠀
⠀
Lounges are a serious game-changer for frequent travelers. Typically, our American Express Platinum grants us access to lounges and Priority Pass lounges, but with our first class ticket, we gained access to the Polaris Lounge and it was a whole ‘nother level of awesomeness and amazing service.

https://www.mileswithinreach.com/travel-blog/2019/10/18/flying-ana-first-class-houston-to-tokyo

11/18/2019

Our flight from the US to Japan on All Nippon Airways had a cash value of $25,000... but we nabbed it for $350/person!⠀
⠀
This week, we’re taking you step-by-step on how to book a first class flight to Japan with points... and sharing all about our experience along the way. https://www.mileswithinreach.com/travel-blog/2019/10/18/flying-ana-first-class-houston-to-tokyo

11/01/2019

Are you on our email list? We sent out an email this morning all about how we used points to book a luxury Colorado ski trip at a fraction of the cost.⠀
⠀
Can’t wait to stay at the Park Hyatt in Beaver Creek for 3 nights (cash value of $2,321.60!!) in January and we think it was a great point redemption at 30,000 Hyatt points/night.⠀
⠀
Want to get in on the email action? Scroll down to Step 1 on our Quick Start Guide: https://www.mileswithinreach.com

10/22/2019

We’re here to help you maximize the money you’re already spending. If you can maximize credit card bonus rewards, the points you’re earning allow you to have travel experiences well outside what your bank account might suggest.⠀
⠀
One of the most important rules of credit card churning is paying off your cards at the end of each month. If you’re not paying off your cards quickly, the interest on these cards is negating a lot of the financial gains you’re making with collecting points and really eating into the whole ‘free travel’ thing. ⠀
⠀
Want to see just how much paying off your credit card monthly matters? Head over to the blog for a little math lesson which shows the difference in your rewards if you pay off your card versus if you carry a balance (and those dirty interest charges).

https://www.mileswithinreach.com/travel-blog/2019/9/15/why-you-should-pay-off-your-credit-cards-monthly

10/20/2019

Let's start things out on high note, why don't we?

What we love about collecting and redeeming points and miles are the travel experiences that they allow us to have (that frankly, we couldn't afford otherwise).

Singapore Airlines is said to have one of the most luxurious first class flying experiences out there and we were excited to redeem some points for a flight on one of their newest routes from Shanghai to Singapore in celebration of our anniversary.

We spent $28.08 out of pocket for the most insane flying experience we've ever had. The staff was friendly and professional with an uncanny knack for anticipating our every need (or want). The top-shelf beverages were free-flowing and delicious, putting our usual $12 bottles of wine to shame. Every single piece of food was scrumptious.

Fantastic food and service aside, it's the accommodations that truly 'wowed' us. The sheer amount of space each passenger gets in Singapore Suites is bordering on sinful. From the comfortable recliners to the beds in the sky, it is first-class flying at it's finest.

Head on over the blog to read more about our experience and learn more on how to book it for yourselves!

Wow. Just… wow. Singapore Airlines is said to have one of the most luxurious first class flying experiences out there and we were excited to redeem some points for a flight on one of their newest routes from Shanghai to Singapore in celebration of our anniversary.

10/20/2019

Welcome to Miles Within Reach! We’re Alex and Whitney Hudson, a travel-obsessed couple living the American dream in North Carolina.

We don’t have a trust fund. We don’t get a ton of time off from our full time jobs. But we have figured out how to travel the world in first class and stay at the finest hotels for free (or close to it). What’s our secret? The bottom line is that the secret to traveling like millionaires is by using credit card points.

That’s all.

We’ve spent hundreds of hours researching how to maximize credit card points and redeem them for free travel and we’re here to cut through all the noise and help you do the same.

It’s our way to pay it forward and we’re looking forward to this new adventure with you.

www.mileswithinreach.com