Trips with family and friends can be a blast for everyone involved — and a great opportunity for you to earn extra points and miles. You can easily earn bonus points or miles when you decide to book part or all of the travel for your entire group. Then, simply reimburse your travel companions for their share.
I’ve organized many group outings, from girls’ weekends to multigenerational family trips, and racked up thousands of points and miles in the process. Here are some tips I’ve learned to maximize your rewards on group travel.
Related: Earn points and miles for referring friends to loyalty programs and credit cards
Set expectations with a travel budget
Before you start planning your big adventure, discuss options with the group and set goals. where do you want to go What type of trip are you looking for? What is a budget?
Once the group has agreed on a rough plan, you can start the fun part: researching flights, hotels, and excursions. Personally, I’ve found that it’s easier to organize group travel when one person is in charge; Also, most of my loved ones are happy not To be that person.
Shop around for travel discounts and deals
As you book your trip, be sure to check multiple avenues — including Travel Portal – to make sure you’re getting the best price and the most points. Also, consider what type of rewards you’ll earn (airline miles, hotel points, or transferable points) and how much they’re worth to you.
For example, since many of my relatives are traveling to Colorado in October for my wedding, I offered to book hotel rooms for everyone. I found an affordable hotel near the wedding venue on the Chase Travel℠ portal, where I earned 10 points per dollar spent thanks to a double-point welcome offer on my Chase Freedom Unlimited® (offer no longer available).
Chase Freedom Unlimited is currently offering an extra 1.5% on all purchases (up to $20,000 spent in the first year) — worth up to $300 cash back. So, you’ll earn 6.5% on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 4.5% on food and drug stores, and 3% on all other purchases.
As a result, I am earning approximately 40,000 Ultimate Rewards points on a two-night hotel stay. According to TPG’s July 2024 valuation, these points are worth 2.05 cents each and I know I can maximize my points by transferring to travel partners to book future trips.
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Related: No-Annual-Fee Credit Cards That Earn Transferable Points
Be organized when planning a trip
Planning a trip can become stressful when you add more people to the mix, so it’s important to stay organized and communicate.
When my fiancé and I planned a family cruise, we saved all relevant emails in a designated folder and tracked confirmation numbers and expenses in a spreadsheet. Then, we forwarded the necessary information to each relative so they would have everything they needed to meet us at the port.
As a result, the trip went smoothly for everyone — and we netted about 65,000 United Airlines miles by booking each cabin through United’s cruise portal.
Related: Best Cruise Lines for Families
Bottom line
Booking a trip for a large group takes a little more work, but it can pay major dividends in the form of points and miles.
Think of it as a reward for putting in the work to make sure other people have a smooth vacation.
I’ve found my friends and family booking trips for fun, and most are grateful to have someone else do the heavy lifting. Best of all, you will share your love of travel with your loved ones.