{"id":253276,"date":"2020-01-08T00:34:00","date_gmt":"2020-01-08T05:34:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/milesopedia.com\/news\/rules\/"},"modified":"2025-03-31T06:55:18","modified_gmt":"2025-03-31T10:55:18","slug":"rules","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/milesopedia.com\/en\/guide\/rules\/","title":{"rendered":"The rules of travel hacking in 2020"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_custom_heading el_id=”the_rules_of_travel_hacking” text=”The rules of travel hacking” google_fonts=””][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

At the beginning of this year, if there are three rules of travel hacking<\/em> that I want to remind everyone:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Strategy<\/strong>: Objectives, Programs, Credit Cards<\/li>\n
  2. The golden rule<\/strong>: Accumulate and use<\/li>\n
  3. The credit report<\/strong>: Travel hacking is a marathon<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    [\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_custom_heading el_id=”build_your_travel_hacking_strategy” text=”Build your travel hacking strategy” font_container=”tag:h3|text_align:left” google_fonts=””][vc_column_text el_class=”checkmarks”]<\/p>\n

    We keep reminding people in the milesopedia facebook group<\/a>: establish a<\/strong> travel hacking<\/em> strategy<\/strong>. Too often we are asked “What is the best credit card”? But that’s taking the problem the wrong way around.<\/p>\n

    [\/vc_column_text][vc_custom_heading el_id=”set_a_goal_for_yourself” text=”Set a goal for yourself” font_container=”tag:h4|text_align:left” google_fonts=””][vc_column_text el_class=”checkmarks”]<\/p>\n

    First of all, you need to set a goal or goals<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

    This can be short term or long term. It can be as simple assaving money on hotel nights<\/a> or an airbnb rental<\/a> for a weekend in New York City, or having a well-deserved Disney vacation<\/a>!<\/p>\n

    [\/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”75414″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_shadow” ][vc_message color=”success” message_box_color=”success” icon_fontawesome=”fas fa-check”]<\/p>\n

    To help you define a goal, check out our beginner’s guide to a travel hacking strategy<\/a>.<\/p>\n

    [\/vc_message][vc_custom_heading el_id=”define_the_right_loyalty_programs” text=”Define the right loyalty programs” font_container=”tag:h4|text_align:left” google_fonts=””][vc_column_text el_class=”checkmarks”]<\/p>\n

    Once the goal is identified, define the loyalty programs<\/strong> that can help you achieve it.<\/p>\n

    Why, for example, earn Marriott Bonvoy points<\/a> when you never stay in a hotel and prefer Airbnb<\/a>? This would be counterproductive. Research your travel needs (lodging, airfare, road trip, groceries, gas, etc.) then consult our guides.<\/p>\n

    [\/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”75361″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_shadow” ][vc_message color=”success” message_box_color=”success” icon_fontawesome=”fas fa-check”]<\/p>\n

    To help you learn about loyalty programs, check out our beginner’s guide to the different loyalty programs<\/a> available in Canada.<\/p>\n

    [\/vc_message][vc_custom_heading el_id=”choose_the_right_credit_cards” text=”Choose the right credit cards” font_container=”tag:h4|text_align:left” google_fonts=””][vc_column_text el_class=”checkmarks”]Finally, once you have identified your goal and defined your loyalty programs, it’s time to choose the right credit cards<\/strong>!<\/p>\n

    Thanks to your previous work (objectives and programs), it will be much easier to make the choice<\/strong> and not to give in to the charms of credit cards that will not be optimal for you![\/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”48342″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_shadow” ][vc_message color=”success” message_box_color=”success” icon_fontawesome=”fas fa-check”]<\/p>\n

    To help you choose a credit card, check out our monthly ranking of the best credit card offers<\/a> in Canada by program or search for your credit card with our comparison tool<\/a>!<\/p>\n

    [\/vc_message][vc_custom_heading el_id=”our_strategies” text=”Our strategies” font_container=”tag:h4|text_align:left” google_fonts=””][vc_column_text el_class=”checkmarks”]To help you build your travel hacking strategy, we have designed several for you! Feel free to use these as inspiration and adapt them to your situation![\/vc_column_text]\n

    \n\t\n\t
    \n\t\t\n\t\t
      \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
    1. \n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\tHow to Get Free Airport Lounge Access?\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
    2. \n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\tGuide: How to Save on Foreign Currency Transactions\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
    3. \n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\tGuide: How To Save On Airbnb With Points?\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
    4. \n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\tGuide: Save On Hotels With Points\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
    5. \n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\tGuide: Save on Flights With Points\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/ol>\n\t<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n[vc_single_image image=”75412″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_shadow” ][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_custom_heading el_id=”accumulate_and_use” text=”Accumulate and use” font_container=”tag:h3|text_align:left” google_fonts=””][vc_column_text el_class=”checkmarks”]<\/p>\n

      Loyalty programs are not RRSPs! Don’t collect points to use them in 3-4-5 years!<\/p>\n

      Each year brings its share of devaluations or changes in loyalty programs. So you need to be able to handle it by keeping your point balance low in programs such as Aeroplan or AIR MILES.<\/p>\n

      [\/vc_column_text][vc_custom_heading el_id=”banking_currencies” text=”Banking currencies” font_container=”tag:h4|text_align:left” google_fonts=””][vc_column_text el_class=”checkmarks”]<\/p>\n

      Prefer the accumulation of bank currencies <\/strong>such as :<\/p>\n