Instagram story viewer> @pointpacktravel> Posts
Diana | Points and Miles Family Travel(@pointpacktravel)'s profile avatar HD Profile

Diana | Points and Miles Family Travel

@pointpacktravel

2.3K
followers
939
following
✈️ Helping others travel more for less using U.S. credit card points
📍Destination Ideas & Tips
👇Grab my Free Guide below
POSTS STORIES REELS
Hi, friends! 👋 If you’re new around here, I wanted to introduce myself and share a bit about what this page is all about. Here are a few quick facts about me:     •    Chicago-Based: Living and raising my family right here in the Midwest. 🏙️     •    Family First: I absolutely love traveling with my family, and finding ways to make big trips smooth and accessible for us is my number one priority.     •    Mountain Obsessed: I have a love for hiking and being up in the mountains whenever we can escape the city. 🏔️🥾     •    A Math Nerd: I love numbers, in fact, I’m a full-time math teacher! 🔢     •    Obsessive Travel Planner: I love the logistics, the research, and the spreadsheets that go into mapping out the perfect trip. Because travel costs for a family add up so fast, I started using points and miles to stretch our budget further. Now, I use my inner math teacher to break down the strategies so we can travel way more for less! If you share any of these interests and want to learn how to maximize different credit card benefits, clear out your travel expenses, and plan incredible trips, you are in the right place. Welcome to my page! ✈️✨ 👇 Drop a comment below: What’s one destination on your family’s travel wishlist right now? by @pointpacktravel
Did you know you can walk through airport security in a couple of minutes without pulling out your physical ID or scanning your boarding pass? TSA PreCheck Touchless ID uses secure facial comparison technology to verify your identity in seconds at participating security checkpoints. How to Set Up TSA PreCheck Touchless ID: ✅You must have an active Known Traveler Number (KTN) from TSA PreCheck or Global Entry. ✅Open your participating airline app (American, Delta, United, Southwest, Alaska, or Hawaiian), save your valid U.S. passport details, and attach your KTN. ✅Toggle on “TSA PreCheck Touchless ID” in your airline profile settings or select it during flight check-in. ✅Look for the blue Touchless ID badge with the green facial scan icon on your mobile boarding pass. What to Do at the Airport: -Follow airport signage to the dedicated TSA PreCheck Touchless ID lane. -At the TSA officer podium, look into the camera to match your live image against your government photo on file. -Walk straight through to physical screening. No physical ID or phone scan required. Key Details to Remember: -Now active at 65+ major U.S. airports across participating domestic carriers. -Always bring a physical REAL ID-compliant driver’s license or passport as a fallback. -Photos taken at the checkpoint are used for real-time verification and deleted within 24 hours. Share this with someone flying soon! ✈️👇 by @pointpacktravel
10 simple things you should NEVER forget before traveling abroad ✈️👇 1️⃣ Check the 6-Month Passport Rule: Many countries won’t let you enter if your passport expires in under 6 months. 2️⃣ Use a Credit Card with NO Foreign Fees: Regular credit and debit cards charge an extra 3% fee on every single purchase you make outside the country. Using a card with $0 foreign transaction fees saves you tons of money! 3️⃣ Verify Visas & Entry Forms: Double-check entry requirements or travel passes weeks before you leave. 4️⃣ Print & Download Your Bookings: Don’t rely on public Wi-Fi. Keep physical or downloaded copies of your flights, hotels, and tickets. 5️⃣ Bring a Portable Charger: Long travel days, offline maps, and taking photos drain your phone fast. Keep a portable battery in your bag so you’re never stranded with a dead phone. 6️⃣ Bring the Right Plug Adapter: Grab an international adapter so your phone stays charged. 7️⃣ Pay in Local Currency: When paying with your card, the terminal will ask if you want to pay in USD or local currency. Always choose local! Converting to dollars adds hidden extra fees. 8️⃣ Download Maps Before You Go: Save your target city on Google Maps over home Wi-Fi so navigation works without cell data. 9️⃣ Set Up an eSIM or Data Plan: Activate an international daily pass or eSIM app so you have internet the moment your plane lands. 🔟 Skip Lines with Free Mobile Passport (MPC): Download the free Mobile Passport Control app to use the fast-track customs lane returning home. This is a great free alternative if you don’t have Global Entry! 📌 Save this checklist for your next getaway and share it with whoever you’re traveling with next! by @pointpacktravel
Three must see spots in the Dolomites your kids will love! Here are some rules and costs you need to know before you go! 🏔️ 1. Lago di Braies Driving Permit: Valley access by car is restricted mid-July to mid-September (9:00 AM – 5:00 PM). Book your driving permit and parking spot in advance at pragserwildsee.com/en (have your license plate number ready!). Rowboats: Arrive extra early if you want to rent a rowboat because the line forms fast. Food: Full-service restaurant. 🚠 2. Seceda Parking Tip: Arrive before 8:00 AM! Parking lots fill up completely, and you will be turned away if full. Gondola Info: Requires 2 sequential cable cars from Ortisei. Round-trip is ~€74 per adult, but kids under 8 ride FREE! Food: Traditional mountain huts (Rifugi) with food and drinks are scattered right along the top trails. ⛰️ 3. Passo Pordoi No Reservations: No advance driving permits or lift reservations required. Gondola Info: Takes you straight up to Sass Pordoi. Round-trip is ~€32 per adult, and kids under 8 ride FREE. Food: Mountain hut right at the top for drinks and meals with 360° views. SAVE this post for your family trip planning! 📌 by @pointpacktravel
How my family stayed 2 nights in Murano, Italy for $0 🧾👇 We brought a $364.04 stay at the Hyatt Centric Venice Murano down to $0.00 out of pocket using our credit card benefits: 1️⃣ $300 Hotel Credit: Booked a 2-night stay through the Citi Travel portal using the $300 annual hotel benefit on the Citi Strata Elite℠ card. The discount applied instantly right at checkout. 2️⃣ 6,404 Citi Points: Redeemed 6,404 Citi ThankYou Points to cover the remaining $64.04 balance. Final out-of-pocket cost: $0.00. Swipe through to see the exact receipt breakdown! ➡️ 📲 Follow along to learn how to redeem credit card benefits for free travel! by @pointpacktravel
Going to Venice? 🇮🇹 Here is what you need to know about all 3 water transport options, including pricing, child policies, and official booking sites: 1️⃣VAPORETTO (Water Bus) BEST FOR: Venice & island hopping COST: €9.50 single (75 mins) or €25 for a 24-hour pass KIDS: Free for ages 0–5! BOOK: veneziaunica.it 2️⃣ALILAGUNA (Airport Boat Shuttle) BEST FOR: Direct airport transport to Venice COST: €18 single / €32 roundtrip KIDS: Free for ages 0–5! BOOK: alilaguna.it 3️⃣PRIVATE WATER TAXI (Consorzio Motoscafi) BEST FOR: Speed, privacy, heavy luggage & direct hotel dock arrival COST: Custom quote based on group size and location. For our family, it came out to about $90/person roundtrip! KIDS: Free for kids under 6! BOOK: motoscafivenezia.com Family Travel Tip: If you are traveling with kids under 6, none of these options charge for young children! 📌 Save this post for your trip to Venice! by @pointpacktravel
4 nonstop tickets to Paris for LESS cash than buying just ONE ticket? Here is how we bought 4 nonstop flights from Chicago to Paris: Regular Cash Price • $677 per seat • $2,708 total for 4 people What We Paid with Points • 15,750 Chase points + $165.60 per person • 63,000 Chase points + $663.40 TOTAL for all 4 of us! How we made it happen: 1️⃣ We found the nonstop Air France flights listed on Virgin Atlantic’s website for 22,000 points + $165 per person. 2️⃣ Chase was running a 40% transfer bonus to Virgin. 3️⃣ That bonus meant we only needed to transfer 63,000 Chase points total (instead of 88,000)! We saved over $2,000 in cash and got all 4 of us to France for less out-of-pocket money than a single cash ticket. If you want to get started with points and miles, you can check out what I think is the best starter credit card to get at the link in my profile! I’m always happy to help! DM me! by @pointpacktravel
Italy train rules you actually need to know to avoid spending more money or to avoid stress. 👇 Save this for your trip! Avoid these 5 major mistakes: 1. WAITING TO BOOK: High-speed trains (like Frecciarossa or Italo) work just like flights. Ticket prices jump significantly the closer you get to departure. Book weeks in advance to save up to 70%! (Note: Regional trains are flat-rate, so those are safe to buy last-minute). 2. VALIDATION RULE: You ONLY need to validate your ticket at the green/white platform machines if you bought a paper regional ticket at the station. If you booked online via an app or have an assigned seat, your ticket is pre-validated. Just show your QR code to the conductor! 3. TRACK THE NUMBER: The departure boards list the final destination of the train line, not necessarily your stop. Always match your train number (e.g., Frecciarossa 8519) to find the right row. 4. 15-MINUTE RULE: Don’t panic if your platform (Binario) is blank or changes suddenly. They usually only appear 10 to 15 minutes before departure. Keep your eyes on the station monitors. 5. CARRIAGE MATCHING: Look for the coach/carriage number (Carrozza) displayed on the platform overhead screens to line up exactly where your assigned seat will pull up. Doors close quickly! Is there anything else you would add to the list? Let me know below! by @pointpacktravel
Don’t get denied at the rental counter in Italy! To drive legally in Italy, you need an International Driving Permit (IDP) alongside your valid physical driver’s license. Without both, rental agencies can refuse to release your car. If you’re in the U.S., getting one through AAA is fast: ⭐️Where: Walk into any AAA branch (no appointment needed). ⭐️What to bring: Your valid U.S. driver’s license. ⭐️Cost: $20 permit fee, plus passport photos. ⭐️Time: Issued on the spot in about 15 minutes. Get this before you leave, and keep both your physical license and IDP booklet with you whenever you drive. Send this to someone visiting Italy soon! by @pointpacktravel
Shopping portals are one of the easiest ways to multiply your rewards on purchases you were already going to make. Never buy stuff you don’t need just to earn extra points or cash back because that would defeat the purpose! But when you do have a planned purchase, taking the extra seconds to click through a portal first is a no-brainer. 📲 Send this post to someone who needs to start stacking points on their online shopping! 🛍️ New to Rakuten? Don’t miss out on extra bonus rewards—sign up for free using the link in my bio before your next order! by @pointpacktravel
Adding your spouse as an authorized user (giving them a card on your existing account) usually gets you zero extra bonus points. Here’s what we do instead to double our travel rewards 👇 1️⃣ Send a referral link: Generate a referral link from your existing credit card and send it to your partner. You earn a referral bonus just for sending them over! 2️⃣ Double up on rewards: When they apply through your link and get approved, they get their own full Sign-Up Bonus (SUB). 3️⃣ Pool your points: Most major bank programs allow spouses or household members to transfer and pool their points between accounts for free! 💡 Don’t have a spouse? Use a “Player 2” (P2)! In the points & miles community, a P2 is anyone you partner with to maximize rewards: a sibling, parent, or trusted friend. Disclaimer: Always ensure you can meet minimum spend requirements comfortably and pay off balances in full every month. by @pointpacktravel
How we took our family of 4 to the Bahamas for under $1,700 out-of-pocket! 👇 ✈️ Flights: 74K points + $532 (Retail: $2,636) 🏨 Grand Hyatt Baha Mar: 80K points + $0 resort fees + FREE upgrade to Ocean View Balcony! (Retail: $1,708) 🍽️ Food & Drinks: $875 (Free breakfast via Guest of Honor + kids 5 & under eating free!) 🚗 Transportation: $130 🎟️ Activities: $160 💰 Total Cash Out of Pocket: $1,697 💳 Total Points Spent: 154K points 📈 Total Savings: $3,812+ ✨ The numbers are much more affordable when using points to pay a fraction of the real cost! 📩 DM me if you need help getting started or have any questions! by @pointpacktravel

Download All

Save the photos and videos currently loaded on this page.

0Photos
0Videos
Ready to download 0 / 0

Keep this tab open until your download is ready.
back to up