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Kristin | Family Travel + Mom Life

@thepointsdiary

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✨ Helping families grow their travel confidence
✈️ Real trips + all our thoughts along the way
💗 Momx3
💳 Learning points & miles as we go!

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Comment POINTS for the full breakdown on each card! When I first started learning points & miles, I really just wanted someone to tell me: which card should I start with?!

So I went down the rabbit hole, blogs, websites, social media, card comparisons… all of it.

After looking at a TON of information, these are the two cards I kept coming back to for beginners.

There’s no single “best” first card. But depending on how you spend and how you want to travel, I think you can narrow it down pretty quickly.

Chase Sapphire Preferred: if you want strong domestic transfer partners, useful bonus categories that you get 3x on and great travel protections.

Capital One Venture: if you want simple, 2x across the board, more international focused transfer partners and the option to use miles toward eligible travel purchases.

Basically, I made the post I was searching for when I started.

You don’t need to understand every transfer partner, redemption strategy or credit card rule before you begin. Pick a card that makes sense for your spending and travel goals, learn that ecosystem first, and go from there.

Save this for when you’re ready to pick your first card + follow @thepointsdiary for beginner points & miles without the information overload. ✈️

#pointsandmiles #travelrewards #creditcardpoints #travelhacking #beginnertravelhacking familytravel by @thepointsdiary

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6 days ago

Comment LINK to get this weeks travel hack!

✈️Travel Hack Tuesday: The $12 travel find..

Has earned a permanent spot in my diaper bag.

It folds flat, pops open in seconds, and gives my baby a clean place to play at the airport, hotel, or while visiting family. It’s one of those simple things that makes traveling with little kids feel just a little easier.

Sometimes the best travel hacks aren’t expensive—they’re just practical.

Do you think you’d use this? 👇

#TravelHackTuesday #FamilyTravel #TravelWithKids #MomTravel #ToddlerTravel BabyTravel TravelMom AirportHacks MomLife TravelTips ugc mom creator travel ugc mom ugc lifestyle ugc motherhood ugc taken in New Port Beach, California by @thepointsdiary

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2 months ago

We almost skipped this stop in San Francisco… and it ended up being one of our FAVORITE things we did. 🤯

The California Academy of Sciences has SO much packed into one place:

🦋 4-story indoor rainforest
🐠 Aquarium
🪐 Planetarium
🐧 Penguins
🌿 Living roof
✨ Hands-on + sensory exhibits
🦒 Life-size animal displays

And the best part? There was something that kept all three kids entertained — which is saying something when you’re traveling with little ones. 😂

If you’re planning a family trip to San Francisco, SAVE this one. 📌

Follow The Points Diary for family travel, points + miles, and realistic tips for traveling with kids. ✈️

#SanFranciscoWithKids #CaliforniaAcademyOfSciences #SanFranciscoFamily #FamilyTravel #TravelWithKids ThingsToDoInSanFrancisco SFWithKids FamilyTravelTips taken in San Francisco, California by @thepointsdiary

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2 months ago

Comment REVIEW and I’ll send you the in-depth Aulani review from a mom of 3 🌺✨

If you’re wondering whether Aulani is actually worth the price… here’s my honest take.

⭐ Character breakfast: 10/10 (our favorite meal all trip)
🏖️ Complimentary beach toys & boogie boards: 10/10
💙 The little details made traveling with kids feel so much easier.

It’s not a perfect resort, but it’s one of the few places we’ve stayed where I truly felt like both the kids and the parents got to enjoy vacation.

Would we go back? In a heartbeat.

Have a question about Aulani? Drop it below and I’ll answer everything I can. 🌺✈️

#Aulani #DisneyAulani #FamilyTravel #TravelWithKids #MomTravel HawaiiVacation Oahu FamilyVacation DisneyResort TravelTips taken in Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa by @thepointsdiary

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2 months ago

I’m a BIG believer in asking the question — even if you feel like you should already know the answer.

Points + miles can feel like learning another language when you’re starting out. And I definitely don’t know everything.

But if you ask me something I don’t know? I’ll research it, figure it out, and come back with an answer. Because chances are, if you’re wondering about it, someone else is too.

That’s actually a huge part of why I started The Points Diary. I wanted a place where beginners could ask the questions that feel “too basic” without feeling stupid for asking them.

So ask me the question. Seriously. 👇
Credit cards. Points. Transfers. Booking. Credit scores. Whatever you’re confused about.

And if I don’t know yet? We’ll learn it together.

Follow @thepointsdiary if you want points + miles explained by someone who’s learning, researching, and actually showing you what she does along the way. ✈️

#PointsAndMiles #PointsAndMilesBeginner #TravelForLess #TravelHackingBeginner #CreditCardPoints TravelPoints FamilyTravel FamilyTravelTips BeginnerTravelHacking ThePointsDiary by @thepointsdiary

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6 hours ago

When I first wanted to get into points + miles, I didn’t need someone to tell me “just start.”

I wanted someone to tell me exactly what they did, in what order, and what happened next. So that’s what I’m sharing here.

Here’s my points + miles journey so far 👇🏼

1️⃣ I spent about a month learning first.

2️⃣ June: I opened the Chase Sapphire Preferred and earned the welcome bonus, 100K points.

3️⃣ July: I referred my husband, earning 15K points from the referral. He also opened his first travel card, Chase sapphire preferred with an elevated welcome offer. 100K points once we earned the welcome binus

4️⃣ August: I opened my second card the Chase sapphire reserve. I wanted the 1:1 transfer to Hyatt and the benefits made sense for trips we already had planned so I could justify the high annual fee. ($795) 100K points after we earned the welcome bonus

5️⃣ Then I started USING the points, not just collecting them.

🏨 San Francisco family hotel → $0 out of pocket
✈️ San Diego couples trip → flights booked during a Southwest Companion Pass promo
🏨 San Diego hotel → $0 out of pocket using points + card benefits

6️⃣ Husband opened his next card Amex gold, we need a grocery multiplier our grocery bill is ridiculous so I wanted something back for it. Amex gold is 4x on groceries and dinning and I wanted to start diversifying to include Hilton which Amex transfers to at a 1:2

🌺 Booked our second Hawaii trip in less than a year → $0 out of pocket for the hotel

In just a few months, we’ve earned 350K+ points largely through welcome bonuses and spending we were already doing.

And I’m still very much learning as I go.

If you’ve been wanting to start but feel like everyone skips over the part where they tell you what to actually DO, that’s exactly why I started this page.

Follow @thepointsdiary—I’m documenting the cards I open, when I open them, how I earn the points, and most importantly, how we actually use them to travel.

#pointsandmiles #travelhacks #familytravel #travelwithkids #creditcardpoints travelpoints awardtravel travelmore budgettravel familyvacation travelrewards milesandpoints by @thepointsdiary

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2 days ago

Consider this your reminder to book the trip. ✈️

Use the PTO. Book the flight. Take the weekend trip. Bring the kids. Go somewhere new. You don’t need the “perfect” time, you just need to start making the memories.

Follow along for more travel ideas, family adventures & ways to make traveling more doable. 🤍

#travel #travelideas #traveltips #travelinspiration #vacation familytravel travellife travelmore wanderlust exploremore by @thepointsdiary

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5 days ago

Fall bucket list item: find the cutest pumpkin patch in California 🎃🍂

From coastal pumpkin patches to mountain towns and full-on fall festivals, California actually has some REALLY good options if you know where to look.

I rounded up some of the best spots to make a whole fall day out of it — pumpkins, apple cider, cute photo ops, and all the cozy fall vibes. 🤎

Save this for your October adventures + send it to someone who needs a fall day trip! 🍁

Follow @thepointsdiary for family-friendly trips, California adventures, travel tips & beginner points and miles ✈️

#CaliforniaTravel #CaliforniaWithKids #CaliforniaFamilyTravel #PumpkinPatch #PumpkinPatches FallInCalifornia FallBucketList CaliforniaBucketList FamilyTravel FamilyAdventures ThingsToDoInCalifornia CaliforniaRoadTrip FallActivities TravelWithKids by @thepointsdiary

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3 days ago

I started learning points & miles 3 months ago, and since then I’ve earned 350K+ points through welcome bonuses + the everyday spending we were already doing.

And that’s the part I want people to understand: I’m not spending more money to earn points. I’m just being more intentional about how we pay for the things we already buy.

So far, those points have helped us:
✨ Take our kids to San Francisco with our hotel $0 out of pocket
✨ Book our first just the two of us trip to San Diego with our hotel $0 out of pocket
✨ And this week, we’re planning to book Hawaii for the whole family with points too 🌺

I’m still very much a beginner, which is exactly why I share this. You do NOT have to know everything before you start.

Comment POINTS and I’ll send you my free post breaking down the steps I took + what I’d recommend if I were starting from scratch today.

#PointsAndMiles #TravelHacks #TravelForLess #TravelRewards #CreditCardPoints AwardTravel FamilyTravel BudgetTravel TravelTips BeginnerTravelHacking by @thepointsdiary

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4 days ago

Bilt said… new year, new devaluation 👎🏼

Starting January 1st, Bilt → Hyatt transfers are changing to 4:3… meaning 4,000 Bilt Points will only get you 3,000 Hyatt points.

If you’ve been sitting on Bilt points specifically because you planned to transfer them to Hyatt, you’ll want to know about this change before January.

Save this + send it to your points friend who also enjoys receiving bad news via group chat 😂

#bilt #pointsandmiles #creditcardpoints #hyattpoints #travelhacking by @thepointsdiary

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4 days ago

Consider this your sign to ghost the things keeping you from traveling more 👻✈️

Waiting for the “right time.”
Staying home because traveling with kids feels like a lot.
Layovers when a nonstop exists 😂
And analysis paralysis because you’re trying to figure out every single points & miles rule before you start.

Book the trip. Learn as you go. Make the memories. ✈️

Follow for family travel, realistic travel tips & beginner points + miles.

#FamilyTravel #TravelTips #TravelMore #TravelWithKids #PointsAndMiles by @thepointsdiary

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5 days ago

Turns out sometimes the solution actually is booking the trip. 😂✈️

More trips. More experiences. More “how can we make this happen?” and less waiting for the perfect time.

Follow @thepointsdiary for family travel, realistic travel tips + learning how to make more of it happen with points. 🤝

#travelmore #familytravel #travelinspiration #traveltips #travelreels by @thepointsdiary

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5 days ago