Why You Should Grab My Free Beginner’s Guide Before You Get Started
If you’re just dipping your toes into the world of points and miles, I know exactly how you feel. Excited? Yes. Overwhelmed? Absolutely.
When I first started travel hacking, I remember opening a dozen browser tabs, each explaining points and miles in a slightly different way. Some were outdated, some assumed I already had a PhD in frequent flyer programs, and some made promises that felt too good to be true. My brain was fried before I even applied for a card.
That’s the tricky part about travel rewards. The internet is packed with information, but it’s scattered, confusing, and often written for people who already know the basics. For an absolute beginner, it can feel like trying to learn a new language without an alphabet.
That’s exactly why I created my Free Beginner’s Guide to Points and Miles. It’s short, sweet (just 8 pages), and designed to give you the essentials without drowning you in jargon. Think of it as your “cheat sheet” for starting travel hacking the right way.
In this post, I’ll walk you through:
The problems beginners face when trying to figure this out on their own
Exactly what’s inside my guide (and why I chose those topics)
How it will save you time, money, and frustration
The next steps you can take once you’ve downloaded it
By the end, you’ll see why this free guide should be your very first stop on the road to free flights and hotel stays.
The Problem with Starting from Scratch
Here’s the thing: travel hacking works. I’ve booked flights worth thousands of dollars for just a few points. I’ve stayed in beautiful hotels for free. I’ve taken my family on trips that we never would’ve splurged on otherwise.
But when you’re brand new, it’s easy to hit one of these roadblocks:
Too much scattered information. You Google “best travel credit card” and get 50 different answers—some recommending luxury cards with $695 fees, others pushing no-fee starter cards. How do you know which is right for you?
Fear of annual fees. $95, $250, $695… why would anyone pay those? Beginners often stop here because they don’t yet understand how to weigh perks against costs.
Confusion about points. Airline miles, hotel points, transferable currency—are they all the same thing? (Spoiler: no, and the difference matters a lot.)
Mistakes that cost you. Like redeeming 50,000 points for a $500 gift card, when those same points could’ve covered a $1,000 flight.
I know this because I made some of those mistakes myself. I wasted points, picked the wrong cards, and left money on the table. It wasn’t until I had a simple framework that it finally clicked.
That’s why I created this guide: to give you the shortcut I wish I had when I started.
A Peek Inside the Free Beginner’s Guide
I won’t spoil the whole thing here, but here’s what you’ll find inside:
What travel hacking really is — and why it’s not sketchy or complicated once you understand the basics.
The differences between airline miles, hotel points, and transferable currency — so you’ll know which ones matter most for your goals.
How to choose the right travel credit cards — without getting lost in endless options.
The top 4 beginner-friendly cards — that give you flexibility, strong bonuses, and long-term value.
Tips for earning and maximizing points — using everyday spending and smart strategies.
How to redeem your points for maximum value — and avoid wasting them.
The most common beginner mistakes — so you can sidestep them completely.
Each section is a quick, approachable overview—just enough to help you “get it” without overwhelming you.
Why This Guide Matters (and How It Saves You Time)
Let’s be real: you could spend weeks piecing this information together from blogs, YouTube videos, Reddit threads, and random TikToks. But there are three big problems with that approach:
Information Overload. Too much detail too soon is paralyzing. Beginners don’t need 40 ways to transfer Amex points—you just need to know what Amex points are and why they’re useful.
Outdated Advice. The points and miles landscape changes constantly. Airlines devalue charts, cards update benefits, and portals tweak redemption rates. A lot of blog posts from even two years ago are flat-out wrong today.
Lack of a Path. Scattered advice doesn’t give you a clear next step. You read one article and still don’t know what to do with the information.
That’s where the guide comes in. It’s designed to:
Cut through the noise and give you only what you need to know right now
Highlight strategies that are still relevant in 2025
Provide a step-by-step path, so when you finish reading, you know exactly what to do next
It’s like having a map in a new city. Sure, you could wander around on your own, but why not use the guide that takes you straight to the good stuff?
My Story (and Why I Made This Guide)
A quick personal confession: when I got started in points and miles back in 2019, I had no idea what I was doing.
I signed up for cards without thinking about long-term strategy. I redeemed points for gift cards because I didn’t know better. I hoarded miles until airlines devalued them, and I missed out on amazing trips because I didn’t know how to book award travel.
I wasted time, money, and opportunities.
Fast forward to now: I’ve used points to take my family to Europe, to stay at luxury resorts we never would’ve paid cash for, and to fly in comfort in the front of the plane (instead of cramming into the cheapest seat).
I created this guide because I don’t want beginners to go through the same frustrations I did. I want you to start smarter, waste fewer points, and see results faster.
Imagine Your First Win
Picture this:
You apply for a beginner-friendly credit card with a solid bonus.
A few months later, you’ve earned enough points for your first free flight.
You redeem them smartly, saving $500, $1,000, maybe even more.
That first win is a game-changer. Suddenly, you realize this isn’t just something people on the internet talk about. It’s real. It works. And you just hacked your way into saving hundreds of dollars.
My free guide is designed to get you to that first win faster.
What’s Next After You Download the Guide
Once you’ve got the guide in hand, here’s how I recommend using it:
Read it in one sitting. It’s short—just 8 pages—so you can get through it in less than 30 minutes.
Pick one action step. Don’t try to do everything at once. Maybe that’s choosing your first card or starting to track your spending categories.
Bookmark it for reference. You’ll want to revisit sections once you’re ready to move deeper (like booking your first award flight).
And from there? You’ll be ready for my blog posts, my YouTube videos, and—eventually—my full ebook that takes you from beginner to confident traveler.
Ready to Get Started?
If you’ve made it this far, you’re clearly curious about points and miles. The only thing left to do is take action.
My free beginner’s guide is the perfect place to start—short, clear, and designed to get you results right away.
🎁 Download the Free Beginner’s Guide here and take the first step toward your next free vacation.
