How to Start: A Beginner’s Guide to Points and Miles

If you are just getting started in the world of credit card points and miles, it can definitely feel overwhelming. There is so much information out there — and when I first started, I honestly spent about a year reading blogs and listening to podcasts trying to understand how this all worked… and making sure it wasn’t some kind of scam.

If you are skeptical, I completely understand, because I was too.

Before learning about points and miles, certain trips felt completely out of reach for our family. Resort vacations and big trips felt like things “other people” did. My hope with this blog is to help you understand the basics faster than I did, so you can start traveling better without spending years researching.

We are not luxury travelers trying to spend money we don’t have. We are a regular family trying to make travel more affordable and create memories together without blowing our budget.

The Basics: For Those Who Are Nervous About Credit Cards

Are you in the Dave Ramsey camp of “cut up the credit cards?” My husband and I actually took his course when we first got married 16 years ago, and honestly, it gave us a great financial foundation. But over time, our financial understanding and responsibility grew.

Many credit cards offer:

• Cash back
• Travel protections
• Rental car insurance
• Hotel perks
• Large sign-up bonuses worth hundreds — or even thousands — in travel

The key is learning how to use credit cards responsibly.

This strategy works best for people who already budget responsibly, pay attention to spending, and can pay their card off consistently. Some people check their balances daily. Others check weekly. I personally like logging in once a week and paying everything off regularly so it stays manageable.

Once you get comfortable, it starts to feel second nature. Instead of your everyday spending disappearing into thin air, your groceries, gas, bills, and Target runs start helping fund your family vacations.

Who Points and Miles May NOT Be Right For

Before we go any further, this is important: points and miles are not for everyone, and that is completely okay.

This strategy works best for people who:

• Already budget responsibly
• Can pay their credit card off consistently
• Are not tempted to overspend
• Are financially stable enough to treat credit cards carefully

How We Actually Use Credit Cards for Points

Once you understand the basics, the next step is simple: put your normal everyday spending onto the credit card. Think:

• Groceries & gas
• Amazon purchases
• Medical bills
• Dining out & coffee runs
• Utilities & Target trips

I use my card for almost everything that does not charge an extra fee. If there is a fee to pay with a credit card, it usually does not make sense for us. The goal here is to save money and earn rewards from spending we were already going to do anyway — not spend extra just for points.

A Helpful Strategy for Couples

If you have a spouse or partner, it can often make more sense for each person to apply for their own card separately rather than adding each other as authorized users right away. Why? Because both people may be able to earn their own sign-up bonuses.

For example: you apply for a card and earn the bonus, then you refer your spouse. Your spouse earns the bonus too, and you may also earn referral points. This can dramatically increase the number of points your household earns. And yes — household income can typically be included on applications.

The Fastest Way to Earn Points: Sign-Up Bonuses

The biggest source of points usually comes from sign-up bonuses (often called SUBs in the points world). A common offer might look like this:

The idea is not to spend extra money. Instead, you shift your normal spending onto the card until you hit the minimum spending requirement. Once you earn the bonus, you can keep the card long term, use it occasionally, and continue earning points over time. This is how many families quickly build enough points for meaningful travel.

Which Card Should Beginners Start With?

My favorite beginner card is the Chase Sapphire Preferred. This is what many people call a “keeper card” because it comes with valuable travel benefits and gives you access to Chase travel transfer partners.

Why People Love This Card

• $95 annual fee
• Large sign-up bonus (often around 75,000 points)
• $50 annual hotel credit through Chase Travel
• 5x points on Chase Travel purchases
• 3x points on dining and online groceries
• Primary rental car insurance
• Trip delay and baggage protections
• No foreign transaction fees

At first, an annual fee can sound intimidating. But once you understand how much value you can get from the points and perks, many people find the fee easily worth it.

Why Transfer Partners Matter

Most beginners earn their points and immediately book travel through the Chase portal. And sometimes that is perfectly fine. But one of the best ways to stretch your points further is by transferring them to airline and hotel partners. Chase points transfer 1:1 to partners like:

Airline Partners

• Air Canada Aeroplan
• British Airways Executive Club
• Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards
• United Airlines MileagePlus
• Virgin Atlantic Flying Club

Hotel Partners

• Marriott Bonvoy
• IHG Hotels & Resorts One Rewards
• World of Hyatt

And this is where things start getting exciting.

Real Example: Booking Hyatt Regency Aruba with Points

Let’s say you want to book a 5-night stay at the Hyatt Regency Aruba Resort Spa and Casino. During busy travel seasons, rooms can easily cost $500–$700 per night — over $3,000 total after taxes and fees. For many families, that kind of hotel bill alone can make a vacation feel out of reach. But this is where points can completely change the equation.

How to Book It Step by Step

1. Earn Chase Points — Earn a sign-up bonus through the Chase Sapphire Preferred.
2. Create a Free Hyatt Account — Sign up for a free World of Hyatt account.
3. Search Award Availability — Go to Hyatt’s website and check the “Use Points” box when searching your travel dates.
4. Transfer Chase Points to Hyatt — Transfer your Chase points directly to Hyatt at a 1:1 ratio. Transfers are often instant.
5. Book Your Stay — Once the points appear in your Hyatt account, complete the booking using points instead of cash.

Final Thoughts

I know this can feel overwhelming at first. It felt overwhelming to me too. But once you do it one time, it starts making sense very quickly.

You do not need to become an expert overnight. You do not need to open ten credit cards. And you do not need to travel luxuriously to benefit from points and miles.

You are simply learning how to use your everyday spending more strategically so your family can travel better for less.

The first vacation I booked using points and miles was 4 nights to Aruba at the Hyatt Regency. It was an amazing vacation, and one my family still talks about. We literally would not have been able to do the trip without points and miles. I will never regret starting this hobby — it has totally changed the way my family travels. The exciting thing is, if I can do it, so can you!