One thing about the internet that I still find so amazing is how incredibly simple it is to connect with people from all around the world. That is why I was really excited when I was introduced to Derek at The Points Guide because they live up in Alaska! The great thing about the travel community is their willingness to share their experiences with others, I love reading The Points Guide to compare my wallet full of credit cards to his. 🙂 Please welcome me in presenting Derek.

Let me introduce myself. I’m Derek Cladek, a free travel-aholic, collector of rewards points, airline miles, hotel points; you name it, and I’m probably collecting it. I write at The Points Guide, sharing my experiences and how I can travel for free. I believe this is something anyone can do, no matter your situation in life. Just five years ago I was $22,000 in credit card debt and unable to travel; much less get qualified for a rewards card. Today I have paid off my debt, raised my credit score and now have over 900,000 rewards points or miles sitting in my accounts waiting to be used.

Growing up my family loved to travel! As a kid we would drive rather than fly for our 2-week vacations. I remember looking forward to traveling as a young boy; it was just another adventure in my mind. Driving places never really got boring and as I got older I kept the travel bug in me.

My wife and I on top of Mt Sinai, Egypt May 2011

Now at age 29, two weeks before my 30th birthday I’m looking at a pin board of the world in my office. I’m amazed at how many places I have been. Not quite 30 yet and I have been to every US state and 10 countries, which includes; Canada, Mexico, UK, Ireland, Egypt, Uganda, Rwanda, Sudan, Honduras and Belize. I feel so blessed, but as I sit here I realize how anyone could have done what I have. Even on the smallest of budgets. Sure my wife and I don’t have kids yet and one day we will, but that won’t stop us from traveling. I know many people who have never traveled to more than three US states or more than just Canada or Mexico, how depressing is that?

Over the past few years I have learned how to travel for free. There are thousands of people who have learned what it is to travel for free; just by building up rewards points, airline miles and taking advantage of the never-ending rewards programs out there.

Everywhere you look, there will be an opportunity for some type of rewards points to be earned. Every time you fly, there are miles to be earned. Every time you stay at a hotel or rent a car, there are more rewards points to earn, which all lead to more free travel.

So how do I travel for free?

It’s actually a pretty simple method, but depending on your situation, it can take more time than others. As long as you have decent credit, low debt, you should be able to qualify for most credit cards. Traveling for free is no secret; it’s just a methodology that you have to learn. Obtaining credit cards purely for their bonus points is all it takes to earn enough airline miles for a free ticket or enough rewards points for a free hotel stay.

My wife and I are taking a week trip back to Seattle, the place I grew up and our total cost (minus food) comes out to $318. This includes airfare (which we are flying First Class), our 6-night hotel stay and our 6-day car rental. The same trip if we paid for it in cash would cost just over $3,300.

Sounds crazy doesn’t it?!

It’s completely possible and with a little time and effort, you can be on your way to free travel as well!

My wife signed up for the Chase Sapphire credit card. She got approved and had the card expedited to our house. The day we got the credit card we paid a bill for $6,000, which is enough to give us 46,000 bonus points by this time next month. The credit card is free for the first year and using the card cost us nothing, but we will still get enough bonus points out of the deal to give us another free week at a hotel.

The best part about building rewards points and airline miles is that most never expire. It’s like building up your bank account to use at a future date. Even though my wife and I don’t have kids yet, we do plan on traveling with them and even now we are building up rewards points, free airline miles, hotel points, car rewards; you name it we are saving it.

I was blessed as a kid to travel every summer, we never had enough money to really fly anywhere or go on extravagant trips around the world. This is something I want to bless my family with and building up rewards points and airline miles by the use of credit cards and credit card bonuses, will enable us to travel anywhere in the world.

So I ask myself this question often:

“If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?”

Then I plan for it and save for it. With our 662,000 American Express rewards points, or 213,000 airline miles, I think my wife and I could travel the world for months at a time for free. All it takes is time, knowledge and effort to do what we do. Begin now and start planning your dream vacation… believe it is possible!

Thanks Derek for the incredibly inspirational piece! I know reading stuff like this really encourages me to see the world by Save Money, Travel More! To read more about Derek’s experience with churning cards, and seeing the world, please head over to The Points Guide.