FUND YOUR TRAVELS

NO MONEY? NO PROBLEM

Fun and Creative Ways to Fund Your Travels

Click Here – Ways to Leverage Business Travel to Fund Personal Trips

Click Here – Ways to Camp FREE (or Super Cheap)

Click Here – How to Leverage the Cost of your Wedding to Fund your Honeymoon

Click Here – Ways to Stretch your Travel Dollar in Low Currency Countries

Click Here – How to Stay Connected Abroad Without the Roaming Fees

Click Here – Inexpensive Alternatives to Hotels

Click Here – Ways to Travel Inexpensively Using the Sharing Economy

CLICK HERE – Top U.S. Travel Rewards Credit Cards. Canadian? CLICK HERE for Canadian cards

CLICK HERE – Ways to Avoid Common Travel Surcharges
Crowdfunding

Watch my video on how run successful travel crowdfunding campaign to learn how to setup your travel fundraiser using a crowdfunding website like:
fundanything.com
fundmytravel.com
gofundme.com
honeyfund.com: Honeymoon crowdfunding registry

Loyalty Rewards Programs

cardsfortravel.com: Search credit cards by reward type and best overall cards in the U.S. and Canada
flyertalk.com: Offers frequent flier program information with reviews and community forums
milepoint.com: Has a forum so you can talk anything rewards programs with travelers
rewardscanada.ca Follow the latest loyalty program promotions in Canada
rocketmiles.com: Earn bonus points when you book your hotel through rocketmiles
pointshound.com: Get free points for booking through pointshound. Bookings come with a best price guarantee
thefrequentmiler.us: How to leverage systems and multiply your points earnings
thepointsguy.com: Teaches travelers how to travel first class using travel rewards points
travelhacking.org: Keep up to speed on current promotions offering free rewards points

Find a Job Abroad

Great Resources to Get Started

goabroad.com
transitionsabroad.com

International Employment Agencies

ccusa.com
theworkingholidayclub.com

International Jobs

americanhiking.org: Paid and volunteer programs such as repairing hiking trails
care.com: Nanny jobs, housekeeping and pet sitting
goabroad.com: Resource center to work, study, intern and volunteer abroad
goinglobal.com: International jobs & internships. Expert advice for international work permits/visas
gooverseas.com: Offers resources to teach English, intern, study and volunteer abroad
myworldabroad.com: Thousands of resources covering every aspect of planning for travel abroad.
transitionsabroad.com: For young Americans seeking work, study and accommodations abroad
unitedplanet.org: For mid-career professionals wanting to take a career break to travel
workpermit.com: Offers work permit information by country
workanywhere.com: Find foreign sponsored jobs by country

Internships

gapyear.com: British-based site for international internships

Teach English Abroad

languagecourse.net: Guides you through the teaching process and how to prepare for certification exams
gooverseas.com: Opportunities to teach English abroad

Cruise ship Jobs

routesinternational.com: Click ‘Cruise Lines’ for a North American cruise line directory
carnival.com
celebrity.com
costacruise.com
hollandamerica.com
ncl.com
princess.com
royalcaribbean.com

How to get into the cruise line industry

allcruisejobs.com
cruiselinejobs.com

Credit Card Sign–Up Bonuses

My RULE OF THUMB is to opt for credit cards that meet all of the following criteria:

  1. Offer a sign-up bonus good for at least: i) one round-trip flight, OR ii) 2 hotel nights, AND
  2. Annual fee waived the first year, AND
  3. At least one of the following: i) Free checked-bag benefit, ii) A companion pass benefit, iii) Waived foreign transaction fees

By using the following matrix, you can quickly find which cards offer the best overall combination of these benefits.

FLIGHT REWARDS – U.S. RESIDENTS

Credit Card Annual Fee Waived 1st Year? Sign Up Bonus Points Free Checked Bag? Companion Pass? Foreign Transaction Fees Waived? Airport Lounge Access?
Bank of America Travel Rewards Credit Card
No Fee 25K No No Yes No
CITI Premier Mastercard
No $95 60K No No Yes $100/yr Hotel Credit
AMEX Delta SkyMiles Platinum
No - $250 50K Yes Yes Yes No- $100 TSA Pre credit
AMEX Delta Skymiles Gold
Yes 40K Yes No Yes No - $100 Statement Credit/yr
AMEX Platinum
No $695 100K $200/yr credit on qualifying airlines No Yes Yes + Uber/ Clear/ TSA/Hotel credits
Barclaycard Lufthansa Miles & More
No $89 60K No Yes Yes 2X / yr
Barclays Hawaiian Airlines World Elite
No $99 60K Yes $100 off/yr + 50% OFF 1 Time Yes No
BoA Alaska Airlines Signature
No $95 70K Yes Yes Yes $100 membership discount
BoA Premium Rewards
No $95 60K $100/yr incidental credit No Yes No-$200 Statement Credit
Capital One Venture
No $95 75K No No Yes No-$100 TSA Pre Credit
Chase British Airways Signature
No $95 75K No Yes- 30K/yr spend Yes No
Chase Ink Business Preferred
No $95 100K No No Yes No
Chase Sapphire Preferred
No $95 60K No No Yes No
Chase Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier
No $99 50K No Bag Fees 10K Guest Pts/yr Yes No - 2 EarlyBird Checkins/ yr
Chase United Mileage Plus Explorer
Yes 60K Yes No Yes No: $100 Global Entry/TSA Pre Credit
Chase United Quest
No $250 70K + 500 PQP Yes + $125 credit/yr No Yes No - $100 Global Entry/TSA Pre Credit
Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite
Yes 50K Yes - domestic flights No Yes No


Hotel Rewards - U.S. Residents

Credit Card Annual Fee Waived 1st Year? Sign Up Bonus Points Free Checked Bag? Companion Pass? Foreign Transaction Fees Waived? Airport Lounge Access?
AMEX Hilton Honors
No annual fee 80K No No Yes No
AMEX Hilton Honors Surpass
No $150 130K 1 Free ngt/yr No - Auto Gold Status Yes No
Marriott BONVoY Boundless
No $95 5 FREE Ngts No No Yes 1 Free ngt /yr
IHG One Rewards Premier
$99 140K No No - 1 Free ngt/yr Yes No - $100 TSA Pre Credit
Chase World of Hyatt
No $95 65K 2 FREE ngts/yr 15K min spend No Yes No


FLIGHT REWARDS - CANADIAN RESIDENTS

Credit Card Annual Fee Waived 1st Year? Sign Up Bonus Points Free Checked Bag? Companion Pass? Foreign Transaction Fees Waived? Airport Lounge Access?
HSBC World Elite
Yes $100 credit/yr No No Yes Dragon Pass
TD Aeroplan Infinite
Yes 40K Yes No No No $100 Nexus credit
AMEX Aeroplan
No $120 To 40K Yes No No No
BMO ASCEND World Elite
No - $150 60K No No No DragonPass
BMO Air Miles World Elite
Yes 3000 Air Miles No No No Lounge Key
BMO World Elite
Yes 30K No No No Lounge Key
RBC British Airways Infinite
No - $165 60K No Yes must charge 30K/yr No No
RBC Westjet World Elite
No - $119 $700 Yes 1x/yr $119 No No
TD 1st Class Travel Infinite
Yes 135K No No No Priority Pass Discount


HOTEL REWARDS - CANADIAN RESIDENTS

Credit Card Annual Fee Waived 1st Year? Sign Up Bonus Points Free Checked Bag? Companion Pass? Foreign Transaction Fees Waived? Airport Lounge Access?
AMEX Marriott BONVoY
No - $120 50K 1 Free ngt/yr Upgrade if available No No