CardWise Compass
A clearer path to free travel.
Hi friend!
Welcome to the first edition of the CardWise Compass! I'm sending this after a refreshing 2-night marriage retreat in Marylebone, London. Our hotel stay was totally free, thanks to a simple credit card :)My intent is always to deliver the highest value newsletter I can, because your time is valuable. Over the coming weeks, we'll walk through my points guide on a more detailed level to build out the important principles that I've learned to help people maximize their points and miles and avoid costly mistakes. I'll also be sharing any important "don't-miss" offers.
You're in good hands as I slowly but surely pass on everything I know about the valuable skill of "travel hacking!"
Because alliterations help with clarity (and who doesn't love a good acronym?), these newsletters will follow this framework:
Signal: A high-value recent deal or offer
Strategy: A principle to maximize the travel value of your points
Scenario: A helpful example of the suggested strategy
Step: A call to action based on everything shared above
Today's Issue at a Glance:
Signal: An all-time-high sign-up-bonus on the Venture card
Strategy: Welcome offers on new cards are the fastest way to earn points
Scenario: A welcome bonus could unlock a free round-trip flight for two people to Rome (for example)
Step: Prioritize getting a card with a valuable sign-up-bonus
Let's get into it.
Signal
This week's issue is about the value of sign-up-bonuses, so I wanted to call out a great offer on the Capital One Venture card, which has a sign-up-bonus of 75,000 miles (points) with a $250 travel credit. This is an all-time-high offer, and a great card to start with.
Note: I don't currently have a referral link for this card. When I do share links, they're a free way to support my work. But I always prioritize you getting the best offer — whether or not I benefit.
Strategy
If you remember one idea from this week's newsletter, let it be this:
Most meaningful and recurring travel is funded by sign-up-bonuses, not everyday spend.
Optimizing your earn rate to get 3X points vs 1X points on groceries can feel productive (and still has value). But a strong welcome offer can earn 75K, 100K, even upwards of 175K(!) points.
This is the first principle in my points guide for a reason. The first step toward (nearly) free travel is getting a great welcome bonus.
Scenario
Let's say you earn 75K Capital One miles after getting the Venture card above (once you hit the minimum spend). What does that unlock?
To earn 75K miles through daily spend on this card, you'd need to spend $150,000, instead of the $4K minimum spend.
Unless you have a small business or your spend is incredibly high, sign-up-bonuses are the best way to rapidly accumulate points.
When used strategically, this sign-up-bonus could be used to cover two round-trip economy tickets from the US to Rome. Yes!
Note: there are many cards that offer at least 75K transferrable points, and I'm always happy to help suggest the exact right card for your situation.
Step
Are you currently working toward a meaningful welcome bonus, or are you slowly accumulating points?
I'd strongly consider prioritizing a valuable sign-up-bonus that earns transferrable points before anything else.
If we haven't had an intro call yet & you're unsure what to prioritize next, book your free "Let Points Cover Your Next Trip" strategy call for clear guidance to help you use your points to fund your travel dreams.
Next issue, we'll talk about why transferable points are more valuable than airline-specific miles or hotel-specific points.
Blessings and I hope to hear from you soon!
Ross