The Most Important Question

How did I collect enough bonus points to go to Europe for 3 weeks?

People have asked me this question so many times and I can't explain every detail to every person every time. So I will try to answer it here for you all to see.

Preparation

January 2016
I opened up the Chase Freedom Card and Miel opened up the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card. This gave us 65,000 points, valued at $650.

April 2016
I opened up the Chase Sapphire Card and the Barclay Arrival Plus Card. Miel opened up Chase Freedom Unlimited. This placed us at 65,000 Chase points / 50,000 Barclay Points

July 2016
We both opened American Express Delta Platinum. 60,000 points each.

October 2016

I Opened up American Express Everyday Card. 10,000 points

January 2017

We opened up the Chase Sapphire Reserve. It gave us 200,000 points

February 2017

I opened up Citi Thankyou Premier. 30,000 points ($300)

March 2017
Miel Opened up Barclay Arrival Plus. 50,000 Points ($500)

April 2017
I opened up IHG Credit Card. 60,000 points ($450 towards hotel)

Total

330,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards Points (495,000 or $495 value towards travel/ Sapphire Reserve)
100,000 Barclay Points
130,000 American Express/ Delta Points
30,000 Citi Thankyou Points
60,000 IHG (Hotel Points)
+ 100,000 points from spending for the year. (This is possible only because of Chase Freedom Card with its 5% cash back)

Europe

Flight: Chase Points

Hotel: Barclay & IHG points

Food, Activities: Chase Points.

Car Rental: Chase Points

Purchasing Cellphone Gimbal: Citi Thankyou Premier Points

Money Spent: $0

Conclusion

In total, it adds up to about $10,000 in value.
We didn't spend all of it in Europe.

Delta Points were used to pay for my Mother-in-law to visit her family in Korea.
I gave my mom around 160,000 Chase Points.

But yes, this is how we did it.

Comments

Don't pay for your honeymoon

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Simple MIles

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