PSA: Heard a couple at the airport talking about their 'free' hotel stay

I was waiting for a flight to Chicago last week and overheard two people bragging about how they got a five-night hotel stay for free by using a credit card sign-up bonus. They were really excited, but then one mentioned the $6,000 spending requirement they had to hit in three months to get the points. That's a huge trap if you're not already spending that much normally (or if you have to buy stuff you don't need). It made me realize these 'free' travel deals can actually push you to spend way more than you save, which is the opposite of budget travel. Has anyone else found a truly low-pressure way to use those points without going into debt?

3 comments

3 Comments

kai_webb915d ago

Remember my cousin buying a bunch of gift cards to hit a bonus.

angelarivera5d ago

Wait, he bought gift cards just to get a sign up bonus? That's a terrible way to hit spending limits. The fees eat up so much of the value you're supposed to get. I knew someone who did that and basically ended up paying more in fees than the bonus was worth. It turns a good deal into a complete waste of money.

murphy.tessa5d ago

Yeah, @kai_webb91, just watch out for those activation fees.