Tools I Actually Use

I get asked a lot how I plan trips, find deals, and manage to make points actually work in real life. The short answer is: I don’t use everything, and I don’t overcomplicate it.

These are the tools I actually use — not a massive list, not things I tried once and forgot about, and not anything that requires turning travel into a second job. I wrote an entire post on this topic, but I wanted a bulleted list I can keep adding to and that also serves as a quick reference.

Most of these live quietly in the background and help me make better decisions when I’m already booking, shopping, or planning a trip.

Websites | Earning and Spending Those Miles!

Seats.aero – My go-to for quickly spotting award availability without clicking through a dozen airline sites.

Point.me – Helpful when I want to confirm the best program or routing for a specific trip.

Google Flights – Still the easiest way to compare dates, track prices, and stay flexible. My favorite feature is picking dates and seeing pricing across the globe. I have yet to book a flight this way, but will one day! It’s like throwing a dart at the map and just going.

American Express Membership Rewards – Not a website I “browse,” but the backbone of how I book flights thanks to flexible transfer partners.

Rakuten (browser extension) – I just have the extension installed on my laptop and the app on my phone. If I’m already shopping and a store is eligible, it pops up, and I earn Membership Rewards points on things I’d buy anyway. My 2025 Christmas shopping is netting me about 25,000 points, and those will be available for use in about a month. You just have to keep an eye out for offers like 20 points per dollar and then pull the trigger on items you are looking to buy anyway.

Blogs I actually read

I don’t read every travel blog on the internet. These are a few I’ve found consistently useful when I want to learn or double-check something.

  • The Points Guy – Brian is the OG, and my go-to for reviews and also all things points related. He also shares a lot of great insights on his Instagram account. I intentionally linked to his January 2026 points valuation guide just to give you a sense of what you can find on his site and blog.
  • One Mile at a Time – the latest on travel program updates, news, point deals, and program updates.
  • Adventurous Kate – lots of great info with a focus on solo travel for women.
  • The Blonde Abroad – Her travel guides are ** chef kiss ** and the first place I look after my tickets are booked, and the real research starts.

Podcasts I learn from

Podcasts are where I tend to absorb this stuff passively — while driving, walking, working out, or doing something else entirely. They are subscriptions in my Apple Podcasts app, and when the topic seems relevant or useful, I simply add them to my queue. Most of them have Facebook groups and blogs you can subscribe to if you find their content useful.

  • Points Talk – their Battle of the Premium Cards episodes last fall kept me entertained driving from the Salt Lake City airport to Zion last October, and I learned a few things along the way.
  • Take Off by 10X Travel – their end game is to have you pay them to help you optimize your points, but their content is great.
  • Frequent Miler on the Air – I find this one offers the most “hacks”, but those also require a lot of work to track down.

A Quick Note on How I Use All of This

I’m not a points maximalist, and I don’t chase every deal. I use these tools to make better decisions when I’m already planning or buying something — not to manufacture spend or turn travel into a part-time job. I mean, as lovely as that sounds, I do have (and need) my full-time job.

If a tool saves me time, money, or mental energy, it stays. If it doesn’t, I let it go.

I’ll update this page as things change, but if you’re looking for a short, realistic starting point — this is it.