Let’s face it — family vacations are expensive. Between the flights, hotel rooms, food (hello, three kids who only want chicken nuggets), and endless activity costs, it’s easy to feel like a fun getaway is out of reach.

But what if I told you there’s a way to make those dream vacations happen — without draining your savings account?

Welcome to the magical world of credit card points — where your everyday spending can turn into free flights, hotel stays, and even amusement park tickets. Yes, really. And no, you don’t have to be a finance expert or rack up debt to do it.

In this guide, I’ll walk you through exactly how our family started planning vacations using only points — and how you can do it too. Ready to pack your bags (without unpacking your wallet)? Let’s go!

✨ By a Mom Who’s Done It (and Survived Airport Security with 3 Kids)

Let’s be real — family vacations are amazing, but they are not cheap.

Between flights, hotel rooms (because no, one room doesn’t fit five of us anymore), meals, activities, and the snacks your kids suddenly must have the second you pass the airport food court… it adds up fast.

But here’s the good news: you can plan your next family vacation using just credit card points. No extra spending. No taking out a second mortgage. Just using the money you already spend — on groceries, gas, bills, and yes… the occasional emergency pizza night — and turning it into points for travel.

In this post, I’ll walk you through exactly how our family did it — step-by-step — and how you can too.

✨ Step 1: Start With a Dream (and a Destination)

You don’t need every detail locked in, but having a destination goal helps you choose the right credit card and points strategy.

Ask yourself:

  • Do we want to fly or drive?
  • Do we need a hotel for multiple nights?
  • Are we traveling during peak season (like spring break)?

Once you know your general plan (like “5 nights in Orlando” or “a summer beach trip with the kids”), you can reverse-engineer your credit card points goal to match.

💳 Step 2: Pick the Right Travel-Friendly Credit Card

Not all credit cards are created equal — especially when it comes to travel. The right one can give you a hefty signup bonus, reward your everyday spending, and open the door to free flights and hotel stays.

Here are 3 family-friendly starter cards I love (and yep — they all have $0 annual fees):

1. Chase Freedom Unlimited®

  • 🔹 1.5% cash back on everything
  • 🔹 Bonus for grocery store purchases
  • 🔹 Pairs well with Chase Sapphire for travel redemptions

2. Wells Fargo Active Cash®

  • 🔹 2% unlimited cash rewards
  • 🔹 No category tracking — super mom-friendly

3. Citi Custom Cash℠

  • 🔹 5% on your top category each month (like gas or groceries)
  • 🔹 Flexible, set-it-and-forget-it

💡 Pro Tip: Use your spouse’s card too — you can double dip signup bonuses (just stagger the applications).

🛒 Step 3: Earn Points From What You Already Spend

We’re not doing anything extreme here. Just use your credit card for the stuff you’re already buying — and pay it off monthly.

Some ideas:

  • Grocery runs 🛒
  • Gas and school pickups ⛽
  • Cell phone bill 📱
  • Streaming subscriptions 🍿
  • That Target run that was supposed to be for “just toothpaste” 😅

Track everything with a simple printable or spreadsheet.

✈️ Step 4: Book Flights with Points

This is where the real fun begins.

Depending on your card, you’ll either:

  • Book directly through the card’s travel portal (like Chase Travel or Citi ThankYou®)
  • Transfer points to airline partners (for better deals!)
  • Or cash out points and buy tickets with the money you save

For example:

  • 60,000 Chase points can often get you 2–3 round-trip flights!
  • Southwest is super point-friendly for families (and no change fees!)

💡 Family tip: Booking one-way flights can sometimes help when trying to get multiple seats with points.

🏨 Step 5: Get Free Hotel Nights with Points

Most cards offer hotel partners — or you can book directly through Expedia using cashback cards and coupons (affiliate bonus alert! 😉)

Family-friendly chains that work well:

  • Hyatt (great value with points)
  • Hilton (earn free nights fast with promos)
  • Marriott Bonvoy (tons of options near tourist spots)

And if you use a card with Expedia perks, you can double-dip:

  • Cash rewards → Use for Expedia bookings
  • Credit card travel portals → Hotel discounts + bonus points

💡 Consider hotels with free breakfast — you’ll save on one meal every single day.

🚗 Step 6: Use Points for Rental Cars, Park Tickets & Extras

  • Many travel cards let you redeem points for car rentals, too.
  • Got a cashback card? Use your rewards to cover theme park tickets, gas, or even snacks and sunscreen.
  • Look for deals through Rakuten, Upside, or Fetch to stack even more savings.

⚠️ Step 7: Avoid the Common Mistakes

These are the big ones:

  • ❌ Don’t carry a balance. Interest cancels out any rewards.
  • ❌ Don’t spend more just to earn points. Stick to your normal budget.
  • ❌ Don’t forget to track expiration dates on points and promo periods.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Step 8: Final Tips to Make It Work for Your Family

  • Start small — maybe a weekend trip 2 hours away, paid for with points
  • Use a shared Google Doc or printable tracker
  • Sign up for airline & hotel loyalty programs to stack bonuses
  • Keep an “Upcoming Trip Fund” jar for fun money or souvenirs

📥 Bonus: Grab Your Free Credit Card Points Tracker!

Want to stay organized and make this strategy actually doable with kids, sports, school, and work chaos?
🎁 Download my free “Credit Card Points Tracker” here →

💛 You Can Do This (and Take the Kids With You)

Traveling with your family doesn’t have to mean stress or huge bills. With a little planning and some smart credit card use, your next vacation could be completely paid for with points — and that’s a win for your wallet and your memory bank.

So go ahead — start dreaming. The points will follow. ✈️