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How To Cover Travel Purchases With Capital One Miles [Step-by-Step]

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How To Cover Travel Purchases With Capital One Miles [Step-by-Step]
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Capital One’s travel rewards credit cards earn valuable Capital One miles, which are versatile for many reasons. Not only can you transfer your miles to Capital One’s hotel and airline partners, but you can also redeem them for airfare, hotels, or rental cars through the Capital One travel portal.

However, there’s another lesser-known way to redeem Capital One miles: covering qualifying travel on your statement credit within 90 days of purchase.

It’s easy to use your Capital One miles in this way once you know how — keep reading to learn the step-by-step process!

What Qualifies as a Capital One Travel Purchase?

Capital One has 10 travel categories that qualify as a “travel purchase” on your statement credit:

  • Airlines
  • Bus lines
  • Car rental agencies
  • Cruise lines
  • Hotels
  • Limousine services
  • Rail lines
  • Taxi cabs
  • Timeshares
  • Travel agents
Amtrak traveler looking out of train window
You can cover the purchase of train tickets with Capital One miles. Image Credit: Amtrak

Each Capital One mile is worth 1 cent when redeemed for travel within 90 days of the purchase.

Of course, there are more obvious travel categories in the list above, such as airlines and hotels. However, where Capital One miles become even more useful is the ability to use them to cover all other travel-related expenses, from cruises to train tickets. On the other hand, travel agents can be a trickier category to figure out. If you’re working one-on-one with a personal travel agent, they may (or may not) fall into Capital One’s travel category depending on what systems they use. Meanwhile, online travel agents (OTAs) like Expedia and even Costco Travel will fall under this travel category, and therefore you can cover these expenses within 90 days of purchase.

Hot Tip:

Other travel expenses not explicitly mentioned by Capital One include tours and tickets to museums or other attractions, so you may want to consider purchasing them through an online travel agency (OTA) or a travel agent instead.

How To Cover Travel Purchases With Capital One Miles

Capital One makes it easy to cover all or part of a travel purchase with your Capital One miles. From either your desktop or mobile app, you’ll log in to your Capital One account and click on the box that displays your rewards balance.

Capital One Rewards balance screenshot
This is where you can find your Capital One miles balance. Image Credit: Capital One

Click on View Rewards if you’re on the desktop version. On the mobile app, you’ll just select your card to see your rewards balance. Next, you can see all the ways that you can redeem your miles, including Cover travel purchases.

Screenshot of all the ways you can redeem your Capital One miles.
You can also redeem Capital One miles for experiences, gift cards, cash back, and more. Image Credit: Capital One

Then, a box will appear that displays all of your qualifying travel purchases within the past 90 days.

Screenshot of the Cover Purchases pop up on the Capital One website.
You can choose to cover all or part of a travel purchase with your miles. Image Credit: Capital One

From here, you’ll be able to scroll through your eligible travel purchases. As you can see in the screenshot above, you can see what the expense was, the amount, and how many miles you’ll need to cover the entire cost. If you don’t have enough miles or don’t want to use your entire balance, you can also elect to cover part of the purchase.

Other Ways To Use Capital One Miles for Travel

Using your Capital One miles to cover eligible travel purchases is just one of the ways to maximize these travel rewards. Remember that you can also transfer your miles to more than a dozen airline and hotel transfer partners or book new travel through the Capital One Travel portal.

Transfer Capital One Miles to Airline and Hotel Programs

In general, transferring your miles out to Capital One’s airline and hotel transfer partners is the best way to get the most value out of your miles.

For example, the screenshot below shows the cash rate for a Virgin Atlantic flight from San Francisco (SFO) to London (LHR), where an Economy Classic fare costs $765. If you were to book this same flight through Capital One Travel, you would either pay a similar cash rate or spend 76,500 Capital One miles as each mile is worth 1 cent per point through the portal.

Virgin Atlantic Screenshot
Cash prices for an upcoming Virgin Atlantic flight from SFO to LHR. Image Credit: Virgin Atlantic

Now if you decided instead to transfer your Capital One miles directly to Virgin Red (which you can then easily move to Virgin Atlantic), you would see that the same flight requires just 17,500 Virgin Points and $151.70 in taxes and fees. Thanks to a 1:1 transfer rate, you would need nearly 60,000 Capital One miles fewer by transferring your miles to Virgin Red — which is a fantastic deal despite the taxes and fees.

Virgin Atlantic Screenshot
Here, the same flight is just 17,500 Virgin Points and $151.70. Image Credit: Virgin Atlantic

Sometimes, there are transfer bonuses that give your bonus miles when transferring your Capital One miles to transfer partners. Our Transfer Partner Calculator makes it easy to determine how many miles you need to transfer for the redemption that you want.

Note that the minimum transfer amount required for each loyalty program is 1,000 miles. Transfer times will vary, between instant transfers like with Wyndham Rewards to upwards of 36 hours with Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer.

It’s worth noting that transfer ratios from Capital One to a partner can vary as well. Thankfully, however, all but 2 transfer partners transfer at a 1:1 ratio. Accor Live Limitless (ALL) and EVA Infinity MileageLands transfer at 2:1 and 2:1.5, respectively.

Book Travel With Capital One Miles

Don’t want to deal with the headache of transferring your Capital One miles? The simplest way to book travel with your miles is by using the Capital One Travel portal. You can book flights, hotels, and rental cars through the portal at a rate of 1 cent per mile.

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card holders also get exclusive access to The Premier Collection. Similar to Amex’s Fine Hotels + Resorts, The Premier Collection offers a portfolio of luxury hotels with premium perks for Capital One Venture X cardholders. Premier Collection hotels can be booked directly through the Capital One Travel portal. Perks include up to $100 experience credit (varies by hotel), complimentary breakfast for 2, a space-available room upgrade, and more.

Bottom Line:

You can use your Capital One miles to cover travel purchases within 90 days, transfer miles to select airline and hotel partners, or book travel directly through the Capital One Travel portal. The best option for maximizing the value of your miles is almost always to transfer out to loyalty partners, especially if you can take advantage of a transfer bonus.

Best Credit Cards for Earning Capital One Miles

There are 3 personal credit cards that earn Capital One miles:

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit CardTerms Apply / Rates & Fees
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Star rating iconStar rating iconStar rating iconStar rating iconStar rating iconStar rating iconStar rating iconStar rating iconStar rating iconStar rating icon
U.P. Rating 
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

The Capital One Venture X card is an excellent option for travelers looking for an all-in-one premium credit card.

Learn More(at Capital One's secure site)
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
The Capital One Venture X card is an excellent option for travelers looking for an all-in-one premium credit card.
Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.
75,000 miles
$1,350
$395
19.99% - 29.74% (Variable)
Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.
Excellent (740-840)
Why We Like This Card

The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is the premium Capital One travel rewards card on the block.

Points and miles fans will be surprised to see that the Capital One Venture X card packs quite the punch when it comes to bookings made through Capital One, all while offering the lowest annual fee among premium credit cards.

Depending on your travel goals and preferences, the Capital One Venture X card could very well end up being your go-to card in your wallet.

 

Pros & Cons
Pros
  • 10x miles per $1 on hotels and rental cars purchased through Capital One Travel
  • 5x miles per $1 on flights and vacation rentals purchased through Capital One Travel
  • 2x miles per $1 on all other purchases
Cons
  • $395 annual fee (rates & fees)
  • Does not offer bonus categories for flights or hotel purchases made directly with the airline or hotel group, the preferred booking method for those looking to earn elite status
Read Full Review
Card Highlights
  • Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
  • Receive a $300 annual credit for bookings through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
  • Get 10,000 bonus miles (equal to $100 towards travel) every year, starting on your first anniversary
  • Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5X miles on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel
  • Earn unlimited 2X miles on all other purchases
  • Unlimited complimentary access for you and two guests to 1,300+ lounges, including Capital One Lounges and the Partner Lounge Network
  • Use your Venture X miles to easily cover travel expenses, including flights, hotels, rental cars and more—you can even transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
  • Enjoy a $100 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Premier Collection
  • Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
Financial Snapshot
  • APR: 19.99% - 29.74% (Variable)
  • Foreign Transaction Fees: None
Rewards Center

Capital One Miles

 

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit CardTerms Apply / Rates & Fees
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Star rating iconStar rating iconStar rating iconStar rating iconStar rating iconStar rating iconStar rating iconStar rating iconStar rating iconStar rating icon
U.P. Rating 
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

Get 2x miles plus some of the most flexible redemptions offered by a travel credit card!

Learn More(at Capital One's secure site)
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Get 2x miles plus some of the most flexible redemptions offered by a travel credit card!
Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.
75,000 miles
$1,350
$95
19.99% - 29.74% (Variable)
Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.
Good to Excellent Credit (670-850)
Why We Like This Card

The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is one of the most popular rewards cards on the market. It’s perfect for anyone in search of a great welcome offer, high rewards rates, and flexible redemption options.

Frequent travelers with excellent credit may benefit from this credit card that offers a lot of bells and whistles. And it offers easy-to-understand rewards earning and redemption.

Pros & Cons
Pros
  • 5x miles per $1 on hotels, vacation rentals, and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
  • 2x miles per $1 on all other purchases
  • Up to a $120 Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit
Cons
Read Full Review
Card Highlights
  • Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
  • Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day
  • Earn 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
  • Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
  • Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
  • Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
  • Enjoy a $50 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Lifestyle Collection
  • Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
Financial Snapshot
  • APR: 19.99% - 29.74% (Variable)
  • Foreign Transaction Fees: None
Rewards Center

Capital One Miles

Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit CardTerms Apply / Rates & Fees
Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card
Star rating iconStar rating iconStar rating iconStar rating iconStar rating iconStar rating iconStar rating iconStar rating iconStar rating iconStar rating icon
U.P. Rating 
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

The card offers unlimited miles at 1.25x per $1 and no annual fee. When you consider the flexible rewards, frequent travelers come out on top.

Learn More(at Capital One's secure site)
Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card
The card offers unlimited miles at 1.25x per $1 and no annual fee. When you consider the flexible rewards, frequent travelers come out on top.
Earn a bonus of 20,000 miles once you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $200 in travel.
20,000 miles
$360
$0
19.74% - 29.74% (Variable),0% intro on purchases for 15 months
Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.
Good to Excellent (670-850)
Why We Like This Card

Interested in a travel rewards credit card without one of those pesky annual fees? Then say hello to the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card.

In addition to no annual fee, the Capital One VentureOne card offers no foreign transaction fees.

But is this card worth its salt, or is it merely a shell of the more popular Capital One Venture card?

Pros & Cons
Pros
Cons
  • Weak earn rate at 1.25x miles per $1 spent on all purchases
  • No luxury travel or elite benefits
Read Full Review
Card Highlights
  • $0 annual fee and no foreign transaction fees
  • Earn a bonus of 20,000 miles once you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $200 in travel
  • Earn unlimited 1.25X miles on every purchase, every day
  • Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
  • Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
  • Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
  • Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
  • Enjoy 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months; 19.74% - 29.74% variable APR after that; balance transfer fee applies
Financial Snapshot
  • APR: 19.74% - 29.74% (Variable),0% intro on purchases for 15 months
  • Foreign Transaction Fees: None
Rewards Center

Capital One Miles

In addition, these business cards earn Capital One miles:

Capital One Venture X Business Card
Capital One Venture X Business Card
Star rating iconStar rating iconStar rating iconStar rating iconStar rating iconStar rating iconStar rating iconStar rating iconStar rating iconStar rating icon
U.P. Rating 
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

The Capital One Venture X Business card offers at least 2x miles on all purchases, and comes packed with premium perks.

Capital One Venture X Business Card
The Capital One Venture X Business card offers at least 2x miles on all purchases, and comes packed with premium perks.
Earn 150,000 bonus miles once you spend $30,000 in the first 3 months from account opening
150,000 miles
$2,700
$395
All charges made on this account are due and payable in full when you receive your periodic statement. The minimum payment due is the New Balance as indicated on your statement.
Why We Like This Card

The information regarding the Capital One Venture X Business card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.

The Capital One Venture X Business card is a great all-around premium rewards card that helps you rack up miles on all of your business expenses.

From 2x miles per dollar on all purchases, airport lounge access, an annual travel credit, complimentary employee cards, and more, there is plenty to love about the Capital One Venture X Business card.

Pros & Cons
Pros
  • 10x miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars purchased through Capital One Travel
  • 5x miles per dollar on flights and vacation rentals purchased through Capital One Travel
  • 2x miles per dollar on all other purchases
Cons
  • $395 annual fee (rates and fees)
  • 10x and 5x bonus categories are limited to Capital One Travel bookings
Read Full Review
Card Highlights
  • Earn unlimited 2X miles per dollar on every purchase, everywhere—with no limits or category restrictions
  • This card has no preset spending limit, so you get purchasing power that adapts to your spending needs. The annual fee on this card is $395
  • Earn 150,000 bonus miles once you spend $30,000 in the first 3 months from account opening
  • Redeem your miles on flights, hotels and more. Plus, transfer your miles to any of the 15+ travel loyalty programs
  • Earn unlimited 10X miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars and 5X miles per dollar on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel, where you’ll get the best prices on thousands of options
  • Every year, you’ll get 10,000 bonus miles after your account anniversary date. Plus, receive an annual $300 credit for bookings through Capital One Travel
  • Empower your teams to make business purchases while earning rewards on their transactions, with free employee and virtual cards. Plus, automatically sync your transaction data with your accounting software and pay your vendors with ease
  • Skip the lines with up to a $120 statement credit on TSA PreCheck® or Global Entry. Then enjoy unlimited complimentary access to Capital One Lounges and a network of 1,300+ lounges worldwide, including Priority Pass™ and Plaza Premium Group lounges
  • This is a pay-in-full card, so your balance is due in full every month
  • Enjoy a $100 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Premier Collection
Financial Snapshot
  • APR: All charges made on this account are due and payable in full when you receive your periodic statement. The minimum payment due is the New Balance as indicated on your statement.
  • Foreign Transaction Fees: None
Rewards Center

Capital One Miles

Capital One Spark Miles for Business
Capital One Spark Miles for Business
Star rating iconStar rating iconStar rating iconStar rating iconStar rating iconStar rating iconStar rating iconStar rating iconStar rating iconStar rating icon
U.P. Rating 
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

The Capital One Spark Miles card is a low-annual-fee business card that earns 2x transferable miles on every dollar you spend. (Information collected independently. Not reviewed by Capital One.)

Capital One Spark Miles for Business
The Capital One Spark Miles card is a low-annual-fee business card that earns 2x transferable miles on every dollar you spend. (Information collected independently. Not reviewed by Capital One.)
Earn a one-time bonus of 50,000 miles – equal to $500 in travel – once you spend $4,500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening.
50,000 miles
$900
$0 intro for the first year, $95 after that
25.74% Variable
Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.
Good to Excellent (670-850)
Why We Like This Card

The Capital One Spark Miles for Business is a great option for business owners looking for an uncomplicated rewards card that earns double miles on every purchase they make and offers access to transfer partners, all for a low annual fee.

 

Pros & Cons
Pros
  • Unlimited 2x miles per dollar spent on all purchases
  • 5x miles per dollar spent on hotels, vacation rentals, and rental cars purchased through Capital One Travel
  • 2 complimentary visits to a Capital One Lounge per year
Cons
    • Annual fee: $0 intro for the first year, $95 after that
Read Full Review
Card Highlights
  • Earn a one-time bonus of 50,000 miles – equal to $500 in travel – once you spend $4,500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening
  • Earn unlimited 2X miles per dollar on every purchase, everywhere, no limits or category restrictions, and miles won’t expire for the life of the account
  • Unlimited 5X miles per dollar on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
  • Transfer your miles to 15+ travel loyalty programs
  • Redeem your miles instantly for any travel-related purchases, from flights and hotels to ride-sharing services
  • Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
  • $0 intro annual fee for the first year; $95 after that
  • Free employee cards which also earn unlimited 2X miles per dollar from their purchases
Financial Snapshot
  • APR: 25.74% Variable
  • Foreign Transaction Fees: None
Rewards Center

Capital One Miles

 

Capital One Spark Miles Select for Business
Capital One Spark Miles Select for Business
Star rating iconStar rating iconStar rating iconStar rating iconStar rating iconStar rating iconStar rating iconStar rating iconStar rating iconStar rating icon
U.P. Rating 
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

(Information collected independently. Not reviewed by Capital One.)

Capital One Spark Miles Select for Business
(Information collected independently. Not reviewed by Capital One.)
Earn a one-time bonus of 50,000 miles once you spend $4,500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening.
50,000 miles
$900
$0
18.49% - 24.49% Variable,
Why We Like This Card

The Capital One Spark Miles Select for Business is an excellent option for business owners looking for straightforward earning with no blackout dates, no seat restrictions, and no minimum when redeeming your miles.

Card Highlights
  • Earn a one-time bonus of 50,000 miles once you spend $4,500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening.
  • Get unlimited 1.5 miles on every purchase with your business credit card with no blackouts or seat restrictions, and no minimum to redeem.
  • Earn 5X miles on hotel and rental car bookings through Capital One Travel.
  • Use your miles on flights, hotels, vacation packages and more—you can even transfer miles to any of our 15+ travel partners.
  • We’ve got you covered with zero fraud liability if your card is lost or stolen. Plus, get automatic fraud alerts via text, email or phone call.
Financial Snapshot
  • APR: 18.49% - 24.49% Variable,
  • Foreign Transaction Fees: 
Rewards Center

Capital One Miles

In addition to lucrative welcome bonus offers, Capital One makes it easy to earn miles — especially on travel purchases. Each of these cards come with access to Capital One Travel, but Capital One Venture X cardholders come out ahead by earning 10x miles on hotels and rental cars and 5x miles on flights when booked directly through the portal. All of the other cards above will earn 5x miles on hotels and rental cars through the portal.

Each of these cards also earns between 1.25x and 2x miles on all other eligible purchases, making it easy to earn a lot of Capital One miles.

Final Thoughts

Most people are familiar with redeeming Capital One miles through transfer partners or via the Capital One Travel portal. Another great option to use your miles is to cover all or part of your travel purchases on your statement credit — and it’s easy and convenient to do so!

For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the benefits may be provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.

The information regarding the Capital One Spark Miles Select for Business was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
The information regarding the Capital One Venture X Business Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.

Information regarding the Capital One Spark Miles for Business was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer. 

Featured Image Credit: Cavan for Adobe via Adobe Stock

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Capital One consider a travel purchase?

Capital One considers quite a lot under the category of “travel purchase.” Airlines, hotels, rail lines, car rental agencies, limousine services, bus lines, cruise lines, taxi cabs, travel agents, and timeshares all count as travel purchases.

Can Capital One miles go towards any airline purchase?

Yes, Capital One miles can be used to cover qualifying travel within 90 days of purchase — including airline purchases. However, there may be exceptions like airline gift cards bought at the grocery store, which would not code as a travel or airline purchase on your statement.

Between Capital One covering your travel purchases vs. redeeming for cash, which is best?

Redeeming miles for your travel purchases within the past 90 days will get you 1 cent per point in value. However, redeeming your Capital One miles for cash will only get you 0.5 cents per point in value.

Does Capital One cover electronics purchases?

Select Capital One credit cards may offer extended warranty coverage on qualifying purchases. However, you’ll want to check your cardmember agreement for what your card does and does not.

What’s the difference between account credit and cover past travel purchases with Capital One?

The main difference between an account credit and covering past travel purchases with a Capital One credit card is that you can only use your miles to cover select travel expenses within 90 days of purchase. Account credits would usually be a result of returning a purchase or redeeming a travel credit.

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About Ashley Onadele

Ashley discovered a love for travel in college that’s continued as her family has grown. She loves showing parents how they can take their families on trips using points and has contributed to numerous publications and podcasts.

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