{"id":40,"date":"2015-12-03T02:37:54","date_gmt":"2015-12-03T02:37:54","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/thetravelingmillennial.com\/?page_id=40"},"modified":"2018-12-19T23:59:54","modified_gmt":"2018-12-19T23:59:54","slug":"beginners-strategy","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"http:\/\/first2board.com\/thetravelingmillennial\/beginners-strategy\/","title":{"rendered":"Step 1: Strategy"},"content":{"rendered":"

So you want to travel the world? \u00a0While maintaining a professional career? \u00a0Well, you’ve come to the right place. \u00a0When I started traveling, I had to balance working a full time job near DC with my desire to see the world. \u00a0I learned a few tricks along the way and I hope I can pass them on to other folks who want to travel. \u00a0Here are a few general tips for maximizing your travel:<\/p>\n

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  1. Start early<\/strong>: I like to start the year with a list of locations I would like to visit along with a list of weekends that I’m available to travel. \u00a0Making a plan this far in advance allows me to watch airline prices and book when they are cheapest. \u00a0I booked a $549 weekend trip from DC to Rio de Janiero on American Airlines using this technique.<\/li>\n
  2. Be flexible<\/strong>: see above. \u00a0Travel is more expensive when you are committed to travel to a particular location on a specific date.<\/li>\n
  3. Pick an aspirational\u00a0goal<\/strong>: if you had a free round-trip ticket to fly anywhere in the world, where would you visit? \u00a0Hawaii? \u00a0Machu Piccu? \u00a0Easter Island? \u00a0Maldives? \u00a0Or maybe you’d prefer to fly first class to Peru? \u00a0Research which airlines fly to those locations and how many miles are required for a round-trip award ticket. \u00a0For American Airlines: Hawaii (45,000); Machu Piccu (40,000); Maldives (80,000); first class to Peru (110,000).<\/li>\n
  4. Make a plan<\/strong>: map out your travel plans and mile strategies for the year with your aspirational goal in mind.<\/li>\n
  5. Pick a primary airline<\/strong>: points are most valuable to leisure travelers if they’re collected in the same place, namely for the same airline. \u00a0If you end up flying a lot in one year you may even qualify for elite status.<\/li>\n
  6. Collect redeemable miles<\/strong>: there are many ways to accrue frequent flier miles including flying, shopping portals<\/a>, dining programs<\/a>, credit cards, and bonus promotions<\/a>. \u00a0In a typical year, a single prudent person should be able to accrue enough miles to fly anywhere in the world. \u00a0In my first year of traveling, I accrued 70,000 AAdvantage miles, almost enough for two round-trip coach tickets to Europe.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    In order to maximize your accrual of airline frequent flier miles (which can be redeemed for pretty cool trips), you’ll want to answer this question about your travel over the next calendar year. \u00a0Will I travel over 25,000 miles in one calendar year?<\/strong><\/p>\n