Travel Resources – Shelby Reicks Travels

TRAVEL RESOURCES

Travel doesn’t have to be expensive — I save thousands each year by using the right credit cards for points, booking hacks for cheaper flights, and trusted sites for stays and tours. On this page, I’ve pulled together everything I personally use to stretch my budget further while still experiencing the best of every destination

TRAVEL RESOURCES

Travel doesn’t have to be expensive — I save thousands each year by using the right credit cards for points, booking hacks for cheaper flights, and trusted sites for stays and tours. On this page, I’ve pulled together everything I personally use to stretch my budget further while still experiencing the best of every destination

These are the travel tools and resources I personally use to make trips smoother, cheaper, and more fun. From flight deal alerts to credit cards that rack up points, these picks have truly leveled up my adventures — and I know they can do the same for you.

I only share platforms I trust and actually use myself. Some of the links on this page are affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you decide to sign up or book — at absolutely no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting my travels while discovering resources that can help yours!

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These are the travel tools and resources I personally use to make trips smoother, cheaper, and more fun. From flight deal alerts to credit cards that rack up points, these picks have truly leveled up my adventures — and I know they can do the same for you.

pexels-rdne-7310015

I only share platforms I trust and actually use myself. Some of the links on this page are affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you decide to sign up or book — at absolutely no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting my travels while discovering resources that can help yours!

TRAVEL CREDIT CARDS

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Capital One Venture X

My go-to for all-around travel rewards. Earn 2x miles on every purchase and 10x on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. Venture X also gives you Priority Pass + Capital One lounge access, a $300 annual travel credit, and miles that transfer to over 15 airline and hotel partners.

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Chase Sapphire Preferred

A great starter travel card with serious value. Earn 2x points on travel and 3x on dining, plus get a $50 annual hotel credit through Chase Travel. Points are worth 25% more when redeemed for travel and can be transferred to top partners like United, Hyatt, and Southwest.

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Chase Sapphire Reserve

Built for frequent travelers. Earn 3x points on travel and dining, enjoy Priority Pass lounge access, a $300 annual travel credit, and travel protections like trip delay and primary rental car insurance. Points are worth 50% more when redeemed through Chase Travel or can be transferred to partners.

TRAVEL CREDIT CARDS

cc1

Capital One Venture X

My go-to for all-around travel rewards. Earn 2x miles on every purchase and 10x on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. Venture X also gives you Priority Pass + Capital One lounge access, a $300 annual travel credit, and miles that transfer to over 15 airline and hotel partners.

vv2

Chase Sapphire Preferred

A great starter travel card with serious value. Earn 2x points on travel and 3x on dining, plus get a $50 annual hotel credit through Chase Travel. Points are worth 25% more when redeemed for travel and can be transferred to top partners like United, Hyatt, and Southwest.

vb4

Chase Sapphire Reserve

Built for frequent travelers. Earn 3x points on travel and dining, enjoy Priority Pass lounge access, a $300 annual travel credit, and travel protections like trip delay and primary rental car insurance. Points are worth 50% more when redeemed through Chase Travel or can be transferred to partners.

AMEX Gold

The foodie’s travel card. Earn 4x points at restaurants worldwide, 4x at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25K/year), and 3x on flights booked directly with airlines or Amex Travel. It also comes with $120 dining credits and $120 Uber Cash credits each year.

AMEX Platinum

The ultimate luxury card for travelers. Earn 5x points on flights booked directly with airlines or Amex Travel, enjoy Centurion + Priority Pass lounge access, $200 airline credit, Hilton Gold & Marriott Gold status, and Fine Hotels & Resorts benefits like late checkout and daily breakfast.

Bilt

The only card that lets you earn points on rent with no fees. Earn 1x on rent, 3x on dining, and 2x on travel, plus access to Bilt’s transfer partners like American, United, Hyatt, and Emirates. It’s perfect for renters who want to turn monthly payments into travel rewards.

AMEX Gold

The foodie’s travel card. Earn 4x points at restaurants worldwide, 4x at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25K/year), and 3x on flights booked directly with airlines or Amex Travel. It also comes with $120 dining credits and $120 Uber Cash credits each year.

AMEX Platinum

The ultimate luxury card for travelers. Earn 5x points on flights booked directly with airlines or Amex Travel, enjoy Centurion + Priority Pass lounge access, $200 airline credit, Hilton Gold & Marriott Gold status, and Fine Hotels & Resorts benefits like late checkout and daily breakfast.

Bilt

The only card that lets you earn points on rent with no fees. Earn 1x on rent, 3x on dining, and 2x on travel, plus access to Bilt’s transfer partners like American, United, Hyatt, and Emirates. It’s perfect for renters who want to turn monthly payments into travel rewards.

Airfare

going

My secret weapon for snagging mistake fares and crazy flight deals. Going sends flight alerts straight to my inbox so I never miss a steal. Thanks to a Going alert, I once scored a mistake fare to Rome for just $259 roundtrip from Chicago.

My first stop when searching flights. Google Flights makes it super easy to compare airlines, dates, and prices all in one place. I rely on it to spot trends and make sure I’m booking at the right time..

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Perfect for flexible travelers. Skyscanner lets me explore flights by month or even search ‘Everywhere’ to find the cheapest destinations. I love using it when I don’t know exactly where I want to go but just want the best deal.

A must for award travelers. Seats.aero shows real-time award availability and helps you figure out how to use your credit card points to book flights before they disappear. It’s one of my favorite hacks for making points go further.

The ultimate hack for maximizing points. Point.me finds the best award flight redemptions and shows you how to put your credit card rewards to work across dozens of airlines. It takes the guesswork out of booking with points.

Airfare

going

My secret weapon for snagging mistake fares and crazy flight deals. Going sends flight alerts straight to my inbox so I never miss a steal. Thanks to a Going alert, I once scored a mistake fare to Rome for just $259 roundtrip from Chicago.

My first stop when searching flights. Google Flights makes it super easy to compare airlines, dates, and prices all in one place. I rely on it to spot trends and make sure I’m booking at the right time..

v22

Perfect for flexible travelers. Skyscanner lets me explore flights by month or even search ‘Everywhere’ to find the cheapest destinations. I love using it when I don’t know exactly where I want to go but just want the best deal.

A must for award travelers. Seats.aero shows real-time award availability and helps you figure out how to use your credit card points to book flights before they disappear. It’s one of my favorite hacks for making points go further.

The ultimate hack for maximizing points. Point.me finds the best award flight redemptions and shows you how to put your credit card rewards to work across dozens of airlines. It takes the guesswork out of booking with points.

Accomodation

My go-to for free accommodation around the world. With TrustedHousesitters, you care for pets in exchange for a stay — it’s the ultimate win-win for travelers and animal lovers. Use my code SHELBY25 for 25% off your membership and start exploring more for less.

The best platform for booking hostels with honest reviews and flexible options. I love using Hostelworld when I want to meet other travelers and keep things budget-friendly.

Accomodation

My go-to for free accommodation around the world. With TrustedHousesitters, you care for pets in exchange for a stay — it’s the ultimate win-win for travelers and animal lovers. Use my code SHELBY25 for 25% off your membership and start exploring more for less.

The best platform for booking hostels with honest reviews and flexible options. I love using Hostelworld when I want to meet other travelers and keep things budget-friendly.

Travel slower and more intentionally by volunteering your skills in exchange for accommodation. Worldpackers has given me some of the most immersive and meaningful travel experiences.

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My secret for scoring affordable all-inclusive resort stays. All Inclusive Outlet makes it easy to find packages that fit every budget, so you can relax without worrying about hidden costs.

Travel slower and more intentionally by volunteering your skills in exchange for accommodation. Worldpackers has given me some of the most immersive and meaningful travel experiences.

v10

My secret for scoring affordable all-inclusive resort stays. All Inclusive Outlet makes it easy to find packages that fit every budget, so you can relax without worrying about hidden costs.