Award Travel for Beginners: Start Here

Award travel—using points instead of cash for flights and hotels—can seem overwhelming. Transfer partners, award charts, availability searches…

Here’s how to get started without the complexity.

When to Try Transfers

Transfer to airline/hotel partners when:

• You’re booking business or first class
• You found a known sweet spot
• Portal prices are very high
• You have time to search for availability

Start with one program. Master Chase → Hyatt before tackling complex airline awards.

Basic Award Travel Tips

• Book early (award availability is limited)
• Be flexible with dates
• Start with simple redemptions
• Don’t transfer until you see availability
• Use portal as fallback

Last updated: January 2026 Affiliate disclosure: ShortcutBest may earn a commission when you apply through our links.