In How to Win at Travel, Brian Kelly—founder of the travel powerhouse The Points Guy—offers a masterclass in transforming travel from stressful to strategic, covering everything from flight hacks and loyalty programs to beating jet lag and handling trip mishaps. His guidance is not just smart—it’s accessible and reassuring; Kelly explains how to "conquer your fear of flying," navigate credit card perks responsibly, and even file claims effectively when things go wrong. Packed with expert interviews, real-world anecdotes, and clear step-by-step breakdowns, this book feels like having your own seasoned travel mentor. Reviewers note that whether you're new to collecting miles or a frequent traveler looking to optimize, you'll find concrete, actionable strategies—and inspiration to explore more for less. Easy to read yet brimming with depth, How to Win at Travel is the definitive, feel-good guide for anyone eager to travel smarter and more confidently.

Before I begin, I’d like to thank Simon and Schuster and NetGalley for providing a copy of this book for my review.

A lot of people love to travel. Unfortunately, not a lot of people have the disposable income to pay for the travel they’d like to take. But there are some people who find other ways besides loads of cash or gigantic bills to make their travel dreams become reality. Brian Kelly is one of those people; years ago, Brian realized that by using the points from and taking advantage of the rules set by travel frequent flyer and frequent stay programs, he could book and take trips all over at significantly lower effective costs than other travelers. Brian was able to book some great vacations for himself, and in time he helped friends and then the general public to do the same. Eventually, he documented and shared what he’s learned online as the founder of the website The Points Guy. In his book “How To Win At Travel”, Brian shares his tips for using frequent traveler programs to take better vacations for less money, as well as other tips he’s learned to make traveling safer and more comfortable for his readers and their families - whether they have frequent flyer accounts or not.

The first thing that Brian wants readers to realize that there’s more to traveling than gathering as many points as possible. Brian discusses some important tips and tricks to consider as a traveler, including how to budget, plan, and prepare for potential problems during travel, the best ways to earn and redeem travel rewards, how to travel with your family and even young children, what to do when things go wrong with your trip, how to conquer jet lag, and how to make everyone’s trips a little better by treating others the way you want to be treated.

I have to admit that I’m not quite convinced that I have the financial discipline to collect and use frequent travel points without making a mess of things financially. But even if I don’t use frequent traveler points to earn free or discounted trips, I’ve learned a lot of good tips for travel from Brian’s book. Brian’s book is an interesting read; I think I have a better understanding of how travel works and what I can and should do in order to have a better experience. Even if you’re more of an armchair traveler that a road warrior, Brian’s book is worth a look! Recommended!

How to Win at Travel was a super informative read! I loved the explanation of how to use points/loyalty rewards to get more out of your travel.

Everyone who travels needs this book! So much useful information, and it is one you can keep going to again and again!

I read this book cover-to-cover and learned so much! Initially, I received an early eARC from Avid Reader Press via NetGalley (thank you!) and enjoyed it so much that I purchased a copy when it was published to highlight, underline, and tab all of the notes I took while reading the ARC. Trust me when I say this book contains insights to help you plan your next vacation! From demystifying the world of points and credit cards and helping you navigate airports like a pro to providing valuable information on what to do when emergencies happen while you travel, Brian covers a wide range of topics that every traveler may experience. He also writes from a relatable POV, so don’t worry if you aren’t carrying elite status on an airline, this book is for all travelers—even the infrequent ones.

If you love to travel, read this book. If you travel a lot for work, read this book. If you are not an experienced traveler, definitely read this book! If you know someone afraid of flying, get them to read this book (seriously, there is a whole chapter dedicated to fear of flying). Basically, if you want to become a smarter traveler and beat the travel industry at their insane pricing games, you need a copy of How to Win at Travel.

How to Win at Travel is a fun, practical, and insightful guide packed with tips to make every trip smoother and more enjoyable. The author blends personal experiences with genuinely useful advice, covering everything from budget hacks to maximizing rewards programs. While some tips may be familiar to seasoned travelers, the engaging writing style and fresh perspectives make it a great read for anyone looking to up their travel game.

The Points Guy finally put it all down on paper! An excellent resource for anyone interested in maximizing their travel and getting the most from credit card rewards. Kelly goes further than this, though, and offers many general travel insights and insider tips for any itinerary. This is a resource I will be referring back to often.

I received this book as an advanced reader copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Brian Kelly is the most informative and knowledgeable person about points and miles in the entire travel industry. If you have ever wondered about how to make points and miles travel possible. This is the book to read. He is so knowledgeable and I recommend this to anyone who is looking to travel more And explore the world.

This is a great resource for those who love to travel and be responsible with their money. I learned a lot about how to leverage credit card points and get the most out of what I spend.

The publisher of HOW TO WIN AT TRAVEL says, "Whether you're a young adult traveling solo, a road warrior business traveler, a growing family looking for new experiences, or a retiree ready to explore the world, reach for this guide to plan an unforgettable trip." That's actually a great list of the many types of travelers to whom this book could appeal. The author, Brian Kelly, is the Founder of The Points Guy (TPG), and he shares his accumulated wisdom about participating in loyalty programs, gathering points and miles, and choosing credit cards. For example, he writes about creating a travel budget equal to roughly ten percent of your after-tax income and then points out many ways to save or stretch your funds. In addition, he offers suggestions for handling jet lag, planning (and insuring!) your dream trip, and even travel etiquette. This is a very accessible text with many useful pointers. Combine it with a list like the annual 52 Places to Go from the New York Times. Enjoy!

Brian Kelly, founder of The Points Guy, delivers a comprehensive guide for travelers of all experience levels in How to Win at Travel. Whether you're a beginner looking to maximize airline points or a seasoned globetrotter seeking expert-level hacks, this book provides practical strategies to make travel more affordable, efficient, and enjoyable. From navigating credit card rewards to overcoming travel anxiety, Kelly covers a wide range of topics to help readers plan their ideal trip with confidence.

Kelly’s approachable writing style makes complex travel strategies accessible, and the book is packed with actionable advice on everything from jet lag to travel insurance. While frequent travelers may already be familiar with some of the tips, the depth and breadth of topics ensure that there's something valuable for everyone. Overall, How to Win at Travel is an informative and inspiring resource that will leave readers eager to plan their next adventure.

The author of this book, who is the creator of The Points Guy web site, has an interesting background story about his love for airline and hotel rewards programs. He also offers fresh perspectives as a gay man and a father. The main insights from this book concern the complex world of optimizing rewards programs, and these sections would have worked better with more screenshots of airline and hotel web sites. Recommended for all libraries.

How to Win at Travel is chock full of insights into traveling more economically, especially through points and loyalty accounts. Quick read. Good summary of his past blogs and information about travel.

Recommend for the travel minded individual.

Thank you Avid Reader Press and NetGalley for an early copy. All opinions are my own.

As someone who loves to travel but often feels overwhelmed by redeeming points: The Points Guy book was a game-changer. What I loved most is how the book broke down everything into manageable steps—whether I was learning how to choose the right credit cards, leveraging points for travel, or finding the best ways to use miles. Brian's anecdotes and examples made it feel like I was learning from a trusted travel expert who genuinely wanted to help people travel smarter.
The book covers a wide range of tips that go beyond just earning points. There is great advice on travel hacks, booking strategies, and navigating airline and hotel loyalty programs. I'd call this a must-read for those who are looking for an essential resource to travel more affordably.

HOW TO WIN AT TRAVEL by Brian Kelly
⭐️ rating: 8/10

read if you like:
✈️ travel
💳 credit card points
💵 deals!

summary:
This isn’t my typical book genre, but as someone who travels almost weekly for work and who loves to go on vacation, I thought I would check this out. It didn’t hurt that I follow @briankelly on Instagram and just love his content.

This book is a comprehensive guide that offers practical advice for travelers looking to maximize their experiences while minimizing costs. Brian, who founded The Points Guy, shares his insane knowledge on leveraging airline miles, hotel points, and credit card rewards to make travel more affordable and fun. The book covers a wide range of topics, including finding the cheapest flights, beating jet lag, and dealing with travel mishaps.

One of my favorite sections of the book focuses on weighing the trade-offs of various travel options. Kelly provides insights from his perspective as a gay man, discussing the dynamics in various countries and the things to watch out for. He also offers practical advice for travelers with different income levels. For those on a budget, he suggests ways to save on flights and accommodations using loyalty programs and credit card rewards. For those with more disposable income, he provides tips on splurging on luxury experiences without breaking the bank. One thing he talks about that was new to me was the concept of repositioning flights, which involves booking flights that take you to your desired destination but through a lower cost city. Even if you travel a lot, you can learn something from this!

Thanks to Avid Reader Press and Net Galley for the advanced copy! If you’re someone who loves to travel, check out this book when it releases on February 3!

I picked up this book because a travel influencer friend of mine was quoted in it. I've infrequently read TPG over the years and have been to all seven continents and more than 100 countries myself, so I wasn't certain if this book would be for me. That said, HOW TO WIN AT TRAVEL is a PHENOMENAL resource for *anyone* traveling, regardless of your circumstances or experience. I highlighted so many lines and tips in the book for myself to triple check that I was doing (or to start doing) and found myself getting even more excited for my next trip as a result. Kelly does a good job of catering to both the novice traveler and the advanced points hacker, there's something for everyone in this book. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy.

In a time when blogging is no longer as popular as it once was, The Points Guy is still one of the few blogs that I read and reference - and it’s honestly one of the first results that pop up when I’m searching something travel-related. Ever see The Points Guy sticker on the side of a plane?

True to form, Brian Kelly’s How to Win at Travel is written in a conversational, straight-to-the-point tone. I enjoyed reading the origin story of how he figured out how to leverage credit card points and miles, and the chapters are comprehensive - it does feel like the author has tried to pass down as much of his wisdom and experience as he could. I think I may prefer the blog format since it is easy to do a quick search for information that you need and the details are broken up better. However, I think this book is more of an intro for someone who just wants to delve into the world of award traveling rather than a seasoned credit card churner.

Kelly does acknowledge that some of his advice may become outdated in the future, which is just the nature of traveling. I also appreciate that he mentions several time that traveling by season is pretty unpredictable with the changing climate - something we’ve often experienced on our travels.

Thank you to Avid Reader Press and NetGalley for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are independently my own.

I loved this book so much that I read it all in 24 hours! I was hooked by Brian Kelly's story of how he became "The Points Guy" and how he ended up learning how to leverage points and miles in order to "hack" travel. As a teacher, I don't have a ton of disposable income to be able to make my travel dreams come true, but I do have a keen interest in credit cards and how I can use my everyday purchases to get points to live the influencer lifestyle that I dream of (don't we all...?).

In this book, he details how one can use credit card points for flights, hotels, transportation, and other fun experiences, and how to maximize everything you do with rewards.

I also enjoyed the story portions since it made it relatable, funny, and easy to read. I loved the sections on beating jet lag and fear of flying tips as well - since I do, actually, have a bit of a fear of flying at times despite being interested in travel and aviation in general.

This book really set itself apart from other books about points and traveling with the narrative and extras.

I will definitely be buying a physical copy when it comes out to have on my shelf, and take with me when I travel!

A great introduction to travel. Loads of tips and explanations from credit card points, websites, jetlag, family, and so much more. Not for someone that has traveled solo or even just a few times with folks.