Going Places is a series from TripIt that highlights frequent travelers to showcase their unique travel styles and insider tips.
For points-and-miles expert Jenna Hansen, traveling is a family affair. Her crew of six—which includes her husband of 17 years, plus their four kids (ages 8, 10, 12, and 15)—always has an adventure planned.
“Last summer we spent three weeks in Europe visiting Rome, Paris, London, Zurich, Florence, and Venice,” Jenna said. “And next year, we’re headed to Asia: Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Tokyo.”
Jenna believes that traveling as a big family doesn’t necessarily mean you need a big travel budget. What makes many of the trips she plans possible? Points and miles, of course. She applies this strategy when planning her own family trips, but also in her role as a full-time travel consultant—helping other families travel more for less.
Getting started with points and miles
Jenna took her first deep dive into points and miles when she and her husband were going through career changes. At that time, they realized that though their budget was changing, it didn’t mean they couldn’t travel.
“I realized that using points and miles could help us offset costs,” she shared. “Traveling with a family of six is a lot different than as a couple—or even a family of four. Between flights, hotels, and meals, costs really add up—but we travel more now thanks to points and miles.”
Jenna was quick to point out that there’s more to award travel than just cashing in: “First, using points and miles is for people who have healthy credit and budgeting habits. You need to have an understanding of your credit score and credit history. Most credit cards require a good to excellent credit score,” she advised.
If that’s you, then there are some basics of how to consistently earn points that you can turn into travel. You can check them out here.
Once you’ve earned points, you can start thinking about how to book travel. The key? “You have to be flexible,” said Jenna. “And with points and miles, that sometimes includes being flexible with your destination.”
And while no destination is off limits, per se—there’s a reason to stick to bigger cities.
“Anywhere children live, children can visit,” she said. “But I tend to book bigger destinations because there’s more availability and I can use our points for hotels.”
Why flexibility and family travel go hand in hand
Being flexible also comes in handy while traveling with kids. Jenna shared that allowing room for your travel plans to flux is important—for your kids and your peace of mind.
“I tell my clients: set your expectations so low that they’ll only go up,” she said with a laugh. “Don’t book yourself solid. Delays happen; things go wrong; kids get tired—or bored. Stay positive and don’t overdo it.”
Related reading: How to Actually Relax on Your Next Vacation
As a rule of thumb, Jenna likes to book no more than one activity per day. Then, she makes a list of the things she’d like to do, but embraces going with the flow. “So much is out of your control when you travel. You will enjoy your trip more when you let go of expectations.”
She's also a firm believer in building in down time—especially if you’re doing a lot of walking and exploring. Her advice? “Find a park so your kids can just run around and play—and you can take a break.”
On planning ahead—and staying organized
As someone who often books multi-week trips a year in advance—i.e., when the award calendar opens for airlines—Jenna needed a way to keep track of everything.
“When you’re planning trips that last two or three weeks, there’s a lot of moving parts,” she said. “Thankfully, TripIt organizes all the details: flights, hotels, activities, tickets, and more. I often ask myself, ‘Did I book us a hotel for that city?’ And of course, the answer is always in TripIt.”
“I often ask myself, ‘Did I book us a hotel for that city?’ And of course, the answer is always in TripIt.” - Jenna Hansen, family travel and points-and-miles expert
And once her plans are in order, she shares them with her mom. “I always send our travel plans to her so she can follow along—whether it’s knowing our flight times or keeping up with the activities we have planned each day.”
So, what’s number one on the bucket list for Jenna and her brood? “It’s so hard to choose! We want to see the Northern Lights in Iceland, and go on a safari in Africa. We’re also dreaming of staying in over-the-water bungalows in the Maldives.”
No matter where they go next, it sounds like one thing is certain: while travel plans might change, making memories with the ones you love is always a must-do.
Want to follow along with The Traveling Hansens, too? Check them out on Instagram for additional tips on how to take more family trips for less money. And catch up on all Going Places features to learn new travel tips, discover underrated destinations, and more.
