Points and Travel
Wyndham Rewards and Vacasa are breaking up. The partnership ends within a month, on 1 Dec. It’s an unfortunate, fairly predictable end to this Wyndham Rewards redemption option, one where many points and travel hobbyists have done remarkable things. It’s devalued over time but still been a worthy rewards option for some. But fortunately, individuals have until 30 November to book and 31 January to complete a stay. Regardless, I won’t miss this redemption when it’s gone because I never cared about it in the first place. It just wasn’t the right fit for my family and me.
I can’t do everything. Nobody can. Even if I could, so many reasons exist for not. Then why do points and travel enthusiasts get so wrapped up with such distractions? What can we do to rise above the noise? I’m reflecting (again) on all of this today.
Why To Opt Out
We’re drowning in points and travel developments. Of course, increasing options/”stuff” here is generally (but not always) a good thing. People who do stuff on the internet for money focus on how to maximize such endeavors, and we do so in our own unique way here at MtM. But I feel it’s integral to consider why I (and maybe you) shouldn’t pursue certain angles. Here are just a few reasons which immediately come to mind:
- Certain points and travel angles don’t align with my goals.
- I don’t enjoy particular plays.
- I’m not willing to complicate my life in certain ways.
- I’d rather be doing something else with my time.
- I have zero interest in a given travel destination.
- I’m unaffected by the devaluation or death of options where I don’t participate.
Of course, some of these are related to each other. Regardless, I’m confident each of you can create your own tailored list of reasons for not participating in certain points and travel hijinks. In those situations, the decision to opt out can be clearly obvious. So then, how can we get sucked in, anyway?
Why Opting Out Isn’t Always Easy
FOMO is real. It’s fun to be engaged with the points and travel hobby. People covering it magnify the positives. Some of us cover the negatives. I’d like to think I responsibly do each, but I can always be better.
Let’s take yet another look at the recent premium card wars. In the past several months, Amex, Chase, and Citi have all refreshed their highest-end-available-to-most-all premium cards. Chase ingeniously commanded attention by flooding the zone with mostly-the-same info for the entire period, and the bank already tweaked the card with another new benefit. I initially found Amex’s response to Chase’s onslaught hamfisted, but I think the former eventually overtook the latter. Citi predictably kept it weird, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing.
Meanwhile, many points and travel enthusiasts can’t get enough. The developments can be all-consuming. I’m still digesting everything. In such cases, it’s remarkably easy to slip and go after a product which doesn’t align with our best selves (see the previous section). The recent premium card matters is just one example – so many other developments can captivate and tempt.
What To Do?
How can we avoid such misguided decisions? After all, in the moment, they can seem like the right ones, or we hope them to be. For what it’s worth, I focus here:
- I define and stick to my goals, including periodically reevaluating them.
- I consume a variety of points and travel content. I don’t overly rely on any one entity’s info or viewpoints. I make efforts to understand the interests and agendas of each. So don’t listen to me. But if you do, don’t listen to just me, or solely anyone else. Know yourself, take in a variety of content, and come to your own tailored conclusions optimal for your unique situation.
- I wait and ponder to avoid making overly emotional decisions. It’s definitely hard to be patient sometimes. But I’m rarely faced with a points and miles “emergency” I must immediately accomplish. More often than not, I just want the juice from doing something right away. I’m better off pushing away from the computer, taking the dogs on a walk, and thinking it over.
- Ultimately, I trust my gut, regardless of how long I take to come to my decision. I can confidently sniff out the type of points and travel things I’m intrigued by or completely uninterested in, and everything between. I imagine many of you feel the same way. More stick time in our hobby makes this even easier.
Points and Travel – Conclusion
Within and beyond our hobby, it’s about the little things – there’s nothing bigger. I must own the consequences of my choices, even if I don’t know what those exactly are at the point of my decision. My optimal choice isn’t necessarily attractive to outsiders, and that’s perfectly fine with me.
What have you chosen to avoid, and how are you better off for it?
