I’ve changed since I started TPG — but here’s 1 thing that has remained a constant in my life
As we approach the 15th anniversary of The Points Guy, I look back at how far the business has come since I started it as a side hustle while working on Wall Street. So much has changed in the last 15 years, but one thing remains constant: the power of points and miles to transform travel experiences.
Related: Getting started with points, miles and credit cards to travel
Before I became “The Points Guy,” I really was a Points Kid — and my first job was booking travel for my dad. Travelocity had just launched, and while he thought using it was a long and complicated process, I thought it was a simple task. I handled all of his bookings and only charged him $10 each.
By the time I was 12, my dad had accumulated so many frequent flyer miles from his work travel that he challenged me to book a trip for our family of six using only airline miles and credit card points. Challenge accepted. I went big and decided on Grand Cayman. (I may have had a little inspiration from the John Grisham novel, "The Firm.") The whole time, my dad thought I was planning a trip to the Grand Canyon, so he was surprised to discover I had planned a trip to the Caribbean.
While he and my siblings flew on a nonstop flight, I booked my mom and me on a flight through Miami International Airport (MIA). I was panicked, thinking this would either be an epic win or an epic fail. If it were the latter, I could be grounded for a very long time. But when we landed, my dad met us at the plane with the biggest smile and assured me that I knocked it out of the park.
This was the trip that sparked my love of travel planning — and points and miles.
After college, when I went to work as a corporate recruiter for Morgan Stanley, I traveled all over the country racking up credit card points and frequent flyer miles while trying to convince college students to work in technology. This was during The Great Recession, and I was points-rich but cash-poor. (My boss used to joke that my bonus was not getting fired.) It was actually cheaper for me to fly first class, stay at a hotel and enjoy the perks of free breakfast than to go grocery shopping or eat out in New York City.
In 2010, my then-boyfriend encouraged me to turn my passion for travel and points and miles into a business. I originally started TPG as an online form where people could submit information about their points and where they wanted to travel. For just a $50 fee, I would then give them personalized advice and help them book a trip using points.
I started blogging about travel and points and miles that same year, with my first-ever story publishing on June 7, 2010. The site really took off after an interview (that almost didn’t happen) with Seth Kugel, the “Frugal Travel” columnist at The New York Times.
I actually found an email from him in my spam folder requesting an interview with me, but it was a month old. He was a staunch opponent of frequent flyer miles and credit cards, even going as far as referring to them as “useless” in his original email. I emailed him back and asked to take him to lunch so I could change his mind. During that lunch, I actually helped him book a trip to Brazil to see his long-distance girlfriend. His eyes lit up, and I knew that his entire outlook on points and miles might have changed in that instant.
After his trip to Brazil, Seth wrote an article about how reading TPG should be a key step for anyone who wants to get into the points and miles game. He linked directly to the TPG website (which temporarily crashed it!) and gave the website valuable credibility in the eyes of Google.
His endorsement of me, “The Points Guy,” as a travel expert forever changed the trajectory of the site. Nine months later, I quit my job at Morgan Stanley and became “The Points Guy” full-time.
Today, TPG has a headquarters in New York City and nearly 150 employees worldwide. They bring you the latest news in loyalty programs, points and miles, travel and more.
Looking back over the past 15 years, many things have changed in the travel and credit card industries. Today, I have credit cards that didn’t exist in 2010. New loyalty programs have been created, and new airlines have taken to the skies. I've also gone through changes in my personal life. I'm now the father of two boys, Dean and Cooper, and it's been such a thrill to begin showing them the world.
I really think we are in the "platinum age of travel" — not only from an elite status and credit cards point of view, but also because of how airlines continue to innovate. The race to create the best airport lounges and most luxurious inflight experiences continues, but these products (and travel in general) are very accessible — especially if you take advantage of the loyalty ecosystem. And that's something with staying power.
Throughout my career (and really my entire life), points and miles have been there, allowing me to make memories with my family, build a successful business and share my passion with millions of TPG readers across the globe. I wouldn't be where I am today without them.
My biggest piece of advice is simple: Find value in your everyday spending, no matter whether it's cash back in your pocket or transferable rewards to unlock luxury travel. Points are built into virtually everything we do, so if you’re not getting a return on every dollar you spend, you’re missing out.
Thank you for helping make The Points Guy what it is today — and here's to the next 15 years!
TPG featured card
Rewards
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro offer
Annual Fee
Recommended Credit
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro Offer
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.