Brian Kelly, the founder of “The Points Guy,” is dedicated to helping travelers maximize their credit card points and miles for better travel experiences. Kelly shared insights into the popular travel website and his new book, “How to Win at Travel.”
“My passion is helping people maximize their points and miles so they can travel better,” Kelly said. “The Points Guy” is a website designed to help travelers enhance their travel experiences while providing tips and information on all things travel-related.
The website covers a broad spectrum of travel advice, from utilizing airplane miles and credit card points to practical travel tips that ensure travelers are well-prepared and enthusiastic about their journeys. Kelly’s interest in travel and points maximization began in the 1990s when his father frequently traveled from Philadelphia to Los Angeles for work and accumulated many frequent flyer miles. Kelly recalled how his father challenged him to figure out how to use these miles, leading to a memorable family vacation to the Cayman Islands inspired by John Grisham’s book, “The Firm.”
Fast-forward to 2010, Kelly turned his passion into a profession by starting The Points Guy as a blog, which has since grown into a global company.
Throughout his college years and young adult life, Kelly leveraged points for first-class airplane seats and other travel luxuries, even on a limited budget. “While we still focus a lot on points and credit cards, we cover everything travel-related, from cruises to theme parks,” Kelly explained.
Brian Kelly guides travelers’ strategies
“We want to let travelers get the most out of their experience. If there are smart ways to book things, get discounts, or find cheap fares, we provide that information. In general, we’re giving life tips, whether it’s loyalty programs or credit cards.
We empower consumers to understand the ecosystem they’re operating in.”
To further aid travelers, Kelly authored “How to Win at Travel,” aiming to simplify the often-overwhelming amount of information available online and in social media. “It’s been 15 years since I started The Points Guy,” Kelly said. “While we’ve helped millions of people get value out of the system, there’s still so much information that can overwhelm newcomers.
So I wrote ‘How to Win at Travel’ to be an introductory guide for those who want to excel in travel planning.”
Kelly emphasizes that playing the points game is about more than just travel—it’s about investing in personal experiences and making the most of available resources. Brian Kelly will appear on Monday morning to discuss his strategies and tips for travelers. For those interested in learning more, Kelly’s book and The Points Guy website continue to serve as valuable resources for maximizing travel rewards and planning successful trips.