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Caroline Lupini in Northern Spain in April 2019.

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Courtesy of Caroline Lupini

Around the time I became a digital nomad and started traveling internationally (almost) full-time, I set a lofty goal: visiting every country in the world. Before I started exploring the world of miles, points, and credit cards, this would have seemed impossible – but now I’m confident I can make it happen – and I’ve already crossed 87 countries off my list.

Here are three ways I use credit cards to help reach this goal and make my life easier along the way.

Keep in mind that we’re focusing on the rewards and perks that make these credit cards great options, not things like interest rates and late fees, which will far outweigh the value of any points or miles. It’s important to practice financial discipline when using credit cards by paying your balances in full each month, making payments on time, and only spending what you can afford to pay back.

Using airline credit cards and flexible travel rewards to fly for free

Frequent flyer miles are a major part of my travel strategy. While airline credit cards like the United Explorer Card from Chase and the Citi®/AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® can be very useful to boost your mileage balance (and get airline-specific perks, like priority boarding and a free checked bag), my favorite cards are those with flexible rewards currencies like the Chase Sapphire Reserve, the Platinum Card® from American Express, Citi Premier℠ Card, and the Capital One® Venture® Rewards Credit Card.