About Travel.free
We believe that dream vacations should not be reserved for the wealthy. With the right strategy, your everyday spending can unlock luxury travel experiences around the world.
Our Mission
Travel.free is an AI-powered points travel advisor that helps you make smarter decisions about how to earn, transfer, and redeem credit card points and hotel loyalty currencies. We analyze thousands of hotel properties across every major loyalty program to surface the redemptions that deliver the most value -- so you can experience five-star resorts, overwater villas, and once-in-a- lifetime destinations without the five-star price tag.
Our goal is simple: help every traveler maximize the value of their points for the vacations they have always dreamed about.
Data-Driven Analysis
Every recommendation is backed by real redemption data and current pricing, not guesswork or outdated information.
Transparent Advice
We put readers first. While we may earn commissions through affiliate links, our recommendations are always based on genuine value to you -- never on compensation.
Global Coverage
We track points values across World of Hyatt, Marriott Bonvoy, Hilton Honors, IHG, and more, worldwide.
How We Calculate CPP
Transparency is central to our approach. Here is exactly how we determine cents-per-point values for every hotel redemption.
Collect the Cash Rate
We pull the publicly available cash rate for the same room type, same dates, from the hotel's official website or booking platform. We use the rate before taxes and fees to ensure consistency, as tax policies vary by country and jurisdiction.
Collect the Points Cost
We record the number of loyalty points required for the same room on the same dates. For programs with dynamic pricing (World of Hyatt, Marriott Bonvoy), we capture the actual points rate rather than any published category chart, since real costs can vary significantly from the baseline.
Calculate CPP
We apply the standard formula: CPP = (Cash Rate / Points Required) x 100. A $600 room requiring 30,000 points yields a CPP of 2.0. We calculate this across multiple date ranges (peak, off-peak, shoulder) and average the results to produce a reliable, representative value.
Contextualize and Compare
We compare each property's CPP against program-specific benchmarks. A 1.5 CPP Hyatt redemption is below that program's average (1.8-2.0), while a 1.5 CPP Hilton redemption is well above average (0.5-0.6). Our ratings always account for these program-level differences so that comparisons are meaningful.
Methodology Note
Our CPP values are updated regularly and reflect real booking data, not theoretical calculations. We sample multiple dates across seasons to produce averages that are useful for trip planning. Individual redemptions may yield higher or lower CPP depending on specific dates and room availability.
Our Data Sources
Accurate data is the foundation of good points advice. Here is where our information comes from.
We pull points pricing directly from World of Hyatt, Marriott Bonvoy, Hilton Honors, IHG One Rewards, and other major hotel programs. This includes both award charts and dynamic pricing data where applicable.
Cash rates are collected from official hotel websites and verified against major OTAs. We track rates across multiple date ranges to capture seasonal pricing variations and provide accurate averages.
We monitor loyalty program terms for changes that affect point values -- category changes, dynamic pricing shifts, new transfer bonuses, elite status benefit updates, and award chart devaluations.
We incorporate data points from the broader points and miles community -- including reported redemption values, availability patterns, and real-world experience reports -- to validate and supplement our own research.
Meet the Team
Travel.free is built by a team of points enthusiasts, data engineers, and travel writers who have collectively redeemed millions of points across dozens of countries.
Founder & Lead Analyst
Points Strategy
Former data scientist turned points obsessive. Has redeemed over 5 million points across 30+ countries.
Head of Content
Travel Writing
Travel journalist with bylines in major publications. Specializes in luxury hotel reviews and destination guides.
Engineering Lead
Product & Data
Full-stack engineer building the tools that turn complex loyalty data into actionable travel recommendations.
Ready to maximize your points?
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