Talking Shop is our series where we talk to interesting people about their most interesting buys.No one embodies that title of “travel expert” quite like Brian Kelly, founder of The Points Guy.
He’s been to every continent (multiple times, including with his toddlers) and more countries than most people visit in a lifetime.But that’s not even the most impressive part: Kelly is so well-versed in credit cards, points, miles and loyalty programs that he can book flights, hotels, excursions and more for free with his eyes closed.
And for the past 16 years, he’s made it his mission to teach you how to do the same.“I want people to have confidence traveling,” says Kelly, who took The Points Guy from a personal blog in 2010 to a multi-million dollar media company today.“I want them to be better informed and have a sense of how to navigate the system because it’s overwhelming, especially if you’re a novice traveler.” Kelly’s role at The Points Guy has changed over the years, but at its core, it’s always revolved around helping people navigate what he calls “the complicated travel landscape.” Online, on social media and in his bestselling book, “How to Win at Travel,” Kelly shares tips about how to affordably upgrade all parts of a travel experience, and educates people about issues impacting the travel industry and what that means for upcoming trips.Kelly’s biggest travel tip these days? Embrace flexibility, especially if you’re on a budget.
“There are travel deals out there, but it’s not about booking on a Tuesday or using an IP blocker,” he says.“You need to think creatively and be flexible with dates and your destination.”Between Kelly’s most recent adventures, I talked to him about the essentials he never forgets to add to his suitcase, how he keeps his kids entertained on flights (including to Antarctica) and the safety device he wishes more people traveled with when staying in rental homes.
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