Our 2026 travel plan blends status goals, certificate plays, and a careful move toward cash back so we can travel better now and fund freedom later. Along the way we test gold reselling, protect 5/24, and hold out for premium flights that fit a family of five.
• shifting from constant new cards to maximizing existing spend
• step-by-step approach to buying and reselling gold with guardrails
• Hilton Aspire to Surpass downgrade path for four free nights
• prioritizing Hyatt Globalist for suites and breakfast value
• trip plans for Thailand, London and Scotland, Switzerland plus Italy
• strategy for holding out for business class returns
• moving to shorter trips to save PTO and add flexibility
• staying under 5/24 and timing future applications
• adding cash back via business cards and bank bonuses
• using Schwab or Morgan Stanley Platinum to cash out MR at 1.1 cpp
• FIRE mindset and key takeaways from Die With Zero
Send us your gold reselling tips and questions on Instagram at travel party five