The WanderWise Monthly — January 2026

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Hi there,

Happy New Year.

There's something about January that makes the world feel possible again. The calendar is blank. The plans are unwritten. And somewhere — maybe on a napkin, maybe in the back of your mind — there's a trip you've been meaning to take.

This is the year you take it.

Not because of a resolution. Because of math. The points sitting in your credit card accounts right now are at their most valuable today. Not next month. Not "when things settle down." Today.

So let's start the year with clarity, a plan, and a little inspiration.

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✈️ DESTINATION OF THE MONTH: Lisbon, Portugal

If you've been thinking about Europe but aren't sure where to start, let me make this simple: Lisbon.

January and February are Lisbon's quietest months. The temperatures hover around 55°F — cool enough for a light jacket, warm enough to wander the cobblestone streets of Alfama without discomfort. The pastéis de nata are warm year-round. The tiled façades glow in winter light. And the crowds? Practically nonexistent.

Here's what the points math looks like:

Round-trip in business class (East Coast): ~70,000 Aeroplan miles per person (transferred from Chase Ultimate Rewards) 4 nights at a boutique hotel near Chiado: ~48,000 Hyatt points Cash equivalent for two: $6,200+ Points cost: ~$250 in taxes and fees

That's it. Two people, business class, four nights in one of Europe's most beautiful cities — for the cost of a nice dinner out.

If Lisbon has been on your list, January is when you should book for a spring trip. Award availability for April and May opens wide right now, and it won't stay that way.

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💳 CARD OF THE MONTH: Chase Sapphire Preferred®

Annual fee: $95 Current sign-up bonus: 75,000 points (after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months)

If you're starting fresh this year — or if your current cards aren't working hard enough — this is the card I recommend most often. Here's why:

The 75,000-point sign-up bonus is worth $950–$1,500+ in travel value when transferred to partners like Hyatt, United, or Southwest. That's enough for a round-trip flight to Europe or several domestic flights.

You earn 3x points on dining and 2x on travel — categories most people spend in without thinking about it. And the $95 annual fee? The sign-up bonus alone is worth more than ten years of that fee.

This is the card that turns your everyday spending into real travel. If you've been using a basic cash-back card, the difference is dramatic.

👉 Read our full Chase Sapphire Preferred review → (Affiliate link — supports WanderWise at no cost to you. We recommend this card whether or not we earn a commission.)

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💡 POINTS STRATEGY OF THE MONTH: The Annual Points Audit

January is the perfect time to take 15 minutes and do something that could be worth thousands of dollars this year.

Here's the exercise:

Step 1: Log into every credit card and loyalty program account you have. Write down the balance for each one.

Step 2: Add them all up. Every point, every mile, every reward — in one number.

Step 3: Check the expiration policies. Have any programs changed their rules recently? Are any points at risk?

The average person who does this exercise discovers $2,000–$5,000 in unrealized travel value. Some discover much more. And knowing what you have is the first step to using it well.

I did mine this week, like I do every January. It's always a useful reminder of what's already sitting there, unused.

Your turn.

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🗣️ A WORTHWHILE EXAMPLE

An illustration, not a customer story — the numbers are ours, worked from current award charts.

Say your audit turns up 210,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points sitting untouched. Transferred to Aeroplan at 1:1, that's enough for three round-trip business-class tickets to Lisbon at this month's rate of roughly 70,000 miles per person — or one couple's flights with points to spare toward the hotel. The number that matters isn't the balance. It's what it converts to once you actually move it.

Reply and tell me what your audit turned up — I like hearing what people are working toward.

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📅 UPCOMING DATES & DEALS

• Now through February: Best window to book spring Europe travel on points. Award seats are wide open.
• January 15: Many card issuers post year-end bonus categories. Check if your earning rates changed.
• February 1: Southwest releases summer schedule — points bookings open immediately.
• Ongoing: Several premium cards are offering elevated sign-up bonuses to start the year. If you've been considering a new card, this is the window.

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❓ ASK RUTH

A question I get constantly:

"I have about 120,000 Chase points and want to take my wife somewhere special for our 40th anniversary in April. Is that enough?"

Yes — 120,000 Chase points is more than enough for a memorable trip. Transferred to Hyatt, that covers 5–6 nights at a beautiful property in places like Mallorca, the Amalfi Coast, or even Paris. Pair it with a smart flight booking, and you're looking at a $6,000+ trip for just taxes and fees. Reply with specifics and I'll take a look.

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This is your year, there. The points are there. The destinations are waiting. The only thing left is the decision to start.

And if you want help with that decision, we're here.

👉 Start your free travel rewards assessment →

Until next month — travel well.

Ruth Calloway

Ruth Calloway is the pen name of WanderWise's editor.

P.S. — Haven't taken the WanderWise Travel Score quiz yet? It takes 60 seconds and tells you exactly what your points could be worth. Start the year knowing your number: Take the Quiz →