5 Ways to Earn Free Travel Faster With Your Credit Cards

Free trips aren't reserved for expert travel hackers; anyone with a good travel credit card can rack up points or miles without spending hours planning complicated transfers and painstakingly tracking rewards on a spreadsheet.

Whether you're looking for a new travel card or you just want to use the cards you already have better, these five strategies for earning points faster and getting the best value out of those points can help when you book your next trip.

[See: 12 Frugal Ways to Save on Vacation.]

1. Look for limited-time offers when considering a new credit card. Credit card issuers occasionally offer larger sign-up bonuses than usual for a short period of time -- typically no longer than a couple of months -- to encourage applications. Many issuers offer these deals one or more times each year, but according to a recent NerdWallet study, 83 percent of consumers are applying for travel credit cards at the "wrong" time. That is, they are getting a card's normal sign-up bonus, rather than a larger one available through a special limited-time offer.

The study found that the best time to apply for general travel credit cards or airline credit cards is November, while the best month to apply for a hotel credit card is August. Only 17 percent of consumers applied for cards during these months, meaning more than 8 in 10 potentially lost out on hundreds of dollars worth of extra rewards.

The lesson is clear: If you can wait, apply for your next travel rewards card when the issuer is offering an increased sign-up bonus. The difference in rewards earned could be enough for a free flight or hotel stay, possibly with miles or points left over.

2. Optimize your rewards strategy. Applying for multiple cards in a short period of time can hurt your credit, but you can and should optimize how you use the travel cards already in your wallet. For any given purchase, use the card that will provide the most rewards per dollar spent. Some general travel cards allow you to transfer your miles to frequent flyer programs, so you may be able to combine your rewards for a single trip. Even if you can't combine, you could distribute your travel expenses: Use one card to save on airfare, for example, and another to save on hotel or other costs.

[See: 12 Simple Ways to Raise Your Credit Score.]

Earning rewards is only one part of it. You also need to learn the best way to redeem them. An analysis of the most popular rewards programs shows that the value of a point or mile varies by program and redemption method. To get the most value out of your rewards, check out the best redemption options for your card's rewards program.

3. Use your card's bonus mall to earn extra rewards on online purchases. Online shoppers can get extra points on purchases by visiting their issuers' bonus malls before ordering. Search for your store of choice and use the bonus mall link to go to the website. That's it! You'll earn extra rewards with minimal effort and no additional cost.

4. Use your card for every purchase that doesn't charge a fee. Credit cards are the best payment method for most purchases, but there are certain expenses you shouldn't swipe for. Rent, school tuition and taxes typically can't be paid with a credit card without processing fees that outweigh most of the rewards you'd earn. But any time you can use credit without paying a fee, you should.

This advice comes with the caveat that you should only use a credit card if you have the money to pay off the balance before incurring interest. Credit card debt is one of the most expensive types of debt, and your earned rewards will not make up for the interest charges you'll owe if you carry a balance from month to month.

[See: 6 Ways to Treat Yourself on a Budget.]

5. Add an authorized user if your issuer offers extra rewards. Certain issuers reward you with extra points or miles for adding an authorized user when you apply for a card. If you have a significant other or family member whom you'd like to add to your account with his or her consent, consider doing so within the allotted time frame (usually around three months) to take advantage of this perk.

An authorized user can use your account, but can't make account changes. Understand that your authorized user won't be legally obligated to make payments, even if that's your agreement. Be prepared to pay the entire balance, just in case.

You don't have to spend more money to earn more rewards and get a leg up on your next trip. These tactics allow you to maximize the rewards you get for the spending you're already doing. Spend strategically and reap the benefits.

Erin El Issa is a former accountant and a staff writer for NerdWallet. She covers credit reporting and scoring, credit cards, consumer debt and other personal finance topics.