A mega deep dive into 30+ Amex cards, designing your meaning portfolio and why photography is the best hobby
Insider Letter #034
đ Hey friends,
Welcome to Travelling Lens Insider Letter, where every fortnight I send you a carefully curated letter of all things travel, travel photography and points & miles.
đ¨ Before we dive into todayâs letter, I just want to bring your attention to an awesome elevated welcome bonus of 100k points from a popular bank! Itâs my favourite business card thatâs in my wallet. This is the direct link to the public credit card offer, as my referral link currently only gives 90k points, not 100k points đ¨
Now, onto this weekâs letterâŚ
âď¸ Travel, Points and Photography
âď¸ Donât know where to start with points and miles, or how to use those 100k points once you get it? Get my exact 6-step ultimate guide to getting started. đ
Ultimate Guide: Getting Started in Points and Miles
Earning points and miles isnât just for frequent flyersâitâs for anyone who knows how to play the game.
đł This is a mega deep dive on all the US Amex Credit cards and Amexâs reward program. Chris ranks each of the 30+ cards in Amexâs line-up, and breaks down Membership Rewards program, transfer partners, approval rules, card-linked offers, unique perks, and which cards are worth it. If you donât have an Amex card, this is for you. I personally have three US Amex cards and one Australian Amex card. They are great value cards if you know how to optimise it.
đ§ Travel forms part of my meaning portfolio, along with time with family and friends, photography and writing. Not just work. Whatâs in your meaning portfolio?
đ If you ever feel like youâre packing 21 cables when you travel to keep all your devices charged, this 8 minute video will help you figure out your more effective charging setup for you travels.
In case you missed it đ
đ¸ This Week in Notes
Your credit cards, points, and miles. All in one place.
If youâre a frequent flyer or are just getting into the points and miles game so you can travel for cheap, keeping track of your points and miles can feel overwhelming.
Iâve been using Notion to easily organise everything related to points and miles. So, if youâre looking a simple and flexible system to do just that, join the waitlist to be the first to know when my Points Hub PRO in Notion becomes available.
đ Substack Finds
As an avid travel photographer, I couldnât agree more Roman Fox on with why photography is one of the best hobbies đ
Ibtissam C. shared some really interesting predictions, insights and trends on the future of travel from WTM. I definitely resonate with a few of the trendsâslower travel, travelling for nature and immersion into culture.
I was recently packing and getting ready for a long haul flight from Australia to the US. This podcast episode by Shannon from The Gomes Guide on how to pack and fly like a pro came at just the right time. A ton of practical tips to help pack like a pro for your next trip.
đ Travel Reading
As the 2025 comes to an end, itâs my time for reflection.
Iâve been reading Build the Life you Want: The art and science of Getting Happier, by Arthur C. Brooks and Oprah Winfrey.
Happiness isnât a destination, but rather it come from intentional design of the kind of life you want, daily actions and your mindset towards building that life. This book serves as a great reminder as I think about what I want 2026 to look like as we settle back into life in Australia after living abroad and adventuring non-stop for 2+ years while living in the US.
2026 will be a different kind of travel year for usâslower pace, cultural immersion and a bigger focus on relations when travelling.
What will travel be like for you in 2026?
đŹ Final Words
Creating memorable experiences is a smart use of your time and money.
Iâm on a mission to help you create memorable travel experiences, capture personal documentary-style travel photos and get the most out of your points & miles so you can see the world more often (and in comfort!)
Got a question? Send me an email or a direct message, Iâd love to hear from you!
If you enjoyed this, comment, restack or share it with one personâthatâs the best compliment I could receive from you.
Your friend,
Janice
I'm a travel writer, photographer, points & miles optimiser and Notion Consultant. To get in touch, email hello@travellinglens.co.
p.s. Want to an easy & organised way to plan your next trip? Get my free Travel Hub trip planning system in Notion.
Thank you for sharing my podcast interview with Sylvia on how to pack & fly like a pro!
This is an impressive list! There's something for everyone here.