Today we’d like to introduce you to Amena Bakali
Hi Amena, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
We didn’t really travel much until our 30s, even then it was 1-2 trips a year. When the pandemic hit, it lit a fire in me that tomorrow isn’t promised. I completed my Master’s degree in the spring of 2021. We traveled that summer as I job searched. Months to a year in, when I wasn’t finding aligned opportunities I took my husband’s advice to start a travel instagram, since I would talk about travel all the time. I would always find ways to use points and miles and book domestic trips for our family. My husband has traveled for work the last almost 7 years, and that got me down the rabbit hole of points, miles, and loyalty programs. In the fall of 2021, I started my travel account, and started taking it more seriously the following year. I now create content around points, miles, family travel, and personal finance. I’m a blogger, travel content creator, and family travel enthusiast. I educate my community on how to make travel more feasible, and enjoyable with a family. Our 4- year old has visited 10 countries, where as our older 2 had only been to Mexico when they were her age.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
When you’re self-employed, and an entrepeneur you realize no one will hold you accountable, except for you. There’s no blueprint for how to get things done – you define that. I’ve been finding joy in being able to be creative! I love what I do, and it seems that I’m always “on.” What I love is that my family gets to be a part of what I do, as I travel with them. But that has its respective challenges because balancing work while trying to be present is very tough to say the least.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m a travel blogger, content creator, and family travel enthusiast! I create content around points, miles, loyalty programs, and personal finance. I educate my community and audience how to leverage their regular spend to earn points and miles, to travel more, for less – and travel better. Times are tough right now, and money can be tight. That travel fund is slowly dwindling! I also share on how we use award travel as part of our wealth-building strategy so we can travel now, while also planning for our future.
Frankly speaking, there can be a lot of taboo, preconceived notions, and myths regarding award travel. As a Muslim woman talking about this, well let’s just say – there’s more! There’s no one talking about this space in my demographic, and that’s important because I know and understand how cultural taboos can stop one from getting into award travel. I come from that perspective, and most recently I was able to book an Umrah trip (spiritual pilgramage) for just $500 out of pocket, all thanks to points and miles. If you’re familiar at all with this type of trip, it can cost the average family anywhere from $7k-$10k for flights, transport, and hotel stays – easily.
What matters most to you? Why?
It’s important individuals realize that it’s not just about a trip, or travel. It’s about working smart. We each have to spend to live. Why not work smart, rather than just hard? Earn points and miles from those expenses you have to make month after month! The money you save can be put towards other things like experiences.
In this easy day and age, it’s also important to travel and get out side of our comfort zones more than ever. We don’t just learn in school, we learn through travel where we are challenged in all sorts of ways. Also, I don’t want to wait until retirement to travel. I want to travel while I have (some) youth, energy, and time. Tomorrow isn’t promised.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.hassansonholiday.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hassansonholiday/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Hassansonholiday
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amenabakali/
