Balancing Tax Write-offs Versus Points Redemptions

How do business owners actually use credit cards, points, and miles to get the most travel out of their spend? In this episode, the 10xTravel crew sits down with Neill Drake, owner of Antarctica Travel Group, to explore how business owners can use credit cards, strategic spend, and loyalty programs to unlock massive value inside their companies.

Neill shares how his agency grew from a small Facebook group to a thriving operation handling multimillion-dollar seasonal spend, and how he thinks about credit card choices, earning structures, partner programs, and the realities of using points as a business owner. You’ll hear how different industries can approach spend, why some companies benefit from flexibility over optimization, and how a business owner can use points to support team travel, unlock upgrades, and create meaningful perks inside the company.

The episode also touches on the 10xTravel group trip to Antarctica happening in February 2027, and Neill offers insights into what travelers should expect when planning the journey.

In this episode:

00:00 Introduction and Guest Introduction

01:04 Antarctica Adventures

07:20 The Origin of Antarctica Travel Group

12:55 Business Spend and Credit Card Strategies

18:20 Balancing Points and Business Needs

25:29 Maximizing Points and Employee Rewards

35:24 Points vs. Cash Back for Business Owners

39:12 Cash Back vs. Points: Finding the Balance

39:48 The Over-Optimization Phase

41:30 Travel Goals and Family Vacations

42:36 Flexibility in Travel Planning

43:59 Booking Strategies and Redemption Tips

48:01 Business Travel and Points Optimization

52:37 Common Mistakes and Tips for Business Owners

01:00:59 Excitement for the Antarctica Trip

01:11:22 The Unique Experience of Antarctica

Links and Resources from this Episode:

Take Our Free Points and Miles Course

New To Points and Miles? Listen to Episodes 1-6 of the podcast

Our Best Credit Cards List (Updated Monthly)

My10x: Manage your points and miles in one place

Let us book your next award flight for you

Upgrade your next stay with our Luxury Hotel Program

Get free, personalized advice on choosing your next card

10xTravel+: Upgrade your travel by becoming a member today

Join us at an upcoming Meetup

Best Business Credit Cards 

Best Credit Cards for Businesses with Employees

Opening Business Credit Cards with Multiple Business Owners

Best Credit Cards for Small Businesses

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