Talking Shop (and travel essentials) with Brian Kelly, a.k.a. The Points Guy

NBC Selected independently determines what we cover and recommend. When you click on or buy through our links, we earn a commission. Learn more.Talking ShopThe Points Guy Brian Kelly has been to every continent multiple times — these are the 7 things he won’t travel withoutPlus, his travel tips to help you save while booking your next vacation and get the most out of your stay.Aug. 2, 2026, 7:00 AM EDTZoe MalinReporterSkip to table of contentsThe Points Guy Brian Kelly says his favorite travel essentials include Pak Reve’s passport wallet, Bose QuietComfort Headphones, Kidde’s battery-powered CO alarm and On sneakers.Courtesy Jonno Rattman for The Points Guy; Amazon; On; PAK Reve In this articleWhy trust NBC Selected?Talking Shop is our series where we talk to interesting people about their most interesting buys. No one embodies that title of “travel expert” quite like Brian Kelly, founder of The Points Guy. He’s been to every continent (multiple times, including with his toddlers) and more countries than most people visit in a lifetime. But that’s not even the most impressive part: Kelly is so well-versed in credit cards, points, miles and loyalty programs that he can book flights, hotels, excursions and more for free with his eyes closed. And for the past 16 years, he’s made it his mission to teach you how to do the same.“I want people to have confidence traveling,” says Kelly, who took The Points Guy from a personal blog in 2010 to a multi-million dollar media company today. “I want them to be better informed and have a sense of how to navigate the system because it’s overwhelming, especially if you’re a novice traveler.” Kelly’s role at The Points Guy has changed over the years, but at its core, it’s always revolved around helping people navigate what he calls “the complicated travel landscape.” Online, on social media and in his bestselling book, “How to Win at Travel,” Kelly shares tips about how to affordably upgrade all parts of a travel experience, and educ...