Here is some of the best travel news and notes from around the Internet:

• I’ve often said that the best way to start travel hacking is to begin with the end in mind.  Pick a place, and only THEN figure out what miles will help you get there.  Once you have a good stable of miles, it’s good to have a stable of places you are interested in going (I keep a travel bucket list) and then “chase the fare, not the destination”.  I enjoyed Mommy Points ruminating about possible upcoming trips for her and her family.
• I got Global Entry (and TSA Precheck) by having the American Express Platinum® card – but Michael W Travels reports of a cheaper way to get Global Entry
• I had not previously read the Five Plus Two Giftbox until I read her VERY IMPRESSIVE story of buying and liquidating $20,000 in gift cards to meet the British Airways credit card signup bonus.  Read more about the FPT (5 + 2) model and how she uses all the proceeds from all the travel hacking to help others.
• You can get up to 1300 free FlexPerks points in 3 different promos – and don’t forget about the 300 La Quinta points (in 10 seconds!  the La Quinta offer is now apparently expired
• One of the strange things about traveling full-time is that when you come back to the USA, there are several “strange” things – Carrie from Freakin Flyers shares 15 things that she found odd after being out of the country for nearly 6 months.

Up for more travel news?  Here’s the previous installment: Clothes to stop pick pockets, AAdvantage devaluation rumors, screaming babies, pick pockets