Ability to play this game is directly related to your credit profile and how much spending you can make or manufacture. My wife and I have been able to qualify for an almost limitless line of rewards cards, and I can spend or seem to spend at least $50-$75K annually. If you can't get the cards without dinging your credit score unreasonably, alas, you have to wait until your credit file is thicker and more robust.

Much also depends on just how you want to travel. If you want a weekend in California with 3 nights at the Raddison, that's different than a business class ticket to Europe and 5 nights at the Park Hyatt.