Geobreeze Travel

Latest Episodes:

How to Travel to Guam on Points with Maricris Palentinos | Ep 82 May 22, 2022

Show notes

(Disclaimer: Click 'more' to see ad disclosure)

Maricris Palentinos from @finessetraveler is a proud 1st-gen Filipina immigrant currently residing in sunny San Diego, CA. Her first flight was when she moved to the US and she didn’t have the means to travel until she was older. Now, she is a passionate traveler who loves to help aspiring jetsetters reach their dream destinations for cheap. She is curating a community where we share ideas and thoughts to not only being able to travel, but maximize the experience.

In this episode, Maricris and I discuss her luxury trip to Guam, and some of the best flight routes, resorts, and excursions if you are interested in visiting Guam yourself!

If you are interested in getting started with award travel, one of the most popular starter cards is the Chase Sapphire Preferred, which can transfer points to many different partners mentioned in this episode, including United, Southwest, and Hyatt. Please be sure to use a friend or creator's referral or affiliate links whenever you get a new card -- if you apply through Google, the banks get to keep that commission money. And they have enough money.

If you are interested in supporting this show when you apply for your next card, check out geobreezetravel.com/cards

Chase Sapphire Preferred: https://milevalue.com/creditcards/chase-sapphire-preferred/?aff=gbt

Download App in the Air at: https://links.appintheair.mobi/geobreezetravel

Timestamps:

(00:00) - Introduction: Booking Flights and Offset Carbon Footprint (02:03) - Tips for Traveling to Guam on Points (08:40) - Card Strategy for Earning Points (16:41) - Using United Points to Fly to Guam (24:05) - Saving on Luxury Hotels in Guam (28:44) - Staying at Luxury Resorts in Guam (36:16) - Making Travel Accessible with Points (41:42) - Resources and Conclusion

You can find Maricris at: https://www.instagram.com/finessetraveler

Instagram:

You can find Julia at:

Website: https://www.geobreezetravel.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/geobreezetravel

Credit card links: https://www.geobreezetravel.com/cards

Masterclasses: https://www.geobreezetravel.com/hangouts

Patreon to access recordings of masterclasses: https://www.patreon.com/geobreezetravel

Award travel coaching call: https://www.geobreezetravel.com/calendly

Sign up for the newsletter and get exclusive access to sign up for free coaching calls: https://www.geobreezetravel.com/free-coaching

Geobreeze Travel is part of an affiliate sales network and receives compensation for sending traffic to partner sites, such as milevalue .com. This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. This site does not include all financial companies or all available financial offers. Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress .com to learn more.

The Best Award Flights in Latin America with Freddy Lansky | Ep 81 May 15, 2022

Show notes

(Disclaimer: Click 'more' to see ad disclosure)

Freddy Lansky from @pointspanda is the CEO and owner of Points Panda, an award travel consultancy and points blog with a US airline news focus. He's flown first class with Korean Air, Cathay Pacific, Lufthansa, British Airways and others. His other hobbies include surfing, hiking, and studying foreign languages. Freddy is from Atlanta, Georgia and has called Mexico City his home base since 2015.

In this episode, Freddy and I discuss some of the best routes for flying in and around Latin America, whether you're looking to do a short haul from Atlanta to Mexico city or a long haul in business class all the way to South America.

One of the main transfer partners we discuss in this episode is Avianca LifeMiles, which is great for their rewards program, but not necessarily great for their hard product airplanes. You can transfer points from American Express, Capital One, Citi, and Marriott Bonvoy into Avianca's rewards program. Some of the most popular cards with each of these programs is the Amex Gold, Capital One Venture X, and Citi premier. If you'd like to apply to for any of these cards, please be sure you don't apply through Google, but rather use a friend or creator's referral or affiliate link.

If you are interested in supporting this show when you apply for your next card, check out www.geobreezetravel.com/cards

Download App in the Air at: https://links.appintheair.mobi/geobreezetravel

Timestamps:

(00:00) - Introduction: Finding Award Flights in Latin America (04:39) - Starting Points Panda and Blogging Journey (09:30) - Why Mexico City Attracts Internet Workers (13:17) - Tips for Easier and Affordable Travel in Latin America (17:25) - AeroMexico and Other Airlines in Latin America (24:10) - Traveling from Mexico or the US to South America (27:43) - Best Options for US-Based Flyers to Latin America (33:25) - Avianca's LifeMiles Program and Tips

You can find Freddy at:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pointspanda

You can find Julia at:

Website: https://www.geobreezetravel.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/geobreezetravel

Credit card links: https://www.geobreezetravel.com/cards

Masterclasses: https://www.geobreezetravel.com/hangouts

Patreon to access recordings of masterclasses: https://www.patreon.com/geobreezetravel

Award travel coaching call: https://www.geobreezetravel.com/calendly

Sign up for the newsletter and get exclusive access to sign up for free coaching calls: https://www.geobreezetravel.com/free-coaching

How to Travel to Iceland on Points with Auburn Berry | Ep 80 May 08, 2022

Show notes

(Disclaimer: Click 'more' to see ad disclosure)

Auburn Berry from @tinytraveler is a petite points and miles enthusiast who’s learned how to use the award travel hobby to travel as much as possible. She’s been in the game for a little over 4 years. Some of her favorite award travel trips include Australia, Iceland, European Christmas Markets and several US domestic adventures.

In this episode, Auburn and I discuss how to travel to Iceland on points and miles, including the best flight routes, points hotels, and excurisons.

One of the main routes we discuss on this episode on through United. If you fly United often, check out the United Quest card. This card comes with $125 credits to United each year to help offset the $250 annual fee, and the card also comes with a $100 TSA precheck or Global Entry credit, 2 free checked bags, priority boarding, and lots of other perks! If you're looking to apply for a new card, be sure to use a friend or creator's link rather than applying through Google or mailers.

If you would like to support this show when you apply for your next card, check out www.geobreezetravel.com/cards

United Quest: https://milevalue.com/creditcards/united-quest-card/?aff=gbt

Download App in the Air at: https://links.appintheair.mobi/geobreezetravel

Timestamps:

(00:00) - Introduction: Traveling to Iceland on Points and Miles (05:41) - Simplify Your Points Strategy and Learn from Mistakes (10:53) - Using Points for Iceland Travel: Flight Tips (16:16) - Earning Points and Accommodation Options (20:00) - Renting a Car and Driving in Iceland (25:00) - Capital One Venture Card Benefits in Iceland (31:02) - Budget Tips for Dining and Activities (35:16) - Final Thoughts and Advice on Travel Hacking Iceland

You can find Auburn at:

Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/tinytravelerblog

You can find Julia at:

Website: https://www.geobreezetravel.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/geobreezetravel

Credit card links: https://www.geobreezetravel.com/cards

Masterclasses: https://www.geobreezetravel.com/hangouts

Patreon to access recordings of masterclasses: https://www.patreon.com/geobreezetravel

Award travel coaching call: https://www.geobreezetravel.com/calendly

Sign up for the newsletter and get exclusive access to sign up for free coaching calls: https://www.geobreezetravel.com/free-coaching

Earning 2 Million Hilton Points Passively Each Year with Ronnie Dunston | Ep 79 May 01, 2022

Show notes

(Disclaimer: Click 'more' to see ad disclosure)

Note: contains some adult language

Ronnie Dunston from @ronniedunston has traveled to more than 100 countries and has been in the points game since 2013. He currently works full time for the federal government as an IT training specialist and he teaches as an adjunct professor in the college of business and technology and also teaches people how to travel through his Tricks to Travel course and Facebook group.

In this episode, Ronnie and I discuss how he earns more than 2 million Hilton points almost passively each year without churning credit cards -- they get a few through referrals each year but largely earn their points by leveraging the Hilton Grand Vacations program, and haven't paid for a hotel in years. This method has allowed them to stay for free in destinations such as Tahiti and the Maldives!

If you are looking to earn more Hilton points, one of the cards mentioned in today's episode is the Hilton Surpass card, which is a great card for people getting started with Hilton points. You'll earn automatic Hilton Honors Gold status and 12 or more points per dollar when you put hotel spend from qualifying Hilton hotels on your card. If you're interested in this card, always use a friend or creator's referral link -- please don't apply through Google.

If you're interested in supporting this show when you apply for your next card, check out www.geobreezetravel.com/cards

Hilton Surpass: https://milevalue.com/creditcards/hilton-honors-surpass-card/?aff=gbt

Download App in the Air at: https://links.appintheair.mobi/geobreezetravel

Timestamps:

(00:00) - Introduction: Earning 2 Million Hilton Points Passively (04:41) - Discovering Passive Points Accumulation Strategies (09:09) - The Hilton Grand Vacations Timeshare Method (12:34) - Transferring Hilton Grand Vacations Points (15:20) - Earning Points Through Credit Card Spend (19:00) - Additional Strategies for Passive Point Earning (24:59) - Tips for Enhancing Travel Experiences (28:58) - Conclusion

You can find Ronnie at:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ronniedunston

You can find Julia at:

Website: https://www.geobreezetravel.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/geobreezetravel

Credit card links: https://www.geobreezetravel.com/cards

Masterclasses: https://www.geobreezetravel.com/hangouts

Patreon to access recordings of masterclasses: https://www.patreon.com/geobreezetravel

Award travel coaching call: https://www.geobreezetravel.com/calendly

Sign up for the newsletter and get exclusive access to sign up for free coaching calls: https://www.geobreezetravel.com/free-coaching

Paris + Public Transit Travel Tricks with Madeline Sall | Ep 78 Apr 24, 2022

Show notes

(Disclaimer: Click 'more' to see ad disclosure)

Madeline Sall from @madelinesall began her points & miles journey in 2013 with her consultant job and had to get a little more strategic after she left that job & didn't have corporate expenses on her credit cards all the time. Now, she uses her points & miles to attend concerts in other cities & plan last-minute redemptions without planning every day of her trips. She believes that the best use of points & miles is the one you're actually going to use & not always the one that has the best cost per point.

In this episode, Madeline and I talk about a points trip she took to Paris, and how using public transit in Europe -- and really most places where it's available -- can save so much money and sanity, and we discuss some different tricks for navigating public transit while traveling.

To offset the costs of public transit, I'd recommend using a card like the Chase Sapphire Reserve or Capital One card with purchase eraser. Alternatively, you could also use the World of Hyatt card to earn 2x on public transit purchases. If you're interested in any of these cards, please make sure you use a friend or creator's referral link -- do not apply through Google.

If you would like to support this show when you open your next card, check out www.geobreezetravel.com/cards

Download App in the Air at: https://links.appintheair.mobi/geobreezetravel

Timestamps:

(00:00) - Introduction: Travel Savings with Public Transit (07:19) - Favorite Airline Redemption Programs (10:03) - Convenience of the Eurail Pass in Europe (14:10) - Flexibility in Travel Hacking (17:20) - Exploring Paris and Hotel Options (20:27) - Navigating Paris Neighborhoods (26:09) - Benefits of Public Transit in Foreign Countries (29:27) - Food, Savings, and Travel Tips for Paris and Beyond

You can find Madeline at:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/madelinesall

You can find Julia at:

Website: https://www.geobreezetravel.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/geobreezetravel

Credit card links: https://www.geobreezetravel.com/cards

Masterclasses: https://www.geobreezetravel.com/hangouts

Patreon to access recordings of masterclasses: https://www.patreon.com/geobreezetravel

Award travel coaching call: https://www.geobreezetravel.com/calendly

Sign up for the newsletter and get exclusive access to sign up for free coaching calls: https://www.geobreezetravel.com/free-coaching

The Best Points Routes and Hotels in Thailand with Ben Komenkul | Ep 77 Apr 17, 2022

Show notes

(Disclaimer: Click 'more' to see ad disclosure)

Ben Komenkul from @bensbigdeal has been a business traveler since 2009, but didn't discover award travel until after four years of being a free agent. But once he jumped on board the miles and points lifestyle, there was no turning back, and Ben has been an active member of the points community ever since. Last year, Ben spent 58 nights in Thailand and earned more than 150 elite nights with Hyatt. In this episode, Ben and I discuss the best ways to get to Thailand on points and where to stay in Thailand on points. If you are looking to travel to Thailand, or really anywhere else in Southeast Asia, you'll find that hotel free night certificates will allow you to stay in much more luxurious hotels there versus what you can get in the US.

Most hotel co-branded credit cards come with at least one free night certificate, including the Marriott Bonvoy, boundless the World of Hyatt credit card and the IHG rewards credit card. If you are interested in any of these cards, please don't apply through Google. Always use a friend or creator's referral link.

If you would like to support this show when you open your next card, check out www.geobreezetravel.com/cards

Download App in the Air at: https://links.appintheair.mobi/geobreezetravel

Timestamps:

(00:00) - Introduction: Travel Tips and Strategies (07:13) - Booking Flights to Thailand and Japan (14:15) - Bangkok Airways and Airport Lounges (20:51) - Travel Experiences in Thailand (24:09) - Recent Trip to Thailand and Career Change (29:22) - Luxury Hotel Recommendations in Thailand (34:57) - Tips for Using Points and Miles in Thailand (41:14) - Conclusion

You can find Ben at:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bensbigdeal

You can find Julia at:

Website: https://www.geobreezetravel.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/geobreezetravel

Credit card links: https://www.geobreezetravel.com/cards

Masterclasses: https://www.geobreezetravel.com/hangouts

Patreon to access recordings of masterclasses: https://www.patreon.com/geobreezetravel

Award travel coaching call: https://www.geobreezetravel.com/calendly

Sign up for the newsletter and get exclusive access to sign up for free coaching calls: https://www.geobreezetravel.com/free-coaching

How to Find Award Program Loopholes with Bethany Walsh | Ep 76 Apr 10, 2022

Show notes

(Disclaimer: Click 'more' to see ad disclosure)

Bethany Walsh from @bougiemiles is one of the OG women in the points and miles world, teaching us how to be bougie on a budget and maximize luxury travel for fewer points, dollars, and credit cards. Her award travel style is focused on helping you travel the world in the most luxurious way possible while keeping spend to a minimum.

In this episode, Bethany and I discuss some of the most luxurious trips she's ever taken, and her unique approach to finding loopholes in different award programs, which lets her maximize rewards past the limits of what most people can imagine.

Bethany and I also discuss her love for casino hotels, which is one of the areas where it's easy to get a lot of luxury without much money or effort. One of my favorite casino program tricks is status matching, especially between Hyatt and MGM. If you have Hyatt Explorist or Globalist, you can match to MGM Gold status, which means you don't have to pay any resort fees when you book directly through MGM's website. Best of all, when you link your Hyatt and MGM accounts, your MGM stays count as Hyatt elite nights! If you're looking to get a jump on your Hyatt elite nights, the World of Hyatt personal card comes with 5 automatic elite nights, a free night certificate, and many additional perks. Remember, if you're interested in opening a new card, never ever apply through Google - always use a friend or creator's referral or affiliate links. If you'd like to support this show when you get your next card, please visit www.geobreezetravel.com/cards, and there's a link to the World of Hyatt card for you below:

World of Hyatt card: https://milevalue.com/creditcards/world-of-hyatt-card/?aff=gbt

Download App in the Air at: https://links.appintheair.mobi/geobreezetravel

Timestamps:

(00:00) - Introduction: Travel Hacking and Loyalty Programs (05:39) - Short vs. Tall People in Travel Hacking (08:29) - Maximizing Credit Card and Loyalty Program Points (16:13) - Discovering Award Program Loopholes (19:31) - Luxury Hotel Stays at a Fraction of the Price (25:35) - Earning IHG Points with Gift Cards (31:46) - Tips for Maximizing Points and Rewards (38:08) - Finding Award Program Loopholes

You can find Bethany at:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bougie_miles

You can find Julia at:

Website: https://www.geobreezetravel.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/geobreezetravel

Credit card links: https://www.geobreezetravel.com/cards

Masterclasses: https://www.geobreezetravel.com/hangouts

Patreon to access recordings of masterclasses: https://www.patreon.com/geobreezetravel

Award travel coaching call: https://www.geobreezetravel.com/calendly

Sign up for the newsletter and get exclusive access to sign up for free coaching calls: https://www.geobreezetravel.com/free-coaching

All About Aeroplan with Will Balo | Ep 75 Apr 03, 2022

Show notes

(Disclaimer: Click 'more' to see ad disclosure)

Will Balo from @willbalo is a Canadian points enthusiast based in Toronto. By day, he's a business coach and outside of that, he incorporates real estate investing as a side gig.

In this episode, Will and I discuss all things Aeroplan - the shopping portal, redemption sweet spots, the generous lap child policy, and more!

The great thing about Aeroplan is that most of the major flexible points will transfer to this program, including Chase, American Express, Bilt, and Capital One. Some of the most popular cards for these banks are the Chase Sapphire Preferred, American Express Gold, and Capital One Venture X, which are all linked in the show notes. Remember, please never apply for a card through Google - always use a friend or creator's referral links. If you'd like to support this show when you get your next card, please visit www.geobreezetravel.com/cards.

Download Fluz at: https://joinfluz.app.link/GEOBREEZETRAVEL

Download App in the Air at: https://links.appintheair.mobi/geobreezetravel

Timestamps:

(00:00) - Introduction: Saving on Travel Expenses (07:32) - Earning and Redeeming Points for Travel (13:52) - Traveling to the Maldives with Points (17:29) - Air Canada's Aeroplan Program Overview (22:04) - Aeroplan for Canadians: Sweet Spots and Options (27:08) - Aeroplan for Beginners and Family Travel (33:51) - Earning Points and Flexible Redemptions (40:16) - Travel Hacking Tips and Resources

You can find Will at:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/willbalo

You can find Julia at:

Website: https://www.geobreezetravel.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/geobreezetravel

Credit card links: https://www.geobreezetravel.com/cards

Masterclasses: https://www.geobreezetravel.com/hangouts

Patreon to access recordings of masterclasses: https://www.patreon.com/geobreezetravel

Award travel coaching call: https://www.geobreezetravel.com/calendly

Sign up for the newsletter and get exclusive access to sign up for free coaching calls: https://www.geobreezetravel.com/free-coaching

Disney Cruise Award Travel with Samantha Holland | Ep 74 Mar 27, 2022

Show notes

(Disclaimer: Click 'more' to see ad disclosure)

Samantha Holland of @almostfreetraveling loves using points and miles to travel to Disney parks and beyond, all while on a non-profit salary!

In this episode, Samantha and I discuss a highly-requested episode topic: how to take cruises - especially Disney cruises - on points and miles.

One of the strategies Samantha discusses in the episode is using Citi points to wipe the cost of your cruise off of your statement credits. My favorite Citi card is the Citi Premier, which comes with a variety of great perks, including the ability to transfer points to Turkish Miles and Smiles, where you can book flights to anywhere in the US - including Alaska and Hawaii - for only 7500 points one way per person. It's a great card to have, especially for families who are looking to save on domestic travel. If you are interested in applying for the Citi premier to save on Disney tickets and or flights, be sure to use a friend or creator's referral links. If you would like to support this show when you open your next card, check out www.geobreezetravel.com/cards.

Citi Premier: https://milevalue.com/creditcards/citi-premier/?aff=gbt

Download Grabr at: https://bit.ly/GrabrGeobreezetravelPodcast

Download App in the Air at: https://links.appintheair.mobi/geobreezetravel

Timestamps:

(00:00) - Introduction: Travel Hacking for Disney Cruises (04:25) - Discovering Credit Card Points and Miles (11:14) - Fulfilling Bucket List Trips with Miles (16:43) - Funding Family Trips to Disney (20:59) - Renting Out Your House on Airbnb (24:47) - Financing Disney Cruises with Credit Card Points (32:11) - Using Credit Card Bonuses for Disney Cruise (36:52) - Disney Cruise Award Travel Tips

You can find Samantha at:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/almostfreetraveling

You can find Julia at:

Website: https://www.geobreezetravel.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/geobreezetravel

Credit card links: https://www.geobreezetravel.com/cards

Masterclasses: https://www.geobreezetravel.com/hangouts

Patreon to access recordings of masterclasses: https://www.patreon.com/geobreezetravel

Award travel coaching call: https://www.geobreezetravel.com/calendly

Sign up for the newsletter and get exclusive access to sign up for free coaching calls: https://www.geobreezetravel.com/free-coaching

How to Visit Uganda on Points with Miguel Rueda | Ep 73 Mar 20, 2022

Show notes

(Disclaimer: Click 'more' to see ad disclosure)

Miguel Rueda of @travelsergeant just started learning about points/miles during the pandemic, and now he has accumulated over 1 million points in about 18 months and has flown on some bucket list airline products such as QSuites, Lufthansa FIrst Class, and ANA First Class.

In this episode, Miguel and I talk about one of his first luxury points redemptions, which was flying QSuites to Uganda and his incredible experince with visiting the Ugandan national parks to see the gorillas. We also discuss some tips for how to book hotels, rental cars, and excursions when traveling to Uganda.

If you're interested in earning a million points or more in a short time, one of the best ways is to earn points quickly is by adding business cards into your wallet, and qualifying for business cards is easier than most people think. One of my favorites is the Chase Ink Business Cash card which has no annual fee, a high intro bonus, and lets you earn 5x on internet, phone, cable, and office supply stores. That means, you can pick up gift cards to pretty much any store from Staples and get 5x points! If you're interested in signing up for the Chase Ink Business Cash, make sure you use a friend or creator's referral links. And if you're interested in supporting this show when you open your next card, check out www.geobreezetravel.com/cards

Chase Ink Business Cash: https://milevalue.com/creditcards/chase-ink-business-cash/?aff=gbt

Download Grabr at: https://bit.ly/GrabrGeobreezetravelPodcast

Download App in the Air at: https://links.appintheair.mobi/geobreezetravel

Timestamps:

(00:00) - Introduction: Travel Hacking for Uganda (01:32) - Booking Flights and Using the "In the Air" App (07:28) - Prioritizing Chase Cards and Points Redemption (10:57) - Choosing Uganda as a Travel Destination (15:26) - Self-Drive and Gorilla Trekking in Uganda (20:51) - Booking Lodges and Flight Routes (24:33) - Future Travel Plans and New York Trip (29:33) - Tips for Booking Uganda Trip on Points

You can find Miguel at: https://www.instagram.com/travelsergeant

You can find Julia at:

Website: https://www.geobreezetravel.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/geobreezetravel

Credit card links: https://www.geobreezetravel.com/cards

Masterclasses: https://www.geobreezetravel.com/hangouts

Patreon to access recordings of masterclasses: https://www.patreon.com/geobreezetravel

Award travel coaching call: https://www.geobreezetravel.com/calendly

Sign up for the newsletter and get exclusive access to sign up for free coaching calls: https://www.geobreezetravel.com/free-coaching