Hurdy Gurdy Travel Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Dave Ramsey’s “Debt-Free” Cruise Costs Over $4,000...and you can pay with a Credit Card! Jul 09, 2026

Show notes

Dave Ramsey Cruise Pricing: $4,115 Interior Room, Massive Upsells & Credit Cards Accepted at Checkout Justin Vacula of the Hurdy Gurdy Travel Podcast records an impromptu reaction to Dave Ramsey promoting a seven-day Western Caribbean “debt-free celebration” cruise for 2,500 fans. Justin discusses the contrast between Ramsey’s usual frugality, anti-debt, and anti-credit-card messaging and the high price of the Dave Ramsey cruise. He compares the Ramsey cruise pricing with his own low-cost cruise strategies, including comp cruise offers through casino status, credit card rewards, and MyVegas comp rewards. While attempting a booking, Justin finds that the cheapest interior stateroom totals about $4,115 after applying a $100 promo code. He also reviews the cruise’s optional add-ons and upsells, including “signature service,” photo opportunities, lunch and dinner with Dave Ramsey, and a $2,000 EntreLeadership session. Justin also highlights what he sees as one of the funniest contradictions: the partner booking site recommends credit cards and accepts credit cards at checkout through Stripe, despite Dave Ramsey’s long-running criticism of credit cards. — 🎙️ 📢 Listen to the Hurdy Gurdy Travel Podcast: 👉 SoundCloud → https://soundcloud.com/hurdygurdytravelpodcast 👉 Apple Podcasts / iTunes → https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hurdy-gurdy-travel-podcast/id1489093490 👉 Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/0PRUx83Z4XKHengsgOoLWg 👉 iHeartRadio → https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-hurdy-gurdy-travel-podcast-51807405/ 👉 …and many other podcast platforms worldwide! 🌍🎧 📡 Prefer using your favorite app? Simply copy & paste my podcast RSS feed: http://feeds.soundcloud.com/users/soundcloud:users:706382626/sounds.rss — 💜 Support My Work & Unlock Special Perks: 👉 Support me through helpful referral links on my site: https://hurdygurdytravel.com/donate-referral-links/ 👉 Use my CardPointers affiliate link to save on annual and lifetime memberships → https://www.cardpointers.com/hurdygurdytravel CardPointers helps you activate card-linked offers and take advantage of other powerful credit card features. 👉 Use my Savewise affiliate link to activate grocery coupons, maximize shopping portals, and more: https://getsavewise.com/pro?ref=hurdygurdy 👉 Become a Frequent Traveler University member and sign up for events, including virtual seminars: https://ftuniversity.com/?aff=24 👉 Earn 500 miles when signing up for Rove Miles using my referral link: www.rovemiles.com/?signup&referralCode=8AS1JSG9 👉 Use my AutoPilot affiliate link to save points, miles, and money with this flight rebooking tool https://www.withautopilot.com/?partner=HurdyGurdy 👉 Use my Descript referral link to edit your podcast episodes, videos, and more. Descript offers tools, including studio sound, removal of filler words, and the ability to edit from a generated transcript. https://descript.cello.so/yiM83psckcY — 👉 Visit the Support Tab on my website to contribute via SubscribeStar → https://www.subscribestar.com/hurdygurdytravel 🎁 Subscriber & Supporter Perks Include: ✨ One-on-one calls with me ✨ Advance notice of upcoming podcast guests (submit your questions!) ✨ A custom podcast episode recorded just for you 🎙️💬 ✨ Bonus content 🎁 — 🌐 Stay Connected With Me: 🔔 Subscribe on YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@HurdyGurdyTravelPodcast 👍 Like on Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/HurdyGurdyTravelPodcast 🐦 Follow on Twitter / X → https://x.com/HurdyGurdyTravl 📸 Follow on Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/justinvacula/

Maximize Rakuten with TrakRak.com (Special Guest: Carrie) Jul 08, 2026

Show notes

TrackRak.com Review | Real-Time Rakuten Rate Alerts to Maximize Points, Miles & Cash Back Justin Vacula of the Hurdy Gurdy Travel Podcast welcomes Carrie from TrackRak.com to discuss how TrackRak helps points and miles users monitor Rakuten shopping portal rates and get real-time alerts when earning rates increase. Recorded June 30, 2026, this episode covers how TrackRak works, why Carrie built the tool, and how customizable text and email alerts can help users avoid missing elevated Rakuten offers. Carrie explains her frugal background, how she got into points and miles, and why she wanted to create a simple Rakuten-only solution for tracking shopping portal rates. Carrie explains that TrackRak scans Rakuten rates throughout the day and uses smart alerts to avoid sending repeated notifications for the same elevated rate. The site also includes a suggestion box, top-20 deals, and historical rate charts with about 600 days of data, with the goal of eventually showing around three years of historical Rakuten rate history. These charts can help users set realistic alert thresholds and understand when a rate is actually worth chasing. Timestamps 00:00 Intro Theme 00:32 Meet Carrie 01:17 Carrie Origin Story 03:45 What TrackRak Does 05:17 Smart Alerts Explained 07:04 Charts And Predictions 07:46 Plans And Pricing 10:27 Stacking Tips 12:41 Show Announcements 14:53 Big Rebate Deals 17:33 Trips And Wins 20:26 Upcoming Features 25:15 Final Plug And Outro — 🎙️ 📢 Listen to the Hurdy Gurdy Travel Podcast: 👉 SoundCloud → https://soundcloud.com/hurdygurdytravelpodcast 👉 Apple Podcasts / iTunes → https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hurdy-gurdy-travel-podcast/id1489093490 👉 Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/0PRUx83Z4XKHengsgOoLWg 👉 iHeartRadio → https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-hurdy-gurdy-travel-podcast-51807405/ 👉 …and many other podcast platforms worldwide! 🌍🎧 📡 Prefer using your favorite app? Simply copy & paste my podcast RSS feed: http://feeds.soundcloud.com/users/soundcloud:users:706382626/sounds.rss — 💜 Support My Work & Unlock Special Perks: 👉 Support me through helpful referral links on my site: https://hurdygurdytravel.com/donate-referral-links/ 👉 Use my CardPointers affiliate link to save on annual and lifetime memberships → https://www.cardpointers.com/hurdygurdytravel 👉 Use my Savewise affiliate link to activate grocery coupons, maximize shopping portals, and more: https://getsavewise.com/pro?ref=hurdygurdy 👉 Become a Frequent Traveler University member and sign up for events, including virtual seminars: https://ftuniversity.com/?aff=24 👉 Earn 500 miles when signing up for Rove Miles using my referral link: www.rovemiles.com/?signup&referralCode=8AS1JSG9 👉 Use my AutoPilot affiliate link to save points, miles, and money with this flight rebooking tool https://www.withautopilot.com/?partner=HurdyGurdy 👉 Use my Descript referral link to edit your podcast episodes, videos, and more. https://descript.cello.so/yiM83psckcY — 👉 Visit the Support Tab on my website to contribute via SubscribeStar → https://www.subscribestar.com/hurdygurdytravel 🎁 Subscriber & Supporter Perks Include: ✨ One-on-one calls with me ✨ Advance notice of upcoming podcast guests (submit your questions!) ✨ A custom podcast episode recorded just for you 🎙️💬 ✨ Bonus content 🎁 — 🌐 Stay Connected With Me: 🔔 Subscribe on YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@HurdyGurdyTravelPodcast 👍 Like on Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/HurdyGurdyTravelPodcast 🐦 Follow on Twitter / X → https://x.com/HurdyGurdyTravl 📸 Follow on Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/justinvacula/

Airport Lounge Access in 2026 Jul 01, 2026

Show notes

Best Credit Cards for Airport Lounge Access | Priority Pass, Chase Sapphire, Amex Centurion, Capital One & Airline Clubs Justin Vacula of the Hurdy Gurdy Travel Podcast is joined by returning co-host Darren to discuss the best credit cards for airport lounge access, including Priority Pass, Chase Sapphire Lounges, Capital One Lounges, Amex Centurion Lounges, United Clubs, Delta Sky Clubs, Admirals Clubs, and other airline lounge options. In this episode, Justin and Darren explain how airport lounge access can save travelers money on food and drinks, make layovers and delays more comfortable, and sometimes even help with rebooking when airline agents inside lounges are available. They start with Priority Pass credit cards, including beginner-friendly options like the U.S. Bank Altitude Connect, which offers four Priority Pass visits with no annual fee, and premium options like the Bilt Palladium Card, Chase Ritz-Carlton Card, and Chase Sapphire Reserve. They discuss lounge visit limits, guest access, authorized users, annual fees, and how Chase Sapphire Lounge access fits into the Priority Pass ecosystem. Timestamps 00:00 Points And Miles Intro 00:45 Why Airport Lounges Matter 04:15 Priority Pass Basics 04:47 Beginner Lounge Cards 06:27 Premium Priority Pass Picks 09:59 United Lounge Cards 14:41 Venture X And Lounge Networks 17:11 Amex Platinum And Delta Access 18:57 American Airlines Lounge Cards 20:21 Support The Show Break 22:22 Qatar Card Flagship Hack 25:47 Listener Questions And Tips 33:57 Wrap Up And Upcoming Trips 36:19 Outro And Credits — 🎙️ 📢 Listen to the Hurdy Gurdy Travel Podcast: 👉 Apple Podcasts / iTunes → https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hurdy-gurdy-travel-podcast/id1489093490 👉 Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/0PRUx83Z4XKHengsgOoLWg 👉 iHeartRadio → https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-hurdy-gurdy-travel-podcast-51807405/ 👉 …and many other podcast platforms worldwide! 🌍🎧 📡 Prefer using your favorite app? Simply copy & paste my podcast RSS feed: http://feeds.soundcloud.com/users/soundcloud:users:706382626/sounds.rss — 💜 Support My Work & Unlock Special Perks: 👉 Support me through helpful referral links on my site: https://hurdygurdytravel.com/donate-referral-links/ 👉 Use my CardPointers affiliate link to save on annual and lifetime memberships → https://www.cardpointers.com/hurdygurdytravel 👉 Use my Savewise affiliate link to activate grocery coupons, maximize shopping portals, and more: https://getsavewise.com/pro?ref=hurdygurdy 👉 Become a Frequent Traveler University member and sign up for events, including virtual seminars: https://ftuniversity.com/?aff=24 👉 Earn 500 miles when signing up for Rove Miles using my referral link: www.rovemiles.com/?signup&referralCode=8AS1JSG9 👉 Use my AutoPilot affiliate link to save points, miles, and money with this flight rebooking tool https://www.withautopilot.com/?partner=HurdyGurdy 👉 Use my Descript referral link to edit your podcast episodes, videos, and more. https://descript.cello.so/yiM83psckcY — 👉 Visit the Support Tab on my website to contribute via SubscribeStar → https://www.subscribestar.com/hurdygurdytravel 🎁 Subscriber & Supporter Perks Include: ✨ One-on-one calls with me ✨ Advance notice of upcoming podcast guests (submit your questions!) ✨ A custom podcast episode recorded just for you 🎙️💬 ✨ Bonus content 🎁 — 🌐 Stay Connected With Me: 🔔 Subscribe on YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@HurdyGurdyTravelPodcast 👍 Like on Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/HurdyGurdyTravelPodcast 🐦 Follow on Twitter / X → https://x.com/HurdyGurdyTravl 📸 Follow on Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/justinvacula/

Bilt Bulletin | June 2026 Jun 24, 2026

Show notes

Bilt Bulletin June 2026 | Palladium Card Updates, Credit Limit Increases, CFPB Complaints & Bilt Cash Redemptions In this episode, Justin and Darren review key features of the Bilt Palladium Card, including Bilt Cash vs. Rent Multiplier, the welcome bonus, Gold status, hotel credits, and the Point Accelerator feature. They also discuss how they are using the card, what benefits have been useful so far, and where the program may be headed. A major topic is the surprise automatic credit limit increases some cardholders received, including limits jumping as high as $50,000. Justin and Darren discuss why these large credit limit increases may be useful, but also raise questions about credit pulls, frozen credit reports, utilization, and how higher limits could affect future credit card approvals. They also discuss a possible value boost for Bilt’s 1:1 Hyatt transfer partnership, especially as some Chase-to-Hyatt transfers shift to a less favorable 4:3 ratio. The episode also covers a Fortune profile of Bilt’s growth claims, Senator Elizabeth Warren’s letter citing CFPB complaints related to payment disruptions during the transition away from Wells Fargo, and broader concerns about customer service, card servicing, and program reliability. Timestamps 00:00 Podcast Intro Theme 00:32 Welcome And Episode Setup 01:47 Bilt Program Basics 03:27 Bilt Cash Vs. Rent Multiplier 04:47 Surprise Credit Limit Jumps 07:46 Hard Pull Rumors And Credit Freezes 10:40 Hyatt Transfer Shakeup 12:58 Bilt Building Big Picture 18:02 Support The Show Announcements 20:46 CFPB Complaints And Warren Letter 27:17 Dining Credit Redemption Stories 31:56 Points Balances And Earn-Burn Strategy 34:15 Year-End Planning And Travel Wrap Up 37:34 Closing: Thanks And Outro Theme — 🎙️ 📢 Listen to the Hurdy Gurdy Travel Podcast: 👉 Apple Podcasts / iTunes → https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hurdy-gurdy-travel-podcast/id1489093490 👉 Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/0PRUx83Z4XKHengsgOoLWg 👉 iHeartRadio → https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-hurdy-gurdy-travel-podcast-51807405/ 👉 …and many other podcast platforms worldwide! 🌍🎧 — 💜 Support My Work & Unlock Special Perks: 👉 Support me through helpful referral links on my site: https://hurdygurdytravel.com/donate-referral-links/ 👉 Use my CardPointers affiliate link to save on annual and lifetime memberships → https://www.cardpointers.com/hurdygurdytravel 👉 Use my Savewise affiliate link to activate grocery coupons, maximize shopping portals, and more: https://getsavewise.com/pro?ref=hurdygurdy 👉 Become a Frequent Traveler University member and sign up for events, including virtual seminars: https://ftuniversity.com/?aff=24 👉 Earn 500 miles when signing up for Rove Miles using my referral link: www.rovemiles.com/?signup&referralCode=8AS1JSG9 👉 Use my AutoPilot affiliate link to save points, miles, and money with this flight rebooking tool https://www.withautopilot.com/?partner=HurdyGurdy 👉 Use my Descript referral link to edit your podcast episodes, videos, and more. https://descript.cello.so/yiM83psckcY — 👉 Visit the Support Tab on my website to contribute via SubscribeStar → https://www.subscribestar.com/hurdygurdytravel 🎁 Subscriber & Supporter Perks Include: ✨ One-on-one calls with me ✨ Advance notice of upcoming podcast guests (submit your questions!) ✨ A custom podcast episode recorded just for you 🎙️💬 ✨ Bonus content 🎁 — 🌐 Stay Connected With Me: 🔔 Subscribe on YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@HurdyGurdyTravelPodcast 👍 Like on Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/HurdyGurdyTravelPodcast 🐦 Follow on Twitter / X → https://x.com/HurdyGurdyTravl 📸 Follow on Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/justinvacula/

New! Wyndham Rewards Earner Premier Credit Card Jun 19, 2026

Show notes

Wyndham Rewards Earner Premier Card Review | 120K Bonus, 25% Award Discount, $400 Credits & $395 Fee Justin Vacula of the Hurdy Gurdy Travel Podcast is joined by James from the Churn and Burn Podcast to discuss the newly released Wyndham Rewards Earner Premier Card. This new premium Wyndham credit card has a $395 annual fee and offers up to a 120,000-point welcome bonus, with 90,000 Wyndham Rewards points after $6,000 in spend and another 30,000 points after $750 in Wyndham purchases. Justin and James explain how the bonus works, who may be eligible, and whether the card makes sense for travelers who like Wyndham Rewards, casino status matches, and high-value hotel redemptions. They also discuss the card’s biggest ongoing benefits, including a 25% discount or rebate on Wyndham award bookings, 30,000 anniversary points, a possible 30,000-point free night certificate after five Wyndham nights, and the potential for Wyndham points to avoid expiration while holding the card. The episode also covers the card’s earning rates, including 8X points at Wyndham, 4X on grocery stores, 4X on dining, and 4X on travel, with special attention to the uncapped grocery category. Timestamps 00:00 Podcast Intro Theme 00:32 Wyndham Premier Card Overview 01:26 First Impressions And Barclays 02:54 Welcome Bonus Breakdown 04:32 Core Perks And Rebates 06:51 Earning Rates And Value 07:54 Statement Credits Deep Dive 13:07 Apply Or Pass Decision 16:46 Sponsor Break And Links 19:09 Best Wyndham Redemptions 23:08 Comparisons And Who It Fits 25:43 Listener Question And Business Card 27:27 Status And Caesars Angle 30:03 Wrap Up And Guest Plugs 34:40 Outro And Support The Show — 🎙️ 📢 Listen to the Hurdy Gurdy Travel Podcast: 👉 SoundCloud → https://soundcloud.com/hurdygurdytravelpodcast 👉 Apple Podcasts / iTunes → https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hurdy-gurdy-travel-podcast/id1489093490 👉 Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/0PRUx83Z4XKHengsgOoLWg 👉 …and many other podcast platforms worldwide! 🌍🎧 📡 Prefer using your favorite app? Simply copy & paste my podcast RSS feed: http://feeds.soundcloud.com/users/soundcloud:users:706382626/sounds.rss — 💜 Support My Work & Unlock Special Perks: 👉 Support me through helpful referral links on my site: https://hurdygurdytravel.com/donate-referral-links/ 👉 Use my CardPointers affiliate link to save on annual and lifetime memberships → https://www.cardpointers.com/hurdygurdytravel CardPointers helps you activate card-linked offers and take advantage of other powerful credit card features. 👉 Use my Savewise affiliate link to activate grocery coupons, maximize shopping portals, and more: https://getsavewise.com/pro?ref=hurdygurdy 👉 Become a Frequent Traveler University member and sign up for events, including virtual seminars: https://ftuniversity.com/?aff=24 👉 Earn 500 miles when signing up for Rove Miles using my referral link: www.rovemiles.com/?signup&referralCode=8AS1JSG9 👉 Use my AutoPilot affiliate link to save points, miles, and money with this flight rebooking tool https://www.withautopilot.com/?partner=HurdyGurdy 👉 Use my Descript referral link to edit your podcast episodes, videos, and more. https://descript.cello.so/yiM83psckcY — 👉 Visit the Support Tab on my website to contribute via SubscribeStar → https://www.subscribestar.com/hurdygurdytravel 🎁 Subscriber & Supporter Perks Include: ✨ One-on-one calls with me ✨ Advance notice of upcoming podcast guests (submit your questions!) ✨ A custom podcast episode recorded just for you 🎙️💬 ✨ Bonus content 🎁 — 🌐 Stay Connected With Me: 🔔 Subscribe on YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@HurdyGurdyTravelPodcast 👍 Like on Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/HurdyGurdyTravelPodcast 🐦 Follow on Twitter / X → https://x.com/HurdyGurdyTravl 📸 Follow on Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/justinvacula/

NBC Turns Credit Card Rewards Into an Income Inequality Story - Here's What They Missed Jun 14, 2026

Show notes

Justin Vacula of the Hurdy Gurdy Travel Podcast responds to an NBC News article titled “How High-End Credit Card Perks Are Hurting Shoppers Who Pay in Cash.” Original article: https://www.nbcnews.com/business/consumer/credit-card-perks-hurt-shoppers-pay-cash-debit-rcna346905 The article frames credit card rewards as a wealth transfer tied to economic inequality, but Justin argues the story misses several major points about credit cards, cash, small businesses, and responsible rewards strategy. In this solo episode, Justin challenges two central claims from the article: that merchant swipe fees disproportionately hurt low-income and middle-income Americans, and that credit card processing fees unfairly damage small businesses. He argues that the article ignores the real costs and risks of cash, including labor, theft, slower checkout lines, accounting errors, trips to the bank for deposits, and security concerns. Justin also explains why many businesses accept credit cards despite processing fees, including increased sales, easier recordkeeping, faster transactions, and greater customer convenience. Timestamps 00:00 Intro Theme Song 00:32 Episode Setup And NBC Critique 02:20 Host Story And Why Rewards Help 03:58 Swipe Fees Explained 04:56 Hidden Costs Of Cash 06:44 Why Businesses Take Cards 07:56 No Guilt Using Rewards 10:24 Saving On Groceries And Gas 12:08 Rewards Beyond Luxury Travel 13:31 Protections And Lifestyle Credits 17:47 Break And Announcements 19:49 Get Started With Points 23:46 Level Up With More Cards 26:02 Wrap Up And Where To Follow 27:00 Outro Theme Song — 🎙️ 📢 Listen to the Hurdy Gurdy Travel Podcast: 👉 SoundCloud → https://soundcloud.com/hurdygurdytravelpodcast 👉 Apple Podcasts / iTunes → https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hurdy-gurdy-travel-podcast/id1489093490 👉 Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/0PRUx83Z4XKHengsgOoLWg 👉 iHeartRadio → https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-hurdy-gurdy-travel-podcast-51807405/ 👉 …and many other podcast platforms worldwide! 🌍🎧 — 💜 Support My Work & Unlock Special Perks: 👉 Support me through helpful referral links on my site: https://hurdygurdytravel.com/donate-referral-links/ 👉 Use my CardPointers affiliate link to save on annual and lifetime memberships https://www.cardpointers.com/hurdygurdytravel 👉 Use my Savewise affiliate link to activate grocery coupons, maximize shopping portals, and more: https://getsavewise.com/pro?ref=hurdygurdy 👉 Become a Frequent Traveler University member and sign up for events, including virtual seminars: https://ftuniversity.com/?aff=24 👉 Earn 500 miles when signing up for Rove Miles using my referral link: www.rovemiles.com/?signup&referralCode=8AS1JSG9 👉 Use my AutoPilot affiliate link to save points, miles, and money with this flight rebooking tool https://www.withautopilot.com/?partner=HurdyGurdy 👉 Use my Descript referral link to edit your podcast episodes, videos, and more. Descript offers tools, including studio sound, removal of filler words, and the ability to edit from a generated transcript. https://descript.cello.so/yiM83psckcY — 👉 Visit the Support Tab on my website to contribute via SubscribeStar → https://www.subscribestar.com/hurdygurdytravel 🎁 Subscriber & Supporter Perks Include: ✨ One-on-one calls with me ✨ Advance notice of upcoming podcast guests (submit your questions!) ✨ A custom podcast episode recorded just for you 🎙️💬 ✨ Bonus content 🎁 — 🌐 Stay Connected With Me: 🔔 Subscribe on YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@HurdyGurdyTravelPodcast 👍 Like on Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/HurdyGurdyTravelPodcast 🐦 Follow on Twitter / X → https://x.com/HurdyGurdyTravl 📸 Follow on Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/justinvacula/

Miles and Points with Matt Clausen Jun 09, 2026

Show notes

Points & Miles with Matt Clausen | Rove Stacking, Wells Fargo Cards, JetBlue Premier, and Getting Started Justin Vacula welcomes Matt Clausen to the Hurdy Gurdy Travel Podcast for a conversation about getting started with points and miles, smart card strategy, and some of today’s more interesting opportunities in travel rewards. Recorded on May 11, 2026, this episode covers beginner-friendly advice, recent credit card news, and redemption examples that show how valuable the hobby can be. Justin and Matt begin by talking about meeting at Justin’s Willow Grove, Pennsylvania meetup before getting into one of the most interesting topics in the episode: Rove stacking. Matt shares how he got started in points and miles, beginning with the Chase Sapphire Reserve, and explains how his card strategy has evolved over time. The discussion includes his current setup with Hilton cards, Chase cards, JetBlue cards, and Wells Fargo cards, along with examples of successful redemptions, including a Wyndham stay booked through Wells Fargo’s 1:2 transfer ratio to Wyndham Rewards. 00:00 Podcast intro theme 00:32 Meet Matt Clausen 01:31 Rove stacking explained 03:05 Matt’s points and miles origin story 06:15 Starting and navigating Chase rules 08:06 Rebuilding a card strategy 09:50 Best redemptions so far 11:11 Europe trip planning 13:16 Card issuer realities 14:19 Amex Graphite discussion 15:41 Support the show 19:48 Why Wells Fargo may be underrated 25:04 JetBlue Premier card discussion 30:07 Convincing the skeptics 35:01 Wrap-up and where to find Matt 35:49 Outro and credits — 🎙️ 📢 Listen to the Hurdy Gurdy Travel Podcast: 👉 SoundCloud → https://soundcloud.com/hurdygurdytravelpodcast 👉 Apple Podcasts / iTunes → https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hurdy-gurdy-travel-podcast/id1489093490 👉 Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/0PRUx83Z4XKHengsgOoLWg 👉 iHeartRadio → https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-hurdy-gurdy-travel-podcast-51807405/ 👉 …and many other podcast platforms worldwide! 🌍🎧 📡 Prefer using your favorite app? Simply copy & paste my podcast RSS feed: http://feeds.soundcloud.com/users/soundcloud:users:706382626/sounds.rss — 💜 Support My Work & Unlock Special Perks: 👉 Support me through helpful referral links on my site: https://hurdygurdytravel.com/donate-referral-links/ 👉 Use my CardPointers affiliate link to save on annual and lifetime memberships → https://www.cardpointers.com/hurdygurdytravel CardPointers helps you activate card-linked offers and take advantage of other powerful credit card features. 👉 Use my Savewise affiliate link to activate grocery coupons, maximize shopping portals, and more: https://getsavewise.com/pro?ref=hurdygurdy 👉 Become a Frequent Traveler University member and sign up for events, including virtual seminars: https://ftuniversity.com/?aff=24 👉 Earn 500 miles when signing up for Rove Miles using my referral link: www.rovemiles.com/?signup&referralCode=8AS1JSG9 👉 Use my AutoPilot affiliate link to save points, miles, and money with this flight rebooking tool https://www.withautopilot.com/?partner=HurdyGurdy — 👉 Visit the Support Tab on my website to contribute via SubscribeStar → https://www.subscribestar.com/hurdygurdytravel 🎁 Subscriber & Supporter Perks Include: ✨ One-on-one calls with me ✨ Advance notice of upcoming podcast guests (submit your questions!) ✨ A custom podcast episode recorded just for you 🎙️💬 ✨ Bonus content 🎁 — 🌐 Stay Connected With Me 🔔 Subscribe on YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@HurdyGurdyTravelPodcast 👍 Like on Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/HurdyGurdyTravelPodcast 🐦 Follow on Twitter / X → https://x.com/HurdyGurdyTravl 📸 Follow on Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/justinvacula/

Rove Report with Carissa | June 2026 Jun 02, 2026

Show notes

June 2026 Rove Report: 50% Transfer Bonus to Turkish Miles&Smiles + What’s New at Rove Justin Vacula of the Hurdy Gurdy Travel Podcast welcomes returning guest Carissa Rawson to discuss Rove’s June 2026 transfer bonus to Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles and the latest updates from Rove. From June 1 through June 30, 2026, Rove is offering a 50% transfer bonus to Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles, meaning 1,000 Rove Miles transfers into 1,500 Turkish Miles&Smiles miles. Justin and Carissa explain how the promotion works, why Turkish Miles&Smiles can be valuable, and what points and miles travelers should know before transferring. Carissa explains how Rove Miles work as a flexible travel rewards currency that can be earned through hotel bookings, flight bookings, and online shopping. She highlights Rove’s strong hotel earning rates of up to 25X miles and the Rove Shopping portal with around 13,000 stores. Timestamps 00:00 Welcome And Guest Intro 00:44 What Is Rove? 02:00 June Turkish Transfer Bonus 02:52 Turkish Miles&Smiles Sweet Spots 05:35 Booking Tips And Surcharges 06:58 How To Earn Rove Miles In Time 08:41 Promo Fine Print 10:37 Break And Announcements 12:39 Rove Updates 13:38 Team Growth And Office Life 15:45 Meetups And Travel Plans 17:19 More Rove Features Coming 17:48 Where To Find Carissa 18:51 Closing And Credits — 🎙️ 📢 Listen to the Hurdy Gurdy Travel Podcast: 👉 Apple Podcasts / iTunes → https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hurdy-gurdy-travel-podcast/id1489093490 👉 Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/0PRUx83Z4XKHengsgOoLWg 👉 TuneIn → https://tunein.com/podcasts/Podcasts/Hurdy-Gurdy-Travel-Podcast-p1275539/ 👉 iHeartRadio → https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-hurdy-gurdy-travel-podcast-51807405/ 👉 …and many other podcast platforms worldwide! 🌍🎧 📡 Prefer using your favorite app? Simply copy & paste my podcast RSS feed: http://feeds.soundcloud.com/users/soundcloud:users:706382626/sounds.rss — 💜 Support My Work & Unlock Special Perks: 👉 Support me through helpful referral links on my site: https://hurdygurdytravel.com/donate-referral-links/ 👉 Use my CardPointers affiliate link to save on annual and lifetime memberships → https://www.cardpointers.com/hurdygurdytravel CardPointers helps you activate card-linked offers and take advantage of other powerful credit card features. 👉 Use my Savewise affiliate link to activate grocery coupons, maximize shopping portals, and more: https://getsavewise.com/pro?ref=hurdygurdy 👉 Become a Frequent Traveler University member and sign up for events, including virtual seminars: https://ftuniversity.com/?aff=24 👉 Earn 500 miles when signing up for Rove Miles using my referral link: www.rovemiles.com/?signup&referralCode=8AS1JSG9 👉 Use my AutoPilot affiliate link to save points, miles, and money with this flight rebooking tool https://www.withautopilot.com/?partner=HurdyGurdy 👉 Use my Descript referral link to edit your podcast episodes, videos, and more. Descript offers tools, including studio sound, removal of filler words, and the ability to edit from a generated transcript. https://descript.cello.so/yiM83psckcY — 👉 Visit the Support Tab on my website to contribute via SubscribeStar → https://www.subscribestar.com/hurdygurdytravel 🎁 Subscriber & Supporter Perks Include: ✨ One-on-one calls with me ✨ Advance notice of upcoming podcast guests (submit your questions!) ✨ A custom podcast episode recorded just for you 🎙️💬 ✨ Bonus content 🎁 — 🌐 Stay Connected With Me: 🔔 Subscribe on YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@HurdyGurdyTravelPodcast 👍 Like on Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/HurdyGurdyTravelPodcast 🐦 Follow on Twitter / X → https://x.com/HurdyGurdyTravl 📸 Follow on Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/justinvacula/

Bilt Bulletin May 2026 May 28, 2026

Show notes

Bilt Bulletin May 2026 | Bilt Cash, Point Accelerators, Grubhub Changes, Priority Pass Confusion & New Rent Card Options Justin Vacula of the Hurdy Gurdy Travel Podcast is joined by returning guest Darren for a May 2026 Bilt Bulletin, covering the latest Bilt Rewards updates, Bilt Cash strategy, point accelerators, rent payment options, and recent changes affecting Bilt cardholders. Justin and Darren discuss how they are using the Bilt Palladium Card, Bilt Cash, and Bilt’s point accelerator system. They review their recent earning and redemption stats, look at the new tracker showing total accelerator spend, and discuss how these tools may help users. They also cover the change to the monthly $10 Grubhub credit, which moved from a balance-add gift card style benefit to a per-order discount code. Justin and Darren explain why this change may still be useful, especially now that it can stack with the American Express Gold Card Grubhub credit. The episode also addresses a brief Priority Pass restaurant access glitch, the World Legend Mastercard Taste of Priceless lounges in Hong Kong and São Paulo, with Mexico City expected soon, and new ways to pay rent with non-Bilt credit cards. One new option discussed is earning 3X Flying Blue points on rent payments with a 3% fee. Timestamps 00:00 Intro And Setup 02:06 Bilt Basics Overview 04:30 Spending Stats And Status 08:46 Bilt Bananas And App Updates 10:53 Grubhub Credit Changes 15:23 Priority Pass Confusion 16:54 Taste Of Priceless Lounges 18:18 Show Announcements Break 20:42 Pay Rent With Air France Credit Card 23:37 Rent Day Guessing Game 24:29 Listener Question: Bilt Cash 32:29 Miami Trip And Cruise Plans 36:55 Wrap Up And Outro — 🎙️ 📢 Listen to the Hurdy Gurdy Travel Podcast: 👉 Apple Podcasts / iTunes → https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hurdy-gurdy-travel-podcast/id1489093490 👉 Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/0PRUx83Z4XKHengsgOoLWg 👉 TuneIn → https://tunein.com/podcasts/Podcasts/Hurdy-Gurdy-Travel-Podcast-p1275539/ 👉 iHeartRadio → https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-hurdy-gurdy-travel-podcast-51807405/ 👉 …many other podcast platforms — 💜 Support My Work & Unlock Special Perks: 👉 Support me through helpful referral links on my site: https://hurdygurdytravel.com/donate-referral-links/ 👉 Use my CardPointers affiliate link → https://www.cardpointers.com/hurdygurdytravel CardPointers helps you activate card-linked offers and take advantage of other powerful credit card features. 👉 Use my Savewise affiliate link to activate grocery coupons, maximize shopping portals, and more: https://getsavewise.com/pro?ref=hurdygurdy 👉 Become a Frequent Traveler University member and sign up for events, including virtual seminars: https://ftuniversity.com/?aff=24 👉 Earn 500 miles when signing up for Rove Miles using my referral link: www.rovemiles.com/?signup&referralCode=8AS1JSG9 👉 Use my AutoPilot affiliate link to save points, miles, and money with this flight rebooking tool https://www.withautopilot.com/?partner=HurdyGurdy 👉 Use my Descript referral link to edit your podcast episodes, videos, and more. Descript offers tools, including studio sound, removal of filler words, and the ability to edit from a generated transcript. https://descript.cello.so/yiM83psckcY — 👉 Visit the Support Tab on my website to contribute via SubscribeStar → https://www.subscribestar.com/hurdygurdytravel 🎁 Subscriber & Supporter Perks Include: ✨ One-on-one calls ✨ Advance notice of upcoming podcast guests (submit your questions!) ✨ A custom podcast episode recorded just for you 🎙️💬 ✨ Bonus content 🎁 — 🌐 Stay Connected With Me: 👍 Like on Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/HurdyGurdyTravelPodcast 🐦 Follow on Twitter / X → https://x.com/HurdyGurdyTravl 📸 Follow on Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/justinvacula/

JetBlue Premier Credit Card - Big Value! May 23, 2026

Show notes

JetBlue Premier Credit Card Refresh: 100K Bonus, Mosaic Status Potential, $300 Travel Credit & BlueHouse Lounge Access Recorded in May 2026, Justin Vacula and returning co-host Darren discuss the refreshed JetBlue Premier Credit Card and whether it's worth the $499 annual fee. They explain the new limited-time 100,000 point welcome bonus, JetBlue Mosaic status opportunities, the annual 25-tile bonus, earning 1 tile per $1,000 in spend, and whether high spend on the card can make sense for travelers chasing Mosaic status. Justin and Darren also discuss key JetBlue Premier Card benefits, including the 15% points rebate after award travel, up to $300 in annual statement credits for hotels and car rentals booked through TrueBlue Travel, and JetBlue BlueHouse lounge access, with JFK open now, Boston expected in summer 2026, and Fort Lauderdale being discussed as a future lounge location. They also cover companion pass statement credits tied to $15,000 and $75,000 in annual spend, the $150 authorized user fee, Barclays approval standards, and downgrade options. Timestamps: 00:00 Podcast Intro Theme 00:32 JetBlue Premier Overview 02:23 100K Bonus Breakdown 04:17 Mosaic Status Math 09:00 Points Rebate And Credits 12:17 Earning Rates And Strategy 13:43 BlueHouse Lounge Access 15:29 Support The Show Break 18:15 Companion Pass Spend Perks 22:51 Fees, Authorized Users, And Approvals 27:14 Keeper Card Or Downgrade 29:16 JetBlue Flying Experience 30:38 DC Waldorf Trip Report 35:43 Wrap Up And Outro — 🎙️ 📢 Listen to the Hurdy Gurdy Travel Podcast: 👉 SoundCloud → https://soundcloud.com/hurdygurdytravelpodcast 👉 Apple Podcasts / iTunes → https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hurdy-gurdy-travel-podcast/id1489093490 👉 Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/0PRUx83Z4XKHengsgOoLWg 👉 TuneIn → https://tunein.com/podcasts/Podcasts/Hurdy-Gurdy-Travel-Podcast-p1275539/ 👉 iHeartRadio → https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-hurdy-gurdy-travel-podcast-51807405/ 📡 Prefer using your favorite app? Simply copy & paste my podcast RSS feed: http://feeds.soundcloud.com/users/soundcloud:users:706382626/sounds.rss — 💜 Support My Work & Unlock Special Perks: 👉 Support me through helpful referral links on my site: https://hurdygurdytravel.com/donate-referral-links/ 👉 Use my CardPointers affiliate link to save on annual and lifetime memberships → https://www.cardpointers.com/hurdygurdytravel CardPointers helps you activate card-linked offers and take advantage of other powerful credit card features. 👉 Use my Savewise affiliate link to activate grocery coupons, maximize shopping portals, and more: https://getsavewise.com/pro?ref=hurdygurdy 👉 Become a Frequent Traveler University member and sign up for events, including virtual seminars: https://ftuniversity.com/?aff=24 👉 Earn 500 miles when signing up for Rove Miles using my referral link: www.rovemiles.com/?signup&referralCode=8AS1JSG9 👉 Use my AutoPilot affiliate link to save points, miles, and money with this flight rebooking tool https://www.withautopilot.com/?partner=HurdyGurdy 👉 Use my Descript referral link to edit your podcast episodes, videos, and more. Descript offers tools, including studio sound, removal of filler words, and the ability to edit from a generated transcript. https://descript.cello.so/yiM83psckcY — 👉 Visit the Support Tab on my website to contribute via SubscribeStar → https://www.subscribestar.com/hurdygurdytravel 🎁 Subscriber & Supporter Perks Include: ✨ One-on-one calls with me ✨ Advance notice of upcoming podcast guests (submit your questions!) ✨ A custom podcast episode recorded just for you 🎙️💬 ✨ Bonus content 🎁 — 🌐 Stay Connected With Me: 🔔 Subscribe on YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@HurdyGurdyTravelPodcast 👍 Like on Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/HurdyGurdyTravelPodcast 🐦 Follow on Twitter / X → https://x.com/HurdyGurdyTravl 📸 Follow on Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/justinvacula/

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