MTM Travel - The Fun Side of Points & Travel!

Latest Episodes:

Changing Landscape, Behind Our Content & Chicago Seminars with Mark Ostermann Sep 13, 2024

Show notes

Episode Description

On this episode of the Miles to Memories podcast, Shawn is joined by Mark Ostermann. The two discuss a variety of topics ranging from personal experiences with homeownership challenges to the influence of social media on travel. They share insights on upcoming travel events, the evolution of miles and points, and the behind-the-scenes aspects of content creation. The conversation also touches on the impact of TikTok trends and the changing landscape of travel rewards, culminating in an exciting announcement about future travel plans.

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Enjoying the podcast? Please consider leaving us a positive review on your favorite podcast platform! You can also connect with us anytime at podcast@milestomemories.com.

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Music: Rewind by Jay Someday | https://soundcloud.com/jaysomeday Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License

Navigating Flight Delays, Cruise Industry Boom & Anatomy Of A Trip - Seattle, Spokane & Coeur d'Alene Aug 22, 2024

Show notes

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Episode Description

On this episode, Shawn and Joe discuss their experiences with flight delays and cancellations due to weather and air traffic control issues. They explore the growing trend of experiential travel on cruise ships and the impact of COVID-19 on the cruise industry. Shawn also shares his trip to Seattle, Spokane, Coeur d'Alene, and Silverwood. He highlights the Wild Waves amusement park in Seattle, which he found to be disappointing. He also discusses his passion for roller coasters and his goal to ride every wooden coaster in the United States. In Spokane, Shawn stayed at the DoubleTree and enjoyed the revitalized downtown area and Riverfront Park. Coeur d'Alene impressed him with its beautiful lake, charming town, and famous golf course. He also visited Silverwood, a family-owned amusement park with old-school charm and several roller coasters. Shawn concludes by sharing his positive experience flying Allegiant Airlines.

Links

Miles to Memories Podcast Listener Survey

Subscribe to our other travel podcast - 20 Minute Travel!

Enjoying the podcast? Please consider leaving us a positive review on your favorite podcast platform! You can also connect with us anytime at podcast@milestomemories.com.

You can subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Spotify, TuneIn, Pocket Casts, or via RSS. Don't see your favorite podcast platform? Please let us know!

Music: Rewind by Jay Someday | https://soundcloud.com/jaysomeday Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License

Overlooked Card Benefits, The Marriott Offer Worth Grabbing & Disney's Insane Announcements with Benjy Harmon Aug 15, 2024

Show notes

Episode Description

On this episode Shawn is joined by MtM Senior Contributor and head moderator of the Diamond Lounge Benjy Harmon to break down the new Bonvoy Bevy offer including why it provides an incredible amount of value in the first year. They also dive into some of the more overlooked card benefits out there and break down all of the announcements Disney recently made including 23 new things coming to their parks in the next few years.

Links

Subscribe to our other travel podcast - 20 Minute Travel!

Enjoying the podcast? Please consider leaving us a positive review on your favorite podcast platform! You can also connect with us anytime at podcast@milestomemories.com.

You can subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Spotify, TuneIn, Pocket Casts, or via RSS. Don't see your favorite podcast platform? Please let us know!

Music: Rewind by Jay Someday | https://soundcloud.com/jaysomeday Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License

Last Minute Travel Changes & Anxieties, Tipping Culture, InKind Deals & The World's Biggest Arby's! Aug 08, 2024

Show notes

Episode Description

In this episode, Shawn and Joe discuss various topics including the changes in low-cost carriers, their upcoming trips, the InKind app, and the controversy surrounding tipping and resort fees. They explore the recent changes in low-cost carriers, such as Spirit Airlines adding first class and other airlines adopting similar practices. They also discuss their upcoming trips and the challenges they faced with changing plans. The hosts then delve into the InKind app, which offers discounts and deals at various restaurants. Finally, they address the issue of tipping and resort fees, emphasizing the importance of not punishing tipped employees for these surcharges before diving into unpredictable hotel amenities and the world's biggest Arby's.

Links

InKind $25 off $50 for signing up (referral link) - https://milestomemories.com/go/inkind
Biggest Arby's - https://milestomemories.com/worlds-biggest-arbys/
Unpredictable amenities - https://milestomemories.com/hotel-amenities-and-services/

Subscribe to 20 Minute Travel!

Enjoying the podcast? Please consider leaving us a positive review on your favorite podcast platform! You can also connect with us anytime at podcast@milestomemories.com.

You can subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Spotify, TuneIn, Pocket Casts, or via RSS. Don't see your favorite podcast platform? Please let us know!

Music: Rewind by Jay Someday | https://soundcloud.com/jaysomeday Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License

Lucky Traveling, Bilt's Big Cut, Evaluating Airline Changes & The Olympics! Aug 01, 2024

Show notes

Episode Description

On this episode of the podcast Joe Cheung joins Shawn to discuss his recent good luck while traveling plus the two dive into all of the recent airline changes, Bilt's big negative Rent Day moves and the Olympics.

Episode Notes

1:14 - Olympics

10:59 - Joe survived the Delta meltdown

17:34 - SciFi corner

24:43 - Jetblue and Southwest changes (recorded before Spirit changes!)

30:37 - Bilt devaluation

Subscribe to 20 Minute Travel! Youtube

Podcast

Enjoying the podcast? Please consider leaving us a positive review on your favorite podcast platform! You can also connect with us anytime at podcast@milestomemories.com.

You can subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Spotify, TuneIn, Pocket Casts, or via RSS. Don't see your favorite podcast platform? Please let us know!

Music: Rewind by Jay Someday | https://soundcloud.com/jaysomeday Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License

Southwest Ends "Cattle Call", Amex Gold "Enhancements" & Debating Hawaii with Mark Ostermann Jul 25, 2024

Show notes

Episode Description

On this episode episode of the Miles to Memories podcast Shawn is joined by Mark Ostermann from MtM Vegas, 20 Minute Travel & Travel on Points to talk some of the big news of this week. To start, Southwest dropped a bomb by announcing the end of their "cattle call" boarding policy in favor of assigned seats. They also dropped a few other tidbits which will either have you excited or concerned. We also discuss the announced changes coming to the Amex Gold card which include more credits and a higher annual fee. Finally we debate Hawaii as Mark recaps his recent trip to Maui and why it wasn't as good as he expected.

Subscribe to our sister show 20 Minute Travel! Youtube

Podcast

Enjoying the podcast? Please consider leaving us a positive review on your favorite podcast platform! You can also connect with us anytime at podcast@milestomemories.com.

You can subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Spotify, TuneIn, Pocket Casts, or via RSS. Don't see your favorite podcast platform? Please let us know!

Music: Rewind by Jay Someday | https://soundcloud.com/jaysomeday Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License

Incredible National Parks & Brutal Devaluations with Joe Cheung Jul 11, 2024

Show notes

Episode Description

On this episode Joe joins Shawn to discuss his recent adventures to some of the most popular national parks. They discuss logistics, where he stayed, some of the cool nature along the way and why sometimes road trips can be fun. They also discuss a trio of brutal "devaluations" that dropped in the past week.

Episode Notes

Subscribe to 20 Minute Travel! Youtube

Podcast

Enjoying the podcast? Please consider leaving us a positive review on your favorite podcast platform! You can also connect with us anytime at podcast@milestomemories.com.

You can subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Spotify, TuneIn, Pocket Casts, or via RSS. Don't see your favorite podcast platform? Please let us know!

Music: Rewind by Jay Someday | https://soundcloud.com/jaysomeday Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License

Evolving Family Travel, Not Chasing Deals & Disneyland Tips with Leslie Harvey Jul 04, 2024

Show notes

Episode Description

On this episode Shawn is joined by Leslie Harvey from Trips with Tykes and Disney Deciphered. The two discuss family travel and how it evolves over time plus some of the tricks Leslie uses to ensure her family trips go as smoothly as possible. The two also discuss Leslie's first time in Japan, why she is exploring more budget airlines, some interesting takeaways from her recent European trip and Leslie closes out with a few Disneyland tips. Enjoying the podcast? Please consider leaving us a positive review on your favorite podcast platform! You can also connect with us anytime at podcast@milestomemories.com.

You can subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Spotify, TuneIn, Pocket Casts, or via RSS. Don't see your favorite podcast platform? Please let us know!

Music: Rewind by Jay Someday | https://soundcloud.com/jaysomeday Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License

Three Lessons from a Travel Hacker + Thoughts on Bilt & Wells Fargo with Benjy Harmon Jun 20, 2024

Show notes

Episode Description

On this episode Shawn is joined by MtM Senior Editor and Moderator for our Diamond Lounge Benjy Harmon. Benjy is well known as being one of the most prolific members of the miles & points hobby, but today he is bringing three important lessons he thinks you should know. They might just change the game for you or at least help you enjoy miles & points even more. We also dive into our favorite times of year to travel and what we think about the recent Wells Fargo/Bilt news. Episode Notes

00:00 Introduction and Overview
07:58 Breaking down the best times to travel
12:58 Bilt/Wells Fargo Hot Takes
20:30 3 important lessons from an expert travel hacker
29:44 Embrace barriers to entry
33:18 Focus on the fun!

Enjoying the podcast? Please consider leaving us a positive review on your favorite podcast platform! You can also connect with us anytime at podcast@milestomemories.com.

You can subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Spotify, TuneIn, Pocket Casts, or via RSS. Don't see your favorite podcast platform? Please let us know!

Music: Rewind by Jay Someday | https://soundcloud.com/jaysomeday Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License

Haunted Hotels, Pet Cafes & Our Fantastic Last Minute Bookings to Hawaii, Japan & Taiwan! Jun 13, 2024

Show notes

Episode Description

On this episode Shawn is joined by Joe Cheung to recap his recent trip to Hawaii, Japan and Taiwan. The trip was booked mostly last minute, built around a Starlux business class redemption home. Shawn discusses his time in Hawaii including why the Grand Hyatt Kauai has lost some luster, his last minute ANA A380 Flying Honu business class redemption, why Japan has become such an amazing family travel destination, being haunted at the Grand Hyatt Taipei and why last minute travel continues to work for him. Another amazing trip mostly paid for by miles & points! Episode Notes

00:00 Introduction and Overview
08:50 Review of the Grand Hyatt Kauai & Using Hawaii for Japan travel
15:31 Using Points for last minute flights and accommodations
21:37 Pet cafes, cool Japanese culture & why Japan might be the best family friendly travel destination for Americans
27:45 Stay at the Hyatt Centric Ginza
31:38 Budget-Friendly Option: Hyatt Regency Tokyo Bay (For Disney but also Tokyo too?)
35:16 Unforgettable Experience at Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea
39:38 Haunted Grand Hyatt Taipei & Flying in Style with Starlux Airlines
45:44 The Thrill of Last-Minute Trips

Enjoying the podcast? Please consider leaving us a positive review on your favorite podcast platform! You can also connect with us anytime at podcast@milestomemories.com.

You can subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Spotify, TuneIn, Pocket Casts, or via RSS. Don't see your favorite podcast platform? Please let us know!

Music: Rewind by Jay Someday | https://soundcloud.com/jaysomeday Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License