MTM Travel - The Fun Side of Points & Travel!

Latest Episodes:

MGM Gets Bonvoyed, Getting Around Hyatt's Quirks and Last Minute Spring Break Jan 18, 2024

Show notes

Episode Description

On this episode Shawn and Joe discuss the announced details of the new MGM/Marriott partnership. It is coming much later than expected (in fact we still don't have a date), but is it better than Hyatt's previous partnership and what sort of benefits will you get when staying? They also discuss some of Hyatt's quirks, Shawn's last minute Paris Spring Break trip and a checking account bonus that is lucrative and easy to grab.

Episode Notes

6:04 - MGM Bonvoy details
15:38 - Las Vegas eras
18:38 - Dealing with Hyatt's quirky award rules
30:04 - Shawn plans spring break
38:41 - Chase business bank bonus

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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Google Gets Sued, Problems to the MAX and United's Adventure Week Jan 11, 2024

Show notes

Episode Description

On this episode Shawn and Joe discuss how travel has changed over the years plus share some of their recent woes including double bookings and the Mexico award dilemma. They also discuss a big lawsuit against Google, United's Adventure Week, some nice new airline portal bonuses and the fallout from Alaska's scary MAX incident.

Episode Notes

0:00 - Shawn's jealous of Joe

4:20 - Check free cruise offers

6:24 - Old men yell at clouds

19:14 - More MAX problems, the airplane not the badly named streaming service

28:30 - United Adventure Week

31:06 - Shopping portal bonuses for the week

32:39 - Early year spending

33:48 - Google gets sued

38:24 - Why it's annoying to book travel to Mexico

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, Sticher, 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

NYE Around the World, Hyatting NYC & Moving Amex Offers Jan 04, 2024

Show notes

Episode Description

On this episode of the podcast Shawn and Joe welcome the new year with some discussions about celebrations around the world. They also discuss a new potential way you can move Amex Offers between cards plus Joe discusses his recent NYC trip including food and hotel recommendations.

Episode Notes

0:00 - Dealing with end of year credits

4:16 - Visiting NYC

6:41 - Travel inspired by New Year's Eve

16:53 - Don't get scammed!

28:05 - Move AMEX offers around

30:32 - Alaska increases bag fees

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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.

You can subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Sticher, 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

Mattress Run Gone Wrong, Bilt's Mixed Changes & End of Year Insanity! Dec 28, 2023

Show notes

Episode Description

On this episode of the podcast Shawn is joined by PDX Deals Guy to discuss the end of year happenings in the miles & points space. They also discuss the brand new Ritz in Portland, Bilt's big changes and how we should look at them plus how a simple mattress run can go so wrong.

Episode Notes

0:00 - End of year insanity

6:00 - Update on Buyers Groups

11:45 - Mattress run gone horribly wrong

21:35 - Ritz Portland review - Stunning new property

29:50 - Bilt's upcoming changes

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, Sticher, 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

Going for 2% & Travel Naughty vs. Nice Dec 21, 2023

Show notes

Episode Description

On this episode of the podcast Shawn and Joe discuss their naughty and nice lists for the miles & points space. They also debate the simplicity of 2% cashback, go over the Freedom Q1 bonus categories and discuss Bilt's 16th transfer partner.

Episode Notes

0:00 - Holiday talk and housekeeping/updates

10:11 - Hoarding 2% cashback cards

16:18 - New Bilt partner

21:35 - Q1 Chase Freedom categories

22:57 - Don't sleep on Choice Hotels

25:20 - 2023 Naughty and Nice lists

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, Sticher, 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

Hyatt & Marriott's New Luxury Properties, Overlooking Choice, Chase's Edit & The Most Lucrative Amex Offers Ever!? Dec 14, 2023

Show notes

Episode Description

On this episode of the podcast Shawn and Joe discuss some recent targeted Amex Offers for Marriott and Hilton cards that might just be the best we have seen. From big multipliers to free nights, Amex is really incentivizing cardholders to spend. We also discuss Chase's strange new luxury travel portal, why you shouldn't overlook Choice Hotels and all of the cool luxury properties that Hyatt and Marriott are opening in the next couple of years.

Episode Notes

0:00 - Brief Nevada casino trip recap and travel thoughts

12:37 - Edit by Chase Travel Portal

15:24 - AMEX spend bonuses

19:01 - Max Rewards and Card Pointers

22:57 - Don't sleep on Choice Hotels

28:01 - New Hyatt and Marriott properties

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, Sticher, 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

Alaska's Big Bet, Diamond Does Disney & More Thoughts on Hyatt. Dec 07, 2023

Show notes

Episode Description

On this episode of the podcast Shawn and Joe recap the latest Diamond meetup in Orlando. They also discuss Alaska's huge announcement and acquisition of Hawaiian Airlines plus Joe chimes in on the Hyatt changes announced last week.

Episode Notes

0:00 - MtM Diamond meetup recap and thoughts

7:50 - Hyatt changes

20:19 - Alaska buys Hawaiian

26:47 - Marriott/Celebrity

30:20 - Amex offers chat

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, Sticher, 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

Redefining Loyalty? Hyatt Announces Huge Changes for 2024! Nov 30, 2023

Show notes

Episode Description

Disclosure: Hyatt invited me to their headquarters in Chicago to learn about this announcement. They provided my room, meals and flights, but did not dictate how this news is covered.

On this episode Shawn discusses the big changes coming to the World of Hyatt program in 2024. He flew to Hyatt's headquarters in Chicago to get all of the details and shares them here with you! Shawn and Joe also discuss positive IRS changes, de-briefing from Black Friday and more. Joe rants about streaming.

Episode Notes

0:00 - Breaking News! Big Hyatt loyalty changes!

11:22 - Normal intro

17:13 - NYC hotel recommendation requests (Hyatt)

24:32 - Black Friday streaming deals (+ rant)

35:03 - Black Friday portal bonuses

46:15 - No 1099s?

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, Sticher, 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

Following the Rules, Southwest Devalues & Amex Concerns Nov 16, 2023

Show notes

Episode Description

On this episode Shawn and Joe discuss a recently announced devaluation by Southwest Airlines. As a revenue based program should they devalue their points? They also discuss some of the concerning changes with Amex, how you can earn thousands of bonus points with portal bonuses right now, some positive United changes and the points & travel rules we don't mind following.

Episode Notes

10:00 - Is AMEX devalued?

15:27 - Southwest devaluation

20:17 - United status earning change

24:22 - Portal bonuses

26:48 - Miles and points rules to follow

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, Sticher, 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

More Consolidation, Bonvoy Gets Better & Top 50 Travel Destinations for 2024 Nov 09, 2023

Show notes

Episode Description

On this episode Shawn and Joe discuss even more consolidation happening in the travel realm. Similar to hotels and airlines we are seeing two major amusement park operators join forces, but will it be good for consumers? They also discuss the return of a good 3 free night Marriott offer, how Bonvoy is making a popular perk better, custom liveries and the top 50 travel destinations in the world.

Episode Notes

6:52 - Six Flags/Cedar Fair merger

13:03 - Alaska Airlines Mickey's Toontown livery

17:21 - Marriott Bonvoy card offer and suite upgrade changes

24:14 - Jetblue tile bonus offer

33:48 - Lonely Planet top 50 destinations

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, Sticher, 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

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