MTM Travel - The Fun Side of Points & Travel!

Latest Episodes:

Epic Trip - Back to Back Europe "For Free", Swiss Business Review & Best Domestic Redemptions with Ian Snyder Mar 30, 2023

Show notes

Episode Description

On this episode Shawn is joined by MtM Senior Contributor and FamilyFlysFree author Ian Snyder. Ian has been earning and redeeming miles & points at a high level for many years and also writes for Award Wallet and other outlets.

In this episode we dive deep into Ian's recent back to back Europe trips which included treks to Scandinavia and Switzerland. He breaks down his redemptions on AA, SAS, Swiss and United plus gives us reviews of the United Polaris lounge and some of the cool things he saw along the way. We also discuss his bond to Guy Fieri, the Victorian Village and how much of a headache it is flying out of a small town airport.

Episode Notes

6:16 - Copenhagen/Malmo

15:28 - Flying to Europe

20:12 - Scandanavia

28:33 - A creative return flight

38:49 - AA Flagship First

44:58 - Ferndale

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

Another Sudden Devaluation, Booking Headaches & Sapphire Reserve's True Value Mar 23, 2023

Show notes

Episode Description

On this episode Shawn and Joe discuss the headaches that can be associated with booking awards. Joe's recent booking included misinformation, strange phone numbers hangups and a lot of patience. Was it worth it?

Other topics discussed include: the true value of the Chase Sapphire Reserve, Hyatt's tricky new Bonus Journeys promotion and Alaska's sudden devaluation that adds to a list of recent painful announcements.

Episode Notes

1:24 - Shawn's upcoming Virgin cruise

7:27 - Revenge travel and prices

11:44 - Booking headaches for Australia

27:17 - Another Japan devaluation?

34:15 - Chase Sapphire Reserve value

38:20 - Hyatt bonus journeys

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

The Death of Sweet Spots, Nostalgia Travel & Crazy Chase Sapphire Bonus Coming Mar 16, 2023

Show notes

Episode Description

In this episode Shawn & Joe discuss the recent death of a few award sweet spots. Is the rise of virality on social media platforms like Tik Tok causing deals to die sooner and does this mean casual travelers really shouldn't invest time and energy into learning the miles & points hobby?

In other news Amazon has brought back their popular Amex Membership Rewards Pay with Points deal. You can save up to 50% off if you are targeted and this works on gift cards. Chase also is releasing a massive welcome offer on the Sapphire Preferred that should get people looking at this card and the Ultimate Rewards program if they aren't already.

Episode Notes

3:41 - Nostalgia travel

9:46 - Award sweet spots ending and thoughts on the state of the miles and points "hobby"

Chris tweet

Spencer tweet

20:59 - Big Chase Sapphire Preferred bonus

30:08 - Amazon + Membership Rewards deal is back

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's Ugly Changes, Big Chase Offer Ending & The Crazy Road to Cabo Mar 09, 2023

Show notes

Episode Description

On this episode Shawn discusses his return to the Waldorf Cabo and why he isn't in Japan instead. Miles and points present the ultimate in flexibility and thankfully they came in handy here. How is the Waldorf Cabo on a second visit?

In other news Shawn and Joe discuss the big Hyatt changes and how they are just plain ugly. Plus what is the first thing you do in a hotel room, why you might want the apply for the Chase Ink 90K offers before they disappear soon and how Southwest is trying out new tweaks to their boarding process. Will it help?

Episode Notes

0:10 - Why's Shawn in Cabo?

7:07 - Chase Ink bonuses ending

10:30 - Southwest boarding changes

13:57 - Massive Hyatt devaluation

24:26 - You do what when you enter a hotel room?

29:36 - Hyatt Regency Miami impressions

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

Award Alerts, Biz Plat True Value & Disney Cruise Line Concierge Review Mar 02, 2023

Show notes

Episode Description

On this episode Joe returns from his trip to talk about Disney Cruise line concierge level, the costs and whether it's worth booking over standard rooms. Is it possible to score an upgrade for cheaper than the full cost?

Shawn and Joe also talk Genting Highlands, the Alila Kuala Lumpur, pains with Chase Travel, award alerts and what exactly the Amex Business Platinum is worth.

Episode Notes

2:28 - Shawn Reece round the world trip updates

7:40 - Award alerts and using Spencer's newsletters to snag great seats

11:35 - A low category luxury Alila property bookable on points?

17:09 - Avoid booking experiences via Chase portal

19:38 - How much are the AMEX Business Platinum benefits worth?

33:52 - Joe's epic Disney trip

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

Nomadic Life, Earning & Burning on the Road & The Power of Community with Amy & Tim Rutherford Feb 24, 2023

Show notes

Episode Description

In this episode Shawn talks with Amy & Tim Rutherford from GoWithLess. Amy & Tim are nomads who retired early and now spend their days traveling full time. They have started an amazing community of travel hackers and nomads and meet up with people all over the world.

This episode touches on a lot including the challenges of living on the road, the ultimate travel hack, earning miles & points while moving and how you may want to reign in your spending now so that you can have all of the freedom you want later. Their story is an inspiring one and I hope you enjoy!

Episode Notes

3:49 How Tim & Amy retired in their late 40s and became nomads.

7:58 Bougie for cheap in Bali

10:29 The challenges of a nomadic lifestyle

19:40 Building a community of travelers

27:27 Housesitting & why it can be an amazing way to travel

35:36 Earning miles & points while on the road

40:18 Earn & burn or save & spend slow

43:08 Best advice for people looking at the Nomadic lifestyle and/or FIRE.

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

Juicing Up Your Miles & Points Earning in 2023 with PDX Deals Guy Feb 16, 2023

Show notes

Episode Description

In this episode Shawn and long time MtM contributor PDX Deals Guy discuss the earning side of the miles & points hobby and how people are juicing up there earnings via reselling of various types.

Gift card, merchandise and ticket reselling can lead to great returns, but there are potential headaches along the way. Buyers Clubs can also be a good way to earn points, but what are some of the pitfalls you will run into? If you're ready to take your earning to the next level then you don't want to miss this episode!

Episode Notes

1:57 - The man, the myth, the legend: PDX Deals Guy

7:17 - Avoiding the time suck in the hobby and reselling

10:41 - Ticket reselling

21:20 - Gift card reselling

30:30 - Merchandise reselling

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

Mileage Portal Bonuses, Southwest Companion Pass Offer, New Delta Perk & Uber Almost Got Shawn! Feb 09, 2023

Show notes

Episode Description

On this episode Shawn and Joe discuss the new Southwest card welcome offers that include a year+ of the Companion Pass. They also discuss new airline mileage portal bonuses, Shawn's interesting run in with Uber at the airport, a new rewarding perk of Delta cards and an update on Joe's controversial booking.

Episode Notes

0:30 - Updating Joe's Delta redemption plus thoughts on award bookings now that airlines have given us added flexibility
16:38 - Uber almost gets Shawn paying double
20:38 - New Southwest Companion Pass offer
25:12 - New shopping portal bonuses

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

Redemption Shaming, Miles & Points for Budget Travel and is MSC As Bad As They Say? Feb 02, 2023

Show notes

Episode Description

On this episode Shawn and Joe discuss how we redeem points and why it doesn't always mesh with what others would do. Redemption shaming can be a problem in the hobby, but how can we all do better?

We also discuss miles & points for budget travel and how they can be incredible to get more travel when not focusing on premium redemptions, IHG's best ever 175K welcome offer and how MSC stacks up to other cruise lines. Are they as bad as their reputation?

Genie+ guide on Trips with Tykes

Episode Notes

2:25 - Joe "wastes" a bunch of Skymiles (also: new 15% off for Skymiles credit card owners)

15:48 - Shawn's son backpacking through Asia

24:07 - Starting your 18 year old in miles and points

27:05 - MSC cruise review

35:04 - Shawn at Disney

47:16 - IHG 175,000 point 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.

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

Growing Up Miles & Points with John Ryan Jan 26, 2023

Show notes

Episode Description

On this episode MtM Contributor and miles and points phenom John Ryan joins Shawn to discuss some of the challenges of being so young in the miles & points hobby and how he learned to travel for "free" at such a young age. Learn his favorite award sweet spots, how the phone can be an incredible tool and some of the cool places the hobby has taken him.

Follow John @vegasteenager on Twitter!

Episode Notes

3:22 - How John became the family's travel planner

14:22 - Favorite hotel loyalty programs

16:29 - Favorite airlines and frequent flyer programs

22:51 - The benefits of traveling young

27:48 - Earning points as a teenager

28:58 - Trip searching tips and tools

31:28 - Using social media effectively

38:04 - Favorite hotel and destination

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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