Hot take offs: destinations to watch

Fora cofounder Henley Vazquez reveals how travelers turn trip planning into income and which destinations are trending.

How much money can you make working part-time as a travel advisor? What are the startup costs to get into the industry? Hosts Sally French and Meghan Coyle explore how you can turn trip planning into income and what that means for travelers looking to build a flexible side hustle. But first, they break down the latest travel headlines, including new Chase Sapphire Reserve hotel credits, Amex Platinum quarterly spending deadlines, new Capital One transfer partners, and Delta adding routes to Malta and Sardinia in 2026.

Then, Fora Travel co-founder Henley Vazquez joins Meghan to unpack how everyday travelers are building flexible side hustles as modern travel advisors. She explains the cost of entry, potential commissions, and how new tools like price monitoring and collaborative networks make this career more accessible. They walk through how to turn informal trip planning into real income, what trends like luxury cruising and secondary city getaways mean for travelers, and why shoulder season trips could stretch your budget further.

Card benefits, terms and fees can change. For the most up-to-date information about cards mentioned in this episode, read our reviews:

• American Express Platinum Review: Top-Notch Lounge Access, Big Credits https://www.nerdwallet.com/reviews/credit-cards/american-express-platinum 

• Chase Sapphire Reserve Review: A High-End, High-Maintenance Card https://www.nerdwallet.com/reviews/credit-cards/chase-sapphire-reserve 

• Chase Sapphire Reserve for Business Review: Big Perks, Bigger Fee https://www.nerdwallet.com/reviews/small-business/sapphire-reserve-business 

Resources discussed in this episode:

• Current Credit Card Transfer Bonuses: September 2025 https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/travel/credit-card-transfer-bonuses  

• Why I’m Actually Excited About the New AmEx Platinum Changes https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/travel/amex-platinum-update 

Want even more tips and tricks to get the most out of your travel dollars? Subscribe to TravelNerd, our free newsletter designed to help you crack the code on spending less on your travel.  

In this episode, the Nerds discuss: travel side hustle, how to become a travel advisor, travel advisor income, how to make money booking travel, Fora Travel, travel commissions explained, Capital One transfer partners, hotel loyalty programs, IHG hotels and resorts, luxury cruise trends, secondary city travel, affordable city trips, domestic travel trends, shoulder season travel, travel insurance tips, price drop hotel booking, travel agent training, part-time travel career, flexible side jobs, commission split travel agency, best time to book hotels, travel agency technology, and travel industry trends.

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