Hotel points, status, and never paying for hotels

In this episode of the Hurdy Gurdy Travel Podcast, host Justin Vacula chats with travel & miles and points enthusiast Ronnie Dunston. Ronnie, a visitor of 108 countries, explains real-world strategies for traveling more (and spending less) using credit cards, airline miles, hotel points, and loyalty programs. Ronnie shares what actually works for booking award flights, earning faster with the right cards, and keeping it organized when you’re managing multiple accounts, player two, or family travel. We also talk about the reality of flying with kids (economy vs. business), using perks like Fine Hotels + Resorts credits, and how meetups and community can accelerate your learning curve in the points and miles game. If you’re trying to travel more in 2026 without blowing your budget, this one’s packed with practical tips. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to low-cost travel with points and miles 00:59 Upcoming meetups and social media updates 01:47 Introducing Ronnie Dunston 02:07 Travel stories and experiences 03:24 Points and miles strategies 05:49 Credit card strategy and maximizing rewards 25:12 Family travel tips and managing multiple accounts 28:44 Flying with kids: economy vs. business class 30:17 Booking strategies for international travel 31:42 Maximizing points and miles for luxury stays 36:50 Using Fine Hotels + Resorts credits 46:58 The value of travel meetups and community 49:46 Final thoughts and upcoming events — 🎙️ 📢 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/ 👉 …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. 👉 Become a Frequent Traveler University member and sign up for events. https://ftuniversity.com/?aff=24 👉 Earn 500 miles when signing up for Rove Miles using my referral link: www.rovemiles.com/?signup&referralCode=8AS1JSG9 — 👉 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/ — ✨ Thank You for Listening & Supporting the Hurdy Gurdy Travel Podcast! Stay tuned for more tips, strategies, and stories to help you optimize your travel, rewards, and lifestyle. 🚀🌍💳