Thinking Outside of the Box in the Miles & Points Hobby with Dia Adams
May 30, 2024
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Dia Adams, Senior Editor at Fortune Recommends, shares insights on unconventional strategies in the miles & points hobby. Topics include the importance of meetups, changing demographics, lessons learned, the downside of status, and why credits are meant to go to waste. Emphasizes thinking outside the box and avoiding FOMO in the travel world.
Strategic approach to family travel is crucial for maximizing hotel point redemptions with children.
Maintain skepticism towards social media FOMO and prioritize authentic travel experiences over status symbols.
Evaluate the true value of credit card benefits and navigate complexities to optimize monthly and annual credits effectively.
Deep dives
Importance of Family Travel Community and Navigating the Hobby
Emphasizing the importance of family travel in the points and miles community, the conversation delves into the challenges faced by families when it comes to utilizing hotel points efficiently overseas. Traveling with children can pose difficulties in optimizing point redemptions, highlighting the need for a strategic approach to family travel.
Cautions Against Falling for Salesmanship and FOMO on Social Media
Discussing the pitfalls of succumbing to sales tactics and the fear of missing out (FOMO) prevalent on social media platforms, the conversation advises listeners to maintain a healthy degree of skepticism. Highlighting the curated portrayal of experiences on social media, the speakers urge individuals to prioritize authentic travel experiences over perceived status symbols.
Managing and Using Card Credits Effectively
Addressing the challenges and complexities of managing monthly and annual credits from credit cards, the speakers shed light on the concept of breakage and the difficulty in maximizing these benefits. From navigating airline credits to resort credits, the discussion emphasizes the need to evaluate the true value and utility of various card benefits.
The Value of Building Positive Relationships in the Travel Community
Highlighting the significance of networking and building positive relationships within the points and miles community, the conversation underscores the value of seeking out meetups and engaging with fellow enthusiasts. Emphasizing the rewards of connecting with others in the community, it encourages beginners to contribute their unique perspectives and experiences to enrich the collective knowledge.
Learning from Personal Travel Experiences and the Importance of Community
Reflecting on a decade in the points and miles community, the speakers draw insights from personal travel experiences and emphasize the importance of communal interactions. Advocating for authenticity in travel experiences and prioritizing valuable connections over material benefits, the conversation celebrates the diverse perspectives and contributions individuals bring to the community.
On this episode Shawn is joined by long time creator and Senior Editor at Fortune Recommends Dia Adams. Dia has long been one of the people who thinks outside the box in this hobby. From which hotel programs are a sleeper to why FOMO is something to be avoided, she brings opinions that aren't always the mainstream and that's a good thing. On this show we discuss why meetups are key, how the demographics of the space have changed, lessons learned the hard way, how status can be overrated and much more! Episode Notes
1:45 - Dia's journey as a miles & points creator
4:03 - Family Travel for Real Life
13:05 - How great redemptions can solidify you in the hobby
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