The Personal Finance Podcast Why Travel Rewards Might Not Be Worth It Anymore With Chris Hutchins
5 snips
Nov 17, 2025 
In this insightful discussion, Chris Hutchins, a travel rewards expert and host of the All The Hacks newsletter, dives into the evolving landscape of travel hacking. He debates whether the skyrocketing annual fees and devalued loyalty programs still make travel hacking worthwhile. Chris explores the pros and cons of Chase vs. Amex, highlights the growing appeal of cashback alternatives, and shares advanced strategies for maximizing rewards. Expect hilarious travel mishaps and invaluable tips for making the most of your points—perfect for dream trips!
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Transfer Points Beat Portals For Value
- Travel hacking still pays if you transfer points to partners rather than using portals.
- If you only use portals, cashback may often beat points for simple spenders.
Choose Optimizer Or Simplifier Path
- Decide whether you are an optimizer or a simplifier before choosing strategies.
- If you want simplicity, prefer high-rate cashback and fewer cards; if optimizing, chase welcome bonuses and transfers.
Chase, Amex And Capital One Tradeoffs
- Chase often yields higher per-point value while Amex is easier to earn from.
- Capital One is competitive and adding transfer partners changes the calculus.