Geobreeze Travel Getting a $35k Trip to Switzerland for $1.5k with Mary Ellen from Wonderland on Points | Ep 248
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Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction to Mary Ellen and The Wonderland on Points Podcast
03:35 First redemptions and early mistakes booking via portals
04:30 Switzerland trip that convinced her husband of points value
08:00 Flights overview – Air France business class with Amex MR
09:25 Return flights – Iberia business class via Madrid + transfer bonus
10:45 Layover in Madrid and surprising their son with a soccer jersey
11:45 Using positioning flights within Europe with no extra points
12:45 Why Air France is family-friendly
13:30 Hotel 1: Lausanne Palace via Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts
14:55 Hotel 2: Interlaken hotel with Capital One credit
15:55 Hotel 3: Paid using Hotels.com gift cards via Fetch
16:20 Hotel 4: Mount Pilatus mountaintop splurge
17:35 Hotel 5: Zurich Hyatt Place using Chase points
17:55 Using maxfhr.com and strategy for choosing $200/night
19:25 Capital One Travel portal tips & 10x point earnings
21:45 Upcoming France trip booked with Capital One Travel
22:15 How she earned $200+ in Hotels.com gift cards via Fetch
23:00 Fetch strategies – referrals, receipts, game hacks
24:00 Fetch = free Starbucks or long-term savings for travel
25:45 How they avoid budget blowouts by prepping menus and prices
26:45 Using Swiss Travel Pass to cover transport and museums
27:45 Saving on rainy day activities with free museum access
28:25 Budgeting for big excursions like paragliding
29:20 Paragliding Interlaken – why they picked a reputable company
30:30 Don’t skimp on safety with skydiving, LASIK, or paragliding
31:15 Visiting Crash Landing on You K-drama filming locations
32:45 How the show created a tourism boom in Switzerland
33:30 K-drama favorites: Extraordinary Attorney Woo, Vincenzo, Good Boy
34:20 Final tip: pick a dream trip to guide your points strategy
35:00 Where to find Mary Ellen online and request her Switzerland itinerary
35:45 Closing reflection and full-circle podcast moment
You can find Julia at:
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➤ Website: https://geobreezetravel.com/
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➤ Credit card links: https://www.geobreezetravel.com/cards
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You can find the Wonderland on Points Podcast at:
➤ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WonderlandonPointsPodcast
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