Angie and Joe are off traveling this week, so Mike takes over the podcast with community member Erin Kilpatrick to discuss her “mid-life renaissance” this year which would not have been possible without award travel. Listen to her journey through Ecuador (Galapagos), Uruguay, England/Wales, Norway, Denmark, Faroe Islands and Sweden along with future plans in Portugal, Turkiye, Brazil, Germany, and Tunisia.
By the Numbers Thus Far
4.5 months, 50 hotel award nights, 58 paid nights: (cheap in S. America), 40 other nights free w/ friends/family, volunteer work, 12 award flights, 9 cash flights ($2000)
What Erin Has Learned
- Diversification! Variety of points and mile currencies.
- Focus on the more important things in life
- Hilton program- 5th night free
- Choice Hotels - secret of Europe
- Amex uber credits work in Ecuador (USD)
- Capital One Points- Redeem through Capital One statement credits vs Travel portal.
- Fringe benefits of the award travel credit cards/status
- Priority Pass - Most lounges are great outside the US, even in tiny airports.
Link to more of Erin's story: Mid-life renaissance!
Where to Find Us
- The Award Travel 101 Facebook Community.
- To book time with our team, check out Award Travel 1-on-1.
- You can also email us at 101@award.travel
- Buy your Award Travel 101 Merch here
- Reserve tickets to our Spring 2026 Meetup in Phoenix now. award.travel/phx2026
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