A Trip to Bora Bora, New Zealand & Australia — (Almost) All on Points!

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Oct 30, 2025

This week, the hosts dive into an incredible journey covering Bora Bora, New Zealand, and Sydney, all booked on points. Experience a luxurious overwater villa and thrilling adventures like scuba diving in the Great Barrier Reef. They share budget-friendly travel tips, including awesome Delta SkyMiles deals and insights on navigating a government shutdown's impact on travel. Plus, discover hidden gems like a mezcal bar in Sydney, and hear about what went right (and what could improve) on this ambitious trip!

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ADVICE

Break Pacific Trips With Alaska Miles

Use Alaska Airlines miles and free stopovers to break long Pacific journeys cheaply.
Buy a small handful of miles if it closes a valuable business-class award gap.

ADVICE

Use Travel Credits For Local Flights

Use travel credits (e.g., Capital One Venture X) to pay local island flights or transfers.
Book prop-plane connections with a credit card and erase the charge with transferable miles.

ANECDOTE

Conrad Bora Bora Stay And Perks

Kyle describes the Conrad Bora Bora Nui as breathtaking with overwater villas and amazing breakfasts.
He used Hilton Aspire resort credits and free night certificates to defray transfer and resort costs.

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On this week’s podcast, Kyle recaps a whirlwind trip that included an overwater villa in Bora Bora, driving the wild landscapes of New Zealand, scuba diving in the Great Barrier Reef, and a 10-seat mezcal bar in Sydney - booked almost entirely using points and miles … including several business class flights! The guys walk through how he did it, cover some highlights and hard lessons, too. Plus, they talk about some stellar SkyMiles sales to Mexico, an update on how the ongoing government shutdown is affecting travel, and debrief from the Thrifty Traveler team’s recent retreat in Palm Springs.

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Thanks to HotelSlash for sponsoring this episode of the show! Try it out today: Use promo code THRIFTYTRAVELER for a free 90-day trial – plus, get $20 off your first prepaid booking!

00:00 - Gunnar has been to all seven continents…right? Is Oceania a continent?

03:15 - Finding Something Out: A quick government shutdown update

06:05 - Something Hot: Delta SkyMiles deals to Mexico from just 7,000 roundtrip!

10:10 - Something Cold: One new Delta route we’re not thrilled about…

13:25 - A word from our sponsor: HotelSlash, the easiest way to book a cheaper hotel stay - and rebook when prices drop

14:20 - The Extra Mile: How to book a trip to Bora Bora, New Zealand, and Australia using points, just like Kyle!

18:00 - Bora Bora on points and miles (including the Conrad Bora Bora!)

31:45 - Highlights from New Zealand, including Milford Sound!

39:35 - Getting to the Great Barrier Reef for less

46:45 - Other highlights from Australia, including a ride home in Delta One Suites

59:03 - On the Spot: The latest update from TT’s coolest employee

Produced and edited by Sylvia Thomas
Show music: “All That” by Benjamin Tissot

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