Points Talk® with the Travel Mom Squad

Join us today as we share our favorite tips for using points and miles to plan a trip to New York City. New York City holds a special place in our hearts, and through traveling on points we've discovered incredible ways to explore this vibrant city. Getting to New York City is a breeze, thanks to the multitude of airlines that fly there.  When it comes to airport hotels, the options at JFK and LaGuardia are worth considering.  When it comes to accommodations in New York City, we have a range of recommendations. There is the highly rated and luxurious Park Hyatt New York, known for its spacious rooms and impressive indoor pool. Jess suggests the family-friendly Residence Inn New York Manhattan/Midtown East, which offers complimentary breakfast and spacious rooms with kitchenettes.   In terms of activities and places to eat, we highlight a few must-visit places. Los Tacos No. 1 in Chelsea Market is at the top of Alex's list, giving high praise for its delicious and affordable tacos. Taking a stroll along the High Line, a public park built on an elevated historic rail line, is also high on our list for its beautiful views and greenery. The 9/11 Memorial Museum is a moving and well-designed experience, offering a deeper understanding of the tragic events. The Statue Of Liberty, Central Park, and Central Park Zoo are great places for families to explore.  Want to know how you can visit the city that never sleeps for nearly free? Hit that play button and find out more of our award travel tips on how to make your travel dreams a reality!    Links For All Things Travel Mom Squad: stan.store/travelmomsquad   Links For This Episode:  The TWA Hotel Hyatt Regency JFK at Resorts World Hyatt Place Flushing/La Guardia Airport Crowne Plaza JFK Park Hyatt NYC Residence Inn New York Manhattan/Midtown East Hotel Indigo Lower East Side Thompson Central Park   Episode Minute By Minute: 00:02 Ready to travel to the Big Apple for nearly free? 02:00 Alex shares her preferred airline options to fly to New York City. 03:15 Pam talks about her preference for United Airlines and their flights to LaGuardia or Newark. 04:07 Jess shares her experience flying various airlines to New York City. 06:20 Discussion about using New York City as a starting point for international travel. 07:00 Review of airport hotels, including the TWA Hotel at JFK 13:30 Transition to Manhattan hotels and discussion of staying at the Park Hyatt New York. 15:25 Alex shares her positive experience at the Park Hyatt New York. 21:40 They discuss the Residence Inn New York Manhattan/Midtown East as a good option for families 23:02 Jess mentions her stay at the Hotel Indigo Lower East Side, and the varying points required for IHG stays in New York. 25:50 They discuss the Hyatt Find Experiences program, specifically for Broadway shows, and the ability to earn Hyatt points by booking through it. 38:14 They express their love for hotel hopping and mention the desire to try different hotels in New York City.  39:08 They conclude the episode by discussing their plans for future stays in New York City.  

Hey there! We're Alex, Pam, and Jess, the Travel Mom Squad. Today, we're diving into the world of business cards and why they're essential for maximizing points and miles. Business cards are a game-changer in traveling on points. They don't count towards the Chase 5/24 rule, except for a few exceptions like Discover and Capital One. This means you can keep opening new business cards, earning more points and miles. Qualifying for a business card is easier than you think. While you can still take advantage of personal cards, business cards offer more significant opportunities for accumulating points. Higher welcome offers and increased flexibility make them a valuable tool in your award travel journey. One of the best things about business cards is that they open up a whole new world of credit card options. You'll find cards with generous welcome offers ranging from 75,000 to 200,000 points. That means more points for flights, hotels, and other travel expenses. Now, some of you might be hesitant about getting a business card. We understand. But let us assure you that you can do it! Don't let the fear of not having a traditional business hold you back. Get creative, explore side hustles, and open the door to more rewards. If you're ready to supercharge your travel game, hit play now and listen to our latest episode. We'll dive deeper into the world of business cards, sharing tips, insights, and personal experiences. Get ready to take your points and miles to new heights. Happy traveling!   Links For All Things Travel Mom Squad: stan.store/travelmomsquad   Episode Minute By Minute: 01:10 Exploring the significance of business cards in credit card strategies. 01:51 Understanding that business cards generally do not count towards the Chase 5/24 rule. 02:25 Clarifying the Chase 5/24 rule, explaining its limitations on card approvals. 03:16 Highlighting the advantages of business cards for maximizing point accumulation. 04:24 Discussing various business cards with generous welcome offers and their potential benefits. 05:38 Explaining that award travel is still possible without business cards, but with a more limited point-earning potential. 06:27 Emphasizing the additional opportunities and benefits gained by opening business cards. 07:32 Discovering different side hustles that qualify individuals for business cards. 09:43 Sharing examples of side hustles, such as selling on Facebook Marketplace, tutoring, coaching, photography, and gig work. 12:04 Sharing personal experiences of the hosts in utilizing their own businesses for business card applications. 14:24 Highlighting creative business examples shared by readers, including ticket reselling and selling eggs. 15:39 Outlining a simple three-step process to create a business for qualifying for a business card. 17:11 Addressing frequently asked questions related to business card applications. 21:35 Sharing personal favorite business cards, including Chase Ink Cash and Hilton Honors Business Card. 27:42 Encouraging listeners to check the show notes for a blog post on how to qualify for a business credit card.  

Hello, fellow travelers! We're the Travel Mom Squad—Pam, Jess, and Alex. In this episode, we're taking you on a virtual journey to sunny Southern California, and the best part? We're showing you how to do it all on points and miles! We all love visiting Southern California. It's a quick flight for Pam from Denver and Alex from Salt Lake City, and even for Jess from Houston, it's not too bad. The weather is always perfect, and it's a hit with our families. In this episode, we're covering all our favorite ways to get to Southern California, the best places to stay, and so much more.  We've flown into various airports depending on our destination within SoCal, including San Diego, John Wayne, and Long Beach. And we've found some really good redemptions. For example, Alex's recent trip to Huntington Beach cost just 48,000 miles round trip for four tickets. That's less than one signup bonus for a Southwest card! When it comes to accommodations, we have a few favorites.  But that's not all! We also discuss tips for making the most of your points and miles, and so much more. So come along with us as we take you to Southern California today, all on points and miles, of course! Hit play to hear the full conversation! A trip to Southern California is sure to be a memorable one for the entire family. There is so much to do and see all for pennies on the dollar! Make sure you register for our Free Masterclass "How to Start Traveling for Nearly Free."  Links below!   Links For All Things Travel Mom Squad: stan.store/travelmomsquad   Links For This Episode:  Manchester Grand San Diego Andaz San Diego Park Hyatt Aviara Coronado Island Marriott Grand Pacific Palisades Resort Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach The Seabird   Episode Minute By Minute: 0:02 Favorite ways to travel and stay in Southern California  1:21 Alex gives her preferred flights when traveling to Southern California 2:58 Why smaller airports can make for easier travel and better redemptions 3:54 Why Southwest prices and redemptions are best for large family travel 4:15 Pam always flies United and saves miles and points for business class seats 5:13 Jess prefers Southwest for her family, utilizing the companion pass 6:02 Favorite places to stay in San Diego 6:21 Jess gives a glowing family review of the Manchester Grand Hyatt, San Diego  9:57 Pam loves the Andaz San Diego for a more bougie, classy feel 11:56 Jess mentions the most luxurious and expensive option, the Park Hyatt Aviara 16:30 Pam offers the Coronado Marriott as another family friendly alternative  18:04 Alex shares her experience staying at the Grand Pacific Palisades Resort 20:06 The Grand Pacific is walking distance from Legoland and condos for families  21:35 Places to stay in Huntington Beach 25:28 Jess and Alex give their review of the Hyatt Globalist breakfast 28:47 Alex shares her experience at the Seabird  29:08 The Seabird has more of a boutique feel that overlooks the ocean 31:51 The Hyatt Regency and The Seabird are both great ocean-side options for families  37:04 A look into the Travel Mom Squad next planned trip to Southern California  

If you're a regular listener of the Travel Mom Squad podcast, you know that we're all about sharing tips and tricks to make the most out of our global adventures. This week, we're giving you a deep dive into one of our all-time favorite hotel chains—Hyatt!  On this episode, we - Pam, Alex, and Jess - opened up about our journey to becoming Hyatt superfans, despite having previously dabbled with a variety of hotel rewards programs. We let you in on why Hyatt has us singing its praises, revealing the alluring benefits of the Hyatt program. Interestingly, we didn't always have this love for Hyatt. Our transition from hotel free-agents to Hyatt die-hards was gradual, evolving from a combination of disappointment with other hotel rewards programs and the enticing advantages offered by Hyatt.  The game-changer? The real value of Hyatt started to shine when other hotel rewards programs began to slowly devalue their points. Amidst the 2020 pandemic, Hyatt cleverly made it much simpler to achieve their coveted Globalist status, igniting a spark of interest among travelers. Pam summed it up perfectly: once you taste the perks of being a Globalist, you simply can't go back.  In addition to the irresistible Globalist status, we talked about the ease of earning Hyatt points, particularly compared to other hotel brands. With Hyatt's beneficial partnership with Chase, we can effortlessly accumulate points through Hyatt Personal and Business Cards, as well as Chase's Ultimate Rewards cards like the Sapphire Preferred, Reserve, Freedom Flex, Freedom Unlimited, and Ink Cards.  We also reminisce about our favorite Hyatt stays to date, leaving you daydreaming about fantastic locations and luxurious hotel experiences. We won't spoil the surprises, but let's just say these stories might just inspire your next vacation destination. Whether you're already a fan or just Hyatt-curious, this episode offers insights that can turn your travel dreams into affordable realities. So tune in, take notes, and who knows, you might find yourself joining Team Hyatt by the end! Until the next episode, keep exploring and happy traveling!   Links For All Things Travel Mom Squad: stan.store/travelmomsquad   Links For This Episode:  Ultimate Guide to Hyatt: Ultimate Guide to Hyatt   Episode Minute By Minute: 0:00 Show introduction 1:04 Why we weren't always obsessed with Hyatt 4:38 What makes it so easy to earn rewards points with Hyatt 10:00 Hyatt, still offering an award chart! 13:03 The path to free flights: Our tips when bundling with Hyatt 19:04 Once you go Globalist, you never go back!  28:34 Some of our favorite Hyatt stays to date and how to book yours 37:25 The Hyatt Hotels bucket list: Where we are heading next and why!  

Welcome back to the show! Today, Pam and Jess are excited to share their incredible adventures in Scotland. Scotland holds a special place in our hearts, and we can't wait to share the scoop with you! Let's start with Pam's journey. It was a nail-biter as she narrowly caught her flight to Edinburgh after dealing with a delayed positioning flight from Denver to Newark. But the icing on the cake? She scored Air France business class seats for just 58K Amex points, thanks to a fantastic transfer bonus. Talk about getting luxury for less! Now, let's dive into Jess's success. On their first Scottish adventure, her family of 6 used a whopping 360,000 United miles, flying from Houston to Chicago and finally landing in the enchanting city of Edinburgh. On their second trip, they took advantage of the Singapore fifth freedom flight, scoring direct flights from Houston to Manchester for just 25,000 miles per person each way. A fantastic deal for a family of six! Despite our different stories, Scotland captured our hearts with its stunning beauty and left us with treasured memories. And the best part? We accomplished it all without breaking the bank, thanks to our award travel skills. If you're itching to hear more about our Scottish escapades and learn insider tips on traveling on points, hit that play button and tune into the full episode.     Links For All Things Travel Mom Squad: stan.store/travelmomsquad   Links For This Episode:  Booking an Airbnb with Points and Miles Scotland on Points and Miles Happy Tours day trip to Isle of Skye   Episode Minute By Minute: 0:00  Ready to go to Scotland? Here is how!  1:58 How we got to Scotland from Denver: Tips you need to know 7:41 A look inside Jess's two times in Scotland with the family. (And why they are ready to go back!)  13:53 Pam's top picks and stays in Scotland  16:28 The best activities in Scotland for all ages 30:26 What Jess did and what she loved about her first stay in Scotland 33:17 How Jess upgraded her stay in Scotland the second time around  

Maybe you've played the points game, your points and miles are at the ready, and now the daunting task of booking and planning your trip is up next. Overwhelmed? Don't be. Today, we're sharing a quick guide on how we make the most of points and miles when planning our trips! Alex shares that she always puts her accommodation first when planning a Hawaiian escape. With a multitude of flights available, securing a hotel takes precedence. However, when she plans for a European journey, it's all about the luxurious comfort of a business class seat before anything else. For equally appealing destinations and flights, such as the Maldives, she often finds herself doing a bit of back-and-forth to get everything perfectly synced. Our seasoned traveler, Pam, is all about prioritizing comfort. For her, securing a premium flight often takes priority, sometimes even before settling on the destination. An extraordinary flight can become a memorable experience in itself, and that's exactly what Pam seeks. On the flip side, Jess leans towards booking hotels first. With easier cancellation policies and point redemptions, she sees less risk in this approach. This strategy becomes especially beneficial when flying with airlines like Southwest, which only releases their flight schedules five to six months in advance. A valuable tip from Alex for those planning domestic flights: start with Google Flights. Once you have a few suitable options shortlisted, check the airlines' websites for point requirements. If you find yourself short on points, our cheat sheet is there to help you identify potential point transfer options. Ready to unlock more travel tips like these? To learn more from our personal experiences and more in-depth discussion on these tips, hit play now! Your nearly-free vacations await!   Links For All Things Travel Mom Squad: stan.store/travelmomsquad   Links For This Episode:  Transfer Partner Cheat Sheet: https://travelmomsquad.ck.page/cheatsheet Straight to the Points Premium Alerts   Episode Minute By Minute: 0:00 Our Ultimate Guide to Booking Trips  0:58 Our FAQ: Do you book your hotel or your flight first? 8:19 Tips for searching for domestic reward flights 11:16 How to find the best awards for international flights 22:18 Booking your hotel: Do's and Don't's from the pros  27:19 Planning activities for your trip: Tips for the lazy traveler and planners alike 34:28 How Pam plans her activities now vs when she was younger  

Have you ever dreamed of jetting off to Italy or Switzerland on a luxury trip but thought it was out of your budget? Well, think again. We're the Travel Mom Squad, and we're here to let you in on our travel secrets! In this episode, we discuss our recent trips to Italy and Switzerland and share the smart tricks we used to travel in style while saving a fortune. First up, Jess spilled the beans about her trip to Italy. She shared a fantastic tip about Fifth Freedom flights, where airlines operate between two foreign countries. In her case, it was an Emirates flight from JFK to Milan. Bet you didn't know you could use your points like that, did you? But, the cherry on top was the opulent experience aboard Emirates first class. We're talking top-class service, comfy seats, and exceptional food and drink. She even mentioned an onboard lounge serving espresso martinis mid-flight—now that's flying in style! Switching gears, Alex and Pam shared their own adventure to Switzerland, which had its own unique itinerary. Opting for a direct flight from Salt Lake City to Amsterdam on KLM, they cleverly timed their journey to avoid the worst of jet lag. They managed to enjoy dinner, watch a movie, sleep, and wake up for breakfast on the plane before reaching Amsterdam. Talk about efficient planning! Sounds interesting? We've only scratched the surface here. There are more tips and juicy stories on the full show, so hit play to get the complete lowdown. Trust us, you'll be planning your own luxury trip on a budget in no time. Stay tuned for more insider tips and tricks, a deep dive into the power of points and miles, and plenty of travel inspiration!  Links For All Things Travel Mom Squad: stan.store/travelmomsquad   Episode Minute By Minute: 0:00 How to make even your biggest travel goals happen 1:19 How we flew to Italy for nearly free!  12:55 Amsterdam to Switzerland - What you need to know before you go 14:48 The flight home on Emirates and the shower in the sky (Pam's favorite!)  26:54 All about The Grand Hotel Victoria, Lake Como - is it worth it?  30:24 Our honest review on The Hotel Aquarius in Venice  34:02 A look into our time in Florence and The Palazzo Vecchietti  37:10 Our best tips and where to stay in Switzerland  

Today we let you in on some of the hidden benefits of credit cards that have saved our day more than once! The points and miles are great, but the added perks? They're the unsung heroes of some of our travel stories! We begin with primary car rental insurance, a godsend for any traveler. Jess explains why she prioritizes this feature over anything else, even meeting a minimum spend. You'll also hear Pam express how much simpler and stress-free her travels have become. Then there's delayed, lost, or damaged baggage coverage. Alex and Pam share their personal experiences. During a trip to Greece, Pam's luggage was delayed for three days.  In another incident, Alex's stroller was damaged during a Southwest flight. Since she'd paid the taxes and fees with her Chase Sapphire Preferred, she was able to claim reimbursement for the damaged stroller.  If you are still reading, you can probably tell that credit cards have some massive perks beyond just the points and miles. We can't imagine how these stories would have ended up without the hidden benefits of these cards. (Check out the links below to learn more!)  Ready to unlock more travel tips like these? Hit play and discover how these credit card benefits can be your secret weapon for hassle-free travels. Your nearly-free vacations await!   Links:   Free Gifts and Resources To Start Your Points and Miles Journey:   Award Travel Academy: Award Travel Academy I https://travelmomsquad.teachable.com/p/thmata?coupon_code=THMWEB150   Our Website: https://travelmomsquad.com   Connect With Us: Newsletter signup: https://travelmomsquad.com/newsletter Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/travelmomsquad/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@travelmomsquad Facebook group: Travel Mom Squad: Travel on Points | Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/travelmomsquad   Links For This Episode:  Credit Cards with Cell Phone Protection   Credit Cards with Travel Protection    Episode Minute By Minute: 0:00 There are so many more ways to earn and level up your travels! 1:14 Protection #1: Car Rental Insurance - this can save you so much hassle 5:40 Protection #2 Lost, Delayed or Damaged Baggage - How Pam got reimbursed for lost luggage  15:04 Protection #3 Cell Phone Insurance - The trick all entrepreneurs need to know 22:49 Protection #4 Delayed or Canceled Flights - How to get your money back and on a new flight fast!  

Hello fellow explorers! We're the Travel Mom Squad—Alex, Pam, and Jess, and we're excited to take you along on our recent Caribbean adventures! Starting with Aruba, Pam recounts how she masterfully use Marriott free night certificates. It was a trek from the US west coast, but United miles and a clever flight booking made it possible. She first stayed at the Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino—and, wow, what a place! Despite some reservations about the 'casino' aspect, she fell in love with the resort's atmosphere.  Then she 'hotel hopped' over to the Renaissance Wind Creek Aruba. The highlight? Flamingo Beach, with its unique blend of snorkeling and lounging alongside pink flamingos! Next stop, Grand Cayman. Alex's tale of her stay at the Kimpton Seafire is fascinating. Thanks to a sign-up bonus, she extended her stay from two nights to four—all by purchasing 35k points during a 100% bonus period. The breathtaking Seven Mile Beach and top-notch service added a cherry on top of her luxury stay. Finally, Jess recaps her stay at the Park Hyatt St. Kitts. Caribbean luxury at its finest! We're not just sharing our experiences but also showing you how to travel your way using reward points, securing affordable flights, and nabbing the best deals. Remember, rewards and points can fluctuate, so keep an eye on that 30-day calendar! So, are you ready to travel on points all the way to the Caribbean like we did? Hit play now to hear our full adventure and start planning your own! For more travel tips like this, be sure to check out the links below. Happy travels! ✈️   Links:   Free Gifts and Resources To Start Your Points and Miles Journey: Award Travel Academy: Award Travel Academy I https://travelmomsquad.teachable.com/p/thmata?coupon_code=THMWEB150   Our Website: https://travelmomsquad.com   Connect With Us: Newsletter signup: https://travelmomsquad.com/newsletter Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/travelmomsquad/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@travelmomsquad Facebook group: Travel Mom Squad: Travel on Points | Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/travelmomsquad   Episode Minute By Minute:   0:45 How to travel to the Caribbean for nearly free and getting to Aruba 5:29 Our top places to stay in Aruba 10:23 Alex's top tips for getting to Grand Cayman 13:50 A glimpse inside Kimpton Seafire in Grand Cayman 19:14 Jess's #1 pick for where to stay in the Caribbean 21:28 Why we have a glowing review of the Park Hyatt St. Kitts 25:28 Insights and wisdom from Pam we can all learn from 26:51 Our current roadmap for future Caribbean trips  

In our latest podcast episode, your favorite trio of the Travel Mom Squad—Pam, Jess, and Alex— give you an exclusive peek into our jet-setting lives. As many of you know, we've spent years perfecting the art of award travel, and we're thrilled to share our insider secrets with our beloved community. For this episode, we did something a little different: we turned to our Instagram followers (@travelmomsquad) to guide the conversation. Yes, every single question we tackle in this episode came straight from you, our loyal listeners! One question that sparked a lively discussion was about our strategy with credit cards—do we keep them open even after hitting the minimum spend? Let's just say, if you've been closing your cards after hitting the minimum spend, you might want to reconsider. But that's just the tip of the iceberg! We answered a wide range of questions...tune in now to hear them all! If you're not already following us on Instagram, we encourage you to do so. We love to engage with our listeners and the IG platform provides a wonderful space for us to do just that. Join our IG family, submit your questions, and you might just hear them answered in our next episode. So, what are you waiting for? Hit play to hear the full episode now and join us on this exhilarating ride. We can't wait to share our adventures with you!   Links For All Things Travel Mom Squad: stan.store/travelmomsquad     Episode Minute By Minute: 0:00 Show introduction 1:09 Question one: Do you keep your cards open? 3:46 American Express "Pop Up Jail" 7:33 Question two: After Hyatt, Hilton or Marriott? 9:26 Question three: How often do you open new cards? 9:58 Question four: What are the most common mistakes beginners make? 13:42 Question five: How do you split business responsibilities? 22:10 Question six: What is a realistic time frame for taking your first nearly free vacation? 23:55 Question seven: Do you ever take trips that are strictly vacation? 30:01 Question eight: Best business credit card offer currently available? 30:50 Question nine: How do I get under 5/24 while still earning signup bonuses? Is getting business cards the only way? 33:00 Question ten: How long does it take a signup bonus to hit your account? 34:12 Question eleven: Do you get nervous that award travel will get over inflated in the future? 35:40 Question twelve: Which cards have you opened so far this year?