Milenomics ² Podcast - No Annual Fee Edition cover image

Milenomics ² Podcast - No Annual Fee Edition

Latest episodes

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Jul 1, 2024 • 59min

Milenomics² No Annual Fee Episode 72: Q3 5x Categories, International ATMs and eSIM Data Plans

Exploring Q3 5x categories for credit cards, transfer bonuses for airline miles, DeltaOne lounges, decline in giftcard usefulness, challenges with ATM fees for international travel, and benefits of eSIM data plans for staying connected abroad.
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Jun 24, 2024 • 57min

Milenomics² [No Annual Fee Edition] Episode 71: Ranking Bank Points for Domestic Airfare

Delve into the world of bank points programs for deeply discounted airfare, not free. Explore the benefits of Chase UR with straightforward earning and domestic partners like United and Southwest. Learn about the challenges of booking with the Chase Travel Portal and maximizing Amex MR points for travel savings and flexibility. Discover strategies for maximizing credit card rewards and navigating the complexities of rebate features for successful redemption benefits.
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Jun 19, 2024 • 49min

TravelStories Episode 35: Long Weekend in Madrid

Join Thomas and Trevor as they share their travel adventures in Madrid, discussing gin & tonic ice cubes, airport lounge experiences, maximizing points redemption, and cautionary tales of pickpocketing incidents. They also explore the evolution of Lufthansa's first-class service and the amenities of the Airbus A340-600.
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Jun 5, 2024 • 56min

TravelStories Episode 34: Chatting with Nick Reyes of FrequentMiler

Travel enthusiast and author Nick Reyes shares travel hacks and redemption stories, discussing the evolution of Avianca's lifemiles program, bucket-list adventures made accessible with miles and points, and the wonders of travel as education. He also provides tips on saving time and money on adventures around the world.
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May 18, 2024 • 48min

TravelStories Episode 33: Cruise Loyalty with Traveling Well for Less’ Debra Schroeder

Debra Schroeder shares her expertise on cruising and miles/points, starting with her '94 AA promotion. Topics include cruise pricing trends, strategies for booking cruises, challenges with food provisions, and Deb's travel aspirations. Dive into Deb's journey to pinnacle membership in cruise loyalty programs and the urgency in seizing free cruise opportunities. Learn about accumulating points and a teaser for a future episode on bloggers' impact on cruising.
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May 1, 2024 • 50min

TravelStories Episode 32: A Quick Cairo Trip

A traveler recounts his unexpected excitement during a trip to Cairo after airport experiences in Canada, a review of Chase Sapphire Lounge, inflight Qatar Qsuite experience, layover in Doha, cultural observations in Dubai and Cairo, chaotic traffic in Cairo, crafting nested itineraries for cost-effective travel.
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Apr 15, 2024 • 47min

TravelStories Episode 31: All About Baha Mar with Joey Redmond

Episode 31: Show Notes. When you talk to folks in the community, people have strong opinions about Hyatt’s Baha Mar property, and its not just in one direction. Luckily, today’s guest, Joey Redmond – who has been on the show twice before – is here to tell us all about Baha Mar, a resort in the Bahamas that he has found himself returning to year after year as an ideal vacation spot for him and his family. Tuning in you’ll hear all of Joey’s top tips, from navigating your flights to making sure you do all your restaurant bookings in advance – and what to do if you don’t have a reservation! He tells us about his favorite activities at Baha Mar, including the water park, Baha Bay, and why it’s such a big highlight for him and his family every year. We also discuss how best to use their loyalty program, what you can do to maximize the Hyatt Globalist experience, and what to expect from the Baha Mar casino. For a full account of Joey’s tips and insights on Baha Mar, be sure to tune in for this fun and informative conversation with one of our favorite guests!  Key Points From This Episode: [00:00] What makes Baha Mar such a special destination. [01:39] Tips on how to navigate Nassau airport and the trip home. [05:28] Joey’s thoughts on large luxury properties and why Baha Mar doesn’t feel crowded. [07:15] Why you should book your trip to Baha Mar and the restaurants in advance. [10:11] What to expect from restaurant prices and budgeting advice. [14:54] Joey’s favorite restaurants and meals, plus tips on where to eat without a reservation. [20:33] How to maximize the Hyatt Globalist experience at Baha Mar. [25:19] Why using points is usually the best option (and when it isn’t). [28:18] An overview of the water park, Baha Bay, and why it’s such a big highlight. [32:02] Other water activities and pools you can spend time at, and what the beach is like. [34:23] What to expect from the Baha Mar casino. [36:01] One of the weirdest things about their loyalty program. [38:45] A recap of the benefits and drawbacks of Baha Mar. [39:27] Why Joey has returned to Baha Mar with his family so many times. [41:30] An overview of what it’s like flying to Baha Mar from different places in the US. [45:26] Where you can find Joey online and get in touch. Quotes: “You can always find somewhere to eat. It's just a matter of the better the restaurant, the more planning needs to go into it.” — @joeyredmond [13:17] “It's a pretty diverse buffet. We usually stay five nights [and] I don't really get sick of it.” — @joeyredmond [19:30] “Baha Bay is the name of the water park. And it's four acres right on the beachfront. It's a lot of fun. If you're a person that likes water parks or likes water activities, I think you could easily fill two, three, four days there.” — @joeyredmond [28:28] “Generally you're not going to see anyone at the casino during the day. [That] is what I found.” — @joeyredmond [35:36] “I think islands always have a lot stacked against them [when it comes to] having good foods. So the fact that [Baha Mar] was able to curate a food and beverage program with so many varied and different options. I think it's actually pretty impressive.” — @TktweetsKim [43:56] “One of the biggest selling points [seems to be] the closeness that you've got
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Mar 29, 2024 • 51min

TravelStories Episode 30: First Time Istanbul Visit with Han

Experienced traveler Han Chicago shares his first-time visit to Istanbul, discussing the Turkish Airlines Devaluation and his unique approach to exploring the city. From hiring a guide to flying on the A350-900, Han talks about Turkey's rich history, visiting a spice market, trying a 'wet burger', and the allure of Istanbul's vibrant nights. The podcast covers luxurious travel experiences, post-pandemic adjustments, navigating Istanbul with a guide, and engaging social media interactions.
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Mar 13, 2024 • 46min

TravelStories Episode 29: An Enchanted Princess Cruise Trip Report

Episode 29: Show Notes This episode on Travel Stories, we dive deeper into sharing our cruise line experiences, and if you have any of your own, we’d love to hear from you! Today, Tom walks us through his recent 10-day journey on Enchanted Princess, starting with his overall evaluation of the experience before assessing tendering and the embarkation process of the ship. We learn about the size of Enchanted Princess, the demographic it caters to, and its onboard dining, as well as its entertainment, housekeeping, and casino offerings, and we compare everything we’ve learned about Enchanted Princess with its other cruise line competitors. As Tom details the ports he visited during his trip, we discover the magic of Dominica and Champagne Beach, the beauty of Martinique, the genius of St. Lucia’s marketing team, and the wonder of the forgotten volcanic activity that occurs all along the Eastern Seaboard. Thank you for taking this journey with us!      Key Points From This Episode: [00:44] Tom gives us a breakdown of his most recent cruise on Enchanted Princess. [01:05] His experience of tendering on Enchanted Princess versus other cruise lines. [03:41] Why he was pleased with the embarkation process. [07:56] The size of the ship and the ports he visited during his 10 days aboard. [13:18] Dominica and Champagne Beach. [15:15] An interlude on the volcanic activity that occurs along the Eastern Seaboard. [17:10] Why Tom deems St. Lucia a forgettable experience. [19:34] The beauty of Martinique. [21:12] How Antigua’s marketing is on point. [23:22] Tom’s onboard dining experience and the demographic that the ship caters to. [27:35] How Enchanted Princess weighs up against Celebrity, Royal Caribbean, and others. [32:06] Why we choose to talk about cruising on this podcast and what we’re planning next. [34:34] Tom’s thoughts on the entertainment and housekeeping of Enchanted Princess. [37:50] The casino and onboard gaming opportunities. [48:27] Final thoughts from Tom on his Enchanted Princess experience. Quotes: “Having to tender to get there; it added so much more time [to] both getting there and getting off the island, and it does detract pretty severely from the experience.” — @TktweetsKim [02:39] “If you are a person with a young family, if you have younger kids or even kids that are maybe more middle-aged that need activities and fun things to do, – you might not find it on the Princess cruise because it’s much more catering to that retiree [or] classic cruiser.” — @TktweetsKim [26:15] “May God have mercy on your soul on that Carnival cruise. Having been on a few, I’m just going to say, block out the following week or two; don’t plan a trip shortly after. You’re probably going to be in bed.” — @tmount [34:02] “Kudos to Princess and their staff. The service was pretty good, [and] their people were definitely quality people, and that’s saying something.” — @TktweetsKim [36:52] Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Enchanted Princess Royal Caribbean  Celebrity Cruises  Windstar Cruises
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Feb 28, 2024 • 48min

Checking In Ep 26: What’s It Like to Work with a Disney Travel Agent?

Planning a Disney World vacation can be an overwhelming experience. With four theme parks, over twenty resort hotels, and dozens of restaurants - there's a lot to consider. In this episode I chat with Disney travel agent Joe Cheung and my sister-in-law Kelly to plan her family's Disney World vacation. We discuss hotel options, differences between Disneyland and Disney World, dining options, and more. Having a real conversation with a travel agent, as opposed to wandering around websites and conversing via email, enabled Kelly to confidently select hotels that will be a great fit. But the planning doesn't stop there. Now that they've got dates, lodging, and park tickets pinned down, Joe will continue to assist. He'll monitor their dates for hotel pricing for discounts, assist in snagging dining reservations, and be available to answer questions about how to minimize time in line at the parks. I hope you enjoy the conversation as a "fly on the wall" listening in on the process, and that it gets you thinking about planning a Disney trip -or- consulting with a travel agent for your upcoming trips wherever they might be. Check out Joe's Disney planning podcast and contact him to plan your Disney vacation: Disney Deciphered Podcast josephcheung@travelmation.net Thanks to Joe and Kelly for coming on the show!

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