Milenomics ² Podcast - No Annual Fee Edition

Trevor, an adventurous traveler, shares captivating tales from his recent family trip to the stunning French and Italian Rivieras. He discusses the joys and challenges of multi-generational travel, highlighting how logistics can complicate family outings. Trevor reveals insider tips on hotels, accommodations, and even the best local dining experiences. He brings listeners along for a cheese tour and shares humorous misadventures from their drives. Get ready to be inspired for your own Mediterranean family escape!

Explore a menagerie of travel topics in this episode: from a Vegas hotel experience to airline industry insights, including possible mergers. Discover the evolution of airport lounges, lifestyle influences on travel choices, and the real cost of inflation during a trip to Charlotte. A fun and thought-provoking discussion awaits!

In this episode, we dive into the adventures of Spencer Howard, the founder of Straight To The Points, as he shares his recent Asia Pacific trip experience. Straight To The Points is a service that helps travelers find and book premium airline award tickets using points and miles, helping save time and money. In our conversation, Spencer shares his incredible 6-week journey through New Zealand, Australia, and Japan, highlighting the breathtaking sights and unique experiences he and his family encountered. Hear about his flight on Air New Zealand, what makes it a family-friendly airline, and tips for traveling with a newborn. Discover why convenience is key when traveling with a newborn, the importance of planning, and how he planned the overall trip. We discuss Hyatt alternatives in Sydney, his scenic route to Tokyo, and why you should go to a baseball game in Japan. Spencer also shares his favorite hotel stays, what makes for a great hotel experience, invaluable travel hacks, and more! Join us as we unpack the ins and outs of planning your Asia Pacific trip with Spencer Howard! Key Points From This Episode: [00:00] Introducing today’s guest, Spencer Howard. [01:41] Outline of today’s topic and what listeners can expect. [03:38] His motivation for the trip and traveling with a newborn. [06:29] Flying Air New Zealand from Texas, Houston. [10:00] The main difference between Queenstown and Aukland. [11:47] Finding a hotel, getting around, and how to use your points in New Zealand. [15:04] Why he chose convenience over price when making bookings. [17:15] Spencer’s New Zealand highlights and why he would go back. [22:05] Sightseeing in Sydney and his stay at the Capella Sydney. [27:04] His alternative route to Tokyo and changing the itinerary on a trip. [31:18] His Japan experience, the hotels, and going to a baseball game. [42:52] What inspired him to go to Japan and how he planned the trip. [47:28] Find out more about Spencer and his company, Straight To The Points. Quotes: “Air New Zealand obviously does not have first-class but they will let you buy the bigger seat. That was worth it.” — @spencerformiles [6:57] “Convenience matters, I think, when you are traveling with a little one.” — @spencerformiles [15:46] “[The Capella Sydney Hotel] truly is an amazing hotel that I would prefer to stay in when I go back.” — @spencerformiles [22:35] “You can get, what I would say is a reasonably priced, nice hotel in Sydney if you are not using points.” — @spencerformiles [24:37] “Finding the information important to your travel faster I think is important so I am just trying to save people some hours.” — @spencerformiles [50:09] Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Spencer Howard on LinkedIn Spencer Howard on X Spencer Howard on Instagram Straight To The Points Points Wire Air New Zealand Virgin Atlantic British Airways

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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