
MTM Travel - The Fun Side of Points & Travel!
The fun side of miles, points and travel! Hosted by Shawn Coomer and Mark Ostermann, MTM Travel dives into the points hobby & the lifestyle of travel with topical conversations and plenty of laughs along the way.
Mark & Shawn have a combined 18 years of experience covering these topics on Miles to Memories and Travel on Points and are cohosts of the popular MtM Vegas Youtube Show on the Miles to Memories Vegas channel. They also host the 20 Minute Travel news show on this same feed where you can keep up with the latest deals, news and happenings.
Latest episodes

Sep 26, 2019 • 41min
Ep. 07 - Citi Double Cash Transfers to TYP and Happy Guy Issues
Episode Description In Episode 7 we discuss Citi DoubleCash becoming the IT card, how Vegas casinos are being bought and sold at a record pace and Home Depot draining gift cards. We end with some quick deals plus some outtakes! We'd really appreciate if you subscribed to the podcast to get new episodes every week! See the subscription links below. This episode is sponsored by Disney Deciphered, a podcast helping you save money, time, and stress on your Disney vacation. Also, if you're looking for a way to organize your credit cards, check out Travel Freely, the Miles to Memories recommended tool for tracking & organizing credit cards. Episode Notes 0:00 - What we've been up to: Mark's visit to Yankee Stadium and various Disney trip planning stories from Shawn and Joe 6:55 - Issues with gift cards bought at Home Depot with Happy Guy cards 12:05 - Vegas Casino News (link) 19:15 - Miles to Memories Vegas meetup 20:40 - Break 21:46 - Citi Double Cash points to be transferable to Thank You Points 30:20 - Discover auto converting IT cards to IT Miles? (link) 32:29 - Chase checking and savings bonuses ($600) 34:27 - Hawaiian introduces basic economy Enjoying the podcast? Please consider leaving us a positive review on your favorite podcast platform! You can subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Sticher, Spotify, TuneIn, Pocket Casts, or via RSS. Don't see your favorite podcast platform? Please let us know! Music: Rewind by Jay Someday | https://soundcloud.com/jaysomeday Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License

Sep 19, 2019 • 43min
Ep. 06 - Debating Resort Fees and Our Travel Addictions(?)
Episode Description In Episode 6 of the Miles to Memories podcast we discuss travel addiction, Twitter fights, credit card rumors and debate resort fees plus how to fix them. We also go over the best deals for the week and outtakes finish off the episode. We'd really appreciate if you subscribed to the podcast to get new episodes every week! See the subscription links below. This episode is sponsored by Travel Freely, the MtM recommended tool for tracking & organizing credit cards. Episode Notes 0:00 - Banter and how do you pronounce VRBO? 4:18 - Resort Fees - what is the ideal way we want to see these handled? Does Marriott's new "resort fee as a percentage of stay cost" help or hurt miles and points users? Did Shawn start a Twitter fight? (Frequent Miler post on percentage resort fees working out for him) 15:33 - Rumor Mill - CNB Crystal Visa Infinite card changing their airline incidental credit? Is the card still worth keeping? 20:53 - Break 22:54 - A discussion about travel addiction and how it affects us and our miles and points game. (Mark's thoughts about his experiences here and here) 34:07 - Don't be a troll 36:09 - Quick Hits: Hotel and Car Rental Promotion Roundup 39:20 - Quick Hits: Chase Freedom 4th Quarter categories and strategy Enjoying the podcast? Please consider leaving us a positive review on your favorite podcast platform! You can subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Sticher, Spotify, TuneIn, Pocket Casts, or via RSS. Don't see your favorite podcast platform? Please let us know! Music: Rewind by Jay Someday | https://soundcloud.com/jaysomeday Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License

Sep 12, 2019 • 50min
Ep. 05 - The FOMO and Stress of Deals, More Vegas Fees and CardCon Trip Report
Episode Description In episode 5 we discuss resisting every deal and beating FOMO for your own sanity. We dive into Las Vegas' latest despicable fee and how resort fees in general are getting out of control. Shawn and Mark also give an overview of their week at FinCon and CardCon and why meetups and conferences are important in this space. They also overview their stay at the Park Hyatt in DC, go over some quick deals and there are some outtakes of course! We'd really appreciate if you subscribed to the podcast to get new episodes every week! See the subscription links below. This episode is sponsored by Travel Freely, the MtM recommended tool for tracking & organizing credit cards. Episode Notes $1400 RT in business class to Japan 1:33 - How the Delta Vacations deal went wrong for Joe (temporarily) 6:12 - The stress that sometimes comes with "good deals" and when good deals go bad (Shawn's Jetblue account getting hacked) 12:55 - What causes our FOMO and dealing with it 20:00 - Break 22:10 - Cardcon and Fincon trip report, the value of networking 33:56 - Park Hyatt DC Impressions (Trip Advisor reviews) 39:14 - Las Vegas introducing more dumb fees h/t View from the Wing (Tips for avoiding Vegas resort fees) 46:10 - Quick Hits (Discover stacking, AA portal bonus) Enjoying the podcast? Please consider leaving us a positive review on your favorite podcast platform! You can subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Sticher, Spotify, TuneIn, Pocket Casts, or via RSS. Don't see your favorite podcast platform? Please let us know! Music: Rewind by Jay Someday | https://soundcloud.com/jaysomeday Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License

Sep 5, 2019 • 49min
Ep. 04 - Our Most Useless Cards, Retention Calls and the Delta Vacations Deal
Episode Description In Episode 4 of the Miles to Memories podcast we discuss the most useless cards we carry and why we still hold onto them. We take a deep dive into retention calls: how to do them, what to say and why they are important. We wrap up the episode discussing the amazing Delta vacations offer (expires Friday 9/6) plus some quick hit deals & of course outtakes! We'd really appreciate if you subscribed to the podcast to get new episodes every week! See the subscription links below. This episode is sponsored by Travel Freely, the MtM recommended tool for tracking & organizing credit cards. Episode Notes 0:00 - What we've been up to: Hanging out in Northern Michigan, adjusting Hong Kong travel, and upcoming conferences 6:23 - Upcoming Miles to Memories meetups 7:24 - Retention calls: What are they, what are best practices, and tips and tricks (Citi Retention strategy guide) 20:28 - Break 23:29 - Our most useless/least used credit cards in our collections 30:20 - How we handled the Delta Vacations Deal (still good until Friday, September 6th!) 42:03 - Quick hits: Chase adds Emirates, Fee Free Visa Gift Cards at Staples, Priority Pass price increases, and British Airways Visa surcharge rebates Enjoying the podcast? Please consider leaving us a positive review on your favorite podcast platform! You can subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Sticher, Spotify, TuneIn, Pocket Casts, or via RSS. Don't see your favorite podcast platform? Please let us know! Music: Rewind by Jay Someday | https://soundcloud.com/jaysomeday Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License

Aug 29, 2019 • 40min
Ep. 03 - Business Credit Cards and Pressure on the Miles and Points Hobby
Episode Description In Episode 3 we discuss the awesome Delta Vacations deal, Hilton & Hyatt promos, IHG’s garbage accelerate promo and National’s awesome rent 2 get 1 free promo. We go into detail on business credit cards: How tough is it to get them and who is eligible for them? On our hot topic of the week we discuss whether or not the miles & points hobby is dead or dying. Plus we got some outtakes yo!!! We'd really appreciate if you subscribed to the podcast to get new episodes every week! See the subscription links below. This episode is sponsored by Travel Freely, the MtM recommended tool for tracking & organizing credit cards. Episode Notes For more in depth discussion, click the links in the timestamps! 2:34 - Discussing the Delta Vacations deal (expires 8/30) 5:25 - Applying for business credit cards (What still earns 5X on Chase Ink?) 10:51 - Our favorite and most used business cards 15:24 - One of the hosts has never heard of CC roulette 17:03 - Break 18:38 - Are miles and points dead? What pressure is the hobby currently facing and what might be coming in the future? 32:01 - Hilton Honors paid stay promo 34:05 - Some Hyatt hotels on sale (link) 35:39 - IHG accelerate promotion 36:21 - National's 1-2-Free Promotion Enjoying the podcast? Please consider leaving us a positive review on your favorite podcast platform! You can subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Sticher, Spotify, TuneIn, Pocket Casts, or via RSS. Don't see your favorite podcast platform? Please let us know! Music: Rewind by Jay Someday | https://soundcloud.com/jaysomeday Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License

Aug 24, 2019 • 43min
Ep. 02 - Atlantic City Status Matches, Star Wars Galaxy's Edge, and the Apple Card
Episode Description In Episode 2 we discuss how to max out Atlantic City status matches and come home a winner. We also discuss Star Wars Galaxy Edge at Disney World and how it compares to its Westcoast counterpart. We wrap up the episode discussing the newly launched Apple Card, share Shawn & Miles to Memories’ story plus more outtakes! We'd really appreciate if you subscribed to the podcast to get new episodes every week! See the subscription links below. This episode is sponsored by Travel Freely, the MtM recommended tool for tracking & organizing credit cards. Episode Notes 2:23 What we've been up to 4:02 Comparing Star Wars Galaxy's Edge(s) on East and West Coasts, plus thoughts on the land (Galaxy's Edge Review) 8:36 - Atlantic City status matches (Guide) 16:35 - Encore Boston and Ocean in AC status match 20:54 - Break 22:46 - Details and thoughts on the new Apple credit card 34:31 - the Miles to Memories story Enjoying the podcast? Please consider leaving us a positive review on your favorite podcast platform! You can subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Sticher, Spotify, TuneIn, Pocket Casts, or via RSS. Don't see your favorite podcast platform? Please let us know! Music: Rewind by Jay Someday | https://soundcloud.com/jaysomeday Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License

Aug 22, 2019 • 47min
Ep. 01 - Vegas, Hong Kong, Disney, and Miles to Memories Podcast Introductions
Episode Description In the inaugural episode Shawn, Joe, & Mark discuss hacking Las Vegas with Amex FHR credits, the situation in Hong Kong, and why Disney is the "worst vacation ever." Or is it? We finish off the show with introductions and background info on Mark, Joe, and dishwashers. Plus, outtakes! We'd really appreciate if you subscribed to the podcast to get new episodes every week! See the subscription links below. This episode is sponsored by Travel Freely, the MtM recommended tool for tracking & organizing credit cards. Episode Notes 1:43 - A positive change to Fine Hotels and Resorts at the Waldorf Astoria in Las Vegas (Waldorf Astoria and AMEX Fine Hotels and Resorts) 6:54 - Points options in Las Vegas 10:09 - How Hong Kong protests are affecting travel. Is it affecting our plans? (Hong Kong Travel Warning) 17:39 - Break 19:13 - Is a Disney Vacation the Worst Thing Ever? Our thoughts. 33:07 - Getting to know Joe 39:52 - Getting to know Mark Shawn and Alice Enjoying the podcast? Please consider leaving us a positive review on your favorite podcast platform! You can subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Sticher, Spotify, TuneIn, Pocket Casts, or via RSS. Don't see your favorite podcast platform? Please let us know! Music: Rewind by Jay Someday | https://soundcloud.com/jaysomeday Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License

Aug 8, 2019 • 7min
Introducing the Miles to Memories podcast!
Coming soon: the Miles to Memories podcast! Join us each week as we discuss the latest news, tips, and tricks in the miles and points world so you can travel more for less! Subscribe to the podcast on this feed to make sure you get new episodes when they release each week.