Smart Travel: Upgrade Your Getaways

Learn how to skip rental car lines, lower costs, and avoid pricey insurance mistakes on your next trip.

When should you rent at the airport, and when should you skip a car entirely? Hosts Sally French and Meghan Coyle break down how to rent a car in 2026 without overpaying, wasting time at the counter, or getting tripped up by confusing coverage. But first, they unpack the latest travel headlines, including long TSA lines during the federal partial shutdown, fresh findings from NerdWallet’s 2026 summer travel survey, Hilton’s new Yotel partnership, Citi ending points sharing, and Chase’s new hotel price-match feature.

Then, Sally and Meghan dig into rental car strategy, with tips and tricks on booking early and repricing later, comparing airport and city pickup spots, and deciding when Turo, Uber Rent, Zipcar, or public transit make more sense than a standard rental. They also cover which credit card perks matter most, how rental car elite status can help you skip lines or add drivers, when EV rentals can save money or create hassles, and why their editor Claire and colleague Craig come up in a conversation about portal pricing, rental car dread, and smarter booking choices.

Card benefits, terms and fees can change. For the most up-to-date information about cards mentioned in this episode, read our reviews:


American Express Platinum Review: Top-Notch Lounge Access, Big Credits


AmEx Business Platinum Card: High Fee Pays Off for Big-Spending Travelers


AmEx Green Review: Triple Points on Dining and Travel, Plus Credits


Hilton Honors Aspire Review: Rich Rewards, Luxury Perks for a Price


Capital One Venture X Review: A Steal of a Deal Among Premium Cards


Chase Sapphire Reserve for Business Review: Big Perks, Bigger Fee


Chase Sapphire Reserve Review: A High-End, High-Maintenance Card


Chase Sapphire Preferred Review: Strong Option for Travel Rewards


United Club Infinite Review: $695 Fee May Still Lure Lounge Lovers


5 Things to Know About the Bank of America Premium Rewards Elite Credit Card

Resources discussed in this episode:


TSA PreCheck Touchless ID: How It Works, Where It’s Offered


How to Get Clear for Free


Citi Transfer Partners: A Complete Guide


My Favorite Tools for Booking Cheap Travel

Want even more tips and tricks to get the most out of your travel dollars? Subscribe to TravelNerd, our free newsletter designed to help you crack the code on spending less on your travel. 
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Learn how to cut the cost of a ski trip before lift tickets, rentals and parking wipe out your budget.

How do you keep a ski trip from blowing your whole vacation budget? When should you buy a season pass instead of a day ticket? Hosts Meghan Coyle and Sally French discuss how to save on ski and snowboarding trips to help you plan a cheaper mountain getaway. But first, they break down the latest travel headlines, including Marriott’s more-flexible free night certificates, bigger Marriott welcome offers, rising fuel surcharges that could push airfare higher, and what the new Ikon Pass prices mean for next ski season.

Then, fellow travel Nerd Craig Joseph joins Meghan and Sally to discuss ski trip costs, with tips and tricks on choosing between season passes and day tickets, lowering rental, lodging and parking costs, and using points, hotel stays and credit card perks to offset the price of a mountain vacation. They also discuss whether skiing in Europe can actually cost less than skiing in the U.S., what non-skiers can do on a snow trip from tubing to ice skating, and what to look for in a credit card if you’re flying with skis or a snowboard.

Card benefits, terms and fees can change. For the most up-to-date information about cards mentioned in this episode, read our reviews:


Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Review: Free Night Award, Elite Status https://www.nerdwallet.com/credit-cards/reviews/marriott-bonvoy-boundless 


Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Review: Luxurious Benefits, Price Tag to Match https://www.nerdwallet.com/credit-cards/reviews/marriott-bonvoy-brilliant 


Capital One Savor Review: Foodie-Focused Rewards, for No Annual Fee https://www.nerdwallet.com/credit-cards/reviews/capital-one-savor 


Bilt Palladium Card: Rewards on Housing Are Almost Secondary https://www.nerdwallet.com/credit-cards/reviews/bilt-palladium 


Capital One Venture X Review: A Steal of a Deal Among Premium Cards https://www.nerdwallet.com/credit-cards/reviews/capital-one-venture-x 

Resources discussed in this episode:


The Best Travel Credit Card Welcome Offers Right Now https://www.nerdwallet.com/travel/learn/top-rewards-credit-card-offers 

Want even more tips and tricks to get the most out of your travel dollars? Subscribe to TravelNerd, our free newsletter designed to help you crack the code on spending less on your travel. 
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Get listener-powered answers on lounges, Disney cards, cruises, and layovers.

Hosts Sally French and Meghan Coyle kick off the first listener questions episode of 2026 with quick travel headlines, including Wyndham Rewards Member Month, the Epic Pass going on sale for the 2026–27 season, and Rove Miles adding Japan Airlines as a transfer partner. They also swap recent travel wins, from Meghan’s David Copperfield weekend in Las Vegas to Sally’s courtside Chase Sapphire Reserve experience at the Chase Center — complete with a Steph Curry jersey and a hello from former Warrior Festus Ezeli — plus a nod to past “pinch me” perks like dining with Lin-Manuel Miranda.

Then they answer a wide range of travel questions from listeners. They dig into topics like whether Wyndham Diamond status can really land you a suite upgrade, how to pick the best Priority Pass lounge strategy at SFO, how to think through the cash back vs. points debate in a relationship, and how to decide if the Chase Sapphire Reserve is worth it compared with the Chase Sapphire Preferred. They also cover what to do with a day layover in Singapore (and when it’s smarter to stay at the airport), which cruise lines fit solo travelers who want concierge vibes without formal nights, what to know about Royal Caribbean cabin outlets, whether the new Disney Inspire Visa Card makes sense for one big trip (and what counts toward its credits), and why premium economy might be the underrated sweet spot on long-haul flights.

Card benefits, terms and fees can change. For the most up-to-date information about cards mentioned in this episode, read our reviews:


Chase Sapphire Reserve Review: A High-End, High-Maintenance Card


Chase Sapphire Preferred Review: Strong Option for Travel Rewards


World of Hyatt Card Review: Lavish Benefits, Reasonable Cost


5 Things to Know: Wyndham Rewards Earner Business Card


Disney Inspire Visa: A Whole New World of Generous Benefits


Disney Premier Visa: Missing the Magic


Disney Visa: Perks in the Park, but Not in Your Wallet

Resources discussed in this episode:


How to Get a Business Credit Card: Who Qualifies, What You Need to Apply


Can You Get a Business Credit Card Without a Business?


5 Things to Know: Wyndham Rewards Earner Business Card


The Complete Guide to Wyndham Rewards Elite Status


Priority Pass SFO: What You Need to Know


Inside the Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge at SFO


Temporary SFO AmEx Centurion Lounge


What Credit Cards Can Get Me Into Priority Pass Lounges?


The Best Cruise Lines (includes the Norwegian Aqua)


How to Make the Most of Chase Sapphire Reserve


New Rove Card Promises Travel Rewards, No Credit History Needed

Want even more tips and tricks to get the most out of your travel dollars? Subscribe to TravelNerd, our free newsletter designed to help you crack the code on spending less on your travel. 
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Learn how to avoid common travel upsells that drain your budget, from cruise add-ons to sneaky foreign card charges.

In this video episode, hosts Sally French and Meghan Coyle break down travel “noob traps” to help you spot pricey add-ons before you click “book.” But first, they cover the latest travel headlines, including Chase adding Wyndham as a new transfer partner, Skyscanner launching flight search inside ChatGPT, Kayak’s spring break airfare trends, and new airport lounge openings at LAX and Las Vegas. They also flag a NerdWallet story from Craig Joseph digging deeper into the Chase-to-Wyndham transfer news.

Then, they dive into the most common “noob traps” that can quietly inflate your trip total, including cruise specialty dining, attraction photo packages, room service sticker shock, early check-in fees, and dynamic currency conversion abroad. They also discuss when travel insurance add-ons can be worth it (and when they can disappoint), why timeshare presentations and pricey hotel activities can backfire, what to know about cell phone roaming charges, and how “convenience” offers can cost more than you expect.

Card benefits, terms and fees can change. For the most up-to-date information about cards mentioned in this episode, read our reviews:


Chase Sapphire Reserve Review: A High-End, High-Maintenance Card https://www.nerdwallet.com/credit-cards/reviews/chase-sapphire-reserve 


American Express Platinum Review: Top-Notch Lounge Access, Big Credits https://www.nerdwallet.com/credit-cards/reviews/american-express-platinum 

Resources discussed in this episode:


Chase Points Now Transfer to Wyndham, but Better Options Exist https://www.nerdwallet.com/travel/news/chase-ultimate-rewards-adds-wyndham-rewards 

Want even more tips and tricks to get the most out of your travel dollars? Subscribe to TravelNerd, our free newsletter designed to help you crack the code on spending less on your travel. 
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JetBlue’s 25-for-25 sounded simple: fly to 25 airports. Hear what three finishers learned chasing 350,000 points.

Before delving into the JetBlue story, hosts Sally French and Meghan Coyle break down the latest travel headlines, including big United MileagePlus changes that kick in April 2, 2026, Hyatt updates that could reshape what award nights cost, Alaska’s Atmos Rewards Global Getaways promotion, Spirit’s new Free Spirit® debit card, and major national parks changing some reservation requirements in summer 2026.

Then, Meghan talks with three guests who completed JetBlue’s 25 for 25 challenge, including Kathleen Wilson, Ben Kim, and Alyssa Mala, travel blogger at Do You Have Fly-Fi and co-host of the Blue Did It 25 for 25 community celebration. They dig into the real-world logistics of chasing 25 airports in six months, what made certain routes and tiny airports unexpectedly memorable, and how a group chat turned strangers into friends — right up to a snowstorm-hit meetup at JFK’s TWA Hotel. 

Card benefits, terms and fees can change. For the most up-to-date information about cards mentioned in this episode, read our reviews:


United Explorer Review: Richer Rewards, Perks You’ll Actually Use


United Club Infinite Review: $695 Fee May Still Lure Lounge Lovers


United Gateway Card Review: A No-Annual-Fee Ticket to Airline Miles


World of Hyatt Card Review: Lavish Benefits, Reasonable Cost

Resources discussed in this episode:


Best United Airlines Credit Cards of March 2026


United Makes Major Changes to Miles Earning Rates


The Complete Guide to World of Hyatt: Points, Status & Strategy


The Guide to Atmos Rewards

Want even more tips and tricks to get the most out of your travel dollars? Subscribe to TravelNerd, our free newsletter designed to help you crack the code on spending less on your travel.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices