Smart Travel: Upgrade Your Getaways

• Room Blocks, Rental Cars, and a Plus-One: Smarter Wedding Travel for Savvy Guests

  Learn strategic ways to save on wedding travel — whether you're planning the big day or flying in to celebrate someone else's. How can you avoid overspending on wedding travel without sacrificing comfort or memorable experiences? How do you continue earning meaningful travel rewards after you've maxed out your credit card welcome bonuses? Host Meghan Coyle kicks off the episode with Tess Vigeland (filling in for Sally in the news segment) with a roundup of timely travel news, including the opening of the world’s largest cruise terminal in Miami, Delta Air Lines pulling back on its 2025 growth plans, and NerdWallet’s latest Travel Price Index showing a drop in airfare, hotel, and rental car prices. Then, Meghan is joined by co-host (and bride-to-be!) Sally French for a deep dive into the real cost of attending (and hosting) a wedding. They break down how to strategically book flights and hotels, whether it’s smarter to use points or room blocks, how to handle gift expectations, and how to build a sustainable travel rewards strategy that lasts long after the honeymoon. They offer practical tips to help you travel smart and spend wisely, whether you’re walking down the aisle or just attending the afterparty. Resources discussed in this episode: How Much Are Travel Points and Miles Worth in 2025? 2025 Summer Travel Report In their conversation, the Nerds discuss: how to save on wedding travel, cheapest days to fly, best day to book flights, wedding guest travel budget, hotel vs Airbnb wedding, when to book flights for a wedding, room block savings, using credit card points for weddings, Costco wedding cake, Delta Air Lines 2025 forecast, travel prices dropping, travel price index 2025, booking travel with points, long-term credit card rewards, best travel credit card 2025, how to avoid flight delays, affordable wedding planning, budgeting for destination weddings, travel tips for wedding season, NerdWallet travel study, Ultimate Rewards hotel transfer, platinum card no welcome offer, Amex pop-up warning, maximizing lounge access, sustainable travel rewards, using credit cards for wedding expenses, best time to book international flights, cheap airfare tips, skipping wedding gifts, travel budgeting for friends and family, booking wedding hotels with points, Airbnb group wedding travel, and how to save on wedding lodging.

  --------  

  26:13
• The New Rules of Travel Rewards: Spend More or Lose Out

  Learn why flight delays are getting worse and what airline miles are really worth (hint: it’s not what you think). Why are flight cancellations and delays happening more often? Are airline miles and credit card travel rewards actually worth it? Hosts Meghan Coyle and Sally French discuss the latest trends in travel spending and how the airline industry evolved into what it is today. They begin with a discussion of the latest travel updates and news, including a slowdown in U.S. travel spending, a drop in international tourism to the U.S., rising outbound international travel, and new airline partnership announcements from Fiji Airways and Icelandair. Then, Meghan talks to Ganesh Sitaraman, author of Why Flying Is Miserable: And How to Fix It, about how deregulation reshaped flying and what that means for travelers today. He discusses the rise of fortress hubs and fewer route options, how loyalty programs shifted from rewarding frequent flyers to rewarding high spenders, and what consumers can do to get the most out of their points. The episode wraps up with a listener question about whether to upgrade to the Capital One Venture X card before a big international trip, offering insights into welcome bonuses, travel credits, and airport lounge perks. We analyzed the value of 16 different loyalty programs' points and miles to help you make smart money moves: https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/travel/airline-miles-and-hotel-points-valuations  In their conversation, the Nerds discuss: why flights are delayed more often, airline delays 2025, travel trends 2025, domestic travel slowdown, Bank of America travel spending report, international travel 2025, Fiji Airways oneworld alliance, AAdvantage loyalty program, JetBlue Icelandair partnership, airline deregulation 1978, why flying is miserable, Ganesh Sitaraman airline loyalty programs explained, how airline points work, frequent flyer programs history, airline deregulation pros and cons, airline monopoly hubs, how airline credit cards make money, co-branded airline credit cards, spend-based loyalty programs, how much airline points are worth, credit card travel perks, best card for lounge access, travel credit card welcome bonuses, Priority Pass lounge access, using points for international flights, how to get the most out of travel credit cards, airline pricing explained, how deregulation changed flying, airline pricing before and after deregulation, federal regulation of airlines, and the Department of Transportation loyalty program investigation.

  --------  

  33:26
• How to Plan Smarter and Save More on Summer Travel

  Learn how to get the most out of your summer travel including when to book your flights and how to stack rewards.  When is the cheapest time to book flights for summer travel? How can you stack rewards points to level up your trips? Meghan Coyle and Sally French take a deep dive into the strategies you can use to optimize your travel budget this summer, including tips on when to book flights, ways to combine rewards perks for a better (and cheaper!) trip, and how to plan if your summer travels involve a trip to a theme park. But first, Meghan and Sally discuss a new way to get Lyft credits, Southwest’s rollout of dynamic pricing, and the partnership between Marriott and MGM. Then, they talk about some of the most popular summer travel destinations, when to expect the biggest crowds during your summer vacations, what’s coming up at theme parks such as Universal and Disney, and why using standby to fly might be a good option.   Resources discussed in this episode: 2025 Summer Travel Report Chase Sapphire Reserve Adds Monthly Lyft Credit, Slashes Points Earning Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse LAX Review Credit Cards With Elite Car Rental Perks Cheapest European Cities to Fly to in 2025 The Cheapest Time To Visit Walt Disney World The Busiest Days to Fly Around Memorial Day The Best Days to Fly Around the Fourth of July Universal Epic Universe: How to Plan Your Trip for the Opening In their conversation, the Nerds discuss: summer travel 2025, best time to book summer travel, summer vacation planning, cheap summer flights, travel tips 2025, travel hacks, Smart Travel podcast, budget travel, vacation planning tips, summer getaway ideas, travel credit cards, best travel rewards cards, credit card points, credit card rewards, how to use travel points, points and miles tips, credit card perks, Amex Platinum travel benefits, travel rewards, Hilton Aspire card, American Express Centurion Lounge access, airport lounge credit cards, stacking travel rewards, top summer destinations 2025, where to travel summer 2025, Italy travel 2025, Rome summer travel, Europe travel deals, Japan summer travel, San Juan, Puerto Rico travel, Maui travel tips, best islands to visit 2025, theme park vacations, Universal Epic Universe 2025, Disney World summer deals, Disneyland 70th anniversary, best time to book flights, when to book international travel, domestic vs international flights, cheapest days to fly, Expedia 2025 air travel hacks, price alerts for flights, summer travel booking tips, how to find travel deals, avoiding travel debt, how to save on travel, Universal Orlando new theme park, Epic Universe opening date, Harry Potter theme park, Super Nintendo World, Disney World dining plan 2025, Disney kids ticket deals, best theme parks summer 2025, family travel tips, budget-friendly family vacations, airline elite status perks, American Airlines standby policy, Delta Medallion status match, hotel status matching, MGM and Marriott rewards, travel loyalty programs, Southwest Rapid Rewards, best airline loyalty programs.

  --------  

  29:30
• Secrets to Finding Cheap Flights and Avoiding Fees, Straight from Scott’s Cheap Flights

  Learn when to book flights, how to spot mistake fares, and ways to use lesser-known tips like booking stopovers and tapping into rideshare rewards. When is the best time to book a cheap flight? Do budget airlines actually save you money after all the fees? Scott Keyes, founder of Going (formerly Scott’s Cheap Flights), joins Smart Travel to talk about how to actually find cheap airfare — including how to time your bookings, when to use points instead of cash, and how to pounce on mistake fares before they disappear. He also busts some of the most persistent airfare myths (spoiler: incognito mode won’t save you money). But first, Sally and Meghan break down the latest travel headlines, including new perks and price hikes for United Airlines credit cards, changes to the Delta-Lyft partnership, and why JSX credits might actually be worth something. They also share the best deals they’ve ever gotten on airfare and how to use free stopover perks. Resources discussed in this episode: United Credit Cards Unveil Major Changes: Higher Fees, More Perks Earn Delta Miles for Uber Rides: New Partnership Replaces Lyft How to Maximize the United Excursionist Perk In their conversation, the Nerds discuss: best time to book flights, airfare myths, flight deals, mistake fares, Goldilocks booking window, how to find cheap flights, budget airlines, Spirit Airlines fees, Frontier Airlines fees, JSX flights, United Airlines credit card, United card benefits, airline card perks, United Club card, Lyft Delta partnership ending, Delta Uber miles, Uber SkyMiles, 24-hour flight cancellation rule, booking flights with points, best points for travel, Air Canada Aeroplan dynamic pricing, Flying Blue Air France, travel stopovers, free stopovers, Icelandair stopover, Turkish Airlines hotel stopover, United excursionist perk, multi-city travel, hidden city ticketing, best rewards credit cards for flights, travel credit card updates 2025, how to avoid flight layovers, booking partner airlines, and reselling airline tickets. In a previous version of this episode, the name of the United Quest card was not mentioned. A line was added for clarity.

  --------  

  37:34
• How to Visit National Parks for Free, Avoid Crowds, and Save on Lodging

  Learn how to visit national parks on a budget, including tips on free entry days and cheap lodging. Plus, the latest key travel rewards updates. When can you visit national parks for free, and what are the best ways to cut costs on park trips? Hosts Meghan Coyle and Sally French break down national park budget tips to help you plan an affordable adventure. But first, they kick off the episode with the latest travel rewards updates, including Amex Membership Week deals, Hyatt’s upcoming award chart changes, and whether using Bilt points for Lyft rides is a smart move. They also break down Spirit Airlines’ emergence from bankruptcy and what it means for budget travelers. Then, they dive into national park savings strategies, covering free admission days, annual park passes, and the best budget-friendly lodging options, from camping to glamping to points-bookable hotels. They also discuss how to avoid peak-season crowds, what recent staffing cuts at national parks could mean for visitors, and which parks are at the top of their must-visit lists. Resources discussed in this episode: Best American Express Cards of March 2025 World of Hyatt Announces Category Changes for 151 Properties Bilt Rewards: How the Program Works Spirit Airlines Brings Back Change and Cancellation Fees on Some Fares How to Visit National Parks for Free in 2025 How Credit Card Issuers Define ‘Travel’ What’s the Value of Hilton Points? In their conversation, the Nerds discuss: national park free entry days, national parks fee-free days, when you can visit national parks for free, how to save money at national parks, national park annual pass, America the Beautiful pass, best budget national parks, best time to visit national parks, national park entrance fees, how to book national park lodging, cheapest way to visit national parks, best glamping near national parks, best credit cards for travel rewards, how to maximize travel points, and booking travel with credit card rewards.

  --------  

  35:52

Más podcasts de Cultura y sociedad

Podcasts a la moda de Cultura y sociedad

Acerca de Smart Travel: Upgrade Your Getaways