Travel, Points + Miles Podcast
149
Dec. 27, 2023
Unlocking Disney Magic: An Insider Guide with Leslie Harvey
#149: Disney expert Leslie Harvey shares insider tips for a magical Disney vacation with strategies designed to save time, money, and stress. She offers insights on the best times to visit the Disney parks, top accommodation, best dining spots, and must-see attractions. Leslie also shares tactics to optimize the in-park experience through services like Genie+ and Skyliner, and so much more. Leslie Harvey is the co-host of the Disney Deciphered Podcast and the founder of Trips With Tykes, a fa...
146
Dec. 6, 2023
This Episode Changed My Perspective on Cruises with Emma Le Teace
#146: Cruise expert Emma Le Teace shares insider tips to optimize your cruising experience. She shares an overview of cruise operators, must-visit regions, practical advice on booking, packing, and making the most of the onboard facilities. She also offers tips on how to book the best deals and avoid hidden costs in cruise travel. Emma Le Teace is an award-winning cruise blogger, YouTuber and the founder of Emma Cruises. She's been on 60+ cruises, ranging from luxury yachts to mega-ships, and...
143
Nov. 21, 2023
2023 Holiday Gift Guide
#143: In this episode, I'll share 50+ of my favorite products, gifts, past purchases and more. Hopefully some of them might make good ideas for gifts this holiday season. Hope you enjoy! For all the products, links, deals and more, check out the full version of the 2023 Gift Guide here: https://chrishutchins.com/gifts Resources Mentioned 2023 Holiday Gift Guide ATH Podcast Listener Survey Full Show Notes (2:32) Home & Food (6:25) Tech & Gear (10:25) Clothing & Bags (12:22) Heal...
142
Nov. 15, 2023
When Travel Goes Wrong: Pro Tips for Flight Cancelations, Delays, Lost Luggage, and More
#142: Discover essential tips for handling travel mishaps, like flight delays and cancellations, lost luggage, or sold-out hotels and rental cars. This episode covers a range of preventative measures and compensation strategies to use when travel goes awry. Partner Deals (Advertiser Disclosure) For all the deals, discounts and promo codes from our partners, go to: chrishutchins.com/deals Resources Mentioned ATH Annual Listener Survey Podcast Episodes Mentioned 122: Cooking at Hom...
136
Oct. 4, 2023
Current State of Credit Cards Points and Predictions for 2024 with Sebastian Fung
#136: Credit card expert Sebastian Fung joins Chris to discuss the current state of credit cards including recent changes to reward programs, and predictions for 2024. They also dive into topics such as misconceptions about opening multiple cards, whether its still worth chasing status, how to approach sign-up bonuses versus multipliers, credit cards with the most bonuses and more! Sebastian Fung is a personal finance expert who runs AskSebby, one of the largest YouTube channels focused on cr...
134
Sept. 20, 2023
Mexico: Insider Secrets and Travel Tips for Your Next Trip with Zach Rabinor
#134: Mexico travel pro, Zach Rabinor shares all the secrets to planning incredible trips to Mexico and seeing the country like you’ve never done before, including top cities/regions for different experiences, local insider tips for activities and restaurants and so much more. Chris wraps it up by sharing tips and tricks to best utilize your miles and points when booking your trip to Mexico. Zach Rabinor founded the award-winning travel company, Journey Mexico, with a vision to share his deep...
129
Aug. 16, 2023
Latest Deals for Points and Miles, Recent Trip Takeaways, Parent Tips & More
#129: Today Chris shares the latest tips, news, stories and deals related to travel, points and miles. He also shares a few kid related tips for parents, answers questions from listeners and shares an incredible story of how episode 104 saved a listener over $15,000. Partner Deals (Advertiser Disclosure) For all the deals, discounts and promo codes from our partners, go to: chrishutchins.com/deals Resources Mentioned ATH Membership Newsletter Card Optimization Spreadsheet Leave a...
125
July 19, 2023
France: Experience the World’s Most Popular Destination Like a Local with Lindsey Tramuta
#125: Travel journalist, Lindsey Tramuta shares insider tips to help you discover the magic of the world’s most popular tourist destination: France. She discusses how to navigate Paris like a pro and reveals the country's must-visit regions. Chris also covers the best ways to utilize your miles and points to get there. Lindsey Tramuta (@lindseytramuta) is a journalist who's lived in Paris since 2006. She's written for The New York Times, Eater, Food & Wine and Conde Nast Traveler and is the a...
124
July 12, 2023
Card Optimization, Last Minute Travel, Health Insurance Woes and AI Bedtime Stories
#124: Host Chris Hutchins shares insights from optimizing different aspects of his life, including a tool to find the best credit card combinations, thoughts on last minute trip planning, a story of optimization gone too far, a fun use of AI to automate bedtime stories for his daughter, tips for ensuring you don't get stuck with unplanned medical bills and a way to preserve fresh berries for longer. Finally, he makes an exciting announcement about the newest addition to the ATH team. Partn...
120
June 14, 2023
Mailbag #9: Best Two-Card Combos, Travel Tactics, Finance Apps, Health Tricks and More
#120: Host Chris Hutchins shares a ton of amazing tips, questions and wins from listeners. He covers a range of topics including the best two credit card combos, United Airlines’s recent points devaluation, ways to maximize travel points and monitor hotel price drops. Chris also draws from his personal experiences to share travel tactics learned from recent trips to New York and Cabo, along with other valuable tactics related to health, personal finance, cell phones, and more. Partner Deal...
115
May 10, 2023
Iceland: Planning an Epic Adventure with Brandon Presser
#115: Award-winning travel writer, Brandon Presser joins Chris to share the beauty and wonder of Iceland. They discuss everything you need to know to plan the ideal trip, including when to visit, suggested itineraries, cultural norms and social etiquette, top hot springs, waterfalls and hiking destinations, the perfect season to chase the Northern Lights and novelty Icelandic cuisine. Finally, Chris offers tips on how to maximize your points and miles to make your Iceland trip more affordable an...
113
April 26, 2023
Unlocking the Power of Plastic: Maximizing Your Hidden Credit Card Benefits
#113: Chris takes listeners on a journey into the world of credit card perks, revealing little-known benefits that can save you thousands of dollars. From travel insurance and purchase protection to rental car discounts and concierge services, Chris unveils a wealth of insider tips to help you get the most out of your credit card. Whether you're a seasoned cardholder or just starting out, you won't want to miss this eye-opening exploration of the hidden gems hiding in your wallet. Partner ...
111
April 12, 2023
Mailbag #8: Earning More Points, Top Listener Tips, Monitoring Price Drops, Paying Taxes on a Credit Card and More
#111: Host Chris Hutchins covers top tips from listeners, paying taxes with your credit card, tactics for earning more points, monitoring flights for fare drops, hotel discounts, southwest companion pass and more. This episode is packed with so many great tips and tricks! Partner Deals (Advertiser Disclosure) For all the deals, discounts and promo codes from our partners, go to: chrishutchins.com/deals ATH Links ATH Membership Chris' Card Optimizer Tool Ep104: Optimizing Your Insuran...
110
April 5, 2023
Travel Smarter, Cheaper and Longer with Nomadic Matt
#110: Travel expert and author Nomadic Matt (Matt Kepnes), joins Chris to reflect on their most unforgettable travel experiences and discuss the importance of staying flexible, embracing a slow travel philosophy, and living in the moment. Matt also offers insights on travel insurance, and shares his top picks for off-the-beaten-path travel destinations, must-have travel gear, and effective strategies for planning a budget-friendly trip. Matthew Kepnes (@nomadicmatt) is a bestselling author an...
108
March 24, 2023
Journey to Antarctica: Exploring the Beauty and Luxury of the 7th Continent with Leigh Rowan
#108: Travel expert Leigh Rowan joins Chris to discuss his most recent trip to the interior of the ice-capped continent of Antarctica. Leigh describes the luxurious dwellings and unique expeditions available to tourists and breaks down the cost of a breathtaking journey to one of the world's coldest, windiest, and most desolate continents. Leigh Rowan (@leighrowan) is the founder and CEO of Savanti Travel, a travel management company for executives, and the former COO of The Points Guy. ...
107
March 22, 2023
Italy Unlocked: Insider Tips, Must-See Destinations and Booking Flights/Hotels on Points with Leigh Rowan
#107: Italy travel expert Leigh Rowan joins Chris for a third time to discuss all things Italy. Leigh talks about why he feels most at home in the country with the most spectacular cuisine, gorgeous coastlines, ancient ruins, and rich history. He provides money-saving tips, gives suggestions on where to stay, reveals his favorite off-the-beaten-path locations for an authentically local experience, and explains why life is better in Italy. They also discuss the best ways to use your points and mi...
102
Feb. 15, 2023
Traveling to Japan with Points & Miles
#102: Host Chris Hutchins (@hutchins) breaks down the different ways you can use your points and miles for free flights to Japan. He also discusses how to use your points for free hotel/resort stays in Japan, and shares some of the best credit card bonuses right now for quickly rack up points for your next trip. Partner Deals (Advertiser Disclosure) For all the deals, discounts and promo codes from our partners, go to our Partner Deals Selected Links From The Episode Fifth Freedom Fl...
101
Feb. 8, 2023
Planning the Best Japan Trip Ever with Brandon Pressor
#101: Travel writer Brandon Presser joins Chris to discuss all things Japan. They cover why they both love the country so much, what makes it worth a visit, where you should go, what you should see and do, and all the incredible foods you should be trying (including their favorite spots to eat at). Brandon Presser (@brandpress) is a freelance travel writer who has lived in Japan twice, written 3 books on the country and has traveled there in all but one of the last 20 years. Aside from Japan,...
96
Jan. 4, 2023
Money + Travel Q&A (Where to Put Cash, Paying Down Debt, How to Book Hotels, Optimizing Points with Your Spouse and More)
#96: Host Chris Hutchins tackles questions about earning points with your spouse, where to put cash savings, investing vs. paying down a mortgage, when to book hotels in the travel portal, saving money on data while traveling and much more. This episode is packed with many of the incredible insights that Chris has earned from his years optimizing his life! Partner Deals (Advertiser Disclosure) For all the deals, discounts and promo codes from our partners, go to our Partner Deals Sel...
95
Dec. 28, 2022
Top Learnings, Tactics and Credit Cards of 2022
#95: Chris shares his top 10 learnings and takeaways from the past year of the Podcast, which covers time management, personal finance, happiness, regret, negotiating, marriage, communication and more. He also recaps some of the top tricks he's learned this year and his top credit cards, based on real spending data. Partner Deals (Advertiser Disclosure) Pacaso: Free early access to listings and $2,500+ in closing credits Daffy: Free $25 to give to the charity of your choice Selected ...
94
Dec. 21, 2022
How to Experience London Like a Local and Get There on Points with Jessica Dante (+ Chris' Trip Report)
#94: Founder of Love and London, Jessica Dante, joins Chris to discuss all things London. They cover what to eat, see, do, and where to stay. Jessica also shares her favorite hidden gems, offers alternatives to overhyped tourist sites, and provides tips to experience the city like a true local. Then Chris provides a recap of his recent trip to London and walks through how to use use your points/miles for your next trip. Jessica Dante (@loveandlondon) founded the digital media company Love and...
89
Nov. 23, 2022
Booking Flights with Points and All Things Award Travel with Tiffany Funk
#89: Award travel pro Tiffany Funk joins Chris to talk about booking flights with miles, the advantages of having travel flexibility, the ins and outs of transferring points, ways to put your points and miles to good use, and the best sites/tools for booking award travel. Tiffany Funk (@tebfunk) is the co-founder and president of point.me, a one-stop tool for maximizing points and miles. She's also the Executive Director for the premium travel site One Mile at a Time. Having visited over 80 c...
86
Nov. 9, 2022
The Best Deals for Vacation Rentals, Exchanges, Fractionals, Timeshares and More!
#86: Host Chris Hutchins delves into the topic of vacation homes in today’s solo episode. He explores the pros and cons of vacation home options, including home rentals and exchanges, fractional ownerships, vacation real estate investment funds, and timeshares. Chris also discusses his family’s experience owning timeshare properties, shares special offers for ATH podcast listeners, and more. Partner Deals Pacaso: Free early access to listings and $2,500+ in closing credits For all the deals, di...
84
Oct. 26, 2022
The Vagabond's Way: Time Wealth, Slow Travel, and Immersing Yourself in a New Place with Rolf Potts
#84: Travel writer and author, Rolf Potts joins Chris to discuss time wealth, why that's such a vital topic in life and what anyone can take from the concept to travel more richly. They also talk about how to adapt to the changes in travel technology and still have amazing adventures, why Rolf once traveled for six weeks without luggage and what you can learn from that experiment, how leaving your phone behind or getting lost might create richer experiences, and why he thinks that as you get old...
83
Oct. 19, 2022
Life + Travel Listener Q&A (Fighting Jet Lag, Favorite Podcasts, Food Tricks and More)
#83: Host Chris Hutchins tackles questions about fighting jet lag, his favorite podcasts, cancel-for-any-reason travel insurance, virtual assistants, food planning, virtual credit card numbers and much more. This episode is packed with many of the incredible insights that Chris has earned from his years optimizing his life! Partner Deals (Advertiser Disclosure) For all the deals, discounts and promo codes from our partners, go to our Partner Deals Resources Mentioned Timeshifter App...