Tag: Points and Miles

Playing the Points and Miles Game as a Family with @thefrugalandfreetravelers (Ep. 29)

Playing the Points and Miles Game as a Family with @thefrugalandfreetravelers (Ep. 29)

How can families travel luxuriously without breaking the bank?

Challenge your preconceived notions about cost-effective luxurious travel in this episode of the Revolutionizing Your Journey podcast. Host DeAndre Coke welcomes Jordan and Courtney from “The Frugal and Free Travelers,” an Indiana-based couple with two daughters who share their love of adventure. 

Together they have mastered traveling frugally yet luxuriously through strategic planning and usage of points and miles. Starting with the Chase Freedom card in 2007 to lavish trips to South America and Disney World, Jordan and Courtney share insights and tips on balancing family, work, and a passion for travel.

Key Highlights:

  • Family Travel Dynamics: Learn how Jordan and Courtney prioritize travel despite a middle-class income, manage long flights with ease, and train their kids to enjoy travel
  • Credit Card Strategy: Discover how they started with the Chase Freedom card and now open multiple cards annually, focusing on transferable points to improve their credit scores
  • Travel Planning: Understand how Courtney handles 80% of research and planning, balancing activities to ensure memorable trips for the entire family
  • Memorable Trips: Hear about their highlights, including hiking in Madeira, exploring Portugal, and using Alaska Airlines miles for South America, plus a budget-friendly stay in Chile and maximizing credits at the Arizona Biltmore
  • Challenges and Solutions: Find out how they overcome challenges like booking four business class seats and hotel rooms for four, emphasizing the importance of earning large points and understanding program availability
  • Advice for Beginners: Receive practical advice on starting small with points, avoiding hoarding, and using them promptly
  • Upcoming Adventures: Get a sneak peek into their future trips to Greece and Turks and Caicos, and dream destinations like Thailand and Indonesia. Follow their journey on Instagram and visit their website for more resources
  • And much more!

 

Resources:

Connect with DeAndre Coke: 

Connect with Jordan and Courtney: 

How to Explore Every Country on Earth: A Travel Guide with @hudsonandemily (Ep. 27)

How to Explore Every Country on Earth: A Travel Guide with @hudsonandemily (Ep. 27)

How can the Herculean task of traveling to every country on Earth change your worldview and inspire others to pursue their dreams?

Join DeAndre Coke as he welcomes Hudson and Emily, a dynamic duo on a mission to visit every country in the world. Together they share their incredible journey—starting with an RV trip across the U.S. to visiting 180 countries—and how a personal tragedy motivated them to live intentionally and embrace a life of travel.

Emily and Hudson discuss the evolution of their travel goals, savvy budgeting strategies, and their transition to full-time content creation. They reveal the joys and challenges of their adventures, from participating in unique cultural practices to experiencing the kindness of strangers. Tune in and discover how their travels have deepened their appreciation for the world’s diversity and humanity.

Key Highlights:

  • Journey Beginnings: The unexpected loss of Hudson’s father inspired their RV trip across all 50 U.S. states, sparking their global travel mission
  • Budget Travel: They initially saved by staying in free locations and continued to budget carefully during their international adventures
  • Content Creation: They transitioned from a lifestyle blog to full-time travel content creators, sharing valuable insights and experiences
  • Cultural Immersion: Memorable experiences include participating in the Mandari tribe’s customs in South Sudan and witnessing the generosity of locals in Afghanistan
  • Upcoming Travels: Excited to visit China, 11 Pacific Islands, and saving the Bahamas as their final destination
  • Future Plans: They plan to settle down after visiting every country, start a family, and continue content creation focused on marriage, travel, and parenting
  • Inspiring Others: They emphasize kindness, intentional living, and the importance of taking the first step toward your dreams

Tune in for these insights and more, as Hudson and Emily’s journey continues to inspire.

 

Resources:

Connect with DeAndre Coke: 

Connect with Hudson & Emily: 

Quick Hits: How to Use AAdvantage Hotels and Online Portals to Boost Your Points & Miles

Quick Hits: How to Use AAdvantage Hotels and Online Portals to Boost Your Points & Miles

In this week’s Quick Hit episode, DeAndre Coke explains how he used Advantage Hotels, a portal that offers bonus miles and loyalty points for booking hotel rooms. By being a member of AAdvantage and having an American Airlines credit card, DeAndre was able to earn 7,000 miles and loyalty points for his stay. He also discusses the importance of utilizing different strategies, such as dining portals and shopping portals, to earn more miles.

Key takeaways: 

  • Using online booking portals such as Advantage Hotels to to earn bonus points and miles when booking hotel rooms
  • Utilizing different strategies, such as dining portals and shopping portals, to earn more miles when you book online
  • The advantages of credit card benefits, like elite status and room upgrades
  • Bonus miles offered by Amex for Delta cards
  • And more!

 

Resources:

Connect with DeAndre Coke: 

How to Travel Sustainably and Build Lifelong Connections with Matt Wilson Co-Founder of Under 30 Experiences (Ep. 26)

How to Travel Sustainably and Build Lifelong Connections with Matt Wilson Co-Founder of Under 30 Experiences (Ep. 26)

How can traveling sustainably change the way you see the world and help you forge lasting relationships?

Join DeAndre Coke as he chats with Matt Wilson, co-founder of Under 30 Experiences. Together they discuss points and miles strategies, as well as how his travel platform can transform your adventures and connect you with others on a deeper level. Discover how Under 30 Experiences evolved from exclusive entrepreneur retreats to welcoming travelers of all ages, and find out how you can take advantage of their unique approach. 

Matt and DeAndre share insights on everything from backpacking trips to supporting local businesses, showing how your travels can be both meaningful and unforgettable. Tune in for practical tips on sustainable travel and making lasting connections along the way.

Key Highlights:

  • Iceland Trip: Matt’s solo trip to Iceland in 2012 inspired the creation of Under 30 Experiences
  • Entrepreneur Retreats: Shifted from exclusive retreats to inclusive travel experiences
  • Supporting Local Communities: Staying at locally owned places and promoting local artisans
  • Cultural Immersion: Prioritizing genuine cultural experiences over typical tourist activities
  • Community Building: Fostering lifelong connections through local meetups, Facebook, and WhatsApp groups
  • Over 30 Experiences: Responding to demand with elevated accommodations for older travelers
  • Diverse Destinations: Upcoming trips to Argentina, Japan, Korea, and Eastern Europe
  • Group Travel Benefits: Encouraging hesitant travelers to start with group trips for a supportive experience

 

Plus, more insights to revolutionize your travel experiences sustainably!

 

Resources:

Connect with DeAndre Coke: 

Connect with Matt Wilson: 

Points and Profits: Mastering the Art of Travel Content Creation with @theloverspassport (Ep. 21)

Points and Profits: Mastering the Art of Travel Content Creation with @theloverspassport (Ep. 21)

How can you transform a love for travel into a sustainable digital empire? 

Join host DeAndre Coke on “Revolutionizing Your Journey” as he sits down with Stephen from The Lover’s Passport. Stephen shares the incredible journey of how he and his wife, Giselle, turned their couples travel Instagram account from a pandemic pastime into a thriving business with over 800,000 followers. Explore their incredible transition from conventional careers to digital nomadism, their innovative use of credit card points for lavish travels, and their strategy for maintaining authenticity while running a successful Instagram business.

Key Highlights:

  • From Casual Clicks to Corporate Success: Discover The Lover’s Passport’s evolution from a hobby to a full-blown entrepreneurial venture during a global crisis
  • Democratizing Luxury Travel: Learn how Stephen and Giselle make extravagant destinations affordable through smart use of financial tools like credit card rewards points and miles
  • Mastering Content Creation: Follow their ascent from photography novices to social media sensations with a massive global following
  • Entrepreneurial Insights: Gain practical tips on juggling a successful online platform with personal passions
  • Education for Creators: Check out the Creator’s Passport for exclusive lessons on becoming a successful digital content creator
  • Perfecting the Professional-Personal Balance: Stephen and Giselle share their strategy for enjoying travel fully while capturing it beautifully for their audience
  • And much more!

 

Resources:

Connect with DeAndre Coke: 

Connect with Stephen and Giselle:

How a Family of Seven Travels the World For (Nearly) Free with Points and Miles (Ep. 19)

How a Family of Seven Travels the World For (Nearly) Free with Points and Miles (Ep. 19)

Imagine surprising your family with a business class flight to Europe, but skipping the hefty price tag. 

In this episode of “Revolutionizing Your Journey,” hosted by DeAndre Coke, travel aficionado Rob Dulgarian of @travelpointsrob shares his journey from his first Chase Sapphire Reserve card to a lifestyle of global family adventures. Experience stories from lavish stays in Costa Rica’s Tabba Con resort to surprising his kids with business class flights to Europe. Rob demonstrates how effectively managed points can make extravagant trips wonderfully accessible.

Key Highlights:

  • Points & Miles Strategy: Learn how Rob and his wife skillfully manage over 30 credit cards to maximize benefits with just a few key ones
  • Family Travel Planning: Discover Rob’s unique family tradition of special travel experiences with each child, creating lasting memories
  • Luxury on a Budget: Hear how Rob uses points for high-end travel experiences, such as his family’s stay at an all-inclusive resort in the Dominican Republic
  • Financial Planning with Travel Rewards: Understand the significance of financial discipline in managing multiple cards and improving credit scores
  • Future Travel Dreams: Get insight into Rob’s plans for a dream trip to Thailand in business class, smartly funded through point accumulation
  • And much more!

 

Resources:

Connect with DeAndre Coke: 

Connect with Robert Dulgarian, MBA, CPA: 

How To Do Hawaiian Luxury for Less Using Points & Miles (Ep. 14)

How To Do Hawaiian Luxury for Less Using Points & Miles (Ep. 14)

How do savvy travelers enjoy a Hawaiian vacation without the hefty price tag?

Transform your Hawaiian dream vacation from an extravagant fantasy into an attainable reality in this enlightening episode of “Revolutionizing Your Journey,” with host DeAndre Coke & Co-Host Taryn Gisbert. Dive into the art of using points and miles to get your ticket to a luxurious Hawaiian getaway.

Co-host Taryn Gisbert asks DeAndre the questions that everyone is thinking about. Where do you start, what rewards cards should you use, when should you go, and lastly, how do we make the most of our rewards points?

Key Highlights:

  • Beginner to Intermediate Guide: DeAndre and Taryn’s comprehensive walkthrough for both novices and seasoned travel hackers
  • Slash Your Hawaiian Vacation Costs: Discover how to enjoy a $4,000 trip for an astonishing $200
  • Maximizing Credit Card Rewards: Unearth secrets to picking the perfect credit cards for maximum points and beneficial partner transfers
  • Two-Player Mode Strategy: Essential tips for couples to double down on their travel rewards
  • Seamless Booking Secrets: Unlocking the best deals on economy flights and premium Hyatt stays
  • Financial Breakdown: Demonstrating the substantial savings achievable with points over cash
  • Responsible and Strategic Point Usage: Smart planning tips for accruing points without overspending

To dive into these insights and more – tune into the full episode!

 

Resources:

Connect with DeAndre Coke: 

Connect with Taryn Gisbert: 

Turning Points into Priceless Experiences with Tom Marsden (Ep. 13)

Turning Points into Priceless Experiences with Tom Marsden (Ep. 13)

How did a Toronto native use simple points to unlock world-class luxury travel?

Meet Tom Marsden, a native Canadian turned global wanderer, whose savvy travel strategies turn everyday points into luxurious global escapades. In this fascinating episode of “Revolutionizing Your Journey,” host DeAndre Coke invites us to dive into Tom’s world of strategic travel planning. Discover how Tom’s regular points have paved the way to extraordinary journeys for him and his family.

Key Highlights:

  • From Toronto to Travel Guru: Explore how Tom’s early life fueled his passion for travel and led him to become a mastermind travel strategist
  • Crafting $50,000 Journeys for $2,000: Tom’s Luxury Travel Secrets – Uncover the strategies that enabled Tom’s family to secure an opulent European adventure at a fraction of the regular cost
  • Why Tom Chooses Hyatt: A Look at Globalist Perks – Dive into Tom’s preference for Hyatt, detailing the luxurious family suites and unmatched customer service that come with Globalist status
  • The Road to Hyatt Globalist: Learn about achieving Hyatt’s top-tier Globalist status through smart and ethical travel strategies
  • Extending Luxury with Guest of Honor: Discover how Tom enhanced DeAndre’s Maldives trip using the ‘Guest of Honor’ benefit and its recent changes
  • Tips for Aspiring Travelers: Gain valuable advice on starting your journey and maximizing the value of credit card bonuses and offers
  • And much more!

 

Resources:

Connect with DeAndre Coke: 

Connect with Tom Marsden:

 

About Tom Marsden:

Tom Marsden is a seasoned traveler, originating from Toronto, Ontario. His journey began in 2010, leveraging his business travels to gather points and elite status. As a Hyatt Globalist and lifetime Marriott member, Tom has crafted unique and luxurious travel experiences for his family, turning points into priceless memories. His story is not only about luxurious travel but also about sharing his expertise with others, inspiring them to explore the world through smart and strategic travel strategies.