Couverture de Smart Travel: Upgrade Your Getaways

Smart Travel: Upgrade Your Getaways

Smart Travel: Upgrade Your Getaways

De : NerdWallet Travel
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 Planning your next vacation? Before you budget, learn how to get the most out of your travel dollars with Smart Travel. NerdWallet’s trusted travel experts, Sally French and Meghan Coyle, are here to help your travel dollars work even harder. But the travel Nerds don’t just make recommendations; they break down the latest travel details, exploring the pros and cons of specific strategies, practical tools, and tactics. Dive deep with the experts as they lay out all the options so you can finally plan that dream vacation. So put your seat in its full upright position, buckle up, and let’s help that travel budget take you places you’ve only dreamed about. Join hosts Sally French and Meghan Coyle, two of NerdWallet’s expert travel Nerds, as they lay out tips, tools, and strategies for your next travel getaway, including: Travel budgeting: What’s the best way to budget for a vacation? How can you save money planning travel? The Nerds compare the best travel budgeting tools. Travel Strategies: Should you use travel points or travel miles? Should you Airbnb or get a hotel? The Nerds have your how-to travel guide for your next trip. Family vacation planning: Thinking of a Disney trip or something more tropical? Should you fly or rent a car? The Nerds lay out your options so you can decide the best way to book your next family vacation. Travel Agents: Can travel agents save you money? Are there better alternatives? The Nerds dive into the actual cost of financial traveling and lay out your best options. Seasonal timing: When’s the right time to book travel for next summer? How far out should you plan a holiday getaway? The Nerds got you covered from Spring to Winter with smart travel strategies. Fee and policy changes: How do the latest TSA rules affect you? The Nerds break down recent regulations and how it impacts your next travel budget. Travel Planning Tools: Not sure about a new travel app? Does that website actually give you the best deals? The Nerds have reviewed all the major platforms and share their pros, cons, and insights. Destination-Specific Booking Strategies: Dreaming of Hawaiian or European getaways? The Nerds can help you and your travel budget when booking popular travel destinations. If you’re planning on traveling within the next 12 months and ready to start researching and booking your next great adventure, then follow Smart Travel to upgrade your getaways. You’ll love Smart Travel if you like podcasts like: Far From Home, Zero to Travel, Points Talk with the Travel Mom Squad, Amateur Traveler, Point Me To First Class, Takeoff A Points And Miles Podcast, Frequent Miler On The Air, Women Who Travel, and many other travel related podcasts. NerdWallet Compare, Inc. NMLS ID# 1617539 NMLS Consumer Access: http:// www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org/ Economie Sciences sociales Écritures et commentaires de voyage
Épisodes
  • Family Travel on Points and Miles: Free Checked Bags, Companion Passes, and Miles Pooling

    Family Travel on Points and Miles: Free Checked Bags, Companion Passes, and Miles Pooling
    Apr 15 2026
    Learn how families can use points and miles to fly, earn companion passes, and book hotels without paying full price. Before delving into the ins and outs of family travel, hosts Meghan Coyle and Tess Vigeland (filling in for Sally French) break down the latest travel headlines, including an increase in checked bag fees across all four major U.S. airlines, American Airlines stripping elite status perks from basic economy bookings, Rove Miles adding new transfer partners, Virgin Voyages' Brilliant Lady arriving in Los Angeles for West Coast sailings, and Tess's long-awaited — and ultimately successful — effort to get a refund from Iberia Airlines after a delayed flight in Spain. Then, Sally joins Meghan for a discussion with Erin Hurd, points expert and NerdWallet's director of travel, about how families can travel on points without losing their minds. Erin shares tips and tricks on flying babies and toddlers affordably, using family miles pooling programs to combine points across household members, earning companion passes to stretch your travel budget further, and booking hotels strategically when you need connecting rooms or extra space. Card benefits, terms and fees can change. For the most up-to-date information about cards mentioned in this episode, read our reviews: Delta SkyMiles Gold AmEx Review: Pricey for What You Get Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Review: Modest Perks, Big Bonus American Express Platinum Review: Top-Notch Lounge Access, Big Credits Bank of America Premium Rewards Review: Big Bonuses for B of A’s Best Customers Is the New Alaska Atmos Summit Card Worth a $395 Annual Fee? Resources discussed in this episode: The Guide to Rove Miles Top Airline Credit Cards With Companion Tickets 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    46 min
  • Traveling with Pets: How to Put Your Paws on the Best Airlines and Hotels for Furry Family Members

    Traveling with Pets: How to Put Your Paws on the Best Airlines and Hotels for Furry Family Members
    Apr 8 2026
    Learn what it really takes to fly and stay somewhere with your pet, from carrier rules to hidden fees. Hosts Sally French and Meghan Coyle discuss the best airlines and hotels for traveling with pets to help you avoid hidden fees and stressed-out animals. But first, they break down the latest travel headlines, including elevated welcome offers on Hilton co-branded cards expiring April 15, new signup bonuses on the Atmos Rewards cards from Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines, Alaska Airlines' new international business class launching from Seattle, upcoming American Express Centurion Lounge openings in Boston and Charlotte and an expansion at Dallas Fort Worth, Amex dropping Etihad as a transfer partner, Southwest Rapid Rewards cardholders now earning up to 5x points on Lyft rides, and new JetBlue TrueBlue redemption options for travel fees including pet travel. Then, joined by traveler Jana Kate, who has brought her dog Poquito on trips across Europe, they discuss the real costs and logistics of traveling with pets, with tips and tricks on choosing the right airline and hotel for your pet, navigating fees that can vary per night versus per stay, and what to know before you book with a furry companion in tow. Card benefits, terms and fees can change. For the most up-to-date information about cards mentioned in this episode, read our reviews: Hilton AmEx Surpass Review: Credits Can Offset the High Fee Hilton AmEx Review: Solid Rewards for No Annual Fee Hilton Honors Aspire Review: Rich Rewards, Luxury Perks for a Price Atmos Rewards Ascent Review: Well Worth $95 a Year Atmos Rewards Summit Card: Perks as Unique as They Are Valuable Southwest Priority Card Review: Pay More, Get More Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Review: Modest Perks, Big Bonus Southwest Premier Credit Card Review: The Middle Seat of Cards Resources discussed in this episode: The Best Airlines for Flying With Pets in 2026 Best Hotels for Pets in 2026 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
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    58 min
  • How to Spend Less on Big Sports Trips in 2026: FIFA World Cup 2026, PGA Championship and More

    How to Spend Less on Big Sports Trips in 2026: FIFA World Cup 2026, PGA Championship and More
    Apr 1 2026
    Learn how to save on flights, hotels, and tickets when you travel for major sporting events like the FIFA World Cup, the PGA Championship, or the Olympics. Hosts Sally French and Meghan Coyle discuss the ins and outs of planning travel for major sporting events. But first, Sally breaks down this week’s headlines with producer Tess Vigeland, including what TSA’s long-delayed pay could mean for airport security lines, Sally’s experience using Touchless ID at JFK, United’s new Dreamliner cabins and Relax Row seats, United’s MileagePlus earning changes, Bilt adding Wyndham Rewards as a transfer partner, and new Royal Caribbean cruise credit cards. Then, Sally and Meghan discuss how to travel for sporting events without going broke, with tips and tricks on when to stay farther from the venue, how to use public transit and alternate airports, when vacation packages can beat booking everything separately, how to think about ticket presales and premium card perks, and when it might be smarter to skip the stadium and enjoy the fan festivities instead. They also look ahead to the FIFA World Cup, the PGA Championship, Formula 1 races, the NBA All-Star Game, the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, and future Super Bowls. Plus: they answer a listener’s question about cash-back cards versus points cards. Card benefits, terms and fees can change. For the most up-to-date information about cards mentioned in this episode, read our reviews: Wells Fargo Active Cash Card Review: 2% Cash Back With a Bonus Wells Fargo Autograph Review: Big Rewards, No Annual Fee Chase Sapphire Preferred Review: Strong Option for Travel Rewards Chase Sapphire Reserve Review: A High-End, High-Maintenance Card American Express Platinum Review: Top-Notch Lounge Access, Big Credits 10 Things to Know About the AmEx Centurion Black Card Resources discussed in this episode: First Look: United’s Most Premium Plane With Polaris Studios United Makes Major Changes to Miles Earning Rates 28 Benefits of the Chase Sapphire Reserve 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
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    1 h
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