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
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    Épisodes
    • 25 Airports in 6 Months: The Real Lessons From JetBlue’s 350,000-Point Challenge

      25 Airports in 6 Months: The Real Lessons From JetBlue’s 350,000-Point Challenge
      Feb 25 2026
      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
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      53 min
    • Mediterranean Cruise Game Plan: Santorini, Mykonos, and the Greek Islands Without Transit Chaos

      Mediterranean Cruise Game Plan: Santorini, Mykonos, and the Greek Islands Without Transit Chaos
      Feb 18 2026
      Learn how you can explore the Mediterranean without losing days to ferries, hotel check-ins, or pricey islands. Hosts Sally French and Meghan Coyle discuss Mediterranean trip planning to help you link coastal cities and islands without wasting precious vacation time. But first, they break down the latest travel headlines, including Southwest adding Starlink Wi-Fi, JetBlue and United expanding the Blue Sky partnership for booking and redemptions, and spring break travel trends. Producer Tess Vigeland also joins to share lessons from a trip to Spain gone wrong, including how EU flight delay compensation works and what to update in Global Entry after you get a new passport. Next, Sally and Meghan dig into what makes traveling the Mediterranean tricky, from fragmented routes to language barriers and currencies, and talk through when a cruise can simplify island-hopping. Sally shares her port-heavy trip on Norwegian Cruise Line Viva with her husband, Hamilton, before she and Meghan spotlight can’t-miss stops like Cinque Terre, Sardinia, Kotor, Marseille and the French Riviera, Zadar, and Barcelona’s Sagrada Familia. Plus: where to look for surprisingly affordable luxury stays in places like Istanbul, Crete, and Montenegro. 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 https://www.nerdwallet.com/credit-cards/reviews/american-express-platinum 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
    • 2026 Elite Status Changes and Ways to Earn Status and Nights More Easily

      2026 Elite Status Changes and Ways to Earn Status and Nights More Easily
      Feb 11 2026
      Learn what 2026 status program changes mean for perks like upgrades, rebooking help, and lounges. Hosts Meghan Coyle and Sally French talk through the latest elite status updates to help you decide when they’re worth chasing. But first, they break down the latest travel headlines, including the U.K.’s electronic travel authorization (ETA) enforcement starting Feb. 25, 2026, a Hawaiian Airlines credit card giveaway offering chances to win 1 million points, Disney’s leadership change and new earnings highlights, and signs that luxury travel demand may be softening in 2026. Then, joined by fellow travel Nerd Benjamin Din, they discuss what’s changing for airline and hotel elite status in 2026, including how status is increasingly tied to spending and credit cards, when a status match challenge can be a shortcut, and how to choose a program based on your home airport and travel patterns. They also dig into updates across major programs including Southwest, American, United, and JetBlue, in addition to hotel shifts at Hilton, Hyatt, and Choice. Plus: what it really takes to earn United’s Million Miler milestone, including how lifetime status can change the way you book flights and hotels. Card benefits, terms and fees can change. For the most up-to-date information about cards mentioned in this episode, read our reviews: 5 Things to Know About the Hawaiian Airlines World Elite Mastercard Chase Sapphire Reserve Review: A High-End, High-Maintenance Card American Express Platinum Review: Top-Notch Lounge Access, Credits Hilton Honors Aspire Review: Rich Rewards, Luxury Perks for a Price World of Hyatt Card Review: Lavish Benefits, Reasonable Cost United Club Infinite Review: $695 Fee May Still Lure Lounge Lovers IHG One Rewards Premier Review: Free Nights on a Silver Platter Best Airline Credit Cards of February 2026 Best Hotel Credit Cards of February 2026 Resources discussed in this episode: Airline Credit Cards That Offer Free Checked Bags Which Credit Card Is Best for International Award Travel? The 5 Best Credit Cards with Hotel Status 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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      49 min
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