Smart Travel: Upgrade Your Getaways Titelbild

Smart Travel: Upgrade Your Getaways

Smart Travel: Upgrade Your Getaways

Von: NerdWallet Travel
Jetzt kostenlos hören, ohne Abo

Nur 0,99 € pro Monat für die ersten 3 Monate

Danach 9.95 € pro Monat. Bedingungen gelten.

Über diesen Titel

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/ Reiseliteratur & Erläuterungen Sozialwissenschaften Ökonomie
  • Bilt Card 2.0 Explained: Can Rent (or a Mortgage) Earn Points—and Is It Worth the Math?
    Jan 21 2026
    Find out if Bilt’s new credit cards are worth the hassle for earning points on rent or a mortgage. Hosts Sally French and Meghan Coyle dive deep into the Bilt Card 2.0 Program to explain what’s changed and what to consider before signing up. But first, they break down the latest travel headlines, including a World of Hyatt Credit Card welcome offer that can earn up to five free nights, what Southwest’s assigned seating rollout means for travelers, the cost (and extra time) of flying without a Real ID, and how you can enter to win a free 1:1 travel rewards strategy coaching session with NerdWallet credit card and travel rewards expert Erin Hurd. Then, Sally and Meghan dig into Bilt’s three new credit cards and a rewards system that now includes two currencies: Bilt Points and Bilt Cash. They walk through the big questions listeners have been asking, including when it makes sense to earn on rent, what’s really going on with mortgage rewards, and why the new math (plus shifting details) could change whether you jump in now or wait. Along the way, they weigh the annual-fee tradeoffs, compare Bilt’s new lineup to familiar fan favorites, and share what to watch for as the rollout keeps evolving. Subscribe to TravelNerd, our free newsletter, by January 30 for a chance to win a 1:1 travel rewards strategy coaching session (est. value $250). Learn more at https://www.nerdwallet.com/travel-newsletter-2 Card benefits, terms and fees can change. For the most up-to-date information about cards mentioned in this episode, read our reviews: Best Southwest Airlines Credit Cards of February 2026 Bilt Card From Wells Fargo: No Longer Available, but New Versions Coming Bilt’s 3 New Cards Earn Rewards on Housing, But It’s Complicated World of Hyatt Card Review: Lavish Benefits, Reasonable Cost Chase Sapphire Preferred Review: Strong Option for Travel Rewards Capital One Venture X Review: A Steal of a Deal Among Premium Cards American Express Platinum Review: Top-Notch Lounge Access, Big Credits Resources discussed in this episode: 7 Best Hyatt Category 4 Hotels Dear Bilt Palladium: You’re Welcome to Move in, but You Won’t Pay the Rent Bilt Palladium vs. Capital One Venture X: An In-Depth Comparison Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
    Mehr anzeigen Weniger anzeigen
    51 Min.
  • Fix Your Travel Credit Card Mix So Your Points Actually Add Up
    Jan 14 2026
    Build a credit card lineup that earns more travel rewards without becoming a full-time spreadsheet manager. In this special video episode, hosts Sally French and Meghan Coyle discuss how to build the perfect travel credit card “wallet” to help you earn more rewards, unlock perks, and avoid common points mistakes. But first, they break down the latest travel headlines, including Bilt’s revamped card lineup and new “Bilt Cash,” American Airlines rolling out free high-speed Wi-Fi, Alaska Airlines’ major fleet and route expansion plans, and Starlux’s new long-haul aircraft that could open up new routes (and new ways to book with points). Then, Sally and Meghan dig into what a “perfect wallet” actually looks like for different travelers, including when it makes sense to add a second card, how multiple cards can affect your credit score, and why a simple “great-on-everything” card can be the foundation for most people. They also explore when premium “coupon book” cards are worth the stress, how to avoid spreading your points too thin across too many programs, and how popular combos like the Chase trifecta can help you earn faster. Plus, they answer a listener question from Tu, a self-described international nomad, about what — if any — cards would be helpful to add to their wallet when traveling internationally. Card benefits, terms and fees can change. For the most up-to-date information about cards mentioned in this episode, read our reviews: Bilt Card From Wells Fargo: No Longer Available, but New Versions Coming Wells Fargo Autograph® Card Review: Big Rewards, No Annual Fee Capital One Venture X Review: A Steal of a Deal Among Premium Cards American Express Platinum Review: Top-Notch Lounge Access, Big Credits Chase Sapphire Preferred Review: Strong Option for Travel Rewards Chase Sapphire Reserve Review: A High-End, High-Maintenance Card Chase Freedom Unlimited Review: A Potential One-Card Solution Chase Freedom Flex Review: Multiple Bonus Rewards Wrapped in One Card Citi AAdvantage Platinum Card Review: Worth the Fee for Airline Loyalists Capital One Savor Review: Foodie-Focused Rewards, for No Annual Fee Amazon Prime Visa Review: Perhaps the Ultimate Store Card World of Hyatt Card Review: Lavish Benefits, Reasonable Cost Hilton Honors Aspire Review: Rich Rewards, Luxury Perks for a Price Atmos Rewards Summit Card: Perks as Rare as They Are Valuable Resources discussed in this episode: Bilt Card 2.0 Coming in February with Points for Mortgages Subscribe to TravelNerd, our free newsletter, by January 30 for a chance to win a 1:1 travel rewards strategy coaching session (est. value $250). Learn more at https://www.nerdwallet.com/travel-newsletter-2 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
    Mehr anzeigen Weniger anzeigen
    36 Min.
  • Samantha Brown on Places to Love, Route 66, and the Travel Habits That Save You Money
    Jan 7 2026
    Travel TV icon Samantha Brown shares tips for finding hidden gems, saving money, and dodging airport stress. Hosts Sally French and Meghan Coyle sit down with Samantha Brown, host of Samantha Brown’s Places to Love, to talk about how she keeps travel feeling fun, affordable, and deeply local after decades on the road. But first, Sally and Meghan swap recent trip highlights, including a car-free weekend in Oceanside, California, and the growing trend of nighttime “glow” events at zoos and botanical gardens. Then, Samantha Brown shares what she looks for when she’s wandering side streets, how “travel like a local” changed after COVID, and where she actually splurges (and saves) on trips. She also gets real about points and miles for inflexible schedules, her approach to airline loyalty, the airport habits that help her manage travel anxiety, her favorite airport, a controversial boarding tip for families, and the Route 66 stops she thinks deserve way more love. 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. In this episode, the Nerds discuss: side street travel strategy, supporting local small businesses while traveling, Ted Drewes frozen custard concrete, badminton hall Zurich, Dolly Parton bar decor, Vienna intergenerational cafe Vollpension, retirees baking cafe Vienna, hotel night before early arrival, red-eye early check-in strategy, fourth night free hotel points, fifth night free hotel points, Hilton fifth night free, Marriott fifth night free, hotel no-show policy late arrival, call the hotel front desk late arrival, last-minute award seats, protected backup flight strategy, booking backup flights on different airlines, Lufthansa last-minute availability, Delta Sky Club LaGuardia, Tampa International Airport, Washington Dulles people movers, Dulles mobile lounge story, duty free perfume shopping, checked bags vs carry-on debate, what to pack in case luggage is lost, Abu Dhabi vs Dubai travel value, Disney park Abu Dhabi, Oman travel, overtourism fatigue, avoiding “look-at-me” destinations, and travel and human connection vs AI. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
    Mehr anzeigen Weniger anzeigen
    46 Min.
Noch keine Rezensionen vorhanden