Podcast appearances and mentions of michael trager

In this episode of the Hurdy Gurdy Travel Podcast, host Justin Vacula is joined by special guest Michael Trager to discuss ZorkFest 2025, a conference focused on maximizing travel and casino loyalty rewards. Scheduled for December 5th-7th in Las Vegas, ZorkFest offers a range of educational sessions covering the use of credit card points, miles, and casino loyalty programs to enhance travel experiences. Topics include detailed discussions on loyalty programs like American Airlines Advantage, Delta SkyMiles, and reward currencies such as Ultimate Rewards and American Express Membership Rewards. The episode also highlights the unique aspects of the event, including hands-on casino game labs, optional masterclasses, and various social activities. Listeners are encouraged to book their reservations early and to engage in the networking opportunities available. Find more information at www.zorkfest.com 00:00 Introduction to Hurdy Gurdy Travel Podcast 00:54 Special Guest: Michael Trager and ZorkFest 2025 03:12 Venue and Logistics of ZorkFest 2025 07:07 Activities and Sessions at ZorkFest 10:06 Speakers and Experts at ZorkFest 17:55 Maximizing Travel and Casino Loyalty Programs 23:20 Responsible Gambling and Risk Management 28:30 Understanding Low-Risk Gambling 28:51 ZorkFest: A Passion Project 30:07 Booking Early for ZorkFest 32:33 Maximizing Comp and Discounted Rooms 36:32 Listener Questions: Gambling in Texas 41:56 Leveraging Casino Promotions 45:26 Maximizing Credit Card Rewards 48:40 Masterclasses and Schedule 51:44 Closing Announcements and Future Events -- Main website, including episode transcripts: https://hurdygurdytravelpodcast.com Referral links: https://hurdygurdytravel.com/donate-referral-links/ CardPointers affiliate link: https://cardpointers.com/hurdygurdytravel Join me for in-person meetups I host in Willow Grove, PA: https://www.meetup.com/phillymilesandpoints/ SubscribeStar: https://www.subscribestar.com/hurdy-gurdy-travel SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/hurdygurdytravelpodcast Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hurdy-gurdy-travel-podcast/id1489093490 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8EcIcoNU1HK4KKhQtTkAWw Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/hurdy-gurdy-travel-podcast Google Play: https://www.play.google.com/music/listen?u=0#/ps/l5bmuntd4wpvtklvg42ejg42ejg4apiu Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HurdyGurdyTravelPodcast Twitter: https://twitter.com/HGTravelPodcast Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/justinvacula Copy and paste the podcast RSS feed -- http://feeds.soundcloud.com/users/soundcloud:users:706382626/sounds.rss -- to listen on your favorite podcast-playing platform!

Episode 57: Show Notes. Sometimes you just need to do some travel banter! And who better to do it with than TravelZork Travel's Michael Trager? In today's conversation, we discuss our recent travel experiences and dig into the nitty gritty of points, upgrades, flight paths, and so much more. To kick things off, we hear all about Michael's recent trip to Madrid and the benefits of American Airlines' ConciergeKey status, which Michael has access to thanks to his wife, Ellen! We then discuss optimal flight paths to Europe from different parts of the US, why JetBlue is on the naughty list this week, and how to optimize your next trip to Vegas. Next, we explore the flagship lounge and dining experience on different airlines, before discussing why it sometimes makes sense to pay for travel (because you can't do everything on points) and the exceptional cases where we break our own rules. We also dive into Marriott points and benefits, including getting the fifth night free, the challenges of hotel hopping, and the importance of a positive arrival experience; especially if you have your family in tow. Finally, Michael tells us the essential details and updates for ZorkFest 2025, including the festival's four-star accommodation, their new miles and points labs, their epic foodie and beverage dining experience, the speakers they have lined up, and much more. Be sure to tune in to hear the full scope of our travel banter conversation with Michael Trager! Key Points From This Episode: [00:00:49] Introducing TravelZork Travel's Michael Trager. [00:03:17] All the details of Michael's visit to Madrid. [00:06:00] The benefits of having ConciergeKey status. [00:12:07] Debating the value of a premium economy cabin. [00:16:09] Optimizing your flight from different parts of the US to Europe. [00:21:09] Reasons why JetBlue is on the Naughty list this week. [00:29:43] Why is Michael saying farewell to his trip to Greece this summer. [00:31:26] Getting special awards and upgrades with American Airlines. [00:34:17] Key considerations for optimizing your trip to Vegas. [00:35:17] Getting access to the flagship lounge and dining. [00:41:38] Words of appreciation for connoisseur classes. [00:44:26] How to balance point accumulation and spending. [00:49:31] Tips for navigating Marriott points and benefits, including fifth night free. [00:53:49] The challenges of hotel hopping and the benefits of a good arrival experience. [00:58:18] Our thoughts on The White Lotus and tourism. [00:59:46] Getting information right in travel content. [01:01:43] Your guide to a positive arrival experience. [01:09:42] Details and Updates for ZorkFest 2025. [01:15:24] ZorkFest events: dining, live podcasting, master classes, hotel bookings, and private gaming experiences. [01:18:03] The speaking lineup you can expect from this year's ZorkFest. [01:20:22] Booking, tickets, and hotel information. [01:22:12] What makes ZorkFest such a unique, unmissable event. [01:25:16] Lessons you can expect to learn on casino loyalty and risk management. [01:36:11] Why Michael refers to himself as an American Airlines fanboy. [01:40:52] Where you can find Michael online. [01:43:07] Parting words for today's travel banter. Quotes: “The amount of trouble to position to JFK and then to leave, like, three, four, five, six, hours between the flight to then get a lie flat seat for a flight that maybe is six hours of which maybe, if all of the stars align, you get four hours of sleep. And that's like, if you're really lucky.” — Michael Trager [17:33] “JetBlue is on my very naughty list, really naughty list this week.” — Michael Trager [21:19] “That has been a thread or a mantra on this podcast, ‘book the flight or book the room you want'.” — @tmount [56:29] “When you hit the ground, that's going to set the tone for your entire trip.” — @tmount [56:57] “Nothing's gonna be as good as a nice, quiet hotel room on the ground for you to recover.” — @TktweetsKim [01:04:34] “Value is so personal, right? People need to respect that, and a lot of people don't. They think that their truth is the only truth.” — @TktweetsKim [01:09:23] “This is the first time we are truly having ZorkFest at a very bougie casino property with a very bougie, true four-star room product.” — Michael Trager [01:11:01] “There are things you learn from casino advantage players like Anthony Curtis, or things that you learn from casino loyalty, that can be parsed to the miles and points world technique-wise.” — Michael Trager [01:25:30] Links Mentioned in Today's Episode: Michael Trager Michael Trager on LinkedIn TravelZork Travel TravelZork TravelZork on Facebook TravelZork on X TravelZork on Bluesky TravelZork on Instagram TravelZork on YouTube TravelZork, ZorkCast (and ZorkFest too!) - Casinos, Vegas, Miles & Points on Facebook Join the Zork Fest Mailing List Yo-11 Podcast | ZorkCast on Spotify BAEC GOLD + GGL + Premier [British Airways Executive Club] Facebook Group Hyatt Privé Deals Facebook Group Cunard | Queen Mary 2 + Entire Line | Cruise Deals, Discussion + Promotions Facebook Group The M Resort and Spa and Casino, Las Vegas Thomas Kim on X Trevor Mountcastle on X

On this episode: Michael Trager gives great tips on actions to take when a hurricane is approaching and it's time to get out of dodge. Movestro discovers fantastic Sushi at Resorts World.GET YOUR ZORKFEST TICKETS -> HEREJoin the TravelZork FB Group -> HERETravelZork TravelZorkFestWatch this episode on YouTube -> HEREWatch, Like, and Sub on YouTubeThe Yo-11 Minutes Playlist on YouTube

If you enjoy the podcast, I hope you'll take a moment to leave us a rating. That helps us grow our audience! Watch us on YouTube!  We're starting this week's episode with some bad news about Southwest Airlines. Amid rumors and internal announcements that the airline would make some cuts, they announced pretty massive service cuts to service from Atlanta. These airports will soon no longer see service from Southwest out of Atlanta: Cleveland Fort Lauderdale Fort Myers, Florida Greenville/Spartanburg, South Carolina Jackson, Mississippi Jacksonville, Florida Louisville, Kentucky Memphis Miami Milwaukee Oklahoma City Omaha Philadelphia Richmond, Virginia Sarasota, Florida We interrupt this somber news day to talk about our friend Michael Trager's event ZorkFest. Not only is ZorkFest a great event to learn about travel AND how to play the Vegas status game, it's also where Richard and Ed first connected (no matter how much Richard says otherwise). If you want to register, we have two discount codes you can use: Code "pizzalate88" gets you $50 off a ZorkFest ticket Use code "wish" to have Trager donate $88 to Make a Wish Nevada on your behalf. And, we end the show on a sad note, talking about how Southwest's new assigned seating will work. It's about the worst of the possible scenarios we contemplated a few weeks ago. If you're looking for a way to support the show, we'd love to have you join us in our Travel Slack Community.  Join me and other travel experts for informative conversations about the travel world, the best ways to use your miles and points, Zoom happy hours and exciting giveaways. Monthly access Annual access Personal consultation plus annual access We have witty, funny, sarcastic discussions about travel, for members only. My fellow travel experts are available to answer your questions and we host video chats multiple times per month. See More: https://milestogo.boardingarea.com/ Follow Us! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/milestogopodcast/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@milestogopodcast Ed Pizza: https://www.instagram.com/pizzainmotion/ Richard Kerr: https://www.instagram.com/kerrpoints/

You're listening to the Hurdy Gurdy Travel Podcast. I'm your host, Justin Vacula, here to help you travel the world at next to no cost with credit card points, miles, benefits, and rewards. Make money, save money, and take advantage of great deals! Thanks for joining me for today's episode with returning podcast guest Michael Trager. We talk about the upcoming Zorkfest 2024 event, gambling, and miles & points. Before today's episode, some quick announcements. I'll be speaking at multiple events in 2024, including the September Chicago Seminars event at Hyatt Regency, the October Chicago Seminars event at the Holiday Inn in Elk Grove Village & the miles, points, and gambling event Zorkfest, November 2024 in Las Vegas. Visit meetup.com/phillymilesandpoints to RSVP for monthly Greater Philadelphia Travel: Credit, Miles, and Points meetups I host in Willow Grove, Pennsylvania. The next meetups are September 15th and October 20th. The website Udio, U-D-I-O, .com created the new podcast intro music. For more content between podcast episodes, follow Hurdy Gurdy Travel Podcast on Facebook and X formerly known as Twitter. Follow Justin Vacula on Instagram. -- Main website, including episode transcripts: https://hurdygurdytravelpodcast.com Referral links: https://hurdygurdytravel.com/donate-referral-links/ Join me for in-person meetups I host in Willow Grove, PA: https://www.meetup.com/phillymilesandpoints/ SubscribeStar: https://www.subscribestar.com/hurdy-gurdy-travel SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/hurdygurdytravelpodcast Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hurdy-gurdy-travel-podcast/id1489093490 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8EcIcoNU1HK4KKhQtTkAWw Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/hurdy-gurdy-travel-podcast Google Play: https://www.play.google.com/music/listen?u=0#/ps/l5bmuntd4wpvtklvg42ejg42ejg4apiu Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HurdyGurdyTravelPodcast Twitter: https://twitter.com/HGTravelPodcast Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/justinvacula Copy and paste the podcast RSS feed -- http://feeds.soundcloud.com/users/soundcloud:users:706382626/sounds.rss -- to listen on your favorite podcast-playing platform!

On this 100th Episode of Yo-11 Podcast. Oops, we annoyed some people when discussing the card pulling method. Michael Trager is in Boston at Raffles Hotel Boston and gives us a room tour and shares photos of his dinner at Encore Boston Harbor during it's 5th Anniversary. Also, hilarity ensues when housekeeping misunderstands the need for more writing pads. There's a crazy Uber story as well.LINKSTravelZork TravelZorkFestWatch this episode on Youtube -> HEREWatch, Like, and Sub on YouTubeThe Yo-11 Minutes Playlist on YouTubeSupport the Show.⁉️ Want to contact us or share something?Chat to TravelZork, ZorkCast and TravelZork Travel!

On this episode: Michael Trager discusses his experience at THE BUFFET at Wynn Las VegasWatch this episode on Youtube -> HEREWatch, Like, and Sub on YouTubeThe Yo-11 Minutes Playlist on YouTubeLinks:TravelZork TravelZorkFestSupport the Show.⁉️ Want to contact us or share something?Chat to TravelZork, ZorkCast and TravelZork Travel!

On this episode: Michael Trager discusses his recent Vegas trip.Vegas News: High Roller Turns 10Watch this episode on Youtube -> HEREWatch, Like, and Sub on YouTubeThe Yo-11 Minutes Playlist on YouTubeLinks:TravelZork TravelZorkFestSupport the Show.⁉️ Want to contact us or share something?Chat to TravelZork, ZorkCast and TravelZork Travel!

On this episode:Michael Trager discusses Sand Corps issues with NYC and choosing to build in Thailand instead.Watch This Episode On YouTube! -- Watch, Like, and Sub on YouTubeThe Yo-11 Minutes Playlist on YouTubeLinks:TravelZork TravelCDC Gaming Article About Sands Thai Casino and NYC MisadventuresContest to win a copy of: Casino Craps for the Winner Leave a comment about this episode below ⬇️Share a link to this episode on Social Media (your choice) Join the TravelZork email list at https://tips.travelzork.com/ (if you have not already)Send an email to tips@travelzork.com before April 20th, 2024Subject: Yo-11 Contest Apr 16 2024-Tell us where you shared this episode on social (or provide a link)-Tell us your name and mailing addressWho wins? 5 winners -First (1) Email Received-Second (2) Email Received -Eighth (8) Email Received -10th Email -18th Email Contest Ends on April 20th. For more info on Finland AdventuresPlease send an inquiry Visit Finland

Yo-Eleven MinutesMostly Vegas. No BS. Casino Experience +more⬇️“Guess the Top Performing Casino Outside of Nevada” - Yo-11 Minutes: E53 Season 2 On this episode:“Guess the Top Performing Casino Outside of Nevada” Links:TravelZork Travel https://travelzork.travel/The Other Side of Midnight with Frank Morano on 77WABCTalking casinos and the “huge win” in 2023.Michael Trager interview/episode on February 22, 2024Top Casinos Outside Nevada, More details:U.S. casinos won nearly $67 billion from gamblers last year Watch, Like and Sub on YouTubeThe Yo-11 Minutes Playlist on YouTubeSupport the show⁉️ Want to contact us or share something?Chat to TravelZork, ZorkCast and TravelZork Travel!

Frank starts the show talking with Dominic Carter about the shooting at the Kansas City Chief parade and then talks about Nikki Haley's infidelity and how that will affect her run for President. Frank wonders if human cloning will ever happen and asks if anyone ever had a dream about him. Frank asks the question if you would like to have a 4 day work week and then Frank interviews Michael Trager, Luxury Travel and Casino Gaming Industry Entrepreneur with Travelzork.com about the record year for casino revenue. Frank talks about a "Momfluencer" who has been sentenced to years in prison for child abuse and then talks to Noam Laden and does his 15 seconds of fame to round out another Thursday show. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Frank asks the question if you would like to have a 4 day work week and then Frank interviews Michael Trager, Luxury Travel and Casino Gaming Industry Entrepreneur with Travelzork.com about the record year for casino revenue. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Michael Trager, Luxury Travel and Casino Gaming Industry Entrepreneur with Travelzork.com Topic: record year for casino revenue Bio: https://travelzork.com/author/baccarat_guy/ Social media: Twitter: @TravelZork FB: https://www.facebook.com/TravelZork/ IG: https://www.instagram.com/travelzork Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Yo-Eleven MinutesMostly Vegas. No BS. Casino Experience +more⬇️“Top Tips When Planning Your European Summer Vacation” - Yo-11 Minutes: E52 Season 2 On this episode:Michael discusses: Planning tips that will help you make the most out of your European Summer Vacation.Movestro's News Story: First License granted for Cannabis Smoking Lounge in Las Vegas.Links:TravelZork Travel The Other Side of Midnight with Frank Morano on 77WABCTalking casinos and the “huge win” in 2023.Michael Trager interview/episode on February 22, 2024Watch, Like and Sub on YouTubeThe Yo-11 Minutes Playlist on YouTubeSupport the show⁉️ Want to contact us or share something?Chat to TravelZork, ZorkCast and TravelZork Travel!

Yo-Eleven MinutesMostly Vegas. No BS. Casino Experience +more⬇️Yo-11 Minutes: E45 Season 2 “We found the BEST Casino VIP Lounge!”On this episode:The show we meant to do yesterday, we did today.Michael Trager reveals the best VIP lounge.News story: All American Cafe at RIO is set to close.Links:[From the archives] Amphora Changes from $10 to $12.50 co-pay (way back when!)Watch, Like and Sub on YouTubeThe Yo-11 Minutes Playlist on YouTubeSupport the show⁉️ Want to contact us or share something?Chat to TravelZork, ZorkCast and TravelZork Travel!

Frank begins the show talking about the murderer who escaped prison in Pennsylvania and speaks to Michael Franzese, former Captain in the Colombo Crime Family, author and motivational speaker. His latest book is “Mafia Democracy: How our Republic Became a Mob Racket” about the Hunter Biden indictment, his book, and news of the day. After, Frank discusses a study that says that opposites do not attract when it comes to couples and the deficit of best friends among the male population. Then, Frank talks about Dusty Rhodes and is joined by Michael Trager, Luxury Travel and Casino Gaming Industry Entrepreneur with Travelzork.com to talk about comparing casinos in Detroit, Nevada, NJ and Maryland. Later, Frank talks about what subject matter isn't being taught in school but should be and Brian Kilmeade, New York Times best-selling author, co-host of Fox and Friends on Fox News and a radio talk show host heard every morning from 10am-Noon on 77WABC joins to talk about the news of the day.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Michael Trager, Luxury Travel and Casino Gaming Industry Entrepreneur with Travelzork.com Topic:  comparing casinos in Detroit, Nevada, NJ and Maryland Bio: https://travelzork.com/author/baccarat_guy/ Social media: Twitter: @TravelZork FB: https://www.facebook.com/TravelZork/ IG: https://www.instagram.com/travelzork Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You're listening to the Hurdy Gurdy Travel Podcast. I'm your host, Justin Vacula, here to help you travel the world at next to no cost with credit card points, miles, benefits, and rewards. Make money, save money, and take advantage of great deals! Today's episode features special guest Michael Trager, who chats with me about the October 2023 Zorkfest event he is hosting in Lake Tahoe. We also talk more generally about topics that will be discussed at Zorkfest, including miles and points, credit cards, gambling, and loyalty programs. Michael Trager is the host of the ZorkCast podcast which focuses on casino and travel loyalty programs and gambling. He runs TravelZork Travel - a full-service travel agency providing VIP service and luxury hotel stays with many benefits. Trager also hosts the TravelZork, ZorkCast, and Zorkfest too - Casinos, Vegas, Miles & Points Facebook group. He's hosted multiple ZorkFest events in recent years including events in Las Vegas and Atlantic City. Before today's discussion, I have two quick show notes. I host monthly in-person meetups in Willow Grove, Pennsylvania, with the group Greater Philadelphia Travel: Credit, Miles, and Points. Find more information at meetup.com/phillymilesandpoints. I'll also present at the upcoming conference Zorkfest, discussed in this episode, which will include social events and sessions educating about miles, points, and gambling. Find more information at www.zorkfest.com. Main website, including episode transcripts: https://hurdygurdytravelpodcast.com Referral links: https://hurdygurdytravel.com/donate-referral-links/ Join me for in-person meetups I host in Willow Grove, PA: https://www.meetup.com/phillymilesandpoints/ SubscribeStar: https://www.subscribestar.com/hurdy-gurdy-travel eBay store: https://www.ebay.com/str/hurdygurdytravelllc SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/hurdygurdytravelpodcast iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hurdy-gurdy-travel-podcast/id1489093490 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8EcIcoNU1HK4KKhQtTkAWw Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/hurdy-gurdy-travel-podcast Google Play: https://www.play.google.com/music/listen?u=0#/ps/l5bmuntd4wpvtklvg42ejg42ejg4apiu Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HurdyGurdyTravelPodcast Twitter: https://twitter.com/HGTravelPodcast Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/justinvacula Copy and paste the podcast RSS feed -- http://feeds.soundcloud.com/users/soundcloud:users:706382626/sounds.rss -- to listen on your favorite podcast-playing platform!

You're listening to the Hurdy Gurdy Travel Podcast. I'm your host, Justin Vacula, here to help you travel the world at next to no cost with credit card points, miles, benefits, and rewards. Make money, save money, and take advantage of great deals! Today's episode features special guest Taylor Thomas, who chats with me about gift card reselling and credit cards. Taylor Thomas is originally from Charlotte, NC. He first got into credit cards, miles, and points in 2015 and began manufactured spending in 2019. In April 2020, Taylor launched his group QCGC where he posts gift card deals and buys gift cards from members to give them more credit card spending opportunities. QCGC has continued to grow over the past three years and has around 850 members on Telegram. Before today's discussion, I have two quick show notes. I host monthly in-person meetups in Willow Grove, Pennsylvania, with the group Greater Philadelphia Travel: Credit, Miles, and Points. Find more information at meetup.com/phillymilesandpoints. I'll also present at the upcoming conference Zorkfest, which will include social events and sessions educating about miles, points, and gambling. Find more information at zorkfest.com, that's z o r k f e s t dot com, and stay tuned for an upcoming episode with the event host, Michael Trager, who will chat with me about the event taking place in Lake Tahoe on October 13th, 14th, and 15th 2023. Now, on with today's episode with special guest Taylor Thomas. -- Taylor Telegram links: https://t.me/joinchat/ggDFJYYilrwyMzc5 https://t.me/joinchat/0N1hOnN78fA3Y2Ix -- Main website, including episode transcripts: https://hurdygurdytravelpodcast.com Referral links: https://hurdygurdytravel.com/donate-referral-links/ Join me for in-person meetups I host in Willow Grove, PA: https://www.meetup.com/phillymilesandpoints/ SubscribeStar: https://www.subscribestar.com/hurdy-gurdy-travel eBay store: https://www.ebay.com/str/hurdygurdytravelllc SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/hurdygurdytravelpodcast iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hurdy-gurdy-travel-podcast/id1489093490 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8EcIcoNU1HK4KKhQtTkAWw Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/hurdy-gurdy-travel-podcast Google Play: https://www.play.google.com/music/listen?u=0#/ps/l5bmuntd4wpvtklvg42ejg42ejg4apiu Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HurdyGurdyTravelPodcast Twitter: https://twitter.com/HGTravelPodcast Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/justinvacula Copy and paste the podcast RSS feed -- http://feeds.soundcloud.com/users/soundcloud:users:706382626/sounds.rss -- to listen on your favorite podcast-playing platform!

Talking All Things with Michael Trager and ZorkFest Episode 13: Show Notes. This week, on our lucky Episode 13, we welcome Michael Trager from TravelZork. We sit down and hear from Michael about his comical, but just as incredible, TWA story, and how he got into revenue luxury travel. We discuss all things related to rewards credit cards, the 5/24 rule, and what we like and dislike about loyalty points. We also include a quick game, called Guess the Fare and hear about Michael's best-ever aggressively priced airfare. Michael then tells us, and listeners, all about what they can look forward to for the upcoming ZorkFest 2023, in Lake Tahoe, Nevada. It's going to be October 13-14, and is a mix of gambling and casino topics, points and miles discussions including featured guests, and their no BS approach that combines practical and expert advice for both travel and casino loyalty, and so much more. Don't miss out on this great episode, with our knowledgeable guest, Michael Trager. Key Points From This Episode: [00:00:20] An introduction to our guest on this week's episode. [00:01:08] More about Michael Trager; a self-introduction, if you will. [00:03:50] His incredible TWA story. [00:06:30] Michael tells us about doing revenue luxury travel. [00:11:00] He tells us about his new American Airlines AAdvantage credit card. [00:13:30] We discuss the 5/24 Rule. [00:17:30] The art of calculating points, rewards, and the game of it. [00:19:15] What we like about AA loyalty points. [00:20:42] A quick tangent on TSA pre-checkpoints. [00:21:45] We close the segment with a game: Guess the Fare? [00:31:00] Booking an itinerary and thinking outside the fare. [00:31:45] Michael's best ever “aggressively priced” airfare. [00:33:28] The problem with people, according to Michael (when booking fares). [00:36:30] Why you should ‘let it sit' for a while. [00:39:30] Michael's spiel on airport lounges. [00:42:00] We talk about ZorkFest 2023. [00:49:58] A quick tip on flying to ZorkFest 2023. [00:50:05] Where to find Travel Zork and Michael Trager. Tweetables: “But, remember, if you get a credit card you should always start with Chase, and you should be very aware of 5/24.” — @TravelZork [0:13:12] “I think AA as a partner is very strong because you have so few paths to accumulate AA miles and I still find AA miles to be quite valuable.” — @TravelZork [0:15:50] “This is the problem with people [when buying airfare] — they're impatient.” — @TravelZork [0:33:27] Links Mentioned in Today's Episode: Michael Trager on LinkedIn Michael Trager on Twitter Zorkfest 2023 TravelZork Travel - Inquire & Book - VIP SERVICE American Advantage Marriot Bonvoy La Première Air France AA Credit Cards Patreon The 5/24 Rule Southwest Companion Pass IHG Card United Card ChatGPT AMEX Centurion Card BAEC Gold + GGL + Premium Facebook Group One World Flagship Lounge ZorkCast the Podcast Los Vegas Advisor Vegas Introvert on YouTube Thomas Kim on Twitter Trevor on Twitter

This episode features volume two of a set of answers to the question "what was your first exposure to gambling?" I pulled answers from episodes 11-28 featuring responses from Michael Trager, Preston Johnson, Michael Shackleford, Richard Munchkin, and Eric Rosenthal.   Show: @TheBettorLife Use promo code "YOELEVEN" for 11% off at The Bettor Life online shop: www.bettormerch.com Want to launch your own podcast? Use promo code "BETTOR" at sign up for 2 months free when you sign up for a plan at Libsyn, my podcast hosting service of choice. https://signup.libsyn.com/?promo_code=BETTOR Support the show with a monthly pledge at Patreon.com/TheBettorLife Please, take a moment to leave us a rating and review in your podcast app of choice like iTunes, Stitcher, or Spotify.

On tonight's edition of The Other Side of Midnight: Frank starts off by talking about the great debate of throwing pizza boxes in the garbage or recycling them. Frank also talks to Spencer Klavan, podcaster for the Daily Wire, Associate Editor at the Claremont Institute, a classicist with a PHD from Oxford and the author of the new book “How to Save the West: Ancient Wisdom for 5 Modern Crises” about his book and western civilization. After, Frank talks about tax payers having to pay for the construction of sports stadiums but the owners of those sports teams getting the benefit, the three objects that were recently shot down still not being identified, Raquel Welch passing away at the age of 82, and much more. Frank shuffles the deck with Michael Trager, Luxury Travel and Casino Gaming Industry Entrepreneur with Travelzork.com for the AC Report. They compare casinos in Nevada, NJ and Maryland. Later, Frank is joined by Brian Kilmeade, New York Times best-selling author, co-host of Fox and Friends on Fox News and a radio talk show host heard every morning from 10am-Noon on 77WABC to talk about the news of the day. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Frank Morano shuffles the deck with Michael Trager, Luxury Travel and Casino Gaming Industry Entrepreneur with Travelzork.com for the AC Report. They discuss compare casinos in Nevada, NJ and Maryland. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On tonight's edition of the Other Side of Midnight: Frank begins the show talking to the Midnight Panel consisting of Josh O'Brien, personal trainer, podcaster and Frank's brother-in-law, and Johnny Potenza, the host of the TV talk show, “Up Late with Johnny P” about various topics. Then, Frank discusses STDs and the increase of syphilis and his Uncle Steve's cat situation. After, Frank counts his chips with Michael Trager, Luxury Travel and Casino Gaming Industry Entrepreneur with Travelzork.com for the AC Report. Later, Brian Kilmeade, New York Times Best-Selling Author, Co-Host of Fox and Friends on Fox News and a Radio Talk Show Host on the current news of the day and much more to round out the show. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Frank counts his chips with Michael Trager, Luxury Travel and Casino Gaming Industry Entrepreneur with Travelzork.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Frank Morano goes all in with Michael Trager, Luxury Travel and Casino Gaming Industry Entrepreneur with Travelzork.com on the AC Report, comparing casinos in Nevada, New Jersey, and Vietnam. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Frank Morano plays deuces wild with Michael Trager, Luxury Travel and Casino Gaming Industry Entrepreneur with Travelzork.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Michael Trager, founder of TravelZork, joins us once again. He talks all about Big Baccarat, the fun, superstitions, quirks and camaraderie of the game. Then, we touch on the future of casinos in the northeast. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/robin-t-aubin/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/robin-t-aubin/support

TravelZork.com is a fabulous website for Casinos, Casino Travel, Las Vegas, Miles & Points, and Airlines & Hotels. The Founder, Michael Trager, gives us insight into travel deals and suggestions for your next Las Vegas trip. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/robin-t-aubin/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/robin-t-aubin/support

We're talking mainly about Hyatt and American AIrlines today and Richard Kerr is back in the saddle with me. Hyatt started adding new all-inclusive properties to the award chart, with an anticipated 50 to come in the next month. We take a look at the value proposition in relation to redeeming your points at one of these newly added properties. And, as points and miles nerds, we love the double-dip opportunities. Right now, you can earn miles on American Airlines, points on Marriott and make progress to elite status on American from your Uber rides. We also answer some listener questions on Las Vegas that are a follow-up to our deep dive on Vegas with Michael Trager. If you sent us a question and we haven't gotten to it yet, we promise we'll get you a reply. We've got a big backlog for future shows! Don't forget that you can leave us a voicemail or text us at (571) 293-6659‬. Listen for your question on a future show! If you have a question you can e-mail me at ed@pizzainmotion.com. And, you can also find me on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram and ask your question there. If you enjoy the podcast, I hope you'll take a moment to leave us a rating. That helps us grow our audience! Hope you enjoy the show!

Richard is busy this week but I'm not flying solo. I've got Michael Trager with me this week. He's a returning guest with a slightly new topic. Michael has been helping me book hotel rooms for about 6 months now and he's saving me money. You can find more details on his website. And, we're also talking all things Vegas. Michael and I are both in Vegas tons of times each year and share our favorite restaurants, hotels, casinos and more. If you want to learn more about Vegas check out Michael's Facebook group. If you sent us a question and we haven't gotten to it yet, we promise we'll get you a reply. We've got a big backlog for future shows! Don't forget that you can leave us a voicemail or text us at (571) 293-6659‬. Listen for your question on a future show! If you have a question you can e-mail me at ed@pizzainmotion.com. And, you can also find me on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram and ask your question there. If you enjoy the podcast, I hope you'll take a moment to leave us a rating. That helps us grow our audience! Hope you enjoy the show!

The Other Side of Midnight is presented by a radio host who's appreciation of nostalgia is only rivaled by his love of cottage cheese. On this morning's episode of the ratings' favorite overnight radio show, Frank makes an attempt at getting callers to list their pick of "Woman of the Year", and ponders on what makes people resort to evil acts of violence in the midst of the recent death of an 87-year old woman being shoved to the ground. Frank likes his speech the way he likes his butter... FREE. Frank is joined by Republican Gubernatorial candidate in New York Lee Zeldin to talk about the upcoming primary race, Ben Mankiewicz to talk about the movement of the film industry, and it's Thursday so Frank brings Michael Trager to talk about Atlantic City in this week's edition of The AC Report. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this week's edition of The AC Report, Michael Trager joins Frank Morano to talk which casinos in Atlantic City have the best rewards programs, the recent renovations to Caesars and Bally's, the state of smoking in casinos, and everything else going on in Atlantic City. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Michael Trager, Luxury Travel and Casino Gaming Industry Entrepreneur with Travelzork.com for the The AC Report

This episode I'm joined by Michael where we cover #ZorkFest Happening Dec 17th & 18th At The Plaza & How it all started. Plus all the benefits of going to this event, Especially if your a Travel-Loyalty or into Casino Comps and how to Maximize them. Plus Some of the people attending and some of the bonus events that will be happening all weekend long

This week's episode is packed with content. First, Tim provides a brief look at his time in the Marine Corps and the gambling throughout. Then, Lisa Melmed joins the podcast. Lisa is the Marketing Manager at Plaza Hotel Casino in Vegas. She shares her insight and perspective on the marketing side of the casino industry. Finally, Michael Trager gives us the look-ahead to this year's ZorkFest in December. Guest: Lisa Melmed, Plaza Hotel Casino Show: @TheBettorLife Use promo code "YOELEVEN" for 11% off at The Bettor Life online shop: www.bettormerch.com Support the show with a monthly pledge at Patreon.com/TheBettorLife Please, take a moment to leave us a rating and review in your podcast app of choice like iTunes, Stitcher, or Spotify.

Michael Trager, Luxury Travel and Casino Gaming Industry Entrepreneur with Travelzork.com, joins Frank Morano for the AC Report.

Michael Trager, Luxury Travel and Casino Gaming Industry Entrepreneur with Travelzork.com, joins Frank for the AC Report

There’s a lot of unpredictability about 2021, like when UK travelers will be able to fly into Vegas or whether Planet Hollywood is getting sold to Hard Rock. Today hosts Steve White and Michael Trager leverage their casino expertise to share their top 2021 Las Vegas predictions. After a quick catch-up, we dive into the topic by first exploring the rumors around casino sales — rumors that touch on big names like MGM, the Venetian, and Cosmopolitan, to name a few. We also discuss speculations about if Derek Stevens should buy a property on the strip, when Resorts World might open, and whether this upcoming New Year’s Eve will be the party of the century. While reflecting on his love for Mohegan Sun, Michael talks about why their fully (nationally) integrated loyalty program will help them make a success out of the old Hard Rock Las Vegas (the new Virgin Las Vegas). With few to no Vegas conventions, we look into generous casino offers for the first half of the year. Later, Steve provides insight into the UK lockdown and when his fellow Brits will be allowed to visit Vegas. Tune in as we clear the fog of uncertainty and give you a clearer picture of what Las Vegas in 2021 might look like. Support the show! VISIT ZorkOfferwww.zorkoffer.com

Michael Trager of TravelZork provides us with his first impressions of the brand new Circa Casino in Las Vegas.  Guest co-host: @TravelZork Show: @TheBettorLife Use promo code "YOELEVEN" for 11% off at The Bettor Life online shop: TheBettorLife.us/merch Support the show with a monthly pledge at Patreon.com/TheBettorLife Please, take a moment to leave us a rating and review in your podcast app of choice like iTunes, Stitcher, or Spotify.

We talk Vegas re-opening and the future with Michael Trager of TravelZork and the ZorkCast. We discuss his miles and points origin story, what Vegas looks like and what it maybe should look like, and more!

As people are starting to think about travel again, there's a question on many people's minds. How safe is it to travel? If you enjoy the podcast, I hope you’ll take a moment to leave us a rating. That helps us attract more listeners! Las Vegas is a popular tourist destination. Is a crowded casino the place to be right now, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic? Are casinos crowded. We answer those questions and more with Vegas expert Michael Trager of Travel Zork. He recently traveled to Las Vegas and stayed at Caesars and Wynn to get the lay of the land. He flew to Vegas from his home in the UK, and also shared what it's like to be in an airport and on a plane right now. Hope you enjoy the show! If you have a suggestion for a future show find me on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram and let me know what you’d like to hear about!

Michael Trager from TravelZork joins the podcast to give us his perspective on Las Vegas reopening. At the time of recording, Trager had been in Vegas for 3 days. We discuss traveling to Vegas, the hotels, the casinos, and implications moving forward. Enjoy! Guest: @TravelZork Show: @TheBettorLife Hosts: @ERosenthal1029 & @TimothyJLawson Use promo code "YOELEVEN" for 11% off at The Bettor Life online shop: TheBettorLife.US/merch Support the show with a monthly pledge at Patreon.com/TheBettorLife Please, take a moment to leave us a rating and review in your podcast app of choice like iTunes, Stitcher, or Spotify.

E:135 Top 7 Ways I’m Spending the Casino Quarantine Visit www.cousinvitoscasino.com Contact the show at CousinVito@gmail.com or @VitosCasino on Twitter Friend me on Facebook @ https://www.facebook.com/vito.marchitto Please Subscribe, Rate, Review on iTunes or wherever you listen to the show! It really helps!  Opening Monologue Cousin Vito and @Travelfanboy catch up on the recent casino closures and reflection this crazy time to be alive.  Top 7 Ways I’m Spending the Casino Quarantine  Brush up on Video Poker at VideoPoker.com, also check VPFree2.com and get a free GOLD membership to learn video poker by click here! https://artinthegame.net/learn-to-play-video-poker/ Saving my bankroll and plan for my big play return. Michael Trager from travelzork.com taught me! Visits https://travelzork.com/gambling-casino-theo-adt/ Explore you current Rewards Programs and find amazing values for possible future trips. travelfanboy.com - https://travelfanboy.com/how-to-get-caesars-diamond-status-for-less-than-100/ - https://travelfanboy.com/good-credit-cards-for-casino-enthusiasts/ Visit masterclass.com and look into the all access pass for $90  Binge on MyVegas and other Comp accusing apps! Follow @vitalvegas and others on Twitter for cutting edge news and unapologetic tweets Explore eBay casino memorabilia or gambling memorabilia. My lovely wife Amanda was thrilled to here we just lost an auction for a vintage Trump Castle Windbreaker. Cousin Vito’s Pigskin Picks Gambling Confessions Vito and @travelfanboy enjoy a juicy 1980’s gambling confession! 

We always love hearing about new ways to earn and manage points and miles! This week Michael Trager of TravelZork is on the show to talk about a new app called Wayfarer Points! Tune in to learn how you can do more than just track ALL your loyalty programs but also compare how you rank with friends! Jen Yellin from Deals We Like gives us the scoop on some big changes coming to the Wyndham Rewards program.Show NotesTravelZorkWayfarer Points - use promo code WFPPIZZAJen's post on Wyndham RewardsDon't forget to check out the NowBoarding Podcast where we dive in deep with your favorite BoardingArea travel bloggers, learning how they travel the world with miles and points.

E:115 - Credit Cards for Gamblers and Gamblers Gambling featuring Travel Fanboy Visit www.cousinvitoscasino.com Call the show! 1 (747)Casino-1 or 1-747-227-4661 Contact the show at CousinVito@gmail.com or @VitosCasino on Twitter Friend me on Facebook @ https://www.facebook.com/vito.marchitto Support the show on Patreon @ https://www.patreon.com/cousinvito Please Subscribe, Rate, Review on iTunes or wherever you listen to the show! It really helps!  Opening Monologue Cousin Vito and Travel Fan Boy rundown today’s show and discuss the best credit card programs for recreational gamblers. https://travelfanboy.com/good-credit-cards-for-casino-enthusiasts/ Trip Report - Foxwoods - Great Cedar Hotel Vito and his wife Amanda review a recent casino trip to Foxwoods. Hear about Vito being robbed, winning it all back at the craps tables and the ups and downs of the 2 day President’s Day excursion Gamblepalooza  Grab the popcorn and get hyped as we discuss Gamblepalooza with Bethany Walsh, Michael Trager, and Coach Kitty from www.travelzork.com! Mikey’s Poker Face Cousin Vito laments to Travel Fanboy about his performance in a 50k Guarantee tournament from this past weekend. 

I denne episode af podcasten ser vi nærmere på et bonus- og loyalitetsområde, som de færreste kender særligt meget til. Nemlig Casinoer. Men det er meget lettere end de fleste tror, at få status og mange gode fordele indenfor dette område.Har du allerede hotelstatus, så er det enkelt at få statusmatch til casinoerne og opnå fordele, som gratis værelser, ingen resort fee, loungeadgang og meget mere.Vi mødte casino-guru, Michael Trager fra TravelZork.com, i London. Han fortæller os hvordan man lettest kommer igang med at få fordele fra casinoer i primært Las Vegas og Atlantic City - begge steder, som man rejser til på konferencer m.v.Lyt med og hør hvordan du enkelt kan få fordele, hvis du besøger en af de to byer.

Grant Smith, notable contributor to Forbes, Skift and The New York Times joins the show for the first time to explain why the most frequent travelers aren't worried about an increase in the requirements to earn elite status.  After that, Jen digs up a hotel promo that requires a second look.  That's something of a rarity these days.  Finally, we wrap up this week with Michael Trager explaining how to fix Las Vegas.  He also teases us with a new way to earn miles and points coming soon! Don't forget to check out the NowBoarding Podcast where we dive in deep with your favorite travel bloggers, learning how they travel the world with miles and points.

When you travel to Sin City, the house has the advantage. But what if there was a way to earn valuable rewards? Our guest, Michael Trager of TravelZork.com, shares how you can be a high roller with casino loyalty programs and the best things to do in Las Vegas. Before you sign up for a loyalty program, you must listen to this episode. The show notes with links to everything we talk about (and more) can be found at https://WeTravelThere.com//casino  RewardExpert helps reduce the cost of travel by offering personalized recommendations for credit cards that match your goals. Visit WeTravelThere.com/rewardexpert to learn how

This week's guest is Michael Trager, the founder of Travel Zork. Michael shares his introduction to gambling, how he fell in love with baccarat, getting rated at table games, and how to be a good gambler. Also, Tim vents on a recent poor customer service experience at MGM National Harbor. Guest: @Baccarat_Guy Host: @TheBettorLife Use promo code "YOELEVEN" for 11% off at The Bettor Life online shop: TheBettorLife.US/merch Please, take a moment to leave us a rating and review in your podcast app of choice.

Welcome everyone to Vegas Confessions 12.5.  Not to beat a dead horse with people from London, but we have another guest on to tell all his casino stories, the one and only Michael trager.  Find him @baccarat_guy on twitter, and also follow @Travelzork, where he tells all the secrets to promo travel, comps, rewards and other goodness.  Join us for Zorfest in Vegas on the last weekend of May which Eric Rosenthal and Michael Trager are hosting, to improve your strategy to travel smarter and cheaper. *Follow us: @julianromero559, @erosenthal1029, @shanemields on twitter.  Call our hotline at (559)461-7488 or write us at vegasconfessionspod@gmail.com *And a quick thank you to Chris from the Faces and Aces podcast for lending some last minute voiceover.  Always appreciated when you run with my off the wall ideas....

This episode we're joined by Angelina Aucello from Angelina Travels and The Points Guy, tackling sad news of yet another United Airlines PR crisis, the benefits of using Chase Pay and the new Chase Freedom Q2 Category Promo. Later on she'll share her experience flying to SE Asia with two kids under the age of five and her review of (and awesome Marriott redemption for) the new Ritz-Carlton Langkawi. What's a ZorkFest? Well, Michael Trager of ZorkFest 2018 gives us a preview of this awesome travel loyalty AND casino loyalty event taking place in Las Vegas this coming Memorial Day weekend. Jen from Deals We Like offers insight on the upcoming post Marriott/SPG merger Amex and Chase credit card and the latest (and possibly the last?!) SPG Amex for Business 30k point bonus. Last but not least we bid adieu to the short lived Amazon and JetBlue partnership. Thanks to our Sponsors Gogo In-Flight Internet Freddie Awards | Voice of the Frequent Flyer Timestamps: 1:00 - New Chase Freedom Categories for Q2 2:25 - Benefits of Chase Pay 3:39 - Another United Airlines PR Crisis 9:00 - What's a ZorkFest? 22:30 - Today's Big Deal: SPG Amex for Business 30k Point Bonus 26:27 - The Difference Between Business & Personal Credit Cards 28:14 - New Amex and Chase Cards Post SPG/Marriott Merger 30:30 - Flying Long Haul to SE Asia with Kids Under Five (IN ECONOMY!!) 32:50 - Comparing Properties, Crushing an Award Redemption & Maximizing Transferable Points (Ritz-Carlton vs. Marriott vs. SPG) + 5th Night Free Award Booking 33:55 - Kid's Clubs on Property 38:20 - Marriott's Flights & Nights Packages 42:48 - The Final Two Pennies: RIP Amazon & JetBlue Partnership Links: Angelina Travels Angelina on The Points Guy Chase Freedom Q2 Category Promo (Source: Nerdwallet) Chase Pay ZorkFest 2018 (Ticket promo code: zorkpizza) SPG American Express for Business 30k Point Bonus Angelina's Review of Ritz-Carlton Langkawi Marriott's Flights & Nights Packages Update on Amazon/JetBlue Partnership (Source: One Mile at a Time) Gogo Secret Phrase Giveaway Page