Podcasts about milenomics

Are you interested in cruises, and want to capitalize on miles and points, but feel unsure of where to start? Then this episode is for you! Today we sit down with, Debra Schroeder, who first became interested in miles and points back in '94, when she bought an excess of cereal boxes to capitalize on an American Airlines promotional campaign. Her history with cruising goes back almost as far, starting in '98. Fast forward to today and Deb has become an expert at optimizing her travel plans. Tuning in, you'll learn how Deb first started writing her travel blog, Traveling Well for Less, and how she began posting deals and sharing her insights with other avid travelers. We talk with Deb about her evolution as a traveler and her enduring love of cruises, before hearing her advice on how to get the most out of your trips. If you're curious about cruising or want to take your loyalty membership to the next level, then you won't want to miss this fascinating conversation with Deb Schroeder! Key Points From This Episode: [00:00]  Debra's involvement in the miles and points community. [04:18]  What casino programs were like when she started (and how they have changed). [10:04]  Trends in cruising over the past few years and the current state of cruises. [14:34]  Booking in advance and how to get lower prices for your cruises. [18:49]  Recurring issues with food provisions on cruises. [21:19]  An overview of the traveling that Deb still wants to do. [24:18]  Cruise loyalty; how Deb obtained her Pinnacle Member status with Royal Caribbean. [26:59]  An overview of the divisions amongst Pinnacle Members and what caused it. [32:16]  The huge success of loyalty schemes and how this has impacted cruise lines, airlines, hotel chains, and passengers. [33:17]  Why Deb, and so many others, have remained loyal to Royal Caribbean. [34:21]  Comparing Royal Caribbean's casino loyalty program with other cruise lines. [38:57]  Deb's insights into Las Vegas, on-land casinos, and earning perks and points. [40:54]  Recent news regarding MGM partnerships and upcoming developments. [43:41]  Deb's parting advice: don't wait to take advantage of all the current cruise offers! Quotes: “The miles and points community, it's a large community, but it's funny how small it is, really. Everybody knows everyone.” — @TktweetsKim [01:38] “In the last couple of years, there's been leadership change over at Royal Caribbean. So they're doing a lot of cost-cutting and different financial strategies and implementing different things that they didn't [do] in the past.” — @DebraSchroeder [12:29] “With all the different changes, they have to submit the manifests to customs, like 72 hours in advance. [So] you can't get that last-minute deal that the Floridians are used to, where they could just stroll up to the port and book a cruise right there.” — @DebraSchroeder [15:27] “It's incredible to think how loyal and dedicated customers are. The mania, the craziness of miles and points – extends to cruisers, just as much as people who love airlines and hotels.” — @TktweetsKim [31:25] “Royal has the best loyalty program of all the cruise lines, in terms of what you get for your status. That is why so many of us have remained loyal to Royal because you get so much more.” — @DebraSchroeder [33:18] “Get those free cruises now before you miss out on the opportunity! We haven't had these many offers in a long time.” — @DebraSchroeder [44:29] Links Mentioned in Today's Episode: Traveling Well for Less Traveling Well for Less on YouTube Flyertalk Vanilla Reload Royal Caribbean Celebrity Cruises Carnival Norwegian Cruise Line Holland America Princess Crystal Cruises The Milenomics Podcast Network Subscribe to Milenomics on Patreon Thomas Kim on X Trevor Mountcastle on X

Travel Agenting New! Find us on Youtube - please like and subscribe! If you're planning to visit Disney World in 2024, definitely check out our Genie+ 101 episode! Looking to plan a Disney World or Disneyland vacation? Let Joe do all the hard work for you, helping you get the best discount, at no cost to you as your travel agent. Get started by e-mailing josephcheung@travelmation.net today!  Episode Description Leslie was sick and Joe was in Taiwan but luckily Joe had recorded a special crossover episode with the Milenomics podcast! Robert (Bob) Dwyer from Milenomics actually hosts the show - an episode where Joe talks to Disneyland regular Kelly about booking a Disneyland trip. If you're curious what working with a travel agent looks and sounds like, this is pretty much it! Special thanks again to Bob for coming up with this idea - if we hadn't recorded this we'd have had to skip a week - so it all worked out.  What do you normally tell a Disneyland regular about Disney World? Let us know by e-mailing disneydeciphered AT gmail DOT com, messaging us on Twitter, or leaving a comment on our Youtube page. You can also follow us on Instagram now! Episode Notes (all timestamps are approximate) 6:10 - Differences between Walt Disney World and Disneyland 9:57 - Kelly's Disney background 12:54 - Discussing the split stay 21:09 - Would concierge be worth it in this case? 25:23 - Zeroing in on a hotel 31:43 - Walt Disney World planning timeline 34:02 - Thoughts about dining in Walt Disney World 37:13 - Next steps plus some random Disney thoughts 49:15 - Disney dos and don'ts (and epilogue) If we've helped you to plan your trip and you'd like to thank us we'd appreciate you considering a one time donation. Or if you'd like to receive bonus content, check out our Patreon page and our special subscriber only content! You can also support the show by buying tickets (if they're the best deal, of course) using our Undercover Tourist link or signing up for Mouse Dining through our link. If you like what you hear, please share and subscribe! Find us on iTunes,Spotify, TuneIn, PlayerFM, iHeartRadio, or Google Podcasts (please leave a positive review if you're enjoying the show), like our Facebook page, or follow us on Twitter and Instagram! Connect with Leslie @TripsWithTykes on social media and Joe @asthejoeflies. BM  

Usually I lock up a summer trip as far ahead of time as possible. But due to the current award travel patterns and my need for 4 seats I found myself without a summer booking and a family wanting to travel. Today Robert and I chat about the ups and downs of the search for a summer trip, award space scarcity, alliance and search engine fragmentation and more. - Enjoy! 01:55 Let's talk about the Constraints of this trip: We didn't have a single destination on our list but rather a short list of places to go 2 Adults 2 children. 3:00 Summer, during Summer Break (June/July) Prices and awards rise dramatically in Jun/Jul and award space dries up even worse than it is during other parts of the year 4:24 No flexibility in cabin (I couldn't even pitch premium economy) As we've gotten older we've taken less trips, but put more into them. Last year we spent 36 years on vacation, but we're trending into longer trips 6:45 Don't want to reposition Saw some options through IAH, PHL. Also saw flights through Canada I don't like clearing customs and then having another flight, with little kids that is a pressure point 9:00 Point balances:  I'm a non-hoarder. I have about 250,000 Alaska, 400,000 AA and very little other miles on hand.  I do have a large MR and UR balance I can draw down. Otherwise I'll cash them out 9:53 AA out of LAX, comparing AA vs BA. points yeah served up LAX-LHR on AA with Alaska Miles: But AA wouldn't show this for a similar 'low' price But adding a leg--searching LAX-CPH showed the low price for the whole flight. This seems like a 'married logic' issue. It means pricing is end to end (LAX/CPH) vs segment by segment. This has become VERY common with dynamic pricing. This makes the old 'get over the pond' mentality dangerous. Searching between city pairs only for long-haul flights won't show you the whole picture (Not just on AA, across most airlines now). This is also a search engine fragmentation because you are relying on the search engine to do the routing logic. 15:41 Let's talk about award space out of LAX I've had an eye on LAX long haul routes for more than a decade. I've never seen it this thin That's on top of more capacity than ever, with better cabins than ever The 64,000 point question is: Will those seats get sold, or will they be released closer to the dates of travel Current space isn't a great indicator. There are very different people wanting to go to Europe in the next 2 months than in Jun/July 18:00 Quick discussion about the ‘loss' of partner award space This has made it more important than ever to hold flexible currencies like MR/UR/Cap 1 One ways with different currencies helps spread out the search net Ultimately you still need that triangle of flexibility we've talked about forever here: Dates, destination or class of service. You have to flex one (or more) of them.  Flights Have to Exist in order for you to take them Flightconnections.com is still the place i go to start any search I look for ALL long haul options out of LAX (remember I don't like to reposition) Some filtering is needed, because these are not all flights that can be booked with miles easily, but without a premium account you'll be limited to filtering by a single airline. 18:40 Options start coming into focus EF showed space on Air Tahiti Nui LAX-CDG in business. I've flow this before. It really isn't great, but it is a lie flat and the flight was an easy feeling one. Unfortunately with a few calls to AA agents none of them could see the space. I tried some other tricks but with no luck. I don't know what's going on there–if it is a block or phantom space From there I saw on pointsyeah some air france awards in the 130,000 per person (plus about $300 in fees).  I didn't love those so I went to Air france's site and started going day by day, looking at all flights i might want to take.  Ontario-TPE, LAX-Manchester, LAX-Oslo/stockholm/Helsinki/Rome.  And something interesting started to show up… The biggest issue is they don't always show you the partner space and they don't by default sort by lowest price in miles (not the only site that does this). Again going city pair by city pair pulled up an option, LAX-OSL for 4 passengers for about 72,000 miles and $225 each. There's a huge hurdle here: Foreign program, I have no miles in and have never used. I'm about to transfer 300,000 MR into it. This better be REAL space. Married logic makes it look even more phantom when you search LAX-CDG and find it is 700,000 per person. Almost makes you want to skiplag an award ticket. Of course people online are talking about phantom space biting them, and I just had that issue with TN and AA. So I called Flying Blue and asked for the rep to see the space, and put it on hold. And he did, which made me feel good about this space.  24:19 Still Need a Return -- Just as Uncertain as before But I still had no return. So the entire search starts again, but this time with even more restrictive constraints. It doesn't help me if I find a return from Tokyo-LAX– not the entire search has to be from Oslo, or somewhere nearby to LAX (or somewhere nearby). And I don't want to clear customs on the east coast with my kids, and have to keep picking up bags, so I'm looking at even less options. AA had an option through LHR. The fees were huge, but I was sure if i called I could get them lower by making the first leg in economy. Aeroplan had space on Air canada (not partner) through montreal in PE. This was not ideal–I didn't want to fly PE and would be putting miles into aeroplan that I would cancel and possibly orphan. 25:30 Let's discuss Stranding miles?  PE Vs J? Anything you like here?  The trend of moderately priced awards with native miles almost guarantees orphaned miles if you cancel a trip. That didn't used to be the case–but the lack of partner space makes it happen Beware expiration of miles (Asian carriers don't allow extending miles for example). 27:30 Book and then garden vs. wait and book   There are benefits to each approach, but drawbacks as well. I probably could have gotten the family on board with a situation like 2 in Business 2 in Premium. But I wasn't even seeing that option Nice upgrade of AA Miles being useful for JAL Premium economy.  31:06 Nothing is Free, Everything is Cash Luck–ultimately was the key. Immense luck in the form of 4 seats OSL-LAX on air france on the exact day I wanted to return at the lowest level I'd seen all search, an average of 48,000 per person (plus $320 in fees). With the outbound on hold I transferred enough for this return, booked it online (if it was phantom I would have used those miles for the outbound) and then transferred again to ticket the outbound on the phone. Total: 491,750 MR plus $2200 in fees.  $2200 in cash is 200,000 Membership rewards cashed out with schwab. Compare to an 88,000 United booking this is very close to the same thing A total of 691,750 MR for 4 people. Compares to Can't really do much to improve this or risk stranding these miles 37:41 This one shook out–but I don't want to let things slip past me like this.  Close in doesn't work for me, both with requesting days off of work and with planning trips So I need to remind myself to start looking NOW for winter break, and soon enough for Summer 2025.  Flex the demand schedule with your family too.

We're doing things a little different with today's episode. You'll notice that at the top of this episode we call out episode 206 (not Episode 68). This conversation took place as the first 20 or so minutes of our subscriber podcast episode 206. Robert and I discussed it after we released that full episode and we're cutting just this conversation into a mini episode here today. Enjoy! 0:21 Status Match Opportunities JetBlue (Direct Link) Capped at 30,000 applicants with Delta Medallion status Matched status last [only] through end of 2023 *unless* you have Barclays JetBlue card -or- accrue enough pro-rated Tiles to requalify Detailed info on Mosaic nuances are hard to discern from JetBlue (Mosaic info page) and the latest iteration of the program is so new it seems not many people have really kicked the tires on it. So I asked them some questions on Twitter. Companions: Up to 8 people on an itinerary can get free same day changes and complimentary Even More Space seats at check-in (Mosaic Level 2) or booking (Mosaic Level 3). 8 is better than 2 with Delta! Move to Mint upgrade certs: Can only use 2 per itinerary. If you have more than 2 people on the itinerary, nobody gets upgraded, even if you have adequate certs. Processes at check-in if Mint seats are open. Kinda lame if you ask me. Mosaic 3 includes…wait for it..Founders Card Blue! I thought the idea with Founders card is that it provides perks for travel programs, but this is the other way around? These programs are starting to circle back on themselves. Get this: If FoundersCard identifies you as a prior member they deny the membership and try to sell you a renewal. What an operation. Move to Mint certs expire earned through this expire Dec 2023. Can't get Barclays credit card so I'd need 24 Tiles by the end of 2023 to requalify. That's $2,400 spent on JetBlue flights, vacations, or Paisly (ugh). Alaska (Direct Link) Pretty generous mapping and all you have to do to keep status through 2024 is have a BofA Alaska Visa Far out upgrades, certs, reciprocal benefits with AA/OneWorld - I'm interested. “A member may only receive one status match for the lifetime of their account.” Will they enforce this? Is it time to allow them to create a new Alaska account for me when I apply for a BoA business card? Hmm…

We're back with a chat about Sam's 2023 summer trip to Japan. 0:34 Overview: 14 days, spent as follows: 5 nights in Kyoto at Mimaru Apartment hotel. 430 square foot. Not spacious but good for a family of 4. 2 nights in Hiroshima at the Hilton Hiroshima: One bedroom suite booked with points (90k per night). Very new hotel, opened in 2022. 5 Nights Ishigaki island near Yonehara beach. Car rental 2 nights in Tokyo at another Mimaru in their pokemon room Robert's previous trip report (required listening) 04:37 Travel: JL from LAX nonstop to Kyoto Pickup from the airport (Booked on Klook.com) worked really well Used the "Visit Japan Web" site to generate QR codes before landing. Be sure to make a QR code for each person (for immigration) and one per family for customs. 08:09 Kyoto: Transit was difficult Not easy for us. Lack of numbers and signage really chewed us up. BUSY stations with people who definitely knew what they were doing. Helpful staff–but still difficult to execute train to train transfers Local vs. Express was not well signed. Got easier when we limited ourselves to busses + a single train. Busses in general were easier and better in Kyoto (can see the city as they Drive). Would take a cab directly to the bus stop. 15:51 Universal Studios: Brutal to get to. Issues with kids and trains. But once there, small size and express pass made the day a complete success. Conflicting information about swapping rides–but we were able to swap for different rides than those listed on our express passes (but not different times) Lines are crazy long, express pass is a must. We bought a 4 ride pass due to height restrictions limiting possible rides, but 7 ride passes were not much more. The Mario Water party parade was fantastic and over the top. Japanese to the max and loved by my kids. Super Mario World is incredible. The kids had a blast, we spent about 6 hours at the park, just enough time in my opinion. Getting home to Kyoto was equally brutal. The train line leaving Universal encountered a full stop due to a train on the loop hitting a passenger. 30:10 Cabs: We took so Many and They Saved Us Combination of lots of walking and young kids meant we needed to use cabs. We were 'close' to multiple train stations and bus stops. But the walking before, during and after sightseeing meant cabs were the way we extended days. Uber app worked well in Kyoto/Hiroshima to call cabs. In Tokyo we had to be careful--there was a 300-500 yen pickup fee plus the meter -- lots of times the uber black fare was less. Uber black cars are the nicest possible car I've ever been in. Loved these in Tokyo. 38:40 Kyoto to Hiroshima with Luggage: Train travel Gion Matsuri in Kyoto made the train station packed. Train runs nearly every 20 minutes. Amazing. Kiosk did not work with CC and I couldn't get 3 seats together (with luggage access). Pivoted to a desk agent who quickly got us on the next train and split us up. With large size suitcases it is recommended to book a luggage seat. Non-reserved seating is apparently not possible and if you do book non-reserved there's a 1000 yen fee if your bag is big Meant we were split up, but only for part of the ride. Fast train ride and cell coverage even in tunnerls, but wifi was terrible and completely unusable 45:52 Hiroshima: Not enough time, kids are to young JR Trains to Miyajima vs high speed ferrey, by taking the ferry from Hiroshima Port we saved significant time. Miyajima was loved by the kids for the deer and by us for the hiking and national park. Time is for sale in Japan. This is a great example Peace park was a highlight of the trip as well. Kids were too young for the museum, we had to skip it Data only SIM saved the day Got two of these from Airalo. Esim, and phones supporting dual eSIM make this a quick way to get online in foreign countries. 5GB, $11. Really was wonderful to be connected everywhere, saved the day many times. Wifi is good but not enough places had it. Ishigaki especially. Hilton Hiroshima: Very nice Hotel. Brand new, opened in 2022 (was previously a police station) Lobby: Booked a 1 Bedroom Suite for 90,000 points per night. Had called and emailed prior to arrival but no additional upgrade was offered due to space issues. Hotel was indeed 100% full our second night, with monday being Marine Day in Japan. View from the Living room to the bedroom: Hotel says it is full most weekends with Japanese who come to the city. Full breakfast in either the restaurant or the lounge. Very good, full buffet but lines for things started backing up if you arrived late. Really puts US Hilton properties to shame. Wish I stayed one more night. 52:43 Highlights from Ishigaki island Getting to HIJ airport: Airport Limousine Bus worked out very well. Car Rental: Just worked! The island has a busy southern side, quiet Northern shore and is ringed by reefs All the comforts of mainland Japan are on this island. It really is amazing how the grocery store stocks everything at nearly identical prices to the stores in Kyoto/Tokyo. The beef raised on the island is fantastic. So good we went twice to a local Yakiniku. Beaches were very good--with no waves anywhere on the island the kids were able to swim out very far and I felt they were safe the entire time. Activities we did: lots of snorkeling, glass bottom boat tour of the bay, Traditional Okinawan village, Hike to and swam in a waterfall, Stargazing. Really relaxing island. Wish it was closer. Can't replace Hawaii but nice that it is less than 3hrs from Tokyo. Food on the island was varied enough and easy to get to. Times listed when places were open were often completely wrong, but we stumbled on two great restaurants when the places were wanted to go to were closed. Farmer's market on Ishigaki stocks most tropical fruit but pricing was high still. The availability is the draw here, but spoiled with CA/Hawaii style fruit and farmer's markets. 1:06:06 Flight to Toyko Mind-blowing that you can wake up, have a few hours on the beach in Ishigaki and then hop a flight to Toyko and be eating an early dinner there. ANA domestic 787, very full. Short flight time, domestic travel in Japan is interesting, no liquid restrictions, no ID checks, free checked bags. Like flying in the 90's here. From the airport we did the monorail to a single JR train. Worked really well. Plenty of space for luggage on the monorail. 1:17:33 Tokyo Highlights City still seems to wake up late. Breakfast at 7am was a little tough to find, found a great little cafe in Asakusa that opened at 6:30. Lots of shopping. Loved the multi-story department store/malls. Ueno streets had so many great food options, but the area is loud and has smoke/adult themes to be aware of. Shibuya was even busier than Ueno, but with more polish. Checked out Ginza, really amazing how close it is to both of the other districts and just how really sharp looking the streets are there. Ueno Zoo was perfect for my kids 4/8. Animals seem to be out in the mornings, so go early. Line to see the baby pandas was too long for us, so we skipped them and saw their parents instead (no line). Started getting homesick a little. Travel with kids: how we made it work. Cabs (Uber worked, didi is another) Naps Sugar (Ice cream really, at convenience stores) Food was well received by my kids but options for all kids might be harder 1:24:39 Is a Return Trip in the Cards? Overall thoughts? Yes, but maybe not our next trip Long 14 day trip let us see a lot, but still left a LOT unseen. Would like to wait for my kids to be a bit older to be able to do more

It's been too long since we've released a No Annual Fee epsiode. This week we take stock of the many Amex offers currently available, many of which can earn welcome bonuses even if you've had - or still have - the card. There's some nuance to it through, which we cover in detail. Enjoy! 0:25 Amex Opportunity Roundup NLL 250,000 Business Platinum (link to check, may still get pop-up)$30,000 in 6 monthsAdditional 10,000 for adding employee at time of application and spending $1,000 on the cardTargeted NLL Bundles150,000 Business Platinum (link to check)100,000 Business Gold (link to check)Additional 10,000 for adding employee at time of application and spending $1,000 on the cardIf card goes to recon, it seems the ability to earn 10,000 for additional employee is lostCall-in offers 855-531-3491 (DoC, FM)250,000 Business Platinum180,000 Business GoldAdditional 10,000 for adding employee at time of application and spending $1,000 on the cardTargeted Upgrade Business Platinum 140,000 (link to check)Online business employee 20,000 for $4,000 up to 5Business Green Business GoldBusiness PlatinumSaid to expire 3/31/2022, seems to still be working 20:25 Amex Reconsideration Calls Amex has rather lax approval standards compared to other banksThere are many ways to get denied temporarily - for exceeding some limit on the total number of Amex cards you have, how recently you've been approved for the same cardWhen this happens you have some time (usually around 90 days) to call Amex and ask them for clarity on why you weren't approved, and to ask them to reconsider the application if the disqualifying disposition has been resolvedThis can be a very effective technique if a limited time opportunity presents itself, and you're not eligible to be approved until some time has passedCheck application status onlineCall them at 1-866-314-0237 (Mon-Fri 6am-8pm MST).Tell them your application number in the email they send you with their decision (or they can look it up with SSN, sometimes takes a while for them to find it if you've applied for a lot of cards over the years)Ask them why you were denied and if the condition has been resolved to have it put through for reconsiderationIf they agree you've resolved the condition you'll usually get an email with approval within 24 hours 26:40 JetBlue Acquires Spirit Seems like for real this timeFeels like this is going to be a mess for years to comeTIme to get the BofA Spirit card? (Direct Link) 28:35 Newly Earned Southwest Credits Will No Longer Expire (Direct Link) 32:05 In Memoriam: Rakuten Visa (DoC) No longer accepting applicationsClosing accounts 9/17/2022Card never made sense: A Visa that provided better MR earning than most Amex cards Thanks for listening. If you're interested in hearing more content like this, considering subscribing to Milenomics on Patreon. There you'll gain access to fresh content released weekly - we're up to Episode 167. Additionally you'll gain access to a vibrant Slack community where 400+ community members trade ideas real-time to help each other maximize points & miles earning and burning.

Milenomics community member Lillian joins me to talk about her trip to Uruguay, Argentina, Tahiti and beyond. I'd recommend taking a look at Google Maps while listening to follow along. Enjoy! 0:30 Premise and Parameters 4:50 AA Business Class 115k pp round tripAUS-MIA-MVDAccessed the Centurion lounge and AA Flagship Admirals Club in MIA 11:00 Montevideo, Uruguay SORO Montevideo, Curio Collection by Hilton for 18k a nightThe location is perfect for biking on La Rambla and for good dining within walking distance. Rooms were perfectly fine, modern decor. Diamond status recognition: They delivered a delicious tray of sweets. Car rental: Marino Sport, delivered car to hotel. Three hour drive to the beaches. 16:30 Punta del Este, Uruguay Casa Flor Boutique Hotel in the town of La BarraOriginally booked with Chase 28k a night for 5 nights. Due to covid and rebooking, I ended up paying a cash rate at the hotel with my credit card $250/night.Amazing hotel, please stay here. 23:00 Salta, Argentina Legado Mitico Salta Boutique Hotel One night booked on Chase portal: $22k points. This is the best hotel in the city. It oozes old world charm and it's like staying at a European guest house. Location is great, lots to see. Great breakfast. Still dreaming of the mini pear tart I had.Car rental: Hertz/ Salta downtown. We walked to the Hertz from the hotel and got to see the main square, picturesque town. Get a 4-wheel drive because it's a grueling drive down ruta 40 not for the faint at heart but incredibly scenic. 29:50 Cafayate, Argentina Patios De Cafayate Wine HotelThree nights for 18k points/night booked on the Chase portal It's on the grounds of the famous Bodega El Esteco winery. We had a great stay here. I had some misgivings on the mixed reviews because this place was a bit more expensive that the second best hotel in Cafayate but if you dug deep, I felt like the bad reviews were basically misunderstandings which most definitely could occur if you come from the US and expect things to go the way they do in the US. As a guest, you get a free wine tasting at the store which is literally just a taste of three wines without explanations, not the official tasting tour which you need to book.Basic King room is beautiful and gigantic. The view was of the vineyard and the mountains in the background. Informal horseback rides availableVisited Botega Yocochuga, up a crazy dirt road. Get the rose!Piatelli winery: excellent wine tasting, restaurant overlooking the valley, incredible atmosphere and food, gift shop with indigenous art to purchase. Make sure to reserve in advance. 33:45 Buenos Aires, Argentina Airbnb Palermo district. We rented a two-story loft in the Palermo Soho district. https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/plus/31556390?source_impression_id=p3_1648659139_ughGq4ac3lauBYSv. Excellent location to feel like you are part of the city. It is not for small children as the stairs are very steep.Host fantastic. The neighborhood is very hip, 1-2 coffee shops on every block, microbreweries on every block. Don't bother researching restaurants. You won't go to any of them. Just pick some place and go. Fantastic meals, sidewalk cafes…Booked two half-day city tours with Kallpa tours, fantastic guide - ask for Jose Galotti! Scouted the Park Hyatt. It's in the more posh area of town. Priciest in the city, might be worth the splurge just for the breakfast buffet which spanned like two rooms. Beautiful patio and lobby. UNESCO town: Colonia de Sacramento, Uruguay Buquebus ferry $54 one way Ferry leaves twice a day, 45 min. Great breakfast at Charco hotel. Great burger at Archie's for lunchHired a car service to MVD (2.5 hours) Return Fights MVD-MIA-AUSMVD airport is tiny! Priority Pass lounge in MVD. Very nice lounge. Local wines and empanadas, fun little desserts. 39:00 Tahiti Windstar CruiseBecoming a Travel Agent You can reach out to Lillian here if you'd like her help planning future travels. My thanks to Lillian for sharing her experience!

This week I chatted with Milenomics community member CF Frost about his recent stay at the new Hilton LXR Mango House Seychelles and we do a deep dive into the Hilton program. You may remember CF from this post he wrote about a now-expired opportunity to get Amex Hilton Aspire cards without an annual fee. Those Aspire cards kick off free night certificates and resort credits that are now enabling trips like the one we discuss in this episode. Subscribers may also enjoy a trip report to the Waldorf Astoria Maldives discussed in Episode 6 of Checking In. Hyatt gets a lot of love from the points & miles community but as we discuss on the show, Hilton deserves some consideration as well. In the second half of the show we cover 10 Ways Hilton is Better than Hyatt. 3:10 CF's Recent Trip to the LXR Mango House Seychelles Mango House Seychelles, LXR Hotels & Resorts (website)95,000/nt Standard Room RewardBookable with Amex Hilton Free Night Certificates (what are those?)Nearest Airport: SEZ 34:50 10 Ways Hilton is Better Than Hyatt Footprint: Number and LocationDecent Meaningful Status with No SpendFour Credit Cards vs. TwoCan Get Credit Cards Even if Ineligible for Welcome BonusFifth Night Free on Award StaysEasy Point TransfersFree Night Certificates at Top Hotels Attainable through Reasonable Amount of Bonused SpendFree Weekend Night Certificates Usable Any Night LatelyGenerous Automatic Extensions of Status, Certificates, Points ExpiryFavorable Cash Upgrades to Award Stays We could surely do a follow-up show on "10 Great Things about Hyatt" - and we probably will. But it's worth paying attention to other hotel chains like Hilton because there's a lot of value to be had. This week on the paid Milenomics Podcast Network feed, we just released Episode 150 of our flagship show. If you enjoyed this free epsisode head on over there for more points & miles podcast content, a thriving Slack community, and more. Thanks for listening, and thanks for your support.

"Checking In" is a show on the Milenomics Podcast Network where I usually chat with members of the community about some specific trip, loyalty program, or method they've been using to generate points & miles. Today's show is a little different because my guest is Milenomics founder Sam Simon. And since it's a Disneyland trip report and totally "above board" we're releasing it here on the No Annual Fee feed. I once read a post on a forum somewhere questioning whether, in times when our country and the world can seem so divided, is there anyhting we can all agree on? The first answer that popped up was Disney. Which quickly and definitively led to follow-on posts where it became clear that Disney [as a travel destination] is just as devisive a topic as anything else we might discuss. Sam lives in Southern California about 20 minutes from Disneyland. He's been there in the past, has some familiarity with the attractions, and casually keeps up with the latest developments in the Disney fan base. With two young kids, their family is somewhat interested in visiting the park but they are by no means Disney enthusiasts. So this trip report is a story about what it's like for a casual guest to engage with a travel and entertainment destination with a built-in community of fanatics that see Disneyland as their park. A place where familiarity with operating procedures, desirable dining options, and experience with their own group's preferences are all leveraged to maximize the experience. The trip report is in two parts, before and after. We discuss... Lodging Even when living close to the parks it can pay to book a nearby hotel for naps and relaxation. The Disney hotels are famously overpriced, and in Anaheim third party hotels are very close to the park. For a one-day park visit, does it make sense to book a hotel the night before, or after? What about early check-in/late check-out availability? Sam found a unique option in The Westin Anaheim Resort just south of the park that happens to be an Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts property. We discuss the pros and cons of the property. Lines With young children especially lines are consistently one of the most annoying parts of any theme park experience. We discuss how Genie+ worked in terms of suggestions and wait time reduction. Dining We've heard reports of long wait times for mobile ordering, supply chain issues, and labor shortages. Dining is a big part of most Disney trips, and planning ahead is generally recommended. But with only a day to plan, are any of the better options be available? Related Listening Checking In w/Robin from Luxe Recess on New England Resorts, Blackberry Farm, Luxury Disney and OrlandoSeeptember 2021 Disney World Trip Report w/Joe Cheung These free episodes are just a sample of what's discuss more fully with a paid subscription: Hundreds of hours of additional content discussing creative ways to earn and redeem points & milesAccess to a vibrant Slack communityIn-person meetups Thanks for listening, and thanks for your support.

Many of you reading this might not even know there is a podcast called The Milenomics Second Podcast (MSP). We’re celebrating on the blog...

A couple months ago we launched the Milenomics Podcast Network which now includes three shows: Milenomics² Podcast with Sam Simon and Robert Dwyer Milenomics Second Podcast hosted by Garth Grawburg The Manifesto with Gideon The Free-quent Flyer Subscribers gain access to these shows as well as a thriving Slack community, the ability to attend meetups, […]

We’ve not put out a free episode of the Milenomics² podcast since last year–The success of the paid show led us to focus on the thriving community of Patreon subscribers.  Over on the Patreon page, and on the heels of the Shop Talk post we did about AA Account Shutdown issues, we’ve recorded a few […]

Sam Simon from Milenomics is back for Festivus the Fourth. We air grievances, celebrate feats of strength, and marvel at Festivus miracles in miles and points this year. Hope everyone has a great holiday and a wonderful end to 2019!

We finish things up with Robert Dwyer of Milenomics, discussing some miles and points blogs you should check out, the most rewarding bank overall, tips for getting into reselling, what we'd like to see Chase and Amex do, and more!

Robert Dwyer from Milenomics swings by to chat about an eclectic set of questions - curated by Bob himself! We have a great time talking about how the Saverocity Observation Deck came to be, our top three Hyatts, one card to rule them all, and much more!

Today we’re back with what turns out to be a meaty review of core Milenomics philosophies, but first the news… 0:30 Citi Double Cash to Earn TYP? (HT DoC) Coming later this year Unclear what the conversion ratio will be 1:10 Citi Going to 48-Month Waiting Period on AA Cards (link) 2:10 BofA Alaska Personal […]

In this episode, I talk with Craig from Due for a Win as he preps me with budget-friendly options for my upcoming Atlantic City trip. HT to the staff at Castle Hot Springs which opened Feb 1 Also to Danny for new hashtag #savermetrics Finagling an upcoming spring break trip which would have otherwise been very expensive #savermetrics Travel can be a challenge for those in education Two great pieces of content to check out: In a recent [Milenomics episode] Sam mentioned that he had what he called a warehouse card which holds on to Amex points as he switches in and out of cards. Spencer on GodSavethePoints.com for his article on point plays on Airbnb stays. Breaks it down from beginner to advanced strategies. In the bunker, I added some bonus audio in which I discussed mileage runs and why I passed on extending my temporary A-List status with Southwest. Subscribers should expect more mini-episodes in the coming future. Thanks to those of you who support the show in that way.

We’ve got a special “double episode” of the No Annual Fee version of the Milenomics² Podcast this week. In this episode we do a deep dive into our personal card strategies with Amex. For this exercise: Amex is limiting us to a total of 5 active *credit* cards (personal and business, charge cards don’t count) […]

We’ve got a jam packed No Annual Fee version of the Milenomics² Podcast this week. 0:36 Lemoney follow-up (link) Post seemed to trigger tracking of community commision for Feb-June 2018 But subsequent PayPal payments are now said to be held up for a week or two What’s with this company? 2:38 $30 off $60 at […]

We're back for our third ever Festivus Celebration with special guest, Sam from Milenomics. We air our grievances against the airlines, hotels, and banks, show off our feats of strength, and close out 2018 by rejoicing in Festivus miracles for each and every one of us! In our Gold Patreon only segment, Sam joins us to discuss the dark underbelly of points and miles.

Today we’re back with a double episode of the Milenomics² No Annual Fee Edition Podcast.  In addition to the following news: 0:30 Office Depot/Office Max $10 off $300 MCGCs (link) 1:20 Simon Mall $1 off Visa Gift Cards (link) 2:05 Airline portal Holiday promo: 500 for $200 (link) 3:00 CapitalOne adds Emirates and Singapore at […]

Milenomics is about helping you becoming strategic with your earning and burning of points and miles. Sam and Robert help readers and listeners establish a practical approach to this fun and valuable hobby. Their goal is to help you have the trip you want at an affordable price by crafting your own best fit solution to travel plans. Check out their site and podcast at Milenomics.com

Welcome to the latest episode of the Milenomics² No Annual Fee Podcast. RSS feed for the No Annual Fee podcast Today’s Topics Include: 0:32 CapitalOne heightened signup bonuses Points now transfer 2:1.5 to a somewhat obscure collection of foreign airlines Venture card 75,000 signup bonus $95 annual fee waived the first year $5,000 minimum spend […]

Welcome to the latest episode of the Milenomics² No Annual Fee Podcast. RSS feed for the No Annual Fee podcast Today’s Topics Include: 0:45 Amex Biz Gold Revamp $295 annual fee, not waived the first year 4x in airfare, “select media”, “select technology providers”, gas, dining, shipping (link with more detail) Signup bonus is currently […]

Welcome back to the Milenomics² No Annual Fee Podcast.  Episode 2 kicks off with news and then we dive into a listener question as well. Show Notes: Title: What Amex needs to do instead of 5x Fine Hotels & Resorts, Citi bungles refer-a-friend, Absurd Stacking, and Citi Sears alternatives Amex 5x on Fine Hotels & Resorts Bookings Citi refer-a-friend Absurd stacking opportunity $10 G-Money rebate on $100 Happy Card purchase at giftcards .com 11/2-11/8 5% cashback when shopping through RebatesMe (work with a friend’s referral for an additional 10% cashback for friend) Buy $200 MCGCs at Bed Bath Beyond for $25 Bed Bath GC rebate when buying 2 x $200 MCGCs (see DoC for promo terms, starts 11/23) Link Happy cards to airline portals to trigger holiday bonus (beware of contention with eBates in-store cashback) Liquidate MCGCs through Plastiq with FFDs from recent promo Listener question: What's a good alternative to the Citi Sears card? Link to the calculator we discuss to compare high end cards’ earning. In this week’s Premium (subscription required) version of the podcast we discuss a In store Cashback apps, Chase Pay 5x Freedom Q4 techniques, and much more: https://www.patreon.com/posts/22571208 And don’t forget, the No Annual Fee podcast is unique as well, so be sure to subscribe to it: RSS feed for the free podcast Subscribe to the Free, No Annual Fee Milenomics² podcast on Apple Podcasts: Or on Google Play Music:

It’s launch week here on the Milenomics² podcast! We’re out of our beta 0.X shows and into Episode 1 today. On today's show we discuss: 0:37 Hyatt makes us cringe with rumblings about a 40,000 point/nt Category 8 hotel. Check the Small Luxury Hotels list for potential bookings moving forward. 1:45 Chase rolls out the Expedia search engine across all cards but things like Vacation Rentals are all Sold Out 3:02 Airline portal holiday shopping bonuses (and how to maximize them) 4:20 Reader Question: Net it out for me really quickly. When should I transfer URs to partners vs redeem through the Chase portal? In this week’s Premium (subscription required) version of the podcast we discuss a Crash Course in Grocery Store Manufactured Spend: https://www.patreon.com/posts/22394296 RSS feed for the free podcast Subscribe below to the Free, No Annual Fee Milenomics² podcast on Apple Podcasts: Or on Google Play Music:

On today's episode we discuss: 0:37 An upcoming Citi Prestige revamp (HT Dave & MilesTalk) 2:33  Discounted Mastercard gift cards at Staples and GiftCards.com 4:21 You can now earn airline miles for buying gift cards through shopping portals 5:25 Rumored changes to the Hyatt award chart for premium suites 6:13 Changes at the WalMart Money Center Subscribe below to the Free, No Annual Fee Milenomics² podcast on Apple Podcasts: Or on Google Play Music: For more detail on how to maximize these deals, subscribe to the premium version of the podcast where you'll get special access to 40+ minute shows weekly within the podcast app on your phone and on your desktop: https://www.patreon.com/posts/22237335

Hello? Hello? Is this on. We continue our Podcast Beta testing. On this first edition of the No Annual Fee Podcast we cover: Plastiq’s Mastercard Credit Card Promotion American Express Gold Card Changes Amex Referrals no longer tied to only cards you have Happy Cards (Happy Guy, Lady, etc). Alasksa Air 40,000 mile offer Subscribe below to the Free, No Annual Fee Milenomics² podcast on Apple Podcasts: Or on Google Play Music: If you want to listen to the full 45+ minute subscriber version of this podcast head over to: https://www.patreon.com/posts/22133791 Subscribe and gain access to all full length podcasts with myself and Robert. -Sam

Episode Description Trevor’s off gallavanting in Hong Kong, so Robert Dwyer from Milenomics and Rachel Berkey from Award Travel 101 join to discuss Chase giving Disney the axe, highlights from their European summer vacations, and where Joe should go for his anniversary. We also discuss our new website and what we look for in good […]

Episode Description Leslie and Joe chat about what Disneyland regulars need to know if they are planning to visit Walt Disney World in Orlando. What are the major differences between the parks and what do you need to know to plan your best vacation? Leslie's tips, as it turns out, are equally good for both Disneyland regulars and Disney World beginners. If you like what you hear, please share the podcast with others you think might enjoy it. Also, we’d appreciate if you subscribed on iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify, or Google Play (please leave a positive review if you're enjoying the show), liked our Facebook page, or followed us on Twitter! You can also e-mail us at disneydeciphered AT gmail DOT com. Connect with Leslie @TripswithTykes on social media and Joe @asthejoeflies. Episode Notes Some articles about the differences between Disneyland and Disney World: 10 Differences between Disneyland and Disney World by Leslie Disneyland vs. Disneyworld via Milenomics 0:58 - Which is Leslie's home park, Disney World or Disneyland? The truth is out there 1:42 - Quick thoughts on Disneyland's Pixarfest this summer 3:11 - Comparing Walt Disney World and Disneyland 3:55 - Why Walt Disney World is worth visiting for Disneyland fans 4:51 - The most important thing you need to know about visiting Walt Disney World compared to Disneyland 7:06 - Comparing the relative sizes of Walt Disney World and Disneyland 10:14 - Comparing on site Disney hotels 11:34 - Differences in the fastpass systems 13:42 - Comparing Walt Disney World and Disneyland food 15:28 - How long should you budget to visit Walt Disney World?

Sam from Milenomics returns for Round 2 vs. Trevor of Be Your Own Elite vs. Earned Elite Status. This time, they tackle the value of hotel status as it pertains to saving money, enhanced customer service, higher earn rates, and upgrades and benefits.

Sam Simon from Milenomics (the Professor) drops by for a hearty debate with Trevor about whether it's worth chasing airline status or just being a member of Sam's exclusive loyalty program, BYOE (Be Your Own Elite). Also: driving a Corolla in a blizzard.