Hurdy Gurdy Travel Podcast

Justin Vacula
  • 3.6 (30)
  • Leisure
  • Updated Daily

Travel the world at next to no cost with credit card rewards!

  1. 5d ago

    Best Credit Cards for Cashback and Cashing Out Points (July 2026)

    Cash Back and Points: How to Blend Credit Card Rewards with Amex, Chase, Capital One, Citi, U.S. Bank & More Justin Vacula of the Hurdy Gurdy Travel Podcast is joined by co-host Darren to discuss how to combine cashback credit cards with a points and miles strategy. Justin and Darren explain that points and miles can be great for flights, hotels, lounges, and premium travel, and cashback can help cover expenses that points do not easily offset, including airline fees/taxes, food, transportation, and other out-of-pocket travel costs. They compare traditional cashback cards with points that can be cashed out, starting with American Express Membership Rewards options such as the Schwab Platinum, Morgan Stanley Platinum, and Amex Business Platinum with Business Checking. They also discuss strong Amex earning cards, including the Amex Gold Card, Amex Business Gold, and Blue Business Plus. The episode also covers Chase Sapphire Reserve Pay Yourself Back, shifting Chase redemption categories, Capital One Venture and Venture X purchase eraser redemptions, and Citi cash-out options through cards such as the Citi Strata Premier and Citi Strata Elite. Justin and Darren also discuss US Bank business cashback cards, including redemption considerations and how a US Bank checking account is needed to get better value. They review the Discover IT rotating 5% categories, gift card redemption bonuses, and more. Timestamps 00:00 Podcast Intro 00:35 Cashback Strategy Setup 01:49 Why Cashback Matters 04:31 Amex Points Cashout 07:19 Chase Points Cashout 11:41 Capital One Points Cashout 14:23 Citi Cashout Options 16:06 Support And Sponsors 18:27 US Bank Cashback Cards 20:39 Discover Cashback 24:22 MGM Iconic 27:58 Venmo And Langley 33:25 Trips, Credits, And Wrap Up 38:07 Closing Outro — 🎙️ 📢 Listen to the Hurdy Gurdy Travel Podcast: 👉 SoundCloud → https://soundcloud.com/hurdygurdytravelpodcast 👉 Apple Podcasts / iTunes → https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hurdy-gurdy-travel-podcast/id1489093490 👉 Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/0PRUx83Z4XKHengsgOoLWg 👉 iHeartRadio → https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-hurdy-gurdy-travel-podcast-51807405/ 👉 …and many other podcast platforms worldwide! 🌍🎧 📡 Prefer using your favorite app? Simply copy & paste my podcast feed: http://feeds.soundcloud.com/users/soundcloud:users:706382626/sounds.rss — 💜 Support My Work & Unlock Special Perks: 👉 Support me through helpful referral links on my site: https://hurdygurdytravel.com/donate-referral-links/ 👉 Use my CardPointers affiliate link to save on annual and lifetime memberships → https://www.cardpointers.com/hurdygurdytravel 👉 Use my Savewise affiliate link to activate grocery coupons, maximize shopping portals, and more: https://getsavewise.com/pro?ref=hurdygurdy 👉 Become a Frequent Traveler University member and sign up for events, including virtual seminars: https://ftuniversity.com/?aff=24 👉 Earn 500 miles when signing up for Rove Miles using my referral link: www.rovemiles.com/?signup&referralCode=8AS1JSG9 👉 Use my AutoPilot affiliate link to save points, miles, and money with this flight rebooking tool https://www.withautopilot.com/?partner=HurdyGurdy 👉 Use my Descript referral link to edit your podcast episodes, videos, and more. https://descript.cello.so/yiM83psckcY — 👉 Visit the Support Tab on my website to contribute via SubscribeStar → https://www.subscribestar.com/hurdygurdytravel 🎁 Subscriber & Supporter Perks Include: ✨ One-on-one calls with me ✨ Advance notice of upcoming podcast guests (submit your questions!) ✨ A custom podcast episode recorded just for you 🎙️💬 ✨ Bonus content 🎁 — 🌐 Stay Connected With Me: 🔔 Subscribe on YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@HurdyGurdyTravelPodcast 👍 Like on Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/HurdyGurdyTravelPodcast 🐦 Follow on Twitter / X → https://x.com/HurdyGurdyTravl 📸 Follow on Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/justinvacula/

    Best Credit Cards for Cashback and Cashing Out Points (July 2026)

  2. 6d ago

    Dave Ramsey is Wrong About FICO Scores (You Don't Need to Pay "Hundreds of Thousands of Dollars in Interest")

    Hurdy Gurdy Travel Podcast: Justin Vacula Responds to Dave Ramsey on FICO Scores and Credit Cards Justin Vacula records an impromptu episode of the Hurdy Gurdy Travel Podcast responding point by point to Dave Ramsey’s video, “This Is What Your FICO Score Really Means.” Justin argues that Ramsey misrepresents how credit works by repeatedly equating responsible credit card use with carrying debt. He explains how paying balances in full, avoiding interest, and maintaining low credit utilization can help consumers build strong FICO scores without falling into financial trouble. The episode also examines why credit scores can matter for renting an apartment, opening a phone plan, obtaining insurance, or financing a major purchase. Justin challenges Ramsey’s claims that FICO is an “I love debt” score, that achieving an 800 credit score requires hundreds of thousands of dollars, and that people are better off having no credit score at all. He also notes that income is not included in FICO scoring. Timestamps 00:00 Points and Miles Intro 00:27 Why Ramsey Misleads 01:58 Debt vs. Responsible Credit 03:14 What FICO Measures 05:48 Why Credit Scores Matter 08:23 The Debt Load Myth 09:52 Leverage and Frugal Wins 12:09 The “I Love Debt” Claim 14:23 The Costly FICO Myth 19:15 The Zero Credit Score Argument 23:07 Terminal Humor Detour 27:14 Ramsey’s Mortgage Double Standard 29:23 Final Takeaways and Outro — 🎙️ 📢 Listen to the Hurdy Gurdy Travel Podcast: 👉 Apple Podcasts / iTunes → https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hurdy-gurdy-travel-podcast/id1489093490 👉 Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/0PRUx83Z4XKHengsgOoLWg 👉 iHeartRadio → https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-hurdy-gurdy-travel-podcast-51807405/ 👉 …and many other podcast platforms worldwide! 🌍🎧 📡 Prefer using your favorite app? Simply copy & paste my podcast RSS feed: http://feeds.soundcloud.com/users/soundcloud:users:706382626/sounds.rss — 💜 Support My Work & Unlock Special Perks: 👉 Support me through helpful referral links on my site: https://hurdygurdytravel.com/donate-referral-links/ 👉 Use my CardPointers affiliate link to save on annual and lifetime memberships → https://www.cardpointers.com/hurdygurdytravel CardPointers helps you activate card-linked offers and take advantage of other powerful credit card features. 👉 Use my Savewise affiliate link to activate grocery coupons, maximize shopping portals, and more: https://getsavewise.com/pro?ref=hurdygurdy 👉 Become a Frequent Traveler University member and sign up for events, including virtual seminars: https://ftuniversity.com/?aff=24 👉 Earn 500 miles when signing up for Rove Miles using my referral link: www.rovemiles.com/?signup&referralCode=8AS1JSG9 👉 Use my AutoPilot affiliate link to save points, miles, and money with this flight rebooking tool https://www.withautopilot.com/?partner=HurdyGurdy 👉 Use my Descript referral link to edit your podcast episodes, videos, and more. Descript offers tools, including studio sound, removal of filler words, and the ability to edit from a generated transcript. https://descript.cello.so/yiM83psckcY — 👉 Visit the Support Tab on my website to contribute via SubscribeStar → https://www.subscribestar.com/hurdygurdytravel 🎁 Subscriber & Supporter Perks Include: ✨ One-on-one calls with me ✨ Advance notice of upcoming podcast guests (submit your questions!) ✨ A custom podcast episode recorded just for you 🎙️💬 ✨ Bonus content 🎁 — 🌐 Stay Connected With Me: 🔔 Subscribe on YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@HurdyGurdyTravelPodcast 👍 Like on Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/HurdyGurdyTravelPodcast 🐦 Follow on Twitter / X → https://x.com/HurdyGurdyTravl 📸 Follow on Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/justinvacula/

    Dave Ramsey is Wrong About FICO Scores (You Don't Need to Pay "Hundreds of Thousands of Dollars in Interest")

  3. Jul 9

    Dave Ramsey’s “Debt-Free” Cruise Costs Over $4,000...and you can pay with a Credit Card!

    Dave Ramsey Cruise Pricing: $4,115 Interior Room, Massive Upsells & Credit Cards Accepted at Checkout Justin Vacula of the Hurdy Gurdy Travel Podcast records an impromptu reaction to Dave Ramsey promoting a seven-day Western Caribbean “debt-free celebration” cruise for 2,500 fans. Justin discusses the contrast between Ramsey’s usual frugality, anti-debt, and anti-credit-card messaging and the high price of the Dave Ramsey cruise. He compares the Ramsey cruise pricing with his own low-cost cruise strategies, including comp cruise offers through casino status, credit card rewards, and MyVegas comp rewards. While attempting a booking, Justin finds that the cheapest interior stateroom totals about $4,115 after applying a $100 promo code. He also reviews the cruise’s optional add-ons and upsells, including “signature service,” photo opportunities, lunch and dinner with Dave Ramsey, and a $2,000 EntreLeadership session. Justin also highlights what he sees as one of the funniest contradictions: the partner booking site recommends credit cards and accepts credit cards at checkout through Stripe, despite Dave Ramsey’s long-running criticism of credit cards. — 🎙️ 📢 Listen to the Hurdy Gurdy Travel Podcast: 👉 SoundCloud → https://soundcloud.com/hurdygurdytravelpodcast 👉 Apple Podcasts / iTunes → https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hurdy-gurdy-travel-podcast/id1489093490 👉 Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/0PRUx83Z4XKHengsgOoLWg 👉 iHeartRadio → https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-hurdy-gurdy-travel-podcast-51807405/ 👉 …and many other podcast platforms worldwide! 🌍🎧 📡 Prefer using your favorite app? Simply copy & paste my podcast RSS feed: http://feeds.soundcloud.com/users/soundcloud:users:706382626/sounds.rss — 💜 Support My Work & Unlock Special Perks: 👉 Support me through helpful referral links on my site: https://hurdygurdytravel.com/donate-referral-links/ 👉 Use my CardPointers affiliate link to save on annual and lifetime memberships → https://www.cardpointers.com/hurdygurdytravel CardPointers helps you activate card-linked offers and take advantage of other powerful credit card features. 👉 Use my Savewise affiliate link to activate grocery coupons, maximize shopping portals, and more: https://getsavewise.com/pro?ref=hurdygurdy 👉 Become a Frequent Traveler University member and sign up for events, including virtual seminars: https://ftuniversity.com/?aff=24 👉 Earn 500 miles when signing up for Rove Miles using my referral link: www.rovemiles.com/?signup&referralCode=8AS1JSG9 👉 Use my AutoPilot affiliate link to save points, miles, and money with this flight rebooking tool https://www.withautopilot.com/?partner=HurdyGurdy 👉 Use my Descript referral link to edit your podcast episodes, videos, and more. Descript offers tools, including studio sound, removal of filler words, and the ability to edit from a generated transcript. https://descript.cello.so/yiM83psckcY — 👉 Visit the Support Tab on my website to contribute via SubscribeStar → https://www.subscribestar.com/hurdygurdytravel 🎁 Subscriber & Supporter Perks Include: ✨ One-on-one calls with me ✨ Advance notice of upcoming podcast guests (submit your questions!) ✨ A custom podcast episode recorded just for you 🎙️💬 ✨ Bonus content 🎁 — 🌐 Stay Connected With Me: 🔔 Subscribe on YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@HurdyGurdyTravelPodcast 👍 Like on Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/HurdyGurdyTravelPodcast 🐦 Follow on Twitter / X → https://x.com/HurdyGurdyTravl 📸 Follow on Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/justinvacula/

    Dave Ramsey’s “Debt-Free” Cruise Costs Over $4,000...and you can pay with a Credit Card!

  4. Jul 8

    Maximize Rakuten with TrakRak.com (Special Guest: Carrie)

    TrackRak.com Review | Real-Time Rakuten Rate Alerts to Maximize Points, Miles & Cash Back Justin Vacula of the Hurdy Gurdy Travel Podcast welcomes Carrie from TrackRak.com to discuss how TrackRak helps points and miles users monitor Rakuten shopping portal rates and get real-time alerts when earning rates increase. Recorded June 30, 2026, this episode covers how TrackRak works, why Carrie built the tool, and how customizable text and email alerts can help users avoid missing elevated Rakuten offers. Carrie explains her frugal background, how she got into points and miles, and why she wanted to create a simple Rakuten-only solution for tracking shopping portal rates. Carrie explains that TrackRak scans Rakuten rates throughout the day and uses smart alerts to avoid sending repeated notifications for the same elevated rate. The site also includes a suggestion box, top-20 deals, and historical rate charts with about 600 days of data, with the goal of eventually showing around three years of historical Rakuten rate history. These charts can help users set realistic alert thresholds and understand when a rate is actually worth chasing. Timestamps 00:00 Intro Theme 00:32 Meet Carrie 01:17 Carrie Origin Story 03:45 What TrackRak Does 05:17 Smart Alerts Explained 07:04 Charts And Predictions 07:46 Plans And Pricing 10:27 Stacking Tips 12:41 Show Announcements 14:53 Big Rebate Deals 17:33 Trips And Wins 20:26 Upcoming Features 25:15 Final Plug And Outro — 🎙️ 📢 Listen to the Hurdy Gurdy Travel Podcast: 👉 SoundCloud → https://soundcloud.com/hurdygurdytravelpodcast 👉 Apple Podcasts / iTunes → https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hurdy-gurdy-travel-podcast/id1489093490 👉 Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/0PRUx83Z4XKHengsgOoLWg 👉 iHeartRadio → https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-hurdy-gurdy-travel-podcast-51807405/ 👉 …and many other podcast platforms worldwide! 🌍🎧 📡 Prefer using your favorite app? Simply copy & paste my podcast RSS feed: http://feeds.soundcloud.com/users/soundcloud:users:706382626/sounds.rss — 💜 Support My Work & Unlock Special Perks: 👉 Support me through helpful referral links on my site: https://hurdygurdytravel.com/donate-referral-links/ 👉 Use my CardPointers affiliate link to save on annual and lifetime memberships → https://www.cardpointers.com/hurdygurdytravel 👉 Use my Savewise affiliate link to activate grocery coupons, maximize shopping portals, and more: https://getsavewise.com/pro?ref=hurdygurdy 👉 Become a Frequent Traveler University member and sign up for events, including virtual seminars: https://ftuniversity.com/?aff=24 👉 Earn 500 miles when signing up for Rove Miles using my referral link: www.rovemiles.com/?signup&referralCode=8AS1JSG9 👉 Use my AutoPilot affiliate link to save points, miles, and money with this flight rebooking tool https://www.withautopilot.com/?partner=HurdyGurdy 👉 Use my Descript referral link to edit your podcast episodes, videos, and more. https://descript.cello.so/yiM83psckcY — 👉 Visit the Support Tab on my website to contribute via SubscribeStar → https://www.subscribestar.com/hurdygurdytravel 🎁 Subscriber & Supporter Perks Include: ✨ One-on-one calls with me ✨ Advance notice of upcoming podcast guests (submit your questions!) ✨ A custom podcast episode recorded just for you 🎙️💬 ✨ Bonus content 🎁 — 🌐 Stay Connected With Me: 🔔 Subscribe on YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@HurdyGurdyTravelPodcast 👍 Like on Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/HurdyGurdyTravelPodcast 🐦 Follow on Twitter / X → https://x.com/HurdyGurdyTravl 📸 Follow on Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/justinvacula/

    Maximize Rakuten with TrakRak.com (Special Guest: Carrie)

  5. Jul 1

    Airport Lounge Access in 2026

    Best Credit Cards for Airport Lounge Access | Priority Pass, Chase Sapphire, Amex Centurion, Capital One & Airline Clubs Justin Vacula of the Hurdy Gurdy Travel Podcast is joined by returning co-host Darren to discuss the best credit cards for airport lounge access, including Priority Pass, Chase Sapphire Lounges, Capital One Lounges, Amex Centurion Lounges, United Clubs, Delta Sky Clubs, Admirals Clubs, and other airline lounge options. In this episode, Justin and Darren explain how airport lounge access can save travelers money on food and drinks, make layovers and delays more comfortable, and sometimes even help with rebooking when airline agents inside lounges are available. They start with Priority Pass credit cards, including beginner-friendly options like the U.S. Bank Altitude Connect, which offers four Priority Pass visits with no annual fee, and premium options like the Bilt Palladium Card, Chase Ritz-Carlton Card, and Chase Sapphire Reserve. They discuss lounge visit limits, guest access, authorized users, annual fees, and how Chase Sapphire Lounge access fits into the Priority Pass ecosystem. Timestamps 00:00 Points And Miles Intro 00:45 Why Airport Lounges Matter 04:15 Priority Pass Basics 04:47 Beginner Lounge Cards 06:27 Premium Priority Pass Picks 09:59 United Lounge Cards 14:41 Venture X And Lounge Networks 17:11 Amex Platinum And Delta Access 18:57 American Airlines Lounge Cards 20:21 Support The Show Break 22:22 Qatar Card Flagship Hack 25:47 Listener Questions And Tips 33:57 Wrap Up And Upcoming Trips 36:19 Outro And Credits — 🎙️ 📢 Listen to the Hurdy Gurdy Travel Podcast: 👉 Apple Podcasts / iTunes → https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hurdy-gurdy-travel-podcast/id1489093490 👉 Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/0PRUx83Z4XKHengsgOoLWg 👉 iHeartRadio → https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-hurdy-gurdy-travel-podcast-51807405/ 👉 …and many other podcast platforms worldwide! 🌍🎧 📡 Prefer using your favorite app? Simply copy & paste my podcast RSS feed: http://feeds.soundcloud.com/users/soundcloud:users:706382626/sounds.rss — 💜 Support My Work & Unlock Special Perks: 👉 Support me through helpful referral links on my site: https://hurdygurdytravel.com/donate-referral-links/ 👉 Use my CardPointers affiliate link to save on annual and lifetime memberships → https://www.cardpointers.com/hurdygurdytravel 👉 Use my Savewise affiliate link to activate grocery coupons, maximize shopping portals, and more: https://getsavewise.com/pro?ref=hurdygurdy 👉 Become a Frequent Traveler University member and sign up for events, including virtual seminars: https://ftuniversity.com/?aff=24 👉 Earn 500 miles when signing up for Rove Miles using my referral link: www.rovemiles.com/?signup&referralCode=8AS1JSG9 👉 Use my AutoPilot affiliate link to save points, miles, and money with this flight rebooking tool https://www.withautopilot.com/?partner=HurdyGurdy 👉 Use my Descript referral link to edit your podcast episodes, videos, and more. https://descript.cello.so/yiM83psckcY — 👉 Visit the Support Tab on my website to contribute via SubscribeStar → https://www.subscribestar.com/hurdygurdytravel 🎁 Subscriber & Supporter Perks Include: ✨ One-on-one calls with me ✨ Advance notice of upcoming podcast guests (submit your questions!) ✨ A custom podcast episode recorded just for you 🎙️💬 ✨ Bonus content 🎁 — 🌐 Stay Connected With Me: 🔔 Subscribe on YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@HurdyGurdyTravelPodcast 👍 Like on Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/HurdyGurdyTravelPodcast 🐦 Follow on Twitter / X → https://x.com/HurdyGurdyTravl 📸 Follow on Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/justinvacula/

    Airport Lounge Access in 2026

  6. Jun 24

    Bilt Bulletin | June 2026

    Bilt Bulletin June 2026 | Palladium Card Updates, Credit Limit Increases, CFPB Complaints & Bilt Cash Redemptions In this episode, Justin and Darren review key features of the Bilt Palladium Card, including Bilt Cash vs. Rent Multiplier, the welcome bonus, Gold status, hotel credits, and the Point Accelerator feature. They also discuss how they are using the card, what benefits have been useful so far, and where the program may be headed. A major topic is the surprise automatic credit limit increases some cardholders received, including limits jumping as high as $50,000. Justin and Darren discuss why these large credit limit increases may be useful, but also raise questions about credit pulls, frozen credit reports, utilization, and how higher limits could affect future credit card approvals. They also discuss a possible value boost for Bilt’s 1:1 Hyatt transfer partnership, especially as some Chase-to-Hyatt transfers shift to a less favorable 4:3 ratio. The episode also covers a Fortune profile of Bilt’s growth claims, Senator Elizabeth Warren’s letter citing CFPB complaints related to payment disruptions during the transition away from Wells Fargo, and broader concerns about customer service, card servicing, and program reliability. Timestamps 00:00 Podcast Intro Theme 00:32 Welcome And Episode Setup 01:47 Bilt Program Basics 03:27 Bilt Cash Vs. Rent Multiplier 04:47 Surprise Credit Limit Jumps 07:46 Hard Pull Rumors And Credit Freezes 10:40 Hyatt Transfer Shakeup 12:58 Bilt Building Big Picture 18:02 Support The Show Announcements 20:46 CFPB Complaints And Warren Letter 27:17 Dining Credit Redemption Stories 31:56 Points Balances And Earn-Burn Strategy 34:15 Year-End Planning And Travel Wrap Up 37:34 Closing: Thanks And Outro Theme — 🎙️ 📢 Listen to the Hurdy Gurdy Travel Podcast: 👉 Apple Podcasts / iTunes → https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hurdy-gurdy-travel-podcast/id1489093490 👉 Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/0PRUx83Z4XKHengsgOoLWg 👉 iHeartRadio → https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-hurdy-gurdy-travel-podcast-51807405/ 👉 …and many other podcast platforms worldwide! 🌍🎧 — 💜 Support My Work & Unlock Special Perks: 👉 Support me through helpful referral links on my site: https://hurdygurdytravel.com/donate-referral-links/ 👉 Use my CardPointers affiliate link to save on annual and lifetime memberships → https://www.cardpointers.com/hurdygurdytravel 👉 Use my Savewise affiliate link to activate grocery coupons, maximize shopping portals, and more: https://getsavewise.com/pro?ref=hurdygurdy 👉 Become a Frequent Traveler University member and sign up for events, including virtual seminars: https://ftuniversity.com/?aff=24 👉 Earn 500 miles when signing up for Rove Miles using my referral link: www.rovemiles.com/?signup&referralCode=8AS1JSG9 👉 Use my AutoPilot affiliate link to save points, miles, and money with this flight rebooking tool https://www.withautopilot.com/?partner=HurdyGurdy 👉 Use my Descript referral link to edit your podcast episodes, videos, and more. https://descript.cello.so/yiM83psckcY — 👉 Visit the Support Tab on my website to contribute via SubscribeStar → https://www.subscribestar.com/hurdygurdytravel 🎁 Subscriber & Supporter Perks Include: ✨ One-on-one calls with me ✨ Advance notice of upcoming podcast guests (submit your questions!) ✨ A custom podcast episode recorded just for you 🎙️💬 ✨ Bonus content 🎁 — 🌐 Stay Connected With Me: 🔔 Subscribe on YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@HurdyGurdyTravelPodcast 👍 Like on Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/HurdyGurdyTravelPodcast 🐦 Follow on Twitter / X → https://x.com/HurdyGurdyTravl 📸 Follow on Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/justinvacula/

    Bilt Bulletin | June 2026

  7. Jun 19

    New! Wyndham Rewards Earner Premier Credit Card

    Wyndham Rewards Earner Premier Card Review | 120K Bonus, 25% Award Discount, $400 Credits & $395 Fee Justin Vacula of the Hurdy Gurdy Travel Podcast is joined by James from the Churn and Burn Podcast to discuss the newly released Wyndham Rewards Earner Premier Card. This new premium Wyndham credit card has a $395 annual fee and offers up to a 120,000-point welcome bonus, with 90,000 Wyndham Rewards points after $6,000 in spend and another 30,000 points after $750 in Wyndham purchases. Justin and James explain how the bonus works, who may be eligible, and whether the card makes sense for travelers who like Wyndham Rewards, casino status matches, and high-value hotel redemptions. They also discuss the card’s biggest ongoing benefits, including a 25% discount or rebate on Wyndham award bookings, 30,000 anniversary points, a possible 30,000-point free night certificate after five Wyndham nights, and the potential for Wyndham points to avoid expiration while holding the card. The episode also covers the card’s earning rates, including 8X points at Wyndham, 4X on grocery stores, 4X on dining, and 4X on travel, with special attention to the uncapped grocery category. Timestamps 00:00 Podcast Intro Theme 00:32 Wyndham Premier Card Overview 01:26 First Impressions And Barclays 02:54 Welcome Bonus Breakdown 04:32 Core Perks And Rebates 06:51 Earning Rates And Value 07:54 Statement Credits Deep Dive 13:07 Apply Or Pass Decision 16:46 Sponsor Break And Links 19:09 Best Wyndham Redemptions 23:08 Comparisons And Who It Fits 25:43 Listener Question And Business Card 27:27 Status And Caesars Angle 30:03 Wrap Up And Guest Plugs 34:40 Outro And Support The Show — 🎙️ 📢 Listen to the Hurdy Gurdy Travel Podcast: 👉 SoundCloud → https://soundcloud.com/hurdygurdytravelpodcast 👉 Apple Podcasts / iTunes → https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hurdy-gurdy-travel-podcast/id1489093490 👉 Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/0PRUx83Z4XKHengsgOoLWg 👉 …and many other podcast platforms worldwide! 🌍🎧 📡 Prefer using your favorite app? Simply copy & paste my podcast RSS feed: http://feeds.soundcloud.com/users/soundcloud:users:706382626/sounds.rss — 💜 Support My Work & Unlock Special Perks: 👉 Support me through helpful referral links on my site: https://hurdygurdytravel.com/donate-referral-links/ 👉 Use my CardPointers affiliate link to save on annual and lifetime memberships → https://www.cardpointers.com/hurdygurdytravel CardPointers helps you activate card-linked offers and take advantage of other powerful credit card features. 👉 Use my Savewise affiliate link to activate grocery coupons, maximize shopping portals, and more: https://getsavewise.com/pro?ref=hurdygurdy 👉 Become a Frequent Traveler University member and sign up for events, including virtual seminars: https://ftuniversity.com/?aff=24 👉 Earn 500 miles when signing up for Rove Miles using my referral link: www.rovemiles.com/?signup&referralCode=8AS1JSG9 👉 Use my AutoPilot affiliate link to save points, miles, and money with this flight rebooking tool https://www.withautopilot.com/?partner=HurdyGurdy 👉 Use my Descript referral link to edit your podcast episodes, videos, and more. https://descript.cello.so/yiM83psckcY — 👉 Visit the Support Tab on my website to contribute via SubscribeStar → https://www.subscribestar.com/hurdygurdytravel 🎁 Subscriber & Supporter Perks Include: ✨ One-on-one calls with me ✨ Advance notice of upcoming podcast guests (submit your questions!) ✨ A custom podcast episode recorded just for you 🎙️💬 ✨ Bonus content 🎁 — 🌐 Stay Connected With Me: 🔔 Subscribe on YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@HurdyGurdyTravelPodcast 👍 Like on Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/HurdyGurdyTravelPodcast 🐦 Follow on Twitter / X → https://x.com/HurdyGurdyTravl 📸 Follow on Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/justinvacula/

    New! Wyndham Rewards Earner Premier Credit Card

  8. Jun 14

    NBC Turns Credit Card Rewards Into an Income Inequality Story - Here's What They Missed

    Justin Vacula of the Hurdy Gurdy Travel Podcast responds to an NBC News article titled “How High-End Credit Card Perks Are Hurting Shoppers Who Pay in Cash.” Original article: https://www.nbcnews.com/business/consumer/credit-card-perks-hurt-shoppers-pay-cash-debit-rcna346905 The article frames credit card rewards as a wealth transfer tied to economic inequality, but Justin argues the story misses several major points about credit cards, cash, small businesses, and responsible rewards strategy. In this solo episode, Justin challenges two central claims from the article: that merchant swipe fees disproportionately hurt low-income and middle-income Americans, and that credit card processing fees unfairly damage small businesses. He argues that the article ignores the real costs and risks of cash, including labor, theft, slower checkout lines, accounting errors, trips to the bank for deposits, and security concerns. Justin also explains why many businesses accept credit cards despite processing fees, including increased sales, easier recordkeeping, faster transactions, and greater customer convenience. Timestamps 00:00 Intro Theme Song 00:32 Episode Setup And NBC Critique 02:20 Host Story And Why Rewards Help 03:58 Swipe Fees Explained 04:56 Hidden Costs Of Cash 06:44 Why Businesses Take Cards 07:56 No Guilt Using Rewards 10:24 Saving On Groceries And Gas 12:08 Rewards Beyond Luxury Travel 13:31 Protections And Lifestyle Credits 17:47 Break And Announcements 19:49 Get Started With Points 23:46 Level Up With More Cards 26:02 Wrap Up And Where To Follow 27:00 Outro Theme Song — 🎙️ 📢 Listen to the Hurdy Gurdy Travel Podcast: 👉 SoundCloud → https://soundcloud.com/hurdygurdytravelpodcast 👉 Apple Podcasts / iTunes → https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hurdy-gurdy-travel-podcast/id1489093490 👉 Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/0PRUx83Z4XKHengsgOoLWg 👉 iHeartRadio → https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-hurdy-gurdy-travel-podcast-51807405/ 👉 …and many other podcast platforms worldwide! 🌍🎧 — 💜 Support My Work & Unlock Special Perks: 👉 Support me through helpful referral links on my site: https://hurdygurdytravel.com/donate-referral-links/ 👉 Use my CardPointers affiliate link to save on annual and lifetime memberships https://www.cardpointers.com/hurdygurdytravel 👉 Use my Savewise affiliate link to activate grocery coupons, maximize shopping portals, and more: https://getsavewise.com/pro?ref=hurdygurdy 👉 Become a Frequent Traveler University member and sign up for events, including virtual seminars: https://ftuniversity.com/?aff=24 👉 Earn 500 miles when signing up for Rove Miles using my referral link: www.rovemiles.com/?signup&referralCode=8AS1JSG9 👉 Use my AutoPilot affiliate link to save points, miles, and money with this flight rebooking tool https://www.withautopilot.com/?partner=HurdyGurdy 👉 Use my Descript referral link to edit your podcast episodes, videos, and more. Descript offers tools, including studio sound, removal of filler words, and the ability to edit from a generated transcript. https://descript.cello.so/yiM83psckcY — 👉 Visit the Support Tab on my website to contribute via SubscribeStar → https://www.subscribestar.com/hurdygurdytravel 🎁 Subscriber & Supporter Perks Include: ✨ One-on-one calls with me ✨ Advance notice of upcoming podcast guests (submit your questions!) ✨ A custom podcast episode recorded just for you 🎙️💬 ✨ Bonus content 🎁 — 🌐 Stay Connected With Me: 🔔 Subscribe on YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@HurdyGurdyTravelPodcast 👍 Like on Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/HurdyGurdyTravelPodcast 🐦 Follow on Twitter / X → https://x.com/HurdyGurdyTravl 📸 Follow on Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/justinvacula/

    NBC Turns Credit Card Rewards Into an Income Inequality Story - Here's What They Missed
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3.6
out of 5
30 Ratings

About

Travel the world at next to no cost with credit card rewards!

Information

  • Creator
    Justin Vacula
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2026
  • Episodes
    205
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © All rights reserved
  • Show Website
    Hurdy Gurdy Travel Podcast

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