Wonderland on Points | Credit Card Rewards & Budget Travel

Mary Ellen and Jo
  • 4.8 (289)
  • Places & Travel
  • Updated Weekly

A show where two adventurous moms share everything they have learned about traveling on credit card points and how to explore the world on a budget.

WONDERLAND BESTIES

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  1. 1d ago

    256. Travel with Flexibility on Points with Raise Her Roaming

    What happens when the trip you planned suddenly isn’t the trip you need anymore? Today we’re joined by Rachel and Margaux, the dynamic duo behind Raise Her Roaming, to talk about one of our favorite benefits of points and miles: the freedom to change your mind. We’re talking about traveling with kids, last-minute pivots, rebooking flights and hotels, unexpected family emergencies, and why we never stop checking our reservations even after everything is booked. From a child getting sick on a flight to swapping hotels in Japan and a trip to Santa Fe somehow turning into Portugal, Rachel and Margaux have some incredible stories of plans changing on the fly. But this conversation goes so much deeper than points and miles. We talk about the incredible value of traveling with our kids and what they learn when they see us navigate unfamiliar places, solve problems, change plans, and keep going when things feel uncomfortable. Sometimes we have to “do it scared,” and there’s something really powerful about teaching the next generation that they can do that too. This episode is such a good reminder that points and miles aren’t just about traveling for less. They give our families the flexibility to take more chances, experience more of the world together, and raise kids who know they’re capable of figuring things out—even when the plan completely falls apart. JOIN WONDERLAND BESTIES: Get bonus episodes, ad-free listening, timely points & miles updates, member Q&As, and more with our Wonderland Besties membership! FIND US ONLINE: Mary Ellen | Joanna Wonderland on Points Facebook Group OUR FAVORITE LINKS & DISCOUNTS: Some of the links below are affiliate or referral links, which means we may receive a commission or referral bonus when you use them. Thank you for supporting Wonderland on Points! Our Favorite Credit Cards Rakuten — Mary Ellen (Get 5,000 Amex or Bilt Points) Rakuten — Joanna (Get 5,000 Amex or Bilt Points) Mary Ellen’s Fetch — Use code MARYELLEN Joanna’s Fetch — Use code JOANNALYNN Seats.Aero CardPointers — Get Our Best Price Halara — 10% off with code WONDERLAND Comfrt — 15% off Rove — Get 1,500 Free Miles

  2. 2d ago • Subscribers Only

    6. Besties Bonus: Raise Her Roaming Member's Only After Show

    Besties, the main episode may be over, but Margaux and Rachel are sticking around for a little behind-the-scenes after show just for you! We’re going beyond the main conversation with rapid-fire questions, hot takes, travel confessions, favorite redemptions, mistakes we’ve made, bucket-list trips, and the opinions we might not necessarily share on the regular show. We get into the reality of maximizing points and miles, the redemptions that sounded better on paper, why flexibility can completely change the way you travel, and some of the bold travel decisions that have shaped all of us along the way. We also dig a little deeper into the idea of “doing it scared” — from Margaux moving her family from Seattle to Portugal to traveling internationally with kids and letting the next generation see us tackle things that feel intimidating. There’s so much value in showing our kids that we don’t have to have everything figured out before we try something new. And because this is Besties, we’re keeping things a little less polished and a lot more fun. Expect rapid-fire questions, spicy travel hot takes, funny stories, and plenty of behind-the-scenes conversation. Consider this the conversation that happens after we stop recording the regular episode… except we left the microphones on for the Besties. 💕 And remember, The Wonderline is open! Leave us a voice message with your questions, travel dilemmas, hot takes, or something you want us to answer in a future Besties episode. ☎️✨ CALL THE WONDERLINE: https://www.speakpipe.com/WonderlandHotline

    6. Besties Bonus: Raise Her Roaming Member's Only After Show

  3. 5d ago • Subscribers Only

    5. Besties BONUS: The 10 Weird People You See in the Airport

    Besties, airports bring out some truly fascinating behavior in people—and apparently we have THOUGHTS. In this episode, we’re going through 10 weird people you will inevitably meet at the airport, from the overpacker frantically rearranging their suitcase on the floor and the dreaded duty-free perfume sprayer to gate lice, business nomads, family caravans, airport explorers, and, of course, the person who claps when the plane lands. Along the way, we realize that we might actually be some of these people. 😂 Mary Ellen tells the story of hearing her own name announced over the airport loudspeaker after leaving her wallet in a bathroom stall, Joanna admits to being a shoes-off-on-long-flights traveler, and we discuss TSA's questionable definition of a liquid, scooter-suitcase justice, 4 a.m. airport pizza, and why spraying perfume before getting onto an enclosed metal tube should possibly be illegal. And naturally, we added a few airport personalities of our own because we have got hot takes. Now we want yours! What airport person drives you absolutely insane—or which one are YOU? Send us your weirdest airport encounters, travel confessions, or points and miles hot takes on the Wonderline. You might just hear it on an upcoming Besties episode! https://www.speakpipe.com/wonderlandhotline

    5. Besties BONUS: The 10 Weird People You See in the Airport

  4. 6d ago • Subscribers Only

    4. Besties Bonus: BREAKING Points and Miles Bombshell!

    Besties, apparently October 1 decided to bring ALL the points and miles news at once. We’re breaking down three big updates that dropped today, starting with some seriously tempting Rove transfer bonuses. Japan Airlines at 50%? Flying Blue at 40%? Qatar at 35%? We’re talking about where we see the biggest opportunities, whether we’d actually transfer speculatively, and the very important catch with JAL miles that has us hesitating. Then… we need to talk about Bilt. After Chase recently dropped the Sapphire Preferred-to-Hyatt transfer ratio, Bilt is officially following suit. Beginning January 1, Hyatt transfers will move to 4:3 — and even premium Bilt cardholders aren’t escaping the devaluation. We get into why this one feels particularly disappointing and what it means for the role Bilt has played in our points strategies. But Bilt also dropped some huge Rent Day bonuses, including 75% to Amtrak and 150% to Hilton. And somehow we’ve found ourselves contemplating AMTRAK POINTS?! We look at sleeper-car pricing, Hilton status, Rent Day Costco shopping, and whether any of these bonuses are tempting enough to make us move points today. Finally, we walk through the brand-new IHG One Rewards Premiere Select card and its $350 annual fee, 200,000-point welcome offer, 60K anniversary night, elite night credits, statement credits, and more. We also look at the changes coming to the existing IHG Premier card — because that card is getting more expensive while also changing some of its benefits. There is A LOT happening, Besties. Come tell us what you think: Which of these updates are you excited about, which ones are you taking advantage of, and which devaluation has you the most annoyed? Get Rove Miles here when you sign up for a free account! 💕 And remember, The Wonderline is open! Leave us a voice message with your questions, travel dilemmas, hot takes, or something you want us to answer in a future Besties episode. ☎️✨ CALL THE WONDERLINE: https://www.speakpipe.com/WonderlandHotline

    4. Besties Bonus: BREAKING Points and Miles Bombshell!

  5. 6d ago

    255. Midweek Mini: What Type of Points Traveler Are You?

    What kind of points traveler are you? Are you constantly calculating cents per point, saving every point for the “perfect” redemption, hunting for impossible-to-find award space, or just happy your points saved you money? In this episode, we’re breaking down eight types of points travelers: The Maximizer, The Hoarder, The Hunter, The Luxury Convert, The Strategist, The Chaotic Optimist, The Budget Boss, and The Churn & Burner. We’re sharing which types we think we are (spoiler: neither of us fits neatly into just one 😂), calling each other out along the way, and figuring out what our points habits say about the way we travel. Listen in and then tell us: What’s your primary points traveler type—and what’s your secondary? And TAKE THE QUIZ here on our Blog! JOIN WONDERLAND BESTIES: Get bonus episodes, ad-free listening, timely points & miles updates, member Q&As, and more with our Wonderland Besties membership! FIND US ONLINE: Mary Ellen | Joanna Wonderland on Points Facebook Group OUR FAVORITE LINKS & DISCOUNTS: Some of the links below are affiliate or referral links, which means we may receive a commission or referral bonus when you use them. Thank you for supporting Wonderland on Points! Our Favorite Credit Cards Reliefband — 25% off with code WONDERLAND Rakuten — Mary Ellen (Get 5,000 Amex or Bilt Points) Rakuten — Joanna (Get 5,000 Amex or Bilt Points) Mary Ellen’s Fetch — Use code MARYELLEN Joanna’s Fetch — Use code JOANNALYNN Seats.Aero CardPointers — Get Our Best Price Halara — 10% off with code WONDERLAND Comfrt — 15% off Rove — Get 1,500 Free Miles

  6. Sep 28

    254. An $11,000 San Diego Hotel for $0?! Holly’s Incredible Points Trip

    Today on the show, we’re joined by our friend and listener Holly to hear all about her incredible points and miles trip to San Diego! From staying at a hotel that would have cost nearly $11,000 for $0 out of pocket to using TWO Companion Passes for flights, this trip is a perfect example of just how far a good points strategy can take a family. Holly breaks down the cards and strategies that made the trip possible, including how she used bank bonuses and Capital One miles to cover excursions and other vacation expenses. We also get into the details of where they stayed, what they did, and her honest reviews of the properties and excursions along the way. This was truly a mind-blowing vacation with next to nothing out of pocket! MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: Reliefband — 25% off with code WONDERLAND JOIN WONDERLAND BESTIES: Get bonus episodes, ad-free listening, timely points & miles updates, member Q&As, and more with our Wonderland Besties membership! FIND US ONLINE: Mary Ellen | Joanna Wonderland on Points Facebook Group OUR FAVORITE LINKS & DISCOUNTS: Some of the links below are affiliate or referral links, which means we may receive a commission or referral bonus when you use them. Thank you for supporting Wonderland on Points! Our Favorite Credit Cards Rakuten — Mary Ellen (Get 5,000 Amex or Bilt Points) Rakuten — Joanna (Get 5,000 Amex or Bilt Points) Mary Ellen’s Fetch — Use code MARYELLEN Joanna’s Fetch — Use code JOANNALYNN Seats.Aero CardPointers — Get Our Best Price Halara — 10% off with code WONDERLAND Comfrt — 15% off Rove — Get 1,500 Free Miles

  7. Sep 26 • Subscribers Only

    EARLY RELEASE: What Type of Points Traveler Are You? ✈️👀

    This is our Midweek Mini for Wednesday but Besties and Bros are getting it a little early! We have officially decided that points and miles people need their own personality test. Forget Myers-Briggs. Forget the Enneagram. We need to know the important things: Are you emotionally attached to your points balance? Do you spend six hours searching for the perfect business-class redemption? Do you know exactly which card earns 4x at dinner? Or are you just out here collecting points, booking things, and hoping for the best? 😂 In this episode, we created eight types of points travelers. Meet the lineup: ✨ The Maximizer — If the cents-per-point value isn't good enough, you're simply not booking it. 🐿️ The Hoarder — You technically have plenty of points…but spending them feels physically painful. What if you need them for something BETTER?! 🔎 The Hunter — Award calendars are your playground. You will search obscure routes, repositioning flights, and approximately 47 different date combinations if it means finding the redemption. 🥂 The Luxury Convert — You used to think a $900 hotel room was ridiculous. Now you've stayed there on points and suddenly a Holiday Inn feels unacceptable. 📊 The Strategist — You know which card is earning what, which bonus category is active, which transfer bonus is happening, and exactly why everyone at dinner needs to STOP before they put their card down. 🌪️ The Chaotic Optimist — Do you have a plan? Absolutely not. Do you have points? Yes. Will you somehow end up on an amazing vacation anyway? Also yes. We're just winging it, baby. 💰 The Budget Boss — Forget aspirational redemptions. The question is: Did the points save me money? If they covered the flights, hotel, or something you otherwise would've paid cash for, that's a WIN. 🔥 The Churn & Burner — Points are meant to be spent. Earn them. Book something. Earn some more. Repeat. No emotional-support points balances allowed. And because apparently we can't just choose ONE personality, we figure out our primary and secondary types too. Now we need to know yours. Besties: What is your PRIMARY points traveler type? And what's your secondary? 👀 Drop both in the comments because we have a feeling we're going to learn a LOT about this group from these answers.

    EARLY RELEASE: What Type of Points Traveler Are You? ✈️👀

  8. Sep 23

    253. Midweek Mini: Chase Q4 Categories, Qatar Gets Easier & Wyndham Gets Worse

    The news just keeps coming! This week, we’re breaking down the new Chase Freedom Flex Q4 bonus categories, including why dining and groceries could make this an especially lucrative quarter. We also talk about Qatar making it easier to book award flights for friends and family, a huge 70% Chase-to-Marriott transfer bonus, reported delays with some Amex transfers, and a pretty painful Wyndham devaluation. Plus, Chase is celebrating the Sapphire Reserve’s 10th anniversary with new limited-time perks and credits. We go through what’s included, which ones we think are actually useful, and how we might take advantage of them. And finally, we clear up the difference between joining Wonderland Besties through Patreon versus subscribing through Apple Podcasts—and why we wanted to give you both options. MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: Chase Sapphire Reserve 10 Million Points Giveaway JOIN WONDERLAND BESTIES: Get bonus episodes, ad-free listening, timely points & miles updates, member Q&As, and more with our Wonderland Besties membership! FIND US ONLINE: Mary Ellen | Joanna Wonderland on Points Facebook Group OUR FAVORITE LINKS & DISCOUNTS: Some of the links below are affiliate or referral links, which means we may receive a commission or referral bonus when you use them. Thank you for supporting Wonderland on Points! Our Favorite Credit Cards Reliefband — 25% off with code WONDERLAND Rakuten — Mary Ellen (Get 5,000 Amex or Bilt Points) Rakuten — Joanna (Get 5,000 Amex or Bilt Points) Mary Ellen’s Fetch — Use code MARYELLEN Joanna’s Fetch — Use code JOANNALYNN Seats.Aero CardPointers — Get Our Best Price Halara — 10% off with code WONDERLAND Comfrt — 15% off Rove — Get 1,500 Free Miles

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4.8
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A show where two adventurous moms share everything they have learned about traveling on credit card points and how to explore the world on a budget.

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