Points and Miles Travel Chats

Michele - Fancy Travel Pointers
  • 4.9 (46)
  • PLACES & TRAVEL

Welcome to the Points and Miles Travel Chats podcast. I'm Michele from Fancy Travel Pointers, and I believe your everyday spend is the secret to extraordinary travel. If you’ve ever worried that points are too complicated, or wondered if a busy family with public school schedules and competitive sports could really travel with points — I’m here to show you it’s absolutely possible. Here’s what I know for sure: it’s not about spending more, and keeping my credit score sky-high is always front and center. I’ll give you actionable steps and teach real, repeatable strategies that transform the way you earn points and the value you get from them.

  1. 4D AGO

    Italy at Christmas on Points: Flight Cancellations, Rebookings, and Big Wins

    In today’s episode, we’re chatting about How multiple flight cancellations months before departure turned into better flightsVirgin Atlantic vs. Air France/KLM: flexibility differences you must know before bookingHow we flew round-trip business class to Europe over Christmas for under 90,000 points per personTips for surviving tight international connections (Amsterdam’s short-connection line)The magic of Italy in winter: fewer crowds, better weather, and unforgettable experiencesExcursions worth splurging on (and one expensive food tour I wouldn’t repeat)How a mix of points + cash covered nearly $20,000 in flights and hotelsWhy flexibility—not perfection—is the real secret to booking peak-season award travel SHOW NOTES Tours we booked & recommend from this trip: Tours of the Real Hidden Venice Venice pasta & tiramisu making class Tuscany Bike Tours Hunt for truffles in the Tuscan woods 👋 Hi! I'm Michele! A points and miles expert, using points for family vacations to Japan, Hawaii, Thailand, Greece, Italy, Spain, theme parks and so much more. I don't believe in spending more to earn more points. The key is knowing how to earn the best points and getting massive value from them. With a teenager in competitive sports & public school, traveling during the busiest of times is our family's norm. I'll show you my best tips & strategies to use points for making incredible family travel happen. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Fancy Travel Pointers is part of an affiliate sales network and receives compensation for sending traffic to partner sites, such as Bankrate.com. This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. This site does not include all financial companies or all available financial offers. Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.

    33 min

  2. JAN 27

    Hyatt Deep Dive – Why Hyatt Is the Best Hotel Program for Award Stays on Points

    In today's episode, we're chatting about Why Hyatt is the best hotel program for points (yes, even if you’re a Marriott loyalist)The magic of Hyatt’s award chart — and why it saves you thousands of points per stayHyatt elite status explained (Discoverist → Explorist → Globalist) and what perks actually matterA deep dive into Hyatt Milestone Rewards (Guest of Honor, Suite Upgrades, Free Nights)How Hyatt free night certificates work (and the expiration gotchas to watch for)My favorite Hyatt stays booked on points — from Maui to Kyoto to Hong KongThe smartest way to earn Hyatt points without putting everyday spend on hotel cards 📋 SHOW NOTES The secret to more free Hyatt stays - exactly how I earn all those points One of the best helpers for earning status 📋 READY TO LEVEL UP YOUR POINTS TRAVEL? Free points & miles guide – PDF downloaded over 17K times Free online, self-paced course – join over 2000 students Fancy Travel Pointers Instagram – keep up to date on all the latest points news Fancy Travel Pointers Facebook – great place to share wins, ask questions  Fancy Travel Pointers Newsletter – sent weekly to over 24K points lovers! Current Best Offers - Curated by spend, annual fees and travel style 👋 Hi! I'm Michele! A points and miles expert, using points for family vacations to Japan, Hawaii, Thailand, Greece, Italy, Spain, theme parks and so much more. I don't believe in spending more to earn more points. The key is knowing how to earn the best points and getting massive value from them. With a teenager in competitive sports & public school, traveling during the busiest of times is our family's norm. I'll show you my best tips & strategies to use points for making incredible family travel happen. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Fancy Travel Pointers is part of an affiliate sales network and receives compensation for sending traffic to partner sites, such as Bankrate.com. This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. This site does not include all financial companies or all available financial offers. Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.

    28 min

  3. JAN 20

    How We Saved $20,000 on a London & Paris Family Trip Using Points

    In today's episode, we're chatting about How our family pulled off London & Paris in peak summer using mostly pointsThe exact business class flights we booked (102K points roundtrip per person!) & hotel award nights Real talk about Europe hotel occupancy rules for families Niche but gold tips: Eurostar mistakes to avoid, laundry hacks in Europe, plus tour wins (and fails)A full look at what we used cash for vs what we used points for📋 SHOW NOTES Booking JetBlue Mint via Qatar - including step by step how to move Avios from British Airways to Qatar Points we use for Hyatt award stays - earning transferable points (not hotel specific points) is key Thrifty Travel Premium Newsletter - use "fancy" at checkout for $20 off 1st year MaxMyPoint - Set up hotel alerts for award availability  New to points & Miles? Start with my favorite card! 📋 READY TO LEVEL UP YOUR POINTS TRAVEL? Free points & miles guide – PDF downloaded over 17K times Free online, self-paced course – join over 1800 students Fancy Travel Pointers Instagram – keep up to date on all the latest points news Fancy Travel Pointers Facebook – great place to share wins, ask questions  Fancy Travel Pointers Newsletter – sent weekly to over 24K points lovers! Current Best Offers - Curated by spend, annual fees and travel style 👋 Hi! I'm Michele! A points and miles expert, using points for family vacations to Japan, Hawaii, Thailand, Greece, Italy, Spain, theme parks and so much more. I don't believe in spending more to earn more points. The key is knowing how to earn the best points and getting massive value from them. With a teenager in competitive sports & public school, traveling during the busiest of times is our family's norm. I'll show you my best tips & strategies to use points for making incredible family travel happen. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Fancy Travel Pointers is part of an affiliate sales network and receives compensation for sending traffic to partner sites, such as Bankrate.com. This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. This site does not include all financial companies or all available financial offers. Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.

    30 min

  4. JAN 13

    How I’m Planning 2026 Travel on Points (Without Overdoing It)

    In today's episode, we're chatting about Why 2025 was an “amazing but too much” travel year—and the hard family conversations that forced a reset for 2026The mindset shift from chasing every deal to deciding what “enough” travel actually looks likeA full breakdown of what’s booked for 2026—including Bora Bora, Asia, Mexico, Disney, and luxury US staysHow points, free night certificates, companion passes, and credits are being stacked to save tens of thousandsWhy opening fewer cards can still unlock incredible travel—and how comparison culture gets this wrongWhy diversifying hotel points and leaning into credits matters more than ever going forwardProof that you don’t need nonstop luxury travel to “do points right”—you just need a strategy that fits your life📋 SHOW NOTES Elevated Marriott Offer - And how to get the most from it Ritz Carlton card - How to access via product change Love luxury travel perks & credits? This card is my fav for lux travel How to earn Bilt points via Rakuten  Rakuten Sign Up Bonus - New sign ups get $50 off after making $50 purchase in 1st 90 days 📋 READY TO LEVEL UP YOUR POINTS TRAVEL? Free points & miles guide – PDF downloaded over 17K times Free online, self-paced course – join over 1800 students Fancy Travel Pointers Instagram – keep up to date on all the latest points news Fancy Travel Pointers Facebook – great place to share wins, ask questions  Fancy Travel Pointers Newsletter – sent weekly to over 24K points lovers! Current Best Offers - Curated by spend, annual fees and travel style 👋 Hi! I'm Michele! A points and miles expert, using points for family vacations to Japan, Hawaii, Thailand, Greece, Italy, Spain, theme parks and so much more. I don't believe in spending more to earn more points. The key is knowing how to earn the best points and getting massive value from them. With a teenager in competitive sports & public school, traveling during the busiest of times is our family's norm. I'll show you my best tips & strategies to use points for making incredible family travel happen. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Fancy Travel Pointers is part of an affiliate sales network and receives compensation for sending traffic to partner sites, such as Bankrate.com. This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. This site does not include all financial companies or all available financial offers. Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.

    29 min

  5. 12/17/2025

    2025 Business Class Flight Recap: How we scored points deals during peak travel multiple times

    In today's episode, we're chatting about How I booked three business-class seats to Africa in peak summer — and why I locked in the return flights before even knowing how we’d get thereThe exact search tools I use (and how I search broadly to uncover rare availability)Why I chose to book through a partner airlines instead of direct, and where I want my points to land if plans changeReviews of Emirates A380, Singapore Airlines, JetBlue Mint, Turkish Airlines, and Condor — including which lived up to the hype and which didn’tHow transfer bonuses quietly shaved tens of thousands of points off multiple flightsThe role paid flight alerts played in saving the day — twiceWhy I always book long-haul trips as one-way awards (and why it gives you way more flexibility)The mindset shift that made this year possible: finding the deal first, then building the trip around it📋 SHOW NOTES Thrifty Traveler Premium Newsletter: $20 off 1st year with my link at checkout Seats.aero - This is the only search tool I pay for How I booked JetBlue Mint via Qatar, using a British Airways transfer bonus How to earn Bilt points via Rakuten  Rakuten Sign Up Bonus - New sign ups get $50 off after making $50 purchase in 1st 90 days 📋 READY TO LEVEL UP YOUR POINTS TRAVEL? Free points & miles guide – PDF downloaded over 17K times Free online, self-paced course – join over 1800 students Fancy Travel Pointers Instagram – keep up to date on all the latest points news Fancy Travel Pointers Facebook – great place to share wins, ask questions  Fancy Travel Pointers Newsletter – sent weekly to over 24K points lovers! Current Best Offers - Curated by spend, annual fees and travel style 👋 Hi! I'm Michele! A points and miles expert, using points for family vacations to Japan, Hawaii, Thailand, Greece, Italy, Spain, theme parks and so much more. I don't believe in spending more to earn more points. The key is knowing how to earn the best points and getting massive value from them. With a teenager in competitive sports & public school, traveling during the busiest of times is our family's norm. I'll show you my best tips & strategies to use points for making incredible family travel happen. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Fancy Travel Pointers is part of an affiliate sales network and receives compensation for sending traffic to partner sites, such as Bankrate.com. This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. This site does not include all financial companies or all available financial offers. Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.

    30 min

  6. 12/09/2025

    2025 Hotel Recap: 45 nights using points & free night certificates

    In this episode, I unpack the exact mix of free night certificates, points, and card perks that helped us stretch our hotel budget farther than ever. You’ll hear the wins, the surprises, the splurges — and the one stay that just didn’t hit the mark. In today's episode, we're chatting about • The big-picture recap: How we managed 60 total hotel nights this year — with 45 booked using points or free night certificates. • Hyatt strategy deep dive: Our five Hyatt free night certificates, how we earned them, and why the Hyatt Milestone Rewards program is one of my favorites. • Marriott wins: How we ended up with nine Marriott free night certificates, including multiple 50K, 35K, and 85K nights — and the strategy that lets us repeat that welcome offer cycle. • Hilton points strategy: Why we bought 960,000 Hilton points this year and how buying points can be a smart move with the right redemption. • Using premium card credits strategically: How using travel credits that come with our premium credit cards covered part of our stays at Universal, Epic Universe, and more. • Our favorite luxury redemptions, stays that didn't work, and hidden gems • Final reflections: 2025 felt like a “pinch me” year — and what this year taught me about smart earning, strategic booking, and maximizing every certificate. 📋 READY TO LEVEL UP YOUR POINTS TRAVEL? Free points & miles guide – PDF downloaded over 17K times Free online, self-paced course – join over 1800 students Fancy Travel Pointers Instagram – keep up to date on all the latest points news Fancy Travel Pointers Facebook – great place to share wins, ask questions  Fancy Travel Pointers Newsletter – sent weekly to over 24K points lovers! Current Best Offers - Curated by spend, annual fees and travel style 👋 Hi! I'm Michele! A points and miles expert, using points for family vacations to Japan, Hawaii, Thailand, Greece, Italy, Spain, theme parks and so much more. I don't believe in spending more to earn more points. The key is knowing how to earn the best points and getting massive value from them. With a teenager in competitive sports & public school, traveling during the busiest of times is our family's norm. I'll show you my best tips & strategies to use points for making incredible family travel happen. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Fancy Travel Pointers is part of an affiliate sales network and receives compensation for sending traffic to partner sites, such as Bankrate.com. This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. This site does not include all financial companies or all available financial offers. Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.

    27 min

  7. 12/03/2025

    Ask Me Anything: Points & Miles Travel Edition

    This episode pulls back the curtain on the real-life systems we use as a family to earn and stretch our points. It’s full of practical answers, honest numbers, and lessons learned the hard way—so you can shortcut your own strategy. In today’s episode, we’re chatting about How many personal and business credit cards I actively keep openWhy my credit score stays above 800—even with frequent applicationsWhat I do with cards after the first year (your 4 options)The real (and shocking) number I pay in annual fees each yearThe always “annual spend” question debunkedHow I think about using points vs cash for flights and hotelsThe #1 item I will not travel withoutThe biggest mistake I made when I started—and how it held us back for years👋 Hi! I'm Michele! A points and miles expert, using points for family vacations to Japan, Hawaii, Thailand, Greece, Italy, Spain, theme parks and so much more. I don't believe in spending more to earn more points. The key is knowing how to earn the best points and getting massive value from them. With a teenager in competitive sports & public school, traveling during the busiest of times is our family's norm. I'll show you my best tips & strategies to use points for making incredible family travel happen. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Fancy Travel Pointers is part of an affiliate sales network and receives compensation for sending traffic to partner sites, such as Bankrate.com. This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. This site does not include all financial companies or all available financial offers. Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.

    24 min

  8. 11/19/2025

    Earn & Use Capital One Miles Like a Pro

    In today’s episode, we’re chatting about Comparing personal Venture cards – which one is actually worth itThe new Capital One welcome offer eligibility rules — and the order they want you to apply inVenture X Business: huge welcome bonus, no 5/24 impact, and how it compares to the personal cardLounge access changes coming Feb 1, 2026 — how to pivotWhy my husband and I both keep the Venture XCapital One’s strongest transfer partners and my favorite ways to use the milesHow to combine miles with anyone who also has milesCash-back cards (Spark, Quicksilver, Savor) that secretly earn miles if you know the trickThe obscure referral rule that burned me — so you don’t repeat my mistakeCapital One Shopping Portal's underrated multipliers (and why it can beat Rakuten)Using Capital One miles to cover Disney/Universal tickets — and the coding mistake to avoid  FROM THIS EPISODE Comparing Credit Cards with Airport Lounge Access 📋 READY TO LEVEL UP YOUR POINTS TRAVEL? Free points & miles guide – PDF downloaded over 17K times Free online, self-paced course – join over 1800 students Fancy Travel Pointers Instagram – keep up to date on all the latest points news Fancy Travel Pointers Facebook – great place to share wins, ask questions  Fancy Travel Pointers Newsletter – sent weekly to over 24K points lovers! Current Best Offers - Curated by spend, annual fees and travel style 👋 Hi! I'm Michele! A points and miles expert, using points for family vacations to Japan, Hawaii, Thailand, Greece, Italy, Spain, theme parks and so much more. I don't believe in spending more to earn more points. The key is knowing how to earn the best points and getting massive value from them. With a teenager in competitive sports & public school, traveling during the busiest of times is our family's norm. I'll show you my best tips & strategies to use points for making incredible family travel happen. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Fancy Travel Pointers is part of an affiliate sales network and receives compensation for sending traffic to partner sites, such as Bankrate.com. This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. This site does not include all financial companies or all available financial offers. Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.

    24 min
See All (13)

4.9
out of 5
46 Ratings

About

Welcome to the Points and Miles Travel Chats podcast. I'm Michele from Fancy Travel Pointers, and I believe your everyday spend is the secret to extraordinary travel. If you’ve ever worried that points are too complicated, or wondered if a busy family with public school schedules and competitive sports could really travel with points — I’m here to show you it’s absolutely possible. Here’s what I know for sure: it’s not about spending more, and keeping my credit score sky-high is always front and center. I’ll give you actionable steps and teach real, repeatable strategies that transform the way you earn points and the value you get from them.

Information

  • Creator
    Michele - Fancy Travel Pointers
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    13
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Points and Miles Travel Chats
  • Show Website
    Points and Miles Travel Chats

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