20 Minute Travel Shawn Coomer & Mark Ostermann

Episode Description:
As a reminder you can watch this show as well at: https://www.youtube.com/@20minutetravel
This week the Wall Street Journal released an eye opening article about Wells Fargo and their relationship with Bilt. The Bilt Mastercard has become popular with certain groups of people, but it is seemingly costing Wells Fargo millions. Is this a good or a bad thing?
In other news you may soon see a popup when applying for a Chase card and this might not be a bad thing. We also discuss more about Shawn's trip to Japan, why Tokyo is amazing for family travel, how airport lounges are simply overrated, a viral Simpsons like video from Six Flags and why dumb cruise hacking could get you banned.
Episode Guide:
0:00 Cruise passenger banned for “bottle water hack” 1:28 A new deal for getting Clear better than free 3:40 Are airport lounges overrated? 5:35 How some people plan their travels around the airport lounge experience 6:46 Chase’s new popup is actually good news? 9:21 Hyatt Centric Tokyo - Expensive but best Centric anywhere? 10:49 Hyatt Regency Tokyo Bay - A budget alternative outside Tokyo 11:53 Why Japan might be the best family travel destination for Americans 14:00 Bilt/Wells Fargo drama - Is this partnership in trouble? 15:50 How Wells Fargo is changing their overall credit card strategy 17:35 Chase Freedom 3Q Categories and where to maximize them 19:04 Six Flags Simpsons Monorail parody - Brilliant social media? About the Show:
We love to travel and love to laugh! 20 Minute Travel is designed to get you all of the info you need to supercharge your travel by utilizing credit cards, travel rewards and other tricks to pay pennies on the dollar. 
Shawn Coomer is the founder of Miles to Memories and has traveled all over the world with his family utilizing miles & points. He has been writing and podcasting about miles, points and travel since 2013 and has earned and spent millions of points & miles across dozens of programs.
Mark Ostermann is the former Managing Editor of Miles to Memories and is the Managing Editor at Travel on Points. He has been writing about his travel experiences since 2017 and loves to dive into the weeds so you don't have to. He also enjoys a good beer and a laugh or fifty.
Each week tens of thousands of people tune into our MtM Vegas news shows at http://www.YouTube.com/milestomemories. If you like this show check it out!
Enjoying the podcast? Please consider leaving us a positive review on your favorite podcast platform! You can also connect with us anytime at 20minutetravel@gmail.com.

Episode Description:
As a reminder you can watch this show as well at: https://www.youtube.com/@20minutetravel
This week a horror story related to Airbnb surfaced which reminded us of some of the pitfalls of these types of rentals. As Airbnb and similar services become more popular do hosts have a bit too much power and is it better just to stay in hotels?
We also discuss Shawn's recent last minute booking on ANA's A380 Flying Honu business class and why it was such an amazing deal. Other topics include: 17 forbidden places you can't visit, a great Hilton timeshare deal, how normal people can earn miles & points for "free" travel, the end date for a popular credit card offer and why you might want to buy your next airline ticket at the airport.
Episode Guide:
0:00 Crazy “fake” waterfall in China 1:18 Miles and points for normies - How to earn 2:45 Is getting a lot of credit cards bad for your credit score? 3:32 The keys for keeping your credit score up & what factors into it 5:13 Chase Sapphire increased offer end date announced 5:56 Airbnb vs. hotels 7:36 Airbnb customer service improvements & horror stories 8:53 Why we like the hotel experience & how points make a difference 9:58 Saving money on airline tickets by purchasing at the airport 11:24 Best practices for purchasing at the airport 12:23 Scoring ANA A380 Business class with an amazing deal 13:20 Why ANA’s A380 is a special plane and product 14:38 Last minute bookings to Japan are good right now 15:44 Japanese airline food - Western vs. Japanese meal 17:03 17 Forbidden places you can’t visit 18:46 Great Hilton timeshare deal - Cheap nights & points 20:45 How to score an even better timeshare deal! About the Show:
We love to travel and love to laugh! 20 Minute Travel is designed to get you all of the info you need to supercharge your travel by utilizing credit cards, travel rewards and other tricks to pay pennies on the dollar. 
Shawn Coomer is the founder of Miles to Memories and has traveled all over the world with his family utilizing miles & points. He has been writing and podcasting about miles, points and travel since 2013 and has earned and spent millions of points & miles across dozens of programs.
Mark Ostermann is the former Managing Editor of Miles to Memories and is the Managing Editor at Travel on Points. He has been writing about his travel experiences since 2017 and loves to dive into the weeds so you don't have to. He also enjoys a good beer and a laugh or fifty.
Each week tens of thousands of people tune into our MtM Vegas news shows at http://www.YouTube.com/milestomemories. If you like this show check it out!
Enjoying the podcast? Please consider leaving us a positive review on your favorite podcast platform! You can also connect with us anytime at 20minutetravel@gmail.com.

Episode Description:
As a reminder you can watch this show as well at: https://www.youtube.com/@20minutetravel
This week a video surfaced of a new way to enter hotel rooms that is concerning. Should you worry about it and how can you secure your room and your valuables? We also discuss the end of the Chase Sapphire increased welcome offers, how Hilton's gift card experience kind of stinks, Mark's favorite Hilton in the U.S., why the Tommie Hollywood is a pass and how Mark scored "free" Universal VIP tickets & why there are absolutely worth it.
Episode Guide:
0:00 Insane crazy passenger incident - Streaking? 1:46 Chase’s increased offers ending soon - Time to pick them up? 3:56 Insane hotel vulnerability - New room hack? 5:28 Don’t rely on surveillance & how to protect your room 7:01 Hilton gift card warning & redemption issues 8:32 Best practices for using Hilton gift cards - Do they work? 10:22 How travel hackers are constantly getting judged 11:00 Mark’s father/son Los Angeles trip 12:01 Getting Universal Hollywood VIP experience for “free” 14:11 The coolest parts of the Universal Hollywood VIP tour - Back to the Future! 16:03 Comparing Universal east vs. west coast 17:32 Super Nintendo World & cutting all of the lines 20:00 Is the VIP experience worth it at Universal 22:17 Why the Tommie Hollywood is NOT recommended 23:28 Oceania Santa Monica - Mark’s new favorite Hilton About the Show:
We love to travel and love to laugh! 20 Minute Travel is designed to get you all of the info you need to supercharge your travel by utilizing credit cards, travel rewards and other tricks to pay pennies on the dollar. 
Shawn Coomer is the founder of Miles to Memories and has traveled all over the world with his family utilizing miles & points. He has been writing and podcasting about miles, points and travel since 2013 and has earned and spent millions of points & miles across dozens of programs.
Mark Ostermann is the former Managing Editor of Miles to Memories and is the Managing Editor at Travel on Points. He has been writing about his travel experiences since 2017 and loves to dive into the weeds so you don't have to. He also enjoys a good beer and a laugh or fifty.
Each week tens of thousands of people tune into our MtM Vegas news shows at http://www.YouTube.com/milestomemories. If you like this show check it out!
Enjoying the podcast? Please consider leaving us a positive review on your favorite podcast platform! You can also connect with us anytime at 20minutetravel@gmail.com.

Episode Description:
As a reminder you can watch this show as well at: https://www.youtube.com/@20minutetravel
This week we saw quite a few crazy stories including an AA flight attendant filming people in the bathroom and the company's response. How will AA make it right? We also talk about a Hyatt hotel being very sneaky and how one flight attendant overstepped when it came to a purchased extra seat. Plus should you buy an extra seat for yourself.
We also discuss increased offers for Hilton, Marriott and Aeroplan cards. Tons of free night certs up for grabs right now! Other topics include: another Amex annual fee increase, rough Delta baggage handlers and how to score an easy 70K with a checking account.
Episode Guide:
0:00 Insane Delta baggage handlers 1:07 Last minute trip update - Hawaii & Japan! 3:23 Increased Marriott Business Card Bonus - 5 free nights! 4:59 Big Hilton card offers including valuable free night cert 7:37 Chase Aeroplan 100K “better than public” offer 8:59 Eliza Jane Hyatt hotel - Sneaky surcharges 10:32 Shortsighted customer service in NOLA 11:20 Get 70K Membership Rewards with Amex Business Checking 13:09 AA’s PR nightmare and shocking lawsuit response 15:20 Amex leak! Gold card fee increase? 16:35 Getting sick of Amex coupon book credits 17:59 Is it illegal to buy an extra airplane seat for yourself? 19:41 Do flight attendants need more accountability when escalating? About the Show:
We love to travel and love to laugh! 20 Minute Travel is designed to get you all of the info you need to supercharge your travel by utilizing credit cards, travel rewards and other tricks to pay pennies on the dollar. 
Shawn Coomer is the founder of Miles to Memories and has traveled all over the world with his family utilizing miles & points. He has been writing and podcasting about miles, points and travel since 2013 and has earned and spent millions of points & miles across dozens of programs.
Mark Ostermann is the former Managing Editor of Miles to Memories and is the Managing Editor at Travel on Points. He has been writing about his travel experiences since 2017 and loves to dive into the weeds so you don't have to. He also enjoys a good beer and a laugh or fifty.
Each week tens of thousands of people tune into our MtM Vegas news shows at http://www.YouTube.com/milestomemories. If you like this show check it out!
Enjoying the podcast? Please consider leaving us a positive review on your favorite podcast platform! You can also connect with us anytime at 20minutetravel@gmail.com.

Episode Description:
As a reminder you can watch this show as well at: https://www.youtube.com/@20minutetravel
A lot of people talk miles & points but we have been living them for a long time! In this episode Shawn and Mark discuss the origins of the channel and how they began working together. From an international family backpacking trip in 2007 to crazy weekend escapes they have done it all (well a lot) and want to share their knowledge with you. They also discuss their favorite redemptions, building travel communities and why Mark really loves soy sauce on his rice.
Episode Guide:
0:00 A crazy last minute travel audible 1:21 Shawn’s long history with family world travel 2:42 The struggles and upside of long term travel 3:59 Launching Miles to Memories and spreading the message 4:38 From reader to part of the game - Mark’s professional journey in miles & points 6:51 Travel on Point(s) and building communities 8:46 Laughing and the fun side of miles, points & travel 10:47 Mark’s favorite miles & points redemptions  11:43 Shawn’s favorite miles & points redemptions 15:16 Positivity & More - What Twenty Minute Travel brings to you About the Show:
We love to travel and love to laugh! 20 Minute Travel is designed to get you all of the info you need to supercharge your travel by utilizing credit cards, travel rewards and other tricks to pay pennies on the dollar. 
Shawn Coomer is the founder of Miles to Memories and has traveled all over the world with his family utilizing miles & points. He has been writing and podcasting about miles, points and travel since 2013 and has earned and spent millions of points & miles across dozens of programs.
Mark Ostermann is the former Managing Editor of Miles to Memories and is the Managing Editor at Travel on Point(s). He has been writing about his travel experiences since 2017 and loves to dive into the weeds so you don't have to. He also enjoys a good beer and a laugh or fifty.
Each week tens of thousands of people tune into our MtM Vegas news shows at http://www.YouTube.com/milestomemories. If you like this show check it out!
Enjoying the podcast? Please consider leaving us a positive review on your favorite podcast platform! You can also connect with us anytime at 20minutetravel@gmail.com.

Episode Description:
As a reminder you can watch this show as well at: https://www.youtube.com/@20minutetravel
There were some fun travel stories this week including the new high tech portal between NYC and Dublin. This piece of tech is quite fun, but it caused some issues even if it served its purpose of connecting humans. We also discuss a nightmare Marriott hotel stay you have to hear about!
In other news we talk different flavors of the Amex Platinum including how some people are scoring 300K Membership Rewards as a welcome offer. Other topics discussed include: Hilton's Auto Camp integration, an amazing new Delta Amex Offer, the first Vegas megaresort closing and whether domestic first class is a letdown or not.
Episode Guide:
0:00 Cats on a plane 0:52 Confused by the Amex Platinum & new 125K offer 3:26 Flying first class for the first time - Underwhelming? 6:05 New Delta Amex Offer - 37.5% off 7:29 Hotel nightmare - Legionnaires’ Disease 9:01 A Marriott customer service letdown 10:40 Finding up to 300K Amex points 12:56 Trouble with the NYC/Dublin portal 15:28 Hilton’s glamping Auto Camp partnership coming online 17:50 First Vegas megaresort to close permanently 19:10 Mirage’s Volcano closing date About the Show:
We love to travel and love to laugh! 20 Minute Travel is designed to get you all of the info you need to supercharge your travel by utilizing credit cards, travel rewards and other tricks to pay pennies on the dollar. 
Shawn Coomer is the founder of Miles to Memories and has traveled all over the world with his family utilizing miles & points. He has been writing and podcasting about miles, points and travel since 2013 and has earned and spent millions of points & miles across dozens of programs.
Mark Ostermann is the former Managing Editor of Miles to Memories and is the Managing Editor at Travel on Points. He has been writing about his travel experiences since 2017 and loves to dive into the weeds so you don't have to. He also enjoys a good beer and a laugh or fifty.
Each week tens of thousands of people tune into our MtM Vegas news shows at http://www.YouTube.com/milestomemories. If you like this show check it out!
Enjoying the podcast? Please consider leaving us a positive review on your favorite podcast platform! You can also connect with us anytime at 20minutetravel@gmail.com.