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PODCAST

Smart Travel: Upgrade Your Getaways

NerdWallet Travel

Planning your next vacation?Before you budget, learn how to get the most out of your travel dollars with Smart Travel. NerdWallet’s trusted travel experts, Sally French and Meghan Coyle, are here to help your travel dollars work even harder. But the travel Nerds don’t just make recommendations; they break down the latest travel details, exploring the pros and cons of specific strategies, practical tools, and tactics. Dive deep with the experts as they lay out all the options so you can finally

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All Episodes

55:47

How to Find Award Flights With Points: Tips From the...

Smart Travel: Upgrade Your Getaways ·

2026/10/07

Learn how to use award travel search tools like Seats.aero to find flights you can book with points and miles.Hosts Meghan Coyle and Sally French discuss how to search for award flights across dozens of airline loyalty programs to help you get more value from your credit card points and miles. But first, they break down the latest travel headlines, including Bilt joining Chase in cutting its World of Hyatt transfer ratio, a new premium IHG card from Chase and changes to the rest of the IHG card

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55:08

How to Book Flights With Points and Miles: A...

Smart Travel: Upgrade Your Getaways ·

2026/09/30

Learn how to book your first flight with points and miles, and how to tell whether an award flight is a good deal.Hosts Sally French and Meghan Coyle discuss the basics of booking flights with points and miles to help you turn a stash of rewards into your next trip. But first, they break down the latest travel headlines, including a new Atmos Rewards option that lets members choose how they earn points, upcoming Bank of America points transfers to Atmos, Bilt adding Amtrak as a transfer partner, a

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57:28

Ten Credit Cards, One Strategy: Which Annual Fees Are...

Smart Travel: Upgrade Your Getaways ·

2026/09/23

Learn how to audit a wallet full of credit cards and decide which annual fees are actually worth paying.Hosts Sally French and Meghan Coyle discuss how to assess a wallet full of credit cards to help you figure out which ones are actually working for you. But first, they break down the latest travel headlines, including a doubled hotel credit and a new ad-spend cap on the Chase Sapphire Reserve for Business, fresh offers on the Chase Sapphire Reserve, a Las Vegas hotel and entertainment sale, and

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75:37

Chris Hutchins' Top Points and Miles Tips, Straight...

Smart Travel: Upgrade Your Getaways ·

2026/09/16

All the Hacks podcast host Chris Hutchins reveals his tricks for finding hidden discounts and getting real value out of points and miles — without the headache.Hosts Sally French and Meghan Coyle discuss practical strategies for earning and redeeming points and miles to help you book the trips you actually want. But first, they break down the latest travel headlines, including the refreshed Chase Air Canada Aeroplan card and its higher annual fee, Hyatt ending its American Airlines partnership in

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44:15

Is Bank of America Still Worth It for Travelers? New...

Smart Travel: Upgrade Your Getaways ·

2026/09/09

Learn how Bank of America's revamped rewards program could quietly cut how much cardholders earn back.Hosts Sally French and Meghan Coyle discuss Bank of America's overhauled BofA Rewards program to help you figure out whether it's still worth keeping money parked with the bank. But first, they break down the latest travel headlines, including Southwest Airlines' new airport lounges and premium credit card, JetBlue's new BlueFirst domestic first class, a waterpark expansion at Norwegian Cruise

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55:50

Best Credit Cards for Dining Rewards in 2026: How to...

Smart Travel: Upgrade Your Getaways ·

2026/09/02

Learn how to earn more restaurant rewards, and whether paying extra for a premium card's dining credit is worth it.Hosts Meghan Coyle and Sally French discuss how to make the most of credit card rewards on restaurant spending to help you eat out for less. But first, producer Tess Vigeland joins Meghan to break down the latest travel headlines, including limited-time welcome offers across Delta and American Express's SkyMiles credit card lineup, an access change at JetBlue's new BlueHouse lounge in

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63:43

How to Coupon Your Way Around the World, with Torok...

Smart Travel: Upgrade Your Getaways ·

2026/08/26

Coupon queen Kiersti Torok reveals how everyday savings on gas, groceries and gift cards can fund your next trip.Hosts Meghan Coyle and Sally French talk to Kiersti Torok — known online as Torok Coupon Hunter — about turning everyday savings from groceries, gas and gift cards into a bigger travel budget. But first, they break down the latest travel headlines, including Air France and KLM's Flying Blue splitting award tickets into three new pricing tiers, Bilt's new partnership with Equinox, Alaska

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63:01

Bilt to Last? Grading Bilt Rewards Six Months On

Smart Travel: Upgrade Your Getaways ·

2026/08/19

Learn what six months of confusing changes to Bilt's rewards program have actually meant for cardholders' points.Hosts Sally French and Meghan Coyle discuss six months of living with Bilt's revamped rewards program to help you decide whether the housing-focused card still earns its keep. But first, they break down the latest travel headlines, including an expanded Bilt and BLADE helicopter-booking partnership, big Disney theme park news out of the D23 Expo, new data on which premium credit cards

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52:12

Finding Cheap Flights, Mastering Layovers, and...

Smart Travel: Upgrade Your Getaways ·

2026/08/12

Learn how to handle a surprise layover and track down a cheap flight to a random destination.Hosts Meghan Coyle and Sally French discuss how to think fast when travel plans go sideways to help you handle curveballs with more confidence. But first, they break down the latest travel headlines, including new perks tied to Amex Fine Hotels + Resorts' 35th anniversary, American Airlines' plan to change complimentary upgrades on some transcontinental and Hawaii routes starting August 25, and new welcome

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45:40

Ask the Nerds: Booking Traps, Transfer Optimization...

Smart Travel: Upgrade Your Getaways ·

2026/08/05

Learn how to stretch modest points balances into business-class flights, and safer spending abroad.Hosts Sally French and Meghan Coyle answer travel questions from listeners to help you make smarter points, transfer and booking decisions. But first, they break down the latest travel headlines, including Chase Sapphire Lounge's exit from the Priority Pass and LoungeKey networks, Citi and American Airlines' refreshed Executive World Legend Mastercard, Amex Membership Rewards' new transfer

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44:38

The 7 Things Our Travel Pros Insist On Packing

Smart Travel: Upgrade Your Getaways ·

2026/07/29

Learn which packing essentials two travel experts swear by, plus how to time your Labor Day trip for fewer crowds.Hosts Meghan Coyle and Sally French discuss the gear they just won’t travel without, to help you pack smarter on your next trip. But first, they break down the latest travel headlines, including the Seats.aero Chrome extension, an update to the Delta SkyMiles and Starbucks partnership starting August 5, Bilt's August Rent Day promotion offering an ALL Accor status match, how to score

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48:14

What to Ask Your Hotel Concierge: Free Upgrades,...

Smart Travel: Upgrade Your Getaways ·

2026/07/22

Learn what hotel concierges can do for your next stay, from getting free upgrades to saving you money.Hosts Meghan Coyle and Sally French explore what hotel concierges could do for your next stay. But first, they break down the latest travel headlines, including the opening of the new Chase Sapphire Lounge at Dallas-Fort Worth Airport, a new points-conversion and status-challenge partnership between World of Hyatt and Air Canada's Aeroplan program, and Marriott Bonvoy's expanded partnership with

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63:11

Is an Alaska Cruise Actually Worth It? We Went to...

Smart Travel: Upgrade Your Getaways ·

2026/07/15

*The show notes were created with the assistance of AI. It has been reviewed by our editorial team for accuracy and quality. Is an Alaskan cruise really a trip for everyone — even people who swear they hate cruises? Hosts Sally French and Meghan Coyle, recording live in-studio from Scottsdale, Arizona, share dueling trip reports from their own separate Alaska cruises. They cover when to go, how to choose between the big flashy ships and the smaller expedition lines, which ports are worth booking

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53:06

Your Flight Got Canceled. Here's How to Beat Summer's...

Smart Travel: Upgrade Your Getaways ·

2026/07/08

Your flight was canceled. Now what? Hosts Sally French and Meghan Coyle share their go-to strategies for beating summer flight delays and cancellations, from booking the first flight of the day to knowing which layovers to avoid. But first, Sally breaks down the latest travel headlines with producer Tess Vigeland (filling in for Meghan), discussing American Airlines' new grab-and-go lounge concept coming to JFK, a preview of Royal Caribbean's massive new Legend of the Seas, and Marriott's decision

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58:38

The ADHD Traveler's Guide to Airport Security,...

Smart Travel: Upgrade Your Getaways ·

2026/07/01

Learn how ADHD shapes travel decisions, and the strategies that turn travel stress into a strength. Hosts Sally French and Meghan Coyle discuss how to make travel less stressful for ADHD brains, with tips to help you avoid lost passports, missed flights and packing mishaps. But first, Sally breaks down the latest travel headlines with producer Tess Vigeland, discussing Wyndham Rewards' overhaul of its award chart, Bilt's new transfer partnership with Preferred Hotels & Resorts' I Prefer program,

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59:23

Best Credit Cards for Weddings: Turn Venue Bills Into...

Smart Travel: Upgrade Your Getaways ·

2026/06/24

Find out which credit cards could turn your wedding costs into a business class honeymoon. Hosts Meghan Coyle and Sally French discuss the best credit cards for wedding expenses and how to use the points you earn to pay for your honeymoon. But first, they break down the latest travel headlines, including data projecting a record number of Independence Day travelers and which days to avoid (or target) for flying and driving, Sally's preview sailing aboard Royal Caribbean's new Legend of the Seas,

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58:07

The Hidden Costs of "Cheap" Countries: What $300 a...

Smart Travel: Upgrade Your Getaways ·

2026/06/17

Learn what it really costs to honeymoon in one of the world's least-visited countries and how to get there on points.Hosts Meghan Coyle and Sally French share what it actually costs to honeymoon in one of the world's least-visited countries. But first, they break down the latest travel headlines, including the new Chase Sapphire Preferred benefits that went live June 15th, a full Wyndham Rewards card family refresh that added a brand-new premium card, why airfares are up more than 26%

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40:46

Unpacking the Chase Sapphire Preferred’s Biggest...

Smart Travel: Upgrade Your Getaways ·

2026/06/10

Learn how the Chase Sapphire Preferred's biggest refresh in years could change how you earn and redeem travel points. Hosts Meghan Coyle and Sally French break down the latest travel headlines, including Delta's expanded free checked bag perk, a new ride-hailing credit on select Delta cards, a second Delta One Lounge coming to LAX, World of Hyatt's new 12-month advance booking window for cardholders and elite members, and two changes hitting Atmos Rewards members. Then, they dig into the Chase

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52:10

Earn More Points on Purchases You Already Make:...

Smart Travel: Upgrade Your Getaways ·

2026/06/03

Learn how to earn more points and miles on everyday shopping using portals, dining programs, and partner apps.Hosts Meghan Coyle and Sally French discuss the sometimes-overlooked ways you could earn bonus points and miles on purchases you're already making. But first, they break down the latest travel headlines, including new summer airfare price drop data from Kayak's updated trends dashboard, T-Mobile Tuesday deals with travel perks for June, Hilton's new college-themed hotel brand called

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38:35

Summer Travel 2026: How to Time Your Trip, Pick Your...

Smart Travel: Upgrade Your Getaways ·

2026/05/27

Learn how summer 2026 travel costs are rising and which booking strategies could help you save money this season.Hosts Meghan Coyle and Sally French discuss what's driving up summer travel costs in 2026 and how to plan smarter despite them. But first, they break down the latest travel headlines, including what American Express's new partnership with Fanatics could mean for sports fans and points collectors, a new Bilt deal allowing certain cardholders to earn miles on rent payments with Air

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