Bougie in a Backpack

In this celebratory 100th episode of the Bougie in a Backpack podcast, we are reflecting our their journey, sharing insights from recent travels, and spill the tea on upcoming surprises. We delve into Angel's skincare experiences in Asia, travel tips, booking strategies, and lessons learned from their adventures, including a mother-daughter award booking to France and an underwater rugby competiti...

Today we are chatting with Elaine (⁠ @esp_wellness ), a health coach and wellness advocate, about her journey from teaching to health coaching, the importance of holistic health, and how travel can be a transformative experience. Elaine was a speaker at our October summit talking about Beyond the Trip: Infusing Travel Benefits into Daily Life. She shares insights on wellness retreats, the signific...

Today we are chatting with Amanda ( @MsContinentJumper ), a homeschooling mom and avid traveler, who was a speaker at our August summit talking about Homeschooling the World on a Budget. Amanda discusses how she got into travel and the importance of exposing her child to different cultures and experiences, the value of world schooling, which involves teaching children through travel and hands-on l...

Today we are chatting with Andrea, a wine tourism expert, ⁠(⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠@quirkycork⁠ )⁠, who was a speaker at our virtual summit in October presenting on How to Prep for Wine Tourism. We discuss the nuances of wine travel, the importance of preparation for wine tourism, common mistakes travelers make, and tips for visiting wineries. Andrea shares insights on wine pairing, the significance of understan...

Today we are chatting with Taylor Kiser, a travel expert and blogger, (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@culturecravingcouple) , who was a speaker at our virtual summit in August presenting on Couples' Travel Survival Guide. We discuss how Taylor's journey into travel began, the unique challenges and benefits of traveling with a partner, and the importance of flexibility and communication in making trips enjoyable. Taylor s...

Today we are chatting with Tess Cheng ( @glowithtess ) who will be speaking in our October summit about maintaining health while traveling. Tess is a nutritionist who shares valuable tips on preparation, nutrition, and hydration, and shares the importance of research and planning ahead. She discusses travel essentials, including snacks, water filters, and the significance of requesting low-sodium...

Today we are chatting with Cash (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @cashodyssey ), who was a speaker at our virtual summit in May talking about Points and Miles as a Nomad and will be speaking in our October summit about Redeeming points as a Nomad. Cash, a full-time nomad, shares her journey of how she got interested in travel and how she started using points and miles to make her travels more possible and bougie. She pro...

Today we are chatting with Genni (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @travelingfranklins ), who was a speaker at our virtual summit in August talking about How to Travel for Free with Points and Miles: The Lazy Way! Genni shares her early experiences with travel, influenced by her family's travel style growing up, and how she transitioned from the hospitality industry, where she learned the inner workings of hotel programs a...

Today we are chatting with Michelle (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @thehawaiimama ), who was a speaker at our virtual summit in August talking about Travel to Japan on Points, and is speaking at the October summit about 3 Cards To Get You Started In Your Points and Miles Journey. Michelle is a millennial mom from Hawaii who has mastered the art of traveling using points and miles. Michelle shares her journey into travel,...

Today we are chatting with Stacy (⁠⁠⁠⁠ @pointstopointtravel ), who was a speaker at our virtual summit in August talking about Essential Tools and Tips to Maximize Your Credit Card Points. Stacy discusses her transition from investment banking to travel, the power of credit card points, and her strategies for booking flights. She covers the importance of staying updated in the points and miles spa...

Today we are chatting with Sara Bauer (⁠⁠⁠⁠ @theloveofpoints ), who was a speaker at our virtual summit in August, and will be a speaker at our upcoming summit in October. Sarah is a fearful but frequent flyer, and she shares her journey of overcoming flight anxiety with the help of points and miles. She discusses how points and miles have made a significant difference in getting her off the groun...

Today we are chatting with Ryan (⁠⁠⁠ @aventuranow ⁠⁠), who was a speaker at our virtual summit in August. Ryan has traveled to every country in the world, many of them on points, and he shares how he find out about points and miles, transitioning from using airline miles to using partner airlines, and using points when there are no transfer partners available. He discusses the importance of flexib...

Today we are chatting with Andrea (⁠⁠ @wandrworking ⁠), who was a speaker at our virtual summit in May. Andrea, a digital nomad and web designer, shares her journey of becoming a traveler and merging travel with work. She immigrated to the US from Peru at a young age and didn't have the opportunity to travel until she went back to Peru at 15. In college, she did a study abroad in Japan, which spar...

Today we are chatting with Jodie (⁠⁠⁠ @learnersandmakers ), who was a speaker at our virtual summit in August talking about Disney on a Dime. Jodie shares tips based on her experiences traveling to various Disney parks, and using points and miles to save money. Jodie and her family travel full time, and she walks us through through her process of booking flights and accommodations, as well as her...

Today we are chatting with Robyn (⁠⁠ @2emptypassports⁠ ), who was a speaker at our virtual summit in May and August. Robin Dirk from Two Empty Passports, a travel blog focused on slow travel and hidden disabilities. Robin shares her personal journey of overcoming a car accident and pursuing her passion for travel. She discusses the challenges of traveling with hidden disabilities and offers tips f...

Today we are chatting with Emily (⁠⁠⁠ @petsaroundtheworld_emily ), who will be speaking at the August summit about ⁠Discovering Afforable Dog-Friendly Stays! In this episode, Emily shares her experiences and tips for traveling with dogs. She discusses the process of bringing dogs from different countries, the importance of vaccinations and microchips, and the challenges of finding dog-friendly acc...

Today we are chatting with Sara (⁠⁠ @martinisandmuseums ), who was a speaker at our virtual summit in May, talking about How to Earn 1 Million Points on Your Dream Honeymoon and will be speaking at the August summit about Surprise Trips . Growing up in a small town in Florida, Sara always had a love for travel and a desire to explore new places. She started learning about points and miles while wo...

Today we are chatting with Mary Beth (⁠ @bettertravelwithteens ), who was a speaker at our virtual summit in May. Mary Beth shares her experiences and insights on traveling with teenagers. She discusses how her travel experiences evolved from family vacations to solo trips and eventually traveling with her own teenagers. Mary Beth shares the importance of understanding and meeting teenagers where...

Today we are chatting with Alvern Bullard ( @successunscrambled ), who was a speaker at our virtual summit in May. Alvern is a part-time digital nomad, who shares her travel experiences and how she lives like a local in different destinations. Alvern talks about her travel style as a part-time digital nomad, working three days a week and exploring the destination during her days off. She shares he...

Today we are chatting with Ali (⁠⁠⁠ @alishappyadventure ) about her journey of working digitally full-time and her experience in the freelance industry. Allie shares how she started working online after losing her job due to COVID and how she built her business from there. She talks about starting on platforms like Fiverr and Upwork to gain clients and build her portfolio. Allie also discusses the...

Today we are chatting with Amber (⁠ ⁠@amberonpoints )! shares her experience of using Airbnb to rent out her house while she's away, allowing her to travel affordably. Amber started renting out her house on Airbnb when she and her family would leave for a month every summer. She aims to make at least $1,200 to $1,500 in profit per month of renting her house. Amber hares her experience with renting...

Today Mr. Nobody (⁠ @married_withpoints ), a seasoned points and miles expert, shares his journey into travel and how he got started with earning and redeeming points and miles. We discuss his early experiences buying Sacagawea coins to earn points, and how he would fly from California to New York City multiple times in a week to earn elite status and a large number of miles, meeting Keanu Reeves,...

Today we are chatting with Rosa Castillo ( @rosaalexc ), who shares her journey into travel and how she balances her full-time job with her passion for exploring the world. She discusses the importance of planning ahead and understanding your company's PTO policy to maximize your time off. Rosa also provides tips for finding deals and using travel apps to make the planning process easier. She give...

Today we are chatting with Renee ⁠(⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @the.holidaymaker )⁠ who was a speaker at our summit in May talking about How to Travel to Paris Like a Local. Renee is a travel blogger and the co-partner of Dream Retreats Europe. She started her travel blog as a side hustle and eventually turned it into a full-time career. In this episode, she talks about the importance of slow travel and find...

Today we are chatting with Eleanor ⁠(⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @elevateyourescapes )⁠ who was a speaker at our summit in May talking about Planning Your Next Trip. We are chatting how she started traveling solo and the benefits of group trips. She also shares her journey of starting her own travel business, Elevate Your Escapes, which offers full-service travel planning and DIY itinerary planning services....