Smart Travel: Upgrade Your Getaways

Optimize your travel rewards strategy with the latest card and perk updates, smart downgrade-and-reapply moves, and tips for combining and redeeming points for maximum value. Hosts Sally French and Meghan Coyle answer listener questions to help you travel smarter. But first, they share a ton of recent credit card news, including Citi launching a premium travel card with American Airlines transfer...

Learn how new consumer protections can help you get refunds, rebook faster, and stress less when you fly. What protections do you have if your flight is delayed, canceled, or your bag goes missing? How do you know if your airline will rebook you or leave you stranded? Hosts Sally French and Meghan Coyle dive into a new report revealing which airlines get the most complaints and why more travelers...

Plan smarter for your next trip to Italy with cost-saving tips and strategies to avoid common tourist traps. When is the best time to visit Italy? How can you avoid overspending while still having an unforgettable experience? Hosts Megan Coyle and Sally French break down the logistics and hidden costs of traveling to Italy, from airfare and lodging to train travel and rental cars. But first, they...

Stretch your travel budget with smarter planning, real savings hacks, and $75-a-day global travel strategies. Can you really see the world for just $75 a day? Can you cut travel costs without sacrificing comfort or experience? Meghan Coyle and Sally French discuss planning a trip for less than $75 per day with Matt Kepnes, aka Nomadic Matt. But first, they break down the latest travel headlines, i...

Learn what it’s like working with a travel advisor, including how much time and money they can really save you when planning your next trip. Can travel advisors really save you money? Should you be booking travel yourself or outsourcing the job to a professional? Hosts Megan Coyle and Sally French discuss the unexpected perks, cost structures, and potential savings of working with a travel advisor...

Score travel deals, discover hotel savings, and learn how to maximize your budget without missing out this summer. How can you travel this summer without overspending? Where should you book to get the most value from your hotel stay? Hosts Sally French and Meghan Coyle discuss the state of summer travel and how shifting prices are impacting vacation budgets. But first, they break down the latest t...

Learn about major changes to the Chase Sapphire Reserve — and how to decide if another premium card is a better fit. Is the Chase Sapphire Reserve still worth it after its major 2025 refresh? What do travelers lose — and gain — with the new credit card benefits? Hosts Meghan Coyle and Sally French break down this week’s sweeping changes to the Chase Sapphire Reserve and compare it with other premi...

How to plan a multi-generational trip without breaking the bank — or your relationships — and make it truly memorable. How do you plan a budget-friendly vacation for multiple generations of family? And how do you keep everyone — from toddlers to grandparents — happy without overspending or over-planning? Hosts Sally French and Meghan Coyle explain how you can overcome the challenges of multi-gener...

Learn what’s worth it (and what to skip) at Universal’s new theme park Epic Universe, with money-saving tips and sneak peeks of top rides. Is Epic Universe worth the higher ticket price compared to Universal’s other parks? How can you save money on theme park food, drinks, and add-ons without sacrificing fun? Hosts Meghan Coyle and Sally French discuss the newest and most expensive addition to Uni...

Learn how to plan travel itineraries that save you money, skip tourist traps, and make the most of your points. How can you plan a travel itinerary that saves money without missing out? What travel credit cards are worth it if you don’t want to pay an annual fee? Hosts Sally French and Meghan Coyle talk about how to plan a smart, budget-conscious travel itinerary without sacrificing memorable expe...

Get the most out of your next Disney trip with tips for saving on tickets, spending less time in lines, and finding legitimate discounts. When is the cheapest time to go to Disney parks? How can you save money and avoid long lines once you're there? Hosts Sally French and Meghan Coyle talk all things Disney, including when to go, how to find legit ticket discounts, and the best ways to save time a...

Learn how to use award search tools, when it’s worth it to pay for one, and how to use alerts and filters to save time and get better redemptions. What are the best tools to find award flight availability using points or miles? Is it worth paying for premium travel tools to simplify the booking process? Hosts Sally French and Meghan Coyle discuss the newest features in airline loyalty programs and...

Is a cruise actually cheaper than a land vacation? Learn how to sail smarter and save big on your next getaway. Are cruises really a budget-friendly alternative to land vacations? What’s the best credit card to use for travel and Costco expenses? Hosts Meghan Coyle and Sally French discuss cruise travel, pricing strategies, and credit card hacks to help you understand how to get the most value out...

Explore your options for spending 100,000 credit card points, with tips on redemptions for luxury flights, hotels, and hidden travel perks. What are the best ways to use 100,000 credit card points for travel? How do you transfer points to airlines or hotels to get the most value? Hosts Sally French and Meghan Coyle discuss top redemptions across Chase, AmEx, and Capital One to help you stretch you...

Learn when it’s worth transferring credit card points — and how to avoid costly mistakes that waste your rewards. When should you transfer your credit card points to an airline or hotel loyalty program? What are your options if you no longer want to pay the annual fee on a travel card you’ve held for years? Hosts Meghan Coyle and Sally French discuss how to get the most value from your travel rewa...

Learn strategic ways to save on wedding travel — whether you're planning the big day or flying in to celebrate someone else's. How can you avoid overspending on wedding travel without sacrificing comfort or memorable experiences? How do you continue earning meaningful travel rewards after you've maxed out your credit card welcome bonuses? Host Meghan Coyle kicks off the episode with Tess Vigeland...

Learn why flight delays are getting worse and what airline miles are really worth (hint: it’s not what you think). Why are flight cancellations and delays happening more often? Are airline miles and credit card travel rewards actually worth it? Hosts Meghan Coyle and Sally French discuss the latest trends in travel spending and how the airline industry evolved into what it is today. They begin wit...

Learn how to get the most out of your summer travel including when to book your flights and how to stack rewards.  When is the cheapest time to book flights for summer travel? How can you stack rewards points to level up your trips? Meghan Coyle and Sally French take a deep dive into the strategies you can use to optimize your travel budget this summer, including tips on when to book flights, ways...

Learn when to book flights, how to spot mistake fares, and ways to use lesser-known tips like booking stopovers and tapping into rideshare rewards. When is the best time to book a cheap flight? Do budget airlines actually save you money after all the fees? Scott Keyes, founder of Going (formerly Scott’s Cheap Flights), joins Smart Travel to talk about how to actually find cheap airfare — including...

Learn how to visit national parks on a budget, including tips on free entry days and cheap lodging. Plus, the latest key travel rewards updates. When can you visit national parks for free, and what are the best ways to cut costs on park trips? Hosts Meghan Coyle and Sally French break down national park budget tips to help you plan an affordable adventure. But first, they kick off the episode with...

Learn which travel credit cards might be best for you, plus news about major policy changes at Southwest. Which travel credit card is the best travel credit card? Hosts Meghan Coyle and Sally French try to answer that question by picking their favorites, fantasy sports draft style. But first, they discuss the latest travel news, including Southwest changing some of its beloved policies, how to get...

Learn when elite status is worth it, plus how to earn attractive airline and hotel perks even if you don’t constantly travel. Is elite status ever worth chasing? Should you stick to one airline or just try to book the best deal? Hosts Sally French and Meghan Coyle break down whether airline and hotel elite status is worth it, and how you can earn valuable perks without spending half your life on t...

Learn how to budget for travel, save on flights, and maximize credit card rewards for your next trip. How can you budget and save money for travel? How can you maximize credit card rewards and travel points to help lower trip costs? Hosts Meghan Coyle and Sally French discuss budgeting strategies and travel rewards to help you plan smarter for your trips. They begin by sharing new data that might...

Learn what to do if your flight is delayed or canceled, how to get compensated, and tips to avoid travel disruptions. What should you do if your flight is delayed or canceled? How can you get compensated for travel disruptions? Hosts Meghan Coyle and Sally French discuss how to handle unexpected flight changes and what you can do to maximize your chances of getting some form of compensation for va...

From booking flights to getting through airport security, NerdWallet’s travel pros share five costly mistakes — and how to avoid them. Is TSA PreCheck or Global Entry worth the cost? How can you use travel credit card perks to save money on trips? Hosts Meghan Coyle and Sally French discuss five common travel mistakes and how to avoid them to help you travel smarter. They begin with tips for getti...