Today on our Midweek Mini we are taking a small break from summer road trips and we’re diving into the ever-evolving world of points and miles—and how we’re adjusting our strategy to keep up. With recent changes to Chase’s sign-up bonus language, we’re starting to shift our focus away from chasing (pun intended) welcome offers and instead doubling down on everyday spending and earning categories. We talk about how the Chase Freedom Flex has become a staple in our wallets, especially when we can ...
Jul 02, 2025•21 min•Season 1Ep. 124
Today on Wonderland on Points, we’re heading out of the city and into the storybook charm of the English countryside! Jo shares all the highlights from her family’s recent road trip through two of England’s most picturesque regions: the Cotswolds and the Yorkshire Dales (with a fun little national park detour in between). From booking flights with points to tackling the adventure of renting a car and driving on the “wrong” side of the road, she walks through exactly how they made this dream trip...
Jun 30, 2025•1 hr 19 min•Season 1Ep. 123
Today on another Midweek Mini—road trip edition—we’re bringing you a total gem for our Midwest listeners! Bentonville, Arkansas might not have been on your radar before, but it definitely will be after this episode. This small town is packed with surprises: world-class art at Crystal Bridges, a walkable downtown filled with charming shops and restaurants, incredible bike trails, and some seriously impressive food. Whether you're a history buff, foodie, art lover, or just need a peaceful weekend ...
Jun 25, 2025•14 min•Season 1Ep. 122
Today on Wonderland on Points, we’ve got BIG NEWS! Chase just launched a brand-new welcome bonus for the Sapphire Reserve as well as ENTIRELY refreshing the earning and benefits and we’re breaking it all down in this episode. We’re joined by our go-to credit card correspondent, travel and finance journalist Katherine Fan , who helps us unpack all the details. We’ll walk you through the updated annual fee, the refreshed bonus categories, and the current lineup of card benefits to help you decide ...
Jun 23, 2025•1 hr 2 min•Season 1Ep. 121
In this Midweek Mini, we take you to the cobblestone streets and Spanish moss of Savannah, Georgia—submitted by Wendy . It is an amazing spot for a charming, walkable weekend escape. We chat about the best times to visit (spring and fall are ideal!), where to stay for easy access to the city’s highlights, and the can’t-miss food and experiences that make Savannah so memorable. We share our love for the historic district and accommodations like the Andaz, which even includes bike rentals to help ...
Jun 18, 2025•19 min•Season 1Ep. 120
In this episode, we’re joined by financial educator and profit strategist Jamie Trull for a conversation that bridges travel, family, and finance. Jamie shares how her background as a CPA led her to help families and small business owners make smarter financial decisions—and how those choices can open the door to more meaningful (and affordable) travel. We dig into how points and miles fit into a bigger financial strategy, the importance of separating personal and business expenses, and when it ...
Jun 16, 2025•1 hr 8 min•Season 1Ep. 119
In this Midweek Mini, we’re heading to the sugar-white sands and emerald waters of Destin, Florida thanks to our listener Katie —but it just so happens, this is one of our favorite beach destinations for our families as well. We share our own experiences exploring this stretch of the Emerald Coast and offer tips for making the most of your trip, from the best times to visit to our favorite spots for outdoor adventures. We talk about quieter, family-friendly beach options like Henderson Beach Sta...
Jun 11, 2025•17 min•Season 1Ep. 118
In this episode, we’re joined by journalist and seasoned traveler Katherine Fan for a heartfelt conversation about visiting Taiwan—one of Asia’s most underrated and welcoming destinations. Katherine shares her personal connection to the island and offers practical tips for planning a meaningful and efficient trip. We talk about why Taiwan is a great choice for families and solo travelers, from its safety and public transit to its rich culture and incredible food scene. Katherine walks us through...
Jun 09, 2025•59 min•Season 1Ep. 117
In this Midweek Mini, we dive into a listener-submitted road trip itinerary (thank you Lauren !) that kicks off in El Paso, Texas and explores three stunning national parks—Guadalupe Mountains, Carlsbad Caverns, and White Sands. We chatted about the best times to visit (hint: avoid the peak summer heat!), where to stay using points with Hilton and Hyatt, and the unique experiences each park offers—from hiking to the highest point in Texas to sledding down sand dunes. We also shared why a stop in...
Jun 04, 2025•19 min•Season 1Ep. 116
This week, we sat down with travel journalist and itinerary expert Cami from Secrets of Travel Journalist to talk all things Pacific Northwest National Parks. From Olympic National Park to Mount Rainier and the North Cascades, Cami shared how she uses points and miles to make incredible trips happen without blowing the budget, and gave us a peek into how she approaches trip planning with intention and creativity. We talked about the magic of Forks (yes, the rainiest town in the continental U.S.)...
Jun 02, 2025•1 hr 3 min•Season 1Ep. 115
In this mini episode of our Summer Road Trip Series , we’re heading just south of LA to explore a fun pairing: Catalina Island and Long Beach, California. Listener Jen shares how she turned a couple of Hyatt Free Night Awards into a perfect weekend escape—with ocean views, rooftop hangs, and even a bit of underwater adventure. Whether you’re planning a Disneyland trip or just craving a coastal getaway, this itinerary is packed with smart tips, walkable charm, and creative ways to stretch your tr...
May 28, 2025•16 min•Season 1Ep. 114
In this episode of Wonderland On Points , we’re joined AGAIN by our favorite surgeon, Kelly from @pointsandmilesdoc to talk about her recent trip to China—an incredible journey through a country rich in history, culture, and food. Kelly shares how she flew first and business class using points, and how award redemptions helped her save big on domestic flights as she traveled between major cities and scenic regions. We explore her itinerary across Shanghai, Hangzhou, Lijiang, and Chengdu, from hi...
May 26, 2025•1 hr 5 min•Season 1Ep. 113
This week on our Summer Road Trip Series, we’re heading to Tucson, Arizona—and this episode is packed with creative travel tips thanks to a listener-submitted itinerary that blew us away. Cami, a writer over at Secrets of a Travel Journalist , shared a full plan featuring unique, budget-friendly ways to stay—using Capital One Venture X travel credits instead of the usual points and miles. She split her stay between the 3 Palms and the historic Lodge on the Desert, and we dive into both propertie...
May 21, 2025•23 min•Season 1Ep. 112
For the first time EVER, we’re recording an episode of Wonderland on Points from the SAME PLACE — in person, raw, real, and unedited! In this episode, we're diving into how to explore New York City using points — and trust us, it’s one of the best destinations for a points-and-miles trip. We’ll walk you through some incredible hotel options you can book with points, share our favorite budget-friendly activities that still give you that true NYC experience, and offer up delicious food recommendat...
May 19, 2025•55 min•Season 1Ep. 111
It’s week two of our Summer Mini Series, where we spotlight lesser-known domestic destinations across the U.S.—and the best part is, these spots were submitted by you ! We’ve absolutely loved reading your recommendations, and this week’s pick is a gem. We’re headed to the Pacific Northwest to explore the charming town of Cle Elum, Washington, and the beautiful Suncadia Resort. Whether you're a local looking for a quick escape or planning a road trip or flight into Seattle, this hidden destinatio...
May 14, 2025•15 min•Season 1Ep. 110
This week on the Wonderland on Points podcast, we're heading to the beautiful island of Aruba with special guest and Aruba expert @Erin_Loves_Travel. While most people have heard of Aruba, it doesn't get nearly enough attention in the points and miles community—and we think that needs to change. Erin has visited multiple times and brings a wealth of insider knowledge on how to experience Aruba using points. In this episode, she shares how to get to Aruba on points and miles, plus tips on where t...
May 12, 2025•51 min•Season 1Ep. 109
This week kicks off our Summer Road Trip series—and we’re starting strong with one of the dreamiest New England getaways: Newport, Rhode Island! We dive into everything that makes Newport the perfect points-powered summer escape, from a perfect location to stay on Chase points, to stunning Gilded Age mansions and hot dogs with personality. We also cover the latest buzz in the points and miles world, including the return of Instacart credits on several Chase cards (and yes, you can stack those be...
May 07, 2025•21 min•Season 1Ep. 108
We're thrilled to welcome back a returning guest and friend of the pod , Joy from Savvy Travel Mamas ! When we first floated the idea of a Vegas episode, we were honestly a little skeptical—does Sin City really have anything to offer beyond the party scene? As family-focused travelers, we weren’t sure it would resonate with our audience. But spoiler alert : we were totally wrong. Joy completely changed our perspective. From free and affordable attractions to stunning hikes and family-friendly ex...
May 05, 2025•57 min•Season 1Ep. 107
This week on our Midweek Mini episode, we’re going first but we want to hear from you next! We’re diving into the things we wish we had known when we first started our journey into the world of points, miles, and travel rewards. From rookie mistakes to "a-ha!" moments, we’re sharing the insights that could have saved us time, money, and missed opportunities. Whether you're new to the game or a seasoned pro, this episode is packed with reflections, tips, and lessons learned the hard way. Consider...
Apr 30, 2025•23 min•Season 1Ep. 106
This week on the Wonderland on Points Podcast , Mary Ellen is back from an unforgettable girls’ trip to stunning St. Kitts—and she’s spilling every detail! While Jo sadly couldn’t make it, she’s hearing all about it for the first time, right along with you. From scoring a steal of a business class flight on points to navigating arrival, transportation, and luxury accommodations (think $7,300 room for zero dollars ), Mary Ellen breaks down exactly how this dream trip came together. Plus, don’t mi...
Apr 28, 2025•58 min•Season 1Ep. 105
Today on our Midweek Mini, we're diving into some seriously sad news — the beloved AMEX to Alaska Airlines transfer loophole (aka our secret weapon for booking awesome American Airlines flights) might be coming to an end. Word on the street is that this workaround is on its last legs, and we’re breaking down what that could mean for our points strategy. Should we be moving points speculatively to lock in sweet redemptions while we still can? We’ve got thoughts — and a few tips to help you naviga...
Apr 23, 2025•16 min•Season 1Ep. 104
Join us for an unforgettable journey through the lush beauty of Costa Rica , as we explore how to travel this stunning country on points . Our guest this week is Lauren , one half of the dynamic travel duo behind KC Savvy Travelers . She shares all the juicy details from her recent family adventure, including: 🌿 Rainforest hikes and wild adventures in La Fortuna 🚌 Smart transportation hacks and budget tips that made everything seamless 💎 A luxurious stay at the Andaz Papagayo — a $4,000+ reso...
Apr 21, 2025•1 hr 11 min•Season 1Ep. 103
This week on our Midweek Mini episode, we're sharing a truly chilling cautionary tale. One of our listeners recently experienced something that left us completely stunned — a major lesson in what can go wrong when adding someone as an authorized user. We’ve honestly never heard of a situation quite like this before. It’s eye-opening, a little scary, and definitely something anyone in the points and miles world needs to hear. We hope this story helps you better understand the risks involved, how ...
Apr 16, 2025•13 min•Season 1Ep. 102
Today on Wonderland on Points , we're joined by Emmanuel, the founder and tech-savvy mastermind behind the incredible points and miles app, CardPointers. We've been amazed by what this app can do, and we wanted our audience to hear about it straight from the founder himself. Not only did Emmanuel create the app—he personally built every single line of code. From dedicated points and miles enthusiast to the creator of a rapidly growing app that truly addresses so many of our pain points, Emmanuel...
Apr 14, 2025•1 hr 4 min•Season 1Ep. 101
We are absolutely thrilled and incredibly humbled to hit this major podcasting milestone, and we couldn't have done it without YOU—our amazing, ever-growing community. Seriously, we wouldn’t be here without your support, and we are SO grateful to each and every one of you. 🙏 In this special mini-episode, we take you back to where it all began—through Mary Ellen's eyes! Even if you’ve heard our story before (shoutout to Episode 1!), this is a fresh take you won't want to miss. But that’s not all...
Apr 09, 2025•29 min•Season 1Ep. 100
Today on Wonderland on Points , we are so excited to welcome back Raimee Iacofano! You might remember her from her Japan episode last year, and now she’s back to share all about her incredible road trip across Ireland. Raimee has all the tips you need to plan your own Irish adventure—from using points and miles to get there, to essential driving tips for navigating a new country. She’ll also share her best tips for rental cars, stunning and affordable accommodations, must-see attractions, delici...
Apr 07, 2025•54 min•Season 1Ep. 99
In this week’s midweek mini episode, we’re diving into a newer and often overlooked benefit of the Chase Sapphire Preferred credit card—Door Dash's DashPass . While this incredible perk might seem complicated at first, many cardholders are leaving money on the table by not fully utilizing it. If you’re using your benefit monthly, this card could actually be a money maker for you! In this bite-sized episode, we break down exactly what the perk is and how to make the most of it. Facebook Group | S...
Apr 02, 2025•22 min•Season 1Ep. 98
In today’s episode, we’re joined by The Frugal Tourist , Kris, for an absolutely mind-blowing and comprehensive journey through American Airlines like never before. While we’ve taken deep dives into AA in the past, this episode is packed with fresh, invaluable tips and insights that you won’t want to miss—especially if you’re traveling with family! Kris shares clever strategies to stretch your travel budget and maximize your points, making your flights more affordable and rewarding. As our opini...
Mar 31, 2025•1 hr•Season 1Ep. 97
This week on our Wonderland on Points mini episode, we’re diving into Capital One travel credits! While many other travel portals can make using credits a challenge, we absolutely love how Capital One makes it simple and rewarding. With both the Venture and Venture X cards offering travel credits, we’re sharing some creative ways to make the most of these perks. Tune in as we provide real, tangible examples of how these credits can be a game-changer, whether you're taking advantage of a welcome ...
Mar 26, 2025•14 min•Season 1Ep. 96
This week on Wonderland on Points, we’re heading back to Hawaii with a special twist! Our guest, Jamie, takes us on a journey through not one but TWO islands and incredible hotels—both booked entirely on points! First, Jamie shares how she managed to secure a stay at Disney’s Aulani Resort, a place known for being notoriously difficult to book with points. After soaking up the magic at Aulani, they jumped on an island hopper flight to get over to the Hyatt Regency Maui, where her family of five ...
Mar 24, 2025•1 hr 4 min•Season 1Ep. 95
