This Episode with video can be found on Youtube and Spotify.

Join Trevor Mountcastle and Tom Kim as they explore two contrasting cruises, delving into ship design, ports of call, dining experiences, and onboard entertainment. Discover insights into cruise ship architecture, port highlights like Grand Turk, and tips for maximizing onboard casino and dining value. Join us as we explore the latest in cruise ship amenities, ports of call, and insider tips for maximizing your cruise experience on Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas. From dining highlights to port adventures, discover how this ship sets a new standard in cruising luxury.

Key Points From This Episode:

00:00 Introduction

02:05 Exploring the Star Princess

10:01 Dining Experiences on the Star Princess

18:04 Entertainment and Casino Insights

25:56 Ports of Call: Grand Turk and Beyond

31:42 Exploring Grand Turk: Beaches and Local Cuisine

34:59 Reflections on Star Princess: A Relaxing Cruise Experience

35:45 Introduction to Icon of the Seas: A New Era of Cruising

36:46 Neighborhoods and Amenities: Icon's Unique Features

39:21 Entertainment Highlights: Aqua Shows and Ice Rinks

43:32 Dining Delights: Specialty Restaurants and Buffets

50:31 Main Dining Room Experience: Lobster Nights and Quality

53:50 Casino Adventures: Gambling on the Icon

57:37 Ports of Call: Costa Maya and Cozumel Insights

01:00:18 Exploring Honduras: Authentic Experiences vs. Cruise Ports

01:04:03 Cozumel Adventures: Snorkeling and Local Delights

01:08:23 Coco Cay: The Ultimate Private Island Experience

01:19:29 Managing a Large Group: The Cruise Director Role

01:30:44 Final Thoughts on Icon of the Seas: A Memorable Journey

—----------------

Key Topics for Episode Discussion Post: 

• Ship design and architecture of Star Princess and Icon of the Seas
• Ports of call including Nassau, Grand Turk, and Amber Cove
• Onboard dining experiences, specialty restaurants, and buffet insights Icon of the Seas amenities and dining options
• Cruise ports: Costa Maya, Cozumel, Honduras, Coco Cay
• Cruise planning and port excursions
• Ship design and passenger distribution
• Dining tips and onboard experiences

Note: This episode can be viewed with video on Youtube/Spotify.

Summary

In this episode, Tom Kim and Trevor Mountcastle welcome back Nick from The Frequent Miler to discuss the latest strategies in the award travel world. Nick breaks down his family’s massive undertaking of the JetBlue 25-for-25 promotion, his nuanced take on the Hyatt award chart changes, and his favorite tools for finding the best flight redemptions, including a surprising hack for Southwest Airlines.

Key Points From This Episode:

0:00 – Introduction

• Tom and Trevor welcome back Nick.
• Brief catch-up on Nick’s recent travel adventures since his last appearance.

0:43 – The JetBlue 25-for-25 Family Challenge

• How Nick completed the challenge for his entire family of four.
• The logic behind securing 25 years of airline status for his young children.
• Strategy: Using Amex Membership Rewards points and the Business Platinum 35% rebate to fund the flights.
• Leveraging partner bookings like Etihad Guest for high-value JetBlue redemptions.

7:16 – Hyatt Award Chart Changes: To Panic or Not?

• Nick’s take on the recent devaluation: Why Hyatt remains the strongest hotel currency despite the hit to top-tier redemptions.
• The strategy of speculative bookings for "bucket list" properties like Park Hyatt Kyoto before price hikes.
• Comparing the rising cash rates of luxury hotels to the increasing point requirements.

18:25 – Aeroplan and the Current State of Flight Awards

• The pros and cons of Air Canada’s Aeroplan, including their massive partner network.
• The frustration of dynamic pricing with partners like United.
• The difficulty of finding award space to Asia in the current travel climate.

23:14 – Advanced Award Searching & The "Condor Hack"

• Using Alaska Airlines to book Condor with a stopover in Frankfurt en route to Bangkok.
• Nick’s favorite tools: AwardTool, Seats.Aero, and the Points Path Chrome extension.
• Autopilot: A new tool for automatically repricing paid flights for credits.

29:16 – Southwest Airlines Strategies & IT Glitches

• The shift to assigned seating and the impact on Southwest's value proposition.
• A bizarre IT glitch: Why Nick’s 8-year-old son could see award seats that Nick (a premium cardholder) could not.
• The benefits of the Southwest Priority and Performance Business cards.

36:00 – Family Travel: World-Schooling & The Librea Tar Pits

• Nick’s experience homeschooling his kids for a quarter while traveling to the Bahamas, Los Angeles, and French Polynesia.
• The educational value of travel: From the aquariums in Atlantis to prehistoric history in LA.

41:40 – The Casino Status Match & Free Cruises

• How Nick turned casino status matches into 14 free cruises.
• Reviewing Margaritaville at Sea: Why it’s surprisingly great for families despite its budget reputation.
• Pro Tip: Using the casino "cage" for organic spend/cash advances on cruises.

51:00 – Lifemiles & Flying Blue Subscriptions

• Is the LifeMiles+ subscription worth $20/month? (Hint: The 10% discount and free cancellations might be).
• The new Flying Blue subscription model and whether it’s worth it for promo awards.

Keywords

Hyatt award chart, travel hacking, JetBlue 25 for 25, Family travel, Aeroplan, Southwest Airlines

We're back with a quick, fun, episode about three credit cards (plus a few extra side discussions). Enjoy!

0:21 Heightened Amex Marriott Bonvoy Offers

• Brilliant: 200k for $6k in 6 months ($650 AF)
• Bevy: 175k for $5k in 6 months ($250 AF)
• Business: 5x 50k certs for $9k in 6 months ($125 AF)
• Available through referral
• Good write-up from Tim at FM with table summarizing supposed Chase cards that can limit eligibility of Amex welcome offers
• Bonus: Marriott Bonvoy Certs Can Now Be Topped off w/25k

05:40 Chase Hyatt Business 80,000

• Direct Link
• $10k min spend in 3 months
• $195 AF not waived first year
• 5 elite qualifying nights per $10k spend (better than 2 per $5k of personal version)
• Available through referral
• IS subject to 5/24

08:21 GolfCard

• thegolfcard.com
• HT OffByOne, DoC post, Forbes piece from Fall 2025
• 20,000 points after spending $4k in 3 months
• $250 AF not waived the first year
• Points are redeemable with partners
• "Might be one of the worst cards we've ever talked about on this show."
• Coupon book with partners
• Has a waitlist, issued by Celtic Bank

Note: This episode can be viewed with video on youtube/Spotify.

Summary

In this episode, Trevor and Tom analyze Hyatt's award chart changes, share tips on maximizing hotel stays, explore interesting flight deals, and discuss strategies for earning and using miles effectively.

Key Points From This Episode:

00:00 Hyatt Devaluation Discussion

05:31 Adapting to New Hyatt Strategies

11:53 Exploring Aspirational Hyatt Properties

18:19 Maintaining Globalist Status Amid Changes

28:30 Exploring Global Destinations

34:21 Partnerships and New Opportunities in Travel

39:57 Miles and More: A Hidden Gem for Travelers

Keywords

Hyatt award chart, travel hacking, hotel points, flight deals, miles strategies, award availability, travel tips

Resources

Hyatt Award Chart Details - https://www.hyatt.com/en-US/awards

Miles and More Program - https://www.miles-and-more.com

Porter Airlines - https://www.flyporter.com

Etihad Airways - https://www.etihad.com

Qatar Airways Q Suites - https://www.qatarairways.com

Google Maps Explorer - https://maps.google.com/explore

0:21 Bilt JAL Transfer Bonus

• Normally 1:1, heightened for March 1 “rent day”
• Staying on-brand-complicated the amount of bonus varies depending on your Bilt status and use of Bilt Cash to further heighten the bonus
• So it’s 25-125% on March 1
• JAL 1:1 BILT transfer partner is great, long term
• Need to have space aligned in both directions
• Miles expire 3 years (HARD expiry, no way to extend)
• Speculative…. Probably not for me. 
• $135 Bilt cash to unlock 25% additional uplift

05:38 Chase Sapphire WHOOP Offer

• This is an Offer, not a recurring benefit of the card (as of now, one-time)
• Offer must be activated first on Chase
• Direct Link from Whoop for more info
• $359 back on $359 on Sapphire Reserve, $100 back on $149 on Sapphire Preferred
• Ends 5/12/2026

10:07 Hyatt Award Chart Changes

• Direct Link to new award chart
• New award chart still tops out at Category 8, but now has 5 levels of demand within each category (previously 3)
• Means a standard room can be as cheap as 3,000/nt OR as much as 75,000/nt (Cat 8, Top demand) OR 110,000 (Cat 8 Premium Suite Top demand)
• Digital point sharing!
• What’s the upshot here? For me, as long as the program continues to offer solid value (2+ cpp most of the time, occasionally 3+ cpp) I’m still happy.

17:17 Chase Adds Wyndham as 1:1 Transfer Partner

• Citi also transfers to Wyndham, has a 25% bonus through March 21, 2026
• Reason to even mention this is curiosity about whether Wyndham
•   is at all compelling anymore with the demise of Vacasa?
• Wyndham has hotels! (did you know?)
• And plenty of vacation rentals
• 15k - 30k per night, can make sense. 
• Again, speculatively doesn’t likely make sense. 

21:04 BofA Preferred Rewards

• Press Release / Direct Link
• $1M is the new $100k: Now need $1M for 75% uplift on credit card earning
• Preferred: $30k - $100k 25% uplift on qualifying credit card rewards
• Preferred Plus: $100k - $1M 50% uplift (was 75%)
• Premier: $1M+ 75% uplift (was also 75%)
• Subscription credit for debit charges: $8/mo for Preferred Plus, $15/mo for Premier
• Expanded Access to Lifestyle Benefits
• Preferred Honors tier: Automotive savings on brands like BMW, Lexus, Audi, Volvo; access to arts and entertainments moments, including major league sports, concerts, Broadway shows, and opera; and premium travel experiences with partners including Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Virgin Hotels, and Sixt.
• Premier tier: Tier-exclusive luxury offers with Backroads, The Eden Residence Club, Mercedes, Sollis Health, and Blacklane, as well as curated private events, such as the Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival, Lamborghini, and CULTURED magazine.
• Starts May 2026, but uplift may stick around for existing customers: “Some benefits, like the credit card rewards bonus and no-fee safe deposit boxes, may be subject to change. If this applies to you, you'll keep your Preferred Rewards benefits for at least 6 months (after May 2026)

26:25 BOS-HNL Non-Stop Returns

• Direct Link
• On Delta, in “Winter”
• Also MSP-OGG
• Better to have an option than not! I’m hopeful they’ll have good uptake and expand this to more of the year. I think there’s demand for one non-stop BOS-Hawaii year-round (not two). If that’s Delta rather than Hawaiian, so be it?

Robert: “Thanks for joining us for this week. For a more in-depth discussion about points miles visit us at patreon.com/milenomics. There you’ll get a special link to listen to additional content, right in your mobile podcast app or on your computer, where we speak more freely about topics like these.

Sam: “As always you can catch us on social media. I’m @milenomics and Robert is @robertdwyer. Until then we’ll see you on the site.”

Note: Video of this episode can be found on Youtube and Spotify! Coming soon to Apple Podcasts.

In this episode, hosts Tom Kim and Trevor Mountcastle recount Trevor’s recent New Years trip to Australia that included visits to Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne. They discuss the challenges of booking flights using points and miles, the varying experiences with American Airlines and Qantas business class, and the highlights of their stay in Brisbane, including the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary. The conversation also covers their New Year's Eve celebrations in Sydney, exploring local attractions like the Opera House and The Rocks, and the unique culinary experiences they encountered. The hosts also discuss Melbourne and her beautiful markets and the Australian Open. They discuss the challenges of booking travel during peak times, the logistics of traveling with family, including limited mobility considerations, and how we chose specific flight experiences to mitigate those logistical challenges, such as the importance of non-stop flights.

Key Points From This Episode:

00:00 Introduction to the Australian Adventure 00:47 Planning the Trip: Points and Miles Challenges 04:55 Flight Experience: Comfort and Crew Dynamics 11:27 Arrival in Australia: First Impressions 17:55 Hotel Experience: Hyatt Regency Brisbane 21:21 Wildlife Encounters: Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary 26:37 Exploring Brisbane: Markets and Local Culture 27:47 Traveling to Gold Coast: A Budget-Friendly Choice 31:04 Accessibility Challenges in Air Travel 31:22 Packing Light for a Long Trip 34:56 Choosing Accommodations: From Hyatt to Apartments 36:28 New Year's Eve in Manly: A Family Celebration 44:11 Transitioning to Hyatt Regency: A Familiar Stay 48:10 Exploring Sydney: New Experiences and Local Markets 50:49 Cultural Experiences: A Visit to the Opera House 51:40 Experiencing the Sydney Opera House 52:46 Traveling to Melbourne: A New Adventure 53:52 Hotel Experiences and Upgrades 55:32 Booking Strategies for Travel 59:07 Exploring Melbourne: Markets and Local Culture 01:00:38 Weather Challenges in Melbourne 01:04:34 Dining Experiences and Service Culture 01:11:07 Unexpected Adventures at the Australian Open 01:16:56 Experiencing Sporting Events with Low Friction 01:19:07 Navigating Travel Logistics and Flight Changes 01:22:33 Dining Experiences in Airports 01:26:31 First Class Lounge Experience at Qantas 01:27:30 Reflections on Long-Haul Flights 01:34:15 Desire to Return to Australia and Future Travel Plans 01:36:51 The Value of Nonstop Flights

A Guys Trip to Malta Centered Around Lounge Hopping

Episode 72: Show Notes

Summary

In this episode, hosts Tom Kim and Trevor Mountcastle share their travel experiences centered around an impromptu trip to Malta, highlighting their lounge hopping adventures. They discuss their flight itinerary, the luxurious Polaris Lounge in Chicago, and the Frankfurt First Class Lounge, emphasizing the importance of these experiences in enhancing their travel. The conversation also touches on their arrival in Malta, exploring the historical city of Valletta, and the unique aspects of their journey, including unexpected encounters and the cultural richness of Malta. In this episode, the hosts discuss their recent trip to Malta, including their experiences exploring the Old Town, the beaches, and their flight with British Airways to Gatwick. They share insights on navigating Gatwick to Heathrow, hotel booking strategies, and their extensive lounge hopping at Heathrow Terminal 3, highlighting the pros and cons of various lounges including the Centurion, British Airways, Qantas, and Cathay Pacific. The conversation wraps up with reflections on the trip's focus on lounges and the missed opportunities for outdoor exploration in Malta.

Key Points From This Episode:

00:00 Lounge Hopping: The Trip's Driving Force

02:00 Flight Itinerary and Booking Process

03:25 Experiencing the Polaris Lounge

11:44 Lufthansa First Class Experience

21:17 Frankfurt Lounge Experience

27:37 Arrival in Malta and Hotel Lounge Review

29:38 Navigating the Airport Experience

31:57 Dining in the Skies: European Airlines

34:52 Hotel Comparisons: Regency vs. Centric

35:43 Exploring Malta: A Densely Populated Gem

36:46 Valletta: The Old Town Experience

40:45 Cruise and Maintenance: Malta's Unique Position

42:50 Gatwick to Heathrow: A Smooth Transition

46:42 Dining at Hyatt Place: A Pleasant Surprise

51:43 Lounge Hopping at Heathrow Terminal 3

53:36 The Changing Landscape of Airport Lounges

54:48 Lounge Hopping Experience

01:01:09 The Qantas Lounge Highlights

01:06:13 Cathay Pacific Lounge Experience

01:09:43 Flight Experience and Upgrades

01:22:13 Reflections on the Trip

01:23:33 NEWCHAPTER

Note: The video of this episode can be found on Youtube or Spotify

Summary

In this episode of Travel Stories, hosts Tom Kim and Trevor Mountcastle welcome Gary Leff, of View From the Wing and the Freddie Awards to the show. We discuss memorable experiences in travel, the evolution of airline loyalty programs, the changing landscape of airline upgrades, and the impact of status on travel experiences. The conversation also delves into family travel, personal travel stories, and the value of travel experiences. Gary shares his insights on the future of airline loyalty programs and emphasizes the importance of enjoying the journey rather than cramming everything into one trip.

Key Points From This Episode:

00:00 Introduction to Travel Stories and Guest Background

03:07 Memorable Experiences at Frequent Traveler University

05:46 The Evolution of Airline Loyalty Programs

09:01 The Changing Landscape of Upgrades and Entitlement

11:54 The Shift in Value Proposition for Frequent Flyers

14:29 The Future of Loyalty Programs and Personalization

17:30 Recognition and Emotional Connections in Loyalty Programs

20:23 Gamification and Customer Engagement Strategies

29:51 Navigating Credit Card Value and Offers

37:49 The Future of Co-Branded Credit Cards

54:31 Traveling with Family: A New Perspective

01:00:24 Shifting Travel Preferences and Experiences

01:03:14 Traveling with Kids: Strategies and Challenges

01:09:58 Memorable Travel Experiences: Stories from the Road

01:15:02 The Value of Travel: Understanding Different Cultures

01:21:08 Reflections on Travel: The Good and the Bad

01:25:33 Favorite Travel Deals: A Look Back at Opportunities

Festivus 2025

Episode 70: Show Notes

Keywords

Festivus, travel, airlines, loyalty programs, grievances, travel stories, miles, points, travel achievements, travel miracles

Summary

Our Annual Festivus Tradition continues! In this episode, we celebrate Festivus with special guest JT Genter, discussing our travel experiences. We air our grievances with airlines and loyalty programs, we share our feats of strength and celebrate our Festivus miracles. Break out your festivus pole and join us as we reflect on the past year.

Key Points From This Episode:

00:00 Intros

03:53 Airing of Grievances

28:18 Feats of Strength

56:42 Festivus Miracles

01:11:44 Wrapping Up

Episode 69: Show Notes

Trevor and Thomas are the ultimate travel friends, and part of what makes their trips so memorable is that they both maximize the journey as much as the destination! Today on Travel Stories, we are doing something a little bit different; we are breaking down the ins and outs of planning a guy’s trip so that you, too, can make your next trip about the journey, not just the destination! In this episode, you’ll hear all about how Thomas and Trevor decided where to go on this trip, some of their award searching strategies, the breakthrough that led to their location decision, and so much more! We delve into their lounge experiences before Thomas tells us about his disappointing trip home and the obstacles they faced with regard to hotel availability. They even talk about the three different award tickets they ended up with on this trip. Finally, our hosts tell us why so many of their trips are planned ‘at the last minute’ and how they each use their miles differently. Thanks for tuning in!

Key Points From This Episode:

• [01:04] Today’s topic: what planning a guy’s trip looks like and why we’re talking about this.
• [04:24] Deciding where to go on this trip and how wide our aperture was for it.
• [08:19] The power of using multi-city codes on Seats.aero and how we do award searching.
• [12:35] The breakthrough that came from a Seats.aero alert and ultimately choosing Malta.
• [17:42] Their lounge crawl at London Terminal Three and their other lounge experiences.
• [19:19] An overview of the heartbreak they experienced when booking their trip home. 
• [23:45] The importance of looking at different currencies when booking trips. 
• [28:12] The obstacles that Trevor and Thomas ran into when booking hotels. 
• [36:51] How they ended up with three different award tickets on this trip. 
• [40:22] Some of the other trips we are planning and why there is always so much uncertainty.
• [43:00] Why the value of miles is so unique to the person and how we use them differently. 

Episode 68: Show Notes

Keywords

Mediterranean cruise, Delta One, travel experiences, family travel, cruise ports, Royal Caribbean, Allure of the Seas, travel tips, Barcelona, Sorrento, La Spezia, cruise, European cruising, cruise dining experience, service recovery, Mediterranean ports, travel tips, Emirates flight, travel inconveniences

Summary

In this episode, Trevor shares his recent family trip to Europe, highlighting their experiences flying Delta One, cruising on the Allure of the Seas, and exploring various Mediterranean ports. The conversation covers the challenges and joys of traveling with family, the dining experiences on the cruise, and the unique adventures in cities like Barcelona, Palma de Mallorca, and Sorrento. Trevor reflects on the importance of planning and balancing exploration with relaxation during family travels.

Key Points From This Episode:

01:54 JFK's Delta One Lounge

09:11 Getting to Barcelona

12:44 Onboard the Allure of the Seas after its drydock

17:25 Ports of Call

30:15 Civitavecchia is not very close to Rome

38:14 Allure of the Seas Entertainment

45:14 Main Dining Disappointment

55:18 Why Med Cruises Make Sense

01:00:04 A quick hop to Milan on a Singapore Fifth Freedom Flight

01:03:21 Acqui Terme Overnight and Milan Touring

01:07:45 Protests in Milan

01:12:40 Emirates Fifth Freedom Flight Home and Wrapping Up