Milenomics ² Podcast - No Annual Fee Edition Sam Simon and Robert Dwyer

Chatting with Nick Reyes of FrequentMiler



Episode 34: Show Notes.



Few things are as exhilarating as a competitive travel challenge among like-minded peers! Speaking of birds of a feather, today we are joined by fellow travel enthusiast and author, Nick Reyes. Nick is a prime example of how to follow your travel dreams even when your wallet says that you can't, and today, he shares both new and old travel hacks that will help you conquer your next travel challenge! We learn about the evolution of Avianca’s lifemiles program, the flop of Nick's first redemption versus the joys of his most successful one, and how bucket-list adventures are more accessible than you may realize. We also discuss Nick's most complicated (yet worthwhile) travel hack before exploring the wonders of travel as education, the benefits of various rewards programs, the value of reviewing rewards charts, and how to properly plan for a long trip. To end, Nick Reyes shares even more helpful advice for saving time and money on your adventures around the world.



Key Points From This Episode:




[00:40] FTU: How Trevor and Thomas met today's guest, Nick Reyes.



[04:30] How miles and points have evolved since 2013, and assessing Avianca's lifemiles program. 



[08:04] Nick's first redemption.



[12:44] Highlights from his first (successful) miles redemption trip.



[15:06] How once-in-a-lifetime trips become more accessible with miles and points.



[18:23] Exploring the wonders of travel as education. 



[23:09] The most complicated travel hack that Nick has ever executed. 



[34:30] Unpacking various unassuming rewards programs that come with big payoffs. 



[35:20] How flying from certain regions saves points and money, and the value of reviewing reward charts.



[42:22] The ins and outs of Nick's latest travel challenge and how he's planning for it.



[46:20] Why it's important to thoroughly plan your travel, and how to go about it.  



[48:48] Time and money-saving travel tips.



[53:18] How to connect with Nick Reyes.




Quotes:



“Before I discovered miles and points, my wife and I already had the travel itch. And so, we would work really hard, sometimes 60; 70; 80 hours a week, and then we would take a month or two off and go travel somewhere as cheaply as we could.” — @NickatFM [08:26]



“When we traveled on a shoestring budget back in the day, it was always like, 'Well, we're probably never going to be here again so we've got to see and do everything that we can'. And not having that pressure because of miles and points is such an incredibly liberating feeling.” — @NickatFM [15:32]



“[My kids] are learning geography not just by looking at it in a book and memorizing it for a test, but by going to places and seeing things. I think that's incredibly exciting because that's certainly not a world I grew up living in, nor one that I thought I'd be able to provide for my family someday.” — @NickatFM [19:36]



“Air Canada's Aeroplan has been something that has really inspired me to be interested in trying to push the boundaries, because their reward chart was made for people like us that get excited about figuring out, 'Okay, how far can I go? What can I do?'.” — @NickatFM [23:46]



Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:



Nick Reyes on LinkedIn



Nick Reyes on Instagram



Nick Reyes on X



Frequent Miler



FT Association | FTU



Avianca lifemiles



Air Canada Aeroplan



Etihad



Turkish Airlines



Eat With



Thomas Kim on X



Trevor Mountcastle on X 



Milenomics

Are you interested in cruises, and want to capitalize on miles and points, but feel unsure of where to start? Then this episode is for you! Today we sit down with, Debra Schroeder, who first became interested in miles and points back in ’94, when she bought an excess of cereal boxes to capitalize on an American Airlines promotional campaign. Her history with cruising goes back almost as far, starting in ’98. Fast forward to today and Deb has become an expert at optimizing her travel plans. Tuning in, you’ll learn how Deb first started writing her travel blog, Traveling Well for Less, and how she began posting deals and sharing her insights with other avid travelers. We talk with Deb about her evolution as a traveler and her enduring love of cruises, before hearing her advice on how to get the most out of your trips. If you’re curious about cruising or want to take your loyalty membership to the next level, then you won’t want to miss this fascinating conversation with Deb Schroeder!



Key Points From This Episode:




[00:00]  Debra’s involvement in the miles and points community.



[04:18]  What casino programs were like when she started (and how they have changed).



[10:04]  Trends in cruising over the past few years and the current state of cruises.



[14:34]  Booking in advance and how to get lower prices for your cruises.



[18:49]  Recurring issues with food provisions on cruises.



[21:19]  An overview of the traveling that Deb still wants to do.



[24:18]  Cruise loyalty; how Deb obtained her Pinnacle Member status with Royal Caribbean.



[26:59]  An overview of the divisions amongst Pinnacle Members and what caused it.



[32:16]  The huge success of loyalty schemes and how this has impacted cruise lines, airlines, hotel chains, and passengers.



[33:17]  Why Deb, and so many others, have remained loyal to Royal Caribbean.



[34:21]  Comparing Royal Caribbean’s casino loyalty program with other cruise lines.



[38:57]  Deb’s insights into Las Vegas, on-land casinos, and earning perks and points.



[40:54]  Recent news regarding MGM partnerships and upcoming developments.



[43:41]  Deb’s parting advice: don’t wait to take advantage of all the current cruise offers!




Quotes:



“The miles and points community, it's a large community, but it's funny how small it is, really. Everybody knows everyone.” — @TktweetsKim [01:38]



“In the last couple of years, there's been leadership change over at Royal Caribbean. So they're doing a lot of cost-cutting and different financial strategies and implementing different things that they didn’t [do] in the past.” — @DebraSchroeder [12:29]



“With all the different changes, they have to submit the manifests to customs, like 72 hours in advance. [So] you can’t get that last-minute deal that the Floridians are used to, where they could just stroll up to the port and book a cruise right there.” — @DebraSchroeder [15:27]



“It's incredible to think how loyal and dedicated customers are. The mania, the craziness of miles and points – extends to cruisers, just as much as people who love airlines and hotels.” — @TktweetsKim [31:25]



“Royal has the best loyalty program of all the cruise lines, in terms of what you get for your status. That is why so many of us have remained loyal to Royal because you get so much more.” — @DebraSchroeder [33:18]



“Get those free cruises now before you miss out on the opportunity! We haven't had these many offers in a long time.” — @DebraSchroeder [44:29]



Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:



Traveling Well for Less



Traveling Well for Less on YouTube



Flyertalk



Vanilla Reload



Royal Caribbean



Celebrity Cruises



Carnival



Norwegian Cruise Line



Holland America



Princess



Crystal Cruises



The Milenomics Podcast Network



Subscribe to Milenomics on Patreon



Thomas Kim on X



Trevor Mountcastle on X

A Quick Cairo Trip



Episode 32: Show Notes.



After a two-plus year-long wait, Tom finally used his Qatar booking credit from the pandemic (just in time before the booking expired!). Even though he wasn’t excited about the trip before departure, his wonderful experience of Cairo made him question his initial reservations. Tom details his airport experience in Canada, why he chose to fly out from there instead of America, and whether buying a cheaper ticket to fly from Canada is worth the hassle. He also shares his thoughts on the new Chase Sapphire Lounge in LaGuardia, his inflight experience of Qatar’s Qsuite, what he did during his Doha layover, and everything he loved about being in Cairo for the very first time. In addition, we discuss the convenience of using tour services to expedite airport arrivals and departures in certain countries, the sights that Tom visited in Cairo, whether he’d go back with a nested itinerary, and a quick look at the trips that Tom and Trevor have coming up.



Key Points From This Episode:




[00:59] A high-level overview of Tom’s trip to Cairo. 



[03:03] Thomas explains why he hasn’t been excited prior to departure on recent trips.



[06:38] Why he chose to connect from Canada.  



[08:43] A brief interlude on the brand-new Chase Sapphire Lounge. 



[11:50] His on-ground experience of Canada before departing for Egypt.  



[15:14] What he thinks about the Qatar Qsuite, and the rest of his inflight experience to Doha.



[19:17] Everything that happened during his layover in Doha.



[32:58] What Tom loved about being in Cairo for the first time.   



[35:54] How he used a tour guide service to expedite his arrival and domestic travel in Egypt. 



[40:21] His sightseeing and entertainment experiences in Cairo.  



[45:26] What’s on next for Tom and Trevor.  



[46:25] Whether Tom would go back to Cairo with a nested itinerary. 



[48:36] A quick yes or no: Is buying a cheaper flight out of Canada worth the hassle?




Quotes:



“Lately, a lot of the travel I’ve been having, I’ve been not really excited about it. I was not excited for this trip at all, strangely enough. And, that was so wrong because I realized having come back, it was a great trip. I enjoyed myself tremendously.” — @TktweetsKim [03:03]



“This is not the first LaGuardia flight that I’ve taken this year. And every time I’ve been to LaGuardia this year, it has impressed me.” — @TktweetsKim [11:12]



“Montreal, strangely, for a relatively major city with a lot of international connectivity, the international side of the terminals are not well-equipped, either from a lounge perspective or even from just a retail shopping perspective. It’s kind of small.” — @TktweetsKim [13:59]



“The strange thing was, it rained. It rained in Doha!” — @TktweetsKim [28:42]



“There’s a handful of countries that I just won’t enter without having that [tour] expediter service now. I don’t know if that’s lifestyle inflation or just being a good traveler, but I mean, it makes such a difference.” — @tmount [37:30]



Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:



Qatar Airways  



Qatar Qsuite



‘Episode 15: Summer Travel and the Longest Way Home’  



LaGuardia Airport  



American Airlines



Chase Sapphire Airport Lounge  



Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport



Delta Sky Club 



Boeing



Airbus 



Park Hyatt 



Lufthansa 



Hamad International Airport 



Hyatt Regency 



Straight to the Points 



Alaska Airlines



The Milenomics Podcast Network



Thomas Kim on X



Trevor Mountcastle on X

Episode 31: Show Notes.



When you talk to folks in the community, people have strong opinions about Hyatt’s Baha Mar property, and its not just in one direction. Luckily, today’s guest, Joey Redmond – who has been on the show twice before – is here to tell us all about Baha Mar, a resort in the Bahamas that he has found himself returning to year after year as an ideal vacation spot for him and his family. Tuning in you’ll hear all of Joey’s top tips, from navigating your flights to making sure you do all your restaurant bookings in advance – and what to do if you don’t have a reservation! He tells us about his favorite activities at Baha Mar, including the water park, Baha Bay, and why it’s such a big highlight for him and his family every year. We also discuss how best to use their loyalty program, what you can do to maximize the Hyatt Globalist experience, and what to expect from the Baha Mar casino. For a full account of Joey’s tips and insights on Baha Mar, be sure to tune in for this fun and informative conversation with one of our favorite guests! 



Key Points From This Episode:




[00:00] What makes Baha Mar such a special destination.



[01:39] Tips on how to navigate Nassau airport and the trip home.



[05:28] Joey’s thoughts on large luxury properties and why Baha Mar doesn’t feel crowded.



[07:15] Why you should book your trip to Baha Mar and the restaurants in advance.



[10:11] What to expect from restaurant prices and budgeting advice.



[14:54] Joey’s favorite restaurants and meals, plus tips on where to eat without a reservation.



[20:33] How to maximize the Hyatt Globalist experience at Baha Mar.



[25:19] Why using points is usually the best option (and when it isn’t).



[28:18] An overview of the water park, Baha Bay, and why it’s such a big highlight.



[32:02] Other water activities and pools you can spend time at, and what the beach is like.



[34:23] What to expect from the Baha Mar casino.



[36:01] One of the weirdest things about their loyalty program.



[38:45] A recap of the benefits and drawbacks of Baha Mar.



[39:27] Why Joey has returned to Baha Mar with his family so many times.



[41:30] An overview of what it’s like flying to Baha Mar from different places in the US.



[45:26] Where you can find Joey online and get in touch.




Quotes:



“You can always find somewhere to eat. It's just a matter of the better the restaurant, the more planning needs to go into it.” — @joeyredmond [13:17]



“It's a pretty diverse buffet. We usually stay five nights [and] I don't really get sick of it.” — @joeyredmond [19:30]



“Baha Bay is the name of the water park. And it's four acres right on the beachfront. It's a lot of fun. If you're a person that likes water parks or likes water activities, I think you could easily fill two, three, four days there.” — @joeyredmond [28:28]



“Generally you're not going to see anyone at the casino during the day. [That] is what I found.” — @joeyredmond [35:36]



“I think islands always have a lot stacked against them [when it comes to] having good foods. So the fact that [Baha Mar] was able to curate a food and beverage program with so many varied and different options. I think it's actually pretty impressive.” — @TktweetsKim [43:56]



“One of the biggest selling points [seems to be] the closeness that you've got for having everything all in one place.” — @tmount [41:34]



Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:



Baha Mar



Hyatt Regency Grand Puerto Rico



Hyatt Globalist



Hilton Waikoloa Village



Travel Stories Episode 7: Top Tips for the Vegas Strip



Travel Stories Episode 8: Epic Guys Trip



Joey Redmond



Joey Redmond on Instagram



Joey Redmond on Twitter



Thomas Kim on X



Trevor Mountcastle on X

A First Time Istanbul Visit with Han



Episode 30: Show Notes



The Turkish Airlines Devaluation was a big deal. We covered our trip to Istanbul, Turkey, but the reality of the matter is, so many people booked trips to Turkey because of this devaluation and we just felt obligated to bring a second perspective. In this case, Han Chicago joins us to share his first time to Istanbul. In this episode, we sit down with Han Chicago to discuss his first-time experience of Turkey and what it has to offer. We cover everything from planning the trip to his in-flight and in-country experiences, discussing the quality of seats on the 787-9 aircraft, why he chose to hire a guide, the benefits of having a guide to get around the city, and Turkey's rich history. Han talks about what he enjoyed most about the city, visiting a spice market, intriguing aspects of the country, his experience of eating a "wet burger" for the first time, and how Turkey captured his wanderlust. He also shares why he was adamant about flying on the A350-900 and what aspects make the aircraft unique. Perhaps the best thing, selfishly, was that Han took so different of an approach to his visit, as compared to Tom and Trevor in Episode 28!



Key Points From This Episode:




[00:53] Introducing today’s guest, Han Chicago, and insights into his style of travel.



[03:06] Trevor and Han debate which airline has the best first-class products.



[04:38] A brief background about Han and traveling during the pandemic.



[07:12] Ways the pandemic has impacted how Tom, Trevor, and Han travel. 



[11:32] Why he chose Turkey, seats on the 787-9 Boeing, and his planning process.



[16:50] Overview of his in-country package and how he got around the city.



[18:43] The Grand Hyatt Hotel, exploring the city at night, and avoiding scams.



[22:30] Han’s favorite parts of the city and indulging in a scoop of Turkish ice cream.



[25:05] Benefits of having club access and sightseeing with a tour guide.



[31:41] Eating a “wet burger” and his overall impressions of the food.



[34:55] Invaluable advice for those thinking about a trip to Turkey.



[37:08] What he would have done differently and his sightseeing recommendations.



[39:45] Flying on the A350-900 and the quality of the food on the return trip.



[45:12] Highlights of his JAL A350-900 experience and final takeaways.



[49:22] Find out how to get in contact with Han.




Quotes:



“I am chasing [travel] products very much. It is because of, in this post-pandemic era, the new evaluations are coming strong.” — @hanchicago [9:16]



“I can see myself going back to [Turkey]. I think it is a really fun destination. I didn’t really know what to expect.” — @hanchicago [18:43]



“I think anybody who goes to [Turkey] will enjoy it. There is just a positive feeling there, I can’t really explain it.” — @hanchicago [24:38]



“You cannot see all of [Turkey] in one trip.” — @TktweetsKim [29:05]



“I don’t think I would have done the trip, to be honest, if I knew I was not getting on the [A350-900].” — @hanchicago [39:47]



Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:



Han Chicago on X



Episode 28: Turkey Travel



Emirates



Lufthansa



Turkish Airlines



LAflyer on X



LAflyer Episode



Grand Hyatt Istanbul



Grand Bazaar



Tour Guide Details



JAL



One Mile at a Time



Thomas Kim on X



Trevor Mountcastle on X



The Milenomics Podcast Network 

Episode 29: Show Notes



This episode on Travel Stories, we dive deeper into sharing our cruise line experiences, and if you have any of your own, we’d love to hear from you! Today, Tom walks us through his recent 10-day journey on Enchanted Princess, starting with his overall evaluation of the experience before assessing tendering and the embarkation process of the ship. We learn about the size of Enchanted Princess, the demographic it caters to, and its onboard dining, as well as its entertainment, housekeeping, and casino offerings, and we compare everything we’ve learned about Enchanted Princess with its other cruise line competitors. As Tom details the ports he visited during his trip, we discover the magic of Dominica and Champagne Beach, the beauty of Martinique, the genius of St. Lucia’s marketing team, and the wonder of the forgotten volcanic activity that occurs all along the Eastern Seaboard. Thank you for taking this journey with us!     



Key Points From This Episode:




[00:44] Tom gives us a breakdown of his most recent cruise on Enchanted Princess.



[01:05] His experience of tendering on Enchanted Princess versus other cruise lines.



[03:41] Why he was pleased with the embarkation process.



[07:56] The size of the ship and the ports he visited during his 10 days aboard.



[13:18] Dominica and Champagne Beach.



[15:15] An interlude on the volcanic activity that occurs along the Eastern Seaboard.



[17:10] Why Tom deems St. Lucia a forgettable experience.



[19:34] The beauty of Martinique.



[21:12] How Antigua’s marketing is on point.



[23:22] Tom’s onboard dining experience and the demographic that the ship caters to.



[27:35] How Enchanted Princess weighs up against Celebrity, Royal Caribbean, and others.



[32:06] Why we choose to talk about cruising on this podcast and what we’re planning next.



[34:34] Tom’s thoughts on the entertainment and housekeeping of Enchanted Princess.



[37:50] The casino and onboard gaming opportunities.



[48:27] Final thoughts from Tom on his Enchanted Princess experience.




Quotes:



“Having to tender to get there; it added so much more time [to] both getting there and getting off the island, and it does detract pretty severely from the experience.” — @TktweetsKim [02:39]



“If you are a person with a young family, if you have younger kids or even kids that are maybe more middle-aged that need activities and fun things to do, – you might not find it on the Princess cruise because it’s much more catering to that retiree [or] classic cruiser.” — @TktweetsKim [26:15]



“May God have mercy on your soul on that Carnival cruise. Having been on a few, I’m just going to say, block out the following week or two; don’t plan a trip shortly after. You’re probably going to be in bed.” — @tmount [34:02]



“Kudos to Princess and their staff. The service was pretty good, [and] their people were definitely quality people, and that’s saying something.” — @TktweetsKim [36:52]



Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:



Enchanted Princess



Royal Caribbean 



Celebrity Cruises 



Windstar Cruises



Carnival



Thomas Kim on X



Trevor Mountcastle on X