How To Plan Your First Rewards Trip with Points and Miles
Release Date: 11/19/2024
Unhinged Travel Tips From Social Media You Won’t Believe
Family Money Adventure
TikTok is full of travel tips, but not all of them are worth trying. In this episode, I’m breaking down some of the most unhinged travel tips I’ve seen floating around online. Some of these tips cross the line completely. Others are just plain weird. And a few might actually be helpful, depending on how you travel. I’m sharing my honest thoughts as we walk through the chaos together. If you’ve ever wondered just how far people are willing to go to save a buck or skip a line, you’re in for a ride. In This Episode, You’ll Learn: The...
info_outline
5 Moments of Peace I Found at Henderson Beach Resort
Family Money Adventure
Hey adventurers. Let’s talk about the kind of travel that helps you slow down and breathe a little deeper. I recently spent a few days at Henderson Beach Resort in Destin, Florida, as part of a hosted media trip with Matador Network. Instead of doing a full resort review, I wanted to highlight five personal moments that stood out to me during my stay. These weren’t bucket list activities or high-adrenaline excursions. They were the kind of moments that helped me reset. It’s a personal look at what peace looks like when you let go of your schedule and lean into rest. If...
info_outline
Plan, Eat, and Stay: Expert Tips for Your Walt Disney World Vacation
Family Money Adventure
Hey Adventurers! From dining and resort tips to planning advice and traveling with little ones, this episode covers it all. Recorded as part of a sponsored media trip to Walt Disney World, I spoke with several Disney experts about making the most of your visit. Whether you're a foodie, planning your first trip with toddlers, or looking for expert strategies to stretch your vacation budget, this episode is filled with valuable insights and practical tips. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: What to eat and experience during the EPCOT International Flower & Garden...
info_outline
Summer Fun at Walt Disney World
Family Money Adventure
Hey Adventurers! If you're dreaming of sunshine, thrills, and unforgettable moments, then you're going to love this episode. Recorded as part of a sponsored media trip to Walt Disney World, we’re diving into all the summer fun happening across the parks right now. I sat down with four Disney spokespeople to get the scoop on what’s new, what’s exciting, and what you won’t want to miss from Animal Kingdom and EPCOT to Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: What’s new at EPCOT, including the EPCOT International Flower...
info_outline
How To Plan A Walt Disney World Vacation From Start To Finish with planDisney Panelists Matt & Christina
Family Money Adventure
Planning a Walt Disney World vacation can feel overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. In this special episode of The Family Money Adventure Show, recorded as part of a sponsored media trip to Walt Disney World, I’m joined by planDisney Panelists Matt and Christina, who share insider tips for planning an epic family trip from start to finish. We talk about choosing the best travel dates, where to stay, ticket and Lightning Lane strategies, setting a vacation budget, and why every trip should be tailored to your unique family style. Whether it’s your first visit or your tenth,...
info_outline
Creative Ways to Save for Your Next Vacation
Family Money Adventure
Traveling with your family can be expensive, but saving for a trip doesn’t have to feel impossible. In this episode, we’re moving beyond traditional advice like cutting expenses or budgeting to explore creative and unconventional ways to build your travel fund. From decluttering your home to monetizing your hobbies, you’ll find practical strategies that work, no matter your financial situation. Whether you’re saving for a weekend getaway or a dream family vacation, these tips will help you prioritize what matters most and save money faster than you thought possible. Let’s...
info_outline
How To Plan a Trip Your Spouse Will Love
Family Money Adventure
Hey Adventurers! Are you ready to take on more of the travel planning duties for your family or partner? In this episode, we're diving into how to plan a trip that your spouse will absolutely love, whether it's a family vacation, a romantic getaway, or just a fun weekend escape. We know that women make more than 80% of travel decisions, but what if we could balance the planning load? Today, we’ll cover two different approaches to help you get more involved in planning unforgettable trips. Takeaways In this episode, you'll learn: The benefits of...
info_outline
How To Plan Your First Rewards Trip with Points and Miles
Family Money Adventure
Are you ready to learn how to plan your first rewards trip using points and miles? In this episode, I’m sharing practical tips and lessons from my family’s journey into rewards travel. We’ll cover everything from choosing your first rewards card to booking your flights and accommodations, all designed to help you maximize travel opportunities while keeping costs down. Whether you’re new to credit card rewards or want to maximize your points and miles, this episode breaks down the steps for planning a trip without breaking the bank. Takeaways In...
info_outline
How to Fit More Travel Into The School Year
Family Money Adventure
Are you struggling to fit travel into your busy school year schedule? You’re not alone. As parents, it can feel overwhelming to balance school, sports, work, and family life while still making room for travel. But the good news is, it’s totally possible! In this episode, I explain how our family manages to squeeze in travel during the school year, from using the school calendar strategically to planning budget-friendly trips. Whether your family follows a traditional school calendar, homeschool schedule, or something else, you’ll find these tips helpful...
info_outline
How to Pick the Perfect All-Inclusive Resort For Your Next Trip
Family Money Adventure
All-inclusive resorts are a popular vacation option for couples, families, and groups. If you've never planned a trip to an all-inclusive resort before, it can be a bit overwhelming. In this episode, we'll discuss all-inclusive resorts, what's included in the cost and what's extra, how to compare resorts to find the perfect one for you, and tips to make your all-inclusive vacation a memorable one. Recently, Sandos Resorts and Hotels invited me to visit three of its properties in Mexico: Sandos Caracol Eco Resort, Sandos Playacar and Sandos Cancun. Each resort offers a unique...
info_outlineAre you ready to learn how to plan your first rewards trip using points and miles? In this episode, I’m sharing practical tips and lessons from my family’s journey into rewards travel.
We’ll cover everything from choosing your first rewards card to booking your flights and accommodations, all designed to help you maximize travel opportunities while keeping costs down.
Whether you’re new to credit card rewards or want to maximize your points and miles, this episode breaks down the steps for planning a trip without breaking the bank.
Takeaways
In this episode, you’ll learn:
Factors to consider when choosing your first rewards credit card
How to strategically earn and redeem points for a family trip
Practical tips for maximizing travel rewards and staying organized
Episode Summary
In this episode, I walk you through the essential steps for planning your first rewards trip with points and miles. We start by discussing how to choose a rewards credit card that aligns with your travel goals, covering factors like earning rates, welcome bonuses, and card perks. You’ll hear how I approached this process when I first got started and the types of rewards cards that have been most valuable to my family.
We'll discuss researching and booking your trip. Learn how to calculate how many points you’ll need, choose flexible travel dates for better deals, and find flights and hotels using Google Flights and award availability tools. For our family, planning ahead and staying flexible has been key to stretching our points and making travel more affordable.
I also share best practices for rewards card use, such as paying your balance in full, strategically using transfer partners, and avoiding fees. This episode is packed with actionable advice to help you make the most of your rewards for a memorable, cost-effective family trip.
✈️ Award Availability Tools For Flights
Point.me
Point.me is a powerful tool for comparing award flight availability across multiple frequent flyer programs. Its easy-to-navigate interface helps you find the best redemption options for your points.
Roame
Roame is a tool that simplifies award flight searches by helping you find the best points and miles redemptions based on your preferences. It offers detailed searches across different airlines and loyalty programs.
Seats.aero
Seats.aero offers fast searches for award flight availability, allowing you to view results across multiple airlines instantly. It’s a useful tool for travelers looking to snag last-minute award seats.
PointsYeah
PointsYeah is an award travel search engine that helps you find available seats using points and miles across different airlines and alliances. It also offers insights on the best redemptions for your travel dates.
Points Path
Points Path simplifies the process of finding the best award travel options based on your point balances and destination preferences. You can enter your desired travel dates and see a range of redemption possibilities.
ExpertFlyer
ExpertFlyer is a premium service offering advanced tools for tracking flight availability, seat upgrades, and award seats. It’s ideal for frequent travelers who want to set up alerts for specific routes.
SeatSpy
SeatSpy is designed to help you monitor and track award seat availability across several airlines, including major international carriers. It also allows you to set up alerts for specific flights and dates.
Award Availability Tools For Hotels
Max My Point
Max My Point helps you find award availability for major hotel chains. It provides real-time data to help you book your stay using points. It simplifies the search process by showing which hotels offer point redemptions for your chosen dates.
Stay With Points
Stay With Points offers a comprehensive search across hotel loyalty programs, helping you find the best value for your points. It’s a great tool for determining how far your points can stretch for different stays. Note: Premium features are available for paid accounts.
Awayz
Awayz helps travelers quickly find hotel award availability, even during peak travel times. It’s an easy-to-use tool for securing hotel stays with your points. Note: Free users can access limited searches, with full access through a paid subscription.
Rooms.aero
Rooms.aero allows you to search for award-night availability across multiple hotel programs in one place. It’s a useful tool for comparing redemption options for different hotel brands and finding the best value.
Note: Some of these tools cost money or offer free access, but reserve their most useful features for paid accounts. If you’re serious about finding the best awards for flights or hotels, investing in a premium version may be worth it to access features like alerts or advanced search filters.
🎧 Resources & Links from This Episode
📰 Subscribe to the Newsletter
Get practical tips on family money and travel, plus updates, tools, and resources to help you live more intentionally.
Click here to subscribe
Visit My Websites
FamilyMoneyAdventure.com
JoyWorldTour.com
HeyKevinPayne.com
Connect With Me on Social
Instagram: @heykevinpayne
Facebook: @heykevinpayne
TikTok: @heykevinpayne
YouTube: @heykevinpayne
Featured Series
🎙️ Listen to Our Disney Podcast Series
🧳 Travel Tools I Love
Packing Cubes & Travel Backpacks – Tripped Travel Gear
Hotels – Booking.com
Vacation Rentals – Vrbo
Attractions & Tours – Viator
Attractions & Tours – Get Your Guide
Theme Park Tickets – Undercover Tourist
City Passes – CityPASS
Hop-On, Hop-Off Bus Tours – Big Bus Tours
Travel Insurance – InsureMyTrip
RV Rentals – RVShare
💸 Money Tools I Recommend
Rewards Credit Cards – Explore My Favorites
Budgeting Apps for Families – See Our Top Picks
High-Yield Savings – CIT Bank Savings Connect
High-Yield Savings & CDs – Raisin
Kids’ Banking – Greenlight
Micro-Investing – Acorns
Some links may be affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you sign up or make a purchase at no extra cost to you.
Podcast audio management by Podcast Abundance. Find out more at www.podcastabundance.com/services