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Artwork for Smart Travel: Upgrade Your Getaways

Smart Travel: Upgrade Your Getaways

NerdWallet Travel
Chase Sapphire Reserve
Nerdwallet
Credit Cards
Budgeting
American Express Platinum Card
Southwest Airlines
American Airlines
Travel Budgeting
Travel Insurance
Travel
Capital One Venture X
Weddings
Halloween Travel
Bilt
Premium Travel Credit Cards
Travel Credit Cards
Travel Costs
Italy
Hyatt
Lounge Access

Planning your next vacation? Before you budget, learn how to get the most out of your travel dollars with Smart Travel. NerdWallet’s trusted travel experts, Sally French and Meghan Coyle, are here to help your travel dollars work even harder. But the travel Nerds don’t just make recommendations; they break down the latest travel details, exploring the pros and cons of specific strategies, practica... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes72Foundeda year ago
Number of ListenersCategories
BusinessSociety & CulturePlaces & Travel

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Smart Travel: Upgrade Your Getaways

Latest Episodes

Learn how the Chase Sapphire Preferred's biggest refresh in years could change how you earn and redeem travel points.

Hosts Meghan Coyle and Sally French break down the latest travel headlines, including Delta's expanded free checked bag perk, a new... more

Learn how to earn more points and miles on everyday shopping using portals, dining programs, and partner apps.

Hosts Meghan Coyle and Sally French discuss the sometimes-overlooked ways you could earn bonus points and miles on purchases you're alread... more

Learn how summer 2026 travel costs are rising and which booking strategies could help you save money this season.

Hosts Meghan Coyle and Sally French discuss what's driving up summer travel costs in 2026 and how to plan smarter despite them. But fir... more

Meet Your Next Dollar, a new podcast from NerdWallet Wealth Partners. This is the podcast for you if you are a high earner learning how to build wealth, navigate money trade-offs, and spend on what you actually value.

Follow Your Next Dollar on your... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Robert Barclay
House sitter/host participant in Asheville interview
Asheville resident featured in Kindred segment
Episode: How to Travel Without Paying for a Hotel: Inside Home Swapping and Pet Sitting Apps
Gilbert Ott
Director of Loyalty at OneWorld Alliance
OneWorld Alliance
Episode: How Airline Alliance Status Gets You Into the World's Best Airport Lounges for Free
Jana Kate
Avid traveler with her dog Pokito
Independent traveler featured on the episode
Episode: Traveling with Pets: How to Put Your Paws on the Best Airlines and Hotels for Furry Family Members
Craig Joseph
Guest expert on ski industry data and passes
Unspecified in episode
Episode: Before You Book a Ski Trip, Learn How to Save on Mountain Hotels, Ski Rentals and Lift Tickets
Alyssa Mala
travel blogger at Do You Have Fly-Fi and co-host of the Blue Did It 25 for 25 Community Celebration
Episode: 25 Airports in 6 Months: The Real Lessons From JetBlue’s 350,000-Point Challenge
Kathleen Wilson
participant who completed the JetBlue 25 for 25 Challenge and became part of an online community
Episode: 25 Airports in 6 Months: The Real Lessons From JetBlue’s 350,000-Point Challenge
Ben Kim
student attending fly school and participant in JetBlue 25 for 25 promotion
Episode: 25 Airports in 6 Months: The Real Lessons From JetBlue’s 350,000-Point Challenge
Samantha Brown
Travel television personality and host of the PBS series Places to Love.
PBS
Episode: Samantha Brown on Places to Love, Route 66, and the Travel Habits That Save You Money
Jenn Lee
President and CMO of Travel Planners International and Vacation Planners
Travel Planners International
Episode: Skip Google, Get the Suite: How Travel Advisors Deliver Luxury You Can’t Book Yourself

Hosts

Meghan Coyle
Host of Smart Travel, travel budgeting and strategy expert from NerdWallet
Sally French
Co-host of Smart Travel, NerdWallet; travel budgeting and strategy expert
Tess Vigeland
Host of Smart Travel; contributes to the show's planning and guest selection

Reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars from 326 ratings
  • Informative

    This podcast is really informative and does give some great tips and tricks for all things travel, most of which are incredibly useful and insightful. To echo what other reviewers said, the hosts need to slow down while talking. I've seen their social media posts and they talk slower on those, so it's probably the editing on the podcast.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Sunndawgg
    United Statesa month ago
  • I got hotel status thanks to this podcast!

    This show made me aware of a hotel elite status that came with a credit card that I’ve had for over a year. I had no idea that I was sitting on such a great perk! Thank you!!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Cute dots
    United States4 months ago
  • Great pod

    Great way to keep up with the best ways to travel on a budget. A must-listen!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Curtis Howell
    United States4 months ago
  • Wanted to like this podcast

    The speed, pitch and editing of this podcast make it difficult to follow the conversation. In addition, the host doesn't seem to listen carefully to answers from guests, repeats questions, and occasionally sounda off topic. NerdWallet can do better

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    650Traveller
    United States6 months ago
  • 1.5x?

    I have to check my app when I listen bc they talk so fast and so high pitched I think I must have it on 1.5 or 2x speed.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Meqwe7564
    United States7 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Some praise the hosts' energy and practical insights, though a few critics seek more concise delivery.
Guests' expertise in loyalty programs and travel data adds credibility for sponsorships.
Listeners appreciate actionable tips on earning and maximizing travel rewards.
The show's real-world examples and family-travel angles resonate with practical planners.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

World of Hyatt Award Chart Changes 2026: What's New and Where to Get the Most Value
Q: Roslyn, how should we decide which credit cards to use for a Thanksgiving stay at a JW Marriott in Palm Desert?
Use a Marriott-boosting card like the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy for its strong earning rate at Marriott properties, but consider higher-fee options like the Chase Sapphire Reserve if you value broader transfer partners and portal value; the best approach is to compare total value, including transfer partners and travel credits, and avoid unnecessary transfers that dilute value.
Family Travel on Points, Solo Trip Ideas, and Booking Tools Compared: Your Travel Questions Answered
Q: What should Emily consider when choosing a card to add for travel outside big cities, given her Hyatt transfers and desire for straightforward earning?
Hyatt World of Hyatt Discoverer status offers practical perks; consider the Palladium Build card for fast Hyatt transfers and strong everyday-earn rates, but weigh the $495 annual fee and whether you value the accelerated earning on non-housing purchases versus existing Hyatt transfers.
Family Travel on Points, Solo Trip Ideas, and Booking Tools Compared: Your Travel Questions Answered
Q: Is it worth keeping Chase points for a baby moon to Kauai given future travel in 2027?
30,000 points may not cover all five seats; consider booking a hotel with Hyatt using Chase points and leveraging Hyatt Category nights, while recognizing Hyatt's evolving award chart; avoid overcommitting to a single late-book strategy and keep some flexibility.
Family Travel on Points, Solo Trip Ideas, and Booking Tools Compared: Your Travel Questions Answered
Q: What tools should Lindsey use to time buying flights for a Hawaii trip for a family of five, given 76,900 Chase Ultimate Rewards points?
Use Google Flights with tracked prices and flight alerts, then evaluate whether to apply points to one or two tickets and pay the rest cash; consider Points Path for real-time cost versus points, and explore transfer options to extend value beyond the Chase Travel Portal.
Family Travel on Points and Miles: Free Checked Bags, Companion Passes, and Miles Pooling
Q: How hard is it to use companion passes—are there blackout dates?
Companion passes vary; Southwest is very user-friendly with minimal restrictions, while other programs have blackout or limited availability depending on fare class and ticket origin.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Smart Travel: Upgrade Your Getaways

What is Smart Travel: Upgrade Your Getaways about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Two seasoned travel experts break down how to stretch travel budgets with practical strategies, from credit-card hacks and loyalty programs to booking tactics for flights, hotels, and experiences. Across recent episodes, they compare cards with low annual fees, analyze airline and hotel programs, explore family travel, pet-friendly tips, and big-event travel planning, while mixing data-driven insights with personal anecdotes. Listeners can expect actionable, real-world guidance on maximizing perks, avoiding common fees, and choosing between points, miles, and traditional purchases. A standout trait is the blend of thorough, sometimes contrarian analysis with a friendly, high-energy banter, plus regular guest perspectives from loyalty and in... more

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To see how many followers or subscribers Smart Travel: Upgrade Your Getaways has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Smart Travel: Upgrade Your Getaways?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Smart Travel: Upgrade Your Getaways:

1. NerdWallet's Smart Money Podcast
2. The Triple Option
3. The Thrifty Traveler Podcast
4. Award Travel 101
5. Becker’s Healthcare Podcast

How many episodes of Smart Travel: Upgrade Your Getaways are there?

Smart Travel: Upgrade Your Getaways launched a year ago and published 72 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Smart Travel: Upgrade Your Getaways?

Recent guests on Smart Travel: Upgrade Your Getaways include:

1. Robert Barclay
2. Gilbert Ott
3. Jana Kate
4. Craig Joseph
5. Alyssa Mala
6. Kathleen Wilson
7. Ben Kim
8. Samantha Brown

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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