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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
BILT
Halloween Travel
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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes65Foundeda year ago
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Society & CulturePlaces & TravelBusiness

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Artwork for Smart Travel: Upgrade Your Getaways

Latest Episodes

Learn how travel credit cards with annual fees under $100 can earn you free flights, hotel nights, and perks.

Hosts Meghan Coyle and Sally French discuss travel credit cards with annual fees under $100 to help you earn meaningful rewards without spl... more

Learn how earning status with one airline can unlock lounges and elite perks on more than a dozen other airlines worldwide.

First, host Meghan Coyle breaks down the week’s top travel headlines with producer Tess Vigeland (filling in for Sally French... more

Learn how earning status with one airline can unlock lounges and elite perks on 14 other airlines worldwide.

First, host Meghan Coyle breaks down the week’s top travel headlines with producer Tess Vigeland (filling in for Sally French), including a ... more

Learn how families can use points and miles to fly, earn companion passes, and book hotels without paying full price.

Before delving into the ins and outs of family travel, hosts Meghan Coyle and Tess Vigeland (filling in for Sally French) break dow... more

Key Facts

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Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

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
Erin Hurd
Director of Travel at NerdWallet
NerdWallet
Episode: Family Travel on Points and Miles: Free Checked Bags, Companion Passes, and Miles Pooling
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
Benjamin Din
Expert in airline elite status strategies and programs.
NerdWallet
Episode: 2026 Elite Status Changes and Ways to Earn Status and Nights More Easily
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

Hosts

Sally French
Co-host and expert travel Nerd, providing insights on travel strategies and budgeting, with experience in reviewing travel tools and techniques.
Meghan Coyle
Co-host and expert travel Nerd, focusing on smart travel planning and budgeting techniques, with insights drawn from personal travel experiences.

Reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars from 285 ratings
  • 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 States3 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 States3 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 States4 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 States6 months ago
  • It’s good

    I don’t have any complaints

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Parker traver
    United States6 months ago

Listeners Say

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

The information provided is often described as insightful, helpful, and perfect for both novice and seasoned travelers.
Content on travel deals and budgeting is frequently praised, marking it as a reliable source for practical travel tips.
Listeners appreciate the hosts' youthful enthusiasm and expert advice on travel strategies, especially with budgeting and value-based planning.
There are criticisms regarding the hosts' high energy and conversational style, with some finding it distracting or overly casual.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

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.
Family Travel on Points and Miles: Free Checked Bags, Companion Passes, and Miles Pooling
Q: Can you explain which companion passes exist and which ones families should aim to get?
Southwest Companion Pass is the most generous, unlimited for the calendar year once the points threshold is met; other airlines offer one-time companion passes through certain credit cards, such as Alaska, Delta, and American, which can be more limited and often depend on specific fare classes.
Before You Book a Ski Trip, Learn How to Save on Mountain Hotels, Ski Rentals and Lift Tickets
Q: What is the best time of year to buy ski season passes, and what should people consider before pulling the trigger?
March is a strong time to buy because many passes go on sale and you can secure discounts, but you should weigh blackout dates, your expected skiing days, and whether you'll travel to out-of-network resorts; pay attention to spring snow conditions and ensure the pass aligns with your typical schedule to maximize break-even value.
Travel Questions Mega-Episode: Top Tips from Our Top Listener Questions
Q: Is it worth upgrading to the Chase Sapphire Reserve given the higher annual fee versus staying with the Preferred?
The Reserve adds credits ( Lyft, Apple TV, hotel credits), lounge access, and stronger transfer partners, but whether it's worth it depends on how much you will utilize those benefits; you can downgrade later rather than cancel to preserve credit history.
Travel Questions Mega-Episode: Top Tips from Our Top Listener Questions
Q: If I book a cheaper room in Orlando with Wyndham Diamond status, would I get a free suite upgrade based on my status?
Upgrade eligibility is at the discretion of the property and is not automatic; you should request a suite at check-in and accept that availability may limit upgrades, which is particularly true in high-occupancy markets like Orlando.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
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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?

Listeners can expect informative discussions focused on maximizing travel budgets and making the most out of their travel dollars. The hosts, both travel experts from NerdWallet, explore a variety of topics tailored to helping travelers navigate the complexities of travel planning, including budgeting strategies, travel agents' roles, destination-specific booking techniques, travel tools, and seasonal timing for trips. The podcast aims to provide actionable insights and tips that empower listeners to make informed decisions about their travel arrangements, engage with current travel trends, and find the best deals available for their desired getaways. Its engaging format, which combines expert advice with listener interaction, makes it a v... more

Where can I find podcast stats for Smart Travel: Upgrade Your Getaways?

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How many listeners does Smart Travel: Upgrade Your Getaways get?

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How many subscribers and views does Smart Travel: Upgrade Your Getaways have?

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. Criminally Obsessed
3. The Thrifty Traveler Podcast
4. Award Travel 101
5. Frequent Miler on the Air

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

Smart Travel: Upgrade Your Getaways launched a year ago and published 65 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Smart Travel: Upgrade Your Getaways?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

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

Recent guests on Smart Travel: Upgrade Your Getaways include:

1. Gilbert Ott
2. Erin Hurd
3. Jana Kate
4. Craig Joseph
5. Alyssa Mala
6. Kathleen Wilson
7. Ben Kim
8. Benjamin Din

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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