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Artwork for Smart Travel: Upgrade Your Getaways

Smart Travel: Upgrade Your Getaways

NerdWallet Travel
Nerdwallet
Weddings
Travel Costs
Airfare
Budgeting
Southwest Airlines
Travel Credit Cards
Elite Status
Room Blocks
Travel Budgeting
Credit Cards
American Airlines
Gifts
Accommodation
Hyatt
Rental Cars
Travel Tips
United Airlines
Loyalty Points
Marriott

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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes56Foundeda year ago
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Artwork for Smart Travel: Upgrade Your Getaways

Latest Episodes

JetBlue’s 25-for-25 sounded simple: fly to 25 airports. Hear what three finishers learned chasing 350,000 points.

Before delving into the JetBlue story, hosts Sally French and Meghan Coyle break down the latest travel headlines, including big United... more

Learn how you can explore the Mediterranean without losing days to ferries, hotel check-ins, or pricey islands.

Hosts Sally French and Meghan Coyle discuss Mediterranean trip planning to help you link coastal cities and islands without wasting preci... more

Learn what 2026 status program changes mean for perks like upgrades, rebooking help, and lounges.

Hosts Meghan Coyle and Sally French talk through the latest elite status updates to help you decide when they’re worth chasing. But first, they break d... more

Get a clearer way to compare hotel prices with and without credit card program perks.

Hosts Meghan Coyle and Sally French discuss when it makes sense to book luxury hotels through credit card travel portals so you can decide if perks like breakfast,... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

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
Elizabeth Ayoola
Financial expert and co-host of Smart Money
Smart Money
Episode: $2,000 in Travel Card Annual Fees? Learn How to Audit Your Wallet to Make Sure They’re Worth It (Video Episode)
Lindsay Owens
Executive Director of Groundwork Collaborative
Groundwork Collaborative
Episode: AI Travel Pricing Is Here: How Airlines and Hotels Could Quietly Raise Your Rates
Elisabeth Goodridge
Director of content at Expedia Group and host of Expedia's podcast Powering Travel
Expedia Group
Episode: How to Make Every Trip More Meaningful — Without Spending More (w/ Expedia’s “Powering Travel” Host Elisabeth Goodridge)
James Bashall
Financial advisor at NerdWallet Wealth Partners and experienced traveler
NerdWallet
Episode: Travel More, Stress Less: How to Build a Financial Plan That Funds Your Adventures
Julian Kheel
Founder of Points Path, a browser extension for booking tips
Points Path
Episode: Stop Wasting Time (and Miles): Points vs. Cash Tools for Easier Booking
Henley Vazquez
Co-founder of Fora Travel
Fora Travel
Episode: Getting Paid to Plan Trips Doesn't Have to Be a Full-Time Job: How to Become a Travel Advisor in 2025
Erin Hurd
Director of travel at NerdWallet and Points and Miles expert
NerdWallet
Episode: How One Family Flew Business Class to Europe on Points — and Stayed in Style

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 263 ratings
  • 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 States22 days 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 States2 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 States4 months ago
  • It’s good

    I don’t have any complaints

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Parker traver
    United States4 months ago
  • Content Good, Hosts Meh

    It’s an informative show, I like when they host guests. When they created it they should’ve paired a male co-host with one of the women. Feels like two “besties” storytelling and glazing each other for half the show.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    hudsonstrahm721
    United States5 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.

Mediterranean Cruise Game Plan: Santorini, Mykonos, and the Greek Islands Without Transit Chaos
Q: Are there any airline or hotel brands that are easier to earn status without needing their co-branded credit card?
Meghan suggests brand like Choice Hotels as it allows you to earn Elite status after just five nights, making it a good option for diverse travelers.
2026 Elite Status Changes and Ways to Earn Status and Nights More Easily
Q: Is there any credit card that offers free checked baggage for international travel?
It depends on where you're going and which airline you're flying, as many major US carriers do not charge for the first checked bag on international flights bought at main cabin fare.
Fix Your Travel Credit Card Mix So Your Points Actually Add Up
Q: Are there any new credit cards you recommend for international travelers?
Meghan recommends the At Most Rewards Summit Card for its unique bonus points on foreign purchases.
What “Amazing Race” Host Phil Keoghan Learned from a Life of Travel (“Powering Travel” Episode)
Q: How can a tour operator tell their destinations in a really great story?
By reaching out and saying yes; getting off the beaten path to make authentic connections with local people.
Skip Google, Get the Suite: How Travel Advisors Deliver Luxury You Can’t Book Yourself
Q: What should customers pay attention to when working with a commission-based travel advisor?
Customers should be aware that advisors prioritize long-term relationships over commission, ensuring they meet the client's best interests.

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?

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

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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. Frequent Miler on the Air
3. All the Hacks: Money, Points & Life
4. Points Talk®: Your Travel Dreams, Made Possible by Points
5. Travel with Rick Steves

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

Smart Travel: Upgrade Your Getaways launched a year ago and published 56 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. Samantha Brown
2. Jenn Lee
3. Elizabeth Ayoola
4. Lindsay Owens
5. Elisabeth Goodridge
6. James Bashall
7. Julian Kheel
8. Henley Vazquez

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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