It’s the episode where we all get to be jealous of Kyle’s trip to Thailand. Luckily, he tells us how to book it and why his inkling to avoid using points and miles (for part of it) made the trip that much better.
Plus, the guys make a bold prediction about airfare, wonder if the lounge overcrowding problem is solved, and ask the question: are hotel points and status even worth it anymore?
Tune in now on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts! And be sure to subscribe now to get each new episode every Thursday morning (plus the occasional Tuesday bonus episode!)
Have a question you want answered on-air or an idea for the show? Let us know at [email protected]. Or help us kick off the next episode of the pod: Leave your “Welcome Back to the Thrifty Traveler Podcast” video message at thriftytraveler.com/voicemail today!
Please consider supporting the show by spreading the word and leaving us a rating and a review wherever you get your podcasts! That helps other travel lovers, like yourself, find our podcast.
The Thrifty Traveler Podcast is going LIVE: Join us Friday, June 12 in Minneapolis! Buy your tickets now … & vote for what the guys discuss on stage!
Show Notes
Thank you to our sponsor, Bilt Rewards! Earn points on rent and make your entire neighborhood more rewarding with Bilt. Sign up at joinbilt.com/thrifty
00:00 – Post-trip clarity: Getting home from vacation
02:18 – Kyle welcomes us back from the pool in Thailand
02:45 – Are we heading for an airfare cliff?
10:00 – SkyMiles & Airbnb: More earnings, weird rules
12:20 – Points & miles rates aren’t rising with airfare
14:38 – United cardholder discounts are getting better
18:30 – Why Jackson is souring on hotel loyalty
21:40 – Is the lounge overcrowding problem solved?
27:25 – A word from our sponsor: Bilt Rewards!
28:40 – Everything about Koh Kood in Thailand
37:00 – Kyle’s Thailand trip logistics: Flights, hotels, Hong Kong & more
45:14 – Vote for our live podcast topic at thriftytraveler.com/vote!
46:00 – A listener asks: Should you avoid London due to high fees?
49:00 – What is Gunnar’s Koh Kood?
Produced and edited by Sylvia Thomas
Video editing by Kyle Thomas
Show music: “All That” by Benjamin Tissot
I enjoyed the episode, but I have to call you out, Kyle, on the Borough Market story. Your distance estimates felt off, so I checked . According to Google Maps, it is a 1.8 mile walk from Trafalgar Square to Borough Market, not the 7-10 miles you mentioned in the episode. Also, London has busses – and the front row of the upper deck on one of those double decker busses is one of the most fun ways to ride around the city. Were they on strike too?
Hey I just rounded up by 5 miles!! Not sure how I flubbed that so bad: We must have started the morning somewhere else because I know we put on a good 15+ miles total that day alone.
Buses were jam-packed due to the strike. Plus we just like walking! Just maybe not quiteeeee as much as we did that trip.
Gunnar, Really disappointed to see You use the three letter abbreviation for such an offensive word in the title of this podcast. I’m sure you could have found a more respectful way to ask the question what is happening with flight prices. I hope you consider keeping things clean in the future.
Tell Kyle no one cares he is a straight white male and continually bringing it up is offensive. If he was a blind blonde lesbian african american pacific islander no one would care. Grow up people tune in to get the information and couldn’t care less about someone’s gender and ethnic make up.
I was just poking fun at myself/trying to show some self-awareness about the privilege of complaining about flying business class … but yeah, probably dropped that line one or two too many times.
Hey! Don’t knock the Hyatt Place Northwest/Medical Center. It is the closest and most convenient Hyatt for visiting Six Flags Fiesta Texas! 😉
*As a Globalist*…
But really, as a Globalist who travels with two kids and basically only ever uses points (other than Platinum credits for THC) I do think there are aspects that can’t really be replicated elsewhere unless you’re independently wealthy. As Gunnar pointed out the footprint is a challenge and may prevent me from requalifying this year, but there’s just so much that being a Globalist allows me to do that wouldn’t be possible without it unless I drained all of my Amex MRs at 1c each to book via FHR/THC. The combination of milestone rewards and straight Globalist benefits is second to none for a family – I can use 25k points per night (or less) and a suite upgrade award to put our whole family into a great room at a nice hotel with free breakfast and parking. And sometimes I can throw a Guest of Honor award at my extended family so that the cousins can come too! We just wouldn’t be able to travel as much or as well as we do – and with the people we love – with the other disloyal hotel options you mentioned*.
*The Edit with a Points Boost might be the next best thing for our needs but I’ve lost count of my rejections from the CSR personal card.