Welcome to “Starter Kit” – our podcast series of special bonus episodes dedicated to helping you get started in points and miles, become a true award travel “sicko,” or just brushing up on your skills and knowledge on all things cheap travel.
Over the course of several bonus episodes, we’ll walk through the basics of finding cheap flights, the best ways to earn tons of points, how to transfer and redeem miles for maximum value, and all the tools we use to stay organized and get ahead. The first four episodes are out now, with future installments coming on Tuesdays. Each episode will appear right here on the Thrifty Traveler Podcast feed, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts as well as on YouTube!
Our Starter Kit is brought to you by the world’s best flight deal alert service, Thrifty Traveler Premium! Use promo code START for $20 off your first year!
Have a question you want answered on-air or an idea for the show? Let us know at [email protected].
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.
Episode 1: How to Find Cheap Flights (Out Now!)
Traveling more for less requires a fundamental knowledge of how to find and book cheap flights. We show you exactly what you need to know.
Tune in now on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts!
Episode 2: Earning Credit Card Points (Out Now!)
To spend points and miles, you need to earn points and miles first. In this episode, we break down everything you need to know to earn tons of points – through credit cards as well as other avenues – to fuel your travel dreams.
Tune in now on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts!
Episode 3: The Basics of Redeeming Points & Miles (Out Now!)
After you've earned points, it's time to spend them … wisely. We go through exactly how to transfer and redeem your hard-earned rewards for maximum value.
Tune in now on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts!
Episode 4: The Tools We Use to Get Ahead (Out Now!)
Opening credit cards and earning and spending points requires a lot of organization. This episode will outline all of the best tools we use to take our travels to the next level.
Tune in now on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts!
Episode 5: Tips for Traveling Better & Cheaper (Out Now!)
Now that you've booked the trip, we go through how to make your trip even better with our favorite travel tips and award travel hacks.
Tune in now on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts!
More to Come!
We're not done with Starter Kit quite yet! We have plans for more bonus Starter Kit episodes coming up in the coming weeks and months. Have something you want us to cover? Email us at [email protected] and let us know what you want us to cover.
Special Thanks to Our Podcast Team
All episodes of Starter Kit and the Thrifty Traveler Podcast are produced and edited by Sylvia Thomas and edited for video by Kyle Thomas. Our theme music is “All That” by Benjamin Tissot.
We were in Japan for over a month this spring and when we tallied up our 10 favorite experiences none were in Tokyo and only one was in Kyoto. We loved Takayama, Nagano, wild areas in Shikoku and the Japanese Alps, and the rural areas in Western Honshu. For onsens that aren’t crazy crowded try the area around the Shin-Hotaka Ropeway in the mountains near Kamikochi.
BTW, before you go to Japan go online and listen to Japanese pronunciation of place names. Narita, Haneda, and even Kyoto and Tokyo aren’t pronounced the way you probably think and Japanese speakers might not understand you if you use English pronunciation. (For example, Tokyo and Kyoto are both two-syllables.)
Can I have more info about the vpn to use for getting more points?
Hi Mary, search Rakuten for “Express VPN” or “Nord VPN.” Both regularly offer close to 100% back – 100x points when you have your Rakuten account set up that way – for these purchases. At 100% cash back (100x points), you’re essentially buying points for 1 cent apiece if you don’t plan to use the service. Just don’t forget to cancel before the promo rate expires!