20 Minute Travel

Episode Description:

As a reminder you can watch this show as well at: https://www.youtube.com/@20minutetravel

A lot of people talk miles & points but we have been living them for a long time! In this episode Shawn and Mark discuss the origins of the channel and how they began working together. From an international family backpacking trip in 2007 to crazy weekend escapes they have done it all (well a lot) and want to share their knowledge with you. They also discuss their favorite redemptions, building travel communities and why Mark really loves soy sauce on his rice.

Episode Guide:

• 0:00 A crazy last minute travel audible
• 1:21 Shawn’s long history with family world travel
• 2:42 The struggles and upside of long term travel
• 3:59 Launching Miles to Memories and spreading the message
• 4:38 From reader to part of the game - Mark’s professional journey in miles & points
• 6:51 Travel on Point(s) and building communities
• 8:46 Laughing and the fun side of miles, points & travel
• 10:47 Mark’s favorite miles & points redemptions 
• 11:43 Shawn’s favorite miles & points redemptions
• 15:16 Positivity & More - What Twenty Minute Travel brings to you

About the Show:

We love to travel and love to laugh! 20 Minute Travel is designed to get you all of the info you need to supercharge your travel by utilizing credit cards, travel rewards and other tricks to pay pennies on the dollar. 

Shawn Coomer is the founder of Miles to Memories and has traveled all over the world with his family utilizing miles & points. He has been writing and podcasting about miles, points and travel since 2013 and has earned and spent millions of points & miles across dozens of programs.

Mark Ostermann is the former Managing Editor of Miles to Memories and is the Managing Editor at Travel on Point(s). He has been writing about his travel experiences since 2017 and loves to dive into the weeds so you don't have to. He also enjoys a good beer and a laugh or fifty.

Each week tens of thousands of people tune into our MtM Vegas news shows at http://www.YouTube.com/milestomemories. If you like this show check it out!

Enjoying the podcast? Please consider leaving us a positive review on your favorite podcast platform! You can also connect with us anytime at [email protected].

Episode Description:

As a reminder you can watch this show as well at: https://www.youtube.com/@20minutetravel

There were some fun travel stories this week including the new high tech portal between NYC and Dublin. This piece of tech is quite fun, but it caused some issues even if it served its purpose of connecting humans. We also discuss a nightmare Marriott hotel stay you have to hear about!

In other news we talk different flavors of the Amex Platinum including how some people are scoring 300K Membership Rewards as a welcome offer. Other topics discussed include: Hilton's Auto Camp integration, an amazing new Delta Amex Offer, the first Vegas megaresort closing and whether domestic first class is a letdown or not.

Episode Guide:

• 0:00 Cats on a plane
• 0:52 Confused by the Amex Platinum & new 125K offer
• 3:26 Flying first class for the first time - Underwhelming?
• 6:05 New Delta Amex Offer - 37.5% off
• 7:29 Hotel nightmare - Legionnaires’ Disease
• 9:01 A Marriott customer service letdown
• 10:40 Finding up to 300K Amex points
• 12:56 Trouble with the NYC/Dublin portal
• 15:28 Hilton’s glamping Auto Camp partnership coming online
• 17:50 First Vegas megaresort to close permanently
• 19:10 Mirage’s Volcano closing date

About the Show:

We love to travel and love to laugh! 20 Minute Travel is designed to get you all of the info you need to supercharge your travel by utilizing credit cards, travel rewards and other tricks to pay pennies on the dollar. 

Shawn Coomer is the founder of Miles to Memories and has traveled all over the world with his family utilizing miles & points. He has been writing and podcasting about miles, points and travel since 2013 and has earned and spent millions of points & miles across dozens of programs.

Mark Ostermann is the former Managing Editor of Miles to Memories and is the Managing Editor at Travel on Points. He has been writing about his travel experiences since 2017 and loves to dive into the weeds so you don't have to. He also enjoys a good beer and a laugh or fifty.

Each week tens of thousands of people tune into our MtM Vegas news shows at http://www.YouTube.com/milestomemories. If you like this show check it out!

Enjoying the podcast? Please consider leaving us a positive review on your favorite podcast platform! You can also connect with us anytime at [email protected].

Episode Description:

As a reminder you can watch this show as well at: https://www.youtube.com/@20minutetravel

Citi made waves this week with the leak and then the launch of their new Strata Premier Card. The card has a new look and new branding, but what did they improve and did the annual fee go up? We also have an update on the increased Chase Sapphire Preferred offers including how you can get matched and why you may want to look at referrals.

In other travel news a new airline has launched that is focused on dogs. Bark Air makes the flying experience better than ever for canines but it will cost you. We also discuss why Shawn flies Frontier, Mark's 170K Delta windfall without a welcome offer, how Hyatt and Rio changed their breakfast benefit and why Southwest pilots aren't happy with United.

Episode Guide:

• 0:00 Jump seat drama - Southwest vs. United
• 1:38 Citi launches “new” Strata Premier Card with increased welcome offer
• 2:50 Strata Premier leak and how Citi reacted to it
• 4:40 Why Shawn flies Frontier & how it’s a great deal
• 5:50 Why low cost carriers aren’t as bad as people say
• 7:31 Earning 170K Delta SkyMiles without a welcome offer
• 9:48 Missing the Northern Lights
• 12:25 MYS Buyers Group update - Good news!
• 13:51 Bark Air - A new airline for dogs?
• 15:48 Chase matching welcome offers & increased referrals
• 17:37 Rio changes Hyatt Globalist breakfast - Too much abuse?
• 18:45 Why Rio is popular for Hyatt “mattress running”

About the Show:

We love to travel and love to laugh! 20 Minute Travel is designed to get you all of the info you need to supercharge your travel by utilizing credit cards, travel rewards and other tricks to pay pennies on the dollar. 

Shawn Coomer is the founder of Miles to Memories and has traveled all over the world with his family utilizing miles & points. He has been writing and podcasting about miles, points and travel since 2013 and has earned and spent millions of points & miles across dozens of programs.

Mark Ostermann is the former Managing Editor of Miles to Memories and is the Managing Editor at Travel on Points. He has been writing about his travel experiences since 2017 and loves to dive into the weeds so you don't have to. He also enjoys a good beer and a laugh or fifty.

Each week tens of thousands of people tune into our MtM Vegas news shows at http://www.YouTube.com/milestomemories. If you like this show check it out!

Enjoying the podcast? Please consider leaving us a positive review on your favorite podcast platform! You can also connect with us anytime at [email protected].

Episode Description:

As a reminder you can watch this show as well at: https://www.youtube.com/@20minutetravel

Perhaps the most popular travel card now has an increased offer, but you can do even better! Find out about Chase Sapphire Preferred's increased welcome offer, why we love Ultimate Rewards and how a little patience can score you even more valuable Ultimate Rewards points if you are going to pick up this card.

In other travel news Virgin Voyages has a new points promo with Virgin Red that is a great deal for Shawn's favorite cruise line. We also discuss United's sudden devaluation on some awards, why you should proceed with caution when using Buyers Groups, a great new Freedom Flex offer, a trick for opening up award space when using Hyatt suite upgrades and a hack to keep the seat next to you empty when traveling!

Episode Guide:

• 0:00 The ultimate travel hack for seat anxiety?
• 0:55 Chase Sapphire Preferred increased offer - The ultimate travel card?
• 2:28 Getting an even better Sapphire Preferred offer by going in-branch
• 3:33 Virgin Voyages has a great new points deal
• 5:40 Current transfer bonuses & why you should use caution with them
• 8:16 Great targeted offer for Chase Freedom Flex
• 9:55 A warning about Chase’s 5/24 rule
• 10:32 Hilton’s new Summer promo
• 11:53 United devalues even more awards without notice
• 14:17 A cool trick for Hyatt’s Suite Upgrade Awards
• 15:52 How miles & points can make you lose perspective on travel “costs”
• 17:02 A warning about Buyers Groups
• 18:42 How to avoid risk when finding new ways to earn points

About the Show:

We love to travel and love to laugh! 20 Minute Travel is designed to get you all of the info you need to supercharge your travel by utilizing credit cards, travel rewards and other tricks to pay pennies on the dollar. 

Shawn Coomer is the founder of Miles to Memories and has traveled all over the world with his family utilizing miles & points. He has been writing and podcasting about miles, points and travel since 2013 and has earned and spent millions of points & miles across dozens of programs.

Mark Ostermann is the former Managing Editor of Miles to Memories and is the Managing Editor at Travel on Points. He has been writing about his travel experiences since 2017 and loves to dive into the weeds so you don't have to. He also enjoys a good beer and a laugh or fifty.

Each week tens of thousands of people tune into our MtM Vegas news shows at http://www.YouTube.com/milestomemories. If you like this show check it out!

Enjoying the podcast? Please consider leaving us a positive review on your favorite podcast platform! You can also connect with us anytime at [email protected].