In this episode, I talk about the Alaska Airlines credit card and status match perpetuity, and Joe from As the Joe Flies stops by to discuss traveling to Japan.

Links and tabs and such:

The Alaska Airlines Credit card is pretty good Your tier status doesn't do much for comps in most cases AstheJoeFlies makes me really want to go to Japan

More from Joe: Joe on Twitter Saverocity Observation Deck Podcast Disney Deciphered

To support the show: Patreon.com/Travelfanboy

Richard is a major voice in the points and miles world and he’s here to answer my questions on navigating the P&M world as a newbie, why Wells Fargo shouldn’t be ignored, and blazes through my not-so-rapid fire round of questions

For bonus content: patreon.com/travelfanboy

For more TFB: TravelFanboy.com

Join AwardTravel101 on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/awardtravel101

In this episode, I talk with Craig from Due for a Win as he preps me with budget-friendly options for my upcoming Atlantic City trip.

HT to the staff at Castle Hot Springs which opened Feb 1

Also to Danny for new hashtag #savermetrics

Finagling an upcoming spring break trip which would have otherwise been very expensive #savermetrics

Travel can be a challenge for those in education

Two great pieces of content to check out:

In a recent [Milenomics episode] Sam mentioned that he had what he called a warehouse card which holds on to Amex points as he switches in and out of cards.

Spencer on GodSavethePoints.com for his article on point plays on Airbnb stays. Breaks it down from beginner to advanced strategies.

In the bunker, I added some bonus audio in which I discussed mileage runs and why I passed on extending my temporary A-List status with Southwest. Subscribers should expect more mini-episodes in the coming future. Thanks to those of you who support the show in that way.

In this episode of the soon to be award winning podcast, I chat with Dave from Miles Talk about his experience at Atlantis, which he booked through Caesars.

The free Atlantis stay that is granted through having Platinum or Diamond status with Caesars Rewards is a benefit that is often promoted as valuable across the points and miles blogosphere. Yet, until I saw Dave's detailed article, I had never heard of anyone actually taking advantage of it.

In our discussion, Dave helps establish expectations for those considering taking the journey down to Atlantis on Caesars' dime. We cover room options, resort fees, food options, the casino experience, and more.

To read and see more about Dave's trip, here is the post that inspired the episode: Free Atlantis Stay via Total Rewards Diamond: What to Expect with Room Fees, Food Costs, and More

For more from TFB, check out TravelFanboy.com

In this episode, I give a little hint on getting a higher tier status with Caesars and I chat with Han about his ME3 experience.

Caesars Status

Use a co-branded card or Amex Platinum, which grants automatic status with one hotel program, match to Wyndham, match to Caesars.

Wyndham is meh, but Caesars status can provide some good value. Comps not based on tier status, but on play.

Platinum - Free parking, complimentary Atlantis stay Diamond - Above plus no resort fees, guaranteed rooms, etc

For more: FrequentMiler

Travelfanboy.com is currently down, but I'll make sure to announce via social media when it's back online. Safe travels, be good to each other!

In this episode, I give my best of 2018 list, state my 2019 resolutions, and ponder the usefulness of time zones. Here you go:

My best of 2018 in travel:

Best meal: Alinea, Chicago

Bonus audio with me and Han in Patreon if I can ever figure out how to edit this new Cast service.

Anyway, I wrote about Alinea on the blog. Three-star Micheline rated restaurant. About $300 per person not including drinks. A true dining experience.

Best drink: Bad Luck Bar, Detroit

The best thing that can happen to you in a Detroit back alley. A speakeasy with limited seating but competent mixologists. Drinks are pricey, but value is what you get.

Best resort: El Dorado Casitas Royale, Riviera Maya

Stunning resort on a long stretch of beach. The food wasn’t the best we’ve had at a Cancun all-inclusive, but it was still very good. But the property itself was gorgeous. A great upper-middle tier resort in Cancun.

Coolest city: New Orleans

Best new destination: Louisville

Most fun trip: Zorkfest 2018, Las Vegas

Goals for 2019:

1. Figure out how timezones work - The timezone should be the same for the entire country.

2. Become a cool hat guy - Folically challenged, but Podcasters should be the pinnacle of cool. Athletes like Cam Newton post game- that’s what we should look like. More of a Mad Hatter feel, but I’m buying a cool hat this year.

3. Change some cards around - Probably sign up for Amex Gold and cancel Platinum. The previous episode I mentioned a 25k sign on bonus for Gold, Joe from Observation Deck slid into my DMs to remind me that signing up using a friend’s referral link will get you a 50k sign on bonus. As I say all the time, if you’re looking for a new card, check to see if a friend or family member has a link you can use.

Upgrade from Sapphire P to R. Not going to wait to two more years to get the sign on bonus.

1. New schedule -

Monday post, Tuesday (bi-weekly) show, Thursday post Saw your plans on social media. I want to help you get there. Some very cool destinations in your future. Let me know if you have questions or suggestions, I want to continue to put out content that speaks to you.

In this episode, I talk about my recent trip to Louisville, and Spencer from Straight to the Points shows us how to get to New Zealand from scratch.

HT of the week: MacauCast with Hunter, Eric, and Han Y Seat of the week: Anyone marginalizing influencers

For more from Spencer: StraighttothePoints.co To support the show: TFB Patreon

Thanks for listening. Safe travels. Be good to each other.

Milenomics is about helping you becoming strategic with your earning and burning of points and miles. Sam and Robert help readers and listeners establish a practical approach to this fun and valuable hobby. Their goal is to help you have the trip you want at an affordable price by crafting your own best fit solution to travel plans.

Check out their site and podcast at Milenomics.com

Some points from the show:

• Tony loves my pick of the Hyatt Regency with its great location downtown, in stumbling distance to many great bars
• Jockey Silks Bourbon Bar in the Galt House Hotel is a must visit
• The Urban Bourbon Trail is a fun way to explore different venues and bars

Tony's tips for distilleries:

If you're a bourbon fan, seek out the brands you already enjoy as you'll appreciate them that much more. Be prepared for a journey because it can take 45 minutes to an hour to get to one from another. Both Maker's Mark and Woodford Reserve tours are well worth the drive.

To expand your spirit education, be sure to check out both the Vice Lounge Online and the Bourbon and Branch podcasts. If you have any Lousivlle tips, please share! Thanks for listening. Safe travels. Be good to each other. 

To support the show, head to Patreon.com/travelfanboy

In this episode, I give my HT of the Week to an inspiring animal spirit of the travel world. I also discuss my latest thought experiment on earning 2% cashback straight into a brokerage account. Finally, I round out the episode by giving three tips for choosing an all-inclusive resort.

*Super important editor's note: In this episode, and really quite frequently, I state that using bank points in the Chase portal with CSP or CSR can effectively give you a 25-50% discount. The math doesn't really work out like that. Really, you're redeeming the points at a 25-50% higher rate, but not getting that as a pure discount. I say this a lot. It's a problem. My influencer brain can only handle so much math.

Support the show: Patreon.com/travelfanboy