By Sam Simon and Robert Dwyer
4.4
5050 ratings
The podcast currently has 158 episodes available.
Episode 43: Show Notes.
As we wave goodbye to summer, Thomas and Trevor walk us through their most recent end-of-season trips: A Carnival cruise and a forgettable Cap Cana experience. We begin with Thomas and his trip aboard the Carnival Mardi Gras, where he explains why he chose Carnival over his trusted Royal Caribbean. Thomas details his itinerary and vacation experience, why the casual dining options were better than expected, how the floating casino and overall entertainment could be improved, and the perils of getting sick on the open sea. Next, Trevor picks up the baton and explains why his most recent Cap Cana trip may be his last. We discover how his previous visits to the resort influenced his most recent one and the stress of traveling out of Punta Cana. To end, Thomas unpacks his experience at the 14th Annual Chicago Seminars for miles and points.
Key Points From This Episode:
Quotes:
“If I were doing my fun-match again, I would definitely recommend that you pick one of these newer ships, because I think that’s going to give you your best foot forward for Carnival.” — @TktweetsKim [06:02]
“This was the only cruise I’ve ever been on where I’ve been woken up at 1:30 in the morning with an abandon ship alarm. — We did actually have a false alarm go off in the middle of the night, people were quite distressed.” — @TktweetsKim [19:58]
“It’s hard to go on vacation and have it be so frictionless on your way home. You do your best in planning to make that happen, but I think the reality is you’re always going to have some grating experience trying to get from the resort back to your home.” — @TktweetsKim [37:42]
“There’s always something nice about being able to get up in front of a bunch of people and talk about something that you love.” — @tmount [39:52]
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Carnival Cruise Line
Royal Caribbean
Princess Cruises
Virgin Voyages
Cap Cana
Hyatt Ziva Cap Cana
Hyatt Regency Chicago
The 14th Annual Chicago Seminars
Thomas Kim on X
Trevor Mountcastle on X
0:22 Q4 5x Bonus Categories
03:19 JetBlue News
07:34 Southwest News (link)
11:36 Alaska/Hawaiian News
15:06 Chase UR 30% Transfer Bonus to Avios
19:34 Delta: More Routes to Europe in Summer 2025
Episode 42: Show Notes
We Welcome Richrd Kerr, VP of Travel at Bilt Rewards. Richard is a miles, points, and travel enthusiast whose vast experience has led him to lead a prominent facebook group (now Award Travel 101), write for The Points Guy, and ultimately to Bilt Rewards – the loyalty program for where you live. Richard is kind enough to share about Bilt; its some of its metrics; its unique value proposition. Richard carefully dissects common public misconceptions about miles and points. We discuss devaluations, the technological evolution of miles and points and the rise of social media, how Bilt members earn and redeem points, and what the industry looks like five years after the COVID disruption. Richard also shares details about his favorite family trips, how he and his wife homeschool their kids while on vacation, an unforgettable Aman Resort experience, and the eyewatering price of modern hotels. To end, our guest gives us his view of the future of miles and points as he shares helpful advice for finding big savings and great-value deals, and we discuss why Summer travel has been more chaotic than usual in 2024.
Key Points From This Episode:
Quotes:
“Our pitch [for Bilt] from the beginning was, ‘Look, this is not the standard. You can’t throw what you’ve always done before; you can’t use the same playbook; you’ve got to do something different to get our members interested.’” — @KerrPoints [0:08:50]
“We’re literally spreading the wealth elsewhere so that the vast majority of our members can win, not just die-hard points and miles people. And I get it, it’s not a message that die-hard points and mile people want to hear, but we’re still doing really cool stuff [for them].” — @KerrPoints [0:15:09]
“A loyalty program—as I have learned over the last three years—is as much of an art as it is a science.” — @KerrPoints [0:16:12]
“There’s nobody writing anymore, because the next generation of folks, 10 years later, has come into Instagram and TikTok, and that’s where they think they’re going to make money.” — @KerrPoints [0:28:27]
“I’ve been commuting from Atlanta to New York for five years now so I knew what hotels cost. What I’ve seen in 2024 for hotel rates in New York City is just mind-boggling. I cannot comprehend who these people are who are paying for these hotels.” — @KerrPoints [0:37:22]
“To everybody who’s followed my story; followed me; wished me well; were supporters when I was in the Facebook days; at The Points Guy read my stuff, I really appreciate it, and it’s just led to this dream job that I’ve somehow landed in.” — @KerrPoints [1:02:25]
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Richard Kerr on LinkedIn
Richard Kerr on Instagram
Richard Kerr on X
Bilt
Bilt on YouTube
The Points Guy
Etihad Airways
David Canty on LinkedIn
Chase Ultimate Rewards
Alaska Airlines
Hyatt Grand Central New York
Aman Resorts
Spirit
Frontier
United
Thomas Kim on X
Trevor Mountcastle on X
The Milenomics Podcast Network
I've long been intrigued by the luxury hotel timeshare market, where you get the quality and amenities of a five star hotel combined with the square footage of a residential vacation home.
A prime example of this type of property is Four Seasons Aviara in Carlsbad, CA. Back in the day, Four Seasons managed both a hotel here along with a collection of 1 and 2 bedroom vacation homes. The hotel is now managed by Hyatt (as a Park Hyatt) but Four Seasons still maintains the Residence Club. The golf, tennis, pools, and restaurants make for a fabulous "no compromises" vacation in my book. The only problem I've had is finding another Aviara.
Turns out there's a level of quality above luxury hotel timeshares, called Luxury Fractionals or Private Residence Clubs. With these you get somewhere around a 1/10th ownership of a fully managed vacation home, usually in a resort setting with access to amenities like a golf course, beach, or skiing. The problem here is cost and commitment as these fractionals typically sell for around $200,000 down and $25,000 per year in maintenance fees.
But there are levels to these things. Properties at the top of the Luxury Hotel Timeshare market can get so nice that they're on par with Luxury Fractionals, so much so that owners are willing to trade time between them. The trick is finding owners at "different but like-quality" properties, across brands we may or may not be familiar with, interested in swapping time.
Enter Elite Alliance.
In Ep 236 of our podcast (subscription required) I detailed how we stayed at the Harbor Court Residence Club at the Rosewood Bermuda, booked through Elite Alliance. The stay was fantastic from beginning to end but I was just as intrigued by Elite Alliance's part in this because if I understand how they operate it has the potential to unlock this type of vacation experience at locations all over the world.
This episode is a discussion with Elite Alliance President and Partner Rob Goodyear. We discuss what Elite Alliance is and how they got started, how they vette properties in their portfolio to ensure a consistent quality of experience, what it takes to participate in Elite Exchange, and more.
I hope you enjoy the conversation as much as I did.
Thanks to Rob for coming on the show!
Episode 41: Show Notes.
Note: The video of this podcast can be viewed on Youtube, find it here.
Family travel can be just as affordable and rewarding as a solo one. To help us gain a better perspective of traveling the world with kids in tow, we are joined today by the renowned travel expert, author, and Senior Editor at Fortune Recommends, Dia Adams, who begins our conversation by highlighting the importance of travel conferences in building community. We discuss Dia’s hit column, What’s in Dia’s Wallet, and what her role at Fortune entails before learning about her affinity for less-lavish hotels, how vendoming has evolved since she first coined the term, how she developed Camp Mom as the perfect family travel hack, and how she’s cultivated travel hacking in her kids. We also unpack the power of perspective, how to have a Disney experience without going to Disney World; what Dia thinks about miles and points devaluations, and how to connect with today’s remarkable guest!
Key Points From This Episode:
Quotes:
“I just want people to be a little bit more – I don’t know if you’re following this TikTok trend – a little more mindful, a little more demure about their miles choices.” — @TheDiaAdams [09:24]
“Almost every success I’ve ever had in my career has been due to a rant.” — @TheDiaAdams [14:59]
“I tend to base trips on a vibe these days. Like, how do I want to feel during this trip? Everything else kind of goes from that.” — @TheDiaAdams [32:30]
“One time, there was a last-minute ferry sale to Hawaii, and I asked the kids if they wanted to go to Hawaii, and they’re like, ‘Nah, we’re good. We went last year, we’re good.’ One of the kids actually said to me once, ‘One private island a year is enough for me.’” — @TheDiaAdams [36:57]
“A family of four — for a Spring Break-type vacation — from New York, could fly to Paris and spend a week in Paris and three days at Paris Disneyland for the same price as a week in Orlando at Disney.” — @TheDiaAdams [45:58]
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Dia Adams
Dia Adams on LinkedIn
Dia Adams on X
Dia Adams on Instagram
Fortune
‘What’s in Dia’s Wallet: The art of destination dupes’
Disney World Hacks
Choice Hotels
Hyatt
IHG Hotels and Resorts
Sky
Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts
Delta
Disney Experiences
Universal Studio Theme Parks
Dutch Wonderland
Hershey’s Chocolate World
Lifemiles
Thomas Kim on X
Trevor Mountcastle on X
The Milenomics Podcast Network
Episode 40: Show Notes.
We’re heading back to the high seas! During this episode, Tom shares all the details of his recent trip with Virgin Voyages cruise line, from costs, to rooms, drinking, dining, entertainment, and more. Join us as he gets candid about what he loved, tolerated, and disliked during the trip along with tips for you to get the most out of your booking with them. We discuss the differences between the Virgin Voyages experience and what you would have on Royal Caribbean; from the points-based redemption system to the egalitarian nature of your booking. He even goes into the perks included in your stay! You’ll also hear us touch on the trend of choosing style over comfort or plating over flavor as more businesses start to cater to an Instagram generation. Tom talks about everything from embarking and disembarking to the room service system, configuring his accommodation to suit him and his friend, and more. Don’t miss this informative conversation! Thanks for tuning in.
Key Points From This Episode:
Quotes:
“The balcony cabins all come with a hammock and normally I would say this is a gimmick and nobody would use it, but I found it to be very comfortable.” — @TktweetsKim [13:28]
“I have to make [a] shout out to [a] venue I spent quite a lot of time at called the Social Club which was this area with bar games [like] snooker, a bunch of board games, and a bar selling bar food.” — @TktweetsKim [38:33]
“[If] you enjoy white sand and blue water, it’s hard to do better than what the Bimini Beach Club provides.” — @TktweetsKim [43:06]
“CocoCay is constantly evolving, constructing, and innovating.” — @TktweetsKim [48:18]
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Symphony of the Seas
Thomas Kim on X
Trevor Mountcastle on X
Episode 39: Show Notes
Are you bored of the usual tourist travel tropes and looking for more? Have you ever wondered how to turn a simple trip into an unforgettable adventure? In this episode, we dive into the art of ‘sightDOING’ with travel expert Becky Pokora, who transforms ordinary travel experiences into extraordinary, hands-on journeys. Becky is a seasoned travel expert and writer passionate about adventure and exploration. As the founder of the travel blog sightDOING, she shares her experiences and tips on active travel and immersive adventures. Becky has a knack for discovering unique destinations and engaging activities, encouraging her readers to dive deeper into their travel experiences. In our conversation, we explore the secret behind authentic travel, why first-hand travel recommendations are superior, and the benefits of going with the flow. Discover strategies for finding the best experience while traveling and helpful resources to get you started. Becky recounts some of her most memorable travel moments, including seeing a volcano erupt, attending an ice festival in China, and experiencing the wonders of Antarctica. She also shares advice for communicating when you don’t speak the local language and red flags to watch out for when looking for accommodation. Join us as we journey into the world of authentic travel with Becky Pokora. Tune in now!
Key Points From This Episode:
Quotes:
“That first-hand touch from someone that you trust and from someone where you understand their frame of reference is a great way to filter [travel ideas].” — @sightDOING [7:20]
“Sometimes taking what is easy is a legitimate way to plan a trip or plan an activity.” — @sightDOING [10:33]
“Sometimes even when you have fantastic plans, they just get rearranged based on conditions or things you never expected.” — @sightDOING [20:00]
“I like hotels but a lot of places I go don’t have a lot of hotels which means you have to get a little bit more creative.” — @sightDOING [39:01]
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
sightDOING
sightDOING on X
sightDOING on Instagram
sightDOING on Facebook
sightDOING on Pinterest
Becky Pokora on LinkedIn
Airbnb
Meetup
Facebook Events
Harbin Ice Festival
Vrbo
Booking.com
Quark Expeditions
The Milenomics Podcast Network
Thomas Kim on X
Trevor Mountcastle on X
0:21 Transfer Bonuses
08:24 United Premium Cabin Awards (on United Metal) Gets Even More Expensive (Live and Lets Fly)
15:21 JetBlue Plus 80,000
16:14 Heightened Amex Bonvoy Welcome Bonuses
Main Topic: Partner Award Bookings
17:59 Qantas As An Alternative to British Airways for Domestic AA Partners Awards
23:42 Booking JetBlue Mint with Qatar Avios
A Norway Trip Report...on today’s Milenomics² Podcast
01:00 Scope: 2 weeks in Norway. Oslo, Tromso, Lofoten then back to Oslo for a few days.
10:12 Outbound: Air France. LAX-CDG Plus a 4hr layover.
20:10 Getting to Oslo from the airport Fly to vs Vy.
25:20 Clarion hotel the hub (a strawberry hotel)
30:58 Oslo:
35:24 Food in Norway
45:36 Travel to Tromso and Lofoten
Tromso rental car: Hertz
Tours: get your guide+ capital one shopping
51:29 Tromso: where to stay?
56:52 Low-ish season in Tromso / Lofoten
1:00:11 Tromso to Lofoten islands.
1:18:34 Ferries. Interesting for People, Terrible for Cars
1:20:44 Lofoten:
Tours:
1:33:20 Return to Oslo and Return home.
1:45:15 Overall impressions
Episode 38: Show Notes
Have you ever wondered what it's like to travel the stunning coastlines and towns of the French and Italian Rivieras? In this episode, we dive into Trevor’s recent adventure to these iconic Mediterranean destinations. From the highs and lows of traveling with family to insightful travel recommendations, Trevor provides his takeaways from his trip. In our conversation, we discuss his reasons for the trip, the logistics and planning aspects behind it, and what he thought of the hotels and Apartment rentals. Explore why multi-generational travel complicates logistics and learn why cruise ships are the best option for older travel partners. Hear about what Europe gets right about children's play parks, Zurich airport’s sky deck, dining in a French vineyard, making an authentic pizza with his family, and a memorable cheese tour. Trevor also shares his thoughts on why one hotel made his list of the worst places to stay, what he enjoyed most about flying home on Swiss Airlines, and much more. Join us and get inspired to plan your own Riviera family adventure! Tune in now!
Key Points From This Episode:
Quotes:
“I would say don’t split up [at the airport] because you just end up giving yourself more anxiety than you really need.” — @TktweetsKim [25:12]
“[My family and I] tend to do multi-generational travel a lot, but it is usually cruise ship related, and that has a lot of things that help buffer those restriction points.” — @TktweetsKim [30:03]
“When you have to deal with the old, the young, and the in-between, it does complicate the logistics quite a bit.” — @TktweetsKim [30:24]
“My focus of late has been really trying to get more unique [travel] experiences.” — @Tmount [40:45]
“The trip was incredible, everybody was very happy, and everyone was really happy with their seats on the way home too.” — @Tmount [1:16:58]
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Château des Demoiselles
List for Travel Play Areas / Parks
Obicà Duomo | A tip from Pat and Mike @PatMikeL – Go during happy hour (I think 5-8) for Aperativo’s
Château Sainte Roseline
Episode 24: Japan and Disney with Joe Cheung
Episode 34: Chatting with Nick Reyes of FrequentMiler
Episode 35: Long Weekend in Madrid
Booking.com
British Airways
EatWith
Verdmont in Unesco Monferrato - Ariella’s Pizza making Experience
Italian Accor Hotels
Swiss International Air Lines
The Air Show Podcast
The Milenomics Podcast Network
Thomas Kim on X
Trevor Mountcastle on X
The podcast currently has 158 episodes available.
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