In this episode of the Lazy Budget Travel Tips podcast, host Genni Franklin sits down with Ionna from @travelpointsandviews to talk about one of the most underrated (and misunderstood) strategies in the points and miles world: 

Buying Points.

That’s right—paying money for points can actually make sense in the right situation.

From scoring a $3,100 luxury hotel stay in NYC for just $1,600 to planning a $10K Miraval trip using a clever buy-and-transfer combo, Ionna breaks down when and why buying points is a power move, not a rookie mistake.

You’ll learn:

• When buying points is a smart travel hack (and when it’s not)
• How Ionna turned Hyatt sales into serious savings
• The fine print you must read before buying
• Why it might be better to buy points instead of burning your flexible stash
• How to use tools like MaxMyPoint to track award availability
• The #1 mistake travelers make when buying points
• What to know about bonus point sales and annual limits
• Why buying points is perfect for lazy (yet savvy) travelers

If you’ve ever scrolled past a “buy points now!” email and thought “yeah, hard pass”—this episode might change your mind.

Timestamps:

• 00:00 – Why buying points might be your new secret weapon
• 02:00 – Meet Ionna: Lazy travel hacker, South Floridian, and points pro
• 04:30 – What buying points really means (and why it's not a scam)
• 07:00 – A $600+ DC hotel stay… for $412? Here’s how
• 10:30 – The $3K NYC trip hack: Hyatt + sale = luxury stay for less
• 14:00 – How to use MaxMyPoint to snag award availability
• 18:00 – When not to buy points
• 22:30 – Read the fine print: Buying points through points.com
• 25:00 – How Ionna stacked calendar years to double her point purchase limit
• 29:30 – Turning a $10K Miraval stay into a $2.6K redemption win
• 31:30 – Why buying points might help you stretch your travel budget further
• 35:00 – Hyatt vs. Marriott: What’s worth it and when
• 37:30 – Final tips: Buy with intention and do the math
• 40:00 – Rapid fire round: favorite redemptions, best travel hacks, and more!

Links + Mentions:

• @travelpointsandviews on Instagram
• Max My Point tool
• The Points Guy’s Points vs. Cash Calculator

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