January 01, 2025

TravelStories Episode 49: Talking a World of Topics With Ryan Smith

1 hour 40 minutes

Episode 49: Show Notes

In this episode, we welcome Ryan Smith, the news managing editor for upgraded points and a prolific writer published by Award Wallet, TPG, Forbes Advisor, and more. One of the things that makes Ryan special is that he is one of very few people on the planet who have visited every country in the world! Join us as Ryan shares his experience as a writer, traveler, and points and miles user over the years. You’ll learn what it was like for him to travel in business class for the first time before we unpack the airlines diversifying their fleets today. Ryan speaks to three major events in points and miles this year, and as someone with dual citizenship in Brazil, he shares why he recommends going to South America, especially if you have points and miles. We discuss memorable cultural experiences that Ryan has had and what has struck him most from traveling to places that are furthest away from his childhood experiences. We also dive into the details of his experiences in Nigeria and Bhutan, and what makes Bhutan so special. Join us today to hear all this and more!

Key Points From This Episode:

[00:54] An overview of which journalistic websites are shutting down and why.

[08:02] Context for Ryan’s work and where he first learned about points and miles.

[14:28] Why he recommends going to South America and what some barriers might be.

[19:18] The story of the first time he redeemed miles to fly in business class.

[26:38] Airlines diversifying their aircraft makes.

[33:30] Three major events in points and miles this year.

[44:57] The mechanism that Southwest has used to capitalize on sales.

[49:31] Ryan’s predictions for the rest of the year.

[57:14] Traveling to every country in the world and why Togo was the biggest challenge.

[01:08:45] What struck him about traveling to places that are different from where he grew up.

[01:14:50] How he ended up at the finals of the Best MC Rap Battle in Nigeria by accident.

[01:18:55] What it was like to visit Bhutan and what makes the country so exceptional.

[01:22:33] Bhutan’s visa and visitor’s fee and why you should visit as soon as possible!

[01:29:41] Ryan’s hot takes on Alaska and more.

[01:35:28] Thoughts on Bluesky and whether it will survive as a platform.

Quotes:

“The average – person might never meet someone who has been to every country, but you could go to a points and miles conference, and there might be three or four of us there.” — @RyanSmithTravel [58:51]

“I enjoy going to places – [where] it feels like, this place ain’t like where I grew up – That’s North Korea, that’s China, that’s Bhutan, that’s Madagascar. I grew up in Ohio outside Columbus and those places feel so different that it’s just really interesting.” — @RyanSmithTravel [01:08:12]

“I don’t want the concierge to send me where all the foreigners are going. I want the people who take the bus to work to tell me what’s something that I shouldn’t miss while I’m here.” — @RyanSmithTravel [01:15:29]

“[Bhutan doesn’t] worry about GDP. They worry about their Gross National Happiness.” — @RyanSmithTravel [01:19:00]

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Ryan Smith on X

Ryan's profile on Upgraded points

...more