Wonderland on Points | Credit Card Rewards & Budget Travel

This week on the Wonderland on Points Podcast, Mary Ellen is back from an unforgettable girls’ trip to stunning St. Kitts—and she’s spilling every detail! While Jo sadly couldn’t make it, she’s hearing all about it for the first time, right along with you.

From scoring a steal of a business class flight on points to navigating arrival, transportation, and luxury accommodations (think $7,300 room for zero dollars), Mary Ellen breaks down exactly how this dream trip came together.

Plus, don’t miss the wild story that almost turned this vacation into a Dateline episode—yes, really!

Get ready to be inspired, amazed, and maybe even a little bit jealous—and of course, learn how you can plan your own points-powered island escape.

Submit Your Summer Roadtrip Series Story HERE

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Mary Ellen | Jo

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FlyKitt- the BEST Jet Lag Solution!

30% off the CardPointers subscription!

Tripiamo Driving Tutorials

Our Favorite Travel Necessities

We receive a small commission when you choose to use any of our links to purchase your products or apply for your cards! We SO appreciate when you choose to give back to the podcast in this way!

Today on our Midweek Mini, we're diving into some seriously sad news — the beloved AMEX to Alaska Airlines transfer loophole (aka our secret weapon for booking awesome American Airlines flights) might be coming to an end. Word on the street is that this workaround is on its last legs, and we’re breaking down what that could mean for our points strategy.

Should we be moving points speculatively to lock in sweet redemptions while we still can? We’ve got thoughts — and a few tips to help you navigate what’s next.

Then, to cheer things up, we’re capping off the episode with a BIG ANNOUNCEMENT: our Summer Roadtrip Series is coming to your earbuds soon! 🚗✨ We want to feature your favorite domestic weekender destinations on upcoming Midweek Minis — so send us your recs!

Submit Your Summer Roadtrip Series Story HERE

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Mary Ellen | Jo

Links

Chase/Capital One/Amex Card Links

FlyKitt- the BEST Jet Lag Solution!

30% off the CardPointers subscription!

Tripiamo Driving Tutorials

Our Favorite Travel Necessities

We receive a small commission when you choose to use any of our links to purchase your products or apply for your cards! We SO appreciate when you choose to give back to the podcast in this way!

Join us for an unforgettable journey through the lush beauty of Costa Rica, as we explore how to travel this stunning country on points.

Our guest this week is Lauren, one half of the dynamic travel duo behind KC Savvy Travelers. She shares all the juicy details from her recent family adventure, including:

🌿 Rainforest hikes and wild adventures in La Fortuna

🚌 Smart transportation hacks and budget tips that made everything seamless

💎 A luxurious stay at the Andaz Papagayo — a $4,000+ resort experience booked entirely with points!

If you've been dreaming of a warm-weather escape filled with natural beauty, adventure, and luxury (without the luxury price tag), this episode is your blueprint.

✅ Learn how to maximize your points for big savings

✅ Steal Lauren’s itinerary for your own epic Costa Rica getaway

✅ And get inspired to plan a trip that’s unforgettable and affordable

Don't miss this one — Costa Rica has never looked better!

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Mary Ellen | Jo | Lauren

Mentioned in this Episode

KC Savvy Travelers Facebook Group

@Jamie.Travel.Tips

Links

Chase/Capital One/Amex Card Links

FlyKitt- the BEST Jet Lag Solution!

30% off the CardPointers subscription!

Tripiamo Driving Tutorials

Our Favorite Travel Necessities

We receive a small commission when you choose to use any of our links to purchase your products or apply for your cards! We SO appreciate when you choose to give back to the podcast in this way!

This week on our Midweek Mini episode, we're sharing a truly chilling cautionary tale. One of our listeners recently experienced something that left us completely stunned — a major lesson in what can go wrong when adding someone as an authorized user.

We’ve honestly never heard of a situation quite like this before. It’s eye-opening, a little scary, and definitely something anyone in the points and miles world needs to hear.

We hope this story helps you better understand the risks involved, how to protect yourself, and how to make smarter decisions as you build your strategy in this hobby.

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Mary Ellen | Jo

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Credit Score Episode

Freezing Your Credit Episode

Links

Chase/Capital One/Amex Card Links

FlyKitt- the BEST Jet Lag Solution!

30% off the CardPointers subscription!

Tripiamo Driving Tutorials

Our Favorite Travel Necessities

We receive a small commission when you choose to use any of our links to purchase your products or apply for your cards! We SO appreciate when you choose to give back to the podcast in this way!

Today on Wonderland on Points, we're joined by Emmanuel, the founder and tech-savvy mastermind behind the incredible points and miles app, CardPointers.

We've been amazed by what this app can do, and we wanted our audience to hear about it straight from the founder himself. Not only did Emmanuel create the app—he personally built every single line of code.

From dedicated points and miles enthusiast to the creator of a rapidly growing app that truly addresses so many of our pain points, Emmanuel shares the full story. He also tackles common concerns like data privacy and dives into all the ways—both simple and advanced—that CardPointers can be used to maximize your rewards.

We were thrilled to have this conversation, and we can't wait for you to hear it. This episode will leave you wondering why you didn’t download CardPointers sooner!

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Mary Ellen | Jo | Emmanuel

Mentioned in this Episode

Daniel Braun Youtube

@MaxMilesPoints

Links

Chase/Capital One/Amex Card Links

FlyKitt- the BEST Jet Lag Solution!

30% off the CardPointers subscription!

Tripiamo Driving Tutorials

Our Favorite Travel Necessities

We receive a small commission when you choose to use any of our links to purchase your products or apply for your cards! We SO appreciate when you choose to give back to the podcast in this way!

We are absolutely thrilled and incredibly humbled to hit this major podcasting milestone, and we couldn't have done it without YOU—our amazing, ever-growing community. Seriously, we wouldn’t be here without your support, and we are SO grateful to each and every one of you. 🙏

In this special mini-episode, we take you back to where it all began—through Mary Ellen's eyes! Even if you’ve heard our story before (shoutout to Episode 1!), this is a fresh take you won't want to miss.

But that’s not all! 🎉 We also announce the winners of our giveaway and read the five incredible reviews that won them Card Pointers subscriptions! We're so excited to give these away, and if you didn’t win, don’t worry—we’ve got a special treat for all our listeners: enjoy a fantastic 30% off Card Pointers! 🎉💳

PLUS, stay tuned because we’ve got an upcoming episode featuring the founder of Card Pointers! We’ll be diving deep into the ins and outs of this extraordinary app, and trust us, you won’t want to miss it.

Thanks again for being part of this journey with us. Let’s keep growing together!

Facebook Group | Support the Show: Buy Us A Coffee

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Mary Ellen | Jo

Links

Chase/Capital One/Amex Card Links

FlyKitt- the BEST Jet Lag Solution!

30% off the CardPointers subscription!

Tripiamo Driving Tutorials

Our Favorite Travel Necessities

We receive a small commission when you choose to use any of our links to purchase your products or apply for your cards! We SO appreciate when you choose to give back to the podcast in this way!

Today on Wonderland on Points, we are so excited to welcome back Raimee Iacofano! You might remember her from her Japan episode last year, and now she’s back to share all about her incredible road trip across Ireland. Raimee has all the tips you need to plan your own Irish adventure—from using points and miles to get there, to essential driving tips for navigating a new country. She’ll also share her best tips for rental cars, stunning and affordable accommodations, must-see attractions, delicious food, and so much more! This episode is packed with everything you need to plan your trip from start to finish. We had an absolute blast recording this one, and we can’t wait for you to be inspired to create your own unforgettable Irish journey!

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Mary Ellen | Jo | Raimee

Mentioned in this Episode

Jo's Airbnb Ireland Wishlist

Raimee's Japan Episode

Raimee's Youtube

Raimee's TikTok

Tripiamo

Raimee's FREE Ireland Map

Raimee's $2 Ireland Guide

@AlmaAsinobi

@AmandaMoniqueBrown

Links

Chase/Capital One/Amex Card Links

FlyKitt- the BEST Jet Lag Solution!

30% off the CardPointers subscription!

Tripiamo Driving Tutorials

Our Favorite Travel Necessities

We receive a small commission when you choose to use any of our links to purchase your products or apply for your cards! We SO appreciate when you choose to give back to the podcast in this way!

In this week’s midweek mini episode, we’re diving into a newer and often overlooked benefit of the Chase Sapphire Preferred credit card—Door Dash's DashPass. While this incredible perk might seem complicated at first, many cardholders are leaving money on the table by not fully utilizing it. If you’re using your benefit monthly, this card could actually be a money maker for you! In this bite-sized episode, we break down exactly what the perk is and how to make the most of it.

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Mary Ellen | Jo

Mentioned In This Episode

Sign up for the Daily Drop Newsletter to get the CSP Link!

Chase Sapphire Preferred Deep Dive Episode

Credit Score Deep Dive Episode

Links

Chase/Capital One/Amex Card Links

FlyKitt- the BEST Jet Lag Solution!

30% off the CardPointers subscription!

Tripiamo Driving Tutorials

Our Favorite Travel Necessities

We receive a small commission when you choose to use any of our links to purchase your products or apply for your cards! We SO appreciate when you choose to give back to the podcast in this way!

In today’s episode, we’re joined by The Frugal Tourist, Kris, for an absolutely mind-blowing and comprehensive journey through American Airlines like never before. While we’ve taken deep dives into AA in the past, this episode is packed with fresh, invaluable tips and insights that you won’t want to miss—especially if you’re traveling with family! Kris shares clever strategies to stretch your travel budget and maximize your points, making your flights more affordable and rewarding.

As our opinion of Southwest continues to shift, this episode is a must-listen for anyone looking to elevate their flying experience with American Airlines. Tune in for expert advice that will make AA a top contender in your travel plans and take your airline game to the next level!

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Mary Ellen | Jo | Kris

Mentioned in this Episode

Travel Miles and Points Facebook Group

@PointsLodi

Facebook Group | Support the Show: Buy Us A Coffee

Links

Chase/Capital One/Amex Card Links

FlyKitt- the BEST Jet Lag Solution!

30% off the CardPointers subscription!

Tripiamo Driving Tutorials

Our Favorite Travel Necessities

We receive a small commission when you choose to use any of our links to purchase your products or apply for your cards! We SO appreciate when you choose to give back to the podcast in this way!

This week on our Wonderland on Points mini episode, we’re diving into Capital One travel credits! While many other travel portals can make using credits a challenge, we absolutely love how Capital One makes it simple and rewarding. With both the Venture and Venture X cards offering travel credits, we’re sharing some creative ways to make the most of these perks. Tune in as we provide real, tangible examples of how these credits can be a game-changer, whether you're taking advantage of a welcome offer or using your card benefits.

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Mary Ellen | Jo

Mentioned In This Episode

Venture Vs Venture X Episode

Links

Chase/Capital One/Amex Card Links

FlyKitt- the BEST Jet Lag Solution!

30% off the CardPointers subscription!

Tripiamo Driving Tutorials

Our Favorite Travel Necessities

We receive a small commission when you choose to use any of our links to purchase your products or apply for your cards! We SO appreciate when you choose to give back to the podcast in this way!