The BoldlyGo Podcast: Revolutionizing Your Journey is your inside pass to traveling better, farther, and more luxuriously using points, miles, and smart travel strategies.
Hosted by financial advisor and world traveler DeAndre Coke alongside his wife and travel partner Taryn Gisbert, the show explores how everyday people are unlocking bucket-list experiences around the world—often for a fraction of the normal cost.
Each episode features conversations with travelers, creators, families, and industry experts who share practical strategies, unforgettable stories, and the real-world systems they use to maximize travel rewards, airline miles, hotel points, elite status, and credit card perks.
From flying international business class and staying in overwater villas in the Maldives to navigating family travel, destination deep dives, and hidden luxury experiences, The BoldlyGo Podcast blends inspiration with actionable advice for travelers at every level.
You’ll hear stories from couples who booked five-star honeymoons almost entirely on points, families exploring the world without breaking the bank, and travelers who’ve learned how to turn everyday spending into extraordinary adventures.
If you’re just getting started with points & miles or already optimizing complex award travel itineraries, this podcast helps you travel smarter, spend intentionally, and experience more of the world.
Subscribe now and join a growing community of travelers learning how to travel well and live boldly.
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Quick Hits: Southwest Companion Pass Season Is HERE, New Rumored Chase Partners & More!
Friday, October 2, 2026 • Duration 12:59
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This week’s Quick Hits kicks off with the Southwest Companion Pass season officially underway, giving travelers a chance to start planning one of the most valuable companion benefits in domestic travel. DeAndre also covers a new Hyatt promotion offering 3,000 bonus points for every three qualifying nights, targeted Southwest members unexpectedly receiving 5,000 Rapid Rewards points, and a useful American Airlines app feature that can automatically move travelers into a preferred window or aisle seat when one becomes available.
One of the biggest updates comes from Alaska Airlines and Atmos Rewards. Members can now choose how they want to earn rewards based on miles flown, ticket price, or flight segments for flights beginning January 1. Alaska also announced that eligible Bank of America cardholders will eventually be able to transfer points into Atmos Rewards, with a new debit card and upgrades to the Atmos Rewards Visa Business Card also on the way. Hilton is making news too, with a 10,000 point promotion and rumors of an even higher elite status tier called Black Diamond.
The episode wraps with several opportunities for point travelers. Chase may be preparing to add Qantas and Cathay Pacific as 1:1 transfer partners, while some Sapphire Preferred cardholders are seeing targeted 75,000 point offers to upgrade to the Sapphire Reserve. Even bigger for families, Philippine Airlines is showing as many as eight business class award seats on some flights to Manila, while American Airlines has strong award availability to Peru with as many as seven seats on select dates. DeAndre also shares updates on the BoldlyGo community ahead of Points Travel Festival Chicago and previews his upcoming anniversary trip to Hawaii.
Timestamps:
(00:00) Intro: A Thank You to the BoldlyGo Community
(01:05) Southwest Companion Pass Season Is Officially Here
(02:13) Hyatt's New 3,000 Point Bonus Promotion
(02:59) Southwest Is Giving Some Members 5,000 Free Points
(03:39) American Airlines Can Now Automatically Find You a Better Seat
(04:52) Major Alaska Airlines and Atmos Rewards Changes
(06:09) Hilton Promotion and the Rumored Black Diamond Status Tier
(07:45) Chase Could Add Qantas and Cathay Pacific as Transfer Partners
(08:34) Up to 8 Business Class Award Seats to Asia and 7 Seats to Peru
Key takeaways:
Southwest Companion Pass Season: Now is the time to start planning a Companion Pass strategy, which lets a designated companion fly for only the applicable taxes and fees.
Hyatt Bonus Points: Hyatt is offering 3,000 bonus points for every three qualifying nights, with the opportunity to earn up to 36,000 bonus points.
Free Southwest Points: Some Rapid Rewards members have unexpectedly received 5,000 bonus points with no registration, spending, or flight requirement.
American's Automatic Seat Changes: AAdvantage members on eligible single passenger reservations can set seat preferences and have the app automatically move them when a qualifying preferred seat becomes available.
Big Atmos Rewards Changes: Alaska members can choose to earn based on miles flown, ticket price, or flight segments for eligible flights beginning January 1.
Bank of America to Atmos: Eligible Bank of America cardholders are expected to gain the ability to transfer points to Atmos Rewards starting in 2027.
Hilton Black Diamond Rumor: Leaked information suggests Hilton could be testing an even more exclusive elite status tier above its existing levels, although Hilton has not officially confirmed it.
New Chase Transfer Partners? Reports suggest Qantas and Cathay Pacific could potentially become 1:1 Chase Ultimate Rewards transfer partners.
75K Sapphire Upgrade Offer: Some Sapphire Preferred cardholders are being targeted for 75,000 points to upgrade to the Sapphire Reserve after meeting the required spending.
Huge Family Award Availability: Some Philippine Airlines flights are showing up to eight business class award seats to Manila, while select American Airlines flights to Peru are showing as many as seven award seats.
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Can Your Retirement Account Pay for Travel? Meet Silo Markets (Ep. 146)
Episode 146
Wednesday, September 30, 2026 • Duration 36:48
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This episode is supported by Smart Travel a new podcast from Nerd Wallet. Travel smarter — and spend less — with help from NerdWallet. Follow Smart Travel wherever you get your podcasts.
What if your investment portfolio could earn travel rewards without requiring you to spend another dollar on a credit card? In this episode of the BoldlyGo Podcast, DeAndre Coke sits down with Harry, co-founder of Silo Markets, a platform that rewards users with credit card style points simply for holding investments or cash. Silo currently offers 0.5 points per dollar of portfolio value annually, meaning a $100,000 portfolio could generate 50,000 points per year while the underlying investments remain invested.
DeAndre approaches the conversation from two perspectives, as a points and miles enthusiast and as a financial advisor. Together, they dig into how Silo actually works, its membership tiers, supported investment and retirement accounts, how existing investments can be transferred without liquidating positions, and how Silo plans to fund its rewards program. Harry also explains the relationship with Interactive Brokers, where customer assets are actually held, and what would happen to those assets if Silo itself were to shut down.
The conversation gets especially interesting when they explore retirement accounts. Traditional IRAs, rollover IRAs, and Roth IRAs can potentially earn Silo points, creating a way for long-term retirement savings to generate rewards that can be used today without withdrawing the underlying retirement assets. They also discuss Silo's current 1 cent per point cash redemption, travel portal, upcoming transfer partners, break-even points for each membership tier, and why most existing users are currently holding their points in anticipation of airline and hotel transfer partners.
DeAndre and Harry also address some of the biggest questions surrounding a newer financial platform, including account protection, fees, investment control, and how Silo differs from platforms like Symphony. Harry ultimately describes Silo's ambition as building a modern version of Vanguard, but with loyalty rewards layered on top of long-term investing. It is a fascinating look at what could happen when two traditionally separate worlds, investing and points and miles, begin to overlap.
Quick Hits: Chase May Be Tightening Its Most Famous Credit Card Rule & More!
Friday, September 25, 2026 • Duration 10:06
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This week’s Quick Hits starts with a potentially major development for Chase cardholders. Reports suggest Chase may be tightening approvals for some business cards, particularly the Ink lineup, with certain applicants potentially facing a 3/24 threshold instead of the familiar 5/24 rule. DeAndre breaks down what is known so far, why the reports remain unconfirmed, and what it could mean for small business owners and sole proprietors. He also reminds readers to use expiring Q3 credit card benefits before the end of September.
Transferable points are also moving fast. Citi ThankYou has added Japan Airlines Mileage Bank as a 1:1 transfer partner and launched a 30% transfer bonus, while Bilt has added Amtrak Guest Rewards as its first rail transfer partner. DeAndre also covers Bilt card upgrade opportunities, Citi’s new once-per-lifetime welcome bonus language on Strata cards, and the approaching changes that will make Chase to Hyatt transfers less valuable for some cardholders starting October 1.
The episode wraps with two useful opportunities for travelers. The Chase Freedom Flex has eliminated foreign transaction fees, making the no annual fee card more useful internationally, while Flying Blue offers an interesting way to earn miles when purchasing eligible Apple products through its dedicated Apple storefront. For anyone considering a new iPhone, Apple Watch, or AirPods, it could be another opportunity to stack valuable airline miles on a purchase already planned.
Timestamps:
(00:00) A Quick Favor for the BoldlyGo Community
(01:52) Is Chase Changing From 5/24 to 3/24?
(03:02) Last Call to Use Your Q3 Credit Card Benefits
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Meet Creddy: One App to Track ALL Your Credit Card Benefits (Ep. 145)
Episode 145
Wednesday, September 23, 2026 • Duration 40:53
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In this episode of the BoldlyGo Podcast, DeAndre Coke sits down with Sagar, founder of Creddy, a new app designed to solve one of the biggest problems for serious points-and-miles travelers: keeping track of everything. As premium credit cards add more monthly, quarterly, semiannual, and annual credits, it becomes increasingly difficult to remember benefits, annual fees, free night certificates, spending goals, points expirations, and other valuable perks. Creddy brings all of that information together in one place, giving travelers a central dashboard for managing their credit card and loyalty strategy.
This launch is especially meaningful for the BoldlyGo community because members have spent months beta testing Creddy, suggesting features, and helping shape the app before its public release. Sagar walks DeAndre through features including benefit tracking, smart sorting, expiration alerts, keeper card calculations, annual fee tracking, points balances, loyalty programs, vouchers, transfer bonuses, and spending goals. DeAndre also shares how Creddy revealed benefits on cards he didn't even realize existed, while helping him weigh thousands of dollars in annual fees against the value he actually receives.
The conversation also explores where Creddy is heading next, including more automation, additional loyalty integrations, a desktop experience, and potential Plaid connectivity. Sagar explains how community feedback continues to shape the product and shares a special offer for BoldlyGo members. For anyone juggling premium credit cards or trying to make sure expensive annual fees deliver value, Creddy makes an increasingly complicated points-and-miles strategy much easier to manage.
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Everything Went Wrong Before We Even Arrived in Auckland [YouTube Bonus]
Monday, September 21, 2026 • Duration 21:26
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In this YouTube bonus episode of the BoldlyGo Podcast, DeAndre Coke and Taryn begin the New Zealand portion of their 33 day honeymoon with four days in Auckland, but almost everything starts going wrong before they even arrive.
The trouble begins at the airport in Fiji, where they discover they're missing the New Zealand Traveller Declaration just minutes before check-in closes. Slow Wi Fi makes the situation even more stressful, but their Oneworld elite status gives them access to the Fiji Airways business class check in line and extra time to complete the required paperwork.
Getting on the plane turns out to be only the beginning. After arriving in New Zealand, they navigate strict biosecurity procedures, delayed luggage, illness, and other unexpected problems that completely reshape their original Auckland itinerary. Instead of packing their days with sightseeing, Auckland becomes the reset they actually need after nearly three weeks of nonstop travel.
Their stay at Park Hyatt Auckland proves especially valuable during the chaos. The hotel's location, spacious suite, and exceptional service give them a comfortable base while recovering, tracking down luggage, and handling medical issues. They still find time to explore the waterfront and Viaduct Harbour, visit Commercial Bay, and enjoy a standout meal at Hello Beasty.
DeAndre also shares some of the biggest lessons from the experience, including completing New Zealand entry documents early, taking biosecurity seriously, placing trackers in checked luggage, carrying travel insurance, and deliberately building recovery time into longer trips. Auckland may not have gone according to plan, but it became an important reminder that successful travel sometimes means adapting rather than trying to force the original itinerary.
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Quick Hits: How We Booked a $22,000 Private Island Stay With Hilton Free Night Certificates & More!
Friday, September 18, 2026 • Duration 18:07
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This episode is supported by Smart Travel a new podcast from Nerd Wallet. Travel smarter — and spend less — with help from NerdWallet. Follow Smart Travel wherever you get your podcasts.
This week’s Quick Hits is packed with points and miles updates, starting with a targeted IHG promotion offering 20,000 bonus points after just two qualifying nights. DeAndre also breaks down the newly refreshed Chase Aeroplan Card, which now comes with automatic Aeroplan 25K status, Air Canada credits, and a 15% discount on eligible award flights, but also doubles its annual fee and loses some valuable existing benefits. Other updates include a potential TSA PreCheck pilot allowing full water bottles through security, CardPointers Version 8, a 70% Chase transfer bonus to Marriott, and a delay to Symphony’s anticipated transfer partner launch.
The biggest story comes from Hilton, where elevated Amex Hilton card offers now include free night certificates across multiple cards. DeAndre explains how he and Taryn used a similar Hilton card strategy to accumulate five free night certificates and turn them into an incredible five-night stay at Calala Island in Nicaragua that would otherwise cost around $22,000. The episode wraps with Wyndham’s new four-tier award chart, Qatar Airways reversing its restrictive Avios traveler list policy, and unusually strong business class award availability to Dubai on Emirates and from Paris to New York on Air France.
Timestamps:
(00:00) IHG's Targeted 20K Bonus After Two Nights
(01:30) Chase Completely Refreshes the Aeroplan Credit Card
(02:44) TSA PreCheck Could Allow Full Water Bottles Through Security
(04:13) CardPointers Version 8 and Chase's 70% Marriott Transfer Bonus
(05:57) Symphony Transfer Partner Launch Delayed
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She Lived in Hotels for 4 Years on Points & Miles Then Quit - With Frequent Miler’s Carrie Yoder (Ep. 144)
Episode 144
Wednesday, September 16, 2026 • Duration 55:35
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DeAndre Coke sits down with Carrie Yoder, Creative Director at Frequent Miler, to explore a side of long-term travel that does not always make it onto Instagram. Carrie shares how she and her former partner built a life around travel, points, miles, and extreme flexibility, eventually visiting around 70 countries while spending years living nomadically. What started as an experiment in proving that long-term travel could actually cost less than a traditional lifestyle gradually became their everyday reality.
Carrie takes DeAndre inside the evolution of that lifestyle, from backpacking through Asia on a tight budget to learning how airline miles and hotel points could completely change the way they traveled. She explains why IHG became especially valuable during their nomadic years, how hotel promotions and inexpensive stays helped them build huge points balances, and how points eventually opened the door to experiences that once seemed completely out of reach. But after years of constant movement, travel began to feel different. Once-in-a-lifetime experiences started becoming routine, and Carrie realized she was ready for something she hadn't had in years: a home base.
That realization eventually led her to West Virginia through the Ascend WV program, where she was actually paid to relocate and build a more stationary life. Now, Carrie is entering a completely new chapter. After years of being the P2 in a two-player points strategy, she is learning how to become her own P1, rebuilding her credit card strategy, earning points independently, and deciding what travel looks like when she is no longer traveling simply because she can. The conversation explores travel burnout, identity, solo travel, financial organization, and the surprising challenge of rediscovering travel excitement after seeing so much of the world.
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[Announcement] Building Something Bigger Than a Podcast
Monday, September 14, 2026 • Duration 09:01
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This episode is supported by Smart Travel a new podcast from Nerd Wallet. Travel smarter — and spend less — with help from NerdWallet. Follow Smart Travel wherever you get your podcasts.
In this special announcement episode, DeAndre Coke introduces the official BoldlyGo Patreon, a new optional way for listeners and community members to support the podcast, videos, blog, WhatsApp community, and other resources BoldlyGo continues to create. Over the years, members of the community have asked how they can contribute directly, but DeAndre explains that he never wanted financial support to determine who gets access to valuable information. With the launch of Patreon, that philosophy is staying exactly the same. Every podcast episode, bonus release, travel strategy, guide, and community resource will continue to be available for free.
DeAndre also shares some of what goes into keeping BoldlyGo growing behind the scenes, from producing the podcast and creating videos to maintaining the website and developing new resources for the points and miles community. Patreon gives those who find value in the content an opportunity to help support that work, with contributions starting at just $1 and no exclusive content tiers or special access based on contribution level.
More importantly, Patreon will also become another way for the BoldlyGo community to give back. Twenty percent of every dollar contributed will be donated to Give Kids The World Village, a nonprofit resort in Kissimmee, Florida that provides cost free vacations to children with critical illnesses and their families. DeAndre's financial planning practice will match those charitable contributions, doubling the impact generated by the community. Supporting through Patreon is completely optional, and listening, sharing, subscribing, leaving reviews, and participating in the community remain equally meaningful ways to help BoldlyGo continue its mission.
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Quick Hits: Hyatt Drops American Airlines for Delta & More!
Friday, September 11, 2026 • Duration 10:25
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This episode is supported by Smart Travel a new podcast from Nerd Wallet. Travel smarter — and spend less — with help from NerdWallet. Follow Smart Travel wherever you get your podcasts.
This week’s Quick Hits covers a relatively quiet week in points and miles news that was interrupted by one major loyalty shakeup. DeAndre starts with an elevated Capital One Venture Rewards offer featuring 75,000 miles plus a $300 hotel credit, followed by a new Bask Bank promotion offering 20,000 bonus AAdvantage miles for eligible new Miles Savings customers. He also highlights an easy path to I Prefer Gold status through AARP, which is available to members 18 and older, and a new Amex Offer that can earn 20,000 Membership Rewards points on qualifying Air France or KLM purchases.
The biggest story of the week is Hyatt’s changing airline loyalty strategy. American Airlines and World of Hyatt are ending their enhanced partnership, bringing an important relationship that dates back several years to a close. Just hours later, Hyatt announced a new long-term partnership with Delta SkyMiles. DeAndre breaks down what is known so far, what benefits may remain during the transition, and why this could matter most for travelers who used the American Airlines partnership to access Hyatt elite status challenges. He also shares how that opportunity helped him earn Globalist status and what he will be watching for as the new Delta-Hyatt relationship develops.
Timestamps:
(00:00) Intro: This Week's Quick Hits and the Biggest Loyalty Shakeup
(00:21) Capital One Venture 75K Bonus + $300 Hotel Credit
(00:54) Bask Bank's 20K AAdvantage Miles Promotion
(01:57) Easy I Prefer Gold Status Through AARP
(03:16) Earn 20K Amex Points With Air France or KLM
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Turn Your Online Shopping Into Business Class Flights With Erin Lynch (Ep. 143)
Episode 143
Wednesday, September 9, 2026 • Duration 57:35
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This episode is supported by Smart Travel a new podcast from Nerd Wallet. Travel smarter — and spend less — with help from NerdWallet. Follow Smart Travel wherever you get your podcasts.
In this episode of the BoldlyGo Podcast, DeAndre Coke sits down with Erin Lynch to break down one of the easiest ways to earn more points and miles without opening another credit card or spending more money: shopping portals. Erin shares how she incorporates portals like Rakuten and American Airlines AAdvantage eShopping into her family's points strategy and reveals that she earned more than 100,000 Amex Membership Rewards points through Rakuten in a single quarter. Those points alone were nearly enough to book two Qatar Airways Qsuite tickets that would have cost roughly $20,000 in cash.
DeAndre and Erin walk through how shopping portals actually work, how to choose between earning transferable points, airline miles, status, or cash back, and why timing purchases around elevated multipliers can dramatically increase your returns. They discuss Rakuten, American Airlines AAdvantage eShopping, Capital One Shopping, Viator, browser extensions, airline shopping portals, and the importance of understanding exclusions before making a purchase. Erin also explains how shopping portals can play a major role in earning American Airlines Loyalty Points and maintaining elite status without relying entirely on flying.
The conversation gets practical with strategies for stacking portal rewards with credit card earnings and Amex Offers, tracking purchases that fail to credit, taking screenshots before large transactions, and planning purchases around Black Friday and other promotional periods. DeAndre and Erin also discuss Check Before You Shop, a newer tool designed to compare shopping portal rates and help users track rewards. The biggest takeaway is simple: purchases you already make can become a meaningful part of your travel strategy when you take a few extra seconds to shop through the right portal.
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The BoldlyGo Podcast: Revolutionizing Your Journey, a podcast by DeAndre Coke - Stats, Episodes and Rankings - My Podcast Data
Timestamps:
(00:00) Can Your Retirement Account Earn Travel Points?
(02:58) Meet Harry, Co-Founder of Silo Markets
(04:27) What Is Silo Markets and How Does It Work?
(06:30) How Your Investment Portfolio Earns Silo Points
(09:03) Blue, Gold and Platinum Membership Plans Explained
(10:29) Moving Investments to Silo and Supported IRA Accounts
(12:01) How Points Are Calculated and Redeemed
(13:00) Cash Redemptions, Travel Bookings and Upcoming Transfer Partners
(14:00) What Can You Actually Invest in Through Silo?
(18:28) When Does Paying for Silo Actually Make Financial Sense?
(21:23) Where Your Money Is Held and What Happens If Silo Shuts Down
(24:00) Silo's Biggest Limitation and the Push for Transfer Partners
(26:25) Using Retirement Savings to Generate Travel Rewards Today
(30:56) Silo vs. Symphony and Who Controls Your Investments
Key Highlights:
Earn Points From Investments: Silo currently offers 0.5 points per dollar of portfolio value annually, paid out monthly.
$100K Could Earn 50K Points: A $100,000 qualifying portfolio could generate approximately 50,000 Silo points over a year.
Three Membership Tiers: Silo offers Blue, Gold, and Platinum plans with points earning caps based on portfolio size, reaching up to $1 million on the Platinum plan.
Up to 500K Points Per Year: A qualifying $1 million portfolio on the Platinum plan could generate up to 500,000 points annually at the current earning rate.
Retirement Accounts Qualify: Silo supports traditional IRAs, rollover IRAs, and Roth IRAs, along with individual brokerage accounts. Joint and trust accounts can also be supported by contacting Silo.
Transfer Existing Investments: ACATS transfers allow eligible stocks and ETFs to move from another brokerage without requiring investors to sell those positions first.
Cash and Travel Redemptions: Points can currently be redeemed for cash at 1 cent each or used through Silo's travel portal covering hundreds of airlines and hotel options.
Transfer Partners Are Coming: Harry says direct transfer partners are Silo's biggest current priority, with the company targeting several partners before eventually expanding the roster further.
Know Your Break-Even Point: According to Harry, the approximate portfolio levels needed to break even on membership fees through points are $20,000 for Blue, $50,000 for Gold, and $200,000 for Platinum at the current redemption value.
Most Users Are Saving Their Points: Harry says 82% of points issued have not yet been redeemed and 80% of customers have never redeemed a point, with many waiting for transfer partners.
Retirement Savings Can Generate Rewards Today: One of Silo's most interesting concepts is allowing eligible retirement assets to generate points that can be used separately without withdrawing the underlying retirement funds.
Silo Is Self Directed: Investors remain responsible for choosing and managing their own investments rather than having Silo actively manage the portfolio.
(08:09) Earn Flying Blue Miles When Buying Apple Products
(09:35) BoldlyGo Live Miami Update and Final Thoughts
Key takeaways:
Chase 3/24 Rumors: Reports suggest Chase may be testing stricter approval requirements for certain business cards, particularly the Ink lineup, although data points remain mixed and Chase has not officially announced a change.
Use Your Q3 Credits: September is almost over, making this the final opportunity to use quarterly credits that reset at the end of Q3.
Citi Adds Japan Airlines: Citi ThankYou has added Japan Airlines Mileage Bank as a 1:1 transfer partner and is currently offering a 30% transfer bonus.
Watch JAL Expirations: Japan Airlines miles expire after 36 months and cannot be extended, making speculative transfers particularly important to consider carefully.
Bilt Adds Amtrak: Bilt Rewards has added Amtrak Guest Rewards as its first rail transfer partner, creating another option for using points to position for trips or travel around the United States.
Bilt Card Upgrades: Select Bilt cardholders may now be able to upgrade their cards without a hard credit pull, with some targeted offers reportedly including a bonus.
Citi Tightens Bonus Rules: Citi has changed the welcome bonus language on its Strata family, replacing the previous 48 month restriction with once per lifetime language for individual cards.
Chase to Hyatt Changes: Starting October 1, some Chase cardholders will receive less than the traditional 1:1 value when transferring Ultimate Rewards points to World of Hyatt.
Freedom Flex Gets Better Abroad: The Chase Freedom Flex has eliminated foreign transaction fees while keeping its $0 annual fee and rotating bonus categories.
Earn Flying Blue Miles on Apple: Flying Blue’s dedicated Apple storefront can offer miles on eligible Apple purchases, including some newer devices commonly excluded from other shopping portals.
Need Global Travel Insurance? We recommend World Nomads
This podcast is part of the Voyascape Network, a collection of some of the world’s best travel podcasts. Explore more at Voyascape Podcast Network . For advertising or sponsorship opportunities on this show and across the network, email advertising@voyascape.com or you can find more information at Voyascape Ads.
Timestamps:
(00:00) Intro: The App That Tracks All Your Credit Card Benefits
(03:55) Meet Sagar and How the BoldlyGo Community Helped Build Creddy
(05:26) Why Sagar Created Creddy and the Problem It Solves
(08:18) Live Demo: Cards, Benefits, Loyalty Programs and Points Balances
(12:14) Keeper Cards: Are Your Annual Fees Actually Worth It?
(14:15) Smart Sorting, Expiration Alerts and Automatic Credits
(18:19) Tracking Cardmember Year Benefits and Hidden Credit Card Perks
(24:11) Points Expirations, Free Night Certificates and Vouchers
(26:42) Tracking Welcome Bonuses, Elite Status and Spending Goals
(28:20) Transfer Bonuses and More New Creddy Features
(30:42) Creddy Pricing and the Special BoldlyGo Discount
(32:53) What's Coming Next: Desktop, Automation and Plaid Integration
(36:31) Community Feedback and Helping Shape the Future of Creddy
(37:39) Final Thoughts and Why DeAndre Is Using Creddy
Key Highlights:
One Points & Miles Command Center: Creddy brings credit cards, benefits, annual fees, loyalty programs, certificates, vouchers, and spending goals into one dashboard.
Never Miss a Credit: Users can track monthly, quarterly, semiannual, annual, and cardmember year benefits with expiration reminders.
Built With BoldlyGo: Members of the BoldlyGo community helped beta test Creddy and suggest features before its official launch.
Keeper Card Tracking: Creddy helps compare annual fees against the credits and benefits actually being used to evaluate if a card deserves a long term spot in your wallet.
Smart Benefit Tracking: Benefits can be marked as automatic, manually completed, or hidden so users are not overwhelmed by credits that do not require attention.
Hidden Card Benefits: Creddy can surface lesser known benefits that cardholders may not realize are included with cards they already have.
Loyalty & Certificate Tracking: Users can monitor points balances, expiration dates, free night certificates, companion certificates, and other vouchers.
Spending Goals: Creddy can track progress toward welcome bonuses, elite status, free night certificates, and other spending based benefits.
Transfer Bonus Tracking: The platform also brings current transfer bonuses into the same ecosystem.
More Automation Is Coming: Future plans include additional integrations, desktop functionality, and potentially using Plaid to automate more of the tracking process.
This podcast is part of the Voyascape Network, a collection of some of the world’s best travel podcasts. Explore more at Voyascape Podcast Network . For advertising or sponsorship opportunities on this show and across the network, email advertising@voyascape.com or you can find more information at Voyascape Ads.
Timestamps:
(00:00) Auckland Arrival Chaos Begins
(03:25) The Missing Entry Paperwork Mistake
(06:17) New Zealand’s Strict Biosecurity Rules
(07:34) Our Delayed Luggage Nightmare
(09:40) Tracking Our Lost Bags with SpotMinders #ad
(11:30) Getting Medical Care in Auckland
(13:34) Staying at Park Hyatt Auckland
(17:10) What We Actually Did in Auckland
(19:35) Essential Auckland & New Zealand Travel Tips
Key takeaways:
Complete entry documents early: Missing paperwork nearly caused them to miss their flight to New Zealand.
Elite status can matter: Oneworld status gave them access to a faster check in experience during a critical moment.
Biosecurity is serious: New Zealand has strict arrival procedures travelers need to prepare for.
Track every checked bag: Luggage trackers became extremely useful once their bags were delayed.
Travel insurance paid off: Coverage helped reimburse expenses and activities lost due to illness and luggage problems.
A great hotel adds real value: Park Hyatt Auckland became their recovery base when the trip went sideways.
Build recovery time into long trips: Auckland's slower pace helped them reset before Queenstown and their campervan adventure.
Need Global Travel Insurance? We recommend World Nomads
This podcast is part of the Voyascape Network, a collection of some of the world’s best travel podcasts. Explore more at Voyascape Podcast Network . For advertising or sponsorship opportunities on this show and across the network, email advertising@voyascape.com or you can find more information at Voyascape Ads.
(08:09) New IHG Card Offer and Huge Amex Hilton Bonuses
(10:05) How We Used Hilton Certificates to Book a $22K Calala Island Stay
(14:34) Wyndham's New Award Chart
(15:16) Qatar Reverses Its Avios Traveler Restriction
(15:58) Emirates and Air France Open Huge Business Class Award Space
Key takeaways:
IHG 20K Promotion: Targeted members can earn 20,000 bonus points after two qualifying paid nights within 60 days of registration.
Aeroplan Card Refresh: The annual fee increases to $195, but new benefits include Aeroplan 25K status, up to $100 in Air Canada credits, and 15% off eligible awards.
TSA Water Bottle Pilot: TSA is reportedly considering allowing PreCheck travelers to bring full water bottles through security at select airports equipped with newer scanners.
CardPointers Version 8: The latest update adds improved automatic offer syncing, AI integrations, new widgets, and tools for choosing the best card for a purchase.
Symphony Transfer Partners: The anticipated rollout has shifted from early September to approximately late October or early November.
Hilton Free Night Certificates: Elevated Hilton card offers make it possible to earn valuable unrestricted free night certificates through multiple cards.
$22K Calala Island Stay: DeAndre and Taryn built a strategy around five Hilton free night certificates that could cover an approximately $22,000 five-night stay in Nicaragua.
Wyndham Award Changes: Wyndham now prices free nights at 5,000, 15,000, 30,000, or 45,000 points per bedroom per night.
Qatar Reverses Restriction: Privilege Club members can once again redeem Avios for other travelers without maintaining a predefined traveler list.
Huge Business Class Availability: Emirates is showing up to seven award seats on some North America to Dubai flights, while Air France is showing as many as nine business class seats on select Paris to New York dates.
Need Global Travel Insurance? We recommend World Nomads
This podcast is part of the Voyascape Network, a collection of some of the world’s best travel podcasts. Explore more at Voyascape Podcast Network . For advertising or sponsorship opportunities on this show and across the network, email advertising@voyascape.com or you can find more information at Voyascape Ads.
Timestamps:
(00:00) Intro: When the Dream of Full-Time Travel Becomes Too Much
(03:00) Meet Carrie Yoder and Her Role at Frequent Miler
(04:55) How Carrie Started Traveling Full Time
(06:58) Discovering Points & Miles While Traveling on a Budget
(12:00) The Evolution of Nomadic Life and Using IHG Points
(17:47) How Points Changed the Way Carrie Traveled
(19:54) Visiting 70 Countries and What Kept Her Going
(26:04) Why Carrie Finally Walked Away From Nomadic Travel
(30:06) Getting Paid to Move to West Virginia With Ascend WV
(33:11) From P2 to P1 and Rediscovering Points & Miles
(36:45) Rebuilding Credit and Creating Her Own Card Strategy
(43:00) Figuring Out What Travel Looks Like on Her Own
(46:35) Using Daydream Explorer to Find New Travel Inspiration
(49:07) Carrie's Role at Frequent Miler and What's Coming Next
(51:15) Final Thoughts on Nomadic Life and Why She Still Recommends It
Key Highlights:
Nomadic Life: Carrie spent years traveling full-time and has now visited around 70 countries.
Travel Can Become Routine: Even extraordinary destinations can lose some of their magic when constant travel becomes everyday life.
IHG Strategy: Cheap stays, promotions, and award opportunities made IHG especially valuable during Carrie's nomadic years.
Travel Burnout Is Real: Years of moving constantly eventually left Carrie craving stability, routine, and a permanent home base.
Moving to West Virginia: Carrie joined Ascend WV, a program offering financial incentives and other benefits to remote workers who relocate to the state.
From P2 to P1: After years of participating in a two player points strategy, Carrie is now building and managing her own credit card and rewards strategy.
Rebuilding Credit: Carrie started carefully with a Capital One Savor card while focusing on improving her credit and avoiding unnecessary complexity.
Travel With Intention: Carrie's biggest challenge now is deciding where she genuinely wants to travel instead of simply chasing another destination.
Points Feel New Again: Building her own balances has brought back some of the excitement and curiosity she experienced when first discovering points and miles.
A New Chapter: Carrie's story shows how travel goals and points strategies can evolve dramatically as life changes.
This podcast is part of the Voyascape Network, a collection of some of the world’s best travel podcasts. Explore more at Voyascape Podcast Network . For advertising or sponsorship opportunities on this show and across the network, email advertising@voyascape.com or you can find more information at Voyascape Ads.
Timestamps:
(00:00) Intro: A Special Announcement From DeAndre
(01:08) Why DeAndre Wanted a New Way to Support BoldlyGo
(02:23) Introducing the Official BoldlyGo Patreon
(03:12) Why All BoldlyGo Content Will Continue to Be Free
(04:16) What Goes Into Producing and Growing BoldlyGo
(05:08) The Charitable Mission Behind the Patreon
(06:21) 20% Donated to Charity Plus a Matching Contribution
(07:09) Supporting BoldlyGo Is Completely Optional
Key Highlights:
BoldlyGo Patreon: The new Patreon provides an optional way for the community to financially support BoldlyGo and the resources it continues to create.
Everything Stays Free: Podcast episodes, bonus content, travel strategies, guides, videos, and community resources will remain freely available.
No Paywalled Community: Contribution levels will not determine access to information or create separate levels within the BoldlyGo community.
Supporting Future Growth: Patreon contributions can help support the costs associated with producing and expanding BoldlyGo content and resources.
20% Goes to Charity: Twenty percent of every Patreon contribution will be donated to Give Kids The World Village.
Double the Impact: DeAndre's financial planning practice will match the charitable contribution generated through Patreon.
Give Kids The World: The organization provides week long, cost free wish vacations to children with critical illnesses and their families.
Completely Optional: Listening, subscribing, sharing, reviewing, and participating in the community remain meaningful ways to support BoldlyGo without contributing financially.
This podcast is part of the Voyascape Network, a collection of some of the world’s best travel podcasts. Explore more at Voyascape Podcast Network . For advertising or sponsorship opportunities on this show and across the network, email advertising@voyascape.com or you can find more information at Voyascape Ads.
(04:30) American Airlines and Hyatt Are Ending Their Partnership
(05:52) Hyatt Announces a New Partnership With Delta
(06:52) What the Delta + Hyatt Partnership Could Mean
(07:38) The Hyatt Status Challenge That Helped DeAndre Earn Globalist
(09:38) September 11 Reflection and Closing Thoughts
Key takeaways:
Capital One Venture Offer: The Venture Rewards card offers 75,000 miles plus a $300 hotel credit after you meet the spending requirement.
Bask Bank Bonus: New Miles Savings customers can earn 20,000 bonus AAdvantage miles after maintaining a $50,000 balance for 90 days.
I Prefer Gold Shortcut: AARP members can earn I Prefer Gold status after one eligible Preferred Hotels stay booked through the AARP rate.
AARP Has No Retirement Age Requirement: Membership is available to adults 18 and older, making the hotel status opportunity accessible to younger travelers too.
20K Amex Offer: Eligible cardholders can earn 20,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $1,000 with Air France or KLM under the targeted offer.
AA + Hyatt Partnership Ending: The enhanced American Airlines and World of Hyatt relationship is coming to an end, although some existing benefits will continue during the transition.
Delta + Hyatt Partnership: Hyatt is replacing that relationship with a new long term collaboration with Delta SkyMiles.
Elite Members Will Cross Earn: Eligible Hyatt elites will be able to earn Hyatt points on qualifying Delta flights, while Delta Medallion members can earn SkyMiles on qualifying Hyatt stays.
Hyatt Status Challenges Could Change: The biggest potential loss may be the Hyatt status challenge opportunities previously available through American Airlines elite status.
Globalist Strategy Impact: DeAndre originally earned Hyatt Globalist through one of these 90-day challenges, making this partnership change especially significant for similar travelers.
Need Global Travel Insurance? We recommend World Nomads
This podcast is part of the Voyascape Network, a collection of some of the world’s best travel podcasts. Explore more at Voyascape Podcast Network . For advertising or sponsorship opportunities on this show and across the network, email advertising@voyascape.com or you can find more information at Voyascape Ads.
Timestamps:
(00:00) Intro: How Online Shopping Can Pay for Business Class Flights
(03:37) Meet Erin Lynch and Her Points & Miles Journey
(07:14) Where Shopping Portals Fit Into a Points Strategy
(12:26) Rakuten, AAdvantage eShopping and Other Portal Options
(14:30) Elevated Multipliers, Viator and Earning Airline Status
(19:27) How Erin Earned 100K Amex Points in One Quarter
(23:01) Shopping Portal Mistakes That Can Cost You Thousands of Points
(26:00) Capital One Shopping and Comparing Online Deals
(31:00) What to Do When Your Shopping Portal Points Don't Track
(35:41) How Long Does It Take for Shopping Portal Points to Post?
(39:01) Black Friday and Timing Purchases for Huge Multipliers
(42:00) Turning Shopping Rewards Into Two Qatar Airways Qsuites
(46:37) Check Before You Shop and Comparing Portal Rates
(50:17) Tracking Missing Rewards, Erin's Travel Philosophy and Final Thoughts
Key Highlights:
Shopping Portals: Online purchases you already make can generate additional points, miles, cash back, and even airline elite status progress.
100K Amex Points: Erin earned more than 100,000 Membership Rewards points from Rakuten in a single quarter.
Qsuite Redemption: Roughly 100,000 points helped Erin book two Qatar Airways Qsuite tickets worth around $20,000 in cash.
Rakuten Strategy: Rakuten can turn cash back into Amex Membership Rewards or Bilt Points, creating significantly more potential travel value.
AAdvantage Status: American Airlines eShopping can earn both redeemable miles and Loyalty Points toward elite status.
Wait for Multipliers: Portal rates change constantly, so waiting for elevated offers can turn the same purchase into significantly more rewards.
Stack Your Rewards: Shopping portals can often be combined with credit card earnings and eligible card offers for multiple layers of value.
Protect Large Purchases: Screenshots can provide valuable proof when a major transaction fails to track correctly.
Black Friday Strategy: Holiday shopping periods can produce some of the strongest portal multipliers of the year.
Compare Before Buying: Tools like Check Before You Shop can help identify which portal currently offers the best return.
This podcast is part of the Voyascape Network, a collection of some of the world’s best travel podcasts. Explore more at Voyascape Podcast Network . For advertising or sponsorship opportunities on this show and across the network, email advertising@voyascape.com or you can find more information at Voyascape Ads.
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