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Dust off your mouse ears and get ready for a Family Trip to Disney! Hey, it’s Alex and Jess here, your favorite travel moms! (Just kidding, Pam! We miss you! Pam is out traveling the world, so it’s just us two today.) In this show we’re going to share some tips on how you can […]

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In the fall of 2021, my kids and I went to Disneyland with my mom, sisters, nieces, and nephews. We had a group of 14, and we had such a great time! Of course, we visited Disneyland on points. Credit card points and benefits helped us save big time for this trip. We also maximized […]

Castle

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  We love hearing from readers who we did a consult with and hearing about their successes! Karin tells us how she is doing since then, and her Disney trip sounds truly magical! Hi moms, (we love her opener!) My name is Karin, and I found you guys in Dec 2021 on TikTok. I really […]

Two women on float in front of castle

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For all of you Disney lovers out there, this is the reader success story for you! Joy has used points and miles for numerous trips to their parks. There is nothing like visiting the happiest place on earth! Thanks, Joy for sharing your reader success story about using points and miles for Disney!   Disney […]

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When you think of using Hilton Honors points, you might picture an overwater bungalow in the Maldives or a beachfront resort in the Caribbean. But some of the very best redemptions are right here in the United States. From water parks and lazy rivers to private beaches and unforgettable wildlife encounters, Hilton has family-friendly resorts […]

Points Talk® | Hyatt Changes & Devaluation: How Are Things Looking?

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What’s changed in Hyatt’s award chart and how is it affecting travelers? In this episode, the Points Talk Squad breaks down the recent Hyatt devaluation and what it means for points redemptions. You’ll hear their first impressions of the program after the May 2026 changes and the key updates travelers need to know. The Squad […]

Points Talk® | The Best Online Shopping Portals: Stop Leaving Points on the Table

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Are you getting all the points you could when shopping online? In this episode, the Points Talk Squad breaks down how to use online shopping portals to earn more rewards, including tips for popular portals like Rakuten. They also explain how tools like Savewise can alert you to points and cashback opportunities, so you never […]

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We love our flexible currencies, and Capital One Venture miles are a favorite, so we wanted to share the real ways you can use them for upcoming travel. Capital One has quietly built one of the best transfer partner lineups in the points-and-miles world.  For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the […]

Points Talk® | Oahu on Points: A Family-Friendly Hawaii Adventure

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Are you dreaming of a family trip to Hawaii? In this episode, Alex and Jess are joined by Megan to share their experience planning a trip to Oahu, Hawaii, using points. From flights to accommodations, they break down how they made this dream vacation affordable and how you can do the same. The Squad walks […]

Points Talk® | Visiting New York City and Chicago with Kids on Points

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What’s it like to visit a big city with kids, and is it actually easier than it seems? In this episode, Alex and Jess share what it looked like to take their families to New York City and Chicago, and why these trips can be more manageable and fun than you might expect. They walk […]

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If you’ve ever taken the family to Disney World, you know that Disney magic can be hard on any parent’s wallet! But at least you can save (or splurge, if you prefer) on your flights and hotel accommodations with points and miles.  In this series of blog posts, we show you ways to get to […]

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We are all still collectively mourning the changes World of Hyatt is making to their award chart starting May 1st, 2026. If you have been following us for a while, you know we are Hyatt girls through and through. For years, we have been saving all our precious Chase Ultimate Rewards® specifically for Hyatt redemptions. […]

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Megan shared her ten-day trip to Japan as our latest reader success story. Here it is:   In April of 2025, my family of four (me, my husband, and two kids—ages 6 and 8 at the time) successfully executed our first major miles and points redemption. We traveled to Japan and spent a total of […]

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We love our Marriott Bonvoy credit cards because most of them come with an annual free-night award each year on your cardmember anniversary. A couple even sometimes come with free-night awards as part of the welcome offer! The card_name comes with a free-night award every year after your account anniversary, valid for a one night […]

Points Talk | Using Points for Kids’ Sports, Road Trips, and Family Travel

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What if you could cover the cost of all those road trips, tournaments, and quick overnight stays without paying out of pocket? In this episode, Alex, Pam, and Jess share how points and miles can be used for the kind of travel families are already doing, from kids’ sports weekends to airport stays and visiting […]

Points Talk | Making Your African Safari More Affordable with Points and Miles

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An African safari can feel completely out of reach for most families, but what if there were ways to bring that cost down using points and miles? In this episode, Jess, Megan, and Pam break down how to make a safari more affordable, from flights to lodging and everything in between. The Squad walks through […]

Westin Kaanapali Beach Resort

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Hawaii is one of the top destinations for using points and miles, and one of our very favorites. When it comes to Marriott points, there is no shortage of hotels in Hawaii to redeem them at! In this guide, we’ll show you all the many options you have for using points to book one of […]

Points Talk | Making Points and Miles Work for You!

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Can you use points and miles in a way that actually fits your life, not someone else’s highlight reel? In this episode, The Points Talk Squad breaks down the many different ways this hobby can work depending on your goals, your season of life, and what kind of traveler you are. From bougie hotel lovers […]

Points Talk | Points and Miles for Low Spenders

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Can you travel on points without spending a lot? In this episode, Alex, Pam, and Jess share how low spenders can still earn and redeem points for flights, hotels, and more. They break down practical strategies for earning rewards without the need for big monthly expenses. The Squad discusses how everyday purchases like groceries, gas, […]

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We left Jenn and her family of four in Istanbul last Friday. Here is the continuation of her story to Christmas markets and Amsterdam:   After an amazing time in Istanbul, we took an inexpensive economy flight (around $100) on Turkish Airlines to Cologne, Germany. At Istanbul Airport, we had access to the IGA lounge […]

Points Talk | Booking Award Travel and Business Class Deals with Thrifty Traveler

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Do you get overwhelmed booking award travel, especially business class flights? In this episode, Alex and Jess are joined by Gunnar Olson and Kyle Potter from Thrifty Traveler to talk through what really goes into finding great award opportunities. They share how they each got started with points and miles, how they approach finding strong […]

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Editorial Note: Opinions expressed here are author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.