Family Travel Unpacked: Make the Most of Travel With Kids

Is it worth taking your kids back to a vacation destination you've already visited? In this episode, I share why repeat family trips are often the smarter move, especially for multigenerational travel, plus the honest downsides and how to make a return trip to Costa Rica, Hawaii, Italy, Alaska, Puerto Rico, or Amsterdam feel brand new.

Every family trip we have planned for the next six months is a repeat destination: Miami, New York, Costa Rica, a mystery state, and Amsterdam and Paris. In this episode, I explain why that's not a rut. Going back lets you scout logistics for a big group, explore new regions, see a place through older kids' eyes, and travel with a lot less planning stress.

In this episode:

• Why I scout destinations with just the four of us before planning winter break for our extended family of about 13
• Lessons from Riviera Maya, Hawaii, and Costa Rica: group transportation, restaurant reservations, accessible hotels, pacing, drive times, and car-sickness routes
• Going deeper on a return visit: Rome versus the Dolomites in Italy, three very different Alaska trips, and two Puerto Rico trips that felt like different destinations
• Amsterdam with a newborn and a toddler versus Amsterdam with two teens
• How familiarity makes family travel easier, including knowing where to find Celiac-safe, gluten-free food
• The downsides of repeat vacations: less novelty, limited school breaks, changed expectations, and why Celiac would make a return trip to Japan harder
• Questions to ask before choosing a new destination or a return trip
• Simple ways to make a repeat trip feel fresh

Timestamps

• 00:00 — Every trip is a repeat
• 02:00 — Why go back?
• 02:36 — Scouting for big groups
• 07:48 — Going deeper
• 11:56 — Same place, older kids
• 14:44 — The comfort of familiarity
• 16:47 — The downsides
• 21:02 — New or return?
• 21:55 — Making it feel fresh
• 23:59 — Wrap-up

Related Episodes

• S1 Ep. 45 — Alaska With Kids: Anchorage Edition with My Teen
• S1 Ep. 35 — From Tot to Teen: How Travel With Kids Changes Through the Stages
• S1 Ep. 37 — Portugal with Kids: Itinerary, Tips and My Honest Take
• S2 Ep. 2 — London with Kids
• S2 Ep. 5 — Azores with Kids: The Full São Miguel Guide
• Hawaii vs Costa Rica: Showdown in Paradise
• Dolomites With Kids: What Families Need to Know
• Making Multi-Generational Travel Work for Everyone
• Celiac Travel Tips for Families

Destination Guides

• Costa Rica travel planning
• Hawaii travel planning
• Where to stay on Oahu
• Best resorts in Riviera Maya for families
• Summer Northern Italy itinerary + recap
• Alaska travel planning hub
• Puerto Rico with kids
• Things to do in Miami with kids
• NYC attractions for kids

Points & Miles

• Best credit cards for family travel

Don't miss this inspiring, practical travel with kids podcast hosted by family travel expert Melissa Conn, founder of The Family Voyage, certified Child Passenger Safety Technician, and mom of two who proves family travel is achievable for everyone.

Blog The Family Voyage

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Chase Sapphire credit cards

What apps and websites make planning a family trip with points and miles easier? In this episode, I walk through the exact tools I use for every trip, from finding award seats and nonstop routes to organizing the itinerary and getting through travel day with kids.

It started with a mistake. This morning I discovered I'd booked a return flight a full month too late, and a tool I've had for almost 20 years would have caught it. So here's my whole toolkit, in the order I use it, including the ones I should be using more.

In this episode:

• Why Thrifty Traveler Premium's deal alerts and credit card benefit tracker are worth the subscription
• My backwards search trick on FlightsFrom to find nonstop gateways from any destination
• How I use PointsYeah, PointsPath Pro, and seats.aero to find award seats, plus the programs PointsYeah is missing
• Why you should always confirm award space with the airline before transferring points
• The Google Sheets layout I use to build every itinerary, plus the shared doc that stores all our loyalty numbers
• How TripIt keeps confirmations in one place (and how it would have caught my mistake)
• Where AI fits in my planning, and where it doesn't
• The United, Hilton, and Avis app features that make travel days easier
• The Allyz app from our annual Allianz policy, and when to compare policies on Squaremouth
• Earning extra on tours, rental cars, and cash hotel stays with shopping portals and CardPointers

Deal Alerts & Card Benefits

• Thrifty Traveler Premium (save $20 with code THEFAMILYVOYAGE)

Route Finding

• FlightsFrom
• FlightConnections

Award Search

• PointsYeah
• PointsPath
• https://seats.aero

Trip Organizing

• TripIt

Travel Insurance

• Squaremouth (compare travel insurance policies)

Shopping Portals & Card Offers

• Rakuten
• TopCashback
• Capital One Shopping
• CardPointers (lifetime plan discount)

From The Family Voyage

• Fall Break Destinations for Families
• Best credit cards for family travel

Don't miss this inspiring, practical travel with kids podcast hosted by family travel expert Melissa Conn, founder of The Family Voyage, certified Child Passenger Safety Technician, and mom of two who proves family travel is achievable for everyone.

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Chase Sapphire credit cards

How many days do you actually need in the Azores with kids, and is São Miguel worth the trip? This is the full São Miguel guide — flights and points, renting a car, where to stay, the best hot springs and waterfalls, whale watching, and the honest story of how our four days actually went, weather included.

We paired this trip with a stop in London (full recap in Season 2, Episode 2), and if you want the complete points and miles breakdown for the whole ten-day trip, that's back in Season 1, Episode 42. This episode is just about São Miguel: what it's like, what to do, where to stay, and what we'd change next time.

In this episode:

• Why the Azores feel nothing like mainland Portugal, even though they're technically part of it
• How long you actually need on São Miguel (we had four days — here's why that wasn't quite enough)
• Best time of year to visit and how the island's microclimates can wreck a tight itinerary
• The points and miles breakdown for getting to and from São Miguel, plus why renting a car is non-negotiable
• Where to stay: the DoubleTree by Hilton in Lagoa on points, plus Pedras do Mar and Senhora da Rosa for cash bookings
• Scenic lookouts, waterfalls, hot springs (including the one that's nearly impossible to book), whale and dolphin watching, and a pineapple farm
• Our actual day-by-day itinerary, weather setbacks and all
• A split family verdict: how Jacob, Shoshana, Ronnie, and Melissa each felt about the island differently

Timestamps

• 00:00 — Intro & Recap of the Trip
• 00:52 — Why the Azores Aren't Mainland Portugal
• 04:03 — How Long You Actually Need
• 06:07 — Best Time of Year to Visit
• 07:16 — Flights, Points & Renting a Car
• 10:50 — Where to Stay on São Miguel
• 13:18 — Best Things to Do
• 20:04 — Our Actual Day-by-Day Itinerary
• 22:39 — Family Verdict & What We'd Change

Links

The Full Guide

• São Miguel, Azores Travel Guide — full write-up with the map, packing list, and activity details mentioned in this episode

Related Episodes

• S1 Ep. 42 — How We Planned London & Azores on Points
• S1 Ep. 49 — London vs. Azores Recap: A Kid's Take
• S2 Ep. 2 — London with Kids: What We Loved, What Surprised Us, and What We'll Do Differently Next Time

Where We Stayed

• DoubleTree by Hilton Lagoa — booked on points, full Hilton transfer math in the guide
• Pedras do Mar Resort & Spa — splurgier north coast pick
• Senhora da Rosa — cash booking, pool table and a pineapple-greenhouse hot tub

Things to Do

• Poça da Dona Beija hot springs
• Caldeira Velha tickets — book the moment your dates are set, slots go fast
• Whale & dolphin watching tour
• SpotAzores live weather cams (São Miguel)

Car Rental

• Discover Cars — São Miguel local rental options

Flight Deals

SAVE $20 on Thrifty Traveler Premium

Don't miss this inspiring, practical travel with kids podcast hosted by family travel expert Melissa Conn, founder of The Family Voyage, certified Child Passenger Safety Technician, and mom of two who proves family travel is achievable for everyone.

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Is the Chase Sapphire Reserve still worth its $795 annual fee after the 2025 overhaul — and what does the Chase Sapphire Preferred's new 4:3 Hyatt transfer ratio mean for your points? This episode breaks down every change to both Sapphire cards this year, why Melissa upgraded back to the Reserve with no welcome bonus, and exactly how she used Chase's "The Edit" hotel program to book two rooms for four nights in Amsterdam for 100,000 points and fifty dollars.

In this episode:

• What the Chase Sapphire Reserve looked like in 2016 vs. what it costs and covers now
• Why Melissa and her husband downgraded to Freedom Unlimited in 2023 — and why that trick doesn't work anymore
• The Chase Sapphire Preferred's June 2026 overhaul: the Hyatt transfer ratio drop, the doubled hotel credit, and what's grandfathered until October
• Three reasons Melissa upgraded to the $795 Reserve without a welcome bonus
• A full breakdown of The Edit: split reservations, price-matching, and stacking Points Boost to book Amsterdam's Kimpton De Witt for next to nothing
• Why Melissa isn't sure she'll keep chasing Hyatt Globalist status, and what that means for her hotel strategy going forward

Timestamps:

00:00 Welcome
03:15 Chase Sapphire Reserve Refresh
04:51 Chase Sapphire Preferred Refresh
09:08 Why I Upgraded Again
13:16 Chase Travel's The Edit (My Booking Hacks)
18:13 More Resources and Wrap Up

Resources:

• Chase Sapphire Preferred: What's Changing and What You Should Do About It
• 3 Reasons I Upgraded to the Chase Sapphire Reserve (Even Without a Bonus)
• Case Study: The Edit Shines in Amsterdam

Cards mentioned

• Chase Sapphire Reserve / Preferred
• Chase Ink Business Preferred / Sapphire Reserve for Business
• Chase Freedom Unlimited

General resources

• Best Credit Cards for Family Travel
• Free Travel resource page

Don't miss this inspiring, practical travel with kids podcast hosted by family travel expert Melissa Conn, founder of The Family Voyage, certified Child Passenger Safety Technician, and mom of two who proves family travel is achievable for everyone.

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Nine years ago this month, Melissa's family packed up the car and set off on what was supposed to be a one-year adventure — and turned into almost two. In this reflective episode, she looks back at what actually stuck: the deep family bond that full-time travel built, why "owning your happiness" became a lasting family value, and how those lessons still shape the way they travel.

In this episode:

• The 2017 family trip that turned into two years on the road
• The two biggest takeaways from full-time travel — and why neither one is really about travel at all
• How those lessons still show up in how the family plans trips today, even short ones
• Why this isn't a "quit your job" pitch, and small, realistic ways to build in a pause without upending your life

Don't miss this inspiring, practical travel with kids podcast hosted by family travel expert Melissa Conn, founder of The Family Voyage, certified Child Passenger Safety Technician, and mom of two who proves family travel is achievable for everyone.

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Chase Sapphire credit cards

Family travel to London with kids: what we loved, what surprised us, and what we'd do differently on our next trip

We just spent five days in London with the kids, and rather than walk you through a stop-by-stop itinerary (that's what the blog article is for), this episode is the honest debrief: each of our four favorite things from the trip, where we ate, what caught us off guard about the city, and what's already on the list for next time.

IN THIS EPISODE

• Where we stayed near King's Cross and why the location mattered more than the room size
• Each of our four top picks: Harrods, the Tower of London and Changing of the Guard, the Warner Bros. Studio Tour, and two West End/Globe shows
• Where we ate - afternoon tea at the Ampersand, Hobson's Fish & Chips, a 100% gluten-free splurge at Niche, and Mango Indian
• What surprised us about London, good and bad
• What we'd do differently on our next visit

Timestamps

• 00:00 — Introduction
• 02:11 — Getting There & Getting Around
• 04:34 — Where We Stayed
• 07:00 — The Highlights: Our Four Favorite Things
• 15:32 — Food Highlights
• 12:36 — What Surprised Me
• 16:02 — What We'd Do Differently Next Time

Resources

• Our 5 Day London With Kid Itinerary
• Where to Stay in London with Kids on Points (by Program)
• Changing of the Guard guided tour
• Tower of London tickets
• Episode 42 — How We Planned London & Azores on Points
• Episode 49 — London + Azores: A Kid's Take
• Best Credit Cards for Family Travel
• Join the newsletter

Coming Soon on the Blog

• Warner Bros. Studio Tour London: Tips & Tricks

Don't miss this inspiring, practical travel with kids podcast hosted by family travel expert Melissa Conn, founder of The Family Voyage, certified Child Passenger Safety Technician, and mom of two who proves family travel is achievable for everyone.

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Episode Description
My most popular article of the year — now an episode. A region-by-region fall break guide for families, plus four spots that didn't make the original article.

East Coast Fall Break Escapes: New York City · Finger Lakes · Washington DC · Colonial Williamsburg · Philadelphia · Boston · Sarasota · Orlando · Iceland

Midwest Fall Break Favorites: Chicago · Cleveland · Louisville · St. Louis · Aruba & Curaçao

Mountain/West Fall Break Options: Arizona · San Diego · Yosemite · Hawaii · La Paz, Mexico

Plus: why fall beats spring break and summer for weather, crowds, and price — and how we use points and miles to book most of it without a strict budget.

Season 2 of Family Travel Unpacked starts here. Hit follow so you don't miss what's next.

Timestamps

• 00:00 — Season Two Kickoff
• 01:48 — Why Fall Break Works
• 04:21 — East Coast Fall Break Escapes
• 15:49 — Midwest Fall Break Favorites
• 20:41 — Mountain/West Fall Break Options
• 26:23 — Wrapping Up

Resources

Awesome Fall Break Destinations for Families

East Coast

• NYC attractions for kids:
• Finger Lakes with kids
• Watkins Glen hiking tips
• Best things to do in DC with kids
• Williamsburg, Jamestown & Yorktown itinerary
• Colonial Williamsburg tips
• Fun things to do in Sarasota with kids
• Orlando with tweens
• Tips for Universal Studios Orlando
• Best Iceland tours
• Visiting Iceland on a budget

Midwest

• Louisville weekend itinerary
• Lexington, KY weekend itinerary (Louisville day trip)
• Day trips from Cleveland
• St. Louis with kids

Mountain/West

• Scottsdale & Phoenix with kids
• 8 great things to do in Arizona with kids
• San Diego with kids
• Where to stay in San Diego with kids
• Things to do on Oahu with kids
• Things to do on Maui with kids
• Things to do on Kauai with kids
• Big Island 5 Day Itinerary

Don't miss this inspiring, practical travel with kids podcast hosted by family travel expert Melissa Conn, founder of The Family Voyage, certified Child Passenger Safety Technician, and mom of two who proves family travel is achievable for everyone.

Blog The Family Voyage

Get your free ebook The Busy Mom's Guide to Free Travel

Check out my favorite travel gear and my Etsy shop!

Chase Sapphire credit cards

Our Trip Fell Apart (But Our Points Didn't) — Plus How to Travel for Free with Kids

A Southwest delay killed our Charleston beach trip — but because it was booked on points, we walked away without losing a dime. Here's exactly how we unwound three different award bookings, plus a full breakdown of how to earn and use points to travel with kids for free.

Melissa was supposed to be recapping a family beach getaway to Wild Dunes, a Hyatt resort near Charleston. Instead, a cascading Southwest delay forced a last-minute cancellation — and this episode walks through how to cancel an award flight, an award hotel stay, and a rental car booking without eating the cost. Then it's a deep dive into the credit card and points strategy that makes free family travel possible in the first place.

In This Episode

• How to cancel an award flight and get every point back
• What really happens when you cancel a hotel award stay inside the cancellation window
• Two ways to avoid a last-minute hotel cancellation fee
• Why rental car bookings through travel portals (Capital One, Chase, Priceline) can get complicated
• Why earning points is harder for families than solo travelers
• The fastest way to earn points: credit card sign-up bonuses
• Best starter cards for family travel (Chase Sapphire Preferred, Ink Business)
• How to search and book award flights (Google Flights, PointsYeah, AwardTool, airline alliances)
• What a repositioning flight or drive is, and when it's worth it
• The Southwest Companion Pass strategy for families
• Hotel points strategy for families (Hyatt, IHG, Hilton, Choice)
• Practical tips for booking flights and hotel rooms with kids

Chapters

00:00 Intro & catching up
01:00 The Wild Dunes trip and the cancellation cascade
03:00 Unwinding the points: flight, hotel, and rental car
08:30 Why points are harder to use for families
09:30 Earning points: sign-up bonuses and transferable points
13:00 Booking award flights (tools, alliances, repositioning)
18:30 The Southwest Companion Pass
20:30 Hotel strategies: Hyatt, IHG, Hilton, Choice
25:00 Practical tips and wrap-up

Chase Sapphire credit cards
Best Travel Credit Cards for Families
Southwest Companion Pass
Four Reasons I LOVE Award Travel
How to get discounted rental cars
Chase Freedom credit cards
Chase Ink Business credit cards
Capital One Venture X credit card

Don't miss this inspiring, practical travel with kids podcast hosted by family travel expert Melissa Conn, founder of The Family Voyage, certified Child Passenger Safety Technician, and mom of two who proves family travel is achievable for everyone.

Blog The Family Voyage

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Planning a weekend trip to Philadelphia? We spent 24 hours in the city using points for flights and a free hotel night, hitting Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, and some of the best Israeli food in the country.

We flew nonstop on American using Alaska Atmos points, stayed at the Hyatt Centric Rittenhouse Square on a free night certificate, and packed in a museum, three restaurants, and a same-day Independence Hall reservation — all in one night.

In this episode:

• Booking nonstop American flights with Alaska Atmos points (9,000 for first class out, 4,500 for economy home)
• A free night at the Hyatt Centric Rittenhouse Square using a Hyatt credit card certificate
• The Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History's exhibit on the Jewish merchants who supplied the American Revolution
• Dinner at Zahav, brunch at Dizengoff, and lunch at Goldie — three spots from chef Michael Solomonov's CookNSolo group
• Booking a same-day Independence Hall tour through recreation.gov
• Where past Philly trips with the kids fit in — the Franklin Institute, the Academy of Natural Sciences, and the Museum of the American Revolution

Timestamps (estimated — confirm against final recording before publishing)

00:00 — Intro
01:15 — How we booked it: Alaska Atmos points
03:00 — Past Philly trips & who it's for
04:30 — Weitzman Museum exhibit
06:00 — Zahav, Dizengoff, and Goldie
08:00 — Independence Hall in 25 minutes
09:30 — Liberty Bell and Rittenhouse Square
11:00 — Hyatt Centric review + outro

Don't miss this inspiring, practical travel with kids podcast hosted by family travel expert Melissa Conn, founder of The Family Voyage, certified Child Passenger Safety Technician, and mom of two who proves family travel is achievable for everyone.

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Boston with kids doesn't have to mean one long trip — after two separate weekend visits in the same year, here's what's worth doing, where to stay on points, and the one expense that caught us off guard. In this episode 50 recap, I compare two Hyatt Regency stays booked on free night certificates, share the Alaska Atmos points trick that got us into first class for less than economy, and break down where to eat, tour, and skip the rideshare surprise that cost us the most.

In this episode:

• Why we're recapping two different Boston trips — one with our daughter last summer, one solo-parent-turned-family-reunion this year — in a single episode
• Booking first class on American Airlines for just 9,000 Alaska Atmos points each, because airfare spiked and economy award seats disappeared
• Hyatt Regency Boston vs. Hyatt Regency Boston Harbor: same category 4 free night certificate, two completely different trips
• Boston Tea Party Museum and a guided Freedom Trail walking tour — why paying for a guide beat doing it ourselves in our 20s
• The surprise expense
• Getting around Hyatt Regency Boston Harbor without a car: the shuttle, the $2.40 ferry, and why weekends are trickier than weekdays
• Who Boston is best for, from toddlers to a no-kids weekend away

Boston travel resources
Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum
Freedom Trail guided tour
Duck boat tourHyatt Place Boston/Seaport

Don't miss this inspiring, practical travel with kids podcast hosted by family travel expert Melissa Conn, founder of The Family Voyage, certified Child Passenger Safety Technician, and mom of two who proves family travel is achievable for everyone.

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Wondering whether London or the Azores is the better pick for your next family trip? In this episode of Family Travel Unpacked, my 12 year old takes over as our tween travel expert and gives her honest, unfiltered review of both destinations, from Harrods and the West End in London to hiking, hot tubs, and Europe's only tea plantation in São Miguel, the Azores.

We just got back from London and the Azores, and this trip felt like two completely different vacations back to back — a huge European capital followed by a small, nature-focused island. Shoshana breaks down what surprised her, her favorite hotel, how gluten-free eating (she has Celiac disease) compared between the two, and which destination won her over in the end.

We also booked this entire trip on points, covering flights and hotels for basically nothing out of pocket until we landed. The full breakdown of the 600,000-plus points we used is back in Episode 42, and full-length, in-depth episodes on London and the Azores individually are coming later this summer and into fall.

In this episode:

• What it's really like traveling with a tween through London vs. São Miguel, Azores
• Hotel reviews: The Standard London vs. DoubleTree by Hilton São Miguel
• Must-do family activities in London, including the Jellycat store at Harrods and the West End show Hadestown
• Why São Miguel felt like "the Hawaii of the Atlantic" — hiking, the rooftop and indoor pools, and Europe's only tea plantation
• Navigating gluten-free and Celiac-friendly eating in London and the Azores, including a splurge-worthy dinner at Niche Gluten Free
• Shoshana's honest verdict: London or São Miguel, and what she'd do differently next time
• A reminder that this trip was booked almost entirely on points — full breakdown in Episode 42

Timestamps:
00:00 — Intro & the Episode 42 points recap
01:23 — Bringing in our tween travel expert
02:16 — London highs and lows
04:00 — Azores highs and lows
06:09 — Gluten-free travel: London vs. the Azores
08:04 — Wrapping up

Don't miss this inspiring, practical travel with kids podcast hosted by family travel expert Melissa Conn, founder of The Family Voyage, certified Child Passenger Safety Technician, and mom of two who proves family travel is achievable for everyone.

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Kids Flying Alone? Everything Parents Need to Know About Unaccompanied Minor Travel

Can kids fly alone — and how does it actually work? This episode covers everything parents need to know about domestic unaccompanied minor travel, from airline policies and fees to what really happens at the airport. Melissa shares firsthand experience from multiple solo flights her own kids have taken, breaks down the rules for every major US carrier, and explains how to use points to book UNMR tickets. Jacob and Shoshana also join to share advice directly for kids about to take their first solo flight.

In this episode:

• What unaccompanied minor (UNMR) service is and which ages it applies to
• Age-based nonstop vs. connecting rules — and why United is the strict outlier
• Fee structures and policies for American, Delta, United, Southwest, and Alaska
• How to book UNMR flights with points — and when partner bookings get complicated
• Credit cards that can offset the $150 UNMR fee (Amex Platinum, Hilton Aspire, Citi Strata Elite, and more)
• The airport process step by step: two-hour arrival, gate passes, regular security (no PreCheck/CLEAR), waiting until the plane is airborne
• What to have ready before you get to the check-in counter
• What to tell your child if the pickup adult isn't there when they land
• Baggage strategy: backpacks only, ship the big bags for camp trips
• Keeping in touch: Apple Watch, Apple Cash, Airalo eSIM, FlightAware
• Jacob and Shoshana's advice for kids taking their first solo flight

Timestamps:

• 01:30 — What UNMR service is
• 03:45 — Airline policies and fees
• 09:00 — Accompanying adult age rules
• 09:45 — Booking with points
• 12:30 — Credit cards that offset the fee
• 13:30 — The airport process
• 21:00 — Preparing your child
• 25:15 — Jacob and Shoshana's advice

Don't miss this inspiring, practical travel with kids podcast hosted by family travel expert Melissa Conn, founder of The Family Voyage, certified Child Passenger Safety Technician, and mom of two who proves family travel is achievable for everyone.

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Chase Sapphire credit cards

Six low-effort habits for earning more travel points and miles as a family - no new credit cards required.

In this episode, you'll learn six specific strategies to earn extra points and miles without opening a single new credit card. From shopping portals and smarter everyday spending to a gift card trick that can fund hundreds of thousands of points a year, this episode covers it all, including a couple of strategies most people never think to try.

In this episode:

• How shopping portals and browser extensions stack bonus points on every online purchase
• Why the Chase Freedom Unlimited beats the Sapphire cards for everyday spending — and how to combine points across cards
• The office supply store gift card trick that can add tens of thousands of points a year
• How the Paze digital wallet is currently offering a huge bonus on Chase cards
• Why watching your email and mailbox for targeted offers can pay off in a big way
• How Card Pointers Plus automatically finds and activates credit card offers
• How to ask for retention offers when an annual fee comes due
• Why referral links are a win-win for you and your friends

Timestamps
00:00 — Intro
01:15 — Shopping portals
04:10 — Smarter daily spend cards & gift card strategy
09:17 — Targeted offers
11:08 — Card Pointers Plus
12:35 — Retention offers
15:01 — Referral bonuses
17:04 — Wrap-up

Links & Resources

Shopping Portals & Cash Back

• Rakuten (sign up and get a $50 bonus)
• TopCashback (sign up and get a $10 bonus)
• Doctor of Credit (for gift card deals) - Staples and Office Depot
• Paze merchant directory

Tools

• Card Pointers Plus

Credit Cards Mentioned

• Chase Sapphire Preferred / Reserve
• Chase Freedom Unlimited
• Chase Ink Business cards
• United credit cards

Related Reading

• Chase Sapphire Preferred: What's Changing and What You Should Do About It
• The Southwest Companion Pass Trick
• Free ebook: The Busy Mom's Guide to Free Travel

Don't miss this inspiring, practical travel with kids podcast hosted by family travel expert Melissa Conn, founder of The Family Voyage, certified Child Passenger Safety Technician, and mom of two who proves family travel is achievable for everyone.

Blog The Family Voyage

Get your free ebook The Busy Mom's Guide to Free Travel

Check out my favorite travel gear and my Etsy shop!

Chase Sapphire credit cards

Packing for Alaska? There are a few items that most people overlook — and after three trips, Melissa knows exactly what they are. In this bonus episode, she shares the five things she never travels to Alaska without, including one she loves so much she packed a spare pair for a friend.

In this episode:

• Why rain pants belong on every Alaska packing list (even if it doesn't rain)
• The collapsible lunch containers that save Alaska days
• The bug protection hack that doesn't touch your liquid allowance
• What to actually look for in waterproof hiking shoes for families
• Why binoculars are non-negotiable in Alaska

What to pack:

• Rain pants: women's in multiple lengths | kids
• Insect repellant shirt
• Silicone collapsible lunch containers
• Waterproof hiking shoes: Columbia men's | Columbia women's | Adidas teen | kids
• Binoculars

Alaska travel planning resources:

• Full Alaska packing list
• Alaska itinerary eBook
• All Alaska resources

Don't miss this inspiring, practical travel with kids podcast hosted by family travel expert Melissa Conn, founder of The Family Voyage, certified Child Passenger Safety Technician, and mom of two who proves family travel is achievable for everyone.

Blog The Family Voyage

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Check out my favorite travel gear and my Etsy shop!

Chase Sapphire credit cards

Thinking about visiting Alaska with teens? My 14-year-old son joins me for a mother-son Alaska recap — and spoiler: he caught a king salmon just 12 hours after landing and hasn't stopped talking about it since. We cover four days of adventures based entirely out of Anchorage, and I break down how we pulled off the whole trip on points without paying for flights or hotels out of pocket and highlight our favorite things to do in Anchorage and on day trips.

In this episode:

• King salmon fishing on the Knik River (yes, we both caught one)

• Biking the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail — 25 miles, multiple moose, and a very dramatic race back to the bike shop

• The Phillips Cruises 26 Glacier Cruise out of Whittier, including calving glaciers and a whole lot of sea otters

• Driving the Turnagain Arm: eagles at Bird Point and wildlife at Beluga Point

• A scenic float into the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge

• The Alaska Native Heritage Center — surprisingly not just educational

• Where to eat in Anchorage (the halibut and chips at 49th State Brewing deserve their own billing)

• How we booked this entire trip in five weeks on Alaska miles, Southwest points, and Hyatt points

Timestamps:

00:00 — Intro
01:44 — King salmon fishing near Anchorage
06:07 — Biking the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail
10:39 — Phillips 26 Glacier Cruise from Whittier
17:29 — Alaska Native Heritage Center + Eagle River Nature Center
20:16 — Kenai River float into the National Wildlife Refuge
23:00 — Where to eat in Anchorage
25:47 — Alaska with a teen wrap up
28:50 — Flights, hotel, and rental car logistics
36:21 — Wrapping up

Resources:

Alaska travel planning hub
Anchorage guide
Day trips from Anchorage
Renting a car in AlaskaAlaska packing listRental car savings
Alaska itinerary eBook

Award travel:

How to travel free with kids
Best credit cards for family travel
Southwest Companion Pass guide

Related episodes:

• Ep. 17 — Southwest Companion Pass basics

• Ep. 32 — Alaska by land

• Ep. 41 — Companion Pass + World of Hyatt

Activities mentioned:

Knik River fishing charterPhillips Cruises 26 Glacier Cruise
Alaska Native Heritage Center
Kenai Rever float trip, Cooper Landing

Don't miss this inspiring, practical travel with kids podcast hosted by family travel expert Melissa Conn, founder of The Family Voyage, certified Child Passenger Safety Technician, and mom of two who proves family travel is achievable for everyone.

Blog The Family Voyage

Get your free ebook The Busy Mom's Guide to Free Travel

Check out my favorite travel gear and my Etsy shop!

Chase Sapphire credit cards

Get the quick highs and lows in this Grand Hyatt Scottsdale review + recap episode, all in less time that it takes to drink your morning coffee! Find out if this could be the right resort for your trip to Scottsdale with kids - and what might be the biggest drawback for many families.

Check prices at Grand Hyatt Scottsdale

Amex Platinum Card for The Hotel Collection bookings: $300 statement credit, $100 property credit, breakfast for 2, guarantee 4pm late checkout, room upgrade

Arizona with kids resources:

• Things to do in Phoenix and Scottsdale with kids
• Best Scottsdale Resorts For Families
• Best Scottsdale Family-Friendly Rentals For An Amazing Stay
• Royal Palms Resort & Spa Review: Is It the Best Romantic Getaway In Phoenix?
• How to Spend the Perfect Weekend in Scottsdale (Without the Kids!)
• 8 Great Things to do in Arizona with Kids
• Your essential Arizona packing list
• Saguaro National Park visitors guide
• 7 Fun Things To Do In Tucson With Kids
• 3 Exciting Ways to Do a Day Trip to Sedona from Phoenix
• Fun things to do in Flagstaff with kids
• Where to stay in Flagstaff with kids

Don't miss this inspiring, practical travel with kids podcast hosted by family travel expert Melissa Conn, founder of The Family Voyage, certified Child Passenger Safety Technician, and mom of two who proves family travel is achievable for everyone.

Blog The Family Voyage

Get your free ebook The Busy Mom's Guide to Free Travel

Check out my favorite travel gear and my Etsy shop!

Chase Sapphire credit cards

My carry-on has evolved over years of family travel - and at this point, it's pretty dialed in. This episode breaks down exactly what's in my bag, from the backpack I choose to the credit cards I pack and why. A few of these might surprise you!

In this episode:

• How I choose the right backpack for every trip
• The power adapter I use every single day — at home and abroad
• Why I think carefully about which credit cards to pack (and make a list)
• What I bring to actually get some sleep on overnight flights
• The carry-on essential I'm still experimenting with

Timestamps:

• 00:00 Welcome and summer travel updates
• 01:25 Choosing the right carry-on backpack
• 03:00 Power adapter and plane outlet hack
• 04:13 Cables and battery packs
• 05:23 Laptop and camera gear
• 06:32 Sunglasses and the beach rule
• 07:19 Snack strategy
• 08:06 Picking the right travel credit cards
• 10:38 Water bottle and hydration
• 11:30 Plane comfort essentials
• 12:41 Sleep tips and wrap-up

Resources:

Backpacks:

• Travelon anti-theft backpack
• REI Flash 22
• REI Trail 25

Tech & Power:

• TESSAN 100W multi-country USB/plug adapter
• Clip on portable phone/watch charger
• iWalk portable battery

Camera set:

• Olympus OM-D E-M10 body
• Olympus M.Zuiko 14-150 mm F4-5.6 II Lens
• Olympus spare battery

Sunglasses:

• Knockaround sunglasses
• Goodr sunglasses

Earbuds:

• Anker SoundCore X20 noise-canceling earbuds

Water:

• Half-liter insulated water bottle
• CamelBak hydration bladder

Don't miss this inspiring, practical travel with kids podcast hosted by family travel expert Melissa Conn, founder of The Family Voyage, certified Child Passenger Safety Technician, and mom of two who proves family travel is achievable for everyone.

Blog The Family Voyage

Get your free ebook The Busy Mom's Guide to Free Travel

Check out my favorite travel gear and my Etsy shop!

Chase Sapphire credit cards

This summer our family is heading to London and the Azores — and before we go, I'm walking you through exactly how we're paying for it with points and miles. From 32,500 AA miles per person to a $1 flight (yes, really), this episode breaks down every flight and every hotel booking and shows you what this trip would have cost in cash versus what we're actually paying out of pocket. If you've ever wondered whether the points and miles game is worth it for a family, this one's for you.

IN THIS EPISODE

• Why we paired London and the Azores together — and why we couldn't squeeze in a second island
• How booking nine months out locked us into an ideal one-stop itinerary at 32,500 AA miles per person
• The one-dollar flight from London to São Miguel — and why departure taxes matter more than you think
• How we'll get home from the Azores with United miles and a cardholder deal
• Finding a four-person hotel room in London (harder than it sounds)
• How we used Amex points — a currency we were flush with but not using enough — to cover our Azores hotel stay
• The full cash value of this trip vs. what we're actually paying

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 Welcome and Points Preview
01:32 Trip Setup and Constraints
03:22 Flights to London with AA Miles
06:36 Avios Deal and UK Departure Taxes
08:04 Flying Home from the Azores
10:36 London Hotel: The Standard with Hyatt Points
13:23 Azores Hotel: DoubleTree with Amex and Hilton Points
15:16 Total Costs and Takeaways
16:46 Wrapping Up

Credit Cards

• Chase Sapphire Preferred
• Chase Sapphire Reserve
• Capital One Venture X
• Amex Gold Card
• Amex Platinum Card

Award Search Tools

• PointsYeah
• AwardTool

More Resources

• Best Credit Cards for Family Travel
• How to Travel Free with Kids
• Episode 30 – Portugal on Points
• Episode 14 – Hacking Hotels
• Episode 7 - Travel with kids for FREE? Yes please!

Don't miss this inspiring, practical travel with kids podcast hosted by family travel expert Melissa Conn, founder of The Family Voyage, certified Child Passenger Safety Technician, and mom of two who proves family travel is achievable for everyone.

Blog The Family Voyage

Get your free ebook The Busy Mom's Guide to Free Travel

Check out my favorite travel gear and my Etsy shop!

Chase Sapphire credit cards

Southwest Companion Pass + World of Hyatt points = endless family travel possibilities. Here's how to make them work together.

What happens when you combine the Southwest Companion Pass with World of Hyatt points? You get one of the most versatile family travel strategies out there — whether you're looking for an easy long weekend at a Texas resort, a ski trip in Colorado, an eco-adventure in Costa Rica, or an all-inclusive in Jamaica. In this episode I'm breaking down how these two programs work together, walking through some of my favorite properties across several trip types, and sharing honest real-world experience from stays I've actually done with my family.

In this episode:

• How the Southwest Companion Pass works — and why having two in one household is a game-changer
• The best tip for saving even more on Southwest fares after you book
• How Chase Ultimate Rewards points transfer to World of Hyatt at 1:1 — and why that matters
• Three ways to earn a Category 1-4 free night certificate from the Chase World of Hyatt card
• What Hyatt's new five-tier award chart means for families (and the silver lining for cert holders)
• Easy long weekend getaways: Florida, Texas, New Mexico, California
• Family adventure trips: Costa Rica, Joshua Tree, skiing, Hawaii and why Anchorage is suddenly on the table
• All-inclusives: the properties, AND the important caveats families need to know before booking

Timestamps
00:00 — Welcome
01:42 — Earning the Southwest Companion Pass and Saving More After You Book
05:20 — Chase, Hyatt Points and Free Night Certificates
07:36 — Understanding Hyatt's New Award Chart
09:12 — Easy Long Weekend Getaways
18:31 — Family Adventure Trips
28:19 — All-Inclusive Resorts
32:27 — Wrap-Up

Resources

Southwest

• Southwest credit cards
• How to earn the Southwest companion pass
• Episode 17 — Southwest Companion Pass deep dive

Chase / Hyatt

• Chase Sapphire Preferred credit card
• World of Hyatt award chart

Hotel Reviews on The Family Voyage

• Andaz Costa Rica at Peninsula Papagayo
• Hyatt Regency Lost Pines
• Hyatt Regency Waikiki
• Hyatt Regency Coconut Point
• Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress

Don't miss this inspiring, practical travel with kids podcast hosted by family travel expert Melissa Conn, founder of The Family Voyage, certified Child Passenger Safety Technician, and mom of two who proves family travel is achievable for everyone.

Blog The Family Voyage

Get your free ebook The Busy Mom's Guide to Free Travel

Check out my favorite travel gear and my Etsy shop!

Chase Sapphire credit cards

Chase Sapphire Preferred vs Capital One Venture X — which travel credit card is right for your family? Melissa breaks down annual fees, earning rates, transfer partners, lounge access, and real-world redemptions to help you decide. Spoiler: you'll probably want both.

In this episode:

• Why the Venture X's $395 annual fee is effectively comparable to the Sapphire Preferred's $95 — and how the math works
• The Capital One travel portal price match trick that actually works
• Current welcome bonuses
• How the Chase Freedom Unlimited pairs with the Sapphire Preferred to maximize everyday earning
• Transfer partners: why Chase and Capital One complement each other rather than compete
• What's changing with World of Hyatt's award chart and what it means for your redemptions
• Capital One Offers: the underrated feature that scored Melissa's family 10k bonus points on an Expedia booking and 5k on StubHub — plus a jaw-dropping theme park ticket offer
• Lounge access: what the recent guest policy changes mean for families
• The Chase 5/24 rule, Capital One's inquiry sensitivity, and the right order to open these cards
• How to freeze a credit bureau before applying to improve your Capital One approval odds
• How Ronnie and Melissa divide the cards in their household — and how she uses his Venture X at Target, the grocery store and all around town

Timestamps
00:00 Welcome
02:18 Why Compare the Capital One Venture X vs Chase Sapphire Preferred?
03:37 Annual Fee Math Explained
07:01 Bonuses and Real Examples
08:22 Earning Rates and Strategy
11:45 Portals vs Transfer Partners
16:41 CapitalOne Offers Hack
18:34 Premium Perks
21:44 Application Tips
24:11 Final Recommendations

Credit Cards
Chase Sapphire Preferred
Chase Freedom Unlimited
Chase Ink Business Preferred
Capital One Venture X (Personal)
Capital One Venture X Business

Award Search Tools
PointsYeah
AwardTool

Articles
Free travel resourcesBest Credit Cards for Family Travel
Get your free ebook

Don't miss this inspiring, practical travel with kids podcast hosted by family travel expert Melissa Conn, founder of The Family Voyage, certified Child Passenger Safety Technician, and mom of two who proves family travel is achievable for everyone.

Blog The Family Voyage

Get your free ebook The Busy Mom's Guide to Free Travel

Check out my favorite travel gear and my Etsy shop!

Chase Sapphire credit cards