Award Travel 101

I Quit...to Travel

Season 3 Episode 35

Angie and Joe are off traveling this week, so Mike takes over the podcast with community member Erin Kilpatrick to discuss her “mid-life renaissance” this year which would not have been possible without award travel. Listen to her journey through Ecuador (Galapagos), Uruguay, England/Wales, Norway, Denmark, Faroe Islands and Sweden along with future plans in Portugal, Turkiye, Brazil, Germany, and Tunisia.

By the Numbers Thus Far
4.5 months, 50 hotel award nights, 58 paid nights: (cheap in S. America), 40 other nights free w/ friends/family, volunteer work, 12 award flights, 9 cash flights ($2000)

What Erin Has Learned

  • Diversification! Variety of points and mile currencies.
  • Focus on the more important things in life
  • Hilton program- 5th night free
  • Choice Hotels - secret of Europe
  • Amex uber credits work in Ecuador (USD)
  • Capital One Points- Redeem through Capital One statement credits vs Travel portal.
  • Fringe benefits of the award travel credit cards/status
  • Priority Pass - Most lounges are great outside the US, even in tiny airports.

Link to more of Erin's story: Mid-life renaissance!

Where to Find Us

  1. The Free 110k+ member Award Travel 101 Community.
  2. To book time with our team, check out Award Travel 1-on-1.
  3. You can also email us at 101@award.travel
  4. Our next meetup will be May 16-18, 2025 in Chicago! Tickets are SOLD OUT but visit the Chicago 2025 Meetup page to secure a spot on the waitlist.

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