Episode #546

Travel Hacks Every Speaker Should Know

With Chris Hutchins

“If you don’t want to play the sign up bonus game, optimize where you’re spending but always be getting more than 2x on everything.”

Navigating the world of travel optimization can feel overwhelming, but our guest this week, Chris Hutchins, is here to break it all down. Chris, host of the All the Hacks podcast, is a master of the travel hacking world and joins us to share his insights on making the most of your travel experiences, especially as a frequent speaker.

Chris dives into the importance of loyalty when it comes to earning coveted airline miles and hotel upgrades. By picking a favorite and sticking with it, you can unlock perks that make travel more enjoyable and often less expensive. Additionally, he discusses the evolution of earning points through credit card spend and how it’s shifted the landscape of travel rewards, making it more accessible for those who play the game strategically.

Whether it’s snagging an elusive flight upgrade or scoring a better hotel room, Chris shares practical tips and personal anecdotes on optimizing travel through smart credit card use and award booking strategies. He breaks down the value of different loyalty programs, encouraging you to think about where you fly most often and aligning your strategy accordingly.

In this episode, Chris also explores the world of airport lounges and rental cars, offering hacks on how to gain access without necessarily spending a fortune. Plus, his unique perspective on balancing the allure of points with the practicality of cashback offers valuable insights for anyone looking to travel smarter. Listen in and discover how small shifts in your travel planning can lead to big rewards both personally and professionally!

You’ll learn:

  • The importance of travel optimization for speakers
  • Why loyalty matters for gaining travel rewards
  • How to adapt to changes in loyalty programs
  • Strategies for maximizing loyalty programs
  • Points and miles optimization
  • Psychological impact of using points versus cash
  • Methods for securing upgraded flights and hotel stays
  • The best ways to get access to airport lounges
  • Chris’ travel tips and hacks
  • And much, much more!

“You could have top tier status with every hotel and every airline without ever spending one night in any of them.”

Want to know exactly how to find and book more paid speaking gigs?

Download our 18-page guide to the 6 proven steps you can use to book more paid speaking gigs in 2024!

About Chris Hutchins

Chris is an avid optimizer and host of a top-ranked podcast, where he shares his quest to upgrade his life without having to spend a fortune. These passions have led him to being featured in a documentary on Financial Independence called Playing with Fire and collecting over 10 million points and miles. He’s been featured in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal and CNBC. Previously, he was the Head of New Product Strategy at Wealthfront (after they acquired his company Grove). Before that, he was an investor at Google Ventures, co-founded Milk (acquired by Google) and built an organization called LaidOffCamp.

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