{"podcast":{"title":"Smart Travel: Upgrade Your Getaways","slug":"smart-travel-upgrade-your-getaways-7201309","podcast_index_feed_id":7201309,"rss_url":"https://feeds.megaphone.fm/NRD5604144476","website_url":"https://nerdwallet.com","image_url":"https://megaphone.imgix.net/podcasts/38498f54-e32a-11ef-b372-27d8dfecb90e/image/283bb3cbb85eb4986074e0c9080616f8.jpg?ixlib=rails-4.3.1&max-w=3000&max-h=3000&fit=crop&auto=format,compress","author":"NerdWallet","episode_count":78,"summary":"Planning your next vacation? Before you budget, learn how to get the most out of your travel dollars with Smart Travel. NerdWallet’s trusted travel experts, Sally French and Meghan Coyle, are here to help your travel dollars work even harder. But the travel Nerds don’t just make recommendations; they break down the latest travel details, exploring the pros and cons of specific strategies, practical tools, and tactics. Dive deep with the experts as they lay out all the options so you can finally plan that dream vacation. So put your seat in its full upright position, buckle up, and let’s help that travel budget take you places you’ve only dreamed about. Join hosts Sally French and Meghan Coyle, two of NerdWallet’s expert travel Nerds, as they lay out tips, tools, and strategies for your next travel getaway, including: Travel budgeting: What’s the best way to budget for a vacation? How can you save money planning travel? The Nerds compare the best travel budgeting tools. Travel Strategies: Should you use travel points or travel miles? Should you Airbnb or get a hotel? The Nerds have your how-to travel guide for your next trip. Family vacation planning: Thinking of a Disney trip or s…","last_synced_at":"2026-07-22T16:20:55.756406+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/smart-travel-upgrade-your-getaways-7201309"},"episode":{"title":"The Hidden Costs of \"Cheap\" Countries: What $300 a Day in Madagascar Really Buys You","slug":"the-hidden-costs-of-cheap-countries-what-300-a-day-in-madagascar-really-buys-you","published_at":"2026-06-17T12:01:00+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/smart-travel-upgrade-your-getaways-7201309/the-hidden-costs-of-cheap-countries-what-300-a-day-in-madagascar-really-buys-you","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/smart-travel-upgrade-your-getaways-7201309","url":"https://pdst.fm/e/pfx.vpixl.com/gr1o7/tracking.swap.fm/track/YfZO4tERxneauNcW9Fgn/mgln.ai/e/211/pscrb.fm/rss/p/traffic.megaphone.fm/ARML7007487307.mp3","audio_url":"https://pdst.fm/e/pfx.vpixl.com/gr1o7/tracking.swap.fm/track/YfZO4tERxneauNcW9Fgn/mgln.ai/e/211/pscrb.fm/rss/p/traffic.megaphone.fm/ARML7007487307.mp3","summary":"Learn what it really costs to honeymoon in one of the world's least-visited countries and how to get there on points. Hosts Meghan Coyle and Sally French share what it actually costs to honeymoon in one of the world's least-visited countries. But first, they break down the latest travel headlines, including the new Chase Sapphire Preferred benefits that went live June 15th, a full Wyndham Rewards card family refresh that added a brand-new premium card, why airfares are up more than 26% year-over-year amid broader travel price increases, and highlights from AAA's new Five Diamond Hotels list. Then, they discuss Sally's Madagascar honeymoon from every angle, with tips on whether a group tour could be the right call for destinations with little tourist infrastructure, why countries with the lowest cost of living can be among the most expensive places to visit, and how to score business class seats on Ethiopian Airlines for 80,000 United miles to one of the farthest destinations from San Francisco on earth. They also feature an interview with Madagascar guide Zu Rakuthu Nirina and answer a listener’s question about using 176,000 United miles for flights from SFO to Singapore. Help us plan our next live event! Take our quick survey to let us know where you would be most excited to meet our hosts and fellow listeners: https://forms.gle/BqQz7JR6ThxdgSEY6 Card benefits, terms and fees can change. For the most up-to-date information about cards mentioned in this episode, read our reviews: Chase Sapphire Preferred Review: Strong Option for Travel Rewards 5 Things to Know About the Wyndham Rewards Earner Business Card Wyndham Credit Cards Get a Glow-Up and a New Premium Sibling Wyndham Rewards Earner Plus Review: Solid Rewards and Perks for Loyalists Wyndham Rewards Earner Credit…","meta_description":"Learn what it really costs to honeymoon in one of the world's least-visited countries and how to get there on points. Hosts Meghan Coyle and Sally French…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":3487,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/smart-travel-upgrade-your-getaways-7201309/episodes/the-hidden-costs-of-cheap-countries-what-300-a-day-in-madagascar-really-buys-you/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/smart-travel-upgrade-your-getaways-7201309/the-hidden-costs-of-cheap-countries-what-300-a-day-in-madagascar-really-buys-you.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}