{"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":"What to Ask Your Hotel Concierge: Free Upgrades, Insider Deals, and What Most Travelers Miss","slug":"what-to-ask-your-hotel-concierge-free-upgrades-insider-deals-and-what-most-travelers-miss","published_at":"2026-07-22T07:10:00+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/smart-travel-upgrade-your-getaways-7201309/what-to-ask-your-hotel-concierge-free-upgrades-insider-deals-and-what-most-travelers-miss","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/ARML7345203193.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/ARML7345203193.mp3","summary":"Learn what hotel concierges can do for your next stay, from getting free upgrades to saving you money. Hosts Meghan Coyle and Sally French explore what hotel concierges could do for your next stay. But first, they break down the latest travel headlines, including the opening of the new Chase Sapphire Lounge at Dallas-Fort Worth Airport, a new points-conversion and status-challenge partnership between World of Hyatt and Air Canada's Aeroplan program, and Marriott Bonvoy's expanded partnership with Japan Airlines that could fast-track travelers to Oneworld elite status. Then, joined by Fredrick Jones, Director of Rooms & Guest Relations at NH Hotel Group, they explore what hotel concierges can realistically do for guests, with tips on whether upgrades without elite status are possible, how to request perks most travelers don't think to ask for, and why a four-star property with a strong concierge desk could rival a five-star experience. They also help listener Sharon figure out how to put 150,000 Chase points to work for a family trip to Hawaii. 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 Reserve Review: A High-End, High-Maintenance Card Chase Sapphire Reserve for Business Review: Big Perks, Bigger Fee Best Marriott Bonvoy Credit Cards of July 2026 Resources discussed in this episode: First Look at the New Dallas Chase Sapphire Lounge Hyatt-Air Canada Partnership Adds Redemptions, Status Challenges PointsYeah Award Search Review: A Great Tool for Points Collectors Points Path Review: A…","meta_description":"Learn what hotel concierges can do for your next stay, from getting free upgrades to saving you money. Hosts Meghan Coyle and Sally French explore what ho…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":2894,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/smart-travel-upgrade-your-getaways-7201309/episodes/what-to-ask-your-hotel-concierge-free-upgrades-insider-deals-and-what-most-travelers-miss/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/what-to-ask-your-hotel-concierge-free-upgrades-insider-deals-and-what-most-travelers-miss.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}