Hurdy Gurdy Travel Podcast

In this episode of the Hurdy Gurdy Travel Podcast, host Justin Vacula and guest Mandi share their experiences from their January 2025 cruise on Virgin Voyages' Scarlet Lady. They discuss how they secured a comp offer, the dining experiences onboard, and various port stops, including Roatan, Honduras, Costa Maya, Mexico, and Bimini Beach, Bahamas. They highlight the ship's amenities, including fitness classes, casino sessions, and ways to save money using credit card rewards. The episode also covers tips for scheduling rideshares and navigating disembarkation challenges. Finally, listener questions are addressed about MGM status and comparing the experience with other cruise lines. 00:00 Introduction to Low-Cost Travel 00:49 Virgin Voyages Cruise Overview 02:15 Dining and Rewards on the Cruise 02:51 Comp Offers and Casino Matches 06:30 Boarding and Initial Impressions 08:30 Dining Experiences on the Ship 15:47 Casino Adventures and Challenges 27:56 Delicious Dining Experiences 32:09 Exploring Fitness Classes on the Ship 34:30 Port Adventures: Roatan and Costa Maya 36:42 Bimini Beach: A Tropical Paradise 39:02 Entertainment and Shows on Board 41:07 Disembarkation and Travel Tips 45:52 Listener Questions and Future Plans 52:00 Closing Announcements and Farewell

In this Hurdy Gurdy Travel Podcast episode, host Justin Vacula reviews the newly released Hard Rock MasterCard, launched in December 2024. He discusses earning unity points through various categories such as gaming, food, merchandise, and more, highlighting benefits like free car washes, buffet discounts, and no resort fees with the Icon status. Additionally, the episode touches on the uses of unity points in multiple locations, the ease of application, and the potential for leveraging the card's perks in places like Atlantic City, Las Vegas, and Florida. The discussion also includes insights on combining this card with other rewards and status matches, concluding with a brief mention of related travel events and meetups. 00:00 Introduction to Low-Cost Travel with Points and Miles 00:50 Hard Rock MasterCard Credit Card Review 01:09 Meetups and Social Media Connections 01:49 Deep Dive into Hard Rock MasterCard Benefits 04:41 Earning and Using Unity Points 06:30 Status Matching and Tier Benefits 11:05 Using Unity Points at Various Locations 21:02 Cruise Experience and Future Plans 21:50 Closing Announcements and Upcoming Events -- Main website, including episode transcripts: https://hurdygurdytravelpodcast.com Referral links: https://hurdygurdytravel.com/donate-referral-links/ Join me for in-person meetups I host in Willow Grove, PA: https://www.meetup.com/phillymilesandpoints/ SubscribeStar: https://www.subscribestar.com/hurdy-gurdy-travel SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/hurdygurdytravelpodcast Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hurdy-gurdy-travel-podcast/id1489093490 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8EcIcoNU1HK4KKhQtTkAWw Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/hurdy-gurdy-travel-podcast Google Play: https://www.play.google.com/music/listen?u=0#/ps/l5bmuntd4wpvtklvg42ejg42ejg4apiu Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HurdyGurdyTravelPodcast Twitter: https://twitter.com/HGTravelPodcast Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/justinvacula Copy and paste the podcast RSS feed -- http://feeds.soundcloud.com/users/soundcloud:users:706382626/sounds.rss -- to listen on your favorite podcast-playing platform!

In this episode of the Hurdy Gurdy Travel Podcast, host Justin Vacula and co-host Darren Remsburg discuss how to earn MGM Gold and Platinum status using points and miles from credit card rewards. They highlight the benefits of these statuses such as waived resort fees, free parking, lounge access, and dining credits. Detailed insights into the MGM Mastercard's earning potential, including strategies for leveraging tier multipliers and promotional offers, are shared. The episode provides tips for maximizing rewards and considering the value of status based on individual travel habits. Justin also mentions upcoming events and meetups for travel enthusiasts. 00:00 Introduction to Low-Cost Travel with Points and Miles 00:50 Earning MGM Gold and Platinum Status in 2025 01:08 Meetups and Social Media Engagement 01:47 Welcome Back, Darren Remsburg 02:27 Status Matching and Cruise Opportunities 05:29 Benefits of MGM Gold and Platinum Status 12:41 MGM Mastercard: Earning Tier Levels and Benefits 22:45 Video Poker Strategies and Tips 26:32 Reducing Variance in Gambling 27:27 Credit Card Issued by First National Bank of Omaha 29:13 Using MGM Rewards Credit Card for Gambling 36:14 Maximizing Rewards with MyVegas Games 46:33 Upcoming Travel Plans and Strategies 48:11 Closing Announcements and Future Events -- Main website, including episode transcripts: https://hurdygurdytravelpodcast.com Referral links: https://hurdygurdytravel.com/donate-referral-links/ Join me for in-person meetups I host in Willow Grove, PA: https://www.meetup.com/phillymilesandpoints/ SubscribeStar: https://www.subscribestar.com/hurdy-gurdy-travel SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/hurdygurdytravelpodcast Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hurdy-gurdy-travel-podcast/id1489093490 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8EcIcoNU1HK4KKhQtTkAWw Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/hurdy-gurdy-travel-podcast Google Play: https://www.play.google.com/music/listen?u=0#/ps/l5bmuntd4wpvtklvg42ejg42ejg4apiu Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HurdyGurdyTravelPodcast Twitter: https://twitter.com/HGTravelPodcast Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/justinvacula Copy and paste the podcast RSS feed -- http://feeds.soundcloud.com/users/soundcloud:users:706382626/sounds.rss -- to listen on your favorite podcast-playing platform!

Join host Justin Vacula on the Hurdy Gurdy Travel Podcast as he discusses how to travel the world at low cost using credit card points, miles, and other rewards. In this episode, special guest Arthur Chow shares his extensive experiences and tips on maximizing travel rewards for trips to destinations like Europe, Japan, and beyond. They also delve into strategies for booking high-value award flights, navigating credit card sign-ups, and finding great hotel deals. Additionally, Justin provides updates on upcoming 2025 events like Zorkfest and Frequent Traveler University. Tune in for practical advice and inspiring travel stories. 00:00 Introduction to Low-Cost Travel with Points and Miles 01:01 Announcements and Upcoming Events 02:39 Interview with Arthur Chow: Miles and Points Journey 05:24 Vegas Adventures and Casino Comps 11:05 European Travels and Booking Tips 25:49 Exploring Christmas Markets in Europe 28:59 Festive Christmas Markets in Germany 29:39 Cold Weather and Market Timings 31:42 Unique Attractions at German Markets 32:39 German Market Foods 34:34 Affordable Prices at German Markets 34:59 Booking Flights and Hotels 35:57 Credit Card Strategies for Travel 42:33 Managing Multiple Credit Cards 45:34 Upcoming Travel Plans and Events 52:05 Conclusion and Contact Information -- Main website, including episode transcripts: https://hurdygurdytravelpodcast.com Referral links: https://hurdygurdytravel.com/donate-referral-links/ Join me for in-person meetups I host in Willow Grove, PA: https://www.meetup.com/phillymilesandpoints/ SubscribeStar: https://www.subscribestar.com/hurdy-gurdy-travel SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/hurdygurdytravelpodcast Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hurdy-gurdy-travel-podcast/id1489093490 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8EcIcoNU1HK4KKhQtTkAWw Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/hurdy-gurdy-travel-podcast Google Play: https://www.play.google.com/music/listen?u=0#/ps/l5bmuntd4wpvtklvg42ejg42ejg4apiu Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HurdyGurdyTravelPodcast Twitter: https://twitter.com/HGTravelPodcast Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/justinvacula Copy and paste the podcast RSS feed -- http://feeds.soundcloud.com/users/soundcloud:users:706382626/sounds.rss -- to listen on your favorite podcast-playing platform!