Hurdy Gurdy Travel Podcast

Las Vegas Birthday Deals & myVEGAS Rewards | Free Food, Casino Offers, MGM Perks & Credit Card Stacking

Justin Vacula of the Hurdy Gurdy Travel Podcast is joined by co-host Darren to discuss how to save money in Las Vegas by stacking birthday freebies, restaurant loyalty rewards, myVEGAS rewards, casino offers, and credit card benefits.

Recorded during Justin’s September 2026 birthday month, this episode breaks down real Las Vegas birthday deals and rewards that can help travelers get free food, discounted meals, casino comps, dining credits, and extra value on the Strip.

Timestamps

00:00 Podcast Intro
00:32 Birthday Deals Preview
02:26 Vegas Offers Great Value
03:52 Planning And Stacking
05:43 Timing The Trip
06:47 Rosa Mexicano Credit
08:21 Rainforest Cafe Perks
10:28 PF Chang’s Free Starters
12:41 More Strip Freebies
15:33 Panera And Denny’s
17:42 Support And Sponsors
19:49 myVEGAS Rewards Basics
21:09 myVEGAS Food Deals
22:35 Starter Rewards Strategy
25:02 MGM Iconic Card And Status
28:15 Room Charges And Tips
30:08 Backup Credits And Comps
34:12 Favorite Picks And Drinks
37:40 Shows and More
38:49 Cruise Perks And Farewell

🎙️ 📢 Listen to the Hurdy Gurdy Travel Podcast:

👉 SoundCloud → https://soundcloud.com/hurdygurdytravelpodcast

👉 Apple Podcasts / iTunes → https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hurdy-gurdy-travel-podcast/id1489093490

👉 Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/0PRUx83Z4XKHengsgOoLWg

👉 iHeartRadio → https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-hurdy-gurdy-travel-podcast-51807405/

👉 …and many other podcast platforms worldwide! 🌍🎧

📡 Prefer using your favorite app? Simply copy & paste my podcast RSS feed:
http://feeds.soundcloud.com/users/soundcloud:users:706382626/sounds.rss
—

💜 Support My Work & Unlock Special Perks:

👉 Support me through helpful referral links on my site: https://hurdygurdytravel.com/donate-referral-links/

👉 Use my CardPointers affiliate link to save on annual and lifetime memberships → https://www.cardpointers.com/hurdygurdytravel

👉 Use my Savewise affiliate link to activate grocery coupons, maximize shopping portals, and more:
https://getsavewise.com/pro?ref=hurdygurdy

👉 Become a Frequent Traveler University member and sign up for events, including virtual seminars:
https://ftuniversity.com/?aff=24

👉 Earn 500 miles when signing up for Rove Miles using my referral link:
www.rovemiles.com/?signup&referralCode=8AS1JSG9

👉 Use my AutoPilot affiliate link to save points, miles, and money with this flight rebooking tool
https://www.withautopilot.com/?partner=HurdyGurdy

👉 Sign up for NextCard Pro features to maximize your credit card benefits:
https://www.nextcard.com/affiliates/hurdygurdytravel

👉 Use my Descript referral link to edit your podcast episodes, videos, and more. Descript offers tools, including studio sound, removal of filler words, and the ability to edit from a generated transcript.
https://descript.cello.so/yiM83psckcY
—

👉 Visit the Support Tab on my website to contribute via SubscribeStar → https://www.subscribestar.com/hurdygurdytravel

🎁 Subscriber & Supporter Perks Include:

✨ One-on-one calls with me

✨ Advance notice of upcoming podcast guests (submit your questions!)

✨ A custom podcast episode recorded just for you 🎙️💬

✨ Bonus content 🎁
—

RSVP for monthly in-person meetups in Willow Grove, Pennsylvania:
https://www.meetup.com/phillymilesandpoints/

🔔 Subscribe on YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@HurdyGurdyTravelPodcast

👍 Like on Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/HurdyGurdyTravelPodcast

🐦 Follow on Twitter / X → https://x.com/HurdyGurdyTravl

📸 Follow on Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/justinvacula/

Rove App Launch, Rove Dining, Instant-Earn Gift Cards & Major Rove Hotels Update | August 2026

Justin Vacula of the Hurdy Gurdy Travel Podcast welcomes Carissa Rawson from Rove to discuss major August 2026 updates, including the launch of the new Rove mobile app, Rove Dining, instant-earn gift cards, in-store shopping, updated browser extensions, and a major Rove Hotels refresh.

Carissa explains Rove as a flexible travel rewards program that lets users earn Rove Miles without needing a credit card. Rove Miles can be earned through hotels, flights, shopping, dining, gift cards, and other everyday spending opportunities.

The new Rove app for Android and iOS includes map-based exploration for flights and hotels, prices, earning rates, and multipliers. Justin and Carissa discuss how the app can help travelers compare earning opportunities and find better value when booking travel.

Timestamps

00:00 Points And Miles Intro
00:32 Rove Updates Preview
01:33 What Is Rove?
02:18 New Rove App Tour
03:22 Card Linking And In-Store Earnings
06:03 Rove Dining Explained
07:22 Instant-Earn Gift Cards
08:54 GiftCards.com Status
09:49 Support the Show
11:55 Rove Hotels Major Update
14:22 Loyalty-Eligible Rates
15:18 New Shopping Extensions
17:12 App Tips, Deals, And Referrals
20:30 Dynamic Dining Multipliers
21:54 Rove Meetups And Wrap Up
22:30 Outro

Listen to the Hurdy Gurdy Travel Podcast:

👉 YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@HurdyGurdyTravelPodcast

👉 Apple Podcasts / iTunes → https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hurdy-gurdy-travel-podcast/id1489093490

👉 Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/0PRUx83Z4XKHengsgOoLWg

👉 iHeartRadio → https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-hurdy-gurdy-travel-podcast-51807405/

👉 …and many other podcast platforms worldwide! 🌍🎧

📡 Prefer using your favorite app? Simply copy & paste my podcast RSS feed:
http://feeds.soundcloud.com/users/soundcloud:users:706382626/sounds.rss
—

👉 Support me through helpful referral links on my site: https://hurdygurdytravel.com/donate-referral-links/

👉 Use my CardPointers affiliate link to save on annual and lifetime memberships → https://www.cardpointers.com/hurdygurdytravel

👉 Use my Savewise affiliate link to activate grocery coupons, maximize shopping portals, and more:
https://getsavewise.com/pro?ref=hurdygurdy

👉 Become a Frequent Traveler University member and sign up for events, including virtual seminars:
https://ftuniversity.com/?aff=24

👉 Earn 500 miles when signing up for Rove Miles using my referral link:
www.rovemiles.com/?signup&referralCode=8AS1JSG9

👉 Use my AutoPilot affiliate link to save points, miles, and money with this flight rebooking tool
https://www.withautopilot.com/?partner=HurdyGurdy

👉 Sign up for NextCard Pro features to maximize your credit card benefits:
https://www.nextcard.com/affiliates/hurdygurdytravel

👉 Use my Descript referral link to edit your podcast episodes, videos, and more.
https://descript.cello.so/yiM83psckcY
—

👉 Visit the Support Tab on my website to contribute via SubscribeStar → https://www.subscribestar.com/hurdygurdytravel

🎁 Subscriber & Supporter Perks Include:

✨ One-on-one calls with me
✨ Advance notice of upcoming podcast guests (submit your questions!)
✨ A custom podcast episode recorded just for you 🎙️💬
✨ Bonus content 🎁
—

RSVP for monthly in-person meetups in Willow Grove, Pennsylvania:
https://www.meetup.com/phillymilesandpoints/

🌐 Stay Connected With Me:

🔔 Subscribe on YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@HurdyGurdyTravelPodcast

👍 Like on Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/HurdyGurdyTravelPodcast

🐦 Follow on Twitter / X → https://x.com/HurdyGurdyTravl

📸 Follow on Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/justinvacula/

Bilt Builds Better: Blade Helicopters, Blacklane Rides, Equinox Credits + August 2026 Updates

Justin Vacula of the Hurdy Gurdy Travel Podcast is joined by returning co-host Darren to discuss the latest August 2026 Bilt Rewards updates.

In this episode, Justin and Darren focus on new Bilt Cash redemption options, including Blade helicopter rides, Blacklane car service credits, and Equinox credits for spa treatments, personal training, and pilates.

Justin and Darren discuss how they are using Bilt Cash for Lyft, Walgreens, Grubhub, dining, hotel credits, and other real-world redemptions, as well as their plans to continue spending toward Bilt Platinum status.

The episode also covers a major Bilt card-servicing issue in which some cardholders were mistakenly sent to collections. Justin and Darren also discuss a new option to pay rent with Cardless Avios cards for a 3% fee while earning 3X points.

Timestamps

00:00 Intro
01:38 Bilt Explained
04:35 Blade Helicopter Redemptions
08:51 Blacklane Chauffeur Credits
12:51 Equinox Wellness Credits
18:03 Support the Show
20:18 Collections Reporting Mistake
25:30 Pay Rent With Avios Cards
29:52 Bilt Spend And Plans
33:53 Recent Trips And Wrap Up
39:30 Closing And Outro

Listen to the Hurdy Gurdy Travel Podcast:

👉 Apple Podcasts / iTunes → https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hurdy-gurdy-travel-podcast/id1489093490

👉 Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/0PRUx83Z4XKHengsgOoLWg

👉 iHeartRadio → https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-hurdy-gurdy-travel-podcast-51807405/

👉 …and many other podcast platforms worldwide! 🌍🎧

📡 Prefer using your favorite app? Simply copy & paste my podcast RSS feed:

http://feeds.soundcloud.com/users/soundcloud:users:706382626/sounds.rss

—

💜 Support My Work & Unlock Special Perks:

👉 Support me through helpful referral links on my site: https://hurdygurdytravel.com/donate-referral-links/

👉 Use my CardPointers affiliate link to save on annual and lifetime memberships → https://www.cardpointers.com/hurdygurdytravel

CardPointers helps you activate card-linked offers and take advantage of other powerful credit card features.

👉 Use my Savewise affiliate link to activate grocery coupons, maximize shopping portals, and more:

https://getsavewise.com/pro?ref=hurdygurdy
👉 Become a Frequent Traveler University member and sign up for events, including virtual seminars:
https://ftuniversity.com/?aff=24

👉 Earn 500 miles when signing up for Rove Miles using my referral link:
www.rovemiles.com/?signup&referralCode=8AS1JSG9

👉 Use my AutoPilot affiliate link to save points, miles, and money with this flight rebooking tool
https://www.withautopilot.com/?partner=HurdyGurdy

👉 Sign up for NextCard Pro features to maximize your credit card benefits:
https://www.nextcard.com/affiliates/hurdygurdytravel

👉 Use my Descript referral link to edit your podcast episodes, videos, and more. Descript offers tools, including studio sound, removal of filler words, and the ability to edit from a generated transcript.
https://descript.cello.so/yiM83psckcY

—

👉 Visit the Support Tab on my website to contribute via SubscribeStar → https://www.subscribestar.com/hurdygurdytravel

🎁 Subscriber & Supporter Perks Include:

✨ One-on-one calls with me

✨ Advance notice of upcoming podcast guests (submit your questions!)

✨ A custom podcast episode recorded just for you 🎙️💬

✨ Bonus content 🎁

RSVP for monthly in-person meetups in Willow Grove, Pennsylvania:
https://www.meetup.com/phillymilesandpoints/

—

🌐 Stay Connected With Me:

🔔 Subscribe on YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@HurdyGurdyTravelPodcast

👍 Like on Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/HurdyGurdyTravelPodcast

🐦 Follow on Twitter / X → https://x.com/HurdyGurdyTravl

📸 Follow on Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/justinvacula/

Hermitage Bay Antigua Trip Report: $2,000/Night All-Inclusive for $0 Using Hilton Free Night Certificates

Justin Vacula of the Hurdy Gurdy Travel Podcast is joined by James from the Churn and Burn Podcast to recap Justin’s all-inclusive stay at Hermitage Bay in Antigua, a luxury resort.

Justin and James discuss the full Hermitage Bay experience, including flights on American Airlines, complimentary resort transfers, the arrival process, and a beachfront villa upgrade.

Justin shares details about the beachfront villa, including the minibar, outdoor shower, mosquito nets, pop-up TV, strong Wi-Fi, beach access, and room layout. They also discuss the quiet, relaxed resort atmosphere, friendly staff, low-crowd levels, resort cats, and how Hermitage Bay compares to other luxury all-inclusive resorts.

The episode also covers the all-inclusive food and drink experience, including vegetarian accommodations, sushi happy hour, breakfast, lunch, dinner, cocktails, and the overall quality of the meals.

Timestamps

00:00 Points And Miles Intro
00:32 Hermitage Bay Overview
02:24 Flights And Arrival
03:47 Check-In And Upgrade
06:58 Villa Tour And Comfort
10:11 Resort Vibe And Crowd
11:20 All-Inclusive Dining
15:16 Activities And Amenities
20:54 Wi-Fi And Tech
21:52 Support The Show
24:09 Bugs, Wind, And Rain
26:55 Spa And Gift Card Fail
28:41 Airport Exit Issues
31:55 Calala Versus Hermitage
33:44 Listener Question: Redemption Value
38:28 Wrap Up
41:31 Final Outro

🎙️ 📢 Listen to the Hurdy Gurdy Travel Podcast:

👉 Apple Podcasts / iTunes → https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hurdy-gurdy-travel-podcast/id1489093490

👉 Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/0PRUx83Z4XKHengsgOoLWg

👉 iHeartRadio → https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-hurdy-gurdy-travel-podcast-51807405/

👉 …and many other podcast platforms worldwide! 🌍🎧

📡 Prefer using your favorite app? Simply copy & paste my podcast RSS feed:
http://feeds.soundcloud.com/users/soundcloud:users:706382626/sounds.rss
—
💜 Support My Work & Unlock Special Perks:

👉 Support me through helpful referral links on my site: https://hurdygurdytravel.com/donate-referral-links/

👉 Use my CardPointers affiliate link to save on annual and lifetime memberships → https://www.cardpointers.com/hurdygurdytravel

👉 Use my Savewise affiliate link to activate grocery coupons, maximize shopping portals, and more:
https://getsavewise.com/pro?ref=hurdygurdy

👉 Become a Frequent Traveler University member and sign up for events, including virtual seminars:
https://ftuniversity.com/?aff=24

👉 Earn 500 miles when signing up for Rove Miles using my referral link:
www.rovemiles.com/?signup&referralCode=8AS1JSG9

👉 Use my AutoPilot affiliate link to save points, miles, and money with this flight rebooking tool
https://www.withautopilot.com/?partner=HurdyGurdy

👉 Sign up for NextCard Pro features to maximize your credit card benefits:
https://www.nextcard.com/affiliates/hurdygurdytravel

👉 Use my Descript referral link to edit your podcast episodes, videos, and more. Descript offers tools, including studio sound, removal of filler words, and the ability to edit from a generated transcript.
https://descript.cello.so/yiM83psckcY
—

👉 Visit the Support Tab on my website to contribute via SubscribeStar → https://www.subscribestar.com/hurdygurdytravel

🎁 Subscriber & Supporter Perks Include:

✨ One-on-one calls with me

✨ Advance notice of upcoming podcast guests (submit your questions!)

✨ A custom podcast episode recorded just for you 🎙️💬

✨ Bonus content 🎁
—

RSVP for monthly in-person meetups in Willow Grove, Pennsylvania:
https://www.meetup.com/phillymilesandpoints/

🌐 Stay Connected With Me:

🔔 Subscribe on YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@HurdyGurdyTravelPodcast

👍 Like on Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/HurdyGurdyTravelPodcast

🐦 Follow on Twitter / X → https://x.com/HurdyGurdyTravl

📸 Follow on Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/justinvacula/

Points & Miles in 2026: Bigger Bonuses, Smarter Cards, and Underrated Loyalty Programs with Andrew Kunesh

Justin Vacula of the Hurdy Gurdy Travel Podcast welcomes Andrew Kunesh, a freelance points-and-miles writer and former CNN staffer, to discuss credit card rewards, airline and hotel loyalty programs, travel strategy, and Andrew’s new short-form newsletter, PNM Now: Fast News for Frequent Flyers.

Andrew shares how he got started in points and miles in 2014 through r/churning, using a United Explorer Card bonus and the United Excursionist Perk to visit family in Prague. He also explains how his credit card strategy has changed over time, moving from a premium-card maximalist approach to a slimmer, more cost-effective setup, including closing his Amex Platinum Card.

Timestamps

00:00 Podcast Intro Theme
00:32 Meet Andrew Kunesh
01:42 How He Started Churning
03:40 From Maximalist To Minimalist
05:23 Big Bonuses And Annual Fees
08:07 Is It Worth The Effort?
11:46 Writing For Different Audiences
12:42 Award Search And Program Wins
16:26 Ad Break And Support Links
18:42 2026 Predictions: Hyatt Premium Card
22:48 Underrated Programs: Choice, GHA, And Rove
26:42 Listener Questions: Alaska, Bilt, And Rove
29:23 Elite Status For Casual Flyers
32:12 Trips, Favorites, And Wrap Up
34:37 Outro And Closing Theme

🎙️ 📢 Listen to the Hurdy Gurdy Travel Podcast:

👉 SoundCloud → https://soundcloud.com/hurdygurdytravelpodcast

👉 Apple Podcasts / iTunes → https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hurdy-gurdy-travel-podcast/id1489093490

👉 Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/0PRUx83Z4XKHengsgOoLWg

👉 iHeartRadio → https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-hurdy-gurdy-travel-podcast-51807405/

👉 …and many other podcast platforms worldwide! 🌍🎧

📡 Prefer using your favorite app? Simply copy & paste my podcast RSS feed:
http://feeds.soundcloud.com/users/soundcloud:users:706382626/sounds.rss
—
💜 Support My Work & Unlock Special Perks:

👉 Support me through helpful referral links on my site: https://hurdygurdytravel.com/donate-referral-links/

👉 Use my CardPointers affiliate link to save on annual and lifetime memberships → https://www.cardpointers.com/hurdygurdytravel

👉 Use my Savewise affiliate link to activate grocery coupons, maximize shopping portals, and more:
https://getsavewise.com/pro?ref=hurdygurdy

👉 Become a Frequent Traveler University member and sign up for events, including virtual seminars:
https://ftuniversity.com/?aff=24

👉 Earn 500 miles when signing up for Rove Miles using my referral link:
www.rovemiles.com/?signup&referralCode=8AS1JSG9

👉 Use my AutoPilot affiliate link to save points, miles, and money with this flight rebooking tool
https://www.withautopilot.com/?partner=HurdyGurdy

👉 Sign up for NextCard Pro features to maximize your credit card benefits:
https://www.nextcard.com/affiliates/hurdygurdytravel

👉 Use my Descript referral link to edit your podcast episodes, videos, and more.
https://descript.cello.so/yiM83psckcY
—

👉 Visit the Support Tab on my website to contribute via SubscribeStar → https://www.subscribestar.com/hurdygurdytravel

🎁 Subscriber & Supporter Perks Include:

✨ One-on-one calls with me

✨ Advance notice of upcoming podcast guests (submit your questions!)

✨ A custom podcast episode
—

RSVP for monthly in-person meetups in Willow Grove, Pennsylvania:
https://www.meetup.com/phillymilesandpoints/

🔔 Subscribe on YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@HurdyGurdyTravelPodcast

👍 Like on Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/HurdyGurdyTravelPodcast

🐦 Follow on Twitter / X → https://x.com/HurdyGurdyTravl

📸 Follow on Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/justinvacula/