Hurdy Gurdy Travel Podcast

Justin Vacula of the Hurdy Gurdy Travel Podcast shares a remastered, shorter conversation with Ben Komenkul of Ben’s Big Deal, a points-and-miles and credit card rewards expert who leads a travel rewards community, hosts monthly Zoom meetings, and redeems more than one million points each year for family travel.

Ben recommends treating points and miles as a marathon rather than a sprint, avoiding analysis paralysis, and applying for credit cards strategically. He explains why transferable currencies can be especially valuable and why simpler Chase cards can be a good starting point for beginners.

Whether you are just getting started with points and miles or already have multiple rewards cards, this episode covers practical ways to earn more points, avoid common mistakes, stay organized, and travel better for less.

Timestamps

00:00 Points And Miles Intro
00:32 Remastered Episode Setup
01:10 Meet Ben Of Ben’s Big Deal
02:02 ZorkFest And Travel Hacking
04:30 Ben’s Points And Miles Origin Story
07:32 Beginner Strategy Basics
09:06 Meeting Minimum Spend
11:23 Annual Fees And Big Bonuses
13:42 Responsible Credit Card Use
16:55 Trip Planning And Point Values
18:04 Family Player Two Strategies
19:59 Deal Stories And Manufactured Spending
23:44 Meetups And Hobby Challenges
29:12 Tools To Stay Organized
30:38 Credit Card And Hotel Masterclasses
34:30 Where To Find Ben
34:52 Podcast Outro And Credits

—
🎙️ 📢 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
—

💜 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 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/

Using Points, Miles & Credit Card Bonuses to Travel Better for Less | Special Guest: Joseph Petrovic

Justin Vacula of the Hurdy Gurdy Travel Podcast re-releases and remasters a past conversation with Joseph Petrovic of Award Travel 101 about using points, miles, credit card rewards, transferable currencies, bank bonuses, and loyalty programs to travel at low cost.

Recorded again for release in October of 2026, the conversation explores how Joseph got started in points and miles around 2017–2018, how he got his wife involved in the hobby, and why Facebook groups, conferences, meetups, and networking can help beginners learn faster.

Justin and Joseph discuss the fundamentals of a responsible credit card rewards strategy, including paying balances in full, avoiding interest, maximizing category bonuses, and using flexible points.

They also discuss airline transfer partners such as Air Canada Aeroplan and Avianca LifeMiles, along with the trade-offs between cashback rewards, award travel, elite status, hotel certificates, and other loyalty benefits.

Timestamps

00:00 Podcast Theme Song
00:32 Intro
01:14 Player Two Buy-In
03:08 Dave Ramsey vs Points and Miles
05:17 Networking And Points Communities
10:24 Better Travel With Points
12:32 Offers, Gift Cards, And Bank Bonuses
16:10 Discounted, not Free Travel
20:07 Why Banks Offer Bonuses
23:28 Elite Status Strategy And Math
27:46 Aspirational Trips And Upgrades
30:13 Cards, Plans, And Beginner Advice
34:37 Where To Find Joseph
35:28 Outro And Support Links

—
🎙️ 📢 Listen to the Hurdy Gurdy Travel Podcast:

🔔 Subscribe on 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 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 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/

Rove Adds JetBlue TrueBlue + Limited-Time 20% Transfer Bonus

Justin Vacula of the Hurdy Gurdy Travel Podcast welcomes Carissa Rawson from Rove to discuss Rove’s new JetBlue TrueBlue partnership and a limited-time 20% transfer bonus running from October 15 through November 14, 2026.

Justin and Carissa also explain how Rove works as a free travel rewards platform that does not require a credit card. Users can earn Rove Miles through hotel bookings, flights, shopping, dining, gift cards, referrals, and other activities.

The episode also covers JetBlue’s economy experience, free Wi-Fi, Mint business class, and the airline’s expanding partnership with United Airlines. Justin and Carissa discuss how JetBlue TrueBlue fits into Rove’s growing list of transfer partners and how travelers might use the new partnership for domestic and international award travel.

Carissa also shares updates on the Rove app, including Android availability, upcoming poissible holiday promotions, instant-earning Rove gift cards, and other product developments coming to the platform.

Timestamps

00:00 Theme Song
00:35 Intro
01:27 What Is Rove?
02:06 Earning Rove Miles And Referrals
02:47 JetBlue TrueBlue Partner And 20% Bonus
04:20 JetBlue Economy And Free Wi-Fi
05:39 Mint And Qsuite Redemptions
06:56 United Partnership And Award Search
08:23 Instant Transfers And Rove Growth
09:35 More Transfer Bonuses
10:51 Listener Question: International Expansion
12:05 Upcoming Possible Promos And App Updates
14:38 Rove Gift Cards Update
16:41 Wrap Up And Reminders

—
🎙️ 📢 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/

—
💜 Support My Work & Unlock Special Perks:

👉 Support me through 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/

Is the Barclays Luxury Card Black Card Finally Worth It? 75K Bonus + Triple-Dip Strategy

Justin Vacula of the Hurdy Gurdy Travel Podcast joins co-host Darren to discuss whether Barclays' $699 annual-fee Luxury Card Mastercard Black Card is finally worth considering after launching an elevated 75,000-point welcome bonus.

The new offer awards 75,000 points after $6,000 in qualifying spend. The card markets those points as worth up to $1,500 toward airfare or $1,125 in cash back. Justin and Darren explain the redemption math, including the card’s 1.5-cent-per-point cash-back value and 2-cent-per-point value when redeeming toward airfare through the Luxury Card travel portal.

The episode focuses on a potential late-December 2026 application strategy designed to maximize calendar-year credits. Justin and Darren discuss whether opening the card in mid-to-late December 2026 could create a triple dip opportunity across three calendar years for the card’s $200 annual airline credit and $100 annual dining credit.

Timestamps

00:00 Intro Theme
00:32 Black Card Overview
01:38 Welcome Bonus Math
03:03 Triple-Dip Strategy
04:36 Airline Credit Terms
05:22 Using Airline Credits
08:37 Dining Credit Terms
09:36 Gift Card Workarounds
12:24 Keeper Cards
15:13 Sponsor Break
16:17 Better Barclays Alternatives?
20:58 Who Should Get It
24:43 Ratings And Comparisons
30:46 Final Verdict And Wrap Up
31:41 Outro And Support Links

🎙️ 📢 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

👉 …and many other podcast platforms worldwide! 🌍🎧

—
💜 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 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/

U.S. Bank Business Essentials Cards 2026: $1,000 Bonus, 5% Category & Jessica Alba

Justin Vacula of the Hurdy Gurdy Travel Podcast is joined by returning co-host Darren to discuss U.S. Bank’s two new business credit cards launching in late September 2026: the U.S. Bank Business Essentials Plus Card and the no-annual-fee U.S. Bank Business Essentials Card.

The Business Essentials Plus Card comes with a $295 annual fee and a $1,000 cash bonus after $15,000 in spending within 150 days. It earns 2% cash back on purchases and 5% cash back in your top eligible spending category each month, on up to $200,000 in annual purchases.

Justin and Darren also explain the card’s higher earning tiers tied to 30-day average balances in an eligible U.S. Bank business checking account.

Timestamps
00:00 Theme Song Intro
00:32 Episode Setup and New Cards
02:03 Jessica Alba and Press Release
05:13 Business Essentials Plus Card
09:46 Business Essentials Card
12:44 Best Pick and Alternatives
16:18 Break and Support the Show
16:50 Business Credit Card Strategy
18:57 Listener Question: Checking Account Terms
24:03 Final Thoughts and Who Should Apply
26:42 Upcoming Travel Plans and Support the Show
30:30 Closing Theme

🎙️ 📢 Listen to the Hurdy Gurdy Travel Podcast:

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

👉 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 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/