The BoldlyGo Podcast: Revolutionizing Your Journey

Quick Hits: New Amex Transfer Partner Is… Good? Bilt Rent Day Thoughts & More!

This week's Quick Hits is packed with valuable updates for travelers looking to stretch their points even further. DeAndre covers Emirates' new partner award sale, Chase Offers that can save money on Hyatt and Marriott stays, and Bilt's latest Rent Day promotion featuring Accor Live Limitless. He also explains why this month's Rent Day may not be the flashiest, but could still provide meaningful value for travelers who stay at Accor properties.The episode also highlights several opportunities that are ending soon, including multiple transfer bonuses from Capital One, American Express, Citi, and Rove Miles. DeAndre wraps things up with a reminder about the value of staying connected through the Boldly Go community, where members regularly share time-sensitive deals, award opportunities, and real-world travel experiences that often move too quickly to make it into the podcast or newsletter.Timestamps:(00:00) This Week's Quick Hits(00:40) Emirates 25% Partner Award Sale(01:02) New Chase Offers for Hyatt and Marriott(02:00) Amex Leading Hotels of the World Offer(03:05) Bilt Rent Day and Accor Live Limitless(04:45) Why This Rent Day Is Still Worth a Look(06:05) Transfer Bonuses Ending July 31(07:10) Rove Miles, Qantas and Flying Blue Updates(08:25) Cathay Pacific Transfer Bonus(09:05) Why the Boldly Go WhatsApp Community Is So ValuableKey takeaways: Emirates Award Sale: Emirates is offering 25% off partner award bookings in economy through August 9, making short-haul redemptions more affordable.Chase Offers: Eligible Chase cardholders can earn 7% back at Hyatt Place properties and 10% back at Marriott hotels by activating targeted Chase Offers.CardPointers Reminder: CardPointers can automatically activate Chase, Amex, Citi, and other card offers, helping travelers avoid missing valuable savings.Bilt Rent Day: August's Bilt Rent Day focuses on Accor Live Limitless, creating new value for travelers who regularly stay at Accor hotels.Transfer Bonuses Ending: Several popular transfer bonuses expire July 31, including promotions to EVA Air, Virgin Atlantic, and Rove Miles partners.Qantas Opportunity: Rove Miles members still have time to take advantage of a 50% transfer bonus to Qantas through August 18.Flying Blue Bonus: Citi ThankYou Rewards continues offering a 20% transfer bonus to Flying Blue.Cathay Pacific Bonus: Travelers can receive a 10% transfer bonus when moving eligible bank points through Marriott Bonvoy to Cathay Pacific Asia Miles.Community Benefits: The Boldly Go WhatsApp community regularly shares award deals, transfer bonuses, and flash promotions before they expire.Need Global Travel Insurance? We recommend World NomadsGet a travel insurance quote hereResources:BoldlyGo LIVE! Miami 5-7 RegistrationPodcast LibraryBecome a BoldlyGo blog contributorStart here to learn how to unlock nearly free travelSign up for our newsletter!BoldlyGo Travel With Points & Miles Facebook GroupSome of Our Favorite Tools For Elevating Your Points & Miles Game:Note: Contains affiliate/sponsored linksGet Autopilot: Never Overpay for a Flight or Hotel AgainCard Pointers (Saves the average user $750 per year)Zil Money (For Payroll on Credit Card)Travel FreelyPoint.meFlightConnections.comThrifty Traveler PremiumLTH Online Points & Miles In Depth Course: Use coupon code "BOLDYGO" for a 50% discount!Connect with DeAndre Coke: Instagram: BoldlyGo.worldTikTok: BoldlyGo.world Website: BoldlyGo.worldYouTube: BoldlyGoWorldYouTube: BoldlyGoTravels

Tomorrowland in Belgium: How We Used Points For The World’s Largest Music Festival (Ep. 137)

In this episode of the BoldlyGo Podcast, DeAndre and Taryn take you inside their entire Belgium and Tomorrowland adventure, from the complicated process of actually getting festival tickets to the moment they finally walked into one of the largest electronic music festivals in the world. They break down how they booked the trip, used points and miles for business class flights, stacked Amex Fine Hotels + Resorts benefits across their Brussels stay, and turned what started as a trip for a music festival into a much bigger European travel experience.Before Tomorrowland even begins, the trip delivers plenty of stories. An 11-hour flight delay completely changes their plans in New York. However, they still manage to put hotel certificates, dining credits, and travel insurance to work before flying Brussels Airlines business class to Belgium. Once there, they explore Brussels through its food, history, architecture, Belgian beer, chocolate, and one of their favorite food tours, while also fitting in a spontaneous visit to Ghent. Their stay at the Tomorrowland theme hotel then marks the transition into an entirely different kind of experience.DeAndre and Taryn break down all three days of Tomorrowland, including the massive main stage, unique stages across the festival, Symphony of Unity, premium dining experiences, surprisingly good festival food, the cashless Pearl system, transportation, bathrooms, crowds, and the overall atmosphere. They also explain why general admission delivered far more than expected and why they did not feel like VIP was necessary. After three packed days and a much-needed recovery day, they finish the trip with Lufthansa business class back to the United States and share their final verdict on the question that matters most: did Tomorrowland live up to years of anticipation, and would they do it all over again?Timestamps:(00:00) Intro: Our First Tomorrowland and Belgium Adventure(02:38) How We Finally Got Tomorrowland Tickets(10:34) Our Points & Miles Strategy and the 11 Hour Flight Delay(23:23) Flying Brussels Airlines Business Class to Belgium(29:08) Our Brussels Hotel and Amex Fine Hotels + Resorts Strategy(38:28) Exploring Brussels, Belgian Food and the Ultimate Food Tour(45:31) Tomorrowland Theme Hotel and Our Trip to Ghent(50:23) Tomorrowland Day 1: First Impressions and the Main Stage(01:03:09) Tomorrowland Day 2: Exploring the Stages and Symphony of Unity(01:10:22) Premium Festival Dining and Tomorrowland Day 3(01:19:44) Recovery Day and Saying Goodbye to Tomorrowland(01:26:00) Flying Lufthansa Business Class Home and Our Final Tomorrowland VerdictKey Highlights:Tomorrowland Tickets: Getting tickets can be incredibly difficult, but Global Journey packages can provide another path into the festival while combining admission with hotels or transportation.Points & Miles Strategy: DeAndre and Taryn used points for business class flights to and from Europe while paying cash for their Tomorrowland Global Journey package.Travel Delay Reality: An 11-hour delay on their positioning flight reinforces the importance of building extra time into major international trips and having travel insurance.Amex FHR Strategy: Alternating Fine Hotels + Resorts bookings across multiple eligible Platinum cards allowed them to maximize hotel credits across their Brussels stay.Belgium Beyond Tomorrowland: Brussels delivered memorable food, architecture, Belgian beer, chocolate, history, and a standout food tour, while Ghent offered another glimpse into Belgium beyond the capital.Theme Hotel Experience: Hotel Le Plaza extended the Tomorrowland experience beyond the festival with themed decor, gifts, breakfast, a friendship lounge, beauty services, and dedicated transportation.Tomorrowland Production: The scale of the stages, visual effects, immersive environments, and international crowd exceeded their already high expectations.General Admission Value: Despite normally preferring VIP at music festivals, they found Tomorrowland's general admission experience strong enough that paying extra for Comfort access did not feel necessary.Festival Food: Tomorrowland goes far beyond typical festival food, with a huge range of options and premium dining experiences that approach restaurant-level quality.Symphony of Unity: A full orchestra performing electronic music became one of the standout experiences of the weekend.Three-Day Experience: Exploring different stages on the second and third days revealed just how much of Tomorrowland exists beyond the famous main stage.Final Verdict: Even after long days, travel delays, and the exhausting schedule, both DeAndre and Taryn would return and are already thinking about another Tomorrowland trip.Resources:‘DoEatBetter’ Food TourBrussel's Taxi (WhatsApp) Daoud +32 484 48 69 47BoldlyGo LIVE! Miami 5-7 RegistrationCheck out our Podcast LibraryBecome a BoldlyGo Blog contributorStart here to learn how to unlock nearly free travelSign up for our newsletter!BoldlyGo Travel With Points & Miles Facebook GroupNeed Global Travel Insurance? We recommend World NomadsGet a travel insurance quote hereSome of Our Favorite Tools For Elevating Your Points & Miles Game:Note: Contains affiliate/sponsored linksGet Autopilot: Never Overpay for a Flight or Hotel AgainCard Pointers (Saves the average user $750 per year)Zil Money (For Payroll on Credit Card)Travel FreelyPoint.meFlightConnections.comThrifty Traveler PremiumLTH Online Points & Miles In Depth Course: Use coupon code "BOLDYGO" for a 50% discount!Connect with DeAndre & Taryn: Instagram: BoldlyGo.worldTikTok: BoldlyGo.worldWebsite: BoldlyGo.worldYouTube: BoldlyGoWorldYouTube: BoldlyGo.Travels

Quick Hits: Seats.Aero Just Added Some Incredible New Features & More!

This week’s Quick Hits starts with DeAndre and Taryn returning home from an unforgettable trip to Belgium and Tomorrowland, along with a reminder that even the best planned trips can run into major disruptions. Every flight they took experienced some type of delay, including an 11-hour delay on the way to Europe and another lengthy delay returning home. DeAndre also highlights how the Boldly Go community helped another family navigate major travel disruptions in real time, showing the value of having experienced travelers to turn to when plans fall apart.On the points and miles side, DeAndre breaks down the new Air Canada Aeroplan and World of Hyatt partnership, including why the status opportunities may be much more valuable than transferring points between the two programs. He also covers the elevated Chase Sapphire Preferred and World of Hyatt Business Card offers, a new Citi transfer bonus to Flying Blue, major upgrades to Seats.aero that bring award pricing directly into Google Flights, and new back-to-school shopping portal bonuses from American Airlines and Delta. The episode wraps with a quick Tomorrowland recap and a preview of a full Belgium trip breakdown coming soon.Timestamps:(00:00) Intro:Back From Belgium and Tomorrowland(01:49) How the Boldly Go Community Helps During Travel Disruptions(03:18) Air Canada Aeroplan and World of Hyatt Partnership(04:00) Hyatt and Aeroplan Status Benefits and Challenges(05:52) Chase Sapphire Preferred 100K Offer Ending Soon(06:27) World of Hyatt Business Card Bonus and Citi Flying Blue Transfer Bonus(07:05) Seats.aero Comes to Google Flights & New Features(09:07) American Airlines and Delta Shopping Portal BonusesKey takeaways: Travel Disruptions: DeAndre and Taryn experienced delays on every flight during their Belgium trip, including an 11 hour delay on the way to Europe.Community Support: The Boldly Go WhatsApp community helped travelers navigate cancellations, hotel challenges, and other disruptions with real time advice.Hyatt + Aeroplan Partnership: World of Hyatt and Air Canada Aeroplan launched a new partnership, but the strongest opportunities appear to come from elite status benefits rather than point transfers.Hyatt Status Challenges: Eligible Aeroplan elites and premium cardholders can unlock Hyatt status challenges that may lead all the way to Globalist with up to 20 qualifying nights in 90 days.Chase Sapphire Preferred Offer: The 100,000 point welcome offer remains available but is expected to end soon.Hyatt Business Card Offer: The World of Hyatt Business Credit Card now offers 70,000 points after meeting the required spending threshold.Citi to Flying Blue Bonus: Citi ThankYou Rewards is offering a 20% transfer bonus to Air France KLM Flying Blue through August 22.Seats.aero Google Flights Tool: A new Chrome extension displays award pricing directly alongside Google Flights cash fares, making comparison shopping easier.Seats.aero Upgrades: New features include improved filters, historical award pricing, transfer partner previews, price alerts, and special Delta and United cardholder pricing.Shopping Portal Bonuses: American Airlines and Delta have launched limited time back to school shopping bonuses for members who meet qualifying spending requirements.Need Global Travel Insurance? We recommend World NomadsGet a travel insurance quote hereResources:BoldlyGo LIVE! Miami 5-7 RegistrationPodcast LibraryBecome a BoldlyGo blog contributorStart here to learn how to unlock nearly free travelSign up for our newsletter!BoldlyGo Travel With Points & Miles Facebook GroupSome of Our Favorite Tools For Elevating Your Points & Miles Game:Note: Contains affiliate/sponsored linksGet Autopilot: Never Overpay for a Flight or Hotel AgainCard Pointers (Saves the average user $750 per year)Zil Money (For Payroll on Credit Card)Travel FreelyPoint.meFlightConnections.comThrifty Traveler PremiumLTH Online Points & Miles In Depth Course: Use coupon code "BOLDYGO" for a 50% discount!Connect with DeAndre Coke: Instagram: BoldlyGo.worldTikTok: BoldlyGo.world Website: BoldlyGo.worldYouTube: BoldlyGoWorldYouTube: BoldlyGoTravels

How Gretchen Planned an Epic 3-Week Singapore & Thailand Trip for a Family of 5 (Ep. 136)

In this episode of the BoldlyGo Podcast, DeAndre Coke sits down with BoldlyGo community member Gretchen Navy to unpack how her family of five pulled off an ambitious three-week adventure through Singapore and Thailand using points, miles, certificates, and travel credits. With three kids, seven flights, six hotels, and roughly one million points involved, Gretchen shares how nearly two years of planning helped them secure five business class award seats in both directions while building an itinerary that gave their family enough time to experience each destination without exhausting everyone along the way.Gretchen walks through the complete strategy behind the trip, from choosing Singapore and Thailand around school schedules to balancing hotel loyalty programs, free night certificates, and transferable points. She shares their experiences in Singapore, Bangkok, Phuket, and Khao Lak, including family-friendly hotels, incredible food, cultural experiences, and the realities of traveling internationally with three children.The conversation also takes an unexpected turn with one of the most important travel lessons of the episode. After booking five Singapore Airlines business class award seats, Gretchen discovered that a phone number found through a Google search had connected her with scammers posing as Singapore Airlines representatives. She explains how the scam unfolded, how American Express ultimately helped recover thousands of dollars, and the precautions every traveler should take when contacting airlines. From award booking strategy to family travel logistics and fraud prevention, this episode shows how points and miles can create unforgettable experiences while reinforcing the importance of careful planning at every stage.Timestamps:(00:00) How a Family of Five Pulled Off an Epic Asia Trip(02:07) Meet Gretchen Navy and Her Points & Miles Journey(07:20) Planning Three Weeks in Singapore and Thailand(11:40) Flying Business Class to Asia With Three Kids(17:40) Exploring Singapore as a Family(25:25) Thailand Itinerary: Bangkok, Phuket and Khao Lak(31:00) Hotel Strategy, Points and Free Night Certificates(39:40) Booking Five Singapore Airlines Business Class Seats(42:30) The Singapore Airlines Booking Scam(46:00) How Amex Helped Recover Thousands of Dollars(49:30) Biggest Lessons From the Scam and How to Protect Yourself(53:15) Why Points & Miles Are So Powerful for Family TravelKey Highlights:Family Award Travel: Gretchen and her husband used nearly two years of planning to build a three week Singapore and Thailand trip for their family of five.Five Business Class Seats: Strategic award searches helped them secure five premium cabin seats in both directions, proving larger families can still unlock aspirational redemptions.Kid Friendly Planning: Slower itineraries, longer stays, familiar food options, and carefully selected activities helped make a major international trip manageable with three children.Singapore Experience: Singapore delivered an easy introduction to Asia with excellent public transportation, family friendly attractions, great food, and straightforward navigation.Thailand With Kids: Bangkok, Phuket, and Khao Lak offered very different experiences, from cultural exploration and street food to beaches and resort relaxation.Hotel Strategy: Using multiple loyalty programs gave the family more flexibility instead of forcing every stay into a single hotel ecosystem.Booking Scam Warning: A Google search for Singapore Airlines customer service led Gretchen to scammers posing as airline representatives and resulted in thousands of dollars in fraudulent charges.Amex Protection: American Express ultimately refunded approximately $5,000 connected to the scam, demonstrating another potential layer of protection when major purchases are placed on a credit card.Memories Over Perfection: Gretchen emphasizes using points and miles to create meaningful family experiences instead of waiting for every redemption or itinerary to be perfectly optimized.Resources:BoldlyGo LIVE! Miami 5-7 RegistrationCheck out our Podcast LibraryBecome a BoldlyGo Blog contributorStart here to learn how to unlock nearly free travelSign up for our newsletter!BoldlyGo Travel With Points & Miles Facebook GroupNeed Global Travel Insurance? We recommend World NomadsGet a travel insurance quote hereSome of Our Favorite Tools For Elevating Your Points & Miles Game:Note: Contains affiliate/sponsored linksGet Autopilot: Never Overpay for a Flight or Hotel AgainCard Pointers (Saves the average user $750 per year)Zil Money (For Payroll on Credit Card)Travel FreelyPoint.meFlightConnections.comThrifty Traveler PremiumLTH Online Points & Miles In Depth Course: Use coupon code "BOLDYGO" for a 50% discount!Connect with DeAndre & Taryn: Instagram: BoldlyGo.worldTikTok: BoldlyGo.worldWebsite: BoldlyGo.worldYouTube: BoldlyGoWorldYouTube: BoldlyGo.TravelsConnect with Gretchen Navy:Email: gretchen.navy@gmail.com

Quick Hits: This American Airlines Trick Can Earn You 25,000 Bonus Miles & More!

This week's Quick Hits comes straight from Brussels as DeAndre records from the Steigenberger Wiltcher's ahead of an action-packed weekend at Tomorrowland. Before diving into the latest points and miles news, he shares an important reminder about positioning flights after weather disruptions nearly derailed their journey to Belgium. Their experience reinforces why arriving a day early can save an entire international trip, especially when unexpected delays hit.On the news front, DeAndre covers a lucrative American Airlines AAdvantage Business promotion that can earn eligible households up to 50,000 bonus miles, explains a clever way to consolidate AAdvantage Business miles between travelers, and highlights Flighty's newest predictive gate technology, which continues to make it one of his favorite travel apps. He wraps up with the highest-ever welcome offer on the World of Hyatt Personal Visa Card, then teases upcoming reviews of Brussels and Tomorrowland, and how they maximized Fine Hotels + Resorts credits during the trip.Timestamps:(00:00) Intro: Recording Live From Brussels Before Tomorrowland(00:43) Why Positioning Flights Can Save Your Entire Trip(02:10) 25,000 AAdvantage Business Miles Promotion(03:15) A Clever Way to Share American Airlines Business Miles(04:10) Flighty's New Predictive Gate Technology(06:20) Highest Ever Hyatt Personal Card Bonus(06:50) Tomorrowland Preview and Brussels Plans(07:21) Final Thoughts and What's Coming Next Key takeaways: Positioning Flights: Arriving the night before an international departure can protect your trip when delays or cancellations disrupt your original plans.AAdvantage Business Bonus: Eligible new AAdvantage Business members can earn 25,000 bonus miles, with some couples able to generate 50,000 miles through separate enrollments.Mileage Pooling Strategy: The AAdvantage Business program offers an easy way to direct business earned miles to another traveler within your household.Flighty Upgrade: Flighty now predicts airport gates in addition to flight delays, helping travelers navigate large international airports more efficiently.Predictive Alerts: Flighty's delay predictions continue to notify travelers well before airlines announce schedule changes.Best Ever Hyatt Offer: The World of Hyatt Personal Visa Card now features its strongest public welcome bonus to date.Need Global Travel Insurance? We recommend World NomadsGet a travel insurance quote hereResources:BoldlyGo LIVE! Miami 5-7 RegistrationPodcast LibraryBecome a BoldlyGo blog contributorStart here to learn how to unlock nearly free travelSign up for our newsletter!BoldlyGo Travel With Points & Miles Facebook GroupSome of Our Favorite Tools For Elevating Your Points & Miles Game:Note: Contains affiliate/sponsored linksGet Autopilot: Never Overpay for a Flight or Hotel AgainCard Pointers (Saves the average user $750 per year)Zil Money (For Payroll on Credit Card)Travel FreelyPoint.meFlightConnections.comThrifty Traveler PremiumLTH Online Points & Miles In Depth Course: Use coupon code "BOLDYGO" for a 50% discount!Connect with DeAndre Coke: Instagram: BoldlyGo.worldTikTok: BoldlyGo.world Website: BoldlyGo.worldYouTube: BoldlyGoWorldYouTube: BoldlyGoTravels