Smart Travel: Upgrade Your Getaways

NerdWallet Travel

English Business Education Places & Travel Society & Culture

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Episodes 72

Avg. Duration 39m

Activity Highly Active

Apple Rating ★ 4.4 (253)

Since Feb 2025

Latest Episode Jun 2026

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Publishing Details

Schedule

Weekly

Format

Episodic

Consistency

87%

Hosting

feeds.megaphone.fm

Contact & Outreach

About This Podcast

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 something more tropical? Should you fly or rent a car? The Nerds lay out your options so you can decide the best way to book your next family vacation. Travel Agents: Can travel agents save you money? Are there better alternatives? The Nerds dive into the actual cost of financial traveling and lay out your best options. Seasonal timing: When’s the right time to book travel for next summer? How far out should you plan a holiday getaway? The Nerds got you covered from Spring to Winter with smart travel strategies. Fee and policy changes: How do the latest TSA rules affect you? The Nerds break down recent regulations and how it impacts your next travel budget. Travel Planning Tools: Not sure about a new travel app? Does that website actually give you the best deals? The Nerds have reviewed all the major platforms and share their pros, cons, and insights. Destination-Specific Booking Strategies: Dreaming of Hawaiian or European getaways? The Nerds can help you and your travel budget when booking popular travel destinations. If you’re planning on traveling within the next 12 months and ready to start researching and booking your next great adventure, then follow Smart Travel to upgrade your getaways. You’ll love Smart Travel if you like podcasts like: Far From Home, Zero to Travel, Points Talk with the Travel Mom Squad, Amateur Traveler, Point Me To First Class, Takeoff A Points And Miles Podcast, Frequent Miler On The Air, Women Who Travel, and many other travel related podcasts. NerdWallet Compare, Inc. NMLS ID# 1617539 NMLS Consumer Access: http:// www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org/

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Recent Episodes

Unpacking the Chase Sapphire Preferred’s Biggest Update in Five Years: What You Need to Know

Jun 10, 2026 40m

Learn how the Chase Sapphire Preferred's biggest refresh in years could change how you earn and redeem travel points. Hosts Meghan Coyle and Sally French break down the latest travel headlines,…

Earn More Points on Purchases You Already Make: Online Shopping, Dining, Rideshares and More

Jun 03, 2026 52m

Learn how to earn more points and miles on everyday shopping using portals, dining programs, and partner apps. Hosts Meghan Coyle and Sally French discuss the sometimes-overlooked ways you could earn…

Summer Travel 2026: How to Time Your Trip, Pick Your Destination, and Actually Save Money

May 27, 2026 38m

Learn how summer 2026 travel costs are rising and which booking strategies could help you save money this season. Hosts Meghan Coyle and Sally French discuss what's driving up summer travel costs in…

Introducing Your Next Dollar: Money Management for High Earners

May 26, 2026 2m Bonus

Meet Your Next Dollar, a new podcast from NerdWallet Wealth Partners. This is the podcast for you if you are a high earner learning how to build wealth, navigate money trade-offs, and spend on what…

World of Hyatt Award Chart Changes 2026: What's New and Where to Get the Most Value

May 20, 2026 53m

Learn how the new World of Hyatt award chart changes your points value and which hotels are still worth booking. Hosts Sally French and Meghan Coyle dig into the sweeping changes to the World of…

How to Travel Without Paying for a Hotel: Inside Home Swapping and Pet Sitting Apps

May 13, 2026 1h 9m

Learn how to travel for less by swapping homes or pet sitting with strangers around the world. Hosts Sally French and Meghan Coyle discuss how house swapping and house sitting can cut your lodging…

Family Travel on Points, Solo Trip Ideas, and Booking Tools Compared: Your Travel Questions Answered

May 06, 2026 44m

Learn how to maximize Chase points for family Hawaii trips, travel with infants, and pick the right rewards card. Hosts Meghan Coyle and Sally French dig into a mailbag of listener questions…

The Best Travel Credit Cards With Annual Fees Under $100

Apr 29, 2026 57m

Learn how travel credit cards with annual fees under $100 can earn you free flights, hotel nights, and perks. Hosts Meghan Coyle and Sally French discuss travel credit cards with annual fees under…

How Airline Alliance Status Gets You Into the World's Best Airport Lounges for Free

Apr 23, 2026 45m

Learn how earning status with one airline can unlock lounges and elite perks on more than a dozen other airlines worldwide. First, host Meghan Coyle breaks down the week’s top travel headlines with…

Family Travel on Points and Miles: Free Checked Bags, Companion Passes, and Miles Pooling

Apr 15, 2026 46m

Learn how families can use points and miles to fly, earn companion passes, and book hotels without paying full price. Before delving into the ins and outs of family travel, hosts Meghan Coyle and…

Traveling with Pets: How to Put Your Paws on the Best Airlines and Hotels for Furry Family Members

Apr 08, 2026 58m

Learn what it really takes to fly and stay somewhere with your pet, from carrier rules to hidden fees. Hosts Sally French and Meghan Coyle discuss the best airlines and hotels for traveling with pets…

How to Spend Less on Big Sports Trips in 2026: FIFA World Cup 2026, PGA Championship and More

Apr 01, 2026 59m

Learn how to save on flights, hotels, and tickets when you travel for major sporting events like the FIFA World Cup, the PGA Championship, or the Olympics. Hosts Sally French and Meghan Coyle discuss…

Rental Cars in 2026: How to Skip the Counter, Cut Costs, and Avoid Insurance Mistakes

Mar 25, 2026 54m

Learn how to skip rental car lines, lower costs, and avoid pricey insurance mistakes on your next trip. When should you rent at the airport, and when should you skip a car entirely? Hosts Sally…

Before You Book a Ski Trip, Learn How to Save on Mountain Hotels, Ski Rentals and Lift Tickets

Mar 18, 2026 48m

Learn how to cut the cost of a ski trip before lift tickets, rentals and parking wipe out your budget. How do you keep a ski trip from blowing your whole vacation budget? When should you buy a season…

Travel Questions Mega-Episode: Top Tips from Our Top Listener Questions

Mar 11, 2026 1h 1m

Get listener-powered answers on lounges, Disney cards, cruises, and layovers. Hosts Sally French and Meghan Coyle kick off the first listener questions episode of 2026 with quick travel headlines,…

Don’t Get “Noob Taxed”: The Travel Add-Ons That Drain Your Budget

Mar 04, 2026 40m

Learn how to avoid common travel upsells that drain your budget, from cruise add-ons to sneaky foreign card charges. In this video episode, hosts Sally French and Meghan Coyle break down travel “noob…

25 Airports in 6 Months: The Real Lessons From JetBlue’s 350,000-Point Challenge

Feb 25, 2026 53m

JetBlue’s 25-for-25 sounded simple: fly to 25 airports. Hear what three finishers learned chasing 350,000 points. Before delving into the JetBlue story, hosts Sally French and Meghan Coyle break…

Mediterranean Cruise Game Plan: Santorini, Mykonos, and the Greek Islands Without Transit Chaos

Feb 18, 2026 58m

Learn how you can explore the Mediterranean without losing days to ferries, hotel check-ins, or pricey islands. Hosts Sally French and Meghan Coyle discuss Mediterranean trip planning to help you…

2026 Elite Status Changes and Ways to Earn Status and Nights More Easily

Feb 11, 2026 49m

Learn what 2026 status program changes mean for perks like upgrades, rebooking help, and lounges. Hosts Meghan Coyle and Sally French talk through the latest elite status updates to help you decide…

Credit Card Hotel Programs vs Booking Direct: A Clearer Way to Compare Prices

Feb 04, 2026 52m

Get a clearer way to compare hotel prices with and without credit card program perks. Hosts Meghan Coyle and Sally French discuss when it makes sense to book luxury hotels through credit card travel…

Frequently Asked Questions

How many episodes does Smart Travel: Upgrade Your Getaways have?

Smart Travel: Upgrade Your Getaways has published 72 episodes since February 2025, covering topics in Business, Education.

Is Smart Travel: Upgrade Your Getaways still active?

Smart Travel: Upgrade Your Getaways is currently highly active with new episodes weekly. Average episode length is 39m.

How do I contact Smart Travel: Upgrade Your Getaways for sponsorship or guest appearances?

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