It’s been a minute since the last episode of the Smart Living Podcast, but I am so excited to be back recording at the BBB Studio! On this episode, I sat down with my long-time friend, fellow valley journalist, and absolute travel maven, Geri Koeppel.
With plane tickets and gas prices sky-high right now, we are all feeling the pinch. But Jeri and I both refuse to let high prices get in the way of a luxury vacation. We dug deep into the world of credit card points, hidden hotel perks, and why you should never just “sit” on your rewards.
If you missed the episode, don’t worry, I’ve got the biggest takeaways and insider “discoverables” right here to help you hack your next bucket-list trip.
1. The Ultimate Travel Maxim: “Earn Them and Burn Them”
If you are a points saver who loves watching your balance grow, Geri has some tough love for you: stop hoarding your points. Airlines and hotels change their reward structures constantly. Just recently, World of Hyatt shifted their property categories, meaning those hard-earned points suddenly buy you less. Jeri and her husband were saving up points for a massive trip to Japan, only to watch the airline “move the goalposts” on them mid-game.
The Lesson: Points do not appreciate in value. The second you earn them, look for an opportunity to burn them!
2. Ditch the “Myth” of the Best Day to Book
You’ve probably heard the old advice that booking a flight at 2:00 AM on a Tuesday saves you hundreds. According to Geri, that rule just doesn’t hold water anymore.
Instead of worrying about the day you book, focus entirely on the day you fly. Being flexible by just a day or two can save you a fortune. Tools like Google Flights allow you to look at an entire calendar month to spot the exact days prices drop.
- Bonus Route Tip: Heading to San Francisco? Look into flying into Oakland instead of SFO. Not only is it often significantly cheaper, but Oakland’s weather is much more reliable, meaning you’re far less likely to face those notorious California fog delays.
3. Travel Cards: The Good, the Bad, and the $95 Lifehack
A lot of people skip out on travel credit cards because they are wary of revolving credit or high annual fees. But if you pay your balance off monthly, putting your everyday spending (groceries, gas, utilities) on a co-branded card is the fastest ticket to a free flight.
We broke down a few major options making waves right now:
- The 1Key Card (Wells Fargo): This card links up perfectly with Hotels.com, Expedia, and Vrbo. It has a $99 annual fee, but it gives you a $100 annual hotel credit (it literally pays for itself) and instantly bumps your status on Hotels.com to unlock perks like early check-ins and free breakfast credits.
- The Alaska/Hawaiian Airlines Card: Keep an eye out for sign-up bonuses. With Alaska’s acquisition of Hawaiian Airlines, look for low-fee cards ($95) offering massive introductory point drops (80k to 150k points) plus companion passes.
- The Luxury Tier (Chase Sapphire Reserve & AmEx Platinum): Yes, the annual fees are steep (hovering around $795–$895), but if you travel frequently, the airport lounge access alone is worth it when you’re waiting out a layover to save on a flight.
4. Beware the Fine Print (and “Psychopath” Hotel Clerks!)
Even when you score a free night using points or anniversary certificates (like with the IHG or Marriott business cards), hotels are getting incredibly sneaky with extra fees.
Geri shared a hilarious (and frustrating) story about checking into a Hyatt Place in a small suburb of Santa Fe, only to be hit with an $8-a-day parking fee next to an empty mall. When she questioned it, the clerk, whom she officially dubbed a “psychopath” named Leroy, got incredibly snippy and stuck them in the worst room in the house!
Always check your statements. Resort fees and hidden parking costs are on the rise, so factor an extra $35–$100 into your “free” stays.
Smart Shopper Discoverables & Tech Tools
To wrap things up, we talked about how to keep all these crazy itineraries organized so you don’t lose your mind wading through months of emails.
- The Spreadsheet Approach: Jeri’s husband is an engineer, so they swear by a master spreadsheet logging which hotels are prepaid versus paid-at-property.
- The Email Folder Hack: My personal go-to! The second I plan a trip, I create a dedicated email folder and throw every confirmation directly into it.
- TripIt App: This is a fantastic free app. If you forward your flight, hotel, or car rental confirmation emails to it, the app automatically maps out a beautiful, cohesive digital itinerary for you and your travel partner.
- Trusted Resources: Skip the newsletters that feel like massive credit card shills. Stick to verified comparison sites like NerdWallet, The Points Guy (with a grain of salt!).
Daphne’s Final Takeaway
At the end of the day, you don’t get what you don’t ask for. Whether it’s a late check-out or a flight upgrade, flash a warm smile at the front desk and just ask nicely. You’d be amazed at what people will give you if you are simply kind.
For all the links, credit card details, and travel hacks mentioned in this episode, head over to the main site at smartshopperdaphne.com.
As always, I’m Daphne Monroe, your Smart Shopper. See you next time!
