You don’t have to step on a plane or check into a hotel to rack up serious points and miles. In this episode of Takeoff: A Points & Miles Podcast by 10xTravel, Bryce, Emily, and Matt break down the hidden value of airline and hotel shopping and dining portals, and how you can use them to turn everyday purchases into free travel.

The episode covers:

✅ How shopping portals like Rakuten & airline programs actually work

✅ Dining programs that give you bonus miles every time you eat out

✅ Smart stacking strategies with credit cards & seasonal promos

✅ Common mistakes that can cost you points (and how to avoid them)

✅ Real success stories, like turning Apple purchases into free flights

Wherever you are on your points and miles journey, this episode will help you earn more without spending more.

In this episode:

00:00 Introduction and Icebreaker

00:58 Unusual Ways to Earn Points and Miles

05:34 Introduction to Shopping and Dining Portals

06:20 Exploring Shopping Portals

07:36 Exploring Dining Programs

09:33 Rakuten and Hybrid Programs

11:24 Maximizing Points with Shopping Portals

15:31 Tips for Using Shopping and Dining Portals

21:24 Seasonal Promotions and Advanced Strategies

25:39 Common Pitfalls in Using Shopping Portals

27:14 Maximizing Rewards with Dining Programs

28:02 General Points and Miles Strategies

31:18 Effort vs. Reward in Points and Miles

42:02 Listener Success Stories and Tips

44:00 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Links and Resources from this Episode:

Take Our Free Points and Miles Course

New To Points and Miles? Listen to Episodes 1-6 of the podcast

Our Best Credit Cards List (Updated Monthly)

My10x: Manage your points and miles in one place

Let us book your next award flight for you

Upgrade your next stay with our Luxury Hotel Program

Get free, personalized advice on choosing your next card

10xTravel+: Upgrade your travel by becoming a member today

Join us at an upcoming Meetup

Want to fly to Asia in business or first class without breaking the bank? In this episode of Takeoff by 10xTravel, Bryce, Emily, Travis, and Matt reveal the exact strategies, airlines, and loyalty programs that unlock luxury premium cabin flights across the Pacific, all with points and miles.

The crew covers:

Whether you’re after ANA’s world-class service, JAL’s new first-class suites, or EVA Air’s Hello Kitty flight, this guide will help you turn points into unforgettable journeys.

In this episode:

0:00 Introduction

4:10 Why premium cabins to Asia are the holy grail

8:00 ANA via Virgin Atlantic (unicorn deal)

15:00 Cathay Pacific, JAL & EVA Air highlights

25:00 StarLux & emerging premium options

32:00 Singapore Airlines quirks & waitlisting

42:00 Availability trends + when to book

50:00 Best overall products & value redemptions

57:00 Listener win: first business class redemption

59:00 Wrap-up & resources

Links and Resources from this Episode:

Take Our Free Points and Miles Course

New To Points and Miles? Listen to Episodes 1-6 of the podcast

Our Best Credit Cards List (Updated Monthly)

My10x: Manage your points and miles in one place

Let us book your next award flight for you

Upgrade your next stay with our Luxury Hotel Program

Get free, personalized advice on choosing your next card

10xTravel+: Upgrade your travel by becoming a member today

Join us at an upcoming Meetup

Learn How To Search ANA Availability

Master ANA Sweet Spot Awards

Tired of hearing about the same points and miles hot spots like Japan, Italy, and the Maldives? In this episode, Bryce, Emily, Travis, and Matt reveal the underrated destinations that should be on your radar, and how to get there with points and miles.

From Nicaragua’s volcano adventures to Belize’s reef diving, Valencia’s family-friendly beaches, and even wine country in South Australia, the crew shares the hidden gems that offer incredible experiences with better availability, fewer crowds, and excellent redemption value.

They'll take you through the best points and miles strategies to book these destinations, surprising hotel options in each spot, and pro tips for maximizing award flights, boutique hotels, and portal bookings. Tune in, and get ready for your next, unexpected adventure!

In this episode:

00:00 Introduction and Reunion

01:02 Travis' European Adventures

02:30 Diving in Northern Ireland

04:42 Bryce's Chaotic Return from Europe

09:13 Underrated Destinations Overview

10:57 Travis' Pick: Nicaragua

25:16 Emily's Pick: Belize

37:56 Matt's Pick: Adelaide and Southern Australia

44:56 Bryce's Pick: Valencia, Spain

47:36 Travel Tips: Points, Miles, and Booking Strategies

56:22 Underrated Destinations: Hidden Gems Around the World

57:48 Honorable Mentions: More Hidden Treasures

01:00:57 Final Thoughts and Fun Banter

01:14:25 Wrapping Up

Links and Resources from this Episode:

Take Our Free Points and Miles Course

New To Points and Miles? Listen to Episodes 1-6 of the podcast

Our Best Credit Cards List (Updated Monthly)

My10x: Manage your points and miles in one place

Let us book your next award flight for you

Upgrade your next stay with our Luxury Hotel Program

Get free, personalized advice on choosing your next card

10xTravel+: Upgrade your travel by becoming a member today

Join us at an upcoming Meetup

Book ANA Business Class with Points and Miles

• How he scored Emirates First Class to Nairobi on short notice
• What safari lodges really cost and how to book them affordably
• The unforgettable wildlife encounters in Masai Mara
• Insider tips on choosing safari operators and what’s included
• Which credit card points transfer best for African travel
• Tips on timing your trip around the Great Migration
• Practical advice on visas, vaccinations, tipping, travel insurance, and packing

In this hilarious and honest follow-up to one of our most popular episodes, Bryce, Emily, and Travis tackle a brand-new batch of travel faux pas submitted by listeners and inspired by their own recent adventures.

From the fiery debate over kids in premium cabins to the eternal question of whether it's ever okay to go barefoot on a plane, the 10xTravel crew breaks down the weirdest, worst, and most relatable travel etiquette dilemmas out there.

You'll hear:

• Airplane seat etiquette
• Who really owns the overhead bin?
• Controversial takes on lounge hogs, gate lice, and tuna sandwiches
• Ethical gray zones in points & miles, including award booking tactics and status sharing
• Real confessions from the crew on their most questionable in-flight behaviors

Before you go, tell us: What’s YOUR biggest travel pet peeve? Drop a comment or leave us a review with your favorite (or most infuriating) travel faux pas!

In this episode:

00:00 Intro & pet peeves (including roundabouts)

04:50 Kids in business class

13:10 Bare feet on planes

20:55 Overhead bin wars & lounge space hoarders

30:40 Taking hotel amenities: classy or klepto?

36:00 Sharing elite status: smart or shady?

44:45 Booking multiple award flights: fair game or foul?

47:00 Friends & points

51:00 Gate lice, lounge to-go food, and taking plane selfies

57:00 Faux Pas Confession Time!

Links and Resources from this Episode:

Take Our Free Points and Miles Course

New To Points and Miles? Listen to Episodes 1-6 of the podcast

Our Best Credit Cards List (Updated Monthly)

My10x: Manage your points and miles in one place

Let us book your next award flight for you

Upgrade your next stay with our Luxury Hotel Program

Get free, personalized advice on choosing your next card

10xTravel+: Upgrade your travel by becoming a member today

Join us at an upcoming Meetup

Plan your family travel redemption strategy

Ever wondered what happens when you take a wild chance on a points and miles booking? In this fun, story-packed episode, Bryce, Emily, and Travis share the most unexpected wins they’ve had using miles — including last-minute upgrades, miracle customer service saves, and zero-cost first class flights that shouldn't have worked, but did.

From how Travis saved his honeymoon with one phone call to the Emirates upgrade trick Bryce used for his entire family, you'll be shocked at these successes. Plus, you'll hear how Emily's flexibility and mid-trip rebooking paid off!

Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned pro, this episode proves that sometimes the best redemptions are the ones you didn’t plan.

In this episode:

00:00 Intro & Weekend Recaps

04:00 Why This Episode Is Different

05:00 Travis Saves His Honeymoon with One Bold Ask

23:00 Emily’s Mid-Trip Award Rebooking Win

30:00 Bryce Upgrades His Whole Family to First Class

38:00 The Virgin Atlantic Award Space “Magic Trick”

43:00 What Makes a Redemption Truly Surprising

48:00 Tips to Engineer Your Own Points Surprises

Links and Resources from this Episode:

Take Our Free Points and Miles Course

Our Best Credit Cards List (Updated Monthly)

My10x: Manage your points and miles in one place

Let us book your next award flight for you

Upgrade your next stay with our Luxury Hotel Program

Get free, personalized advice on choosing your next card

10xTravel+: Upgrade your travel by becoming a member today

Join us at an upcoming Meetup

How To Book Premium Economy Flights with Points and Miles

Best Award Search Tools

When Buying Miles Makes Sense (And Doesn’t)

Stay Connected:

Join our Community: 10xTravel Insiders

Follow us on Instagram: @10xTravelblog

Wa...

• Ashley (Matt’s wife), who’s gone from extreme couponing to lay-flat luxury
• Miryea (Travis’s wife), whose Maldives honeymoon kickstarted a travel-filled decade
• Michael (Emily’s husband), who's more than happy to go where the points and miles take them
• Alexandra (Bryce’s wife), who might not love flying, but who loves the travel perks

Welcome to the ultimate destination face-off for award travelers: Italy vs. Japan. In this episode, the 10xTravel team compares two of the most sought-after dream trips in the points and miles world. From premium flight redemptions and train travel to luxury hotels and authentic food experiences, which destination gives you more value?

Join Bryce, Travis, Emily, and Matt as they pit ravioli against ramen, bullet trains against cobblestone streets, and Park Hyatts against Amalfi coast villas. No fence-sitting allowed: in the end, you'll hear each team member casts their vote on which destination reigns supreme for 2025 points & miles travel.

In this episode:

00:00 Introduction and Host Greetings

01:32 Episode Overview: Italy vs. Japan

02:20 Listener Engagement and Points & Miles Basics

03:09 Travel Predictions and Membership Program

03:55 Italy vs. Japan: Flights and Award Redemptions

12:02 Personal Experiences and Flight Options

28:02 In-Country Travel: Italy vs. Japan

36:10 Debating Train Travel in Japan vs. Italy

37:14 The Convenience of Public Transit

37:50 Overnight Ferries and Transportation Experiences

40:49 Comparing Hotel Options in Japan and Italy

41:52 Booking High-End Properties with Points

43:16 Challenges of Booking in Italy

44:32 The Value of Authentic Experiences

47:53 Skiing and Unique Stays in Japan

50:55 Experience Value: Italy vs. Japan

01:00:57 Final Verdict: Italy or Japan?

01:08:32 Wrap-Up and Final Thoughts