Points, Cards and Travel

Points, Cards and Travel is your weekly guide for business owners, investors, and high income professionals who want to earn more on everyday spend, learn powerful strategies no one taught you and turn points into luxury travel every year. Hosted by Ross Alcorn, each episode breaks down credit card strategy, smart systems, and real world examples so you can maximize rewards, improve cash flow, and unlock premium flights and hotels. Hear from points experts and lifestyle entrepreneurs who have done it and learn how to build strategic plans to save big and elevate every trip.

Points, Cards and Travel is a society podcast hosted by Ross Alcorn, with 164 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Ross Alcorn hosts Points, Cards and Travel, a society show with 164 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

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  Episode #163

  MentorPass Founder Kenny Hansen on Slow Travel, Burnout, and Building Big

  Aug 19, 20261h 1mS1

  (Disclaimer: Click 'more' to see add disclosure) Itinerary Boss is part of an affiliate sales network and receives compensation for sending traffic to partner sites, such as ⁠ YourBestCreditCards.com⁠ . This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. This site does not include all financial companies or all available financial offers. Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post. The content on this page is accurate as of the posting date; however, some of the offers mentioned may have expired. In episode 163 of Points, Cards and Travel, Ross sits down with Kenny Hansen, founder and CEO of MentorPass, a platform connecting entrepreneurs with the mentors behind brands like Bloom Nutrition, Louis Vuitton, Native Deodorant, and Athletic Greens. Kenny shares how failing out of high school led him through community college to Virginia Tech and a six-year run at Accenture, before a trip to Bali changed everything. They dig into why he left a stable corporate job to build MentorPass overseas, why burnout doesn't seem to exist for the most successful people he's studied, and the "slow travel" system he and his fiancée now run their business on three-month stays, a dedicated office near a WeWork or Soho House, and a strict no-work-from-home rule. Ross also breaks down exactly which cards make sense for founders spending on Airbnbs and ad budgets, including how a $100K point haul turned into a $5,600 business class seat in Qatar. Credit Card Resources: ⁠5 Step Roadmap⁠ to Your Next Free 5-Star Luxury Vacation + the 1 Card That Gets You There Best Credit Cards for Travel Melio : Pay vendors who don't take card with credit card to earn more points Kenny's Social Media: ⁠LinkedIn⁠ ⁠Instagram Itinerary Boss Socials: ⁠LinkedIn⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pinterest⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Itinerary Boss LLC has affiliate partners and some of these are affiliate links. This means that if you click on the link and purchase the item, we will receive an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. We only recommend products or services we believe will add value to our listeners. Disclaimer: The information provided by Itinerary Boss is for informational purposes only. We are not responsible for any outcomes, including injuries, damages, or losses, related to your travel plans. All travel is undertaken at your own risk, and Itinerary Boss assumes no liability for third-party services or actions.

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  Episode #162

  The Carry-On Only Packing System That Fit a 17-Day Honeymoon Into One Bag — 45 Items, Zero Overpacking, and the Exact Gear List Ross Swears By

  Aug 12, 202619 minS1

  (Disclaimer: Click 'more' to see add disclosure) Itinerary Boss is part of an affiliate sales network and receives compensation for sending traffic to partner sites, such as ⁠ YourBestCreditCards.com⁠ . This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. This site does not include all financial companies or all available financial offers. Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post. The content on this page is accurate as of the posting date; however, some of the offers mentioned may have expired. In episode 162 of Points, Cards and Travel, Ross pulls back the curtain on his complete carry-on-only packing system, the one he's refined over 10+ years of travel, trial, error, and way too many "why did I even bring this" outfits. This week, Ross walks through exactly how he and his wife packed for a full 17-day honeymoon using nothing but a carry-on and a backpack each, no checked bags required. You'll hear his real product recommendations for carry-on luggage, why packing cubes are a total game-changer, the 3-shoe rule that covers literally any trip, and the small but mighty extras (sleep mask, portable charger, AirTags, international adapters) that quietly save every trip from disaster. By the end, he breaks down all 45 items he packs and exactly how they all fit into one bag. Credit Card Resources: ⁠5 Step Roadmap⁠ to Your Next Free 5-Star Luxury Vacation + the 1 Card That Gets You There Best Credit Cards for Travel Melio : Pay vendors who don't take card with credit card to earn more points Itinerary Boss Socials: ⁠LinkedIn⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pinterest⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Itinerary Boss LLC has affiliate partners and some of these are affiliate links. This means that if you click on the link and purchase the item, we will receive an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. We only recommend products or services we believe will add value to our listeners. Disclaimer: The information provided by Itinerary Boss is for informational purposes only. We are not responsible for any outcomes, including injuries, damages, or losses, related to your travel plans. All travel is undertaken at your own risk, and Itinerary Boss assumes no liability for third-party services or actions.

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  Episode #161

  Visiting Alaska on Points: The Complete First-Timer's Road Trip Guide

  Aug 5, 202642 minS1

  (Disclaimer: Click 'more' to see add disclosure) Itinerary Boss is part of an affiliate sales network and receives compensation for sending traffic to partner sites, such as ⁠ YourBestCreditCards.com⁠ . This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. This site does not include all financial companies or all available financial offers. Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post. The content on this page is accurate as of the posting date; however, some of the offers mentioned may have expired. In episode 161 of Points, Cards and Travel, Ross sits down with Betsy Wilson, founder of Become Travel Rich and widely known in the points and miles community as the go-to expert on all things Alaska Airlines. Betsy breaks down the new 100,000-point sign-up bonus on the Atmos Summit card (better known as the "Alaska Black Card"), the real difference between the cash companion fare and the companion award certificate, and how American Airlines elites already get reciprocal status on Alaska flights. They also cover underrated sweet spots, like 35,000 points and $6 for a domestic lie-flat business class seat, and a 55,000-point business class run from Anchorage to Frankfurt on Condor, plus how to stack non-airline partners like 1-800-Flowers and Guaranteed Rate for extra points. To close it out, Betsy maps out exactly how to spend 10 to 12 days exploring Alaska itself, from Anchorage's museums to the fishing town of Homer. If you've ever wondered how to make the most of Alaska Airlines' loyalty program, or just need a reason to finally visit Alaska, this episode is for you. Credit Card Resources: ⁠5 Step Roadmap⁠ to Your Next Free 5-Star Luxury Vacation + the 1 Card That Gets You There Best Credit Cards for Travel Melio : Pay vendors who don't take card with credit card to earn more points Betsey's Social Media: ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠ ⁠Instagram Itinerary Boss Socials: ⁠LinkedIn⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pinterest⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Itinerary Boss LLC has affiliate partners and some of these are affiliate links. This means that if you click on the link and purchase the item, we will receive an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. We only recommend products or services we believe will add value to our listeners. Disclaimer: The information provided by Itinerary Boss is for informational purposes only. We are not responsible for any outcomes, including injuries, damages, or losses, related to your travel plans. All travel is undertaken at your own risk, and Itinerary Boss assumes no liability for third-party services or actions.

  ListenShow Notes
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  Episode #160

  Free Night Certificates, Lounge Access, and $400 in Credits: What a Premium Card Actually Buys You

  Jul 29, 202623 minS1

  (Disclaimer: Click 'more' to see add disclosure) Itinerary Boss is part of an affiliate sales network and receives compensation for sending traffic to partner sites, such as ⁠ YourBestCreditCards.com⁠ . This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. This site does not include all financial companies or all available financial offers. Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post. The content on this page is accurate as of the posting date; however, some of the offers mentioned may have expired. In episode 160 of Points, Cards and Travel, Ross continues the Points and Miles credit card series by tackling the question he gets asked the most: are annual fees actually worth it? He breaks it down into five buckets, free night certificates, lounge access and premium services, monthly and quarterly statement credits, points accelerators, and built-in protections like travel insurance and walks through real, personal examples for each. That includes how a $99 IHG Premier Rewards Card turned into five free nights worth over $3,500 in savings (used on a Bangkok honeymoon and a Grand Cayman stay), how the Capital One Venture X's $395 fee was wiped out before a single point was earned, and how the American Express Platinum's $695 fee gets offset by hundreds of dollars in monthly credits most people forget to activate. Ross also covers the World of Hyatt card's category 1-4 free night, the Hilton Honors Aspire's Lyft Pink Plus perk, and why he'd never recommend stacking two premium cards with overlapping benefits. Whether you're annual-fee-curious or already deep into the points game, this episode reframes the math: an annual fee isn't a cost, it's an upfront investment. Credit Card Resources: ⁠5 Step Roadmap⁠ to Your Next Free 5-Star Luxury Vacation + the 1 Card That Gets You There Best Credit Cards for Travel Melio : Pay vendors who don't take card with credit card to earn more points Itinerary Boss Socials: ⁠LinkedIn⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pinterest⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Itinerary Boss LLC has affiliate partners and some of these are affiliate links. This means that if you click on the link and purchase the item, we will receive an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. We only recommend products or services we believe will add value to our listeners. Disclaimer: The information provided by Itinerary Boss is for informational purposes only. We are not responsible for any outcomes, including injuries, damages, or losses, related to your travel plans. All travel is undertaken at your own risk, and Itinerary Boss assumes no liability for third-party services or actions.

  ListenShow Notes
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  Episode #159

  From $48,000 to $356: Matt Dong on Star Alliance Transfer Partners and Flying Out of Dulles for Almost Nothing

  Jul 22, 202629 minS1

  (Disclaimer: Click 'more' to see add disclosure) Itinerary Boss is part of an affiliate sales network and receives compensation for sending traffic to partner sites, such as ⁠ YourBestCreditCards.com⁠ . This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. This site does not include all financial companies or all available financial offers. Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post. The content on this page is accurate as of the posting date; however, some of the offers mentioned may have expired. In episode 159 of Points, Cards and Travel, Matt Dong, co-founder of Wuhoo Group, joins Ross to break down how Star Alliance transfer partners turn an average United flight into a fraction of the points. Matt has stayed at over $40,000 worth of Hyatt nights for $0, and recently flew a trip that would've cost nearly $44,000 in cash for just $356. The conversation centers on Dulles as a Star Alliance hub, why transferring Chase, Amex, and Capital One points to Air Canada almost always beats booking United directly, and how a Houston flight dropped from 40,000 points to 15,000 just by changing where you transfer. Matt also shares the lap infant mistake that cost him $2,200 on a flight to Hong Kong, the accounts you should open now before you ever need them, and why the Capital One Venture X is his go-to recommendation for anyone flying out of Dulles or DCA. Whether you're planning your first trip to Paris or chasing your fifth Star Alliance business class seat, this episode is the roadmap. Credit Card Resources: ⁠5 Step Roadmap⁠ to Your Next Free 5-Star Luxury Vacation + the 1 Card That Gets You There Best Credit Cards for Travel Melio : Pay vendors who don't take card with credit card to earn more points Matthew’s Social Media: ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠ Itinerary Boss Socials: ⁠LinkedIn⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pinterest⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Itinerary Boss LLC has affiliate partners and some of these are affiliate links. This means that if you click on the link and purchase the item, we will receive an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. We only recommend products or services we believe will add value to our listeners. Disclaimer: The information provided by Itinerary Boss is for informational purposes only. We are not responsible for any outcomes, including injuries, damages, or losses, related to your travel plans. All travel is undertaken at your own risk, and Itinerary Boss assumes no liability for third-party services or actions.

  ListenShow Notes

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