Wonderland on Points | Credit Card Rewards & Budget Travel

Wonderland on Points | Credit Card Rewards & Budget Travel

by Mary Ellen and Jo

Season 1

253. Midweek Mini: Chase Q4 Categories, Qatar Gets Easier & Wyndham Gets Worse

The news just keeps coming! This week, we’re breaking down the new Chase Freedom Flex Q4 bonus categories, including why dining and groceries could make this an especially lucrative quarter. We also talk about Qatar making it easier to book award flights for friends and family, a huge 70% Chase-to-Marriott transfer bonus, reported delays with some Amex transfers, and a pretty painful Wyndham devaluation. Plus, Chase is celebrating the Sapphire Reserve’s 10th anniversary with new limited-time perks and credits. We go through what’s included, which ones we think are actually useful, and how we might take advantage of them. And finally, we clear up the difference between joining Wonderland Besties through Patreon versus subscribing through Apple Podcasts—and why we wanted to give you both options. MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: Chase Sapphire Reserve 10 Million Points Giveaway JOIN WONDERLAND BESTIES: Get bonus episodes, ad-free listening, timely points & miles updates, member Q&As, and more with our Wonderland Besties membership! FIND US ONLINE: Mary Ellen | Joanna Wonderland on Points Facebook Group OUR FAVORITE LINKS & DISCOUNTS: Some of the links below are affiliate or referral links, which means we may receive a commission or referral bonus when you use them. Thank you for supporting Wonderland on Points! Our Favorite Credit Cards Reliefband — 25% off with code WONDERLAND Rakuten — Mary Ellen (Get 5,000 Amex or Bilt Points) Rakuten — Joanna (Get 5,000 Amex or Bilt Points) Mary Ellen’s Fetch — Use code MARYELLEN Joanna’s Fetch — Use code JOANNALYNN Seats.Aero CardPointers — Get Our Best Price Halara — 10% off with code WONDERLAND Comfrt — 15% off Rove — Get 1,500 Free Miles

S1 · E253

Sep 23, 2026

27:33

252. Grand Teton & Yellowstone: Points, Parks & Plot Twists with @Jamie.Travel.Tips

This week, Jamie joins us to recap her family trip through Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks! She shares how they used Southwest points and a Companion Pass to fly into Boise and home from Bozeman, plus how they covered lodging with Wyndham points, Capital One miles, and credit card benefits. We talk about exploring Jenny Lake, Hidden Falls and String Lake in the Tetons before cold and rainy weather completely changed their plans. Then it’s on to Yellowstone for bison, bears, Old Faithful, the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone, the Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center, and some seriously wild traffic. Jamie also shares what she would do differently next time, where she would stay, and her biggest tips for planning a Yellowstone and Grand Teton trip with kids. This one is full of practical advice for planning your own national parks adventure—and a good reminder that sometimes the best family trips require a little flexibility! MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: Relief Band - Use code WONDERLAND for 25% off! JOIN WONDERLAND BESTIES: Get bonus episodes, ad-free listening, timely points & miles updates, member Q&As, and more with our Wonderland Besties membership! FIND US ONLINE: Mary Ellen | Joanna Wonderland on Points Facebook Group OUR FAVORITE LINKS & DISCOUNTS: Some of the links below are affiliate or referral links, which means we may receive a commission or referral bonus when you use them. Thank you for supporting Wonderland on Points! Our Favorite Credit Cards Rakuten — Mary Ellen (Get 5,000 Amex or Bilt Points) Rakuten — Joanna (Get 5,000 Amex or Bilt Points) Mary Ellen’s Fetch — Use code MARYELLEN Joanna’s Fetch — Use code JOANNALYNN Seats.Aero CardPointers — Get Our Best Price Halara — 10% off with code WONDERLAND Comfrt — 15% off Rove — Get 1,500 Free Miles

S1 · E252

Sep 21, 2026

59:21

251. Midweek Mini: Global Entry, Alaska & Capital One News + Wonderland Besties Hard Launch!

This week’s Midweek Mini has some important travel updates plus a BIG Wonderland on Points announcement! We’re talking about the new Trusted Traveler app replacing the old Global Entry app, Alaska Airlines making international lap infant award travel much more affordable, and the current Capital One Venture offer. We also cover a major change to Chase-to-Hyatt transfers and what you may want to do before it takes effect. Then, Wonderland Besties is officially HERE! We’re breaking down everything included in our new membership, from bonus episodes and ad-free listening to timely news, voicemail questions, community input, giveaways, group trip access, and more—plus we explain the differences between joining through Patreon and Apple Premium. MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: Venture referral link JOIN WONDERLAND BESTIES: Get bonus episodes, ad-free listening, timely points & miles updates, member Q&As, and more with our Wonderland Besties subscription! FIND US ONLINE: Mary Ellen | Joanna Wonderland on Points Facebook Group OUR FAVORITE LINKS & DISCOUNTS: Some of the links below are affiliate or referral links, which means we may receive a commission or referral bonus when you use them. Thank you for supporting Wonderland on Points! Our Favorite Credit Cards Reliefband — 25% off with code WONDERLAND Rakuten — Mary Ellen (Get 5,000 Amex or Bilt Points) Rakuten — Joanna (Get 5,000 Amex or Bilt Points) Mary Ellen’s Fetch — Use code MARYELLEN Joanna’s Fetch — Use code JOANNALYNN Seats.Aero CardPointers — Get Our Best Price Halara — 10% off with code WONDERLAND Comfrt — 15% off Rove — Get 1,500 Free Miles

S1 · E251

Sep 16, 2026

21:04

250. The 2026 Best (and Worst) Airline & Hotel Loyalty Programs, Ranked with U.S. News & World Report's Elizabeth von Tersch

Elizabeth von Tersch from U.S. News & World Report joins us to break down the latest rankings of the best airline and hotel loyalty programs—and there are definitely some surprises! We talk about why American took the top airline spot, what caused Atmos and United to fall, why JetBlue is gaining ground, and where Delta struggles. On the hotel side, we dig into Wyndham taking #1, why Hyatt remains strong despite its smaller footprint, and how programs like Choice, Hilton, Sonesta, and IHG compare. Plus, we talk about devaluations, transfer partners, redemption value, and why your points are almost always worth more today than they will be tomorrow. Mentioned in this episode: Travel.usnews.com @USNewsTravel Travel Essentials Links Elizabeth TikTok Elizabeth Youtube Find Us On Online: Wonderland Besties Subscription Mary Ellen | Jo Facebook Group Affiliate Links: Relief Band - Use code WONDERLAND for 25% off! Rakuten- Mary Ellen (Get 5000 AMEX or Bilt POINTS) Rakuten- Joanna (Get 5000 AMEX or Bilt POINTS) Seats.Aero BEST PRICE on CardPointers subscription! Halara (use code "Wonderland" for 10% off) Our Favorite Credit Cards Comfrt.com 15% OFF ✈️💙Rove Referral Link- A FREE 1500 miles🎉 We may receive a small commission when you choose to use any of our links to purchase your products or apply for your cards

S1 · E250

Sep 14, 2026

41:11

249. Midweek Mini: Southwest Lounges Are Coming + A BIG Wonderland Announcement

This week’s Midweek Mini is packed with good news! We’re talking about Southwest’s plans for new airport lounges and how a potential new premium Southwest card could impact Companion Pass strategy. We also break down the Chase Sapphire Reserve’s DoorDash restaurant credit increasing, Rove adding Copa Airlines as a transfer partner with a limited-time bonus, and some great Copa redemption sweet spots. Plus, we’re sharing a BIG Wonderland on Points update that you don't want to miss! Mentioned in this episode: ✈️💙Rove Referral Link- A FREE 1500 miles🎉 Comfrt.com 15% OFF Find Us On Online: Mary Ellen | Jo Facebook Group Affiliate Links: Rakuten- Mary Ellen (Get 5000 AMEX or Bilt POINTS) Rakuten- Joanna (Get 5000 AMEX or Bilt POINTS) Mary Ellen's Fetch (Use code MARYELLEN!) Joanna's Fetch (Use code JOANNALYNN) Seats.Aero BEST PRICE on CardPointers subscription! Halara (use code "Wonderland" for 10% off) Our Favorite Credit Cards We may receive a small commission when you choose to use any of our links to purchase your products or apply for your cards

S1 · E249

Sep 9, 2026

27:18

248. Alaska on Points: Glaciers, Whales, Bears & an Epic Father-Daughter Adventure

We’re recapping Joanna’s incredible father-daughter trip to Alaska and breaking down how she made such an epic trip surprisingly budget-friendly! We talk about flying from St. Louis to Anchorage for just 17,500 points each way, using Hyatt points for the hotel, renting a car and exploring on our own, and deciding which experiences were actually worth the splurge. From trekking and rappelling on Matanuska Glacier to hiking in Girdwood, exploring Whittier, spotting beluga whales, picking wild blueberries in Hatcher Pass, cruising Kenai Fjords National Park, and finally finding a moose at sunset, this trip was packed with bucket-list moments. Joanna also shares why experiencing Alaska with her dad made this one of the most meaningful trips she’s ever taken—and why she came home already wanting to go back. Mentioned in this episode: Comfrt.com 15% OFF Nova Alaska Tours Matanuska Glacier Youtube Review Whittier Marine Charters Borealis Custom Fishing Experience Hatcher Pass ATV Find Us On Online: Mary Ellen | Jo Facebook Group Affiliate Links: Relief Band - Use code WONDERLAND for 25% off! Rakuten- Mary Ellen (Get 5000 AMEX or Bilt POINTS) Rakuten- Joanna (Get 5000 AMEX or Bilt POINTS) Mary Ellen's Fetch (Use code MARYELLEN!) Joanna's Fetch (Use code JOANNALYNN) Seats.Aero BEST PRICE on CardPointers subscription! Halara (use code "Wonderland" for 10% off) Our Favorite Credit Cards We may receive a small commission when you choose to use any of our links to purchase your products or apply for your cards

S1 · E248

Sep 7, 2026

1:20:57

247. Midweek Mini: Vikings, Fraud and Companion Passes

This week, we’re catching up on a little bit of everything! We share an incredible VIP Minnesota Vikings experience made possible by one of our listeners, plus how we used points for the trip and checked out some unique Priority Pass options at MSP. We also talk about a recent credit card fraud scare, why we prefer credit over debit cards, and our strategies for earning the Southwest Companion Pass. Plus, we’re covering spring break planning, an important reminder to always register for Hyatt promos, and some new Rove features we’re excited about. Mentioned in this Episode: Old Companion Pass Episode ✈️💙Rove Referral Link- A FREE 1500 miles🎉 Rakuten- Mary Ellen (Get 5000 AMEX or Bilt POINTS) Rakuten- Joanna (Get 5000 AMEX or Bilt POINTS) Find Us On Online: Sign Up for the Y! Wonder Travel Newsletter Mary Ellen | Jo Facebook Group Affiliate Links: Seats.Aero BEST PRICE on CardPointers subscription! Comfrt.com 15% OFF Chase/Capital One/Amex Card Links Our Favorite Travel Necessities We receive a small commission when you choose to use any of our links to purchase your products or apply for your cards! We SO appreciate when you choose to give back to the podcast in this way!

S1 · E247

Sep 2, 2026

26:48

246. Puerto Rico on Points: A $12,000, 6-Night Family Trip That Cost $1500

Kirsten, a pediatric emergency medicine doctor and mom of three, joins us to break down how her family spent six nights in Puerto Rico for just $1,500 out of pocket on a trip that would have cost around $12,000 in cash. We get into exactly how she pulled it off using JetBlue points, Hyatt points, credit card travel credits, rental car status, and a Hyatt Guest of Honor award. Kirsten walks us through their stay at the Hyatt Regency Grand Reserve, why Guest of Honor benefits saved them hundreds of dollars on breakfast and parking, and how Puerto Rico turned out to be an incredibly easy family destination for a February school break. We also talk about their adventures in El Yunque, natural waterslides and cliff jumping in the rainforest, a canceled snorkeling excursion that led to a great backup day at Luquillo Beach, and exploring historic Old San Juan. Plus, we cover the Capital One offer that earned Kirsten an incredible 30X on a Viator excursion, her favorite points and travel tools, and why Puerto Rico deserves a spot on your list if you want beaches, adventure, history, and tropical weather without needing a passport. Mentioned in this Episode: Relief Band - Use code WONDERLAND for 25% off! Find Us On Online: Sign Up for the Y! Wonder Travel Newsletter Mary Ellen | Jo Facebook Group Affiliate Links: Seats.Aero BEST PRICE on CardPointers subscription! Comfrt.com 15% OFF Chase/Capital One/Amex Card Links Our Favorite Travel Necessities We receive a small commission when you choose to use any of our links to purchase your products or apply for your cards! We SO appreciate when you choose to give back to the podcast in this way!

S1 · E246

Aug 31, 2026

53:55

245. Massive Rove Updates are Here! A SURPRISE Friday Episode with all the details!

SURPRISE! For the first time ever, Wonderland on Points is dropping a brand-new episode on a FRIDAY. We just could’t wait on this one because Rove has massive new updates! We’re talking a NEW Rove app, Rove Dining, Instant-Earning Gift Cards and more! We’re joined by Carissa Rawson from Rove to talk about the exciting new developments within the Rove program. If you’re already using Rove—or have been curious about how it could fit into your points-and-miles strategy, you’ll want to hear what’s coming next. Carissa gives us an inside look at Rove, explains what makes the program different, and shares several new changes designed to make earning and using rewards even more exciting. We also discuss how travelers can take advantage of the program and why Rove is one to watch in the points-and-miles world. Tune in for all the details—and enjoy this special Friday surprise! Justplanepoints.com Instagram: @JustPlanePoints Mentioned in this Episode: ✈️💙Rove Referral Link- A FREE 1500 miles🎉 Find Us On Online: BLOG post on the NEW Rove Updates Sign Up for the Y! Wonder Travel Newsletter Mary Ellen | Jo Facebook Group Affiliate Links: Seats.Aero BEST PRICE on CardPointers subscription! Comfrt.com 15% OFF Chase/Capital One/Amex Card Links Our Favorite Travel Necessities We receive a small commission when you choose to use any of our links to purchase your products or apply for your cards! We SO appreciate when you choose to give back to the podcast in this way!

S1 · E245

Aug 28, 2026

49:46

244. The Orlando Resort That’s a Vacation on Its Own: Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress Review

We’re taking you inside our hosted trip to the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress in Orlando and sharing why this resort can be a destination all on its own. We talk about the rooms and Disney fireworks views, the incredible pool and family-friendly activities, dining options, and all the included amenities around the property. Plus, we share how close it is to Disney Springs and the theme parks, who we think this hotel is best for, and whether we’d stay again. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 01:57 First impressions and lobby 04:00 Rooms and fireworks views 07:57 Pools and family activities 14:57 Dining and breakfast 20:00 Resort activities and amenities 23:50 Disney Springs and nearby options 27:54 Overall impressions Mentioned in this Episode: Comfrt.com 15% OFF Find Us On Online: Sign Up for the Y! Wonder Travel Newsletter Mary Ellen | Jo Facebook Group Affiliate Links: Rakuten- Mary Ellen (Get 5000 AMEX or Bilt POINTS) Rakuten- Joanna (Get 5000 AMEX or Bilt POINTS) Cardpointers Halara (use code "Wonderland" for 10% off) Our Favorite Credit Cards We may receive a small commission when you choose to use any of our links to purchase your products or apply for your cards

S1 · E244

Aug 26, 2026

35:04

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