How to Win at Travel with “The Points Guy” Brian Kelly

Zero To Travel Podcast

Jason Moore

Entrepreneurship, Places & Travel, Business, Society & Culture

4.5 • 828 Ratings

🗓️ 11 March 2025

⏱️ 83 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Are you leaving free travel on the table? Brian Kelly, aka The Points Guy, is one of the world’s leading experts on travel and loyalty programs. What started as a blog in 2010 has become a massive platform helping millions of travelers maximize rewards and travel smarter. In his new book How to Win at Travel, Brian shares everything he’s learned about the game of travel, from leveraging airline and credit card points to planning your dream itinerary so you can experience the world in ways you never thought possible. Brian joins me to talk about why playing the points game is about more than just free flights—it’s a strategy for life. He also shares how he turned a side hustle into a travel empire and opens up about his experience growing up in a small town and coming out after college. Whether you're a travel hacking pro or just getting started, this episode will reframe how you think about points and miles as a financial tool. Brian breaks it all down in a way that makes sense, showing you how to turn travel into a strategic investment while revealing lesser-known perks and insider tips that will allow you to travel smarter and truly win at travel. PLUS, you’re going to hear the 5th and final installment of our Five Best Road Trips in the USA mini-series. I saved the best for last! What’s your biggest travel hack or points win? I'd love to hear about it, and I hope you’ll share by sending me an audio message. Premium Passport: Get ad-free episodes, exclusive content, and access to all episodes for only $3/month. Subscribe now! Tune In To Learn: Why being authentic will always reign supreme in life and business Why Brian is passionate about Peace Jam and giving back through travel Why points are not only an extremely powerful tool but an important safety net The biggest mistakes people make with points and miles and how to avoid wasting your rewards How to reframe stressful travel with a “karma points” mindset and have better experiences The four main loyalty program structures and how understanding them can help you redeem points for maximum value The one travel insurance mistake that could cost you big time Hidden gem destinations you should add to your bucket list And so much more Resources: Join Zero To Travel Premium Passport Sign up for our FREE newsletter Visit The Points Guy Grab the book How to Win at Travel Want More? How To Take More Vacations by Booking Better, Cheaper Flights With Scott Keyes When Is the Best Time to Book a Flight (In 2024) With Christie Hudson Work Exchange: How to Travel with Purpose with Ricardo Lima from Worldpackers Thanks To Our Sponsors Defender - Explore the full lineup at landroverusa.com. Unbound Merino - Use code ‘TRAVEL10’ to get 10% off your Unbound Merino order. Saily - Go to saily.com/zerototravel and download the SAILY app - use the code ‘zerototravel’ at checkout to get an exclusive 15% off your first purchase. Booking.com - Book your next stay and find exactly what you’re looking for on booking.com

Transcript

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0:00.0	I'm not exaggerating here. I would say probably around 300 days of every year, I am wearing
0:05.7	marino wool somewhere on my body. And that's why when I discovered Unbound Marino, I was
0:12.7	incredibly stoked because they make just simple, versatile, stylish merino wool apparel,
0:19.3	stuff that you could wear at home or on the road that looks good.
0:22.6	And because it's made out of marino wool, it doesn't get smelly, it doesn't wrinkle.
0:26.2	There are all these benefits.
0:27.2	It regulates your temperature.
0:29.0	And you got to check them out over at zero to travel.com slash unbounds.
0:32.5	They're hooking up with a discount as a new customer.
0:35.2	10% off when you enter the promo code Travel 10, Travel and the number
0:39.5	10. Thank you to Unbound Marino for supporting today's show.
0:45.0	I can go almost anywhere in business class for free last minute. And once you get that feeling of
0:50.1	no matter what happens, I need to get home to see a sick relative or I got a new job and they need me back.
0:56.1	Knowing that you can get anywhere in the world essentially for free at any time is a powerful
1:00.6	feeling. Travel is the only expense that makes you richer. And I still, I believe it. And I think,
1:07.2	you know, all the trends show that people are now spending more on travel, less on things.
1:12.7	That is today's guest. Brian Kelly, the founder of the points guy.
1:16.4	If you've ever searched for ways to maximize your travel through points in miles, you've likely encountered Brian's work.
1:21.9	And his new book, How to Win It Travel, gives you a, quote, roadmap with all of the knowledge and tools you need to become an expert
1:28.6	traveler. I read it. It delivers. It contains a lot of valuable insights for travelers of all
1:33.7	experienced levels. And in this episode, you're going to hear Brian's expert advice as we dive deep
1:38.7	into the world of travel rewards, loyalty programs, and how to make the most of your travel
	...

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