Secrets of a Travel Journalist

In this episode, I’m joined by Chad Pennycuff of the My DVC Points podcast to break down everything you need to know about Universal Orlando’s brand-new theme park, Epic Universe — starting with where to stay, what to skip, and how to save. We also recap Chad’s incredible theme park tour across Asia, including Shanghai Disney, Universal Beijing, Tokyo Disney and more. Hear what Disney is doing next level overseas and how it compares to the new Epic Universe experience. Then we shift to: * Hotel options at Epic (including pros/cons of Stella Nova, Terra Luna & the ultra-pricey Helios Grand) * A deep dive into the Wizarding World of Harry Potter: Ministry of Magic — the ride, the land, the queue and the details you don’t want to miss * Tips on wait times, Express Pass strategy, early entry and how to use points to cover your Universal trip * What we loved (and didn’t) about Celestial Park and its headline coaster, Stardust Racers 🎁 Grab my free Epic Universe ride + dining guide: secretsofatraveljournalist.com/epic [https://www.secretsofatraveljournalist.com/epic] Want the full Epic Universe breakdown (plus my photos + member Q&A)? It’s inside the Club. Join --> SecretsofaTravelJournalist.com/Club [https://www.secretsofatraveljournalist.com/club] Resources:  * My DVC Points Podcast [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/my-dvc-points/id1434862668] * My Video Tour: Stella Nova Resort [https://youtu.be/BvQIJ3Vjs9g] - https://youtu.be/BvQIJ3Vjs9g

Join me for an insider’s journey to London as I share my favorite travel tips, hidden gems and even a few things I wish I’d done differently. In this episode, you’ll hear how I flew to London for (almost) free, where we stayed (and why it mattered), the must-see spots I recommend and how to get around the city stress-free — all from the perspective of a professional travel journalist. From Big Ben to Oxford, Harry Potter to historic pubs, I’ll walk you through the highlights of our trip and the lessons learned along the way. 🎧 Want the full London webinar replay, a detailed itinerary and a member-led London webinar and guide? They’re all waiting for you inside the Secrets of a Travel Journalist Club --> https://www.secretsofatraveljournalist.com/club Inside my exclusive Secrets of a Travel Journalist Club, I’m not only sharing my Fly Free and Stay Free Formulas, but I'm pulling back the curtain on 25+ years of insider travel know-how to help you fly smarter, score luxury perks and unlock unforgettable experiences. 👉 Grab your spot + start planning your smartest and most affordable trip yet: https://www.secretsofatraveljournalist.com/club  Join the my email list at https://www.secretsofatraveljournalist.com/email Got questions about the Club? Email info AT secretsofatraveljournalist.com or text 844-403-2263 Resources: * Episode 183: London Trip - Top 5 Tips [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/183-london-trip-top-5-travel-tips/id1540642046?i=1000703049415] - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/183-london-trip-top-5-travel-tips/id1540642046?i=1000703049415 * Living Rooms UK  [https://www.living-rooms.co.uk/]- https://www.living-rooms.co.uk/ * The Tour Guy Tower of London Legends & Lore Tour [https://secretsofatraveljournalist.com/tourguylondon] - https://secretsofatraveljournalist.com/tourguylondon (this is an affiliate link, but they are my favorite tour company!)

College visits, auditions, move-in weekends and campus drop-offs — they’re all part of the college journey… and they can get really expensive, really fast. But what if you didn’t have to stress about the cost? In this episode, I share how I recently visited Notre Dame using points and stayed right on campus without spending a dime — plus how Club members like Heather, Amylee and Yolanda have used my system to fly their kids to and from college, tour campuses across the country and show up when it matters most — all without blowing their budget. You’ll hear: * How one mom booked 7 college audition trips using her Companion Pass * Why flying kids home from college — even on short notice — can be stress-free * How I used points to fly my son to UCLA for a summer program and internship * A smart strategy to erase campus hotel costs using a Chase transfer bonus * The emotional (and financial) payoff of having points ready when college travel calls If college is anywhere on your family’s horizon, this is one of the smartest ways to use your miles — and I’ll show you how to make it happen. 👉 Ready to plan smarter travel for college and beyond? Join the Secrets of a Travel Journalist Club:  https://www.secretsofatraveljournalist.com/club

Chase Sapphire Preferred is my FAVORITE Travel card — and right now, it’s offering a limited-time 100,000-point bonus (worth at least $1,250 in free travel) that ends May 15 at 9am ET. Thanks for using my personal affiliate link to support the podcast if you decide to apply for the card: https://www.familiesflyfree.com/favorite-card [https://www.familiesflyfree.com/favorite-card] But beyond the big bonus, this card quietly packs in some powerful perks that most people overlook. In this episode, I’ll break down the lesser-known features that make this my #1 recommended travel card — including a $50 hotel credit, hidden travel protections, a way to “erase” any purchase with your points and more. Whether you already have the card or are thinking of applying before the offer ends Thursday at 9am ET, you’ll learn how to get the most value from every benefit it offers. 🎧 Tune in to find out: * How to use the $50 hotel credit (most people forget this!) * What Chase Pay Yourself Back REALLY is — and why it’s a game-changer * Travel insurance protections that could save you thousands * The overlooked bonuses you earn just for keeping the card Thanks again for using my affiliate link to apply for this card to support the podcast & my small business: https://www.familiesflyfree.com/favorite-card Got a question about it? Text it to me at 844-403-2263.   ✨ Join me inside my Secrets of a Travel Journalist Club, where I’m pulling back the curtain on 25+ years of insider travel know-how to help you fly smarter, score luxury perks and unlock unforgettable experiences for less. 👉 Grab your spot + start planning your smartest trip yet: https://www.secretsofatraveljournalist.com/club [https://www.secretsofatraveljournalist.com/club] ✈️ Want even more travel tips? Visit SecretsofaTravelJournalist.com [https://www.secretsofatraveljournalist.com/] for guides, resources and insider advice. Got questions about the Club? Text me at 844-403-2263. Music Credit: Inspiring Optimistic Upbeat Energetic Guitar Rhythm by Free Music |  https://soundcloud.com/fm_freemusic [https://soundcloud.com/fm_freemusic] Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com [https://www.free-stock-music.com] Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US [https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US]

Southwest Airlines is shaking things up—starting with assigned seating in January 2026 and a new policy that could mean paying for checked bags. 😲 But don’t panic! In this episode, I’ll walk you through exactly what’s changing, what’s not changing, and most importantly—how you can still get your checked bags free and snag a great seat without paying extra. We’ll cover: * ✈️ How to navigate the new bag fee rules * 🧳 The trick to keeping your checked bags FREE * 💺 What assigned seating really means—and how to get the best spot * 💡 My insider tips to make the most of Southwest’s evolving policies If you love flying Southwest (like I do!) and want to keep the perks you’ve always enjoyed, this episode is a must-listen. Want to travel more—without the stress, the endless Googling or overpaying for flights and hotels? Join me inside my Secrets of a Travel Journalist Club, where I’m pulling back the curtain on 25+ years of insider travel know-how to help you fly smarter, score luxury perks and unlock unforgettable experiences for less. 👉 Grab your spot + start planning your smartest trip yet: https://www.secretsofatraveljournalist.com/club [https://www.secretsofatraveljournalist.com/club] ✈️ Want even more travel tips? Visit SecretsofaTravelJournalist.com [https://www.secretsofatraveljournalist.com] for guides, resources and insider advice. Got questions about the Club? Text me at 844-403-2263. RESOURCES: See the complete list of Southwest's changes here [https://www.southwest.com/customer-enhancements/assigned-seating/]: https://www.southwest.com/customer-enhancements/assigned-seating/