Category: Podcast

We compare a brand-new Park Hyatt Los Cabos stay with a Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal stay, down to the rooms, pools, food, and spa experience. We also break down the exact points and certificates we used, what Cabo costs surprised us most, and which resort we would pick next time depending on whether we’re traveling with kids or not. 
• choosing Cabo for a short kid-free getaway and why low season changes the vibe 
• booking the Park Hyatt Cabo with Hyatt points and a suite upgrade award 
• what the Park Hyatt plunge pool suite is like and the privacy trade-offs 
• Cabo resort pricing reality and why a grocery stop can save your trip budget 
• Park Hyatt food impressions and the spa discount misunderstanding 
• getting to Waldorf Astoria Pedregal and what feels different on arrival 
• concierge planning, birthday surprises, and romantic turndown details 
• Waldorf dining strategy: when to skip the restaurant and order poolside 
• Hilton Diamond breakfast rules and how to avoid being charged 
• Waldorf spa facilities vs massage upsells 
• our “best of” picks across Park Hyatt, Waldorf, and the Cape 
• the full redemption math: miles, points, free night certs, and cents per point 
go check out my Instagram stories for the next few days, and you'll see all of the um both rooms that we stayed in and all that fun stuff. 

We finish our Scotland trip with our Edinburgh stretch: the drive in, our Outlander stop at Midhope Castle, where we stayed on points, and the places that were actually worth the effort with kids. We also break down our Air France business class flights home booked with points, including the fees, lounges, and what we’d do differently next time. 
• motion sickness on Scotland roads and why Dramamine matters 
• Midhope Castle as Lallybroch for Outlander fans and what to expect on-site 
• using Hilton points at the DoubleTree Edinburgh and setting realistic hotel expectations 
• returning the rental car, cracked windshield costs, and Chase Sapphire Reserve primary coverage claim 
• Dishoom Edinburgh, ordering shareable plates, and low-pressure ways to help kids try new food 
• Edinburgh Castle tour pros and cons and why audio equipment makes or breaks it 
• Flightographer family photos, timing trade-offs, and getting more variety from group shots 
• fishing attempt lessons, Albys sandwiches, and easy wins when plans flop 
• riding the alpine coaster, buying tickets early, and taking Edinburgh buses with tap-to-pay 
• late-night dining challenges with kids in Edinburgh and planning around closing times 
• Mary’s Milk Bar on the Grassmarket and a fun Somebody Feed Phil tie-in 
• Air France business class from Paris, lounge access, and the reality of award taxes and fees 
If you have questions, as always, message me on Instagram 
Let me know if you have questions about Scotland or the United Kingdom, and I'll do my best to answer them 

Sheepdog Experience in Uig

The Wolfie Lodge in Carbost (Easily in the top 3 AirBnB's we've EVER stayed in!)

Airbnb in Onich (near Ft William)

The Isle of Skye completely wins us over with misty roads, unreal scenery, and a base in tiny Carbost that feels like a movie set. We share our exact itinerary, our biggest planning mistakes, and the specific stops that make a Scotland family road trip feel doable and memorable.

• flying London to Inverness early to save money 
• renting a car for left-side driving and using primary rental insurance coverage 
• choosing Carbost as a home base and why we want more nights next time 
• finding food in small towns and what to buy as backups 
• Staffin Bay dinosaur footprints and why low tide timing matters 
• the sheepdog herding experience in Uig and why it becomes a trip highlight 
• Portree stops for photos, shops, and a reliable dinner plan 
• Fairy Pools hike lessons learned and how to avoid turning back too soon 
• Three Chimneys lunch and pairing it with Talisker nearby 
• Talisker Distillery tour plus how water changes peaty Scotch 
• leaving Skye for Fort William with a stop at Eilean Donan Castle 
• Glenfinnan viewpoint for the Jacobite steam train and what the crowds are like 
• Glencoe visitor center, history notes, and quick food options 
• The Geographer in Fort William and our first haggis taste test 

Find me on Instagram if you have questions 
If Scotland has been on your bucket list and you're waiting for a sign, this is your sign

We’re back from a break and sharing how our family of five tackles three sweaty days in London while using points and miles to make business class happen. We break down what worked, what flopped, and the small decisions that mattered most when traveling with kids in a heat wave. 

• taking a needed podcast hiatus and what it’s like recording at home with kids 
• the washer saga and why appliance research became a full-time hobby 
• booking six business class seats to London with points, plus the mistake that nearly derailed it 
• positioning flights to Dallas and using airport lounges to survive a long travel day 
• arriving in London and checking into Hyatt Regency London Churchill on points 
• dealing with the London heat wave and inconsistent hotel air conditioning 
• London highlights including Westminster Abbey, Borough Market, and Mercado Mayfair 
• why we would not repeat the Mad Hatter afternoon tea experience 
• Tower of London strategy, Beefeater tour tips, and prioritizing the Crown Jewels line 
• the wild coincidence of running into our kid’s teacher at the Tower of London 
• the Heathrow Express saved us after a confusing early-morning transit mess 

We share a quick life update and explain why we are taking a four to six week break so we can reset and come back stronger. Then we dig into the latest Chase and Hyatt changes, run our midyear points and cash back totals, and share how we finally locked in business class seats for our upcoming London and Scotland trip. 

• announcing a short podcast hiatus and the reasons behind it 
• plans to set up a guest scheduling system for future episodes 
• reacting to the Chase Sapphire Preferred Hyatt transfer cut to 4:3 
• what the change means for Hyatt fans and award booking value 
• why Chase is pushing elevated offers after recent nerfs 
• midyear recap of cards opened and total points earned so far 
• cash back strategy including bank account bonuses and tracking 
• frustrations with US Bank central billing and bonus timing 
• warning story about Chime and why we are waiting on a resolution 
• booking last-minute business class to London using American Airlines miles 
• focusing more on family travel stories alongside points and miles 

If by chance no one in your family has a Chase Ink business card and you would like to get one, please use our links above.