Celebrate the magic of Christmas travel done smartly in this festive midweek mini episode of Wonderland on Points. Mary Ellen shares how she pulled off a dreamy, budget-friendly Christmas Eve getaway to New York City with her preschooler using points and miles, from scoring affordable Amtrak tickets to booking a Times Square hotel that would have cost over $1,000 per night for just 29,000 Hyatt points. You’ll hear practical tips for Amtrak booking and upgrades, smart seat selection for kid-friendly Broadway-style shows like the Radio City Rockettes Christmas Spectacular, and how Hyatt’s Brand Explorer “Hyatt Bingo” can unlock valuable free night certificates. Along the way, the episode highlights simple joys like New York pizza in bed, a magical Disney Store moment, and the power of solo parent-child trips made possible through points and miles. Perfect for families looking to travel more, spend less, and create meaningful holiday memories, this episode is packed with real-world strategies and Christmas cheer.

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Join us as we chat with travel expert Jen Logan from @JenzJourneys about exploring the Canadian Rockies—Banff, Lake Louise, Jasper, Kananaskis, and beyond! Jen shares insider tips on the best hikes, hidden gems, and must-see sights, from the iconic red canoes at Lake Louise and the Beehive and Lake Agnes Tea House hikes, to glacier climbs in Jasper and serene stays at Emerald Lake Lodge. She also highlights charming mountain towns like Canmore and Kananaskis, tips for using travel portals to book national park lodging and shuttles, and ideas for experiencing less-crowded turquoise lakes and scenic viewpoints. Whether you’re planning your first Rockies adventure or returning to discover new spots, this episode is packed with practical advice, breathtaking destinations, and inspiration to plan a start-to-finish trip you won’t forget.

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In this Midweek Mini episode of Wonderland on Points, we break down the most important year-end points and miles news you need to know before key deadlines hit, with practical advice you can act on right away. Sponsored by CardPointers, this episode covers how to stay organized with your credit card offers and credits while diving deep into the highly talked-about Citi Strata Elite “triple dip,” including how to stack calendar-year credits, evaluate a high annual fee card, and potentially extract thousands of dollars in value from points and benefits. We also highlight an elevated Chase Freedom Unlimited offer that’s ideal for beginners, college students, or anyone building toward Chase’s transferable points ecosystem, along with a candid discussion of the sudden shutdown of the Mesa card and what it means for earning rewards on mortgage payments. To wrap things up, we share a clever, fast way to earn Alaska and Hawaiian “Atmos” rewards points with no out-of-pocket spend, perfect for topping off an account or booking last-minute travel. If you want to maximize points, avoid costly mistakes, and finish the year strong in the points and miles world, this episode is a must-listen.

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