42 Travel Planning Tips & Hacks from Travel Pro Leigh Rowan

42 Travel Planning Tips & Hacks from Travel Pro Leigh Rowan

Author: Chris Hutchins August 7, 2024 Duration: 1:09:15
#187: Learn the art of travel planning to enjoy incredible vacations. Travel pro Leigh and I share over 40 practical tips to create the perfect itinerary, save on flights and hotels, find travel inspiration, experience destinations like a local, and much more. Leigh Rowan is the founder and CEO of Savanti Travel, a full-service travel management company. Prior to that he was the COO of The Points Guy. Link to Full Show Notes: https://chrishutchins.com/travel-planning-leigh-rowan Partner Deals LMNT: Free sample pack of my favorite electrolyte drink mix Facet: Personalized Financial Planning + $250 enrollment fee waived Mint Mobile: $15/mo for unlimited wireless on the nation's largest 5G network Vuori: 20% off the most comfortable performance apparel I've ever worn DeleteMe: 20% off removing your personal info from the web For all the deals, discounts and promo codes from our partners, go to: chrishutchins.com/deals Resources Mentioned Leigh Rowan: Savanti Travel | Twitter Travel Publications for Inspiration Robb Report Travel + Leisure The New York Times: 52 Places to Go This Year Lonely Planet Flight Monitoring Tool: TripIt Article: Award Ticket Change and Cancellation Fees Activities, Experiences, Tours Airbnb Experiences Viator Context Travel International Data: Airalo | Mint Mobile Love and London: Get 10% off digital travel guides and itineraries with code "ALLTHEHACKS" Episodes: #1: Pro Travel Tips for Every Aspect of Your Next Trip with Leigh Rowan #51: Unlocking Travel Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous with Leigh Rowan #84: The Vagabond's Way: Time Wealth, Slow Travel, and Immersing Yourself in a New Place with Rolf Potts #86: The Best Deals for a Vacation Rentals, Exchanges, Fractionals, Timeshares and More! #89: Booking Flights with Points and All Things Award Travel with Tiffany Funk #94: How to Experience London Like a Local and Get There on Points with Jessica Dante (+ Chris' Trip Report) #107: Italy Unlocked: Insider Tips, Must-See Destinations and Booking Flights/Hotels on Points with Leigh Rowan #115: Iceland: Planning an Epic Adventure with Brandon Presser #156: Finding the Best Deals on Flights with Zach Resnick #166: Best Tools for Booking Flights with Points & Miles with Greg the Frequent Miler #167: Best Tools for Booking Hotels with Points & Miles with Greg the Frequent Miler Find other travel, points & miles related episodes here. Full Show Notes (00:00) Introduction (00:41) The Secret to an Incredible Vacation (02:33) Why Travel Planning Starts with Organization (06:15) Ways to Feel Inspired (09:21) Considering Seasonality and Timing (12:46) How Chris Uses Notion for Travel Planning (15:22) Leveraging ChatGPT (22:03) Tips to Monitor Booked Flights (+ Save Money!) (23:59) 3 Ways to Make Your Layover Count (29:05) Double Booking Hack for Flights (31:16) Rules of Thumb for Creating an Itinerary (40:04) Finding Accommodation and Getting Deals (44:23) Why Leigh Emails Hotels After Every Booking (46:54) Finding Local Experiences (53:37) Free Walking Tours (55:07) Finding Travel Inspiration Through Online Videos (58:26) Should You Use Credit Card Concierges for a Local Experience? (1:05:48) The Importance of Local Embassies (1:06:50) Best Ways to Access Money Abroad (1:06:58) Travel Insurance (1:10:02) Important Trip Elements to Review for Upcoming Travel Connect with Chris Newsletter | Membership | Twitter | Instagram | LinkedIn Editor’s Note: The content on this page is accurate as of the posting date; however, some of our partner offers may have expired. Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ever feel like there's a smarter, more efficient way to navigate your finances, your travels, and your daily routines? That's the core question driving All the Hacks: Money, Points & Life. Hosted by Chris Hutchins, this podcast is built on a simple, powerful idea: maximizing value doesn't mean sacrificing enjoyment. Instead, it's about the strategic choices that free up resources-both money and time-for what truly matters. Chris approaches life as a series of systems to be optimized, drawing from his own experience saving millions through meticulous analysis. The conversations here are practical and wide-ranging, moving seamlessly from credit card points strategies and investment philosophies to the less tangible hacks for personal fulfillment. You'll hear from a diverse roster of experts and icons, including Tim Ferriss, Tony Hawk, Codie Sanchez, and Gary Vaynerchuk, who all bring their unique perspectives on building wealth and designing a compelling life. Each episode feels like a focused workshop, offering actionable advice you can use immediately, whether it's planning a luxury vacation for a fraction of the cost or rethinking your approach to career and leisure. This isn't just about frugality; it's about unlocking freedom and excitement through smarter decisions. Tune in for a consistently insightful blend of tactical moves and deeper conversations that challenge the conventional trade-offs between spending, saving, and living well.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

All the Hacks: Money, Points & Life
Podcast Episodes
2025 Holiday Gift Guide and Top Ways to Save This Season [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:24:30
#255: Here are 100+ holiday gift ideas across tech, kitchen, home, clothing, fitness, kids, and games. I’ll also share tools and tactics to help you find deals and spend less this holiday season. For all the products, li…
The Cost of Always Optimizing with Chris and Amy [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:12:10
#254: Chris and Amy share a candid look at their life together as two optimizers. They discuss everything from family finances and teaching their kids about money to managing their health, work, and travel. Link to Full…
10 Lessons That Challenged My Thinking on Money and Life [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:23
#253: My top 10 takeaways from a retreat for high-net-worth investors, which will cover investing, managing risk, investing in your health, building meaningful relationships, parenting with purpose, and defining success…
Family Travel on Points: Tips, Tricks and Tactics with Nick Reyes [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:25:55
#252: Chris and Nick share strategies to make family travel affordable and stress-free with points and miles. They cover how to find multiple award seats, book business class for families, and their best tips for traveli…
How to Focus on What Matters and Let Go of the Rest with Ryan Holiday [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:43
#251: Discover why Stoicism matters more than ever and how to make it part of your daily life. We share practical ways to focus on what you can control, build resilience, and cultivate the four Stoic virtues: courage, se…
Earn More Points in Multiplayer Mode with Kai [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:10
#249: 3x your points and miles with a multiplayer strategy. We break down how to earn, manage, and maximize rewards with a partner, family, or friends. Plus learn how to handle the logistics, emotions, and systems that m…
How to Stop Over-Optimizing and Focus on What Matters with Tim Ferriss [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:33:48
#248: Learn to escape the trap of over-optimizing and design a more meaningful life. We explore setting boundaries, resetting priorities, and turning failure into fuel for success. We also dive into Tim’s creative proces…
Deep Dive on Bank of America Credit Cards (Up to 5.25% Cash Back) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:02:24
#247: Chris dives into Bank of America’s credit card lineup and why he has 5 different BoA cards right now. He'll go over how the Preferred Rewards program can help you earn unlimited 3.3% back on everything. Finally, he…
Contrarian Takes on Money, Risk, and Retirement with Tyler Gardner [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:11:50
#246: Today we explore contrarian takes on budgeting, the 4% rule, retirement planning, and the risks of blindly investing in bonds. We also cover strategies for investing, spending, and rethinking how to use money with…