How I Saved Over $20K on a Luxury European Vacation

How I Saved Over $20K on a Luxury European Vacation

Author: Chris Hutchins September 11, 2024 Duration: 1:13:20
#192: Here's how we saved over $20,000 on our recent Europe trip! Learn how to use award flight tools to score affordable business-class tickets, maximize hotel loyalty programs for luxury stays, and find incredible travel deals. We’ll also review highlights from our trip, including top restaurants, airport experiences, Olympic events, and so much more! Link to Full Show Notes: https://chrishutchins.com/save-20k-luxury-europe-trip Partner Deals NetSuite: Free KPI checklist to upgrade your business performance MasterClass: Learn from the world's best with 15% off Bilt Rewards: Earn the most valuable points when you pay rent Fabric: Affordable term life insurance for you and your family AG1: Free 1 year supply of Vitamin D and 5 free travel packs For all the deals, discounts and promo codes from our partners, go to: chrishutchins.com/deals Resources Mentioned Flight Tools Ep #166: Best Tools for Booking Flights with Points & Miles with Greg the Frequent Miler AwardTool ($20 off annual plans with code ALLTHEHACKS) Seats.Aero PointsYeah point.me avianca lifemiles+ Program Direct Flights: FlightConnections Hotel Tools Ep #167: Best Tools for Booking Hotels with Points & Miles with Greg the Frequent Miler Awayz ($10 for ATH listeners and 50% off for ATH members) Rooms.Aero Chris' Airline/Hotel Transfer Partner Spreadsheet Hotels 7Pines: Sardinia | Ibiza Hôtel Martinez Cannes by Hyatt Hyatt Paris Madeleine Hyatt's Tier List Car Rental Tools AutoSlash SIXT Hertz National Restaurants Paris: Arnaud Nicolas Palma: Vandal Places in Mallorca Hotel: Cap Rocat | Sea Club Restaurant Cities: Sóller | Palma de Mallorca Catedral de Mallorca Credit Cards Cards Page American Express® Gold Card Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card ATH Podcast Newsletter Membership Follow & Review on Apple Podcasts Email us for questions, tips, deals and feedback Ep #175: Booking Summer Travel Award Flights (34:35) Ep #184: Chris’ Summer Award Travel Update (06:27) Ep #187: 42 Travel Planning Tips & Tricks from Travel Pro Leigh Rowan Ep #188: My Must-Have Products and Services for Life, Work and More Full Show Notes (00:00) Introduction (03:02) Getting the Best Deal on Our Flights (06:07) How to Book Flights Using Transfer Partners (10:30) Why We Decided Not to Take Our Kids on This Trip (13:34) How We Planned Our 40th Birthday in Europe (17:58) Leveraging Credit Card Welcome Bonuses For Hotel Perks (23:33) How We Booked Our Hotel in Paris (26:39) Booking Our Intra-European Flights (33:12) Renting a Car in Mallorca (34:29) How We Booked Tickets to the Olympics (36:34) The Flight Experience to Paris (43:35) A Review of the Hyatt Paris Madeleine (46:00) Arnaud Nicolas: A Michelin Guide Restaurant (47:11) Our Olympic Experience (53:13) A Review of the Paris-Orly Airport and Transavia Flights (56:20) What It's Like in Mallorca (58:21) Why We Would Give Cap Rocat (Mallorca) a Perfect Score (1:02:11) Bora Bora vs. Mallorca (1:03:57) Things We Did in Mallorca (1:07:41) Quick Review of Condor Airlines (1:13:01) Overall Takeaway on Europe 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…