Hurdy Gurdy Travel Podcast

22/11/2024

The Giant (PA) 3x Vanilla Visa promo starts today!

Each $500 Vanilla Visa card will give you 1500 Choice Points worth $15 in groceries or $1.50 off per gallon for a 25-gallon gas fill.

22/11/2024

I released a new YouTube video guide teaching you how to play Blackjack basic strategy on Fanduel.

Site bonuses often give you an edge, but more importantly, Fanduel gift cards purchased with credit cards sometimes also offer bonus rewards, including gas rewards, grocery points, and other benefits atop credit card rewards.

In this Hurdy Gurdy Travel Podcast episode, host Justin Vacula demonstrates how to play multi-hand blackjack on FanDuel Pennsylvania using purchased Fanduel ...

21/11/2024

If you know, you know!

21/11/2024

I ordered a new Samsung Galaxy s24 Ultra from Google Fi Wireless.

The phone has an original price of $1299.99, but I got it significantly lowered, potentially $0 cost after points and promotions.

- A Black Friday/Fall promo takes $600 off the purchase price with continuing Fi service.

- Trading in my current s23 phone gives me about $300.

- Chase Ultimate Rewards with the Pay Yourself Back feature are worth 1.25 cents per point at the moment against Google Fi purchases.

I've been using UR to pay my monthly Fi phone bill. There's a good chance this phone purchase will be eligible for Pay Yourself Back.

I trade in yearly around November or December and continue to enjoy Google Fi. Easy decision and sound investment for better photo quality, better videos, and fewer issues that typically come with having an older phone.

21/11/2024

I released a remastered audio version of my most popular YouTube video, a guide to a low-risk bonus strategy for the game DraftKings Rocket.

The original video has 54,000 views!
Here is the remastered audio.

In this video, Justin Vacula discusses a strategy for maximizing casino bonuses using DraftKings Rocket, an automated gambling game in multiple states, inclu...

20/11/2024

I'll be in Las Vegas from January 27th through February 7th, escaping the likely snow and cold weather in Pennsylvania.

- The one-way Delta flight from PHL to LAS was only $194.98 in main cabin. I used $164.62 in e-credits [that will expire soon] from Delta credit cards for a final price of $30.46, covered by Altitude Reserve points.

- I'll mostly stay at Rio Las Vegas with my Hyatt Globalist status, taking advantage of low $30ish cash rates while requalifying for another year of Hyatt status and getting daily comped breakfast.

- I'll use Wyndham points earned with my Wyndham Business Earner credit card to stay at Club Wyndham Desert Blue. 30k points cover Friday and Saturday nights, and I get a 10% discount.

- After the Vegas stay, I'll fly to LAX for an 8-night comped Carnival Panorama Mexico cruise.

20/11/2024

I uploaded a new Hurdy Gurdy Travel Podcast YouTube video with remastered audio explaining how to work the free-to-play MyVegas games to get comp casino rooms, food discounts, free play, and more.

Justin Vacula provides a detailed walkthrough of running multiple mobile devices and a laptop setup to maximize rewards from MyVegas games. Filmed at Harrah'...

20/11/2024

My Hurdy Gurdy Travel Podcast page is restored following a suspension Facebook claims was a technological mistake.

In other news, I booked a Las Vegas trip from January 27th through February 7th. See you there?

19/11/2024

A new episode of my Hurdy Gurdy Travel Podcast with co-host Darren Remsburg is live!

Listeners are guided through the evolving landscape of casino status matching with a focus on Wyndham, Caesars Rewards, and Ocean Casino.

The discussion highlights recent changes affecting status matchers, strategies to maintain casino statuses, and the impact of these changes on miles and points enthusiasts.

Additionally, the episode covers announcements about upcoming travel and gambling events, such as Zorkfest 2025, and gives tips on leveraging credit card rewards effectively. Practical advice on earning casino tiers through various means, including video poker and MGM Mastercard, is provided to help listeners maximize their travel benefits despite the shifting rules.

In this episode of the Hurdy Gurdy Travel Podcast, hosted by Justin Vacula and co-host Darren Remsburg, listeners are guided through the evolving landscape o...

19/11/2024

Last night, I recorded a podcast episode with Darren Remsburg.

Shortly after, I used new AI editing tools in a program called Descript and I should be ready to release this afternoon.

This should be the best audio yet as the program auto normalizes audio levels, has a 'studio sound' effect it adds, and other good features like eliminating background sound.

It also has a tool to cut out filler words and long pauses.

Finally, a tool called edit for clarity suggests deleting certain parts, but this can be too sensitive at times and cut too much, so I review that manually.

Overall, this program is great and will save time manually editing in Audacity. The past tinkering with sound levels was especially annoying.

This also creates a very rough transcript and timestamps.

18/11/2024

A new episode of my Hurdy Gurdy Travel Podcast is live!

I recorded live from Chicago Seminars at Holiday Inn Heritage Edition 2024 with event organizer Stefan Krasowski.

We delve into optimal ways to utilize Amex points, miles, benefits, and rewards, including tips on upgrading and downgrading cards, maximizing Amex offers, and ensuring spending thresholds for substantial rewards.

Additional discussions include strategies for new users, retention offers, leveraging community knowledge, and specific Amex card recommendations. We also touch upon broader topics like balancing risk in the points and miles hobby and sharing anecdotes from our travel and financial journeys.

Visit my website at Hurdy Gurdy Travel for a rough transcript created by AI & view the YouTube description for timestamps.

In this episode of the Hurdy Gurdy Travel Podcast, host Justin Vacula discusses American Express strategies for 2025 with guest Stephan Krasowski, recorded l...

16/11/2024

Redner's Warehouse Markets is offering 75,000 bonus points on select $100 gift cards including Disney.

75k points is worth $7.50. The bonus points will add atop the usual $1 base earning on $100 gift cards, so get $8.50 back per $100 card.

Use a credit card bonusing grocery spending for more rewards.

16/11/2024

Sam's Club $500 Mastercard gift cards have low $4.88 fees compared to other locations now charging close to $8.

I haven't been to Sam's Club in months, but it's now more appealing, given the higher activation fees in other stores.

These Mastercards should work fine on many online gambling sites.

I was able to split tender and get spending toward goals on my recently upgraded Amex cards (Business Gold to Business Platinum).

15/11/2024

I'm back at an Acme Starbucks to use my monthly Freshpass $5 off and $2 grande drink rewards.

Check your local location for a free holiday reusable red cup with purchase.

15/11/2024

Redner's Warehouse Markets is offering a free Jennie O turkey until November 27, 2024.

Spend $400+ to get the free turkey. $500 Mastercard gift cards (and other prepaid cards) qualify towards this spend goal.

15/11/2024

From November 29th through December 31st, Cheesecake Factory is offering a free $15 bonus card with a $50 gift card purchase.

Stack this deal with monthly Amex Gold Card credits for more value.

14/11/2024

I'm back at The Cheesecake Factory, this time at the Whitehall, PA Lehigh Valley Mall location, on my way back to the Philadelphia area.

The vegan cobb salad is normally $18, but two $10 monthly Amex Gold Card dining credits take the price down by $20.

14/11/2024

Easy $325 bonus from Wells Fargo for opening a checking account and connecting a direct deposit of $1000+ in 90 days. See terms.

Wells Fargo is offering a $325 bonus when you open a new Everyday Checking account and complete the following requirements