THE FINANCIAL COMMUTE
Hosted by Wealth Advisor Chris Galeski, THE FINANCIAL COMMUTE is a weekly podcast that gives the rundown on what's going on in the current market, how it affects you, and what you can do about it – all designed to fit into your commute. Each week Chris welcomes an expert guest, including Morton Wealth advisors, fund managers, and investment analysts, to break down complex financial topics. Our goal for this podcast is to provide you with the tools to help you navigate this challenging environment, leading to a path of more confident investing.
THE FINANCIAL COMMUTE
5 Must-Know Travel Tips for Your Next Vacation
On this week's episode of THE FINANCIAL COMMUTE, host Chris Galeski and COO & CMO Stacey McKinnon discuss their five best travel hacks.
Here are some key takeaways from their conversation:
- FLIGHTS:
- Once you have an idea of your vacation dates, try using the date finder on airline websites or Google Flights to see which specific days are the cheapest to fly.
- Chris says opening a new credit card in advance of a big trip can be a great way to get one or two flights covered, especially if the card offers transfer specials between airlines.
- HOTELS
- The American Express Platinum card offers many upgrades and discounts at many hotels.
- Stacey says if a guest uses booking sites like Expedia, hotels will usually put them in the lowest room. They prefer when guests book through their website, American Express, or travel advisors.
- CRUISES/YACHTS
- Booking last-minute cruise deals can offer great prices since cruises are trying to fill rooms.
- Booking excursions locally tends to be more affordable than through the cruise line.
- Chris says after September 1st, yacht and boat deals tend to be heavily discounted.
- CONCERTS/SPORTING EVENTS
- You can access American Express concierge services through their Platinum, Business Platinum, Delta SkyMiles Reserve, and Hilton Honors Aspire cards. The concierge services can help users get tickets and sometimes special seating at exclusive sporting events/concerts.
- INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL
- Stacey urges listeners to take videos of rental cars (exterior and interior) before they start driving so that rental car businesses cannot accuse them of damages that were done by previous drivers.
- Chris has a Fidelity Cash Management Account, which reimburses him for ATM fees anywhere in the world. They also offer cheaper currency exchange rates when using international ATMs.
- Many places in Europe don't take American Express cards. It is important to do your research on what cards are usually accepted in the regions you are visiting prior to traveling.
Stay updated with the newest travel hacks by following these resources:
Colin Stroud: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gosomewhere/
The Points Guy: https://thepointsguy.com/
Daily Drop: https://www.dailydrop.com/