Podcast Summary

Podcast: Smart Travel: Upgrade Your Getaways
Episode: Travel More, Stress Less: How to Build a Financial Plan That Funds Your Adventures
Date: October 22, 2025
Host(s): Sally French and Meghan Coyle (NerdWallet Travel)
Featured Guest: James Vishal (NerdWallet Wealth Partners)

Episode Overview

In this episode, Sally French and Meghan Coyle tackle the all-important topic of funding your travels without financial stress. They offer a deep dive into smart travel budgeting, maximizing travel rewards, cost-saving strategies, and how to fit travel into your broader financial goals. The episode features travel finance expert James Vishal, who shares his experience taking two career sabbaticals for extended travel and offers practical, values-based money advice for wanderlusters at all ages and stages.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Travel News Round-Up

• United Airlines Starlink Wi-Fi Expansion (01:10 – 02:46)
  • United is rolling out faster, free Starlink Wi-Fi to its mainline jets.
  • “Starlink Wi-Fi is available for free to all United MileagePlus members. Since it’s free to join, you might as well hand over your email and make an account so you can get that free Wi-Fi.” — Meghan (02:43)
• American Airlines’ New City AAdvantage Globe MasterCard (02:46 – 05:23)
  • New mid-tier card with notable perks like 4 Admirals Club passes (each valid for 24 hours), $350 annual fee, and a $99 companion pass.
  • Discussion about maximizing these benefits and whether the perks justify the fee.
• JetBlue Elite Status & ‘Family Tiles’ (05:23 – 06:22)
  • Perks are now valid through January of the following year. New ‘Family Tiles’ lets children's points contribute to parent’s status.
  • “That’s a first for a US airline and a pretty good perk for families.” — Meghan (06:19)
• Bilt Now Offers Mortgage Points (06:22 – 07:24)
  • Homeowners with United Wholesale Mortgage can earn Bilt points for on-time payments starting early 2026, opening travel rewards to more people.
• Wyndham Rewards Insider Subscription (07:24 – 08:53)
  • $95/year subscription for extra perks: elite status, discounts (5–15% off), double-dip rewards earning, and a 7,500-point signup bonus (worth a free night at select hotels).

2. Interview: James Vishal on Financial Planning for Travel

A. Where Does Travel Fit in Your Financial Plan? (09:46 – 12:23)

• Always start with core financial pillars:
  • Clear high-interest debt first.
  • Establish an emergency fund.
  • Balance present living (like travel) and future savings (retirement/independence).
• “Travel can be done on almost any budget. … But ultimately, travel is a luxury.” — James (09:56)
• Adjust priorities based on life stage (more focus on present fun in youth, future security as you age).

B. How Do Age and Life Stage Affect Travel Budgeting? (12:23 – 14:23)

• The younger you are, the more you can focus on living in the present—but don’t ignore future needs.
• Retirement age and expected retirement spending should factor into travel spending calculations.
• “It’s mental math, but it’s also math math.” — James (12:55)
• Tools: sophisticated financial plans can “run worst case and best case scenarios” for future savings vs. spending.

C. Prioritizing Values Over Impulses (14:23 – 16:55)

• Spend intentionally on what aligns with your personal values, not just what’s advertised or trendy.
• Identify trade-offs: cut spending on less meaningful expenses (like random nights out or peripheral events) to fund travel.
• “My math is always airplane math—how many tickets did that cost?” — James (15:29)

D. Should Travel Be a Short-Term or Long-Term Goal? (17:35 – 19:28)

• Most people should treat travel as an annual, short-to-mid-term goal, saving regularly for trips rather than investing for long horizons.
• Save for “dream trips” as medium-term goals (multi-year savings for a big adventure).
• Travel is typically “the first goal that gets cut if the other goals have not been met” (e.g., don’t skip mortgage payments to travel).

E. Real-World Examples: Two Sabbaticals

1. Mid-20s South America Adventure (20:42 – 22:53)
   • James saved aggressively during his qualification years in South Africa and took 8 months off to travel from New York to Patagonia.
   • “I figured out how long would it take to get a job once I got back home … I took the difference between that and what I had, divided by the number of days, and that was my budget.” — James (21:39)
2. Early 30s Southeast Asia Sabbatical (22:54 – 25:53)
   • More complex: involved career break, dip into long-term savings, and spousal coordination.
   • “Giving up three months of earnings and spending would put on about a year to my expected retirement date.” — James (25:20)

F. How to Save for a Big Trip (25:53 – 27:31)

• In youth: prioritizing travel savings over long-term investing is rational for some.
• Boost income with overtime or side gigs if possible—it’s more effective than cutting essentials.

G. On-the-Road Budgeting Strategies (27:31 – 29:44)

• Always aim to spend less than the daily allowance to give cushion for unexpected expenses.
• Weigh time vs. money trade-offs (e.g., three-day bus vs. pricier flights for efficiency).

H. Was the Sacrifice Worth It? (29:44 – 31:16)

• “Money is a means to an end, not an end in itself. … When I’m 65, will I regret three months in Southeast Asia if I retire a year later? Of course not.” — James (29:56)
• Emphasizes intentionality—spend on what truly brings happiness and memories.

I. Memorable/Sentimental Moments from Sabbaticals (31:16 – 34:38)

• James met his future wife in Ecuador during his first sabbatical.
• Describes how travel brings out authenticity in people: “When you’re traveling, it’s your truest self … No one’s playing games … you don’t need people to like you.” — James (34:10)

J. Building Flexibility into Your Life and Finances (35:03 – 38:17)

• Flexibility = freedom to pivot careers, manage emergencies, and take advantage of unexpected opportunities.
• Don’t box yourself into a lifestyle that prevents change (e.g., buying too much house or overcommitting monthly expenses).
• Building flexibility includes: flexible airfares, emergency buffer in the travel budget, and flexible credit card points.

K. James Vishal’s Travel Hot Take (39:09 – 40:12)

• “More is more, but not always more.” — James (39:21)
• Don’t get obsessed with country-counting; richness of travel is in depth, not just breadth. Revisiting favorite places and states can be as rewarding as ticking new destinations off the list.
• “Make sure you’re measuring your travel correctly. … travel always feels a little bit like an achievement, but measure that achievement correctly.” — James (39:29)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Values & Spending:
  “You can have anything, but you can’t have everything.” — James (09:56)
• On Opportunity Cost:
  “Every dollar you spend is a dollar out of your pocket into someone else’s pocket … If it matches your values, it’s well spent.” — James (15:07)
• On Flexibility:
  “Flexibility allows you to make choices that are authentic to you, as opposed to what life wants to do with you.” — James (36:22)

Listener Q&A: Alaska Airlines Companion Fare Dilemma (40:49 – 43:21)

• Listener Julia asks if she should upgrade her grandfathered Alaska Airlines Visa for the new, pricier card or hold both.
• Confirmation: You can have two Alaska cards; new premium card offers an additional global Companion Award, and old card still grants the legacy Companion Pass without new spend requirement.
• Recommendation: Hold onto both if you maximize companion fares and the new perks are valuable to you.

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Travel News: 01:04 – 09:10
• Main Interview Intro: 09:14
• Financial Priorities & Travel: 09:46 – 19:28
• Sabbatical Tales: 20:42 – 34:38
• Flexibility in Life & Travel: 35:03 – 39:09
• Travel Hot Take: 39:09 – 40:12
• Listener Q&A: 40:49 – 43:21

Takeaways for Travelers

• Build your travel budget only after meeting essential financial milestones (clear debt, have an emergency fund, contribute to retirement).
• Spend in line with your values, not just consumption pressure.
• Be clear about your travel goals (annual vs. dream trip) and set short- or medium-term saving strategies accordingly.
• Allow yourself flexibility, both financially and in your life/career, to seize opportunities for adventure and personal growth.
• Depth matters in travel experiences—it’s not about the number of stamps, but the memories (and sometimes, serendipity!).
• Use travel rewards, companion passes, and flexible points smartly to stretch your travel dollars further.

For more practical resources—card reviews, policy updates, or to connect with NerdWallet’s financial advisors—visit links provided in the episode description.

Hosts' parting wisdom:
“Keep your passport full, and your wallet even fuller!” — Sally & Meghan (44:11)