Podcast Summary

This Is Woman's Work with Nicole Kalil

Episode 338: Turning Points Into Perks with Julia Menez
Release Date: August 25, 2025
Host: Nicole Kalil
Guest: Julia Menez (Points Strategy Coach, Host of Geo Breeze Travel Podcast)

Episode Overview

Nicole Kalil sits down with points and travel strategy expert Julia Menez to demystify the world of credit card points, travel perks, and luxury trip upgrades. Together, they unpack actionable strategies for turning everyday expenses into five-star experiences—without feeling overwhelmed or falling for points “hacks” that don’t pay off. The episode is a practical, myth-busting guide for anyone looking to make their money work smarter for their travel dreams, with a special emphasis on writing your own rules for what "woman's work" and a "rich, rewarding life" look like.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. How to Start: Points with Purpose

[03:27] Julia Menez:

• Work Backwards: Instead of following lists of "best credit cards" from blogs (often funded by affiliate marketing), decide where you want to go first, then research which airlines and programs are best for that destination.
  • “Instead of just running through that whole list and applying for every single card, I recommend working backwards. Decide where it is you want to go with these points...Then what kind of points can you even use to fly on that airline?” [03:42]
• Strategy Over Scattershot: Begin with one or two cards—chasing too many is overwhelming and inefficient.
• Sign-up Bonuses Matter: The biggest initial boost comes from welcome offers, not regular spending.

2. Choosing & Maximizing Credit Cards

Credit Card Recommendations:

• Capital One Venture X (premium perks) or Venture (lower fee, solid points value)
• Chase Sapphire Preferred as a common starter card [05:53]

Annual Fees—Investment Not Expense:

• Julia challenges the "minimize cost" mindset and urges listeners to think in terms of return on investment.
  • “I would probably think of it as: would you rather put $0 into a machine and $100 flies out, or stick $10 into a machine and then $1,000 flies out?” [06:49]
• Hotel-branded cards often come with free-night certificates—more than making up for annual fees if you use them wisely.

3. Perks Beyond Points: Status, Upgrades, and More

[09:15] Nicole asks about meaningful perks.

• Automatic Hotel Status: Some cards (Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant, Amex Platinum) grant levels like Platinum or suite upgrades, saving money via free breakfast, late checkout, waived fees, etc.
• Status Shortcuts & Gifting: You don’t always need to earn status; knowing someone with status, or having the right card, can transfer perks your way (e.g., Hyatt’s Guest of Honor).

Memorable Julia Quote:

• “If you are fairly hotel agnostic and you don’t care about a specific brand...the Amex Platinum comes with a $200 hotel credit...free breakfast, another $100 food and beverage credit...” [10:45]

4. Best (and Worst) Uses for Points

• Flights & Hotels: Get the highest value by focusing your points here—not cruises, rental cars, or excursions (except for special cases like Virgin Voyages).
  • “Flights and hotels are going to be the best way to use them.” [11:54]
• Caution on Cashing Out: Points redeemed at cash value through portals often yield the lowest return (e.g. $0.01 per point).

5. Managing Points and Cards Effectively

[13:19] Practical Tips:

• Open only one card at a time, especially as a beginner.
• Always pay cards in full each month; interest easily outweighs point value.
• Use tools:
  • Award Wallet (for seeing all points balances across airlines, hotels, banks)
  • Card Pointers (suggests which card to use for each purchase for max points)

6. Expert Redeeming: Getting the Most from Your Points

[17:49] Julia’s Business Class Blueprint:

• Prioritize booking the long-haul flight (over the ocean), even if it requires extra hops.
• Search for award seats from big hubs, not just your local airport. Use “positioning flights” to reach international departures.
• Booking the trip as separate one-way segments often unlocks the best redemptions.
• “You have to prioritize: how do you get over the ocean in the best business class deal possible?” [19:07]

Memorable Moments: Julia’s Luxe Flight Stories

• Showering on Emirates First Class:
  “I did this from Egypt to Dubai. It was just a four hour flight, but I was like, hey, it’s four hours. I need caviar, I need champagne, Dom Perignon...” [20:57]
• Double-bed in the sky on Singapore Suites.

7. Debunked: Common Points Myths

• Booking Tuesdays for Cheaper Flights?
  • “The Tuesday thing’s a complete myth...the best time to book is as far ahead as possible.” [22:40]
  • Book either very far in advance (up to 11 months out) or last minute for solo travelers, not in-between.
• Should I Only Book Round Trips with Points?
  • No: Always search and book as one-way flights to mix airlines for best deals.
  • “Flights always search one way...the best deals out might be with Air France, but then the best flight back you might be flying British Airways.” [29:44]

8. Real-World Results: What’s Possible?

• Working with a points specialist can yield 5x the value compared to the basic “cash out” method.
  • “If you have a million AMEX points...you’ll get about $10,000 out of your current pile of points. We can help get $50,000 out of that same pile of points...” [24:10]
• Julia’s clients have booked group trips to Greece, luxury honeymoons, and have even flown entire families in business class.

9. Other Smart Strategies & Cautions

• Don’t Chase Airline Elite Status: Unless you travel constantly, focus on points and card perks for international upgrades.
• Buying Points:
  • Only purchase points if you have a specific planned redemption—never speculatively.
  • Always compare the price of buying points and booking award vs. simply buying a cash ticket.
  • “Don’t do it speculatively. Only buy the points if you already know this is what I want to use the points for.” [28:17]
• Look for Additional Resources:
  • Julia offers a free hotel upgrade email template and a spreadsheet calculator for maximizing point value. DM "podcast2025" to @geobreizetravel on Instagram. [31:13]

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• Nicole: "I find [points] really overwhelming...I know that I'm leaving a lot of opportunity on the table and I'm guessing that you might be too." [01:15]
• Julia: "Work backwards. Decide where it is you want to go with these points...then let that determine what credit cards to get." [03:42]
• Julia: "I would probably think of it as: would you rather put $0 into a machine and $100 flies out, or stick $10 into a machine and then $1,000 flies out?" [06:49]
• Julia: "Flights and hotels are going to be the best way to use them." [11:54]
• Julia: "Showering on a plane...That one was really, really memorable. I flew the Singapore suites...I ate lobster on a plane." [20:57]
• Julia: "The Tuesday thing's a complete myth...the best time to book is as far ahead as possible." [22:40]
• Julia: "If you have a million AMEX points...we can help get $50,000 out of that same pile of points and make the points go a lot further." [24:10]
• Julia: "Flights always search one way...You're going to be booking on different airlines...search everything in one way segments." [29:44]
• Julia: "Don’t do it speculatively. Only buy the points if you already know this is what I want to use the points for." [28:17]

Episode Takeaways & Action Steps

• Start with your travel goals, then map your points strategy.
• Open cards intentionally; chase signup bonuses for the biggest early returns.
• Pay balances in full; otherwise, points aren’t worth the interest.
• Use award-tracking tools to manage points efficiently.
• Prioritize flights and hotels for maximum redemption value; avoid using points for gift cards, car rentals, or cruises (except Virgin).
• Book premium international segments separately; don’t assume roundtrips or only local airports are best.
• Expensive card fees can be a bargain—do the math.
• Don't chase status unless you travel constantly.

Resources Mentioned

• Award Wallet (track balances)
• Card Pointers (find best card for each purchase)
• Geo Breeze Travel Instagram: DM “podcast2025” for free templates and calculators

Final Thoughts

This episode emphasizes intentionally leveraging your earning and redeeming power to craft rich, personalized travel experiences. Julia and Nicole illustrate that with some strategy—and the right mindset—travel perks aren’t just for “travel hackers” or frequent business flyers, but for anyone who wants to make their money and points work smarter.

“You work hard for those dollars — let them work for you.” [33:10, Nicole]

For more insights and resources, check out Geo Breeze Travel and follow Nicole Kalil for ongoing episodes redefining “woman’s work” one confidence-building conversation at a time.