The Joys and Challenges of Travel Hacking with Julia Menez

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In this episode of Weird Finance, Paco talks to Julia Menez about the world of travel hacking. Starting with the basics, Julia highlights the importance of being responsible with credit cards, advising listeners to start small and ensure balances are paid off monthly to reap maximum rewards. Julia shares her journey from actuary to successful travel hacker and podcast host, explaining how reading finance blogs and interest in points systems led to creating GeoBreeze Travel. As well as travel advice, she offers her unique perspective on finance, prompting listeners to embrace impermanence, enjoy what they have, and use their wealth for good. Julia explains her effective method of earning and burning points and talks about their Patreon, where members can nominate a charity for donations. Julia's story is not just about free travel, but also financial freedom, underscoring the value of living below one's means and disciplined investing. She finishes the episode by encouraging listeners to delight in their wealth and to find the balance between saving for the future and enjoying the present.

Julia Menez (@geobreezetravel)  is a points strategy coach, speaker, and host of the Geobreeze Travel Podcast.

After traveling to more than 30 countries before the age of 30 and saving thousands of dollars each year with points and miles, Julia distills the strategies from top award travelers around the world in the Geobreeze Travel podcast. She creates Instagram videos about credit card benefits such as trip protection and luxury travel opportunities.

Through her podcast, Julia features a diverse roster of guests with traditionally underrepresented experiences in larger points and miles blogs and media. Her episodes often highlight women, first-generation travelers, and people of color.

Julia has been a speaker for FinCon, a course instructor for Frequent Traveler University, and quoted in publications such as The New York Times, Money Magazine, Fodor’s Travel, and Business Insider. Her podcast was nominated in the 2021 Plutus Awards for “Best New Personal Finance Podcast,” and she serves as a senior advisor for Bilt Rewards. Julia is available for comments and interviews regarding award travel, personal finance, entrepreneurship, and women in business.

Check out Julia’s free points 101 course here. 

This episode also features Loose Change, a short segment where we ask folks to share their thoughts, feelings, and opinions about how we relate to money and one another. This week, we’re exploring one purchase we’ve made that’s had the biggest positive impact on your daily lives.

A special thanks to the talented and generous Ramsey Yount for producing, editing, and sound designing this episode. 

Thank you to Andrew Howard and Ramsey Yount for lending your voice for our special PSA. 

The theme music was written and performed by Andrew Parker, Jenna Parker, and Paco de Leon.

If you’d like to contact us about the show or ask Paco a question about finances, call our hotline at 1-833-ASK-PACO, email us at weirdfinancepod (at) gmail.com, or submit your questions here. We’d also love your listener feedback about the show; here’s a short survey.

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