

MTM Travel - The Fun Side of Points & Travel!
Shawn Coomer & Mark Ostermann
The fun side of miles, points and travel! Hosted by Shawn Coomer and Mark Ostermann, MTM Travel dives into the points hobby & the lifestyle of travel with topical conversations and plenty of laughs along the way.
Mark & Shawn have a combined 18 years of experience covering these topics on Miles to Memories and Travel on Points and are cohosts of the popular MtM Vegas Youtube Show on the Miles to Memories Vegas channel. They also host the 20 Minute Travel news show on this same feed where you can keep up with the latest deals, news and happenings.
Mark & Shawn have a combined 18 years of experience covering these topics on Miles to Memories and Travel on Points and are cohosts of the popular MtM Vegas Youtube Show on the Miles to Memories Vegas channel. They also host the 20 Minute Travel news show on this same feed where you can keep up with the latest deals, news and happenings.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Feb 24, 2026 • 32min
Should You Cancel Mexico Trips?! + Mark's Return to MTM, Gross Hotel Hack & Southwest Fooled?
They debate whether recent violence in Mexico justifies canceling trips and how media sensationalism affects travel plans. A viral hotel coffee-maker laundry hack sparks a gross and practical laundry conversation. The Sapphire Reserve Whoop trial and subscription hardware concerns get scrutinized. Airline drama, Starlink inflight plans, and a boutique Michigan hotel round out the travel topics.

15 snips
Feb 12, 2026 • 27min
Insane Hyatt Mattress Run Prices, Bilt in Real Life & Tiered Southwest Companion Pass Offer?
Real-world trials with the new Bilt card and how Bilt Cash actually redeems in practice. Confusion around a surprising 5x promo and app quirks that can freeze accounts. Southwest's first tiered companion-pass offers and why different fee levels matter. Clever tricks to stack Hyatt promos for ultra-cheap mattress-run nights. Overlooked US Bank business card bonuses worth watching.

Feb 10, 2026 • 33min
INSANE Hilton Private Island Deal, Evermore Orlando Condo Review & The Airline Bit Battle?!
Episode Description On this episode of the MTM Travel the travel show we jump all around the country as Mark details winter small town Americana and reviews the condos at Evermore Orlando resort. We also discuss the insane Hilton rebate deal at Calala and the ongoing battle for overhead bin space on planes. 0:00 Welcome to MTM Travel 0:20 Small Town Americana in……winter? 3:20 Indoor hotel pools, the novelty & Holidome 6:17 Getting paid to stay on a Private Island - Calala Island rebate 10:59 Evermore condo review - Better than Conrad at best resort in America? 18:33 Timeshare or hotel? 21:14 The aircraft bin battle 25:59 Boarding plane early or last on board? 28:30 Southwest struggling with new seating policy? Enjoying the podcast? Please consider leaving us a positive review on your favorite podcast platform! You can also connect with us anytime at podcast@milestomemories.com. You can subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Spotify, TuneIn, Pocket Casts, or via RSS. Don't see your favorite podcast platform? Please let us know!

Feb 5, 2026 • 22min
United's Big Glitch, Hyatt's All Inclusive Boom, Easy Bilt Calculator & Best Hotel Promo?
A techy TravelBank glitch and why you might want screenshots. Clever tricks for burning airline credits and squeezing Amex benefits with Delta moves. Hyatt adds 22 all-inclusive properties and rolls out a Bonus Journeys promo. A praised Bilt calculator makes comparing earning options feel effortless.

Feb 3, 2026 • 31min
Death of Old Southwest Airlines, Bermuda on Points & Miles + Resort Fees Decrease Prices?
Episode Description On this episode of the MTM Travel travel show Mark discusses his Spring Break bookings and trip to Bermuda. While this isn't the most popular miles/points destination it offers a ton of value and beauty. We also discuss: the debate on resort fees and costs, why you should "rake" your bookings to save even more & how Southwest has finally ended their infamous "cattle call" boarding process. 0:00 Welcome to MTM Travel 0:17 Southwest officially ends "cattle call" boarding 5:35 Will banning resort fees increase or decrease prices? 11:52 "Raking" bookings - How not to leave a lot on the table 16:05 How AA has been better under dynamic pricing 18:07 Mark's Spring Break Bermuda planning 23:15 Points options for Bermuda hotels 28:15 See Bermuda for yourself! Enjoying the podcast? Please consider leaving us a positive review on your favorite podcast platform! You can also connect with us anytime at podcast@milestomemories.com. You can subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Spotify, TuneIn, Pocket Casts, or via RSS. Don't see your favorite podcast platform? Please let us know!

Jan 29, 2026 • 21min
Debating Hyatt's 5 FREE Nights - Is It A BETTER Offer + Mr. Beast Joins Bilt Amex GLITCH!
Episode Description On this episode of the MTM Travel miles & points show we dive into some of the better deals and happenings this week. Bilt is back with Rent Day and a great transfer bonus, but there are still some frustrations. Hyatt has a somewhat new 5 free night offer, but is it worth going for over the points? Finally we show you how to grab a massive $1,200 checking bonus that you can fund with a credit card. 0:00 Welcome to MTM Travel 0:32 Hyatt's 5 free night offer - A better alternative? 3:05 Points or certs? How to decide which is better 5:57 Bilt Rent Day - Accor transfer bonus & frustrations 9:18 Mr. Beast joins Bilt - Free rent & more goodies 11:58 Amex Business Platinum airline credit kerfuffle 15:27 US Bank's crazy $1200 business checking bonus 16:40 How to fund your crazy bank bonus with a credit card 18:05 Easy $200 savings offer + fund with credit card Enjoying the podcast? Please consider leaving us a positive review on your favorite podcast platform! You can also connect with us anytime at podcast@milestomemories.com. You can subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Spotify, TuneIn, Pocket Casts, or via RSS. Don't see your favorite podcast platform? Please let us know!

Jan 27, 2026 • 26min
NYC Resort Fees BANNED - What It Means & Why It May Change Your Next Hotel Booking!
Episode Description On this episode of MTM Travel (the travel show) Mark discusses his planning and awards for his upcoming Azores trip. He also discusses Evermore and his upcoming villa booking with Hilton points plus we dive into the new NYC Mayor's policy banning resort fees. Can this new rule extend beyond NYC? 0:00 Welcome to MTM Travel 0:37 Azores award update & Morocco aspirations 9:11 Evermore with Hilton points - HUGE VILLAS! 12:45 Getting sick of Orlando? 14:18 NYC resort fee ban - How it works 16:57 Should a resort fee ban be nationwide? 20:35 Status less valuable? Enjoying the podcast? Please consider leaving us a positive review on your favorite podcast platform! You can also connect with us anytime at podcast@milestomemories.com. You can subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Spotify, TuneIn, Pocket Casts, or via RSS. Don't see your favorite podcast platform? Please let us know!

Jan 22, 2026 • 30min
Bilt Rewards 2.0 - 3 New Cards & INSANELY COMPLICATED - The Ultimate Coupon Book?!?
Shawn's InKind referral - https://app.inkind.com/refer/4FJZRGUZ Episode Description On this episode of MTM Travel we break down everything new from BIlt Rewards. This week Bilt launched 3 new credit cards that help you earn points on paying your mortgage/rent, but things are confusing. On this show we go through all of the controversy surrounding Bilt 2.0, which cards and benefits are on offer, how to maximize these complicated cards and which version we are planning to get. Did Bilt mess up this launch and what can they do to fix the program. Plus does extra complication add more opportunity? 0:00 Welcome to MTM Travel 0:30 Bilt's crazy week - Launch controversy 3:12 Bilt's 3 new cards - 50K welcome offer? 8:03 Application rules & a better offer (now dead) 11:20 Bilt Cash explained - Earning points on mortgage? 14:35 Bilt Cash explained - The ultimate coupon book? 19:25 Bilt 3.0? An alternative way to earn points on mortgage/rent 22:55 Our new Bilt card recommendations/thoughts 27:13 Final Bilt 2.0 takeaways Enjoying the podcast? Please consider leaving us a positive review on your favorite podcast platform! You can also connect with us anytime at podcast@milestomemories.com. You can subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Spotify, TuneIn, Pocket Casts, or via RSS. Don't see your favorite podcast platform? Please let us know!

Jan 12, 2026 • 42min
Hyatt's Rough New Policy Change & Trump's Cap On Interest Rates - The Death of Credit Cards?
Discussion kicks off with Allegiant's merger and its impact on competition. Mark shares his decision to apply for the Spirit Airlines credit card, revealing strategies for maximizing travel perks. The duo debates Hyatt's recent policy changes regarding expiring certificates and how it affects loyal customers. They also dive into President Trump's proposal to cap credit card interest rates, exploring potential consequences for consumers and the banking system. Lastly, the hosts ponder if financial education can transform the credit card industry.

Jan 5, 2026 • 39min
Best Deals for The New Year, Pacman In Real Life, Saks Warning & Maximizing Chase Credits!
Explore thrilling travel tales, including chaotic New Year's Eve in Vegas and a lucky flight connection upgrade. Discover the best travel deals of 2025, with insights on transferring points to American Airlines and maximizing Chase credits. Learn why it's wise to use Saks credits before potential bankruptcy, and hear about the viral real-life Pac-Man exhibit that brings gaming nostalgia to life. Dive into clever hacks for travel perks and stay updated on exciting tourism trends!


