A Conversation with Julia Menez — TripIt Blog

Heading Locations is a new series from TripIt that highlights repeated tourists to showcase their distinctive journey styles and insider strategies. 

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, you could find Julia Menez, founder of points-and-miles system podcast and consultancy, Geobreeze, country-hopping all-around Europe or Asia. She often took four or additional global excursions a yr ordinarily flying in economy—and usually on points and miles. Her go-to mode for nation-hopping? Cruises. Her favorite cease? Tallinn, Estonia. 

“I’m a substantial “Game of Thrones” lover,” Julia informed me. “And Substantial Valyrian has roots in the Estonian language, so I was the natural way drawn to the put. Tallinn was so charming. I endorse it to everybody!” 

Speedy ahead to 2022, and travel seems to be a little bit distinct for Julia. 

“Now, I vacation a whole lot far more domestically—and maybe two times a calendar year internationally. I also opt for business or first course when I do. It’s much less trips, but a nicer experience—and nets out to be the similar price-intelligent,” she explained. 

She’s also been setting up trips that require much less hopping around—and far more staying put—as a final result of the heightened border-crossing demands in put due to COVID-19. 

Points and miles—a recreation exactly where everybody wins 

When she’s not traveling, Julia operates her podcast where she interviews details strategists to understand how they travel for cost-free. She’s also a points technique coach, assisting men and women amount up their factors-and-miles video game. 

Of training course, she’s constantly on the lookout to set her have details and miles to use. 

“I retain a bucket listing of award-vacation sweet places, and then maintain an eye out for superior award availability,” she explained. “When it will come to scheduling, I normally seize an offered award first—whether which is a flight or a hotel—and then I establish the rest of my itinerary from there.” 

So, what’s on her bucket checklist of award-vacation locations? “For starters, Greece! I became obsessed with Greek mythology at a youthful age. It is been my dream to check out, but it’s always been so expensive to go when you are paying with funds. I’m hoping to go this calendar year applying factors and miles.” 

Staying organized—from planning to landing to loyalty status 

When it will come to setting up a vacation, Julia and her partner split up the responsibilities. She handles booking flights and accommodations with their factors and miles he handles the on-the-ground aspects.

But when it comes to arranging their vacation strategies, Julia depends on TripIt. 

“I use TripIt to maintain all my affirmation quantities in a single put. I don’t have to dig through my emails, specially when I’m checking into a flight. I also use it to verify I have booked the proper resort dates. When you are getting in late, the last factor you want to be thinking is, did I ebook a home for tonight?”

When she’s on the go, Julia makes use of TripIt’s airport maps to navigate the terminal and obtain out what lounges are nearby. She also checks the COVID-19 travel direction characteristic to know what to expect from diverse countries’ entry necessities. 

And when she’s back again household, Julia takes advantage of TripIt to help her estimate when she’ll make loyalty software standing. “Both the Position Tracker characteristic and the way TripIt organizes itineraries are genuinely useful for keeping track of when I’ll get status just about every year.” 

With a lot more luxurious travel activities on the horizon—and plenty additional nations to declare on her scratch-off environment map—you’ll most likely capture Julia men and women-watching at an airport lounge, helping a person book their individual desire excursions with points and miles (check her out on Instagram for helpful tips!), or a bit of both equally. 

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