Milenomics ² Podcast - No Annual Fee Edition

• TravelStories Episode 61: Osaka Expo 2025 with Brennan

  Episode 61: Show Notes The World Expo 2025 took place in Osaka, Japan, and Tom and Trevor had the pleasure of bumping into their old friend, Brennan Anderson. Brennan was our first-ever guest on this podcast, and we are thrilled to have him back as he walks us through his experience in Osaka. Brennan begins by explaining why he and his family chose to travel to the Osaka Expo before detailing how the Expo met most of his high expectations. After listing the various names that the World Expo is known as, we examine the level of research and planning needed to enjoy the Expo to the fullest, the problems we had with the complicated ticketing system, the highs and lows of Brennan’s three days at the Expo, and appreciation for the sheer size of the Osaka installment. Then, we hear our guest’s thoughts about traveling with a one-year-old, his general food experience at the Expo, his advice for when and where to shop as a tourist, and highlights from the rest of his time in Osaka and Japan. We also marvel at Japan’s kid-friendliness, general accessibility, and incredible nationwide hospitality. To end, Brennan details his travel itinerary including the airlines, cities, hotels, and transportation options he utilized, and shares his final thoughts on traveling in Japan. Key Points From This Episode: [00:00] Welcoming Brennan Anderson back to the show – our very first guest on this podcast.  [01:30] Understanding what drew him to visit the 2025 World Expo in Osaka, Japan. [02:33] Whether the Expo met his expectations, and the Expo’s various name iterations. [04:25] The level of planning and research needed to explore and enjoy the Expo fully.    [07:30] Fallouts from an unnecessarily complicated ticketing system.   [11:11] Brennan walks us through the highs and lows of his three-day Expo experience.  [12:15] The Saudi Arabia pavilion, the size of the Osaka Expo, and the Australian pavilion.  [16:03] Brennan’s thoughts on traveling and navigating the Expo with a one-year-old.  [18:52] His food experience, a hilarious baby food mix-up, and his advice for when to shop.  [26:12] Highlights from his time in Osaka when he and his family explored the city.  [27:04] Praise for Japan’s kid-friendliness and general accessibility.   [29:08] The train to Tokyo, food in Japan, and Japanese hospitality.    [35:59] Brennan’s travel itinerary – airlines, cities, public transport, and hotels.  [38:59] The ins and outs of the Conrad Osaka, and attendance numbers at this year’s Expo.  [44:30] Final thoughts on traveling in Japan and Expo Osaka, 2025.   Quotes: “The Osaka Expo was huge.” — Brennan Anderson [13:58] “We’re learning how to travel with a baby. – You can’t do as much as you can without kids, but seeing things through his eyes and what he pays attention to as a one-year-old is really rewarding.” — Brennan Anderson [16:18] “Japan, in general, is very kid-friendly [and] very accessible.” — Brennan Anderson [16:41] “It’s one of those things that kind of connects you to an area. It’s great when your kids are able to make friends with somebody local and run around for a little bit. It really just feels like a local experience. It’s a lot of fun.” — Brennan Anderson [27:56] “Everything we had was delicious. Neither my wife nor I are really that big on Japanese food, but we really loved everything we had.” — Brennan Anderson [31:27] “Everybody was just so friendly, so hospitable, and really just made you feel at home.” — Brennan Anderson [32:30] Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Brennan Anderson on Instagram Episode 6: Full-Time Travel with Brennan Anderson World Expo 2025, Osaka Osaka Castle Finnair Conrad Osaka Thomas Kim on X Trevor Mountcastle on X The Milenomics Podcast Network

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• TravelStories Episode 60: Memorial Day 2025: Trevor’s Family Trip to Madrid

  Episode 60: Show Notes This year, only one of us had a Memorial Day trip, at least on a plane, and this episode is all about that! This trip also marks Trevor’s family’s first international long-haul trip since January of this year. From their experience at the Centurion Lounge at Washington, DC’s Reagan-National airport, to managing flights with a toddler, Trevor shares the highlights. We start with Tom’s fishing trip to Chesapeake before diving into Trevor’s vacation, which began on a boat and continued with a JetBlue flight to Madrid via Boston. He talks about lounge experiences, including Capital One and Chase Sapphire, and offers tips for handling naps and meals in-flight. In Madrid, Trevor shares why this visit topped previous ones, from the Thompson hotel to great food. The family then flew to Valencia on Air Europa, explored major sites, stayed at Palacio Santa Clara, enjoyed paella, visited the zoo, and saw local protests. The trip ended with a stop in Frankfurt and a return to New York on a Spontaneous Escapes deal from Singapore Airlines. Tune in to learn what he enjoyed most, what he would do differently, and what he most recommends to listeners. Key Points From This Episode: [00:42] Tom’s fishing trip to Chesapeake and the beginning of Trevor’s Memorial Day vacation on a boat. [04:33] Trevor and his family’s experience of their first long-haul flight since January.  [09:15] Capital One Landing Lounges, the Jet Blue trip to Boston, and his experience at the Chase Sapphire Lounges. [16:30] The Jet Blue Trip to Madrid, timing his daughter’s naps, and meal logistics on Jet Blue.  [22:55] Why this experience of Madrid was even better than before and his experience of The Thompson. [24:37] Dining experiences in Madrid, parks, and other activities Trevor’s family enjoyed. [28:48] Highlights and lowlights of Valencia which Trevor travelled to on Air Europa.  [33:15] Three incredible architectural sites his family was able to see. [38:26] Staying at the art hotel, Palacio Santa Clara, eating paella in Valencia, and a visit to the zoo. [47:15] Coming across protests in Valencia and visiting the old market before flying to Frankfurt. [51:54] The Valencia Airport and flying Lufthansa to Frankfurt. [56:08] What Trevor is considering for his next trip to Madrid and what he loved about it. [58:25] Taking the Spontaneous Escapes Offer from Singapore and getting back to New York.  Quotes: “One of the great advantages of travel is to be able to see some of mankind’s amazing achievements in the arts, and architecture is definitely one of them.” — @TktweetsKim [38:17] “Valencia is known for [its] paella, and it is truly incredible.” — @tmount [39:47] “If you’re going to Spain, put Valencia on your list, and if you’ve got kids, put the Bioparc in Valencia on your list.” — @tmount [46:24] “The city is just so incredibly walkable in Madrid.” — @tmount [56:37] Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Hyatt Regency Madrid Biopic Valencia Puerto de Indias Palacio Santa Clara Queen Sofia Palace of Arts Musee de les Ciences Air Europa Travelstories Episode 8 El Retiro Park El Calamar Chase Sapphire Airport Lounges Jet Blue Capital One Lounges Thomas Kim on X Trevor Mountcastle on X The Milenomics Podcast Network

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• TravelStories Episode 59: Around the World with Hello Kitty

  Around the World with Hello Kitty Episode 59: Show Notes. When EVA Air released its Hello Kitty livery on a 777-300ER, we just knew we had to hop on! Today, 10 years later, we reflect on our EVA Air Hello Kitty trip and why this particular adventure is still one of our most memorable. We discuss how we became aware of the Hello Kitty jet, the near-disaster of our first connection, and the wonder of our in-flight experience with Hello Kitty branding, literally, everywhere! Then, we examine our itinerary, which included stops in Taiwan, Bangkok, Vientiane, Laos, and Singapore, before detailing our experience of the Crowne Plaza Vientiane and other attractions Laos had to offer. We also learn of Tom’s unlikely affair with beer, his aversion to Thai foot massages, why we’re definitely going to do an entire Fifth Freedom Flight episode, and why taxis in Singapore may have saved Trevor’s marriage. To end, we share fond—and socially unacceptable— memories of the entire Lufthansa First-Class (drink!) service, and we rank our Hello Kitty trip as a complete travel experience worthy of high praise. Key Points From This Episode: [00:00] Setting the tone and reintroducing the Drinking Word of the Day. [02:25] Why our Hello Kitty trip from 10 years ago is one of our most memorable adventures.  [03:25] How we found EVA Air’s Hello Kitty jet, and our first boarding debacle.   [07:29] Our onboard experience – so much better than the average 777 flight!   [10:59] Unpacking our slog of an itinerary, and everything we remember about Taipei.  [15:00] Flying to Bangkok and Laos, the Crowne Plaza Vientiane, and activities in Laos.   [21:15] The COPE Visitor Centre, the Mekong River, and beer with ice cubes. [27:25] A rooftop bar in Bangkok, Thai foot massages, and a Freedom Flight to Singapore.     [31:13] Why taxis are a better option than mass transit in Singapore.   [33:30] Lufthansa First-Class (drink!), and the most interesting purser we’ve encountered.  [40:03] More love for everything Lufthansa First-Class (drink!) has to offer.  [43:34] The joys of having a premium experience in the final leg of your trip.  [45:14] Ranking our Hello Kitty trip: A wonderful experience from beginning to end.   Quotes: “Everything was Hello Kitty. You had the Hello Kitty-imprinted butter. You had Hello Kitty signage everywhere. Even the toilet paper in the lavatory was Hello Kitty.” — @tmount [08:31] “That’s probably the only airline experience that I’ve ever had that has been so complete. It was almost like a Disney World-type experience where they just had everything right; everything aligned to Hello Kitty. I was really impressed with that.” — @tmount [09:09] “Any lounge that provides ice cream – they get an extra star automatically.” — @TktweetsKim [14:43] “I am absolutely not a beer drinker. I actually usually detest the beverage – [but] for the weather, for the environment, [Beerlao] was just the best beverage.” — @TktweetsKim [24:22] “I cannot think of a bad Cathay flight that I’ve flown.” — @TktweetsKim [29:37] Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: EVA Air EVA Air | Hello Kitty Jet Sanrio | The Official Home of Hello Kitty and Friends Lufthansa Thai Airways Bangkok Airways Crowne Plaza Vientiane COPE Visitor Centre Beerlao Lager Cathay Pacific United Airlines The La Première Experience | Air France The Milenomics Podcast Network Thomas Kim on X Trevor Mountcastle on X

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• TravelStories Episode 58: No Way Home

  No Way Home Episode 58: Show Notes. Planning the trips are getting harder and harder. The way home often becomes more challenging, with many more constraining factors. This episode we’re unpacking why. We begin with our examples of going on trips without planning the route home before exploring the limiting factors that make the trip home a daunting prospect. We throw some tangents in along the way including a discussion of Fifth Freedom Flights, the current state of airline alliances, the merits of flying non-premium over the Atlantic, and why “unicorn” destinations are harder to visit now than ever before. We also look inward to see how our miles and points behavior limits our choices, how procrastination paralysis leads to incomplete bookings, why alternative routes home when flying may not be an answer, and TK’s troubling cruise moment when looking for a way back home. We end with an oddity that Tom has latched onto and how this may affect your September travel plans, and we discuss why a lack of airport arrival lounges compounds the woes of traveling home. Key Points From This Episode: [00:00] Our conclusion: Planning the trip home is much harder than it should be.  [01:30] Examples of our partial trip syndrome – travelling without a way back home. [04:01] Limiting factors: Analysis paralysis, and more reasons why going home is harder.  [08:35] Unpacking Freedom Flights and why we’ll dedicate an entire episode to these.   [11:06] Why the world, in all its expanse, is still widely unattainable for travel.  [12:29] The current state of airline alliances, and the airlines we’d like to try for the first time.  [18:09] Revisiting the merits of flying economy on transatlantic flights.  [19:23] Why it’s becoming even more difficult to visit “unicorn” destinations.  [22:02] How our miles and points experience makes it harder to make decisions.   [23:40] Procrastination paralysis, our upcoming trip to Spain, and incomplete bookings. [27:39] How pushing hard for the exact travel experience you want limits your other options.  [29:32] What to do when you’re stuck; exploring alternatives to finding your way home.  [31:08] How TK was almost thwarted from a cruise back home.  [37:52] An oddity TK has picked up on, and what this means for September travel.  [44:30] The role of airport lounges in making decisions about going home.    Quotes: “This has been an unspoken rule, where we’re always seeming to have a lot more difficulty figuring out how we’re getting home than how we get there.” — @TktweetsKim [01:16] “The world is our oyster, but it’s really not when you think about it. South America is almost unattainable at this time.” — @tmount [11:08] “It’s possible to fly non-premium over the Atlantic.” — @TktweetsKim [19:04] “On your way home, you want that experience. You really want that enjoyment to continue. That’s why I prefer not to fly economy over the Atlantic because I feel like the flight home is an extension of the vacation.” — @tmount [21:31] “A guy can dream. If we don’t dream, then we have nothing to aspire to.” — @tmount [24:39] Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Lufthansa Delta One® Ethiopian Airlines Air India Etihad Copa Airlines Star Alliance oneworld SkyTeam LATAM Airlines Alaska Airlines Lufthansa Group airBaltic LOT Polish Airlines ITA Airways Virgin Atlantic Eurowings Edelweiss Episode 57: Travel Banter with Michael Trager Liberia Expo 2025 Osaka JetBlue PLAY Airlines Icelandair Straight to the Points Thrifty Traveler United Airlines The White Lotus The Milenomics Podcast Network Thomas Kim on X Trevor Mountcastle on X

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• TravelStories Episode 57: Travel Banter with Michael Trager

  Episode 57: Show Notes. Sometimes you just need to do some travel banter! And who better to do it with than TravelZork Travel’s Michael Trager? In today’s conversation, we discuss our recent travel experiences and dig into the nitty gritty of points, upgrades, flight paths, and so much more. To kick things off, we hear all about Michael’s recent trip to Madrid and the benefits of American Airlines' ConciergeKey status, which Michael has access to thanks to his wife, Ellen! We then discuss optimal flight paths to Europe from different parts of the US, why JetBlue is on the naughty list this week, and how to optimize your next trip to Vegas. Next, we explore the flagship lounge and dining experience on different airlines, before discussing why it sometimes makes sense to pay for travel (because you can’t do everything on points) and the exceptional cases where we break our own rules. We also dive into Marriott points and benefits, including getting the fifth night free, the challenges of hotel hopping, and the importance of a positive arrival experience; especially if you have your family in tow. Finally, Michael tells us the essential details and updates for ZorkFest 2025, including the festival’s four-star accommodation, their new miles and points labs, their epic foodie and beverage dining experience, the speakers they have lined up, and much more. Be sure to tune in to hear the full scope of our travel banter conversation with Michael Trager! Key Points From This Episode: [00:00:49] Introducing TravelZork Travel’s Michael Trager. [00:03:17] All the details of Michael’s visit to Madrid. [00:06:00] The benefits of having ConciergeKey status. [00:12:07] Debating the value of a premium economy cabin. [00:16:09] Optimizing your flight from different parts of the US to Europe. [00:21:09] Reasons why JetBlue is on the Naughty list this week. [00:29:43] Why is Michael saying farewell to his trip to Greece this summer. [00:31:26] Getting special awards and upgrades with American Airlines. [00:34:17] Key considerations for optimizing your trip to Vegas. [00:35:17] Getting access to the flagship lounge and dining. [00:41:38] Words of appreciation for connoisseur classes. [00:44:26] How to balance point accumulation and spending. [00:49:31] Tips for navigating Marriott points and benefits, including fifth night free. [00:53:49] The challenges of hotel hopping and the benefits of a good arrival experience. [00:58:18] Our thoughts on The White Lotus and tourism. [00:59:46] Getting information right in travel content. [01:01:43] Your guide to a positive arrival experience. [01:09:42] Details and Updates for ZorkFest 2025. [01:15:24] ZorkFest events: dining, live podcasting, master classes, hotel bookings, and private gaming experiences. [01:18:03] The speaking lineup you can expect from this year’s ZorkFest. [01:20:22] Booking, tickets, and hotel information. [01:22:12] What makes ZorkFest such a unique, unmissable event. [01:25:16] Lessons you can expect to learn on casino loyalty and risk management. [01:36:11] Why Michael refers to himself as an American Airlines fanboy. [01:40:52] Where you can find Michael online. [01:43:07] Parting words for today’s travel banter. Quotes: “The amount of trouble to position to JFK and then to leave, like, three, four, five, six, hours between the flight to then get a lie flat seat for a flight that maybe is six hours of which maybe, if all of the stars align, you get four hours of sleep. And that's like, if you're really lucky.” — Michael Trager [17:33] “JetBlue is on my very naughty list, really naughty list this week.” — Michael Trager [21:19] “That has been a thread or a mantra on this podcast, ‘book the flight or book the room you want’.” — @tmount [56:29] “When you hit the ground, that's going to set the tone for your entire trip.” — @tmount [56:57] “Nothing's gonna be as good as a nice, quiet hotel room on the ground for you to recover.” — @TktweetsKim [01:04:34] “Value is so personal, right? People need to respect that, and a lot of people don't. They think that their truth is the only truth.” — @TktweetsKim [01:09:23] “This is the first time we are truly having ZorkFest at a very bougie casino property with a very bougie, true four-star room product.” — Michael Trager [01:11:01] “There are things you learn from casino advantage players like Anthony Curtis, or things that you learn from casino loyalty, that can be parsed to the miles and points world technique-wise.” — Michael Trager [01:25:30] Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Michael Trager Michael Trager on LinkedIn TravelZork Travel TravelZork TravelZork on Facebook TravelZork on X TravelZork on Bluesky TravelZork on Instagram TravelZork on YouTube TravelZork, ZorkCast (and ZorkFest too!) - Casinos, Vegas, Miles & Points on Facebook Join the Zork Fest Mailing List Yo-11 Podcast | ZorkCast on Spotify BAEC GOLD + GGL + Premier [British Airways Executive Club] Facebook Group Hyatt Privé Deals Facebook Group Cunard | Queen Mary 2 + Entire Line | Cruise Deals, Discussion + Promotions Facebook Group The M Resort and Spa and Casino, Las Vegas Thomas Kim on X Trevor Mountcastle on X

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