A Conversation with Julia Menez — TripIt Blog
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Going Locations is a new collection from TripIt that highlights regular travelers to showcase their exclusive journey designs and insider recommendations.
Ahead of the COVID-19 pandemic, you could locate Julia Menez, founder of points-and-miles tactic podcast and consultancy, Geobreeze, nation-hopping all over Europe or Asia. She usually took four or extra international journeys a year typically traveling in economy—and normally on details and miles. Her go-to manner for nation-hopping? Cruises. Her beloved end? Tallinn, Estonia.
“I’m a substantial “Game of Thrones” fan,” Julia told me. “And Superior Valyrian has roots in the Estonian language, so I was by natural means drawn to the area. Tallinn was so charming. I advise it to anyone!”
Quick forward to 2022, and vacation appears to be like a bit unique for Julia.
“Now, I travel a ton far more domestically—and it’s possible 2 times a 12 months internationally. I also decide for business enterprise or 1st course when I do. It is much less outings, but a nicer experience—and nets out to be the exact price-wise,” she claimed.
She’s also been preparing journeys that include fewer hopping around—and much more keeping put—as a outcome of the heightened border-crossing prerequisites in put due to COVID-19.
Points and miles—a activity where by everybody wins
When she’s not touring, Julia runs her podcast where she interviews details strategists to understand how they journey for free. She’s also a points system mentor, encouraging persons stage up their factors-and-miles video game.
Of system, she’s generally on the lookout to set her personal factors and miles to use.
“I maintain a bucket listing of award-vacation sweet places, and then preserve an eye out for good award availability,” she reported. “When it will come to booking, I always seize an obtainable award first—whether which is a flight or a hotel—and then I make the relaxation of my itinerary from there.”
So, what’s on her bucket list of award-travel places? “For starters, Greece! I became obsessed with Greek mythology at a young age. It is been my desire to take a look at, but it’s often been so costly to go when you are paying out with dollars. I’m hoping to go this yr working with factors and miles.”
Being organized—from preparing to landing to loyalty status
When it comes to scheduling a vacation, Julia and her spouse split up the responsibilities. She handles reserving flights and lodging with their details and miles he handles the on-the-ground details.
But when it comes to arranging their travel ideas, Julia depends on TripIt.
“I use TripIt to maintain all my confirmation quantities in one put. I do not have to dig by means of my e-mail, specially when I’m examining into a flight. I also use it to verify I have booked the appropriate resort dates. When you are receiving in late, the last factor you want to be wondering is, did I ebook a area for tonight?”
When she’s on the go, Julia utilizes TripIt’s airport maps to navigate the terminal and discover out what lounges are close by. She also checks the COVID-19 vacation advice attribute to know what to count on from various countries’ entry requirements.
And when she’s again dwelling, Julia utilizes TripIt to aid her estimate when she’ll gain loyalty software position. “Both the Issue Tracker element and the way TripIt organizes itineraries are definitely handy for retaining keep track of of when I’ll get standing every year.”
With a lot more luxury travel experiences on the horizon—and tons additional nations to assert on her scratch-off earth map—you’ll possibly capture Julia individuals-watching at an airport lounge, supporting an individual ebook their personal desire trips with factors and miles (check out her out on Instagram for valuable suggestions!), or a little bit of both.
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