A Conversation with Julia Menez — TripIt Blog

Heading Locations is a new series from TripIt that highlights regular tourists to showcase their special travel types and insider recommendations. 

Right before the COVID-19 pandemic, you could uncover Julia Menez, founder of factors-and-miles tactic podcast and consultancy, Geobreeze, region-hopping all around Europe or Asia. She generally took four or far more intercontinental outings a year normally traveling in economy—and usually on details and miles. Her go-to manner for state-hopping? Cruises. Her favourite halt? Tallinn, Estonia. 

“I’m a massive “Game of Thrones” admirer,” Julia instructed 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 recommend it to all people!” 

Rapidly ahead to 2022, and journey seems a bit various for Julia. 

“Now, I travel a good deal far more domestically—and maybe 2 times a 12 months internationally. I also choose for business or very first course when I do. It is less journeys, but a nicer experience—and nets out to be the same value-clever,” she reported. 

She’s also been scheduling outings that contain less hopping around—and more remaining put—as a result of the heightened border-crossing requirements in position owing to COVID-19. 

Points and miles—a game exactly where every person wins 

When she’s not touring, Julia runs her podcast wherever she interviews points strategists to understand how they travel for totally free. She’s also a factors approach mentor, serving to folks degree up their points-and-miles match. 

Of class, she’s often on the lookout to place her have points and miles to use. 

“I maintain a bucket list of award-vacation sweet places, and then preserve an eye out for good award availability,” she mentioned. “When it comes to booking, I normally get an readily available award first—whether that is a flight or a hotel—and then I create the relaxation of my itinerary from there.” 

So, what is on her bucket listing of award-travel destinations? “For starters, Greece! I grew to become obsessed with Greek mythology at a young age. It is been my desire to go to, but it’s always been so high priced to go when you are paying with dollars. I’m hoping to go this year utilizing factors and miles.” 

Remaining organized—from scheduling to landing to loyalty status 

When it comes to planning a vacation, Julia and her spouse break up up the duties. She handles scheduling flights and accommodations with their factors and miles he handles the on-the-floor facts.

But when it will come to arranging their vacation plans, Julia relies on TripIt. 

“I use TripIt to maintain all my affirmation numbers in one area. I don’t have to dig through my e-mail, in particular when I’m checking into a flight. I also use it to ensure I have booked the suitable resort dates. When you are getting in late, the final thing you want to be wondering is, did I book a space for tonight?”

When she’s on the go, Julia employs TripIt’s airport maps to navigate the terminal and uncover out what lounges are nearby. She also checks the COVID-19 travel steering function to know what to expect from unique countries’ entry needs. 

And when she’s back house, Julia employs TripIt to support her estimate when she’ll gain loyalty software status. “Both the Position Tracker feature and the way TripIt organizes itineraries are definitely useful for holding monitor of when I’ll get position each and every calendar year.” 

With extra luxurious vacation experiences on the horizon—and lots extra nations around the world to assert on her scratch-off globe map—you’ll in all probability catch Julia persons-looking at at an airport lounge, supporting someone e book their personal aspiration trips with details and miles (examine her out on Instagram for useful strategies!), or a little bit of both equally. 

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