Episode 168

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Published on:

21st May 2025

Travel Hacks to Upgrade Your Next Vacation (Without Spending More) | E168 Chris Hutchins

I get why some people aren’t into traveling. Long flights crammed in a middle seat, overpriced hotels that smell like smoke, and being miles away from the city center - none of that screams “dream vacation.”

Now, I’m past the days of budget airlines and sketchy motels but I’m also not flying first class with lay-down seats or staying in luxury hotels in the city center that leave chocolates on the pillows.

Financial independence has given me the freedom to enjoy travel with simple comforts, and I’m perfectly happy in that Goldilocks zone.

But what if, once a year, you could take a truly glamorous vacation - without spending anything extra?

In today’s episode, I’m joined by Chris Hutchins, host of All the Hacks. He shares practical travel tips to help you take those bucket-list vacations. Chris has earned tens of millions of points, traveled all over the world, and even took a 7-month trip with his wife, spending just $30 a day on average. Chris is a total travel savant and has a hack for just about everything travel-related.

I do have to admit, though, I went into this conversation a little skeptical. I thought it might sound like a part-time job - chasing sign-up bonuses, juggling credit cards, and spending hours hunting for deals. But I was surprised by how simple many of Chris’s tips are and how much money they can save. Some of his hacks don’t even involve points or miles, just smart ways to get upgrades or better deals.

I’m excited to try these out and travel more luxuriously without spending more - and I’m guessing you are too.

So buckle up and enjoy my conversation with Mr. All The Hacks himself…Chris Hutchins. 

Key Takeaways:

  • Which travel hacks might not be worth your time anymore
  • How to use positioning flights to score better deals
  • Easy ways to boost your points and miles with “points side hustles”
  • How to get free gifts and perks from hotels
  • A trick to find the same vacation rental for a lower price
  • How to save money on car rentals
  • Why slow travel can save you money and make the trip more enjoyable


More of Chris:

All The Hacks Podcast: https://www.chrishutchins.com/episodes/

50+ Ways to Earn More Points and Miles Without Spending More: https://www.chrishutchins.com/50-ways-to-earn-more-points-and-miles/


More of FI Minded:

Email Justin at Justin@FIMinded.com

Connect with Justin on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justinleepeters/

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About the Podcast

FI Minded - Financial Independence Without the Extremes
Achieve Financial Independence & Have Fun Doing It
Pursuing financial freedom, a work-optional lifestyle, or early retirement often leads to the same questions: “one more year,” “do I have enough?” “what does life actually look like after this?”

FI Minded helps you think like someone who’s already financially independent so you can make smarter decisions about how you work, spend, and live.

From Coast FI and Slow FI to lifestyle design, career transitions, healthcare, and self-employment, each episode explores the real decisions behind building a flexible, work-optional life…without burnout, over-optimization, or missing out along the way.

We cover:
* Smarter ways to reach financial independence (without burnout)
* Designing a flexible, work-optional lifestyle
* Coast FI, Slow FI, and enjoying your time along the way
* What life actually looks like after FI (and how to prepare for it)
* The tradeoffs behind big money decisions

Make progress toward financial independence while actually living your life.

Some of our past guests include Carl Jensen (1500 Days), Jeremy Schneider (Personal Finance Club), Nick Loper (Side Hustle Show), Andrew Giancola (The Personal Finance Podcast), Jordan Grumet (Earn & Invest), Rachael Camp (Work Optional), Jillian Johnsrud (Retire Often), Sean Mullaney (FI Tax Guy), Jill Sirianni (Frugal Friends), Jackie Cummings-Koski (Catching Up to FI), Joel Larsgaard (How to Money), Cody Garrett (Measure Twice), Jesse Cramer (Personal Finance for Long-Term Investors), Jess (The Fioneers), Chris Hutchins (All The Hacks), Diania Merriam (EconoMe), Andy Hill (Marriage Kids Money), Fritz Gilbert (Retirement Manifesto), and and others helping you rethink how to approach financial independence.
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