In this episode, Genni is joined by Kelsey Graves, a travel-loving mom, podcast host, and content creator who’s made unforgettable family trips possible, starting with just one travel rewards credit card.
Kelsey shares how opening the Chase Sapphire Preferred card turned into five free flights to NYC for her family, a luxe couples escape to Cabo, and a summer road trip to the Grand Canyon and Page, Arizona—all booked with points. She’s learned to earn smarter, redeem better, and enjoy bougie travel without the bougie budget.
This episode is for you if:
- You’re brand new to points and miles
- You’ve been sitting on one card and wondering what’s next
- You want to travel more without going into debt
- You’re craving real-life, beginner-friendly examples of how travel rewards actually work
✨ What You’ll Learn:
- How Kelsey used one card to unlock multiple redemptions
- Her first big redemption using Chase points through the portal (and whether she’d do it again)
- How she flew a family of 5 to NYC using points + the Southwest Companion Pass
- What cards she’s using now and how she organizes her strategy
- Tips for emailing hotels to request upgrades (and how it worked!)
Timestamps:
- 00:00 Introduction to Lazy Budget Travel Tips
- 00:23 Meet Kelsey Graves: Travel Expert and Content Creator
- 02:16 Kelsey's Journey into Points and Miles
- 08:00 First Redemption Experience: Chase Sapphire Preferred
- 15:59 Southwest Points and Companion Pass Success
- 21:03 Strategizing Points for Future Travels
- 23:58 Family Travel Plans and RV Adventures
- 24:36 Maximizing Points for Summer Trips
- 25:41 Exploring the Grand Canyon with Points
- 27:25 Hyatt Place Page Lake Powell Stay
- 28:29 Emailing for Upgrades and Benefits
- 31:28 Final Redemption: Grand Hyatt Scottsdale
- 33:57 Couple's Trip to Cabo: The Cape Thompson Hotel
- 38:29 Tips for Newbies in Points and Miles
- 41:46 Rapid Fire Questions and Dream Redemptions
- 47:42 Final Thoughts and Where to Follow
Follow Kelsey:
Instagram: @kelsey_graves
Podcast: Trip Tales – real people sharing real trip stories
Resources Mentioned:
- Lazy Budget Travel Tips Facebook Group
- Applying for Business Credit Cards (even if you don't think you have a business) Blog Post
Full episodes, including video, are available on Youtube.
Check out more from Genni:
- Join the Lazy Budget Travel Tips Facebook Group
- Grab the FREE Budget Travel 101 Course
- Follow Genni on Instagram
- Traveling Franklins Blog
- Get the Weekly Newsletter!
Show Support for the Podcast: Check out my Credit Card Links (no cost to you) or Buy Me A Coffee (or Burrito iykyk)
Host
Genni Franklin
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