Booking hotels through travel portals can be a brilliant points-saver, but there are also downsides to booking this way. In this episode I break down when portals like Chase Travel and Capital One beat transferring points to Marriott, Hilton or IHG, the risks of these bookings and the simple steps I teach my Families Fly Free members to mitigate any issues. We’ll also cover the powerful Hyatt exception—why transferring Chase points to Hyatt often costs fewer points and avoids third-party headaches—plus real stories from listeners and my own trips.
You’ll learn:
- Why to compare portal prices vs. transfers in 2 minutes and pick the cheaper option
- The biggest pitfalls with third-party hotel bookings and how to avoid them
- My confirm-confirm-confirm, validate-validate-validate strategy
- Why Hyatt is the go-to sweet spot for fewer points and direct-booking peace of mind
Want my swipe files, step-by-step Stay Free Formula™ and real-time help and community support as things keep changing? Join
Families Fly Free to stretch your points further with fewer cards and less hassle, so your family can make more travel memories together: https://www.FamiliesFlyFree.com/join
What is Families Fly Free With Lyn Mettler?
Travel rewards doesn't have to be overwhelming and it can work for entire families! In the Families Fly Free podcast, hosted by longtime travel journalist Lyn Mettler, you'll learn how to simply and easily fly your whole family for free using travel rewards and with minimal cards in your wallet. Lyn has taught nearly 1,000 families a simple, repeatable process to always have enough miles to fly wherever you'd like, so you can make more memories with your family before your kids or grandkids leave home.