Last-Minute Family Travel with Points: Ryan's Real-World Strategies

Does family travel with points really require planning years in advance? In this episode of Takeoff, Travis and Emily sit down with Ryan Fernandez, a longtime 10xTravel reader and mom who proves that last-minute family travel on points is not only possible, but actually practical!

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In the episode, Ryan shares how she books premium cabin flights for the whole family, pivots plans when trips fall apart, and travels with kids despite tight school schedules and limited availability. From spontaneous award bookings to real-world travel mishaps and insurance wins, this conversation breaks down how families can use points with flexibility instead of stress.

This episode is a must-listen to any family traveler who's interested in the points game!

You'll learn:

• How Ryan plans trips around school calendars and sports schedules

• Why booking last minute can actually reduce stress

• How flexible points make family travel easier

• When portals make sense versus transferring points

• How to handle last-minute cancellations and pivots

• Why convenience often beats “perfect” redemptions

• The mindset shift families need to travel more often

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction and Icebreaker

03:57 Planning Family Travel with Points

06:49 Last-Minute Travel Strategies

15:37 Handling Travel Mishaps

23:35 Travel Wins and Memorable Trips

25:25 Repositioning and Travel Tips

27:38 Practical Family Travel Tips

29:26 Travel Baseball and Hotel Stays

30:33 Traveling with Kids: Before and After

37:21 Surprising Family-Friendly Destinations

40:02 Planning Future Trips

43:26 Navigating Hotels with Family

45:05 Final Thoughts on Family Travel with Points and Miles

Links and Resources from this Episode:

Take Our Free Points and Miles Course

https://10xtravel.com/free-tools/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=sn&utm_campaign=Episode_70&utm_content=

New To Points and Miles? Listen to Episodes 1-6 of the podcast

https://10xtravel.com/new-here/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=sn&utm_campaign=Episode_70&utm_content=

10xTravel+: Upgrade your travel by becoming a member today

https://10xtravel.com/10xtravel-plus/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=sn&utm_campaign=Episode_70&utm_content=

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