Getting a $35k Trip to Switzerland for $1.5k with Mary Ellen from Wonderland on Points | Ep 248

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Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction to Mary Ellen and The Wonderland on Points Podcast

03:35 First redemptions and early mistakes booking via portals

04:30 Switzerland trip that convinced her husband of points value

08:00 Flights overview – Air France business class with Amex MR

09:25 Return flights – Iberia business class via Madrid + transfer bonus

10:45 Layover in Madrid and surprising their son with a soccer jersey

11:45 Using positioning flights within Europe with no extra points

12:45 Why Air France is family-friendly

13:30 Hotel 1: Lausanne Palace via Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts

14:55 Hotel 2: Interlaken hotel with Capital One credit

15:55 Hotel 3: Paid using Hotels.com gift cards via Fetch

16:20 Hotel 4: Mount Pilatus mountaintop splurge

17:35 Hotel 5: Zurich Hyatt Place using Chase points

17:55 Using maxfhr.com and strategy for choosing $200/night

19:25 Capital One Travel portal tips & 10x point earnings

21:45 Upcoming France trip booked with Capital One Travel

22:15 How she earned $200+ in Hotels.com gift cards via Fetch

23:00 Fetch strategies – referrals, receipts, game hacks

24:00 Fetch = free Starbucks or long-term savings for travel

25:45 How they avoid budget blowouts by prepping menus and prices

26:45 Using Swiss Travel Pass to cover transport and museums

27:45 Saving on rainy day activities with free museum access

28:25 Budgeting for big excursions like paragliding

29:20 Paragliding Interlaken – why they picked a reputable company

30:30 Don’t skimp on safety with skydiving, LASIK, or paragliding

31:15 Visiting Crash Landing on You K-drama filming locations

32:45 How the show created a tourism boom in Switzerland

33:30 K-drama favorites: Extraordinary Attorney Woo, Vincenzo, Good Boy

34:20 Final tip: pick a dream trip to guide your points strategy

35:00 Where to find Mary Ellen online and request her Switzerland itinerary

35:45 Closing reflection and full-circle podcast moment

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