Airport Lounge Access, Family Award Travel, and Cruise Savings: Your Questions Answered

Learn how to get into airport lounges, stretch rewards for family travel, and score the best cruise deals from New York.

How can you get into airport lounges if you don’t have elite status? What’s the cheapest way to book a cruise from New York? Hosts Sally French and Meghan Coyle dig into your questions about airport lounges, family travel, cruise deals, and Disney trips to help you plan your next adventure with confidence. But first, they break down the latest travel headlines, including drops in vacation rental occupancy, trending U.S. and international fall destinations, and which airlines and airports are offering the cheapest domestic and international flight deals.

Then, Meghan and Sally tackle listener questions on cruise timing, airport lounge access, and Disney planning. They explain how to maximize savings by booking during wave season, how to identify pay-as-you-go lounges when you don’t have status, and whether Disney’s dining and photo packages are worth it for families. They also explore strategies for booking award travel for groups, when to consider travel agents for Disney, and how curated hotel collections stack up. Listener tips round out the show, from thrifting travel wardrobes abroad to smart packing strategies that keep costs low and suitcases light.

Card benefits, terms and fees can change. For the most up-to-date information about cards mentioned in this episode, read our reviews:

• Chase Sapphire Reserve Review: A High-End, High-Maintenance Card https://www.nerdwallet.com/reviews/credit-cards/chase-sapphire-reserve 

• Capital One Venture X Review: A Worthy Option Among Premium Cards https://www.nerdwallet.com/reviews/credit-cards/capital-one-venture-x 

• American Express Platinum Review: Top-Notch Lounge Access, Big Credits https://www.nerdwallet.com/reviews/credit-cards/american-express-platinum 

Resources discussed in this episode:

• Setting Sail in 2025? Here Are the Cheapest Months to Cruise https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/travel/cheapest-month-cruise 

• 4 Workarounds to Book Your Holiday Vacation Rental With Points https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/credit-cards/4-workarounds-to-book-your-fall-vacation-rental-with-points 

Want even more tips and tricks to get the most out of your travel dollars? Subscribe to TravelNerd, our free newsletter designed to help you crack the code on spending less on your travel.  

In this episode, the Nerds discuss: New York cruise deals, best time to book a cruise, wave season cruise booking, cheap cruises from New York, cruise insurance hurricane season, airport lounges San Diego, pay as you go airport lounges, priority pass lounge access, family vacation booking with miles, booking hotels with points Europe, Hyatt points transfer value, vacation rentals with points, Expedia fall travel outlook, trending fall destinations 2025, cheapest airlines for domestic flights, cheapest airports for international flights, Southwest cheap flights, Orlando cheap flights Caribbean, cheap Cancun vacation rentals, Disney dining plan, Disney World meal plan, Disney Memory Maker photo package, Disney stroller rental tips, Disney travel agent vs booking direct, booking Disney with points, Disney world with toddlers, Amex fine hotels and resorts program, Capital One Premier Collection hotels, thrift store travel tips, packing light for Europe, travel tips for families, booking cruises on Black Friday, Travel Tuesday cruise deals, and cruise line email alerts.

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