The March 2025 Rewind
In like a lion and out like a lamb?
Our first monthly recap!
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This month has been so busy with the class I couldn’t stop talking about, the 100K elevated card offer (still!) looming — and you know, the world in pretty crazy shape but there’s been so much other stuff going on as well so I’m excited to share this recap!
At the beginning of March, I was wrapping up our amazing trip to Costa Rica, sitting poolside, taking walks in the rainforest, pulling over to the side of the road whenever we saw a crowd in the hopes of seeing Sloths (true story!) and planning a new class which launched the week after I got back called: How to Book a $10K+ Trip on Points.
It was super fun to share the ins and outs of how I booked that incredible trip and watch as the month unfolded and multiple people, inspired by our adventure, booked their own family trips to Costa Rica and beyond.
Some highlights from my month:
I got to attend the opening party for a gorgeous ceramics studio I helped launch!
My music education company Blue Balloon Songwriting School hosted an incredible concert where a handful of kids performed their own original songs at one of my favorite Brooklyn venues Pete’s Candy Store.
Daylight Savings Time happened and I forgot to tell my kids (oops) which kind of destroyed our lives for a few days.
I joined a club that my friend Leah started and am loving it!
I attended Uplifter’s Live, an inspiring annual event hosted by my friend Aransas (I was the third guest ever on her award winning podcast!!) and got to meet the first and only female commissioner of the FDNY, and hear incredible stories by so many women who lift each other up.
We hosted a movable feast cocktail party for our kids’ school fundraiser and Kamali made the best cocktail punches!
Max got into our top choice middle school and I cried 🥹
I had the most incredible weekend staycation sans kids with two close friends at the Park Hyatt in Manhattan. I wish I could escape regular life a little longer and go back!
This Substack became a bestseller!!
It was a busy month!!
Some posts you may have missed!
A chance to check out some of the stuff you may have breezed past.
At that movable feast party mentioned above, I sat next to my friend Tami who told a table full of people how I helped her with points and it made me blush! The next morning I wrote this post about how she did booked her trips — and how she’s able to fly one way to London for $74 per person :)
This one was quite popular! Many of you had questions about what’s in my wallet (understandably!) and it was fun to connect and chat cards.
It might be surprising to know that you can pay for federal taxes on a credit card! It’s not always worth it but when it is, it can be SO worth it. This strategy applies to quarterly taxes and other purchases as well that require a fee to pay by card so it’s still very relevant year-round.
While I know most of you are here for points and miles advice, the trip edits are arguably my favorite posts to write and share. I love giving you my time and money saving tips and share the unique places we discover on our trips. This was a trip that I kept saying to my husband - I wish I could have had this guide before I went! So now, I am happy it’s available to you :)
This was actually one of the most popular posts of the month! I loved the comment by one reader who said: “[This] was a game changer during the holiday season. I did the majority of my holiday shopping through there and got tons of points! Such an easy way to earn more points by doing what I'd normally do anyway.” So true!
I created this post as an anchor for the substack to show new subscribers (and those who need refreshers!) some of the foundational posts I’ve written in the past. Whenever you need a reminder, this is where to go! I will add to this post as time goes on :)
We love home swapping because we get a chance to stay in people’s interesting homes and experience what it’s like to really live somewhere as locals. But, daily housekeeping, crisp white linens and free easy breakfast often call to us and we end up in hotels. Here I offered up some of our tried and true methods to not go crazy while sharing hotel rooms with kids.
Sometimes a card application goes straight to approval (yay!) but often times it doesn’t and that can be really confusing. This post talks about all the ins and outs of what to do when you don’t get that immediate approval you hoped for (and how persistence can pay off!).
My packing list was another popular one. Maybe you’ve been traveling your whole life and need NO tips. But seeing what another person brings in their suitcase can really be eye opening even if you would go carry on only and leave all this stuff at home.
It was a lofty goal to create a class in a short period of time on how to earn a million points but I did it and I’m so proud and pleased with how it all went! While I’m guessing you’re tired of hearing about it (I get it!) this class is already changing lives and for that I am so happy! And also delighted to now be able to talk about other things :) I will not be offering another live class or a whole but you can always catch the recorded ones here.
On the last day of the month, I shared a post I’ve spent years creating. Going to Marrakech in 2023 with my family was a major feat (for reasons that will become clearer if you read this post!) and because of that, I gathered all the resources I could possibly find (mainly from locals) which culminated in the Best. Trip. Ever. Plus, these are some of my favorite photos I’ve ever taken. Morocco, you have my heart 🖤
What’s on the horizon?
This month was really exciting as I continue to build this super fun and rewarding business and create more offerings and contents to share with you all.
Next week I’ll be off on spring break for two weeks but will still be sending newsletters while I am away, so don’t fret!
More city edits! I only started this Substack 4 months ago so I have a huge backlog of trip reports to share! Working on it :)
Less talking about classes (ha) and more talking about points and travel! I learned my lesson from doing two classes back to back.
More trip suggestions as we start to look ahead to warm weather and summer. I aim to give you lots to look forward to and interesting ideas of places to explore on points.
Lots of great points and miles posts to help you earn more points and spend them wisely. There are so many tips and tricks and it’s so fun sharing them with you all!
A posting schedule! I am working on this but you can always expect:
A minimum of one in-depth post a week on points and miles (usually more!)
At least one city edit per month
A monthly recap
Other posts when I can’t help myself
Have an idea for a post or something you’ve been wondering about? Send me a message and I’ll consider it for an upcoming newsletter!
And just a note to say thanks for being here. Looking at the subscriber count (and the paid subscriber count!) going (way!) up reminds me that the work I’m doing is helpful and important. I appreciate the trust you’ve put in me and look forward to continuing to grow this wonderful community.
Have a friend who would love Brooklyn Family Travelers? Please invite them to subscribe!
If you’re not yet a paying subscriber, I hope you’ll consider it today or soon ;)
I don’t use AI to write these posts so it takes time. I’m deeply committed to making sure that a subscription to Brooklyn Family Travelers saves you a lot of money in the long run. That’s my goal…and like my dad said to me yesterday:
“Rachel, I think anytime you have a goal and you decide you want to reach it. You just do it. You’re amazing.” - Rachel’s Dad 🥹
So, I leave you with this: my goal is to save you money. And I am dead set on achieving it. And thanks Dad :)
