Shows
All the Hacks with Chris HutchinsThe Path to Becoming an Expert in Points & Miles with Devon Gimbel#227: An actionable 4-step framework to master points and miles while maximizing personal value. We cover high-yield earning strategies like paying processing fees, bulk ordering, and leveraging business expenses, plus tactics for scaling award travel for multiple people. We also explore alternate pathways to earn and redeem points without chasing “perfection.”
Devon Gimbel is the founder of Point Me to First Class, an educational platform and podcast that teaches people to maximize their spending for extraordinary travel rewards. She is also a double-board certified physician.
Link to Full Show Notes: http...2025-05-141h 11
Revolutionizing Your Journey: Travel With Points & MilesFrom Practicing Medicine to Points Pro: Learn How Travel Rewards Fit into a Wealth-Building Strategy with Devon Gimbel (Ep. 61)Have you ever considered how strategic use of points and miles can be a powerful tool for building wealth?
In this episode, host DeAndre interviews Devon Gimbel, a former physician who has successfully transitioned into a points and miles expert. Devon discusses her journey from medicine to mastering travel rewards and details her ambitious family trip to the Maldives, where she leveraged her expertise to secure a luxurious stay at the Park Hyatt Maldives.
The conversation delves into practical strategies for maximizing travel rewards, balancing spending and saving, and utilizing everyday expenses to generate valuable p...2025-02-121h 08
Points Talk with the Travel Mom Squad112. You’re NOT As Bad At Points As You Think You Are! Conversation with Devon GimbelFeeling overwhelmed by points and miles? You’re not alone! In this inspiring episode, we sit down with Devon Gimbel of Point Me to First Class to discuss the psychology of learning points and miles—and why you’re probably doing better than you think. Whether you’re new to the game or feeling stuck, Devon shares her expertise and encouragement to keep going. Devon’s Journey: From Skeptic to Expert Devon begins by sharing her personal journey into points and miles. Growing up in a single-parent household, travel was often limited to road trips and camping. And Devon d...2025-01-2147 min
Wonderland on Points | Credit Card Rewards & Budget Travel75. Turning Business Expenses Into Nearly Free Travel with Devon GimbelIn this episode of the Wonderland on Points Podcast, we’re joined by one of our favorite fellow podcasters, Devon Gimbel from Point Me To First Class. Devon is a master at helping business owners turn everyday expenses into thousands of dollars worth of free travel. Whether you have a high-spending business or are just getting started with a side hustle, Devon shares her expert tips for making your business spend work harder for you.We dive into the best credit card options for every type of business, including those with smaller budgets. Devon also helps us na...2025-01-131h 08
Succeed in Medicine#405: PT2: Leveraging Credit Card Points for Luxury Travel with Dr. Devon Gimbel—- 👋 Freed.AI is here to free you from medical documentation. Join the movement to eliminate clinician burnout. Visit Freed.AI and improve your lifestyle. Coupon Code for $50 off your first paid month: PGD —- 👋 Ready to diversify outside the stock market? EquityMultiple brings you streamlined real estate investing. Access vetted, cash-flowing opportunities from anywhere. Start today, with just $5K, at equitymultiple.com —- 👋 In PT2, Dr. Block and Dr. Devon Gimbel delve deeper into advanced strategies for maximizing credit card points, focusing on business and personal travel. They discuss the benefi...2024-10-2431 min
Succeed in Medicine#404: PT1: Leveraging Credit Card Points for Luxury Travel with Dr. Devon Gimbel—- 👋 Freed.AI is here to free you from medical documentation. Join the movement to eliminate clinician burnout. Visit Freed.AI and improve your lifestyle. Coupon Code for $50 off your first paid month: PGD —- 👋 Ready to diversify outside the stock market? EquityMultiple brings you streamlined real estate investing. Access vetted, cash-flowing opportunities from anywhere. Start today, with just $5K, at equitymultiple.com —- 👋 In PT1 of this episode, Dr. Block interviews Dr. Devon Gimbel, a double-board certified physician and founder of Point Me to First Class, a business dedicated to helpi...2024-10-2229 min
Your Favorite YouEp 104: My Favorite Way to Travel with Devon GimbelDoes your favorite version of yourself have a dream to fly first-class to Europe or book a hotel suite for a family vacation? Today, my guest Devon Gimbel talks about how to turn your travel dreams into reality using credit card points. You’ll hear Devon explain how she started earning credit card points to use for travel, and how she maximizes them to earn travel experiences that previously might not have been possible. By the end of this episode, you’ll understand how easy it can be to be strategic with your credit card points...2024-09-2455 min
The Limitless MDUnlocking First Class Travel: Dr. Devon Gimbel’s Secrets to Earning Millions in PointsDr. Devon Gimbel was skeptical at first. The idea of using credit card points to fly business class instead of economy seemed too good to be true. But she was willing to give it a try.Fast forward 10 years, and Dr. Gimbel has turned her passion for points into a full-time business, helping physicians and entrepreneurs unlock a world of luxury travel they never thought possible.Through strategic credit card usage, she's earned millions of points, booking nearly half a million dollars worth of travel for...2024-08-2736 min
The Burn Stress Lose Weight Podcast120: Leveraging Expenses with Dr. Devon GimbelIn this episode I am joined by my good friend, Dr. Devon Gimbel, to discuss the fascinating world of leveraging personal spending. Dr. Gimbel, a former physician turned points expert, shares her journey from diagnosing skin diseases to mastering the art of earning and using credit card points for remarkable travel experiences. This episode has valuable insights for professional women and working moms on how to make the most of their everyday expenses. Devon is a double-board certified physician and founder and owner of Point Me To First Class, a business that helps employed professionals, entrepreneurs, and...2024-07-161h 00
Point Me To First Class65. Earning Points for Paying Student Loans or 529 Plans with Dr. Andrea MabryToday, I'm joined by my friend, points-earning expert Dr. Andrea Mabry. She's here to show you exactly how to earn points by paying off your student loans or by paying for your kid's education. This is taking one of your biggest expenses and leveraging it to earn more points, and Andrea's here to show us how to make this part of a financially responsible points strategy. Discover how to earn tons of points for expenses you already have: student loans or paying for your child's education. You can't use your cards to pay directly towards s...2024-05-2750 minPoint Me To First Class64. Choosing a Miraval Resort for Your Next Getaway with Arpita Gupta DePalma and Mindy Stimell-RauchMiraval Resort is an all-inclusive, adults-only health and wellness resort that started in Tucson, Arizona, and has expanded to Austin, Texas, and The Berkshires, Massachusetts. Each location is different but has the same signature approach to wellness. So how do you know what to expect at the different locations and choose which one is right for you? That's exactly what we're diving into today. I'm joined by Dr. Arpita Gupta DePalma and Dr. Mindy Stimell-Rauch, and we're comparing the three Miraval Resorts and their offerings in terms of accommodation, food, service, and activities available at e...2024-05-201h 08Point Me To First Class63. From the UK to Bahrain, Oman, and Qatar on Points with Lindsay BradleyLindsay Bradley started her points and miles journey in 2011 but didn't get into extensive points travel until meeting her P2. After marrying in 2018, they took off to travel the world, doing mini retirements on points and miles. Lindsay has visited 77 countries on all seven continents and has redeemed over $300,000 worth of travel with credit card rewards. Tune in this week to discover some unique uses of points for premium flights. Lindsay gives her insights into some of the challenges and opportunities of constructing a multi-country trip itinerary, and you'll learn how to put perks like h...2024-05-1354 min
Re-Mind YourselfTurn expenses into travel with Dr Devon GimbelPhysician coach Michelle Chestovich MD discusses with Dr Devon Gimbel how to leverage expenses into travel points. She has done all the research on how to use your expenses to expand your travel opportunities and shares how this can benefit you too.Her podcast: https://www.pointmetofirstclass.com/podcastLearn more on her website: https://www.pointmetofirstclass.com2024-05-0849 minPoint Me To First Class62. Money Mindset and Owning Your Financial Life with Kara LoewentheilFor this conversation about how we think about ourselves in relation to money, I’m joined by one of the most brilliant women that I know, Kara Loewentheil. Kara is the Founder of The School of New Feminist Thought and creator of The Feminist Self Help Society, host of the top-rated podcast UnF*ck Your Brain, and author of the upcoming book Take Back Your Brain. Tune in this week for a unique insight into how your brain thinks about money. Discover the lies you’ve been taught about yourself and money, particularly if you were...2024-05-0650 minPoint Me To First Class61. Earn Points for Paying Your Rent and More: Everything Bilt with Dr. Suzanne ManziEarning transferable points is key to unlocking some of the best possible deals on flights and hotel stays. But which of the points currency ecosystems best suits your specific needs? Well, there’s a newbie in the transferable points currency family: the Bilt points ecosystem, and it might just be the one for you. To help me explore the Bilt points world, I’m joined by Dr. Suzanne Manzi. Dr. Suzanne Manzi, a quadruple board-certified physician and Bilt points enthusiast, is a trailblazer in the world of luxury travel. Together with her partner, she founded Docto...2024-04-2959 minPoint Me To First Class60. 5 Questions You Can’t Ignore When Applying for a New Rewards Credit CardThe points hobby has changed massively over the years. We have more points-earning cards, higher sign-up bonus offers, and rewards programs themselves are becoming more innovative. But on the other hand, we’ve also seen some less positive changes, like more restrictions around acquiring rewards credit cards, stricter eligibility rules, and limitations on how many cards you can hold at once. Discover the top five questions you simply can’t afford to ignore when you’re considering applying for a new rewards credit card. These questions will save you from getting the right card at the wro...2024-04-2231 minPoint Me To First Class59. Miles Ahead: Strategies for Smart Mileage PurchasesRight now in April 2024, there’s a unique points opportunity that I’ve taken advantage of every year for the past few years, but nobody seems to be talking about it. Despite my strong inclination to keep it to myself, I’m sharing it with you this week just in case you can make use of it for yourself. This points-earning opportunity isn’t for everybody, but it could open up some truly fantastic award options for the right person. Discover a current promotion to purchase miles for the Lufthansa Miles & More program. I share an amazin...2024-04-1537 minPoint Me To First Class58. From Zero Points to South Africa in Business in Just 12 Months with Dr. Lisha TaylorDr. Lisha Taylor is a wealth strategist, "doctorpreneur," professional writer, and podcaster, advocating for physician wellness through financial literacy. As a Board Certified Primary Care Sports Physician, she's also the co-founder of Wealth Minded MD, a company and podcast that empowers women in medicine to build wealth and create the lives they desire. Initially, Dr. Taylor navigated the common uncertainties many have when starting with credit card points. Now, points have become a key component of her wealth strategy. Tune in this week to learn how Dr. Taylor's engagement with Points Made Easy has unlocked n...2024-04-081h 14Point Me To First Class57. The Chase Points Ecosystem: What You Need to Know with Dr. Sujatha MuraliIf you’re serious about points, you should have access to at least one of the major transferable points currencies. But how do you know which of the transferable currencies you should focus on? This week, I’m joined by Dr. Sujatha Murali, and we’re diving deep into one transferable points currency: the world of Chase Cards and their Ultimate Rewards Points. We’re discussing the Chase points-earning cards, what you need to know about the ins and outs of qualifying for Chase rewards cards, and you’ll learn what Chase Ultimate Rewards Points can be part...2024-04-0154 minPoint Me To First Class56. Making Taxes Part of Your Points StrategyTune in to today's update on paying taxes with a credit card to hear how this annual expense can play a crucial role in your points strategy. If you’re a high-earning employed professional or a self-employed business owner, your tax expenses offer an enormous points-earning opportunity. Discover whether it makes sense for you to pay your taxes by credit card, how to strategize the best points earning card for your tax expense, and the top mistake you want to be sure to avoid so your tax points earning plans don't get derailed. 2024-03-2540 minPoint Me To First Class55. Travel That Matches Your Values with Dr. Erika MosesonDr. Erika Moseson is a Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine Physician in Portland, Oregon. She’s also the host of the Air Health Our Health podcast, about the air we breathe and how it impacts our environment and communities. Erika loves travel, but she’s also concerned about the climate implications of the travel industry and wants to explore how we can experience the benefits of travel while reducing our greenhouse gas emissions. Discover some simple ways you can pursue your travel hobby while mitigating the environmental impact of your trips. We’re also discussing how Eri...2024-03-1838 minPoint Me To First Class54. Award-Travel Tips for Big Families with Dr. Susan ZinkPoints travel is possible for everyone, even a family of five or more. To discuss the ways families can maximize their points, I’m joined by Dr. Susan Zink. Susan is a psychiatrist with three children who has managed to get some amazing deals that meet her family’s travel needs, and she’s here to share her tips for family travel using points. Discover some of the challenges related to reward travel for larger families and learn how to overcome these challenges. Dr. Susan Zink is sharing her strategy for earning enough points to travel...2024-03-1150 minPoint Me To First Class53. Deal or No Deal: How to Evaluate Points Redemption ValueHave you ever felt like you were doing points “wrong” because you aren’t booking the same kinds of high-value redemptions that you see other people posting about? If you’re scared of wasting your points so you just don’t use them to book travel, despite having hundreds of thousands of points saved up, you are not alone. This week, discover how to calculate exactly how much value you’re getting from your points from each redemption. You’ll learn how to spot a great deal, compare your options, and ditch all the indecision and insecurity...2024-03-0435 minPoint Me To First Class52. Strategy, Transferable Points, and Card-Canceling Mistakes: Listener Q&AWhat do you do with cards once you’ve had them for a while and you’ve already earned the welcome bonus? How many cards is too many for you? What strategy will allow you to accumulate millions of points over one year? These are just some of the questions I’m covering in today's Q&A episode. I’m discussing specific cards, points currencies, and strategies that will help you achieve your points travel goals, as well as covering some redemption opportunities and cards that will help you leverage the money you’re already spending. Get full s...2024-02-261h 08Point Me To First Class51. Is Points Travel Still Worth It? With Traci SiegelMy guest this week is points expert Traci Siegel, a non-practicing attorney who has been using miles and points to travel around the US and the world with her family of four since 2011. She's been teaching friends how to hack their families' travel for years, and now she's teaching even more new friends how to expand their travel budgets through her Instagram. Discover the recent announcements that are changing the face of points travel and learn whether earning points is still worth it. Traci and I are discussing how we plan to keep getting value f...2024-02-1959 min
Finding Financial Freedom with The Frugal Physician - Finance, Wellness, Budget, Student Loans, Wealth, Doctor, Fitness, MoneyEp39: Advanced Hacks from Credit Card Expert Dr. Devon GimbelDr. Devon Gimbel and Dr. Disha discuss credit card points hacking and kick off the discussion starting with sign-up bonuses, moving on to optimizing spending, and leveraging travel partnerships for maximum value. Dr. Gimbel’s approach emphasizes strategic card selection, maximizing every purchase, and using points efficiently for travel, including first-class experiences. This episode is a treasure trove for anyone looking to elevate their travel hacking game and enjoy luxury travel through smart financial strategies.Dr. Devon Gimbel and Dr. Disha discuss credit card points hacking and kick off the discussion starting with sign-up bonuses, moving on to optimizing sp...2024-02-1657 minPoint Me To First Class50. A Head-to-Head Comparison of 3 Tropical Hyatt Properties You Can Book Using PointsLooking to plan your next warm weather vacation? Tune in today to hear a comparison of three tropical Hyatt hotel properties where you can use points for vacation. I’m putting each of these properties head-to-head to give you an idea of what you can expect in each, and which one might be the best fit for your travel plans. I break down the basics of each of these three resorts including the accommodation I booked, how much they cost in points, how much cash you can save by using points to book, and how the...2024-02-1247 minPoint Me To First Class49. A New Way to Work and Travel with Dr. Kristine Goins, The Nomad MDHave you ever wondered what it would look like to take your career on the road and live location independent as a digital nomad? Did you know that you can you use your travel points to make this dream a reality? My guest this week has done just that and is here to tell you all about it. Dr. Kristine Goins is a Board-Certified Integrative Adult and Pediatric Psychiatrist, physician coach, and world traveler. As a digital nomad physician who has witnessed firsthand the impact that burnout and work imbalance can have on physicians’ lives, she...2024-02-0542 minPoint Me To First Class48. How Traveling with Kids Changes the Points Game with Dr. Chandani DeZureDr. Chandani DeZure is a Board Certified Physician living in California who’s been maximizing points for travel since 2014. She started out on a resident’s salary, traveling with no kids and tons of flexibility, and now she’s taking her kids on her trips and her flexibility has all but vanished. But that doesn’t stop her getting an amazing deal. Discover how traveling with children changes the game when it comes to credit card points and miles. Chandani is discussing how she maximizes her points when traveling with her family, how her priorities have shif...2024-01-2938 minPoint Me To First Class47. Umrah Travel and Booking Using Points with Amena BakaliAmena Bakali is an award travel educator, travel blogger, and family travel enthusiast. While many of us use our points for leisure travel, points can also help with booking travel that is of religious or cultural significance. One example of that is how she used points to book a trip to observe Umrah, the Islamic pilgrimage to their Holy City: Makkah, Saudi Arabia. Discover her tips for booking a culturally significant trip like Umrah using points. She is walking us through how she chose her hotels, flights, and experiences during this pilgrimage, and she’s sha...2024-01-2239 minPoint Me To First ClassBonus: 5 Flights in 5 Days - Follow My Points Adventure in Real Time!Curious what it’s like to fly some of the best business and first class award products in the world? I was too! So I booked a bunch of them back-to-back and am inviting you to follow along to see just what these products are like. Join me for live updates over on Instagram the next 5 days to get an inside look at flying: Business class on Turkish airlines and exploring the world renowned Turkish business class lounge at Istanbul airport Etihad’s famous first class “apartment” from London to Abu Dhabi The “game changer” first class suite aboard Emirates Airlines from...2024-01-1714 minPoint Me To First Class46. 2023 Points Spending Review with the Points and Miles Doc (Part 2)I’m back with part two of my episode with Kelly, the Points and Miles Doc. In this episode, we’re divulging how we decided to spend the treasure trove of points we earned last year. We’re letting you see behind the scenes of our points wallets and travel plans, comparing the really fun part of the points hobby: how we used these points to book incredible travel experiences. Tune in this week as we discuss our most memorable points travels in 2023, our highest-value redemptions last year, and we’re sharing all the points travel we’...2024-01-151h 20Point Me To First Class45. 2023 Points Earning Review with the Points and Miles Doc (Part 1)Today, I’m joined by my points friend Kelly (The Points and Miles Doc) and we’re taking a look back at 2023, breaking down all the points we earned last year, how we earned them, and we’re analyzing some current trends in the points and miles world. Tune in this week as we discuss the highs and lows of the points world in 2023. Kelly and I are sharing our favorite cards, points currencies, and sign-up bonuses from the past 12 months. We're diving deep into what’s changed over the past year, and we’re looking at...2024-01-081h 49Point Me To First Class44. What’s Coming in 2024 on the Point Me To First Class PodcastWhat can you expect from the Point Me to First Class Podcast in 2024? Instead of taking a deep dive into a points earning topic, I’m just bringing you a short and sweet episode about what’s to come over the next 12 months. Discover what the next year has in store for the Point Me to First Class podcast and how I’m diversifying the types of travel inspiration and advice offered here. Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.pointmetofirstclass.com/blog/coming-2024-podcast Join the...2024-01-0105 minPoint Me To First Class43. Unlocking Double Rewards: A Deep Dive into Chase Freedom Unlimited’s Latest OfferIf you love earning Chase Ultimate Rewards Points, you’re in the right place. Chase has a promotional offer right now that just might be the best points earning gift that you receive all year. Today, we’re looking at how you can get double cash-back or double points using your Chase Freedom Unlimited card. Discover how to get double points with your Chase Freedom Unlimited card. Learn what this specific promotion offers, who is eligible for it, and I’m breaking down who stands to benefit the most from this offer, and who would be bett...2023-12-2519 min
Health and Home with the Hippocratic Hosts#64: The World of Credit Card Points Travel with Dr. Devon GimbelSend us a textOn this episode, we’re getting an intro lesson on traveling with credit card points. Do you see friends taking amazing trips on points and wonder how on earth they’re doing it? Think the only way to do it is by racking up debt? Or are you interested but have no idea where to start? Our guest today is a points travel expert who wants us all to get excited about a new way to look at traveling the world.Devon Gimbel, MD, is a double-board-certified physician and founder and owne...2023-12-1947 minPoint Me To First Class42. High-Yield Strategies for Solo Points Earners with Dr. Erin CaseyToday, I’m joined by Dr. Erin Casey, a retired hematologist-oncologist turned hospitalist. As a solo points earner without high expenses, Erin wasn’t sure if she could earn as many points as those who play the points game with a spouse or friend. Yet, she implemented a strategy to maximize her points, and if you’re in a similar situation, you can too. Tune in this week to discover how Dr. Erin Casey earned over one million points in 2023 without having a two-player strategy. Erin is sharing the specific challenges she faced with minimal expense...2023-12-1846 min