I just returned from the Dis Podcast
ABD- London, Paris, and DLP.
I paid for the podcast primarily with discounted disney gift cards-usually from 9-25% off. This trip was not inexpensive but I did use points/miles to assist in defraying the transportation costs.
tink flying from home (PNS)-
PNS-ATL Delta Skymiles (open jaw PNS-ATL, MCO-ATL-PNS) first class, 42K Skymiles
DH flying from near his work (ECP)-
ECP-ATL RT comfort +, 25K skymiles
DH, tink flying from ATL-
ATL-LHR, Delta One (biz), 86Kx2=172K skymiles
tink flying from CDG
CDG-DUB, Europe biz-25K skymiles
DH flying from CDG
CDG-ATL, comfort +, 50K skymiles
tink, flying from DUB
DUB-MCO, biz on Aer Lingus, 37.5K MRs (62.5K but 40% transfer bonus from Amex)
Hotels-
ATL-Marriott 35K certificate-ATL Gateway Renaissance
DUB-Fitzwilliam Hotel, prepaid with Hotels.com gift certificates bought on sale
MCO-Hyatt MCO Regency Hotel, 12K URs transferred to Hyatt
***all flights paid for with a combination of skymiles/MRs (some of the Delta flights I used a combination of skymiles including transferred MRs to skymiles).
***sharp eyes might note that Tink's DH was not always in first/biz...well, when P1 makes the flight arrangements and P0.0000002 is difficult about playing this game...he gets comfort + !
MRs can be very helpful for redemption for international flights-I used them for Delta One and Aer Lingus business. As always, I had a good experience on Delta One and Aer Lingus was adequate- not as good as my Delta One and United Polaris experience but not terrible.
I've posted brief reviews on the Renaissance and Hyatt on the I love credit cards hotels reviews.