From Dream to Reality: How Points and Miles Made Our Kenya Safari Possible Denise shared this reader success story about how she used points and miles to take her family to Kenya for a safari. Here is her story: As an animal lover, I’d always harbored dreams of experiencing an African safari. My children share […]

Hotel credits have become a staple of premium travel credit cards. On paper, they can offset annual fees significantly—sometimes by hundreds of dollars per year. In practice, however, these credits aren’t always easy to use. Many require prepaid bookings through specific portals, minimum-stay requirements, or choosing luxury properties that cost far more than you’d normally […]

If you’re a traveler with a fairly flexible schedule and know where you want to go, points search engine PointsYeah has a new tool to help you find and book that dream trip. PointsYeah is a beginner-friendly points aggregator site. I’ve found it very useful in planning my travels and bought my own premium subscription. No […]

I’ve been using the American Express airline incidental credit on my eligible Amex cards for years. And like many other points and miles people, I relied on United TravelBank to do it. It was simple. Every January, I’d just select United as my airline, load amounts into my TravelBank, and the charge would trigger the […]

Southwest Airlines has extended its booking schedule through fall 2026—and if you fly Southwest even semiregularly, this is one of the most important booking windows of the year. Here’s why. Fares Are Often Lowest When the Schedule First Opens Southwest doesn’t load flights day by day like most other airlines do. It releases large chunks […]

Are you ready to make Citi ThankYou® Points work harder for you? In this episode, Alex, Pam, and Jess dive into the Citi ThankYou® Rewards program, sharing how recent changes have made these points more valuable than ever. They discuss how a new card and the ability to transfer points to a major airline have […]

Our next reader success story comes from Kristi, and she shares how she and her husband took a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Italy. Here is here story:   Flights My husband and I planned and executed our first-ever trip to Europe, specifically Italy. We travelled in the fall of 2024. With Pam’s expertise, we secured our […]

It’s no secret that I love certain hotel brands. The Park Hyatt. Kimpton Hotels. Another brand that I love is the Hyatt Thompson brand so when we changed our annual retreat to the Thompson Houston, I was excited to stay at another one. I was NOT disappointed.  Redemption The Thompson Houston is a Category 5 […]

Today was the first day that I was heading to the Capital One Lounge after they made the changes to lounge access that severely impacted families. I have been used to long lines every time I go there, and was curious what it would look like today. No line. I walked straight to the check-in […]

IHG credit cards can be a solid play for hotel points, especially if you stay at brands like Holiday Inn, Kimpton, InterContinental, or Hotel Indigo. As you know, I love a Kimpton, but also enjoy the Indigo brand. And if you travel with a family, a Holiday Inn can just make sense. But it’s important […]

Breeze Airways is starting 2026 with one of its biggest loyalty moves yet. The airline has launched a revamped version of Breezy Rewards that adds elite-status tiers, new perks, and expanded ways to earn and redeem points. For an airline best known for low fares and nonstop routes between underserved cities, this update signals a […]

World of Hyatt just launched its latest Bonus Journeys promotion for 2026, giving members a chance to earn up to 28,000 bonus points on eligible stays this spring. Hyatt typically runs Bonus Journeys offers several times per year, and this round covers stays completed between February 2 and April 15, 2026. You must register before […]

Have you ever had a travel day that felt almost too good to be true or one that completely fell apart before you even left the airport? In this episode, Alex, Jess, and Pam share their best and worst travel days and the moments that made those experiences so memorable for very different reasons. They […]

If you’ve spent any time in the points-and-miles world, you’ve probably heard the term Chase Trifecta. It sounds complicated, and maybe even a little intimidating, but the concept is surprisingly simple. The Chase Trifecta is a three-card setup that allows you to earn flexible rewards on nearly every purchase and then redeem those points for […]

Points and miles people hate fees almost as much as they love a good redemption. Unfortunately, TSA has rolled out a new $45 option for travelers who show up without a REAL ID or another acceptable form of identification. As of February 1, 2026, the Transportation Security Administration is enforcing a new policy at airport […]

Our latest reader success story is from Katie, who with her husband, Kenny, headed to Japan for a marathon. Say what??? Using points and miles to compete in a marathon is the first from this squad! Here is her story:   Journey in Points and Miles My journey into points and miles was fast and […]

There is no place on Earth quite like New York City. The famous concrete jungle is the epicenter of all things show business, food, art, history, shopping, and experiences. With so much to do and see, every visit can feel like your first. I love NYC because there are endless options for booking your stay […]

For travelers prioritizing space over turndown service—and a kitchen over a club lounge—vacation rentals can be an easy win. Marriott has leaned into this demand with Marriott Homes & Villas, a curated collection of professionally managed homes that live inside the Marriott ecosystem. On paper, it sounds like an ideal option for points-and-miles travelers: earn […]

Each year, we pay our estimated taxes and final tax bill by credit card. Is it worth paying your taxes with a credit card? I hate writing a check for taxes and getting nothing back. Taxes are hard enough to pay anyway, right? Paying your taxes with a credit card can make sense for points […]

Southwest® occasionally offers limited-time offers for the Southwest® Companion Pass. And I mean limited-time, as in you have to apply for this by Thursday!  Here’s how it works:   Register for the Promo. Book a round-trip flight or two one-way flights by Thursday, Feb 5th. TOMORROW! This can even be an award flight. Fly Southwest® […]

Dreaming of a Hawaiian getaway but worried your points balance won’t stretch as far as the ocean views? Don’t stress, because traveling to paradise on any points budget is possible. Whether you have a trove of points that you are dying to use for your once-in-a-lifetime luxury splurge, you’re looking for a comfy mid-range resort […]