If you’re familiar with the major hotel loyalty programs, then you already know the drill. Stay with Hyatt, earn World of Hyatt points. Stay with Hilton, earn Hilton Honors points. Stay with Marriott, earn Marriott Bonvoy points. But I Prefer Hotel Rewards is a little different. It’s the loyalty program for hundreds of independent hotels […]

American Airlines and Hyatt are calling it quits(ish) on their enhanced loyalty partnership, but World of Hyatt already has another airline waiting in the wings. Hyatt and Delta Air Lines announced a new long-term partnership on Sept. 9, 2026, the same day Hyatt and American confirmed they would wind down their existing relationship. The new […]

One of the most overlooked premium credit card benefits is the hotel credit available through The Edit.  This is one of those perks that deserves more attention because it can significantly reduce the cost of a stay while adding valuable extras you might not have booked otherwise. Whether you have the personal Chase Sapphire Reserve® […]

All information about American Express cards have been collected independently by Points Talk Squad.  American Express cards are no longer available through Points Talk Squad. There’s something about a beachfront hotel that immediately feels like a vacation, and The Seabird Ocean Resort & Spa in Oceanside, California, delivers exactly that. Located right across from the […]

Which transferable points program is the best? In this episode, the Points Talk Squad compares Chase Ultimate Rewards®, American Express Membership Rewards®, Capital One Venture Miles, Citi ThankYou® Points, and Bilt Rewards in their Transferable Points Power Rankings. They break down where each program stands out, from strong transfer partnerships to valuable welcome offers and […]

All information about American Express cards has been collected independently by Points Talk Squad.  American Express cards are no longer available through Points Talk Squad. Hilton Honors Free Night Rewards are easily one of the most valuable perks you can earn from a hotel credit card. Unlike some hotel free-night certificates that are capped at […]

This week’s reader success story comes from Shauna, who had an epic trip to Peru thanks to points and miles. Here’s her story: I started using points and miles in 2022 after coming across some videos by Pam and Alex online.  Eventually, I bought Points Talk Academy® and Points Talk Academy Next Level® as soon […]

Business class gets all the attention in the points-and-miles world. But sometimes you don’t need a bed in the sky; you just need to get to say, Europe, without spending a small fortune. Fortunately, economy award availability to Europe is generally much easier to find than premium-cabin awards. The bad news? Not every award is […]

It is no surprise that we love Chase Ultimate Rewards®! We are always trying to earn more of them to book great Hyatt stays. A favorite credit card that allows us to earn Ultimate Rewards® is the card_name. We love the Freedom Flex because of the quarterly bonus for spending in rotating categories. Maximizing these […]

I remember the Chase Sapphire Reserve® launch like it was yesterday. Everyone and their dog seemed to be applying for the card, and for good reason. It launched with a massive 100,000-point welcome offer and a lineup of travel perks that felt almost too good to be true—and back then, they kind of were. Of […]

If you’re looking to take the kids to the most magical place on Earth, you probably know that’s going to be expensive. But your flights and hotels don’t have to be—that’s what our points and miles stashes are for!  For travelers from the western U.S., Disneyland can be a more convenient choice than Disney World. […]

One of the things I’ve enjoyed most since getting into this points-and-miles hobby is all the aspirational flights I’ve taken with credit card points and miles. Yes, business class is ALWAYS incredible, and something I never thought I’d do, but the following flights have taken it over the top!   Singapore Suites from JFK to […]

What happens when a family trip to visit Disney parks turns into a 17-day adventure through Singapore, Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Beijing? In this episode, Megan shares the story behind her family’s trip, including how they used 1.6 million points and miles to make this international adventure possible. Megan walks through how the trip expanded […]

In the summer of 2016, I packed up my four kids (ages 18 months, 4, 6, and 9) and “moved” to Europe for nearly three months. Without my husband. Here’s the quick backstory: My husband and I had sold our house in Colorado and were trying to figure out where we wanted to live next. […]

Our Reader Success Story from Jen takes us to Long Beach and Sequoia National Park. This included a diving experience, which they are passionate about! Here’s her story: I’ve been in the points-and-miles hobby for about two years now. Before I found Points Talk Squad, I did some of the common things that others do. […]

Remember when you could actually walk someone all the way to their airport gate, even if you weren’t flying? For some travelers, that’s now officially a thing again. The Transportation Security Administration has launched Gateside by TSA PreCheck®, which gives eligible travelers access to the secure side of participating airports without a boarding pass. As […]

If you’ve ever talked to me about points and miles for even five seconds, you already know how much I love American Airlines AAdvantage® miles. So naturally, a new all-time-high welcome offer is going to get my attention. The Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Legend Mastercard® is currently offering 125,000 AAdvantage® miles to new cardholders […]

I didn’t think I was that picky about airport lounges . . . until I started spending time in the Chase Sapphire lounges. Now I may be spoiled. For years, I was just happy to have lounge access. Give me a comfortable chair, a Diet Coke, something to snack on, and a place away from […]

We’re always looking for ways to turn our credit card points into high-value hotel stays, and American Express has brought us a new option to do just that. Recently, the bank added The Leading Hotels of the World® (LHW) as a transfer partner at a 4:1 ratio.  Now, that may sound like a terrible value, […]

When you think of hotel loyalty programs, names like Hilton Honors™, Marriott Bonvoy®, and World of Hyatt probably come to mind. But those aren’t the only programs that can reward you for your hotel stays—especially if you’re into independent luxury hotels over big-name chains. The Leading Hotels of the World® is a collection of more […]

If you have American Express® cards that come with premium hotel credits (or several as many in our community do), you’re probably looking to maximize those benefits. Whether you plan to wander the streets of Europe or take the kids to Disney World, let’s help you find the perfect stay. Enrollment is required for select […]