London is one of those destinations you can visit again and again and still find something new to explore. In this episode, the Points Talk Squad shares how they use points and miles to plan trips to London, from booking flights and finding the right hotel to making the most of everything the city has […]

For many, planning a trip to a national park starts the same way: you search for lodging, only to find independent lodges, expensive cabins, or boutique hotels that don’t participate in any major loyalty program. If you’re hoping to use your Hyatt, Marriott, Hilton, or IHG points, it can feel like there aren’t many options. […]

If you’re new to travel rewards, you should know that Citi ThankYou® Points are one of the most flexible currencies you can earn—and my personal favorite. Depending on which Citi credit card you have, you can redeem your points for travel, gift cards, statement credits, and shopping. But the best value comes from transferring your […]

Booking flights and hotels gets all the attention when you’re planning a trip, but getting to and from the airport can be a budget-buster in its own right. Bilt’s latest partnership adds another transportation option for members, this time with premium chauffeur service through Blacklane. What’s New? Now Bilt members can book Blacklane rides directly […]

Amanda’s reader success tory about a family trip to London and Paris includes a cautionary tale! 👀 My story is a cautionary tale of why everyone should have at least one solid travel card with insurance!    Getting Started with Points and Miles We unknowingly started with points and miles back in July 2023. My […]

Flying Blue is changing how you book award flights on Air France and KLM. While the lowest award rates aren’t increasing, you’ll soon get fewer perks for your miles. Here’s what you need to know. Flying Blue Introduces Light, Standard, and Flex Awards Starting Sept. 8, Air France and KLM Flying Blue award flights will […]

Using points to redeem free nights at Hyatt all-inclusive resorts can be a great redemption. Whether you are booking with points earned from one of the Hyatt credit cards or a Chase card that earns Ultimate Rewards®, you are bound to get good value. There are two Hyatt credit cards, the personal card_name and also […]

If you fly American Airlines even a few times a year, having the right AAdvantage® credit card can make your trips not only more comfortable but more rewarding. But with several cards offering different combinations of free checked bags, priority boarding, airport lounge access, and bonus miles, choosing the right one isn’t always all that […]

I just renewed my card_name with a annual_fees annual fee. It is definitely worth paying that fee the first year for the Marriott Bonvoy points that come from earning your welcome offer. I’m past the point of earning those welcome-offer points, and yet I still renew this card year after year. Am I crazy? I […]

When I first shared my plans for spending six weeks in Europe with my kids, everything looked great on paper. I had a rough itinerary, a handful of award bookings, and a strategy for balancing points, vacation rentals, and low-cost airlines. Now that we’re home, I can confidently say most of the plan worked exactly […]

The Chase Sapphire Reserve® and Sapphire Reserve for Business℠ each offer two $250 credits for hotel stays booked through The Edit, totaling $500 each calendar year. Each credit requires a separate prepaid stay of at least two nights. But Chase has quietly added an important restriction to the terms and conditions of this credit: You […]

Are Chase Ultimate Rewards® points still valuable if Hyatt is no longer your go-to redemption strategy? In this episode, the Points Talk Squad breaks down the best ways to use Chase Ultimate Rewards® beyond Hyatt, including airline transfers, hotel options, and booking through the Chase travel portal. The Squad shares how they’re thinking about Chase […]

One of the biggest myths I hear is, “I wish I had known I needed to book a trip to Europe [or anywhere] sooner because now it’s too late to book my trip.” Actually, that’s often not true. Time and time again, I have great luck finding last-minute flights with points and miles. Particularly when […]

Michelle sends us her reader success story about her Maui babymoon!   I decided to book my family a trip to Maui for a little babymoon/anniversary trip a couple of months before my husband and I were expecting our second baby.  Flights To get there, I booked three round-trip flights from Honolulu to Maui on […]

I’ll be the first to admit that I like to search for award flights the old-fashioned way (versus using some of the amazing award search tools out there). Maybe I’m just a glutton for punishment. But seeing the new Avios calendar feature has my Luddite heart rejoicing. Avios.com has rolled out a new award calendar […]

We just got home from another great family trip (despite overcast and cold weather), and it reminded me of something I think we sometimes forget in the points-and-miles world. Points and miles aren’t about flying in business class every time or staying in the fanciest hotel. They’re about making family trips possible. In this case, […]

There are some destinations that are amazing to visit once, and others that keep calling you back. For me, Greece falls firmly into the second category. Even after multiple visits, I find myself searching for award flights and planning another trip almost every year. Part of the magic is how different each Greek island feels. […]

Most airline credit cards promise you free checked bags, priority boarding and bonus miles. But a handful offer something potentially even more valuable: a companion certificate. Depending on the airline, a companion certificate can save you a lot of money on a single trip. In general, in exchange for paying an annual fee—or sometimes meeting […]

How do you plan a nearly month-long international trip with extremely different climates? In this episode, Pam shares the story behind her Greece and Norway trip, including how a simple Greece getaway grew into a much bigger adventure with family. Pam walks through the highlights of the itinerary, from visiting three Greek islands to exploring […]

  There are six Marriott Bonvoy® credit cards that allow you to earn points redeemable towards stays within the Marriott Bonvoy® program. Three of these cards are issued by Chase and three are issued by American Express. These cards usually have high offers two to three times a year so make sure you sign up […]

If you collect Alaska Atmos Rewards points (as should you be!), here’s one promotion worth keeping on your radar. Alaska Airlines has released its latest batch of Alaska Atmos Rewards Global Getaways, which offers discounted award flights to a rotating list of destinations around the world. If you’re familiar with Flying Blue Promo Rewards, it’s […]