PTS Reader Kayla sent us this reader success story and she didn’t even go on it! But she helped her parents plan their amazing trip to Amsterdam and Iceland. Here is her story:   Thanks to the Points Talk Squad, I have taken many amazing trips on points and made several wonderful memories along the […]

Airport lounges are supposed to be an escape from the terminal crowds. But as premium travel cards have exploded in popularity, finding a seat in a lounge has become almost as challenging as finding overhead bin space. And now Chase is making it harder for some travelers to even get through the door. Beginning August […]

Many people wonder which of the Capital One Venture Cards they should apply for—the card_name or the card_name. Let’s compare the two today!    Learn How to Apply bonus_miles_full     Learn How to Apply bonus_miles_full     For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the benefits may be provided by Visa® […]

When you think of using Hilton Honors points, you might picture an overwater bungalow in the Maldives or a beachfront resort in the Caribbean. But some of the very best redemptions are right here in the United States. From water parks and lazy rivers to private beaches and unforgettable wildlife encounters, Hilton has family-friendly resorts […]

Parents looking to introduce their teenagers to credit cards may want to take a look at Bilt’s latest update. The company has just expanded its authorized-user program by lowering the minimum age to 13 and adding new controls that let primary cardholders decide where an authorized user’s rewards are deposited. Authorized users aren’t exactly a […]

What are Avios and why should you care about them? In this episode, the Points Talk Squad is joined by points expert Devon Gimbel of Point Me to First Class to break down everything you need to know about Avios. You’ll learn how these points work, how to earn them, and why they can be […]

Bahia Principe all-inclusive resorts were recently added to the World of Hyatt program, offering points travelers a new way to spend (or earn) our valuable Hyatt points.  Bahia Principe is a group of more than 20 all-inclusive resorts in the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Jamaica, and Spain—many of which are now bookable with Hyatt points. These […]

Nancy sent in her reader success story that had seven out of her family of eight travel to Europe! Now that is an impressive redemption!   Getting Started We just returned last month from an amazing 18-day trip to Europe and our biggest redemption yet, but before I get into that, I’ll go back to […]

One of the most common questions we get is: “How do you find all those amazing business-class flights?” The answer might surprise you. It’s usually not because we have more points than everyone else. It’s because we’ve learned where and how to search. Many people start by searching for a specific flight. They type in […]

When it comes to traveling on points, it pays (or in this case saves) to have some flexibility. One strategy that can offer you huge savings is using positioning flights. Positioning for a flight means taking a flight from your home airport to a bigger international airport in order to catch a longer, international flight. […]

There are few cities on earth that make you feel like you accidentally wandered into a movie set quite like Rome. One minute you are standing in front of the Colosseum, wondering how it was built, and the next you are enjoying an espresso and romanticizing your life while walking down a cobblestone street, dreaming […]

How did Jess use points and miles to plan her family trip to Italy? In this episode, Jess shares how she planned a trip to Milan, Lake Como, and the Dolomites with her family. She walks through how she booked flights and accommodations using points, and the decisions she made to create an itinerary that […]

Delta SkyMiles is one of the easiest airline loyalty currencies to earn, but it’s also one of the most misunderstood. Unlike some airline programs that rely on award charts and predictable pricing, Delta uses a fully dynamic system, and that can make award costs dramatically different for the same flight. One day you might find […]

This reader success story to Paris was sent in by one of our fabulous squad members. Here is Nick’s story: As I sit here at the Hôtel du Louvre in Paris, writing this, I can’t believe this is possible on points. We have friends who used to tell us they would open an airline credit […]

My husband and I were invited to join Alex’s family for a Memorial Day weekend visit to Boston. If Boston is on your travel radar and you’re a World of Hyatt member, the Hyatt Regency Boston on One Avenue de Lafayette deserves a spot on your redemption shortlist.    The Points Redemption Big news first: […]

If you have online shopping planned over the next few weeks—hello, back to school!—several airline shopping portals are offering limited-time bonuses that can help you earn thousands of extra miles or points. Even better, these bonuses are on top of the portals’ standard earning rates, so you can stack additional rewards on purchases you were […]

Premium credit cards can be a bit of a hot-button topic. While we absolutely love them, we totally get why a high annual fee can feel like a major deal-breaker. The secret to making premium cards work for you is simple: you have to know how to squeeze every bit of value out of those […]

If the gorgeous hikes, beautiful countryside, and stunning beaches of New Zealand are calling you, your points and miles can get you there. If you’re taking the family, chances are you’ll need to fly in economy (or at least book seats in economy and potentially upgrade with cash or more points if this option is […]

If you feel like your next Marriott redemption suddenly looks like it costs more points than it did just a few days ago, you’re not imagining things. Marriott Bonvoy sneakily increased award pricing at many of its hotels, with some properties up 5% to 16% for the exact same room overnight. And what seems to […]

Are airline co-branded credit cards worth keeping alongside flexible points currencies? In this episode, Alex, Jess, and Pam break down the features, perks, and earning potential of popular airline cards, highlighting which ones deliver real value for different travel goals. The Squad compares rewards structures, sign-up offers, and annual fees across popular co-branded cards. They […]

Ever since my stay at the Kimpton Seafire a few years ago, I’ve been wanting to return to the gorgeous beaches of Grand Cayman. And that’s the beauty of points and miles; we can always go back to places we love! This time, we opted to stay at the new Hotel Indigo Grand Cayman, also […]