Jessica used points and miles to fund a trip to Paris to celebrate her 20th anniversary. Here is her story: My husband and I recently went to Paris for 10 days to celebrate our 20-year wedding anniversary. It was a dreamy trip that we paid for mostly using points. We love traveling on points, and […]

Cara sent us this heartwarming story that you will love!! Points and miles helped her return to some cities with special meaning to her family.     Hey Pam!  I shared a bit about this in the Facebook group when I got back, but there is so much more to the story.  I hope this […]

Alex, Jess, and I recently returned from our annual squad trip. After our stay in Budapest, we went to Istanbul. Jess and I had been there separately before, but it was Alex’s first trip. We were there on a holiday weekend, so sadly, it meant a lot of time in taxis getting around.  Flights from […]

Every year, Alex, Jess, and I take two trips together. One is in December, when we plan for the upcoming year. The other is in April, when we just go somewhere fun and celebrate the joy that points and miles have brought into our lives. This year we chose Budapest and Istanbul!   Flights to […]

Some hotels impress you. Others make you stop in your tracks. Párisi Udvar Hotel Budapest falls firmly into the second category. Right in the center of Budapest, it feels less like a hotel and more like a movie set. We mentioned The Great Gatsby on occasion. When I first walked in after traveling for over […]

Jennae sent us her reader success story where she traveled to Europe in luxury for $4,940 – retail value $44,000! Here’s her story:   I just returned from a 15-day dream European vacation with my family of four, and let me tell you—points and miles absolutely changed the game for us. Here’s a breakdown of […]

Sara sends in her reader success story about multiple family trips on points and miles in year one. Here’s some inspiration for everyone, especially beginners!   Getting Started I was turned onto your podcast by a friend of mine in February of 2024.  I have been a slow-burner about earning points my entire adult life, […]

Here is a reader success story from Suzanne, who went on an amazing trip with her husband and parents.   My name is Suzanne from Dallas, TX! I am a public school teacher who—thanks to you three—took a two-week trip to Austria and Italy with my husband and parents! Our flights and hotels were 100% […]

Amsterdam is one of those rare cities that is both historic and modern. It’s not defined by a single landmark, but by the atmosphere, beauty, and lifestyle you experience everywhere you go.  The canal system is unlike anywhere else in the world, and the city’s walkability, along with its famous bike culture, makes it a […]

Shannon shares her reader success story to Prague and Madrid with us today. Here is her story:   I spent the fall of 2023 learning about points and miles, and in November 2023, I opened my first credit card (Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, of course!).  In between then and now, my husband and I have […]

Melissa sent us her reader success story to London and Amsterdam: I’m an ATA and an ATA Next Level student. We’ve just returned from our first points and miles trip, and I’m eager to share it with our community.  We live outside of Washington, D.C., so we flew to London from IAD to CDG to […]

Spending money dining out while traveling in Europe can potentially add a significant amount to your travel budget. Combine that with long sightseeing days, museum marathons, and jet lag, and sometimes what you really need is a comfortable reset button. That’s where Hyatt club lounges come in. Club lounges are less common in Europe than […]

If the winter games in Milan have you dreaming of Italy, your points and miles can take you there—even on a limited budget! Whether you’re drawn to the city for fashion, food, or architecture, Milan has something for everyone.  In this series of blog posts, we show you ways to get to a specific destination, […]

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 […]

Ever dream of visiting Prague? A city of spired rooftops, cobblestone streets, and fairytale charm? It’s not just a destination for history lovers, but also a surprisingly good city to redeem hotel loyalty points. While chain hotels are less dense here than in some other major European cities, the options that do exist offer excellent […]

We left Jenn and her family of four in Istanbul last Friday. Here is the continuation of her story to Christmas markets and Amsterdam:   After an amazing time in Istanbul, we took an inexpensive economy flight (around $100) on Turkish Airlines to Cologne, Germany. At Istanbul Airport, we had access to the IGA lounge […]

There’s much to enjoy in Spain’s capital city—from famous museums to delicious food. Points can significantly reduce your travel expenses to Madrid, which leaves room in your budget for more churros! (Really, don’t miss the churros if you’re going to Spain.) Madrid has something for every budget. Whether you have a lot of points or […]

One of our faithful readers, Jenn, sent us this reader success story about going to four cities with her family of four. They visited Frankfurt, Istanbul, Cologne, and Amsterdam with their family of four (P1, P2, 18-year-old son, 11-year-old son). Here’s her story:   Flights Our trip began with a flight from Chicago to Frankfurt, […]

There is just something about a beach trip that resets your soul. Whether it’s the powdery white sand, turquoise waves, or simply an excuse to stay in your swimsuit for a week. What makes a beach getaway better than the destination? Booking it using points and paying pennies on the dollar for your dream vacation, […]

Amsterdam is one of those magical European cities that feels like it belongs in a storybook. With its winding canals, cobblestone streets, and beautiful spring tulips, it’s a dream destination. We know visiting Amsterdam might feel intimidating when you are trying to justify the European price tag. But we’re here to help you book your […]

Rachel sent us this reader success story about her trip to Prague and Dublin. This trip would have cost nearly $12,000, and they paid under $700! Here’s how it went:   A Voucher Starts it All This whole trip started because we had a voucher for slightly over $2,000 on Aer Lingus. Back in 2020, […]