TMS takes on Bora Bora again! Alex, Jess, and I all had return visits to the Conrad Bora Bora Nui at different times this summer. What were our thoughts the second time? What stood out, and do we have plans to return a third time? Here are the questions we each answered about our trips: […]

Recently, I flew a completely new business class product (for me): Air Tahiti Nui business class from SEA-PPT. I literally had no idea what I was getting into or what to expect. I just knew that the flight to Papeete, Tahiti (the place I had to connect to get to my final destination of Bora […]

Is your social media feed filled with cherry blossoms, ramen, and gorgeous Japanese architecture? You may be suffering from Japan FOMO. (I know I am!)  This wonderful country is one of the hottest destinations for Americans, with its fabulous food and exciting sights. The exchange rate has also been quite favorable, so your dollar can […]

Many of our readers want to know if they can earn the Southwest® Companion Pass with the 100K Rapid Rewards offer that is currently available on the Southwest® personal credit cards. Yes, you can! Let’s outline the details! As a reminder, the card_name and the card_name both have welcome offers of 100K Rapid Rewards after spending […]

Whether you’re booking an aspirational vacation or simply a night at the airport before your early morning flight, hotel free-night certificates are a useful part of any traveler’s points-and-miles toolkit. Read on to learn how to maximize value from hotel free-night certificates, wherever your travels take you.    Use Them Before They Expire  The most important […]

I love Air France and KLM for getting to Europe on points and miles! One reason is the Flying Blue Promo Rewards that come out on the first day of every month. Check out my post detailing the four reasons I love Air France. These are such good deals, so I will update this post […]

If you’ve been considering a new credit card, August is looking great! Whether you want to earn free hotel stays or rack up airline miles, these elevated offers are worth a closer look. Some deals are only available briefly, so now is an excellent opportunity to take advantage of these generous welcome offers. Here’s a […]

Your Hilton points can take you just about anywhere—from a dreamy beach escape in the Maldives to a luxury stay in one of Japan’s most popular cities. In this post, we’ll give you five aspirational Hilton properties to book on points or free-night certificates.  Hilton prices its hotels dynamically, making it a bit more challenging […]

London is a city that blends timeless charm with modern magic. From afternoon tea in a centuries-old hotel to rooftop cocktails with skyline views of the London Eye, it’s a destination that effortlessly balances tradition and trend. Thankfully, points and miles can open the door to this iconic capital without draining your savings account. We’ve […]

It is the dream of many to fly in business-class seats “someday!” It’s often possible to find business-class award seats between North America and Europe for 70 to 80K miles and up, but what about the real deals that cost even fewer miles than that? Yep, that is possible with some of the best sweet-spot […]

For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the above benefits are provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply. There are traditional ways to save on a Disney cruise—sail at off-peak times, get an inside or guaranteed […]

On a recent trip to Iceland, my family of five decided to use Reykjavik as a home base (because hotel-hopping with a family for a four-night stay wasn’t ideal). We took a couple of day trips from Reykjavik and spent one day exploring the city itself. Canopy by Hilton Reykjavik City Centre proved to be […]

The Standard Hotels brand is Hyatt’s latest acquisition. Standard Hotels is a high-end boutique hotel brand known for its hip, artsy, and nightlife-oriented atmosphere. It’s not “standard” in the generic sense—the name is intentionally ironic, as their hotels are anything but standard. Hyatt’s acquisition of Standard International happened in late 2024 and many of these […]

Welcome back to your ultimate guide to the best Caribbean hotels to book with points! If Part One had you dreaming of sandy beaches and turquoise waters, get ready to turn those daydreams into reality. We’re diving deeper into the Caribbean’s most stunning resorts—think hidden gems, luxe escapes, and vibrant spots where your points can […]

Nothing tastes sweeter than a luxury beach vacation in the Caribbean for (almost) free. Let’s be honest, booking luxury hotels on points feels like beating the system in the most delicious way. Whether you’ve been hoarding points like a squirrel or you’re just dipping your toe into the points-and-miles hobby, the Caribbean is a dream […]

I just completed staying at three well-known Maui hotels this year: the Hyatt Regency Maui, Andaz Maui, and the Marriott Wailea Beach Resort. Jess, Alex, and I have surprisingly different takes on each one. And you all know we love the Grand Hyatt Kauai, but maybe not exactly why we love it, so we added […]

There is one resort that keeps me coming back to use my Marriott 85K free-night certificates: Marriott Wailea Beach Resort. Even though Marriotts don’t get us the oversized value that Hyatts do, this resort beckons me again and again. Marriott Wailea Beach Resort is a must-stay resort for me! 85,000-point Marriott annual free-night certificates are […]

Spending ten days in Maui on points and miles is the ultimate travel dream come true—especially for a multigenerational trip! From a luxury beachfront resort on Ka’anapali Beach to the luxury of the Wailea area, our family, spanning grandparents, parents, and four rambunctious boys, experienced paradise together without draining our bank accounts. Using a mix […]

Choice Hotels® are a more niche brand for points and miles travelers, but Choice Privileges® points can be very valuable, especially outside the U.S. If you’re willing to do some math to find a good deal, these points can be a great addition to your points wallet. So we’ll get you started learning all about […]

Trying to pick your favorite hotel stays is kind of like picking your favorite child. Each has their uniqueness and you love them for different reasons. And with hotel stays, getting to stay at them for pennies on the dollar anywhere you want makes you love more of them! Here are some of my favorite […]

From museums to the Eiffel Tower, the City of Lights has so much to offer families. You can visit this popular destination in luxury or on a budget. Grab your beret and a baguette, and let’s go to Paris! In this series of blog posts, we show you ways to get to a specific destination, whether […]