From Broadway shows to world-class museums, the Big Apple has something for everyone. New York City can be a costly place to visit, but it doesn’t have to be with points and miles! Read on to find out how to get to New York City and where to stay—regardless of your budget. New York City […]

While we love using our points for international trips, you don’t need a passport to get amazing value for your points on a memorable hotel stay. From beaches to big cities, there’s value to be had with your points within the U.S., if you know where to look! We’ll show you how to plan a […]

You all know that I love Park Hyatt hotels, right?  I recently returned from Morocco, and you just know I had to stay at the Park Hyatt Marrakech. Did it live up to my expectations? I might have asked, “Have I told you how much I love Park Hyatts?” a dozen times (or more) to […]

I am that lucky mom who gets to travel with four beautiful daughters on an annual girls’ trip. This year, they finally indulged my fantasy of a girls’ trip to Morocco on points and miles. But here’s the deal . . . everyone always talks about Morocco like it’s all about the food. Tagines, spices, […]

Ana sent us this story about her couples’ trip to Rome and Tuscany. We love Italy, so we are happy to share it with you! Here’s her story: Couples’ Trip to Rome and Tuscany with Points and Miles I’ve been collecting points since the ’90s—back when you actually earned them by flying! While the landscape […]

Dreaming of monkeys, surf, and stunning jungle sunsets without draining your savings? Costa Rica is a favorite TMS destination and offers a slice of paradise that’s surprisingly accessible when you use points and miles. There are some incredible hotels across Costa Rica where your rewards can go a long way. Here are ten great hotel […]

They say all roads lead to Rome, and luckily, with the right points and miles strategy, yours can, too. Whether you’re working with a modest stash of credit card points or have enough for a business-class splurge, the Eternal City is more accessible than ever. Rome is a dream destination that doesn’t have to drain […]

Southeast Asia offers a truly diverse range of travel experiences. From buzzing street markets in Bangkok to dreamy beaches in Bali, lantern-lit nights in Hoi An, and world-class food just about everywhere you turn.  The only catch? Getting there from the U.S. can be a little pricey when paying with cash.  Thankfully, points and miles […]

Anna sent in her reader success story about her anniversary trip to Cancun. She started using points and miles seriously in August of 2024 after watching the TMS Webinar. This was her first big redemption, and it was an unforgettable trip—and she’s already planning the next one. Here’s her story:   Our Points-Fueled Anniversary Trip […]

Ever since writing about The Chatwal hotel in New York City in a previous blog post, I’ve been wanting to stay at this high-end property with fascinating history and connections to Broadway. The problem: it’s a Category 8 property and costs a lot of Hyatt points. So I thought this aspirational property would always remain […]

The Edit by Chase Travel℠ is a new credit card benefit of the card_name and card_name.  The Edit is a collection of over 1,000 hotels and resorts worldwide. Both cards come with an total annual credit of $500 for stays of at least two consecutive nights at The Edit properties. How you use the $500 […]

So you have a stash of transferable points and are ready to book a flight, but where do you even start? In this post, we’ll help you answer the question of whether to book through your credit card’s travel portal or transfer your points to airline partners.  It can be a complex question, and the […]

One of our TMS dads, Nick, sent us this reader success story to Paris and Boston. Here is his story of learning about points and miles and then using that education for an amazing trip!   As I sit here at the Hôtel du Louvre in Paris, writing this, I can hardly believe this is […]

I just returned from an Alaska cruise on Princess Cruise Lines. I paid for the cruise outright and used points and miles to offset some of our other trip costs. Sure, it is possible to pay for a cruise. Some credit card issuers, like Chase, American Express, and Citi, allow you to book cruises through […]

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, October is looking great! We have a plethora of great offers to let you know about this month. 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 […]

If you have ever stared longingly at those lie-flat business seats while trudging to your middle seat in the last row of economy with your kids, snacks, and sanity barely hanging on, then this post is for you. With the right stash of points and miles and everything you learned from Award Travel Academy, you […]

After falling hard for Secrets St. Lucia (and those ocean views), we weren’t ready for the magic to end. So we took our tenth-anniversary celebration to the next level, literally, by heading into the mountains for the most unforgettable hotel experience of our lives.  Ladera isn’t just a resort. It’s a love letter to nature. […]

Secrets® St. Lucia Review: What It’s Really Like Staying at This New Adults-Only Resort on Points I love a good plot twist—and this one came with a beach view. When I first joined Award Travel Academy, St. Lucia felt totally out of reach. Availability was scarce, and the points price tag was high enough to […]

The 90K offers on the card_name and card_name are BACK! We love these offers so much because they earn some of our very favorite types of points—Ultimate Rewards®! And the best part? Neither one has an annual fee! Think you don’t qualify for a business card? Think again and read this post.  You can earn […]

The Southwest® Companion Pass® is among the best deals in the points and miles world.  Either my husband or I have had the Southwest® Companion Pass® off and on for the last seven years. When you earn the pass, you get to fly someone with you for free (minus taxes and fees starting at $5.60) […]