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 […]

I usually love every Kimpton Hotel I meet, but I finally met one that was underwhelming. Welcome to my Kimpton Vividora Barcelona review, a.k.a. staying in a dorm room. Quirky, cute, but still a dorm room. It is located on a small, pedestrian side street near La Rambla, and the lobby seemed promising and charming. […]

Did I just stay at a hotel that may be my new favorite? I am on a trip to Mallorca after visiting Madrid and Barcelona. I left Alex and Jess in Barcelona and flew to Mallorca to meet another of my daughters. First stop: Nobis Hotel Palma in Mallorca, Spain. It was love at first […]

I knew that on my trip to Barcelona and Madrid, I also wanted to go somewhere else in Spain that was “new” to me. I remembered a fellow traveler on an airplane showing me pictures of the island of Mallorca and telling me that it was his favorite place. Problem solved—Mallorca it was. Mallorca on […]

Alex, Jess, and I usually take two trips together a year. One is our planning retreat in December, and the other is a trip just for fun. Last year for our “just for fun” trip, we went to Singapore, and Jess suggested that our trip this year should be “Travel Mom Squad Takes Spain.” I […]

​The Thompson Madrid is a luxurious hotel situated in the heart of Madrid, near the Gran Vía and the Puerta del Sol. It was also a quick walk to the Plaza Mayor, the largest square in Madrid. It’s smack in the center of Madrid, in fact, and close to tons of dining, shopping, and nightlife. […]

Our reader success story comes from Ted, Jess’s husband, about his trip to Bora Bora as a Player Two. He definitely has a different perspective about why this points and miles trip meant so much to him, reminding us once again how important it is to “you do you!”   “When you see the Southern […]

If you’re anything like me (used to snowy Denver winters), you’re always dreaming of your next beach vacation. And if you’re flush with Hyatt points or have points to transfer, you’re in luck! Dreams Resorts, part of Hyatt’s Inclusive Collection, offer stunning beachfront properties in Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central America that are perfect for […]

Today we’re catching back up with my family’s spring break trip to Greece and Croatia with kids on points and miles!  Next up, Croatia.   Dubrovnik, Croatia with Kids We flew from Athens to Dubrovnik with Aegean Air, using the same family fare we had used before. The flight was about an hour and a […]

As much as I love using my points for high-end hotel stays, hotels are not always the best option for every trip. Some destinations have few or no points-hotel options, period, and other times when there are hotel options you can book with points, you may be traveling with a large family or group that […]

Michelle sent us her reader success story to Italy. I especially love this story because they took grandma along! Here’s her story: I first got into points and miles in 2023 after stumbling across the Travel Mom Squad podcast. Soon I became totally obsessed! One idea that really caught my attention was flying business class […]

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 […]

The Maldives are a destination that dreams are made of. With the postcard-perfect turquoise waters, powdery white beaches, and iconic overwater villas, it’s one of the most romantic and unforgettable places on earth. While its luxurious reputation may seem financially out of reach, using points and miles can make it surprisingly accessible, whether you’re seeking […]

If you’ve been considering a new credit card, July 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 […]

Laura sent us her reader success story to the Big Apple: NYC! It is also one of our favorite places to use credit card points and miles! We also have a lot of NYC content on our website if you get inspired by Laura’s trip. Here is her story:   Earning and Using Points/Miles I […]

Glamping Stays You Can Book Through World of Hyatt If visiting a National Park is on your summer wish list, you can book a “glamping” (bougie camping) stay with your Hyatt points. Your family can hike in gorgeous natural settings by day and sleep under the beautiful night sky in a luxury tent. Going glamping […]

Have you ever checked into a hotel and immediately knew it wasn’t the hotel for you? I recently had this happen on a stay at the Zoëtry Mallorca. I was on a girls’ getaway with my daughter, Lindsey, and the theme of our trip was supposed to be luxury. Our stay at the Nobis Palma […]