32
Only the latest slick travel news
Southwest sale: 40% off flights to Hawaii
https://thepointsguy.com/deals/southwest-40-off-hawaii-flights-sale/
It’s that time of year again: Southwest Airlines is offering 40% off flights to Hawaii for travel through much of 2025. Use the code “HAWAII40” through Thursday to book travel through May 2025. Deal basics Airline: Southwest Airlines Routes: Valid for select flights between the continental U.S. and Hawaii, excluding John Wayne Airport (SNA) in …
Luxe Viceroy sets out on global brand relaunch and expansion into Portugal
https://thepointsguy.com/news/viceroy-rebrand/
Viceroy, a chain of luxury hotels and branded residential developments around the world, is debuting a new look this week. The brand’s global brand relaunch started its first phase Wednesday with a refreshed visual look on its digital platforms, as well as property-specific experiences. New logos and property-specific “O” emblems within the Viceroy nameplate are …
17 of our favorite ski-friendly resort hotels you can book using reward points
https://thepointsguy.com/guide/top-ski-friendly-points-hotels/
Ski season in the Northern Hemisphere is right around the corner — in fact, for some locales, it’s already here. Keystone and Arapahoe Basin in Colorado are already welcoming skiers, as is Mt. Rose, the first of the legendary slopes at Lake Tahoe to open. Other storied slopes are slated to open throughout November; Park …
Detroit Metro is the latest airport to add a multisensory room
https://thepointsguy.com/news/detroit-metro-airport-multi-sensory-room/
On Friday, the Wayne County Airport Authority and Delta Air Lines unveiled a brand-new multisensory room in the Edward H. McNamara Terminal at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW). Like similar rooms at airports in Pittsburgh; Seattle; Kansas City, Missouri; Portland, Oregon; and Fort Wayne, Indiana, DTW’s new multisensory room is designed to provide a …
You can now apply American systemwide upgrade certificates online
https://thepointsguy.com/news/american-airlines-redeem-systemwide-upgrade-online/
Earlier this year, American Airlines promised it would enable online redemptions for systemwide upgrade certificates. Then, in early October, American made good on its promise in a limited beta. Now, as of Nov. 12, this functionality is available to any American Airlines AAdvantage member who has at least one unexpired systemwide upgrade in their account. …
Capital One Spark Cash review: Simple cash back for businesses but lacking benefits
https://thepointsguy.com/guide/capital-one-spark-cash-review/
Capital One Spark Cash overview The Capital One Spark Cash card offers unlimited 2% cash back on all purchases with no spending caps. Aside from the simplistic cash-back earning structure, the card lacks standout benefits and carries a $95 annual fee after the introductory $0 annual fee in the first year (see rates and fees). …
New Southwest card offers: 40,000 points plus a $400 statement credit — is it a good deal?
https://thepointsguy.com/news/southwest-cards-current-offers/
Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers. For Southwest loyalists, a cobranded Southwest credit card is a great way to earn points toward travel. And if you’re looking to earn a solid stash of Rapid Rewards points, now is a great time to add a personal card to …
The best cruise apps to streamline your vacation at sea
https://thepointsguy.com/guide/best-cruise-apps/
For better or worse, you’ll be hard-pressed to go just about anywhere on today’s cruise ships without your smartphone in hand. Major cruise lines have embraced the cellphone as a necessary travel accessory, and they’ve built out the app technology to go with it. Nearly all major cruise lines feature their own apps with basic …
Hyatt Place (yes, Hyatt Place) is piloting paid breakfast at over 40 hotels
https://thepointsguy.com/news/hyatt-place-free-breakfast-pilot/
The Hyatt rumor mill is abuzz with rumblings that Hyatt Place, a select-service brand with over 400 hotels around the world, is rolling back one of its beloved perks: free breakfast. TPG was alerted of the potential changes from a handful of readers and across a number of social media posts iterating that those guests …
4 things you really need to do now in advance of holiday travel
https://thepointsguy.com/news/early-holiday-travel-tips/
Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers. Believe it or not, the holiday season is truly creeping up. If you haven’t locked down your travel plans yet, now is the time to do so. If you’re traveling for Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, New Year’s Eve or any other holidays, …
Check your Amex Offers: Amazon bonus points are back for some cardmembers
https://thepointsguy.com/news/amex-amazon-offer/
American Express recently introduced a new set of Amex Offers for targeted cardholders on eligible Amazon purchases. In this latest round of offers, some cardholders can earn an enticing bonus of up to 3,600 Membership Rewards points on Amazon purchases. If you have one of these offers, you can earn bonus points by making Amazon …
Last chance: Buy business-class seats to Europe for less than $600 — here’s how
https://thepointsguy.com/news/buy-hawaiian-miles-alaska-mileage-plan-bonus-promo/
Attention, points and miles enthusiasts: Hawaiian Airlines is currently offering up to 100% bonus miles when you purchase HawaiianMiles through Nov. 15. Though we don’t often recommend buying points and miles, it may be worth considering following the merger between Hawaiian Airlines and Alaska Airlines. Loyalty program members can now transfer HawaiianMiles to Alaska Airlines …
Delta One private security opens at JFK, with direct link to high-end lounge
https://thepointsguy.com/news/delta-one-security-jfk-opens/
Last month, Delta Air Lines cut the ribbon on its second business-class-only lounge at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). A beautiful but smaller, more food-and-beverage focused outpost, the new LAX facility can’t quite match the sheer scope of Delta’s sprawling, 40,000 square-foot oasis at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), which launched the …
Colorado’s ski train is back — and tickets start at $19 one-way
https://thepointsguy.com/deals/amtrak-winter-park-express/
Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers. Another ski season is upon us, which means Amtrak‘s Winter Park Express train is also back. Skiers, boarders and snow bunnies alike can take the train from Denver to Winter Park Resort — Colorado’s longest continually operated ski resort featuring over 3,000 …
Your guide to Marriott breakfast benefits for Platinum Elite and higher members
https://thepointsguy.com/guide/marriott-elite-breakfast-benefits/
Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information. Some Marriott brands, such as SpringHill Suites and Residence Inn, offer complimentary breakfast to all guests as a brand amenity. For stays at most other Marriott brands, though, it’s more complicated for Platinum Elite and higher members. They may get complimentary breakfast via …
Disneyland ticket discount: Disney+ subscribers can buy 2 days and get a third day free
https://thepointsguy.com/deals/disneyland-tickets/
Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers. If you plan on purchasing tickets to visit Disneyland this holiday season and you are a Disney+ subscriber, your vacation is about to become even more magical than you expected. For a limited time, Disney+ subscribers can purchase two days at …
Best credit cards for day care expenses
https://thepointsguy.com/guide/best-credit-cards-for-daycare-expenses/
Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers. Day care expenses seem to be never-ending for parents. According to Care.com’s 2024 Cost of Care project, the average cost of center-based day care in the United States has risen over the last few years and is now more than $300 …
I booked a Costco cruise in search of savings. Here’s how it went
https://thepointsguy.com/guide/i-booked-a-costco-cruise/
A free $140 gift card, $100 in onboard credit and the complimentary help of a travel agent, just for booking a cruise I was planning to purchase anyway? Sign me up! (Or, rather, ask my parents if I can use their Costco account to book the sailing since they’re already members.) I’ve known about Costco …
Holland America just announced another wowzer of an Alaska itinerary
https://thepointsguy.com/news/cruise-holland-america-great-bear/
Holland America is out with yet another epic Alaska itinerary that is unlike anything we’ve seen before. The 18-night “Great Bear Rainforest and Alaskan Explorer” voyage, as the line is calling it, will bring an extended sailing up the coast of Alaska to small towns that most cruise lines never visit. It will also include …
Aeromexico Rewards: How to earn and redeem points, elite status and more
https://thepointsguy.com/guide/ultimate-guide-to-aeromexico-club-premier/
Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers. Aeromexico Rewards (formerly Club Premier) may not be the first loyalty program on most travelers’ radar, but it has a lot of potential. With the U.S. legacy carriers adopting revenue-based earning structures and elite status tiers, it’s become increasingly important to …
The best airline loyalty programs for families
https://thepointsguy.com/guide/best-airline-loyalty-programs-families/
When it comes to family travel, not all airline loyalty programs are created equal. The programs that most benefit solo or business travelers may not be the ones that provide the best perks for families — such as free checked bags for your entire party and discounts for kids. There are some airline loyalty programs …
How to avoid checked baggage fees on major domestic airlines
https://thepointsguy.com/guide/how-to-avoid-checked-baggage-fees/
Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers. Incidental airline fees are a big business for the major airlines in the U.S., and checked bag fees, in particular, are a key driver of airline profitability nowadays. These added services brought in over $6.7 billion in 2022 alone — and …
Apple debuts a cool new way to help airlines find your missing bag
https://thepointsguy.com/news/apple-airtag-share-location-with-airlines/
Apple is giving travelers another reason to pack an AirTag in their checked bag. The tech giant announced on Monday that it will enable a new feature, dubbed Share Item Location, for AirTags and other accessories that are connected to the Find My network. This feature will allow travelers to share the location of an …
Chase unveils opening details for 2 new lounges, more updates
https://thepointsguy.com/news/chase-sapphire-lounge-openings-updates/
Chase’s portfolio of airport lounges continues to grow with the opening of two new outposts. The issuer announced on Tuesday that its newest Sapphire Lounge by The Club is now open. As of Nov. 12, the location in Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) is welcoming travelers. The next location to open, at San Diego …
Legendary luxury on the Athens Riviera: A review of Four Seasons Astir Palace Hotel Athens
https://thepointsguy.com/reviews/four-seasons-astir-palace-hotel-athens/
[circuit type=review circuit_id=”20420186192″] Editor’s note: Four Seasons Astir Palace Hotel Athens provided TPG with a complimentary two-night stay so that we could get an inside look at the hotel and its amenities. The opinions expressed below are entirely those of the author and weren’t subject to review by the hotel or any external entity. For …
Black Friday cruise deals 2024: Here are the best preholiday bargains at sea
https://thepointsguy.com/guide/black-friday-cyber-monday-cruise-deals/
With cruises selling like hotcakes, you’re already behind if you haven’t yet thought about your 2025 summer vacation. Fortunately, many cruise lines are offering Black Friday deals this year, allowing you to take advantage of fare discounts and perks like cabin upgrades, “kids sail free” offers, onboard credit, free airfare and other bonuses if you’re …
5 things you need to know about debit and credit card holds
https://thepointsguy.com/guide/things-need-to-know-debit-credit-card-holds/
Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers. If you’ve ever checked your credit card or bank account after a gas station purchase or during a hotel stay and noticed “pending” charges larger than what you’ve actually spent, then you’re likely well aware of what’s known as “holds.” A …
Stacking rental car perks with Hertz and the Venture X
https://thepointsguy.com/news/book-hertz-rentals-venture-x/
Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers. No one likes waiting in line — for anything. And some of the worst lines can be those at airport rental car counters. These (frustratingly) always seem to appear after a long flight with your family when all you want is …
This super-long world cruise is now a 4-month Pacific sailing – here’s why
https://thepointsguy.com/news/world-cruise-now-pacific-sailing/
Would you like to spend more than 130 days exploring Asia, the Pacific and Alaska? Princess Cruises has switched up its previously announced world cruise itinerary to make the voyage more immersive in the Pacific region. With ongoing unrest affecting the Red Sea region, Princess decided not to send a ship through the area to …
Is the $100 property credit for select Hilton cardmembers worth using?
https://thepointsguy.com/guide/hilton-aspire-property-credit/
Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers. Hilton Honors offers several cobranded American Express cards. The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card is a solid midlevel card, but I believe the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card is one of the most undervalued hotel credit cards. It’s easy to get …