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Only the latest slick travel news
Monthly checklist: Credit card perks and benefits you should be using in November
https://thepointsguy.com/guide/credit-cards-monthly-checklist/
Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers. Depending on how many credit cards you have, the list of benefits you should be using this month might feel overwhelming. Can you remember all of these perks without help? Maybe not. Rather than trying to keep track of all of …
Why a Viking river cruise is a great way to explore the Mississippi River
https://thepointsguy.com/guide/viking-cruise-mississippi-river/
Editor’s note: TPG’s Ashley Kosciolek accepted a free trip from Viking Cruises to sail on Viking Mississippi. The opinions expressed below are entirely hers and weren’t subject to review by the line. No river in the United States is more storied or iconic than the Mississippi, and for good reason. Etched into its history …
Deal alert: Points and miles travel deals for November 2024
https://thepointsguy.com/news/points-and-miles-travel-deals/
Editor’s note: Some of the below offers may be targeted. Citi is a TPG advertising partner. From lucrative deals for bonus points on hotel stays to generous sales of airline miles, we’re finding plenty of travel deals to help you earn and redeem your points and miles so you can book the vacation of your …
Reservations required: How to visit Santaland at Macy’s on 34th Street in 2024
https://thepointsguy.com/news/santaland-macys-34th-street-reservations/
For many families, the most wonderful time of the year isn’t complete without a visit to the big man in red. And one of the best spots in the U.S. to see him is at Macy’s on 34th Street in New York City. Santa Claus officially arrives at the very end of the Macy’s Thanksgiving …
Credit card strategies for mortgage and home loan applicants
https://thepointsguy.com/2015/04/credit-card-strategies-for-mortgage-and-home-loan-applicants/
Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers. A big part of pursuing travel rewards is learning to take advantage of credit card welcome bonuses. Thanks to a recent rate cut by The Feds and more anticipated cuts to come, home ownership or refinancing is a trending topic these …
Faraway luxury in Indonesia: A review of Taaktana, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa
https://thepointsguy.com/reviews/taaktana-luxury-collection-review/
[circuit type=review circuit_id=”20420185732″] Editor’s note: Taaktana, a Luxury Collection Resort and Spa provided TPG with a complimentary three-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. …
Bilt Rent Day (Nov. 1): Up to 100% British Airways transfer bonus, double points on non-rent purchases and more
https://thepointsguy.com/news/bilt-rent-day-promo/
Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information. TPG founder Brian Kelly is a Bilt adviser and investor. Good news for Bilt Rewards members: Nov. 1 is another Bilt Rent Day. As on previous Rent Days, you can snag double points on non-rent purchases, book a Bilt Neighborhood Dining Series experience …
Is TSA PreCheck worth it?
https://thepointsguy.com/guide/is-tsa-precheck-worth-it/
Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers. By this point, you’ve likely at least heard about, if not tried, the expedited airport security program TSA PreCheck. TSA PreCheck can be one of the most valuable investments you can make as a frequent traveler, thanks to the amount of …
Marriott Bonvoy elite status “soft landing” policy: How to requalify for status
https://thepointsguy.com/news/expiring-marriott-status/
It’s official: Marriott is providing a “soft landing” to Marriott Bonvoy elite members who don’t requalify in 2024. Specifically, the brand will offer Marriott Bonvoy members who don’t requalify for their current status in 2024 the opportunity to hold the status one tier below from March 2025 until February 2026. Loyalty Lobby first reported this news. …
Universal reveals opening timeline and haunted houses for year-round Horror Unleashed attraction in Las Vegas
https://thepointsguy.com/news/universal-horror-unleashed/
Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers. For many people, the Universal brand is synonymous with horror. In the early 1900s, Universal first brought iconic characters such as Frankenstein, the Mummy, the Wolf Man and the Invisible Man to the silver screen. Nowadays, the company is a powerhouse …
Bank of America Premium Rewards Elite credit card review: A formidable contender — with a caveat
https://thepointsguy.com/guide/bank-of-america-premium-rewards-elite-credit-card-review-a-formidable-contender/
Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers. Bank of America Premium Rewards Elite credit card overview If you qualify for the Bank of America® Preferred Rewards® program, the Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Elite Credit Card has the potential to be even more lucrative to use for everyday …
Get a discounted Walmart+ membership for $49
https://thepointsguy.com/deals/discounted-walmart-plus-membership/
Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers. Now through Dec. 2, you can get a discounted Walmart+ membership for $49 annually. Deal basics What is Walmart+? Walmart+ is Walmart’s subscription program. It offers select member perks, including free deliveries; gas savings from Walmart, Exxon and Mobil; member-exclusive discounts and …
Choice Privileges unveils award booking changes for 2025
https://thepointsguy.com/news/choice-privileges-award-booking-changes/
When Radisson Rewards Americas integrated into Choice Privileges, I was thrilled the program wasn’t devalued and the elite perks slightly improved. All the aspects I love about the program remain, including set award pricing for each property based on the day of the week and time of year. But, Choice Privileges members will see three …
Most ships can’t dock in Venice anymore. Here’s one that can
https://thepointsguy.com/news/sea-cloud-venice-cruise/
If sailing a luxury yacht from Venice is on your travel wish list, take note. For the first time ever, Sea Cloud Cruises’ newest and largest vessel, Sea Cloud Spirit, will launch sailings from Venice beginning in the summer of 2025. While many cruise lines claim itineraries departing from Venice, few cruise ships can actually sail …
Southwest switching to bamboo drink cups in effort to reduce single-use plastics
https://thepointsguy.com/news/southwest-airlines-bamboo-cups-single-use-plastic/
You may notice something’s a little different next time you order a cold drink on a Southwest Airlines flight. Instead of plastic, your beverage will arrive in a cup made primarily of bamboo and will be served with a birchwood stir stick sporting the carrier’s iconic “Heart” branding. Here’s what it looks like: The new …
You can now only earn 2 American miles per $1 with Bask Bank — what to know about the changes
https://thepointsguy.com/news/earn-aa-miles-bask-bank/
Editor’s note: This post has been updated with the latest information. Bask Bank and American Airlines have a partnership that lets AAdvantage members earn interest in the form of miles, meaning members will earn travel rewards instead of interest on their money. This can be advantageous if you value AAdvantage miles highly — especially given …
Quick Points: Hyatt Globalists get free parking on award stays
https://thepointsguy.com/guide/globalist-free-parking/
It’s no secret that World of Hyatt’s top-tier Globalist status comes packed with perks. Popular benefits include standard suite upgrades (upon availability), a full breakfast for registered room guests (up to two adults and two children), waived resort fees and 4 p.m. late checkouts. But here’s one of my favorite Globalist benefits you might not …
Hilton will welcome new all-inclusive resorts in Mexico, Dominican Republic next year
https://thepointsguy.com/news/hilton-sens-cancun-adults-only/
Hilton may not have as many all-inclusive resorts as its competitors, but the company has consistently been adding new properties to its portfolio for the last few years. Now, Hilton Honors’ 200 million-plus members have a new all-inclusive property to look forward to. As part of a partnership with Oasis Hotels & Resorts, The Sens …
Check your account: American Airlines offering bonus miles or Loyalty Points for AAdvantage members
https://thepointsguy.com/news/american-airlines-promotion/
Attention, American Airlines members: Now is a good time to check your American Airlines AAdvantage account, as you may be targeted for a bonus miles (or Loyalty Points) promotion when booking a flight in a premium cabin before the end of the year. We’ve seen offers that could give you up to 20,000 bonus AAdvantage …
Is ‘Doctor Odyssey’ for real? Get a behind-the-scenes look from an actual cruise ship medic
https://thepointsguy.com/news/doctor-odyssey-real-cruise-medic/
“That would never happen!” I yelled at my TV screen as I watched the first episode of “Doctor Odyssey,” Ryan Murphy’s new series about a team of cruise ship medical professionals who behave anything but professionally. Within the first few minutes of the show, which takes place on fictional cruise ship The Odyssey, you’ll see …
The best credit card welcome bonuses of November 2024
https://thepointsguy.com/guide/limited-time-card-offers/
Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers. With holiday travel approaching, now may be a great time to evaluate your credit card portfolio. Credit card sign-up bonuses and welcome offers are the quickest and easiest way to rake in lots of points and miles, so we regularly update …
JetBlue switches up Even More Space, open to new airline partnership
https://thepointsguy.com/news/jetblue-even-more-space-changes/
JetBlue flyers who like to book the airline’s extra-legroom seats — which are known as “Even More Space” seats — will start to notice changes over the coming months. This week, the New York-based carrier announced plans to incorporate the seats into a new product offering that it will offer as an upfront choice when …
Current credit card transfer bonuses: 40% bonus when transferring Chase points to Virgin Atlantic Flying Club
https://thepointsguy.com/guide/current-transfer-bonuses/
Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers; some offers may be expired. If you truly want to maximize your points and miles, periodic transfer bonuses can offer lucrative opportunities for fantastic award redemptions. You can sometimes get significantly more value from your rewards by transferring them to a …
Hyatt added a bunch of new brands. Now comes the hard part: maintaining the old ones
https://thepointsguy.com/news/hyatt-brand-maintenance/
If there’s something we can all learn from Madonna, it’s this: You have to keep reinventing yourself over and over to stay on top of the game, or else the constant churn of young pipsqueaks who can hold half a tune will inevitably threaten your crown. Some (OK, fine — maybe it’s just the hotel …
Deal alert: Booking these epic cruises could get you 245,000 bonus United miles
https://thepointsguy.com/deals/ponant-cruise-charcot-miles-offer/
Booking an epic cruise to Antarctica or the Arctic this month could get you an epic number of United MileagePlus miles. United Cruises has launched a limited-time offer that will bring 200,000 bonus United miles when you book a sailing on Ponant’s Le Commandant Charcot — a groundbreaking new vessel specifically built for polar cruising. …
Southwest unveils 13 more red-eye flights for 2025, plus new service to Cancun
https://thepointsguy.com/news/southwest-airlines-new-redeye-flights/
Southwest Airlines has unveiled more than a dozen new red-eye flights for next summer, further bolstering its first-ever schedule of overnight flying that’s set to kick off in the coming months. It came as the Dallas-based carrier on Wednesday extended its booking schedule through Aug. 4, 2025. The airline’s summer plans feature 13 new red-eye …
6 simple rules to stay out of credit card debt
https://thepointsguy.com/guide/simple-rules-credit-card-debt/
Editor’s note: This post has been updated with new information Many consumers struggle with credit card debt. Even TPG’s founder and CEO Brian Kelly struggled with debt when he first dabbled in the world of credit cards. However, it is possible to use credit cards without getting into financial trouble. It’s critical if you’re looking …
American Airlines says biometric screening is coming in partnership with TSA
https://thepointsguy.com/news/biometric-screening-american-airlines/
American Airlines is joining the biometric screening party. The Fort Worth-based airline said AAdvantage members will soon have access to streamlined security through a partnership with the Transportation Security Administration. The airline didn’t reveal which airports will get access to the faster screening process at checkpoints through TSA PreCheck Touchless ID, saying only that it …
Last-minute tips for locking in hotel elite status before the end of year
https://thepointsguy.com/guide/last-minute-tips-hotel-elite-status/
Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with the latest information. Hotel elite status can greatly enhance your vacation experience. From snagging room upgrades to bonus points and even indulging in a complimentary breakfast, having the right status can save you money and add more perks to your trips. If you haven’t accumulated …
Alaska lounge membership cost to increase in 2025
https://thepointsguy.com/news/alaska-airlines-lounge-membership-price-increase/
It’s no secret that if you’re a frequent flyer, airport lounges can significantly improve your travel experience. With complimentary food, drinks and a chance to relax in stylish comfort while you wait for your flight, Alaska Airlines’ lounges can provide a quieter and more luxurious preflight experience than, say, spending hours trying to juggle your …