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Only the latest slick travel news
Breakfast, upgrades and more: 9 TPG staffers reveal their favorite elite status perks
https://thepointsguy.com/guide/favorite-elite-perks/
Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information. Loyalty programs naturally want to reward their most loyal and valuable travelers, and many do so by offering elite status to travelers who spend the most money or time with them. If you hold mid- to top-tier elite status with a loyalty program …
Sneak peek: Inside the giant new MSC Cruises ship that’s about to take on Icon of the Seas
https://thepointsguy.com/news/msc-world-america-cruise-ship-yard/
Icon of the Seas is about to get some serious competition. Fast-growing MSC Cruises on Friday gave TPG a sneak peek at the giant ship it’s building to take on the much-ballyhooed Royal Caribbean vessel in the Caribbean, and it was a sight to behold. Enormous water slides, giant pool zones and an impressive indoor promenade …
12 tricks to getting the most value from your cruise vacations
https://thepointsguy.com/guide/get-the-most-value-from-your-cruise/
Whether you’re talking about a mass-market cruise on a megaship or a full-on luxury experience with attentive crew members doting on you day and night, if your goal is to squeeze every bit of value out of those hard-earned vacation dollars, you need to know a few things. A little precruise planning, coupled with onboard …
The best Black Friday, Cyber Monday and Travel Tuesday hotel deals you can expect in 2024 (so far)
https://thepointsguy.com/guide/black-friday-cyber-monday-hotel-deals/
Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers. Everyone knows that the days following Thanksgiving are some of the best times to save money — even on travel. Hotels, resorts and other types of accommodations typically have incredible sales running during this period. Some discounts are already available to …
Northern lights cruises: A guide to chasing the aurora borealis at sea
https://thepointsguy.com/guide/northern-lights-cruises/
Witnessing the elusive northern lights flickering across the sky might cause you to gasp because it’s actually that cool. The colorful ribbons of green look like something from outer space — and they are. Auroras appear when charged particles collide with Earth’s atmosphere. Seeing the ethereal display, also known as the aurora borealis, is a …
American and JetBlue not ruling out reunion, despite another court blocking former Northeast Alliance
https://thepointsguy.com/news/american-jetblue-hint-at-new-partnership/
Could American Airlines and JetBlue make another go at a partnership in the Northeast? That may seem unlikely after a federal appeals court doubled down on a judge’s 2023 ruling that scuttled a deep partnership between the two carriers. Still, there’s already speculation swirling over whether the two carriers might eventually try to link up …
Watch your auto-renew: Chase Sapphire Reserve ending complimentary Lyft Pink perk
https://thepointsguy.com/news/lyft-pink-chase-benefit-ending/
If you’ve been enjoying a complimentary Lyft Pink All Access membership with your Chase Sapphire Reserve® for the last couple of years, it’s time to turn off auto-renewal — or expect to pay for the ride-hailing service benefit. TPG senior editorial director Nick Ewen enrolled in the benefit when it first came out. He recently …
BermudAir to add 3 new US cities this spring
https://thepointsguy.com/news/bermudair-3-new-routes-spring/
BermudAir will land in three new East Coast destinations come spring. Beginning in April, the airline will link Charleston International Airport (CHS), Hartford’s Bradley International Airport (BDL) and Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU) with Bermuda’s L.F. Wade International Airport (BDA). BermudAir will offer the only nonstop flights between the three U.S. airports and its namesake island. …
Shoulder season goes mainstream
https://thepointsguy.com/guide/shoulder-season/
Shoulder season. By now, you’ve likely heard this unusual phrase referenced in the media and by travel agents, or perhaps it popped up while you were searching for cheap dates to travel. In most cases, shoulder season is the time of year between a destination’s peak season, when it receives the most visitors, and its …
Delta SkyMiles Experiences platform: Use miles to bid on activities, concerts, dining and more
https://thepointsguy.com/news/delta-skymiles-experiences-platform/
Attention Delta SkyMiles enthusiasts: The U.S.-based loyalty program is giving members more ways to spend their hard-earned miles. The carrier announced the launch of the all-new SkyMiles Experiences platform, which will allow Delta members to redeem their SkyMiles for epic activities. The upgraded booking platform will not only let members bid on experiences, but they’ll …
Bank of America Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards Secured Business credit card review
https://thepointsguy.com/guide/bank-of-america-business-advantage-unlimited-cash-rewards-secured-business-credit-card-review/
Bank of America Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards Secured Business Credit Card overview The Bank of America® Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards Secured Business credit card is a decent choice for small-business owners with limited credit history. You’ll earn 1.5% unlimited cash-back rewards on purchases without an annual cap on what you get back. For …
Christmas market river cruises: What to expect on a holiday sailing
https://thepointsguy.com/guide/christmas-market-river-cruises-holiday-sailing/
Sailing down one of Europe’s stunning rivers is a dream trip no matter the time of year, but at Christmastime it’s even more special. Ships take travelers from port to port to experience the incredible Christmas markets where stalls are adorned with glittering lights, the smells of sausages and baked goods fill the air and …
Southwest Airlines does a switcheroo on Hawaii’s Big Island
https://thepointsguy.com/news/southwest-airlines-hawaii-big-island-route-changes/
Southwest Airlines is making an interesting change to service on Hawaii’s Big Island. The Dallas-based carrier recently filed plans to slash service from Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keahole (KOA) to San Francisco Bay Oakland International Airport (OAK), as first seen in Cirium schedules and later confirmed by a carrier spokesperson. The airline’s Kona-to-Oakland …
Is Virgin Atlantic Economy Delight worth it on the Boeing 787 Dreamliner?
https://thepointsguy.com/reviews/virgin-atlantic-economy-delight-787/
Editor’s note: Virgin Atlantic offered a complimentary upgrade from Economy Classic to Economy Delight, as this fare class cannot be booked with Virgin points. The opinions expressed below are entirely those of the author and weren’t subject to review by the airline or any external entity. Quick take: Virgin’s full-fare economy product provides a little …
How you can redeem points and miles for car rentals
https://thepointsguy.com/guide/redeem-points-miles-car-rentals/
Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with the latest information. If your holiday plans include renting a car, listen up. From credit card discounts to negotiated rates for groups and companies, it’s no secret that there are many ways to avoid paying full price for a rental car. You can even get …
Why joint credit cards are a bad idea
https://thepointsguy.com/guide/joint-credit-cards-bad-idea/
Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information. Joint credit cards are like pay phones, CD players and incandescent light bulbs — they are slowly becoming things of the past. Still, now and then, you may come across a credit card offer that allows you to include a joint account holder …
Tranquil luxury in Turkey: A review of the Bodrum Edition
https://thepointsguy.com/reviews/the-bodrum-edition/
[circuit type=review circuit_id=”9334″] If you’re dreaming of sophisticated beach clubs offering lavish oceanfront vacations under the European sun — places that are frequented by celebrities, with marinas where billionaires moor superyachts — Turkey might not be the first place that comes to mind. However, while the well-heeled in Europe traditionally flock to the French Riviera’s …
Amex rolls out online waitlist to more Centurion Lounges — save yourself time by checking in early
https://thepointsguy.com/news/amex-app-centurion-lounge-access/
You pay hundreds of dollars annually for a card that offers you lounge access — and then you get to the airport only to face a long line at the lounge entrance. Many TPG readers and staffers have experienced this as the number of those receiving access to issuer-branded lounges has swelled over the past …
Christmas at Universal Orlando: How to plan the perfect holiday season trip
https://thepointsguy.com/guide/universal-orlando-christmas/
Editor’s note: This post has been updated with new information. We all want to cherish the Christmas magic, but it’s not always easy to do when faced with a whirlwind of planning, shopping, cooking and end-of-year logistics. Sometimes the magic is easier to capture when you step out of your normal life for a minute …
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 bonus points on your next hotel stay to generous sales of airline miles, we’re always looking for travel deals to help you earn and redeem your points and miles better. In other words, we want to help you …
Celebration Key: Everything we know about Carnival Cruise Line’s newest private beach destination
https://thepointsguy.com/guide/celebration-key-carnival-cruise-private-beach-guide/
Carnival Cruise Line has released details about Celebration Key, a new private beach development slated to open in July of 2025 on the south side of Grand Bahama Island in the Bahamas. Celebration Key will open with a main pier that will be able to accommodate two of Carnival’s largest ships at the same time. …
Your guide to the can’t-miss holiday happenings in New York City for 2024
https://thepointsguy.com/guide/nyc-holiday-happenings/
Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers. New York City is an incredible destination year-round, but there’s something extra special about the city during the holiday season. Open-air holiday markets fill the air with the scent of roasted chestnuts and mulled wine. Skaters twirl on open-air ice rinks, …
This Apple Maps update makes it easier to navigate national parks, so I took it on a ‘test hike’
https://thepointsguy.com/news/apple-maps-national-parks-feature/
I can barely leave the house without relying on my iPhone and Apple Watch to help me get where I’m going, let alone travel. I’ve long used Apple Maps for driving and walking directions when navigating a new city. Last year, the tech giant introduced a handful of features that made my devices even more …
Quick Points: How to book Virgin Hotels with Virgin points
https://thepointsguy.com/news/book-virgin-hotels-with-points/
If you’re planning to visit a major city or even want to enjoy a possible staycation, Virgin Red will now let you redeem rewards points for Virgin Hotels. Virgin Hotels currently operates in the following cities: Chicago, Dallas, Las Vegas, Nashville, New Orleans and New York, as well as two U.K. locations, Edinburgh and London. …
Accor’s luxe Sofitel Legend brand expanding to the pyramids of Giza
https://thepointsguy.com/news/sofitel-legend-pyramids-giza/
You’ll be able to sleep as decadently as a pharaoh at Accor’s hottest new hotel in development. On Thursday the Paris-based hotel giant announced plans for Sofitel Legend Pyramids Giza, a new luxury hotel in development in Egypt in partnership with the Abu Dhabi Tourism Investment Company. The hotel, slated to open in late 2027, …
How to redeem miles with the American Airlines AAdvantage program
https://thepointsguy.com/guide/how-to-redeem-miles-american-aadvantage/
Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers. Although the American Airlines AAdvantage program has experienced devaluations in recent years and moved to dynamic pricing, you can still find plenty of sweet spots. American offers an extensive network of domestic and international routes. It is also a part of …
Discover it Secured Credit Card review: Earn rewards while building credit
https://thepointsguy.com/guide/discover-it-secured-credit-card-review/
Discover it Secured Credit Card overview The Discover it Secured Credit Card is a good option for people with limited or poor credit history. It has no required credit score and gives cardholders a chance to have their security deposit refunded. This card also earns cash-back rewards, making it a good choice for any credit …
Eat your way around the world in 2025
https://thepointsguy.com/guide/culinary-travel-calendar/
There are plenty of reasons to hit the road, including wellness, adventure and much-needed rest and relaxation. But for many travelers, experiencing a destination’s culinary landscape is at the top of their to-do list. Whether it’s a street taco crawl in Mexico City, Champagne tasting at a family-run cellar in France or soaking up the …
Lufthansa Miles & More: How to earn and redeem miles, elite status and more
https://thepointsguy.com/guide/ultimate-guide-to-earning-and-redeeming-lufthansa-miles-more-miles/
Lufthansa Group has grown a ton in recent years. The group bought several European airlines while expanding the Lufthansa route network from its Frankfurt Airport (FRA) and Munich Airport (MUC) hubs. One thing you may not know about Lufthansa is that several airlines around Europe use its Miles & More loyalty program, some of which …
10 easiest credit card welcome bonuses to earn
https://thepointsguy.com/guide/10-easiest-credit-card-sign-up-bonuses-to-earn/
Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers. Welcome bonuses are often one of the major selling points when seeking out a new rewards credit card. Card issuers offer these bonuses to entice new customers and promote spending on their new cards. The best welcome offers are worth hundreds …