Traveling is an exciting and enriching experience, but it can also be an expensive affair. What if I tell you that there’s a way to travel to stunning destinations without breaking the bank? Yes, it’s possible, and it is through traveling using credit card points. In this blog post, I will walk you through how traveling with miles and points can be a frugal yet adventurous way to explore the world.
In this post, I’m going to talk about why a zero-fee ATM card is a game-changer when you’re traveling the world. I’ve been using the Charles Schwab Debit Card along with their awesome Brokerage Checking Account, and let me tell you, it’s been a lifesaver. The best part? No maintenance fees and no worries about keeping a minimum balance. Plus, they cover all your ATM fees from anywhere in the world at the end of each month. It’s an amazing card that’s got your back for all your travel needs.
Want to snag a complimentary hotel upgrade for your birthday, honeymoon, or graduation? Check out these free email templates! This blog post lists the secrets on making your requests pop; therefore, boosting your chances of a sweet upgrade. Make your special occasion even more memorable by getting an upgrade through these handy hotel upgrade email templates.
Whether you’re new to travel points and miles or a seasoned points enthusiast, it’s crucial to know the various travel partners your credit cards offer. One of the most effective ways to maximize your credit card points is by transferring them to airline and hotel partners for discounted flights and free hotel stays.
In this blog post, I will outline the airline and hotel partners of the most popular travel rewards credit cards available to travel points and miles fans.
Antarctica isn’t just a destination for the wealthy seeking exclusive experiences—it’s also accessible to the savvy, budget-conscious explorer. In this blog post, I will share valuable tips, tricks, and insider knowledge on how you can travel to Antarctica, making this dream adventure a reality. Join me as we delve into the mesmerizing landscapes, encounter unique wildlife, and discover the wonders of the icy continent. Is Antarctica on your bucket list? Let’s make it happen together!
In this blog article, I’ll walk you through the steps on how to transfer your Hilton Honor points to another member for free. Also, we will go over the steps on how to initiate Hilton’s points pooling program so that big groups can combine points that can be redeemed for unforgettable Hilton redemptions.
Welcome to Porto, the charming city known for its colorful buildings, delicious food, and port wine. But what do you do when the rain starts pouring down? Don’t let a little rain dampen your spirits or ruin your travel plans. In this blog, I’ll share my favorite spots in Porto for rainy days and give you a one-day plan for when the forecast looks gloomy.
Since some credit cards provide travel credits that expire within a year, depositing money in United’s travel bank is a viable option to utilize those credits so they won’t go to waste. Funds diverted in United’s travel bank have a 5-year lifespan so it offers some level of longevity and a whole lot of flexibility, especially that travel is not expected to pick up again anytime soon. In this blog post, I will walk you through the steps on how to fund and use United’s Travel Bank.
Without a doubt, Hyatt’s award chart is exceptionally lucrative as they charge substantially fewer points across the board when compared to other hotel brands. In this blog post, I will go over the steps involved in transferring Hyatt points to a spouse, friend, or another Hyatt member, so you are step closer to the vacation of your dreams.
As one of the world’s largest airlines, American Airlines offers a frequent flyer program that’s chock-full of perks and rewards. Whether you’re a frequent business traveler or a points enthusiast looking for the best deals, earning American Airlines miles can help you save money while enjoying a comfortable and rewarding travel experience. In this guide, we unveil the various ways you can earn American Airlines miles.
Ventana Big Sur is one of those holy grail properties. Costing $1,500/night for its most basic room, staying here is not only unrealistic for most, it is also impractical in my honest opinion. But due to its recent acquisition by Hyatt, it is now possible to book stays there using points. It was an overall unforgettable experience and I suggest you consider staying there too if you have an extra stash of Hyatt or Chase points. This blog post will walk you through the steps on how to book it yourself.
In this blog post, I will guide you through the step-by-step process of searching for award space using Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer miles. You will learn how to utilize your valuable Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer miles to make the most of your travel experiences and unlock exciting trips. Whether you’re planning a dream vacation or a spontaneous getaway, this detailed guide will provide you with all the necessary tips on how to search for award space on the Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer website.
The World of Hyatt’s award chart is popular among frugal travelers and points enthusiasts looking to maximize their hotel points and benefits. Hyatt offers a competitive award chart, with redemption options starting at just 3,500 points per night for Category 1 properties and going up to 45,000 points per night for Category 8 properties. with Hyatt hotels to take advantage of free stays on Hyatt points. In this blog article, I’ll walk you through the steps in searching for World of Hyatt free night awards so you can be on your way to your next free bucket-list vacation.
Discover the magic of Paris without breaking the bank! In this blog post, we unveil 25 incredible free sites to explore in the City of Lights. From iconic landmarks like the Eiffel Tower views to hidden gems, street markets, and art deco metro stations, this budget-friendly guide will help you make the most of your Parisian adventure without spending a cent.
Angkor Wat is one of the most impressive archaeological sites in Southeast Asia. A visit to this incredible site will be an unforgettable experience for any traveler looking to explore ancient history and culture. With two full days at your disposal, you can take advantage of all there is to see and do at Angkor Wat.
Are you an American Airlines AAdvantage member with a stockpile of miles? If so, you may be concerned about their expiration. The airline’s policy states that miles expire after 24 months of account inactivity. Fortunately, there are a few simple ways to keep your miles active and avoid expiration. This article will discuss techniques that will help preserve your hard-earned American Airlines AAdvantage miles.
What to do in Milan for free? Join our free walking tour and find out! We’ll take you to some of the city’s most iconic landmarks, including grand churches, beautiful piazzas, and charming canals. And along the way, we’ll share insider tips on how to make the most of your time in Milan. So whether you’re a first-time visitor or a seasoned traveler, come explore with us!
With our free walking tour guide, you’ll see all the best that Milan has to offer while learning about its history and culture along the way. So put on your comfortable shoes and let’s get started!
Discover the hidden gem of Mexico City with this comprehensive self-guided walking tour through Centro Historico. Uncover the beauty and richness of CDMX, a city often overlooked but brimming with must-see attractions for all types of travelers. From historical wonders to vibrant culture, Mexico City has something for everyone, making it a destination not to be missed. This blog post will take you on a journey through the heart of Mexico’s capital so you can unlock the secrets of this enchanting metropolis.
Points enthusiasts, frequent flyers, and frugal tourists know that the voyage is as important as the destination. Long layovers and flight delays are an inevitable part of the travel experience, but they don’t have to be a drag. Gone are the days of waiting for your flight in those cramped, noisy airport terminals—welcome to the world of serene lounges with the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card. In this blog post, I’ll explain why the Venture X card is the savvy traveler’s best friend, especially if you yearn for an oasis of calm during your hectic travel schedule.
If you’re looking for a way to explore new destinations without spending a lot of extra miles, booking a stopover with Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer miles is the perfect option. Stopovers on award itineraries are simple and cost-effective with KrisFlyer. So be sure to take advantage of this feature the next time you are planning an award flight with Singapore Airlines. In this blog post, I will walk you through the steps on how to add stopovers to your redemptions so you can maximize the value of your Singapore KrisFlyer awards.
Conrad Maldives is a top-tier Hilton property that requires 95,000 Hilton points per night on their standard rooms (as of April 2021). Nightly paid rates range from $600 to over $1,000 per night. Hence, it is not truly a financially-viable option if you are a frugal tourist like myself as I’d rather invest that cash for early retirement versus splurge on an experience that only provides a momentary high. In this blog post, I will go over the steps on how you can also book 5 nights at the Conrad Maldives – Rangali Island using Hilton points on your next vacation.
The World of Hyatt hotels is, without a doubt, one of my favorite brands because of how inexpensive their award nights are when compared to other hotels. In this blog article, I’ll guide you through the World of Hyatt’s new off-peak and peak award chart so that you can plan your getaways around the time that rooms are inexpensive. That way, you can save those valuable World of Hyatt points for future redemptions.
One of the most lucrative frugal strategies I’ve been optimizing the past decade or so is leveraging points and miles earned from credit cards to pay for my airfare and hotel stays. These credit cards require for a certain amount of spending to occur before they give out bonuses. In this blog post, I will lay out some ways on how you can meet this requirement without breaking the bank.
San Francisco’s stunning geography has certainly attracted an artistically-inclined populace. Aside from its majestic attractions, it is also speckled with incredible street art, particularly in its famous Mission District. There are hundreds of amazing murals scattered all over SF but the “Mission” is hands down the epicenter of this kaleidoscopic movement. This tour aims to connect some of the most sublime and well-known neighborhood masterpieces in the Mission. Let’s go!
Venice can also be an extremely expensive destination. If you’re not mindful, you can easily spend a fortune on your lodging alone. For those seeking an inexpensive stay in this lovely city using points, I highly recommend the Hyatt Centric Murano Venice. In this blog post, we will discuss some of the reasons why we recommend this hotel, as well as how to book a stay at this property.
One of the fastest ways to accumulate travel miles and points is to purchase gift cards (Visa Gift Cards or Mastercard Gift Cards) when they go on sale, either at office supply stores or grocery stores, by using travel credit cards. In this blog post, I will list out the various liquidation methods I’ve utilized through the years to convert these gift cards into cash, while simultaneously earning travel points for free flights and hotels.
Milan is a vibrant city full of culture, art, fashion, and history. It’s no wonder that it has become one of the hottest tourist destinations in Europe! With its stunning architecture and beautiful scenery, Milan offers something for everyone. Whether you’re looking to explore the city’s historic sites or shop at designer boutiques, there are plenty of free things to do and see in Milan.
From strolling through picturesque parks to visiting awe-inspiring churches without paying admission fees, here are some of the top free activities in this amazing Italian city. So what are you waiting for? Start planning your trip today!
San Francisco, arguably the most beautiful city in the United States, is divinely formed by nature to be a gift to walkers and hikers. As my first ever stairways post in the blog, this particular walk is dear to my heart as it is one of my favorites. This walk is filled with spellbinding vistas, remarkable neighborhoods, glorious stairways, and Coit Tower perched atop one of SF’s striking hills – Telegraph Hill. Let’s go!
While 7 out of 8 U.S. timeshares owners are satisfied, one-in-four Americans have trouble paying their bills. In a world of tough choices, a timeshare invoice is probably placed at the bottom of a stack of bills. Do you have an unwanted timeshare? Is the maintenance fee a financial burden? Similar to other commitments, you can’t just walk away from a timeshare company. Here are five ways you can “divorce” your timeshare legally that don’t include paying thousands of dollars of upfront fees to timeshare exit companies or to a timeshare lawyer. Read along.
Twin Peaks, one of SF’s most iconic tourist attractions, is a must-see on your first trip to this stunning city by the bay. In this blog post, I will map out a walking tour itinerary that is guaranteed to get your heart pumping to its limit. Prepare to tackle numerous stairs along the way and summit two of SF’s most popular hills. Let’s go!
San Francisco is well-known for its dramatic geographical location and its extensive list of alluring attractions. Unbeknownst to many, San Francisco is also a treasure trove of stellar street art. Mesmerizing murals are strewn all over town, just waiting to be uncovered by many a curious traveler. In this blog post, I will list out my personal choice of the best murals that can be found in San Francisco’s famous Mission District.
South America is one of my favorite continents in the world. My travels across this incredible region have led me to discover so many extraordinary highlights – marvelous towering peaks, iconic lost ancient empires, wondrously scrumptious cuisine, and pristinely lush jungles – splattered everywhere in this spectacularly scenic and geographically-diverse continent. In the past decade, my love affair with this continent made me return at least 8 times, providing me with countless opportunities to travel extensively all over, from its northernmost tip in Colombia to the southernmost region of Patagonia. In this blog post, I count down the personal list of favorite sites in South America.
This blog post is the companion walking tour guide of my article on Rome’s Ultimate Top 10 Best Churches to Visit. A free walking tour map is included and can be easily downloaded to your google maps and shared with someone who is interested. After several visits to Rome and to these churches, I assure you that the itinerary I have laid out will not only satisfy your religious spirits but also gratify your cravings for stupendously enchanting artistic masterpieces.
Picking Rome’s ten best churches was quite a tall order. The city is dotted with extraordinary churches from all corners that narrowing this list down to TEN ended up being unexpectedly arduous. Equipped with no other metric except how persisting the impressions these churches had in me personally, this tally is purely subjective and solely based on my opinion. However, after a thorough evaluation of this list, I did notice that I had one bias. I realized that I primarily selected churches that mostly housed astonishing pieces of art as well as mosaics. In this blog post, I count down my personal TOP TEN list of the most iconic, must-visit churches in Rome.
San Francisco, the spellbinding city by the bay, boasts an alluring topography composed of picturesque hills and sweeping seascapes. Sadly, this captivating city comes with an exorbitant price tag. Living here costs an arm and a leg (and some other body part) and visiting it as a tourist can be equally expensive. But, it does not have to be that way. This blog post will walk you through the various attractions in the city that require zero spending.
Lands End is the ultimate urban hike in San Francisco and one of the best hikes I have ever done in any huge metropolitan city I have visited around the globe. Only have time for one hike while in San Francisco? This is IT. This trail seems to have it all. Fascinating history, astonishing ruins, splendid Golden Gate Bridge views, and the opportunity to touch the mighty Pacific Ocean. And that’s only the tip of the iceberg. Let’s put our walking shoes on and start hiking!
SALAR DE UYUNI, located in Bolivia’s high plateau (altiplano), is the largest and highest salt flats in the world. It is one of those locations in this planet that can be fascinatingly described as surreal and other-worldly. To reach this astounding destination requires some effort and conscientious planning. Here are 5 critical tips to ensure your journey to this side of the globe is a success.
San Francisco, the bewitching city by the bay, boasts an alluring topography composed of scenic hills and spectacular seascapes. This walking tour starts at SF’s Embarcadero District, inside the fantastic Ferry Building and close to the Bay Bridge, and ends at the world-famous Fisherman’s Wharf with enchanting views of the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, and its boisterous sea lions. Between our start and end points is an optional heart-pounding detour to a hike up to the top of one of SF’s most sensational hills, Telegraph Hill. Let’s put on our walking shoes on and start moving.
In this blog post, I count down the top ten highlights of the 3-day Salar De Uyuni circuit that extends all the way towards the border with Chile.
Showstoppers include the breathtaking Salar De Uyuni, countless flamingos, stunning lakes, and volcanoes, etc. The diversity of landscapes and the sheer desolateness of this region are enough to consider having this trek occupy a slot on your bucket list.
I have always been enormously fascinated by overland border crossings (#9 was over sea). Here, I rank my ten most unforgettable cross-country expeditions. Some were indelible because they were outrageously terrifying. Some were just spectacularly scenic and outright thrilling.
The Ifugao Rice Terraces are located in the “Cordilleras”, the rugged mountainous regions of the Northern Philippines. Scattered across swaths of Ifugao and Mountain Provinces, 5 of these breathtaking terraced rice paddies are awarded World Heritage Status by UNESCO. These 5 are located in Batad, Bangaan, Hungduan, Kiangan, and Mayoyao. These terraces are an engineering feat as they were carved from the mountains using the most rudimentary of tools about 2 millennia ago.
If I could rank Turkey more than 5 stars, I would. Being the archeological junkie that I am, the entire country is as close to an ancient playground as it gets. It certainly gives Egypt, Angkor Wat, Ancient Rome, and Ancient Greece a run for their money. I’ve read somewhere that Turkey possesses more Greek and Roman ruins than Italy and Greece combined and I honestly believe that assertion. I had visited a total of 10 extraordinary archaeological ruins while backpacking around the entire country through public buses.
Discover how to book luxurious Taipei hotels like the Grand Hyatt and Kimpton Da’an for free using credit card points and free night certificates that are earned from hotel credit cards. Enjoy cost-effective travel and unforgettable experiences using your credit card rewards. In this blog post, I’ll share my strategies on how I booked 6 nights in Taipei for $0 – thanks to credit card points and rewards!
Office Depot/Max is back with their regular deal of discounted gift cards. This time around, $15 is instantly deducted from your tab if you purchase $300+ Mastercard gift cards. This is a wonderful opportunity to help you meet the minimum spending requirement of a new credit card you just applied for. Alternatively, use another credit card that gives a bonus at office supply stores.
Discover Raohe Street Night Market, a frugal traveler’s dream with cheap, delicious eats and cultural gems like Michelin-rated buns and Ciyou Temple in Taipei! In this blog post, I will share an itinerary that hits most of the stalls featured by Michelin. It also has a downloadable and shareable map. Enjoy!
Maximize your travel rewards with our guide to current credit card transfer bonuses. Discover how to stretch your points and miles for luxurious travel experiences, including flying business class and enjoying premium hotel stays. This blog post will tell you which credit card issuers have transfer bonuses so you can take advantage of them too.
Staples is back with its FEE-FREE Visa Gift Card promotion that can be optimized to earn a lot of credit card points that can be used for free travel and hotel stays.
Explore San Francisco’s Chinatown with our free self-guided walking tour itinerary with maps featuring tips on the best cultural and historical spots in the neighborhood. Perfect for travelers looking to experience Chinatown’s charm without breaking the bank.
Staples is back with its FEE-FREE Mastercard Gift Card promotion that can be leveraged to earn a lot of travel points or cash rewards.
Discover the magic of Elephant Plains Lodge in Sabi Sands, where wildlife roams freely from Kruger. In this blog post, I share my favorite safari lodge in Africa. Not only is it quite affordable, but it also offers phenomenal Big 5 sightings. Perfect for your first South African safari adventure!
Unlock the fun of sharing travel perks with our easy guide on gifting those World of Hyatt awards. Find out how to gift awesome rewards such as free nights, suite upgrades, and more. We will share which awards you can share, and show our easy steps to gift those valuable perks to friends and family. Ideal for points lovers, jet-setters, and savvy travelers!
Explore how to add a companion to your Turkish Airlines Miles and Smiles account. As the airline with the most destinations globally, use your miles to book on Star Alliance partners and enrich your travel experience for your and your companions. In this blog post, I’ll walk you through the steps on how to add new passengers in your Turkish Airlines Miles and Smiles account.
Check out the current 20% transfer bonus from Capital One to Flying Blue (Air France/KLM), which is available until September 29, 2024. Whether planning a luxurious getaway or a business trip, converting your Capital One miles to Flying Blue can potentially save you a lot of money. In this blog post, we will learn how to strategically make the most of our points by evaluating whether this transfer bonus is something we can maximize for our future redemptions on Air France, KLM, and its partners.
Learn how to transfer Capital One miles to airline and hotel partners with our step-by-step guide. Discover the new rewards programs offered by Capital One and enhance your travel rewards strategy today!
One of the benefits of learning how credit card points work is the ability to use travel points and miles to fly business class on different airlines. This China Airlines redemption from Taipei to Seattle using Flying Blue miles exemplifies how credit card points can be maximized to fly luxuriously without breaking the bank. In this blog post, I’ll share details about how I booked my return flight from Taipei back to the West Coast of the US using travel miles and points.
Check out the 30% transfer bonus from Amex Membership Rewards to Hilton Honors, available until September 30, 2024. Whether planning a luxurious getaway or a business trip, converting your Amex points to Hilton Honors can enhance your travel experience. In this blog post, we will learn how to strategically make the most of our points by evaluating whether this transfer bonus is something we can maximize for our future stays at Hilton properties around the globe.
