One of our TMS dads, Nick, sent us this reader success story to Paris and Boston. Here is his story of learning about points and miles and then using that education for an amazing trip!   As I sit here at the Hôtel du Louvre in Paris, writing this, I can hardly believe this is […]

I just returned from an Alaska cruise on Princess Cruise Lines. I paid for the cruise outright and used points and miles to offset some of our other trip costs. Sure, it is possible to pay for a cruise. Some credit card issuers, like Chase, American Express, and Citi, allow you to book cruises through […]

Just in! We have new American Express Hilton Credit Card offers!  Here’s what has changed:   card_name     Learn How to Apply bonus_miles_full   The card_name is up first. This is a great entry-level card for Hilton hotel lovers and comes with a nice welcome offer, considering that it’s a no-annual-fee card. This card […]

Hotel credit cards often come with lucrative perks, like annual free-night certificates, automatic elite status, and high earning rates on hotel spend. While we encourage applying for credit cards with flexible points first, hotel credit cards are definitely part of our points and miles strategy. Here is information about how you may be able to […]

For frequent diners, American Express® has quietly transformed Resy into more than just a restaurant reservation platform—it’s now a way to get a “free” meal.  However, like many credit card benefits, Resy credits can be confusing or underutilized unless you understand exactly how they work. Let’s break it down and talk about how to maximize […]

Kayla sent us our most recent reader success story: ten days in Italy. Here is her story: I just got back from my dream Italian vacation! I started this hobby in early 2024 and just spent ten days in Italy on points and miles. We spent three nights in Rome, three in Florence, three in […]

Many readers want to know more about airline transfer bonuses because these can really help your miles go further. A transfer bonus is when you transfer points from a flexible currency like Chase Ultimate Rewards®, American Express Membership Rewards®, Capital One Venture Miles, or Citi ThankYou® Points to a travel partner, and you receive a […]

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 […]

If you’ve been considering a new credit card, October is looking great! We have a plethora of great offers to let you know about this month. 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 […]

In a world where everyone is comparing themselves to each other because of social media and other things, one of my favorite sayings is “you do you.” This is also true for the points and miles hobby. You do you! Please don’t compare yourself to others. There are countless strategies for earning points and miles, […]

Carrie sent us this reader success story: Father’s Day in Chicago. She used points and miles to make her husband’s baseball dreams come true. Here’s her story: I used all the Travel Mom Squad tips to turn a last-minute work trip into a fun Father’s Day weekend! For reference, my husband and I live in […]

This post comes to us from Jess before she was even part of TMS. It’s about another Miraval property than the one featured in our podcast for today, so we thought you’d like a repeat performance of her review!   Magic at Miraval Austin Set in the beautiful Texas Hill Country, the Miraval Austin wellness […]

I must admit that this credit card has flown under our radar for some time. However, with mortgages comprising a considerable portion of our spending and a loyal student discussing the Mesa Homeowners Card at our recent meetup, we decided to take a closer look at it. Here’s what I found out: Although the Mesa […]

One of our readers sent in this story (please send your name to me so I can credit you)! Here is her experience at the Hyatt Regency, Monterey, with a family of four AND Globalist status.    First Impressions Arriving at the Hyatt Regency Monterey, we immediately felt a sense of calm wash over us. […]

Today’s review concerns my favorite American Express credit card, the card_name which I plan to keep in my wallet. Despite an annual fee of annual_fees, I get more value from it than I pay. Skeptical? Stay tuned as I tell you why I love it so much…. For rates and fees of the American Express […]

Get ready for changes to the card_name. The annual fee is jumping to annual_fees, but you can unlock $3,500+ in annual value if you can utilize the credits and benefits associated with the card. Along with this jump in the annual fee comes a welcome offer as high as 175,000 American Express Membership Rewards® when […]

While we often recommend the card_name as a beginner-friendly first card for those seeking credit card points and miles, there is a definite time when the card_name might work best. In fact, I just applied for it after years of holding the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card. The enhanced travel protection on the Chase Sapphire Reserve® […]

Planning family travel is no small feat. Between picking kid-friendly destinations, sticking to a budget, and trying to maximize your hotel points, it can feel overwhelming. That’s why Gondola looks promising. It is a new hotel-booking tool that helps moms (and families) travel smarter, save money, and even earn free nights. In this guide, I’ll […]

Lauren’s success story to Hot Springs National Park was a trip she took with her husband and their high school exchange student! What a great use of credit card points and miles! Here is her story.   Great Use of a Southwest® Companion Pass® My success story is a trip my husband and I took […]

The 90K offers on the card_name and card_name are BACK! We love these offers so much because they earn some of our very favorite types of points—Ultimate Rewards®! And the best part? Neither one has an annual fee! Think you don’t qualify for a business card? Think again and read this post.  You can earn […]

If you’re already using points and miles to stretch your family’s travel budget, you know the thrill of finding ways to earn a few extra points and miles. Keeping track of which shopping portal has the best deal, which card-linked offers are active, and whether it’s even worth stacking an offer can feel overwhelming. That’s […]