When it comes to traveling on points, it pays (or in this case saves) to have some flexibility. One area that can offer you huge savings is positioning flights. Positioning for a flight means taking a flight from your home airport to a bigger international airport. This is something that can save you a lot […]

We love using our points and miles for family trips and luxury vacations. However, points and miles can save the day (or vacation) in some instances! Having a stockpile of points and miles when you have to travel at the last minute (and the cost of travel is high) makes a huge difference. If you […]

We’ve written a lot about vacations to Hawaii, but most of our posts talk about going to Maui or Kauai. Let’s have a Friday Family Vacation to Honolulu where we can find cheaper hotels, often cheaper flights, and all the sun and fun that every Hawaiian beach offers.   Getting There We’re flying our family […]

One of my favorite cities worldwide is Rome, Italy—and it’s not just because of the gelato and pizza! Rome is a city rich in history and culture. It is home to iconic landmarks such as the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, and the Pantheon, which can provide a fascinating educational experience for both children and adults. […]

On my recent trip to NYC, London, Dublin, and Florence with my sister, something happened that underscores why I don’t check luggage very often. We were flying from Dublin to Florence with a layover in Amsterdam. We had packed carry-on luggage only for a two-week trip (yes, it is possible). When we checked in at […]

We have discussed using the Chase Ink Business Cards to earn more of our favorite currency, Chase Ultimate Rewards®. One card that we’ve rarely talked about is the card_name. Jess got it to help fund a future Disney Cruise. I hadn’t considered it a viable option as it doesn’t earn Ultimate Rewards that can be […]

We know that award travel is much more complicated than just earning points. We get it, and it is for us, too! However, knowing some airline redemption sweet spots can help make things a little less complicated. We have covered many of them in individual posts, but it’s time to put them all in one […]

There is a new United Club Lounge at the Denver Airport. It is located in Concourse A near gate 25. Now, here is a statement that I never thought I’d make—this United Club Lounge is gorgeous! United must be upping their game in the lounge department. Not only is it sleek, modern, and gives off […]

Our favorite hotel points are Hyatt points because of the outsized value we get from them. One Hyatt feature we love is how easy they make it to combine Hyatt points with another Hyatt member. You don’t need to be related to them or live in the same household—as long as you’re both Hyatt members, […]

Our next reader success story comes from Melissa who used points for a family trip to Washington DC. Here’s her story: I am actually sitting in the car driving home from our first family trip using points! My family of four drove to Washington, DC and we stayed at the Grand Hyatt. This was such […]

There is a place that just sounds so bougie to vacation in and I’ve never been there—the Hamptons. Maybe if I do a post about it, I might make it happen someday. Let’s do a Friday Family Vacation to the Hamptons so we can all feel bougie!   Flights You used to be able to […]

Jill sent us her reader success story to Australia, and we are so happy to share it with you. I LOVED my trip to Australia earlier this year and know that many of you have plans to travel there, too. Here is her story: When our son moved to Australia in 2018, we expected him […]

We talk about having Hyatt Globalist status so much that many of you may think you HAVE to get it. Absolutely not! We will be the first to say that it may not be worth the effort for many people. While we love it and always plan to have it, this (and everything we talk […]

Recently, Alex and I flew KLM business class for the first time. This flight was from Salt Lake City to Amsterdam. Our final destination was Villa Orselina, near Locarno, Switzerland, but this flight offered us a convenient way to get to Europe for low cost. After landing in Amsterdam, we took EasyJet (a cheap European […]

Positioning flights are a huge part of our award redemption strategy. When you can’t find a flight from your home airport (or to your final destination), positioning flights can help make trips happen. They are not without risk, though—what happens when your positioning flight is delayed (or canceled)? I have taken numerous positioning flights without […]

I am planning a trip to Greece next Spring with a friend and have been looking at Greece hotels on points/miles. If I’m doing all this research, I might as well write a post about it! I’ll be looking at the main islands and what you can book on each. Athens has soooo many options, […]

We probably hear from more people wanting to travel the 20+ hours to get to the Maldives on points and miles than any other destination. People aspire to visit the Maldives, which is made up of 26 atolls and more than 1,000 coral islands, and it is known for its stunning beaches, clear waters, and […]

Boston is a city rich in history and culture. Families can explore famous landmarks such as the Freedom Trail, which takes you through 16 historical sites including the Paul Revere House and the Old North Church. Additionally, Boston has a vibrant sports scene, with teams like the Red Sox, Celtics, and Bruins, so families can […]

A couple of years ago, I booked flights, a pre-safari hotel, and a post-safari trip to Zanzibar. I paid cash for a safari at TAASA Lodge in Tanzania with a TravelZoo deal. This time, I have booked a safari entirely with points and miles! Here’s how booking an African safari with points is possible. Recently, […]

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 in the points and miles game. You do you! Please don’t compare yourself to others. There are countless strategies for earning points and miles, […]

There are many solid redemptions for IHG points, but one of the best is certainly Eastern Europe. With solid 10,000-20,000 point redemptions, there is no better place to maximize your IHG points. And with a high point-earning card, you can easily accumulate enough points for a free week in Europe with IHG points. Here are […]