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 […]

My recent trip to Scotland allowed me to stay at a new IHG brand of hotels—voco. We had actually checked into an Airbnb that was smaller than anticipated. My first night’s sleep there was so horrible. Luckily, with points and miles I was able to remedy that! Just another reason I love this hobby! I […]

The Bahamas is a beautiful country located in the Atlantic Ocean, specifically in the Caribbean region. The country is known for its stunning white sandy beaches, crystal-clear turquoise waters, and vibrant coral reefs, which attract visitors from all over the world. It is a popular spot for water sports such as snorkeling, scuba diving, and […]

Our latest reader success story comes from Jessica as she shares her trip to Ireland. Ireland has long been on my “to-do” list. Here is her reader success story to Ireland!   How It Began Early last year, we learned that our nephew’s high school band had been invited to play in the St. Patrick’s […]

Hey there, it’s the Travel Mom Squad is back in action! Today is all about getting your partner in crime, your “player two,” hooked on award travel with you. It’s like getting them on board the thrill ride of free travel using credit cards and points!   Listen on Apple Podcasts Listen on Spotify Watch […]

Credit card points and miles are great for paying for our flights and hotels. However, those are not the only vacation costs. There are still rental cars, food, and excursions to pay for. You can certainly book rental cars through a portal and pay for some excursions with the Capital One purchase eraser. To be […]

Aruba is a beautiful island located in the southern Caribbean Sea and is known for its stunning white sandy beaches, crystal-clear turquoise waters, and year-round warm weather.  The island’s economy is primarily based on tourism, with many visitors coming to enjoy its beautiful beaches, water sports, and vibrant nightlife. Aruba is also known for its […]

We know you hear us talk about luxurious hotels, business-class seats, and opening up a dozen credit cards each year and probably freak out a little. Do you have to do all of that to be successful with credit card points and miles? Absolutely not! We have Facebook Group members ask about getting a certain […]

Welcome back to the Travel Mom Squad, your go-to for exhilarating travel exploits using points and miles! This episode sees Jess delve into her recent Hawaiian escapade, comparing the Hyatt Regency Maui and the Andaz Maui in part two of our Hawaiian Hyatt Showdown. If you missed Episode 23, catch up to learn about Alex […]

Want to know a way to make your credit card miles and points go even further? Plan stopovers on award flights for free and get more mileage out of them. A stopover is when you stay 24 hours or more in a connecting city, and then finish your travel. It’s like a 2-for-1 special! Here […]

We’ve talked about how we keep our hotel credit cards that come with free night certificates each year because we can book a room for at least double the annual fee. Our hotel cards are credit cards for which we don’t mind paying an annual fee. Let’s go over booking with free annual night hotel […]

Usually I book one-way award segments when going somewhere with my points and miles. Here are 3 reasons why this works best for me. If I have many miles with one carrier and that is who I want to fly with, then booking a round-trip flight works just fine.   Wanting to Use a Variety […]