Have you ever been at checkout, ready to earn some serious points, only to realize later that you used the wrong credit card and left bonus points on the table? Or even worse, have you ever found out after the fact that you had an American Express or Chase offer that could have saved you […]

I recently returned to the Kimpton Grand Roatán Resort and Spa, but this time around with another daughter. This time, Alex came with me! Even though I’ve reviewed this hotel before, I wanted to talk about new insights, cover different rooms, and tell you what it was like visiting when the resort was at max […]

In this episode, the Travel Mom Squad is heading south! Jess shares her birthday trip to San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, and Pam and Alex walk us through their tropical getaway to Roatán, Honduras. From charming colonial cities to vibrant beachside resorts, both of these escapes were powered by points and miles—and they’re breaking down […]

Credit card points and miles are not only for flying to destinations—road trips are also a great way to use points for hotel stays. In this post, Brooke primarily road-tripped most of her trip in her reader success story: a Southwest road trip! Here’s her story:   Southwest Road Trip We spent nine days and […]

Sadly, there have been some changes to the United credit cards. And changes are seldom good news. 😩 Here are some of the top changes to note:    card_name This card has always been great to downgrade to and still get the United Airlines saver award options when you search for award space. Sadly, you […]

Hyatt Guest of Honor bookings are an amazing feature of the World of Hyatt program, whether you’re the person earning the award or the person who gets to use it! A Hyatt Guest of Honor (GOH) award is a fabulous Milestone Award you can earn. Once you’ve earned it, you can give it to someone […]

In this episode, we’re diving deep into IHG One Rewards—a hotel program that often flies under the radar but has serious potential. From practical Holiday Inns to luxury Kimptons and InterContinentals, we’re sharing our experiences using IHG points and free-night awards, how we earn them, and why buying IHG points (yes, buying!) can actually be […]

IHG often has great signup bonuses on their cards, but they fall somewhat under the radar compared to the other hotel brands. They have long been my second-favorite brand (after Hyatt, of course). We have many readers asking us about how we use our IHG points, so here goes! First of all, there are several […]

Andrew shares today’s reader success story about how he used points and miles to book a milestone family trip to Spain. Here is his story:   Travel has always been a priority for our family, but with two young boys—one of whom faced unexpected medical challenges—we weren’t sure when our next adventure would happen. Thanks […]

It won’t shock you to learn that each of us has the World of Hyatt Credit Card. While this card doesn’t currently have a huge welcome offer, it does give cardholders five elite-night credits on that help on the journey to earning Globalist status. Additionally, one of the best benefits of this card is that […]

In this episode, Jess and Alex are sharing all the magic, insights, and travel tips they brought back from a recent media event at Walt Disney World. From exclusive behind-the-scenes tours to exciting new ticket and resort updates, they’re joined by Megan—Travel Mom Squad’s Disney expert—to talk about how to make a Disney trip more […]

Travel Mom Squad readers love Disney vacations because they offer the perfect mix of family-friendly fun, nostalgia, and magical experiences that create unforgettable memories. Even better, we can use credit card points to decrease the cost of these trips. Sometimes, these are the most important trips you will take with your family, and you want […]

One of my favorite airports to stay at when I have an early departure is the Westin Denver International Airport. It is just a short walk to get to the airport and I enjoy the views of the tarmac or the airport, depending on where your room is.  This hotel is one of the first […]

Today, we are joining Stephanie on her reader success story to Dublin and Southern Ireland—a place known for its lush greenery, rolling hills, and rugged coastline. She took this trip in 2022 with her family of four. Here is her story: We are a family of four living just outside of Washington, DC, in Alexandria, […]

I love Park Hyatts. They are the gem of the Hyatt hotel brand, and the Park Hyatt Auckland is no exception. This was the first hotel we stayed at on our recent trip to New Zealand, and I am already plotting a return visit. Here is my Park Hyatt Auckland review.         […]

I just completed a return to New Zealand on points and miles. My first trip to New Zealand was to the South Island. We were supposed to go to the North Island on that same trip too, but they had sudden flash flooding, and we had to cancel that part of our itinerary. So this […]

New Zealand has been high on so many of your travel wish lists—and for good reason! In this episode, Pam shares details from her recent two-week adventure on the North Island of New Zealand, including how she booked business-class flights and multiple free hotel nights —all using points and miles (and one fortuitous mistake fare). […]

Amy sent us this reader success story to Grand Hyatt Baha Mar. She didn’t even go on this trip but facilitated the trip for her family. Here’s her story: I have three kids in their twenties who have started opening their own cards to dabble in getting points and miles. My 25-year-old son and his […]

Not sure how to maximize your points? In this episode, we break down the top three ways to use each of the four major flexible points currencies—our favorite points currency (IYKYK), American Express Membership Rewards®, Capital One Venture Miles, and Citi ThankYou® Points—so you can book travel smarter.   Listen on Apple Podcasts Listen on […]

Stephanie sent in this story about her ski trip to Park City on points. Many of our readers love to ski or snowboard and Park City is a mecca for winter activities.  Here is her story:   A Winter Wonderland: Our Family Ski Trip to Park City, Utah While most travelers chase the sun in […]

Once again, I recently found myself on the brink of missing a positioning flight.  Cue the adrenaline rush! There’s nothing worse than that panicked, sinking feeling that your hard-earned business-class redemption, booked with precious points and miles, might slip through your fingers. Or worse—that your trip itself might be at risk.  So when you’re scheduling […]