If there were ever two properties where you really can’t go wrong either way, it’s these. However, this is a question we get a lot, so I’ll highlight the differences between Canaves Epitome and Canaves Oia Suites in this post to help you decide which you’d prefer to book!   Redemption Options Both properties are […]

The Southwest® Companion Pass is among the best deals in the points and miles world.  Either my husband or I have had the Southwest Companion Pass off and on for the last seven years. When you earn the pass, you get to fly someone with you for free (minus taxes and fees starting at $5.60) […]

This year, our annual mom/daughter trip took us to Portugal on points and miles. Our primary goal was the Azores Islands, with a quick stop in Lisbon.   Flights to Portugal We opted to fly to London via Virgin Atlantic from Boston. Each of us took a positioning flight to Boston, and we met there. […]

Our recent trip to Portugal gave me the perfect excuse to review the Hyatt Regency Lisbon. This is a Category 4 hotel which means it will cost you between 12,000-18,000 points a night or you can use a Hyatt category 1-4 free night certificate. Occupancy for standard rooms is 2 adults so we opted to […]

Sometimes, a positioning flight allows you to visit or revisit a city before your main objective. In this case, my daughters and I were flying out of Boston on points and miles for our annual girl’s trip. Our primary objective was to visit Lisbon, Portugal, and the Azores Islands. One of my daughters had never […]

Hyatt keeps adding more hotel brands you can book with Hyatt points. Mr. and Mrs. Smith Hotels is one of their newer brands. This acquisition of over 1500 luxury hotels all over the world further cements why we love Hyatt so much. Mr. and Mrs. Smith is a travel company that offers a collection of […]

Last year I was chatting with my daughter, Molly, about our summer 2024 travel plans. I asked her if she could travel anywhere on points and miles where she would choose. She immediately exclaimed, “Stars Hollow!” While Stars Hollow is a fictional town made famous by the show Gilmore Girls, it is based on some […]

Through September 30, 2024, American Express is offering a 30% transfer bonus to Hilton. Normally, American Express Membership Rewards® transfer 1:2 to Hilton. That means 1,000 AMEX points = 2,000 Hilton points. With this transfer bonus, 1,000 AMEX points = 2,600 Hilton points. We typically prefer to save our Membership Rewards® points for international flights, […]

I think we at TMS would all agree that booking a Hyatt Place for family travel is one of the most economical decisions one can make. Not only are the point redemptions phenomenally low in price, but you can usually fit SIX people in a room. Additionally, almost all Hyatt Places include complimentary breakfast for […]

Today’s question is one that is frequently asked with transferable points – Should I book in a travel portal or with a transfer partner? First, I will tell you that we usually book with a transfer partner. We typically get better value for our points that way, but we also do more bookings internationally or […]

Elizabeth sent in her reader success story on going to St. Kitts on points and miles. That is a trip on my radar so I was excited to read it! Here is her story. I wanted to share our recent family trip to St. Kitts on points and miles. With our family growing over the […]

I recently had a stay at the Gaylord Rockies Resort in Denver near the Denver Airport. Here is my review of the Gaylord Resort in Denver. Gaylord Resorts is part of the Marriott Brand, and there are currently five of them, with another one coming to Chula Vista, California. These are the ones presently available: […]

It’s no secret that all of us at TMS are huge fans of Greece, so of course, a trip to the capital city of Athens is a must at least once in your life! It’s made even better when you can visit Athens on points and miles. That being said, you don’t need too much […]

My latest stay in Greece was on the island of Crete at the Marriott Domes Zeen Chania Resort. My daughter, Kelly, had stayed there earlier and really enjoyed it. I wanted to stay in Crete, so I chose it as our destination. Crete is a huge island, and there are many different chain hotels to […]

Heather’s reader success story is about Greece in luxury and we’re here for it! Greece is one of our favorite destinations and luxury is our theme of travel except for family vacations. Here is her story:   First of all, I’m a huge fan! I’m so excited to share my success story with you. My […]

Recently, I flew JFK-JTR (Santorini) on a Brussels Airlines Business Class Flight as I returned to Greece. This flight was booked on United Airlines for 88,000 United Miles plus $5.60 in cash per ticket. I made this trip with my friend Deanna, who has never flown business class before. Here is my review of the […]

Capital One Venture Miles are a transferable currency that can greatly add to your credit card portfolios. You can redeem them through the Capital One travel portal. You will get better value by transferring the miles to transfer partners, though, so let’s go over how to transfer Capital One Venture Miles.   Step One Sign […]

I could go to two places every single year—Italy and Greece. I love these two countries and want to explore them more or return to cities that I love. This summer, I have trips to both of them. First, I’m back to Greece on points and miles. I have a friend who has had a […]

Elizabeth sent us this reader success story of her family trip to Amsterdam on credit card points and miles. This trip was taken with two young children, and we appreciate her sharing it with all of us. Here is her story: Hi! Thank you for all the life-changing information I learned from your podcast and […]

We recently stayed at the  Hyatt Place Panama City Beach prior to moving to our Vacasa rental at Miramar Beach. We were a family of 29 people staying there in 7 rooms – what were our thoughts? As you all know, I love a good luxury hotel. While I wouldn’t classify the Panama City Hyatt Place […]

We just got back from a family trip for 29 people to Florida.  Almost THIRTY people! Was it all on credit card points and miles? Not at all, but they certainly helped take the sting out of some of our travel. Here’s how we did it:   Flights on Points to Panama City, Florida Most […]