In this episode, Jess and Alex break down one of the greatest deals in travel – the Southwest Companion Pass. Learn how you, too, can make it part of your award travel strategies! Listen on Apple Podcasts Listen on Spotify Listen on YouTube   Welcome back, travelers! It’s just Alex and Jess here today. Pam […]

Booking domestic United flights through Turkish Airlines can save you a ton of points. It’s also been a painful process recently because it has required either calling Turkish Airlines or emailing a ticket office. Well, up until now that is! You can now book Star Alliance award flights via the Turkish Airlines website. Here’s how […]

Well, I’m back to hotel hopping again. My sister and I are on our annual girl’s trip and are starting in the Big Apple. You know me, I can’t help hotel hopping (although we aren’t hopping around on the rest of our trip). There are so many hotels in NYC to stay at, and I’d […]

I recently returned from a trip to Australia, and I had the pleasure of flying Qantas business class from LAX to Sydney (and back). So, what did I think? Keep reading to find out…   The Redemption Australia has been at the top of my bucket list for years, but I’ve been holding out for […]

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. […]

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 […]

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, […]

Living on the East Coast, a family road trip through New England is a dreamy way to spend your summer vacation. We spent almost 2 weeks in August traveling in our minivan with three kids on a road trip from Boston to Prince Edward Island, Canada. The first leg—from our home in Upstate NY to […]

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 […]

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 […]

My husband, daughter, and I recently took a road trip from Houston to Chicago. There are so many hotels from every brand imaginable in Chicago, so when we decided to stay downtown for four nights, I had quite a difficult decision to make. Ultimately, I decided on the Thompson Chicago. Here’s what we thought in […]

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 […]

My family and I recently returned from a trip to Dallas and had such a blast! It’s a perfect destination for both couples and families, with amazing food, museums, and parks. If Dallas, Texas, has been on your radar, here’s how you can make it happen for nearly free using points and miles…   Flights […]

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, […]

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 game! 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 […]