A few weeks ago, I kicked off the new year by taking a fun family trip to do some plane-spotting on Maho Beach. I booked our outbound flights on JetBlue using points, and purchased our return flights on United, paying for only a small portion of the tickets using my Citi Prestige card. For a … [Read More…]

In 2009, I visited the Sandals Whitehouse resort in Jamaica and absolutely loved the all-inclusive, romance experience. Back then, it was harder to find “high-end’ all-inclusive, and Sandals had a cream-of-the-crop reputation. For those who have vacationed at a Sandals all-inclusive property before, you probably already know it’s a treat- and it can cost a pretty penny. Even though I … [Read More…]

In 2016, I flew 35,000 premier qualifying miles on United; however, I was less than $50 short on the $3,000 spend requirement that is now in place to obtain Premier Silver status. As a former United 1K, it was quite an adjustment to go from a top-tier elite to just a “member”, but I know that my … [Read More…]

I’m headed to St Lucia soon on board my favorite first class product – JetBlue Mint. So far, I’ve experienced Mint twice – once from Los Angeles to New York and most recently from New York to Aruba. I am really excited to be visiting St. Lucia for the first time, and I have to admit … [Read More…]

Nobody likes paying fees for award ticket changes – especially 2 of them back-to-back, but in a case like mine, it definitely makes sense. The Situation Last March, my spouse and I booked a one-way award ticket to Amman, Jordan to experience Turkish Airlines business class (still haven’t done) using 82,500 Aeroplan miles per ticket. … [Read More…]

It’s always nice to be pleasantly surprised with a nicer room than you booked at check-in. When traveling, I usually book the cheapest available room type for my needs, and hope to get upgraded when I arrive. Allow me to share some of my strategies for getting an upgrade at a hotel: Book Direct Aside … [Read More…]

Aside from earning 2x on all purchases, the competitive Arrivals Miles can be redeemed towards travel – and you might be surprised at some of the things Barclays considers to be travel purchases! One might think just flights or hotels qualify as travel charges, but there are several other options to make a trip just a little … [Read More…]

While the Citi Prestige card recently announced a devaluation for 2017, there are still a few strong qualities about the card that competitively set it apart from the rest (aside from the airline credit and lounge access perks): the generous trip-delay insurance (see 5 Ways to Get Flight Compensation) and the 4th night free hotel benefit. The Citi Prestige … [Read More…]

As an avid traveler, I rely heavily on miles and points to fund my travels; that’s why I’m always looking for new ways to rack up as many points and miles as possible. One thing I’ve learned is that “every mile counts” –  little bits of miles and points here and there always add up. One … [Read More…]

Nobody likes a hiccup in their travel plans, and flight delays and cancellations sure can put a damper on your mood and excitement about your trip; however, smart travelers know when it’s deemed appropriate to ask for compensation from (or file a claim against) the airline. Below are 5 ways you can ask for compensation when … [Read More…]