As the end of the year approaches, it’s a good idea to review your elite status goals and assess your progress toward achieving them. World of Hyatt elite status is one of the most valuable, so you may want to top up your account if you’re close to the next status tier. Here’s a reminder…

There are some cruise destinations — Barcelona or Sydney, for instance — where you really don’t need to sign up for shore excursions. You can just walk off the ship and head to the major attractions on your own. For the most part, the ports of Alaska aren’t like that. To get the most out…

Chase Ultimate Rewards points are one of the most valuable reward currencies you can have in your wallet. Aside from possibly earning 1 to 8 points per dollar spent on select Chase-branded credit cards, you can maximize their value by transferring your hard-earned Ultimate Rewards points to one of the issuer’s 13 airline and hotel…

Among North America’s best-known national parks, Glacier Bay is a bit of an outlier. Unlike Yellowstone or Yosemite, you can’t visit Glacier Bay on a road trip. There are no roads leading into the park, and the only way to reach it is by small plane, boat or ship. There’s also little infrastructure within the…

The joys of an airport lounge are even better when shared. From complimentary food and drinks to premium amenities like showers and quiet rooms, lounges are a reprieve from chaotic terminals and hurried travelers. If you’re traveling with a companion, it’s likely you’d want them to join you when you visit. While many rewards cards…

It’s one of the best sweet spots in the world of points and miles: You can book Japan Airlines business or first class using miles from the frequent flyer programs of its U.S. partners, like American Airlines and Alaska Airlines. It’s a redemption that has plenty of nostalgia for me, too. Japan Airlines was my…

I’ve been traveling for close to twenty years. In that time, the airline industry has changed a lot. The use of points and miles has become widespread, round-the-world tickets have gone the way of the dodo, airlines have consolidated, and there has been an explosion of budget airlines. Over the last few years, the cost…