After 19 years, I finally went back to Ko Lipe, the Thai island I spent close to a month on in 2006. Back then, it was one of those super off-the-beaten-path destinations that few but the most intrepid travelers visited, where electricity only ran a few hours a day, basic bungalows right on the beach…

Taking an international flight in business class used to feel like a far-flung dream. My budget is typically in line with economy pricing — even premium economy can feel like a stretch if I’m paying cash on a peak date. It wasn’t until I dove into the world of points and miles that I truly…