If you’re eager to embark on a cruise and have accumulated points or miles over time, you might not have to pay for your next trip. Read on to explore strategies to optimize your points and miles, leverage loyalty programs and unlock savings on your cruise fare to reduce the cost of your cruise vacation….

If the first week of 2026 is an indicator, this year is shaping up to be an exciting and definitely not-at-all boring ride when it comes to the realm of credit card rewards, loyalty programs and how you can maximize them. Since last year, Bilt Rewards has teased three upcoming card additions to its portfolio…

It’s a new global era at Alaska Airlines. Once a West Coast airline that flew (mostly) domestic routes on single-aisle planes, the Seattle-based carrier is quickly growing its network of long-haul international flights. And on Wednesday, Alaska christened the plane — and the all-new look — it will sport on its intercontinental routes. Inside a…

Like most things we spend money on, vacations to Walt Disney World continue to increase in price. A one-day ticket for the Magic Kingdom can cost as much as $209 (though purchasing multiday tickets or visiting during less-expensive periods does bring the per-day cost down significantly). But that doesn’t mean that there are no ways…

One of the most common complaints I hear about hotel points is that folks think they can only earn and redeem them at cookie-cutter hotels that are a part of large chains. In the past several years, however, many of the major hotel loyalty programs have started branching out with acquisitions of, or partnerships with,…

This year has been hectic, and between moving and traveling, I found myself relying on DoorDash, dining out and online grocery delivery far more than usual. At first, I felt a little guilty about how much I was spending for convenience. Then I remembered one of my favorite credit card strategies: using the Chase Sapphire…

So, you think you want to take a cruise? First, let me say that you’ll likely love it. I’ve been cruising for nearly 30 years, on just about every line out there, and I can tell you it’s a wonderful way to travel. It’s not for everyone, of course. Plenty of people have tried it…

For the third straight year, American Airlines loyalists won’t have to contend with any changes to the airline’s elite status requirements. American on Wednesday announced that it’s leaving American Airlines AAdvantage status benchmarks exactly the same this coming year. That’s likely to be a bit of a relief for frequent travelers who have had to…

When Alaska Airlines acquired Hawaiian Airlines in 2024, the vision was clear: Alaska wanted to solidify its place as a bona fide global carrier capable of transporting passengers all over the world. Just days into 2026, it’s evident that focus on growth remains a top priority. On Wednesday, Alaska Airlines announced that it reached a…

It may sound bonkers to buy airline miles and hotel points to fund your adventures. After all, the reason many of us got into this hobby in the first place was to travel for (nearly) free simply by swiping rewards credit cards. So, isn’t paying for travel rewards to book award redemptions irrational? Actually, with…