Marriott just opened a Maldives Autograph Collection resort

Marriott Bonvoy members have no shortage of Maldives resorts they can book with points. But Marriott Bonvoy just gained its first Autograph Collection resort in the island nation: The Halcyon Private Isles Maldives, Autograph Collection. The Halcyon Private Isles Maldives is a luxurious 38-villa resort situated on two private islands. One island houses the beachfront…

Do flights cost more through credit card travel portals?

Many top travel rewards cards offer bonus rewards when you book flights, hotels and rental cars through the issuer’s travel portal. For example, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see rates and fees) offers 5 points per dollar spent on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠ but just 2 points per dollar spent on other travel, including…

10 restaurants to book with the new Amex Platinum Resy credit

In September, American Express announced its new $895 annual fee for the American Express Platinum Card® (see rates and fees) — a 29% jump from its previous $695 annual fee. Even loyal cardmembers questioned whether the premium, now the highest annual fee among major consumer credit cards, was justified. However, an expanded suite of benefits*…

A cruise-only sailing vs. a cruisetour to Alaska — which is the right trip for you?

The state of Alaska is vast: It encompasses 365 million acres and is more than twice the size of Texas. With just 17,000 miles of public roads, much of Alaska is remote and reachable only by ship or plane. A cruise is one of the best and easiest ways to visit the Great Land. However,…

United launches mileage-earning debit card with unique savings tie-in

United Airlines just introduced a debit card that earns MileagePlus miles. The card certainly won’t be for everyone — particularly those looking to maximize their benefits and perks with the airline’s cobranded credit cards — but there are likely still some travelers who will find value in the new United MileagePlus® Debit Rewards card. The…

I went on an Alaska cruisetour with Princess — here’s why you should, too

“Look, directly overhead! A bald eagle!” After I heard the excitement from the row behind me, I gazed up through the glass dome ceiling of the train car and watched the majestic bird race above us as we chugged through Alaska’s rugged interior. I was on a Princess cruisetour, a two-in-one vacation that allows seamless…