The Chase Sapphire Reserve® (see rates and fees) charges a hefty $795 annual fee — so is it worth adding to your wallet? For travelers who value luxury perks, it’s likely worth it. The Sapphire Reserve delivers exceptional value to those ready to maximize its benefits. However, budget-minded travelers may not appreciate what the card…

The benefits of elite status are popular with savvy travelers, but rental car elite status doesn’t always get the attention it deserves. Rental car status can pay off — it helped one former TPG staffer rent a $100,000 BMW 7 Series for $3 per day. Whether you’re planning a road trip or looking for a…

I’m a big fan of earning transferable rewards via credit cards. I love the flexibility of being able to choose how to redeem my points or miles among several airline and hotel loyalty programs. Plus, when I factor in the odd transfer bonus, I can really maximize my travel rewards. I currently collect Chase Ultimate…

I recently had the chance to stay at the Hilton Molino Stucky, Venice, a gorgeous hotel located on the island of Giudecca in a restored flour mill building — and it’s a hotel you definitely want to have on your radar. SUMMER HULL/THE POINTS GUY My stay here was provided as part of a broader…

Over the past year, Southwest Airlines has made major changes to its business model, from ending open seating to adding checked bag fees and revamping aspects of its Rapid Rewards loyalty program. Up next? A significant refresh of its credit cards lineup. The Dallas-based carrier announced on Thursday it’s adding new perks to each of…

Is a trip to the South Pacific on your bucket list? A voyage with Paul Gauguin Cruises might be the answer. The tiny cruise brand, which only operates one ship, is the longtime leader in sailings to the best-known islands of the South Pacific — places like Bora Bora, Moorea, Fiji and the Marquesas. To…

JetBlue is planning to do a lot more flying out of South Florida this winter. The airline on Wednesday announced it’s bringing back a couple of flights it cut last year out of Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL). And, it’s preparing to launch two all-new routes out of FLL in the process — one to…

Mr & Mrs Smith is a collection of boutique and luxury hotels, most of which are otherwise independent. But, similar to how you can book select Small Luxury Hotels of the World properties through Hilton Honors, you can book select Mr & Mrs Smith properties through the World of Hyatt program. You can earn and…

Every car rental company has a “do not rent,” or DNR, list containing the names of former customers who are no longer allowed to rent vehicles with them. In fact, Hertz, Avis, Enterprise and others sometimes permanently ban even top-tier elite members in their loyalty program if they find the circumstances warrant it. I know…

If you earn American Express Membership Rewards points with any of your cards (or want to), pay attention: Rakuten just unveiled a new credit card that allows cardholders to earn a bonus 4 points per dollar spent, on top of any Membership Rewards points you earn through the platform’s special offers. While this card is…