The Platinum Card® from American Express raised its annual fee to $895 (see rates and fees) in its latest refresh. However, American Express also added more benefits to the card’s long list of perks. As an Amex Platinum cardmember, you earn 5 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or via American…

River cruises are known for their inclusions, from alcoholic beverages to gratuities and even select shore excursions in each port of call. But how much does a river cruise actually cost? It depends on where you go and which cruise line you book. Some, like Uniworld and Tauck, offer an all-inclusive product that offers unparalleled…

Points and miles open up travel opportunities that, quite frankly, may be out of reach for many. And while you may want your redemptions to always be luxurious, not all of them are going to be. There are times when using points for a practical redemption, like on standard hotel accommodations, can save you boatloads…

Chase Aeroplan Credit Card overview Chase’s Aeroplan® Credit Card (see rates and fees) is one of our favorite cobranded airline credit cards, offering award flexibility and valuable airline benefits. With its strong earning rate and incentives to spend on the card beyond earning the welcome bonus, the Aeroplan card is worth considering for many points…

From the top deck of Riviera Rose, sipping a glass of chilled white port, I watched the sun spill across the Douro River’s terraced vineyards, turning Portugal’s famed river of gold to molten silver. It was a scene worthy of a postcard — and exactly the kind of moment river cruising delivers so well. If…

As we reported exclusively last week, the legendary Park Hyatt Tokyo is reopening this coming December after a major overhaul. The hotel made famous in the movie “Lost in Translation” closed in May 2024, and its reopening has been eagerly anticipated. We learned the hotel will reopen Dec. 9, and reservations opened Wednesday. In great…

I rarely redeem Choice Privileges points for stays within the U.S., as I’ve found I can get better value when redeeming for stays overseas. While I usually redeem Choice points for stays in major Japanese cities like Tokyo and Osaka, I’ve also gotten good value within Europe. When searching for the best hotels to book…

Rewards credit cards are a great way to earn valuable reward currency for expenses you already make regularly. Plus, they make travel more comfortable thanks to transferable points and miles. In fact, transferable credit card points transformed the way I travel because this currency is so much more valuable than points earned directly through an…

It’s fairly common these days for an American to also hold citizenship with another country — and the second country’s passport, too. I was born in the U.S. and am an American citizen. However, because my parents were dual citizens at the time of my birth, they also passed Italian citizenship on to me. It’s…

The Citi Strata Premier® Card (see rates and fees) is Citi’s mid-tier travel card. The Strata Premier earns bonus points on everyday spending categories and unlocks full-value access to transfer partners. But with so many other good options, is the Strata Premier worth the $95 annual fee? Below, we break down the important aspects of…