It’s been years in the making, and it’s nearly here. Amtrak’s next-generation Acela trainsets are officially hitting the rails Aug. 28, the company announced Thursday. It’s a major upgrade for passengers, and a milestone for Amtrak after years of delays and anticipation for the new, state-of-the-art Acela product. AMTRAK From the outset, it will be…

Elite status with a hotel chain can make travel much more comfortable, but you don’t necessarily need elite status to unlock extra perks on your next hotel stay. After all, select credit card holders can get elitelike perks by booking through programs such as American Express’ Fine Hotels + Resorts program, Capital One’s Premier Collection…

Southwest Airlines offers five credit cards you can apply for: three personal and two business ones. With the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card (see rates and fees), Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card and Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card (see rates and fees), new cardholders can earn 100,000 bonus points after spending $4,000…

Travelers who earn Citi ThankYou Rewards points and carry premium Citi credit cards can now elevate their next hotel stay by booking premium accommodations through The Reserve by Citi Travel. This new portal‑only collection offers VIP extras at upscale properties worldwide. Here’s what The Reserve offers, how to book and how it compares with Citi’s Hotel…

Ink Business Preferred Card overview The Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card (see rates and fees) is an excellent all-around business credit card, offering a sizable welcome bonus and the ability to earn valuable Ultimate Rewards points on a variety of business expenses. Those rewards can then be transferred to 14 airline and hotel partners or…

Checked bag fees typically cost $35 or more. That can add up quickly, especially if you travel with your family. Even Southwest Airlines, long famed for its two free checked bag policy, started charging for bags in late May. But by carrying the right credit card, you may be able to get these charges waived…

The Business Platinum Card® from American Express is not only one of the best small-business cards but also one of the best cards for travel rewards in general. Cardmembers pay for all those perks, though, since it charges a $695 annual fee (see rates and fees). However, despite many valuable benefits and opportunities to earn…

If you’re ready to use (or earn) points to stay at a truly luxurious New York City hotel that goes well beyond just being a place to sleep, then I’ve got a spot for you. The Park Hyatt New York sits toward the very top of the pecking order when it comes to points-friendly hotels…

You may already know that you can earn airline miles by flying with a specific airline. But did you know there are plenty of additional ways to earn airline miles that you can redeem for flights, upgrades and discounts on inflight purchases? With the right credit card, flying with partner airlines, online shopping and even…

Chase Sapphire Reserve Card overview The Chase Sapphire Reserve® (see rates and fees) is one of the best rewards credit cards of all time. This card earns incredibly valuable Ultimate Rewards points that can be transferred to hotel and airline partners or redeemed to book travel through Chase Travel℠ at a value of up to…