There are Christmas lights and there are Christmas lights — and we’ll admit we really love the latter. You know, the ones you can’t drive by without saying “whoa” and slowing down your car to take in the scene. Like us, you may have purposely driven out of your way to see them in the…

Well, it finally happened — I fell victim to one of my loyalty program accounts being hacked, specifically my Southwest Rapid Rewards account. On Dec. 3, I received an email from Southwest at 9:30 p.m. EST confirming my hotel reservation at Hampton Inn & Suites Kalamazoo-Oshtemo for a check-in date of Dec. 4 and a…

If you have China on your travel Bingo card for 2025, I have good news for you. Effective immediately, Americans will be able to visit the country for up to 10 days without a visa. This is a significant positive development for everything from last-minute trips to long-planned vacations, eliminating the paperwork, cost and stress…

On Tuesday, the Federal Trade Commission finalized a broad rule requiring various industries, including hotels, to disclose all fees in advertised prices upfront. The final rule will prohibit hotels from excluding resort fees, also known as “junk fees,” in advertised rates for short-term lodging. In addition to hotels, the rule will also apply to vacation…

Typically, offers to buy elite status aren’t compelling. For example, American Airlines AAdvantage’s offers to buy elite status are usually laughably bad. However, IHG One Rewards is giving select members an offer — first reported by LoyaltyLobby — that is compelling. If IHG targeted you for this offer to buy status, you likely received an…

Chase Ultimate Rewards points have long boasted one of our highest valuations, as you can redeem this transferable currency with 14 valuable travel partners, including Hyatt, Southwest and United. According to TPG’s December 2024 valuations, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and Chase Sapphire Reserve’s® sign-up bonuses currently provide $1,230 in value, so there’s good reason…

The most exciting new cruise ship debuting in 2025 comes from a line you might not expect. MSC Cruises, the scrappy, under-the-radar cruise operator known to international travelers and deal-seekers, is making a splash in 2025 when its gigantic MSC World America arrives in Miami this spring. Never before has the cruise line homeported a…

The holiday season is a joyful time full of family reunions and fun times with friends. But let’s be honest — it’s also a bit stressful when it comes to traveling with Christmas presents. This is amplified even more if you’re flying. Ensuring your gifts arrive in one piece (and still wrapped) can be a…

Last week, I wrote about how I was taking on the SAS EuroBonus million-mile challenge. Now that my trip has kicked off, I’ll be checking in with periodic reports on how it’s going. I’m flying around the world in 25 days on 18 flights with 15 airlines, visiting 15 countries, and journaling every step along…

It’s been a banner year for air travel, with the busiest-ever Thanksgiving in the United States and an upcoming holiday travel season that’s expected to shatter records globally. With traffic expected to continue climbing next year, OAG, a data platform for the aviation and broader travel industries, released an analysis outlining the busiest routes around…