Carnival Cruise Line fans are a loyal bunch. So loyal, perhaps, that the line hasn’t felt the need to offer up extremely lucrative loyalty program perks to keep them coming back. Unlike rival Royal Caribbean, Carnival doesn’t offer its members a free cruise after they reach the top tier. There are no 20% discounts on…

The Chase Freedom Flex® was my second credit card, and it holds a strong place in my wallet even though I’ve opened several more cards since then. The Freedom Flex does an excellent job filling gaps in my earning strategy, thanks to its rotating 5% quarterly categories (on the first $1,500 in purchases each quarter…

I’ve had more than 20 credit cards for several years now, and I take great care to maximize each one. Whether I’m transferring rewards to valuable partners, getting a jump start on elite status or leveraging free night certificates, I get thousands of dollars of value from these cards every single year. But recently, I…

Hyatt’s all-inclusive resort portfolio keeps growing and growing. On Monday morning the Chicago-headquartered hotel giant announced a new Spain-based joint venture with Grupo Piñero, owner of the Bahia Principe Hotels & Resorts and Cayo Levantado Resort brands. The new Hyatt joint venture will own the Bahia Principe brand and manage Bahia Principe-branded hotels and resorts…

Loyal TPG reader Jonathan Phillippe is a serviceman stationed in Oman with his wife and two young children. He recently redeemed 210,000 American Airlines AAdvantage miles for three business-class seats on Etihad Airways. The family planned to fly from Muscat International Airport (MCT) to Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) for a short visit to…

Hotel elite status offers many valuable perks, from complimentary breakfast and upgrades to late checkout and higher earning rates. Hotel loyalty programs design these perks to keep members loyal to and engaged with the program. And it works. I usually book hotels directly to ensure I get my elite benefits and earnings. I’ll even book…

Frequent Delta Air Lines flyers have two fantastic card choices that can elevate their airport and flying experience. While some may gawk at the hefty annual fees, these two cards are well worth the price for those who are loyal to the Atlanta-based carrier. I’m talking, of course, about the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express…

What could be better than an upscale dining experience where the food is complemented by impeccable service and only slightly outshined by 180-degree views of the sun setting over the ocean? Take the same restaurant, make it adults-only and put it on a cruise ship full of kids. If that sounds like an ideal date…

Whether it’s peanut butter and jelly or airplanes and lie-flat seats, some things are just better together. When two things perfectly complement each other, they become a dynamic duo. That is exactly what Capital One has created with its recent changes to some of its most popular credit cards. The Capital One Venture X Rewards…

I frequently stay at IHG properties, primarily because of the value I can get when redeeming IHG points. Although IHG moved to dynamic award pricing in 2020, I’ve continued getting solid value from my IHG points. Here’s what you need to know about redeeming IHG One Rewards points for stays, flights and more. Redeem IHG…