Points Check April 2024
April had us recovering from our trip to Costa Rica, and had us planning a camping trip to Canada. Believe it or not, I’m 49 years old, love travel, live only a few hundred miles from the Canadian border and I’ve actually never been there. I don’t exactly know why, maybe I was thinking that…
Hacienda Alsacia Coffee Farm
Hacienda Alcascia coffee farm is the only coffee farm in the world owned by Starbucks. Its a beautiful farm located on the southern slope of Poas Volcano about a 30 minute drive north of San Jose Airport in the Alajuela province of Costa Rica. Besides being an operating coffee farm, they also offer tours and…
Visiting the Breathtaking Blue Falls of Costa Rica
Hiking the Blue Falls of Costa Rica is one of the most amazing places in the world to hike. It is blessed with a group of seven beautiful waterfalls in a compact area.
Points Check March 2023
March was a pretty exciting month. We took a spring break trip to Costa Rica and had the opportunity to see just how beautiful that country is. We stayed in an Airbnb in the Central Valley near Grecia, which meant we were staying amongst the locals. That really gave us a more authentic taste of…
Latest Vacasa/Wyndham Devaluation Stings A Bit
The Vacasa/Wyndham partnership devalued again, for the second time in just 6 months. This is pretty annoying, because this partnership went under the radar for a while, and as people became aware of what a tremendous deal this was, they had to start dialing it back. Now after a second devaluation, the partnership is still…
Unwinding in Playa Hermosa
Playa Hermosa is a small beach town located about 30 minutes from Guanacaste Airport. It makes for an ideal stopover location for people who are looking to drive to other areas in Costa Rica.
What’s the Best Travel Rewards Credit Card for Young Adults?
Picking a no annual fee travel credit card should be a priority for any young person who want to use points to travel in the future. Here are four suggestions for which credit cards would be the best for a young person to begin travel hacking.
PointsYeah is a Gamechanger
PointsYeah is an amazing tool for searching for award flight availability on multiple airlines. The ease of search, speed and flexibility make it my preferred method for finding available award flights.
Points Check February 2024
We’re inching closer every day to our spring break Costa Rican adventure. Honestly, this is a trip that I probably wouldn’t have dared to do a year ago. When we first started to do international travel (it’s only been a year – we’re still newbies!), every logistical step in the process was something that we…
Turkish Airlines Miles and Smiles is (Almost) Dead to Me
The devaluation of the Turkish Airlines Miles and Smiles program has effectively made a number sweet spots disappear. There is one decent use of Turkish Miles and Smiles remaining, however.
Flying Blue Free Stopover Isn’t Really Free
Traveling with companions that were booking other flights left us with a unique challenge for coordinating our landing times. Using an almost free stopover in Amsterdam with Flying Blue not only made it possible, but better.
Gamla Stan
Exploring Gamla Stan led us to cellar pubs, shops and cinnamon rolls. The old town is an amazing place to walk, drink, shop and admire the architecture of the old part of Stockholm.
Points Check January 2024
Well, it’s 2024 and Jenn has already managed to go on a trip to Playa Del Carmen without me (I’m not bitter at all). She had some fun soaking up the sun with her sister and her mom in a beachside condo rented through Vacasa. It sounds like a they had a great time, while…
Best Single Reward card – Chase Sapphire Preferred vs Amex Gold
The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card and the American Express Gold Card are both great travel cards. Which one works better as a single card solution for someone looking to earn a couple of award flights from Chicago to Munich in the summer, however?
A Relaxing Ferry Ride in Stockholm
The commuter ferry lines in Stockholm aren’t just a great way for the citizens of Stockholm to get around, they are also a great way for tourists to enjoy the city in a relaxing way.
Year End Review 2023
2023 was a huge year for us in points and miles. We went on our first major trips that were funded by points – a couple’s trip to Cabo San Lucas for our 25th Anniversary and a 2 week European vacation to celebrate Emma graduating from High School. 2023 was the first year that I…
Year End Review 2022
2022 was the year that we got into travel hacking. It was out of a bit of desperation that we started looking into it as a way to reduce the expense of a trip I promised to take Emma on when she graduated from high school. The power of travel credit cards turned out to…
Points Check December 2023
That’s a wrap for 2023 and it was a great year for us. We went on our first international trip as a family and primarily used points and miles that we earned in 2022 to book those trips. Jenn and I were able to celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary in Cabo San Lucas, and the…
Wells Fargo Autograph Journey Could Launch Points Arms Race
A credit card offer from Wells Fargo and new transfer partners could change the landscape of points and miles. There is a good chance that this could spark changes from US Bank and Bank of America as well.
State Department shows Dramatic Improvement in Passport Processing
After a frustrating experience applying for my kids’ passports in the spring dealing with long post-Covid related wait times and inexplicable bureaucracy, applying for my passport renewal this winter was surprising quick.
Newby to Expert Traveler 