Last month I took my family to Italy for a vacation and had the chance to try out a couple of airlines that I had not yet flown. On the way over, I booked a one way flight from Newark (EWR) to Rome (FCO) through Norwegian, a low-cost international carrier that flies from several U.S. cities to […]

  I had a great time in Vietnam and wanted to stay longer, but I was also looking forward to my EVA Air flights to get back to the USA. I was booked in their 777 Royal Laurel business class on both the flight from Ho Chi Minh City to Taipei and also the long […]

I always like to tell people that Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG) Starpoints are one of the best award currencies you can have. They have great flexibility to transfer to over 2 dozen airline partners and can really facilitate some great high value redemptions. For every 20,000 Starpoints that you transfer to an airline, SPG automatically […]

For many years there was not a lot to look forward to after arriving to Philadelphia International Airport. Long lines, sub-par amenities, and an overall disappointing experience until you escaped via your flight. However, with the opening of the new American Express Centurion Lounge this past week, PHL now has a fantastic lounge with great […]

Just for fun, I am going to do something a little different today and review an aircraft that no amount of points/miles can get you a ride on. Unless you are the President, one of the President’s staff members, aides, or invited guests, or a member of the traveling press corps–it is pretty difficult to actually get […]

Two weeks ago I finally got the opportunity to experience the Emirates A380 First Class experience, and it was everything I was hoping it would be–and more! While a first class one-way ticket can normally cost upwards of $8-10K, I redeemed 90,000 Alaska miles and about paid about $37 in taxes and fees for the […]

As a frequent Amtrak rider I was excited to see an email from Amtrak this week announcing their next-generation Acela train service. Although I ride the Acela much more infrequently than the (less expensive) Northeast Regional service, I do sometimes opt for the time savings and improved comfort that Acela can offer. (All photos in this […]

This weekend I wanted to book flights to attend a wedding in San Antonio, TX in the fall. I started my search using Google Flights to get an idea of availability and pricing. I was not sure if I wanted to pay cash or use points–but, in the end, I decided to do a little bit […]

I just returned from a two week vacation in Europe with my family for some well-deserved rest and relaxation. The main event of the trip was a cruise on one of Royal Caribbean’s newest ships, the Ovation of the Seas. But, we spent 3 nights in London prior to the cruise and 3 nights in […]

Did you know that you could be earning valuable SPG Starwood Starpoints on every Uber ride you take? If not, this post will show you how to sign up  and what you need to do to start earning–trust me, it’s easy! Why do you want to take advantage of this offer? SPG points are one of […]