Category: Travel Tips

Personal tips for saving money and enjoying your travels more.

All-Inclusive Experience
Travel Tuesday: These Las Vegas Hotels Are Trying "All-Inclusive" Booking Offers
In recent years, there's been a lot of talk about how Las Vegas is far from the value destination that it once was. Heck, I've written about this phenomenon as well — and have felt it first-hand to great frustration. Well, presumably in response, two Strip hotels are introducing something a bit different. Recently, Luxor...
Allegiant airplane
Travel Tuesday: Allegiant Wants You to "Travel with Confidence"
Over the past few weeks, travel has been a bit... treacherous. Overlooking international matters, here at home, several airports have been inundated with long lines and closed checkpoints due to the partial government shutdown that's left TSA workers without pay. But, a silver lining has emerged as Allegiant has just launched a new flyer-friendly policy...
hand holding a US passport
Travel Tuesday: Renewing Your Passport Online - What You Need to Know
The Beatles famously sang, "I've got to admit it's getting better." And while it's true that not everything is always trending upwards, there are several aspects of daily life that are indeed becoming easier. My latest example involves renewing my passport — which can now be done online! Realizing that my passport was expiring, I...
illustration of an airplane
Travel Tuesday: 2025's "Best Airline" Winner is Also the Year's Most Controversial
Each January, the Wall Street Journal puts out its list of the best and worst domestic airlines during the preceding year. Mind you, these aren't just subjective rankings or tier lists. Instead, their scorecards incorporate several pieces of data, from on-time arrivals to cancellations and mishandled baggage to involuntary bumping. So, which airline topped the...
stuffed monkey doll on a hotel bed
Travel Tuesday: Why I'm a Travel Creature of Habit
Something funny about me is that, for as much as I enjoy exploring new places, I love returning to familiar foreign locations nearly as much. Moreover, when I do return to cities I've been to before, there's a good chance I'll even book the same hotel from previous stays. That's how I've ended up having...
airplane stuck on the ground getting service
Travel Tuesday: Flight Tracking App Flighty Says This is the Most-Delayed Airline
Imagine this: you're waiting for your flight, checking your watch, and confirming your boarding time. Yet, when that time arrives, the gate agent comes on the P.A. and announces a delay. Worse yet, you have a connecting flight to catch, which suddenly seems in jeopardy. Unfortunately, these types of delays are all too common. In...
illustration of how to donate travel rewards to charities
Travel Tuesday: Donating Your Travel Currency on Giving Tuesday
Lest you think we're done with the retail holidays, today marks another — albeit quite different — one: Giving Tuesday. For those unaware, this is the day that emphasizes charitable donations over retail purchases. Actually, in addition to Giving Tuesday, today has also become known as Travel Tuesday (no relation to this column). Notably, while...
couple arriving for a hotel stay
Travel Tuesday: My Hotel Stay Pet Peeves and Annoyances
When I was a kid, I remember that getting to stay in a hotel was always a fun and exciting prospect. As I got a bit older, I even recall hearing some celeb complaining about living in various hotels and thinking, "Why? Hotels are amazing!" Well, although I do still occasionally get giddy about a...
Southwest Rapid Rewards Debit Visa Card app and a hand holding a United Debit Rewards Card to a cell phone card reader
Travel Tuesday: Airline Rewards Debit Cards Have Entered the Chat
Want to earn airline miles but hate credit cards? I have some great news for you. In just the past couple of weeks, two major airlines have unveiled co-branded rewards debit cards. In fact, both Southwest and United have teamed up with the same company to make these cards a reality: Galileo. Given this emerging...
ETIHAD Guest and Bilt logos with the Bilt app transfer screenshot
Travel Tuesday: Capital One and Bilt Rewards Keep Adding Travel Transfer Partners
When I first started getting into rewards credit cards, I loved the way I could earn cashback on my purchases and then spend those funds on pretty much whatever I decided to earmark them for. Then, as my travel started to pick up, I began learning more about different credit card currencies beyond cashback and...
hotel bed
Travel Tuesday: Amex Adds Hundreds of Properties to Fine Hotels & Resorts Program
American Express has apparently expanded its Fine Hotels & Resorts program as well as the similar but different Hotel Collection. According to a press release, 400 new properties were recently added across these two programs. In total, there are now more than 3,100 options in 114 countries! With the Fine Hotels and Resorts program, Amex...
Venetian rewards gems
Travel Tuesday: The Venetian Surveying Guests on Possible Rewards Credit Card
Late last year, I had a chance to cross another Las Vegas Strip property off my list with a stay at The Palazzo at The Venetian. Whether because of that or because I opened a players club card with them as well, this week The Venetian sent me a survey regarding a potential rewards credit...
Featured Articles
How Utilization Impacts Your Credit Scores: My Real-Life Example
You may already know that Credit Utilization is the second-largest factor FICO considers when determining your credit score. Specifically, it makes up 30% of your score, topped only by Payment History at 35%. But what does that look like in practice? Well, I recently got the "opportunity" to see firsthand. In April, I elected to...
Travel Tuesday: Allbirds Weatherproof Hightops - How They Compare to Mizzles
As I've mentioned more than a few times before, after purchasing a pair of water-resistant Allbirds Runner-Up Mizzles a few years back, they quickly became my go-to travel shoe. That's because they're not only comfortable but also help protect my feet from wet weather while on the road (there are few things I hate more...
This New Hardshell Carry-On Luggage Option Has My Attention
Welcome back to another Quick Tip — and the latest edition of our occasional, unofficial series Things Kyle Wants to Buy. When I returned from my most recent trip, for some reason, I had hardshell luggage on my mind. That's strange because my current soft-sided luggage has served me well and, moreover, I've traditionally not...
Would it Be Wrong to Try This Potential Free Checked Bag Trick?
I don't remember the last time I paid for a checked bag on a plane. Granted. I've paid for carry-ons while flying Allegiant — but, in the cases where I have elected to check a bag in recent years, it's been a free gate check since I occasionally volunteer to part with my bag early...