Category: Travel

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...
view from Hyatt Regency Portland
Travel Tuesday: Hyatt Regency Portland (at OCC) Hotel Review
Last month, I headed out to my fourth in-person FinCon — this time taking place in Portland, Oregon. Shortly before heading out to the West Coast for the event, I booked my room at the official event hotel: Hyatt Regency Portland. Did this end up being a smart move? Let's take a look at my experience...
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...
entrance to Intercontinental Indianapolis Hotel
Travel Tuesday: Intercontinental Indianapolis Hotel Review
Last week brought me back to Indianapolis as I attended my third Gen Con. After having previously stayed at two other Downtown Indy hotels, for my 2025 stay, I ended up at the Intercontinental. Incidentally, when I saw this list on the site, I was wondering how I hadn't come across it in prior years....
inside a room at 21c Museum Hotel Bentonville
Travel Tuesday: 21c Museum Hotel (Bentonville, Arkansas) Review
Last month, my wife and I decided to take a short but real vacation. So, after a stop in Oklahoma, we set off for a couple of nights in Bentonville, Arkansas — with the main goal of checking out the beautiful Crystal Bridges Museum. When looking for accommodations in the area, one spot in particular...
view from the outside of the River Bend Casio and Hotel
Travel Tuesday: River Bend Casino Hotel Review (Wyandotte, OK)
A few weeks ago, my wife and I set off for what we dubbed an actual vacation. In short, this meant we'd be doing absolutely no work and, for the first time in a very long time, would be headed to a destination that didn't have a Disney theme park! Originally, I thought that we'd...
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...
interior of an airplane
When is the Best Time to Book a Flight?
In just the past few years, the travel industry has changed tremendously. Yet, there’s one aspect that’s remained the same: people are looking to save money. Yes, while we all wish money were no object so that we could plan the trip of our dreams without restrictions, the fact is that booking a flight can...
Travel Tuesday: An Overview of Airline Baggage Fees
Following an industry-wide upheaval in recent years, airlines are continuing to evolve their policies (for better or worse). Most obviously, Southwest Airlines recently gave up its long-held and immensely popular Bags Fly Free program and is now charging for checked luggage. Elsewhere, many major airlines have not only hiked their baggage fees but one has...
Delta Main Extra features
Travel Tuesday: Delta's New "Extra" Fares Join "Classic" Options
In marketing, there's the "good, better, best" concept. For example, think of how Old Navy, Gap, and Banana Republic are all different brand tiers of one company or how Apple has a budget iPhone 16e, the standard iPhone 16, and then the top-end iPhone 16 Pro. Well, it now seems as though Delta is taking...
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...