Category: Travel

Alaska Airlines Bag Tag device
Travel Tuesday: Alaska Airlines' Interesting and Gimmicky Piece of Travel Tech
For those tired of waiting in line to print off bag tags at the airport, Alaska Airlines has introduced a new solution. Recently, the airline started selling its electronic permanent bag tags to the general public. So what are these things all about — and will I be picking one up for myself? I first...
Shake Shack burger on a Delta plane
Travel Tuesday: Delta is Bringing Shake Shack Burgers to the Sky
Once upon a time, when you flew anywhere of reasonable distance, you'd be served a meal onboard. And while this wasn't always the best food (see: stand-up comedy bits from the 80s and 90s), it was included with your ticket. Of course, those days are long gone — unless, of course, you're flying in first class....
elevators inside Atlanta Marquis Hotel
Travel Tuesday: Atlanta Marriott Marquis Hotel Review
Over the years, I've spent countless hours in Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, but have never really ventured into the city itself (other than driving through it on road trips). So, when it was revealed that FinCon 2024 would be held in Downtown Atlanta, I relished the opportunity to finally explore the area and stay in...
new W Las Vegas structure
Travel Tuesday: Delano at Mandalay Bay to Become W Las Vegas
A Vegas property is changing brands... again. This week, MGM Resorts and Marriott announced that the W Las Vegas would be debuting later this year. The hotel will occupy what is currently the Delano tower at Mandalay Bay. This update comes as MGM and Marriott continue to expand their partnership. First announced in July of...
outside view of Moxy Springfield Downtown Hotel
Travel Tuesday: Moxy Springfield Downtown Hotel Review
This summer, a new, hip hotel opened in Springfield: Moxy. Confusingly, this new property isn't too far from our local art house theatre, Moxie Cinema — but I digress. With Moxy still being new in town and with my wife and I celebrating our 11th wedding anniversary last week, we decided to spend the night at...
Hyatt House Anaheim interior room view
Travel Tuesday: Hyatt House Anaheim Hotel Review
After my stay in Indianapolis for this year's GenCon (and spending approximately 15 hours at home), I was off to Anaheim, California for D23. Since I'd be working the event and representing Laughing Place, my room was booked and paid for by my boss — which also meant that I didn't know where my hotel was...
MGM Rewards and Marriott Bonvoy logos
Travel Tuesday: Transferring Points Between MGM Rewards and Marriott Bonvoy
Last year, MGM Resorts announced that it was breaking off its long-standing partnership with Hyatt... but then nearly immediately revealed a new deal with Marriott Bonvoy. At the time, I was hopeful that pact would mean enticing status matching as it did with Hyatt, but that sadly turned out not to be the case (MGM...
king bed in guest room at Le Meridien Indianapolis
Travel Tuesday: Le Meridien Indianapolis Hotel Review
When I attended GenCon in Indianapolis, Indiana last year, I was taken aback by how many hotels there were in the area — and how many of them were sold out when I went to book. That's how I ended up at the Conrad Indianapolis. This time around, it was the Conrad that was booked...
Travel Tuesday: I Hate Southwest's Boarding Process - But Now I'm Going to Miss It
As you've probably heard, Southwest Airlines is getting ready to make some big changes. This includes moving to a reserved seating model sometime in the near-ish future. In other words, the carrier will start to look a bit more like the vast majority of its competitors — and I have some thoughts on that. Look,...
sitting in Delta SkyClub
Travel Tuesday: Could Unbundled Business Class Come to Delta?
There's no question that flying in business class is a completely different experience than in economy. Between having your own pod and a lie-flat seat, suddenly the prospect of sleeping on a long-haul international flight doesn't seem so untenable. Of course, there are also service perks, such as a dedicated flight attendant for the cabin,...
looking down a long stretch of road
The Ultimate Road Trip: A Helpful Guide to Saving Money on the Open Road
Is there anything that says “summer” more than a good old-fashioned road trip? Whether you’re looking to experience our vast and beautiful country first-hand or just want to save a few bucks versus flying, there are many advantages to hopping in your car and hitting the open road for your next vacation. However, while road-tripping...
"Brave-ish" by Lisa Niver book cover
Travel Tuesday: "Brave-ish" by Lisa Niver Book Review
Last year, seasoned traveler turned travel writer and expert Lisa Niver released her new book Brave-ish: One Breakup, Six Continents, and Feeling Fearless After Fifty. As a follower of Niver on Twitter, I'd seen mention of her book several times in recent months, with the orange/red hues and pink heart airplane artwork often popping up...
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...