Category: Travel Tips

Personal tips for saving money and enjoying your travels more.

entrance way to a king suite at Hilton Grand Vacations Tuscany Village Orlando
Travel Tuesday: Hilton Grand Vacations Tuscany Village Orlando Review
When we returned from our trip to Hong Kong, we didn't go back home. Instead, we headed straight to Florida for a friend's wedding. But, with a week to spend in Orlando, we decided to try a few different places during our time there. We also happened to wait until just a few days before...
MGM REWARDS
Travel Tuesday: How I Earned $50 with MGM's Resort Hopping Offer for Las Vegas
Last week, I attended my fourth CES in Las Vegas. Ahead of the show's actual start, I had a chance to check out some of what was new on the Strip — or at least new to me, since I haven't been there in 18+ months. Incidentally, something new to me happened to fall into...
Matina Lounge ICN entrance
Travel Tuesday: Matina Lounge ICN Review
In the time that I've had my American Express Platinum Card, I had only ever visited one lounge via the Priority Pass that the card comes with — and even that wasn't a real lounge (it was a Minute Suites where my pass got me one hour for free and a discount on the second)....
Travel Tuesday: Using Octopus Card on Apple Wallet in Hong Kong
If you've ever been to Hong Kong, you've probably seen a logo that looks reminiscent of the infinity symbol. You may have spotted it at a convenience store, grocery store, train station, or even a vending machine. This logo actually represents the city's Octopus card system — which, as I alluded to, is not only...
entryway to the American Express Centurion Lounge Hong Kong
Travel Tuesday: Amex Centurion Hong Kong Lounge Review
Even though I've been an American Express Platinum cardmember since 2019, prior to last month, I had only been to three Centurion Lounge locations: LAS (multiple times), PHL, and CLT. That's partially because my travel took a bit of a dip soon after gaining my card (for obvious reasons) and also because my Delta loyalty...
Alaska Airlines plane
Travel Tuesday: Alaska Airlines is Offering a Status Match Challenge to Delta Elites
A few weeks back, Delta announced numerous changes impacting their most loyal customers. While I personally focused on the SkyClub entry rules and restrictions that are on the way, the adjustments made to the SkyMiles program were arguably even more disruptive. Not only did the airline move to a model that's based purely on Medallion...
model of the American Express Centurion Lounge at EWR
Travel Tuesday: Amex Centurion Lounge Coming to EWR in 2026
When I was a kid, my family would travel between Phoenix's Sky Harbor International Airport and Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey at least once per year. Because of this, I have plenty of distinct memories from both hubs — but especially EWR. I still think about the signs at baggage claim warning travelers about...
illustration of woman sitting in a lounge
Travel Tuesday: Google Flights is a Adding Money-Saving Feature
Travelers who are looking at flight options and fares have often found Google Flights to be a useful tool. Now, thanks to some updates, the service could further help flyers save some money on bookings. This week, Google Flights announced that it would be upgrading the insights it provides to users. This includes giving flyers...
World of Hyatt
Travel Tuesday: Hyatt and MGM are Ending Their Partnership
One of the great ironies of travel loyalty programs is that, in many cases, you can actually leverage your loyalty status across other brands as well. Thanks to status matching, I've been able to enjoy a number of travel perks I certainly didn't earn on my own. Unfortunately, some previous opportunities have been going away...
Epcot Center monorail
Travel Tuesday: The Increasingly Complicated World of Disney Parks Bookings
Once upon a time, visiting Disneyland or Walt Disney World was pretty straightforward: you'd buy tickets for the parks (or paid an entry fee and bought a ticket book if you're really old school), show up, and wait in line for the rides you wanted to experience. Well, those days are long gone. First, there...
Models of Hilton Project 3 and Marriott MidX extended stay hotels
Travel Tuesday: Even More Extended Stay Hotel Brands Are Coming
A couple of months ago, I wrote about Hyatt's plans to launch a new imprint called Hyatt Studios. This brand — which the company bills as its first "upper-midscale" concept — is meant to appeal to extended-stay travelers and, in turn, will include such features as a full-sized fridge, multi-function convection microwaves, stovetop burners, and...
Sleeper Holder features
Travel Tuesday: I Kickstarted a New Travel Product
Over the years, Kickstarter has had an interesting trajectory. While it was originally associated with art projects such as independent films (including some that were criticized for using the site to raise money when the creators were perceived as having the ability to self-finance... whether or not that was actually true) and musical albums, it...
Featured Articles
Dressing Like an Adult: Comparing Pants Instagram Sold Me
For most of my life, the bottom half of my body has been covered almost exclusively in denim. Specifically, except for the years when I had to wear a suit to work, I'd be seen in long jeans as I rarely ever wear shorts (although I did cave and wear some in Florida a couple...
Everything You Need to Know About Flying Allegiant Air in 2025
When my wife and I moved to Springfield, Missouri a decade ago, one of the selling points (or at least what kept it in the running) was that there was a nearby airport that served a decent number of destinations. Unfortunately, while it is convenient, flying out of such a small airport can also get...
Sleeper Hold Travel Pillow Review - A Gamechanger for Long Flights?
In 2023, I shared how I had contributed to a Kickstarter campaign for a new travel product. Well, soon after that, the item arrived at my door: the Sleeper Hold travel pillow. As luck would have it, soon after the pillow's arrival, I ended up taking a trip to Hong Kong that also happened to...
Allbirds Wool Runner-Up Mizzles Review - My Go-To Travel Shoes
Years ago, I purchased a pair of Allbirds Wool Runner Mizzles on the theory that they might make a good travel shoe thanks to their comfortable materials and water-repellent treatment. While I found that hypothesis to mostly be true, I did think there was some room for improvement. With that, sometime later, I purchased another...