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14 of our favorite points hotels on the beach in Mexico

Mexico has long been one of the most popular vacation destinations for Americans thanks to its close proximity (and plentiful, relatively inexpensive air service across the country), world-class beaches, rich culture and history and a national cuisine that is nothing short of drool-worthy. And during the COVID-19 pandemic, Mexico has been even more desirable to …

Welcome to Africa: A country-by-country guide to reopening

Editor’s note: This post has been updated with new information. It was originally published in July of 2020.    Here at TPG, we’ve been doing a lot of dreaming of our next trips and when we can realistically book them. Africa is at the top of our wish list. And several countries in Africa have reopened to …

Credit card showdown: Amex Platinum vs. Amex Business Platinum

Editor’s note: This post has been updated with new information. Over the past several years, we have seen premium credit cards continue to evolve to try to attract and retain customers. Two of the top cards for luxury travel benefits are The Platinum Card® from American Express and The Business Platinum Card® from American Express. …

There’s a Southwest 737 for sale on Facebook

I just checked the couch cushions and my daughter’s piggy-bank. Sadly, no, I don’t have $550,000 to spare. But if I did, I would seriously consider buying a used Boeing 737-300 that’s sitting out in the California desert. What AvGeek wouldn’t? I mean, I’ve already purchased part of a retired Delta Air Lines DC-9. For …

Earn Southwest elite status by spending on a credit card – The Points Guy

Editor’s note: This story has been updated with the latest offers and information. Over the past year, all the major U.S. airlines announced elite status extensions or reduced status requirements to the relief of frequent flyers everywhere. For more TPG news delivered each morning to your inbox, sign up for our daily newsletter. Southwest is one …

12 tips for using frequent flyer miles for family travel

Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information. Singles and couples may be the ideal award travelers. Having one or two accounts per frequent flyer program is easy to manage and it’s not too hard to find just one or two award seats on the same flights. But for families who …

Travelers to Alaska are no longer required to provide a negative COVID-19 test

For travelers dreaming of a trip to The Last Frontier, the rules have changed. Alaska had one of the strictest entry requirements in the U.S. during the pandemic — but that changed over the weekend when its COVID-19 state of emergency expired. Travelers to Alaska are no longer required to provide negative COVID-19 tests upon …

United’s 2 newest Hawaii long-haul routes just got a big boost

If you’re looking for a domestic island escape, United has you covered. The Chicago-based carrier has been busy adding new Hawaii flights, bringing its summer 2021 route total to 21. United isn’t just adding new routes, though. It’s also boosting its newly announced service. In September 2020, United unveiled two brand-new domestic long-haul jaunts, one from Chicago …

Hotels and airlines bet big on flexibility and peace of mind

It’s no secret that the COVID-19 pandemic walloped the travel industry. But during the early, uncertain days of the crisis, travel companies made two significant changes to appeal to travelers, partly in the hope that people would remember these gestures when it was time to hit the road again. Travelers have many choices in where …

Does the Chase Sapphire Preferred need a revamp? – The Points Guy

When I applied for the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card back in 2011, it was arguably the best rewards card out there. Aside from the sign-up bonus, the card offered valuable perks like a (discontinued) 7% annual point dividend, access to the Chase Ultimate Rewards program, 2x points on dining and travel and a reasonable $95 …