I’m a little embarassed to admit that I’m turning into a food-snob. I love to cook and know my way around a kitchen, so when I go out to eat, I won’t settle for mediocre food. Even better is when you eat well and you earn rewards! While rewards in general are something that make …
I had a crazy idea this summer when I found $59 round-trip flights to Florida. It was probably stupid — I only had from 10am-6am in Pensacola…yes, that’s less than 24 hours. But it was easy to talk myself into an impulsive purchase and mini-getaway. I had ambitious plans that involved water sports on the …
I always imagined that my first trip to the Grand Canyon would be my only trip there. Of course, I had assumed this trip would take advantage of the Grand Canyon to the fullest, exploring the North Rim, South Rim, inner canyon (via a rim-to-rim hike), and Havasu Falls over the course of more than a …
I’ve definitely been known in the past to over-plan, making sure we hit all the best places and eat at all the best restaurants on a relatively tight schedule. It doesn’t work. Inevitably, you get stuck in traffic, you end up exhausted because you woke up early too many days in a row, and you …
While I’d love to travel for free every time using my miles and points, every once in a while I have to earn miles on my travels rather than burning them. When the opportunity came up to head to Arizona for a weekend getaway, I knew paying cash for everything was in my future. Thank goodness it’s still …
A Perfect Getaway to Arizona: Traveling on a Budget Read More »
Am I the only one who spends hours and hours researching or planning a vacation and totally forgets about getting organized? Woops! This pre-vacation checklist is the only reason my life doesn’t fall apart. With a little thought ahead of time, you can take care of all your loose ends and be prepared. What to Do …
Most of the frequent flyer world thinks lounges are one of the greatest things since sliced bread. I love the concept of free wi-fi, snacks, beverages, and a quiet place to spread out and relax or get work done, but honestly I don’t use them very frequently. For starters, I’m a leisure traveler without a ton …
Using Memberships to Secure Cheap (or FREE!) Lounge Access Read More »
Sometimes the experience a non-chain hotel offers outweighs my desire to earn points toward future free travel. Obviously, the best of both worlds is when you can pick the perfect hotel and earn/redeem points for that stay, and there have definitely been times when I can make that happen. Even if you’re deadset on booking …
Earning Points on Non-Chain Hotels with Stash Rewards Read More »
Obviously I’m a big fan of travel, but to be more specific, most of my favorite travels have been in natural settings. I tend to favor national parks over big cities and incredible vistas over shopping malls. In order to keep these wonderful destinations beautiful for future visitors, I try to include green travel efforts …
I am a planner when it comes to traveling. I read travel guides. I read blogs. I read forums. I bet that even before I set ground in a new destination, I know more about that place than someone who’s been there before. In other words, I knew quite a bit about St. Maarten before …
Paradise Found: Cruise on the Carnival Victory (St. Maarten) Read More »
