Many people have travel points. They might be sitting in a credit card account, an airline loyalty program, a hotel account, or even tucked away in a shopping or dining rewards program. But a lot of people never use them. Not because the points are worthless. Because they are not sure what the points can…
Updated June 16, 2026 Melanie recently posted a video about us learning about — and eventually embracing — the cruise duck tradition. After a few questions about what we brought, we figured we would share the actual items we bought for anyone who is interested. This is not meant to be a full explanation of…
Updated June 16, 2026: We refreshed this article with updated packing notes, current product links, and clearer guidance on which cruise essentials keep earning space in our bags. There are a lot of “must-have” cruise packing lists out there, and plenty of them are full of things people buy once, pack once, and never use…
How We Think About Hotel Points Hotel points can be an incredibly useful travel tool — but only when they’re earned and used thoughtfully. Over the years, we’ve earned elite status with several hotel programs through a mix of travel, credit cards, promotions, and regular travel. Those benefits can absolutely make a stay better, but…
Gas prices may go up and down, but one thing never changes: most people are paying more than they need to. With recent price increases and continued volatility in gas prices, it is a good time to revisit the simple strategies that can help you save at the pump. Between grocery store fuel rewards, credit…
Important note: This article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial or investment advice. Always do your own research and consult a financial professional before making investment decisions. Many cruisers don’t realize that owning stock in a cruise company can come with a travel perk: free onboard credit on your cruise….
Some travel traditions are planned. Others just sort of happen. On our cruises, one of the traditions that developed naturally is something simple that has become one of our favorite parts of each trip: Melanie makes themed cruise lanyards for every cruise we take. What started as a small sewing project has slowly turned into…
On a Norwegian Cruise Line sailing, the Freestyle Daily is one of the easiest ways to understand what is actually happening onboard each day. It shows the activities, entertainment, dining hours, venue schedules, youth programming, meetups, seminars, and late-night options happening around the ship. And if you save each one, it also gives you a…
When we booked this four-night Bahamas cruise on the Norwegian Dawn, we were genuinely curious how we’d feel about the ship. In the last year, we had cruised twice on Norwegian Bliss and once on Norwegian Escape — both larger ships with a more modern feel, bigger venues, and more “wow” spaces. The Dawn is…
Not every trip should look the same. One of the biggest mistakes people make when planning travel is trying to force every trip into the same mold. Cheapest possible.Most luxurious possible.Most packed itinerary possible.Whatever worked last time. But the best trips usually do not come from copying a formula. They come from matching the type…
