Booking a trip is not as simple as finding the lowest price and clicking the button. Sometimes booking direct is best. Sometimes a credit card travel portal makes sense. Sometimes Costco Travel has a strong package. And sometimes working with an advisor can save you time, help you compare options, or give you access to…
Norwegian Cruise Line has two future cruise credit-style programs that can create real savings if you understand how they work: CruiseNext and CruiseFirst. They sound similar. They both involve paying money now to reduce the cost of a future Norwegian cruise. And they both can make a booking feel like a much better deal. But…
Over the last few years, more and more of our conversations with friends and family have started with travel questions. “How did you plan that trip?” “How do you travel so much without spending a fortune?” “Can you help me use points to book a trip?” “Is this credit card a good option for me?”…
Travel Protections by Credit Card and Network: What They Really Cover Most people think about credit cards in terms of points, cash back, lounge access, or annual fees. But one of the most overlooked parts of a travel credit card is the protection it may provide when something goes wrong. A delayed flight. A bag…
Most people think about credit card benefits by card name. Chase Sapphire Preferred. Capital One Venture X. Amex Platinum. Citi Strata Premier. Airline cards. Hotel cards. Cash-back cards. That makes sense, because the bank or issuer usually does the marketing. But there is another layer of benefits that many people overlook: the benefits that come…
Most people think of AAA as a roadside assistance service. Dead battery? Flat tire? Locked out of your car? That’s the obvious stuff. But what often gets missed are the travel-related benefits — some of which can quietly provide real protection and value when things don’t go as planned. And in a world where travel…
Points and miles can be incredibly useful. They can help reduce travel costs, unlock trips that may have felt out of reach, and make everyday spending feel a little more rewarding. But there’s one rule that matters more than almost everything else in the points and rewards world: Points are not free if you carry…
Would We Sail Alaska in an Inside Cabin? What Real NCL Cruisers Said We asked a few Norwegian Cruise Line Facebook groups a question we were already debating ourselves: Would you sail Alaska in an inside cabin? Last year, we cruised Alaska on the Norwegian Bliss and had a balcony. We definitely enjoyed it, especially…
The Chase Sapphire Reserve has become one of those cards where the value depends less on the headline benefits and more on whether you can actually use the credits without forcing yourself into trips you would not have taken anyway. The Chase The Edit by Chase Travel hotel credit is a good example. On paper,…
Norwegian Cruise Line recently sent out a short-term offer with the subject line: “Better Together: DoubleUp! + Up to $500 Off.” At first glance, it sounded simple: use two CruiseNext credits, get up to $500 off, and book before the deadline. But like most cruise promotions, the real value is in the details. This offer…
