Many people already have travel points. They’re sitting in credit card accounts, airline programs, hotel loyalty programs, or shopping rewards programs — often quietly building up in the background. But a surprising number of travelers never actually use them. Not because they aren’t valuable. Because they’re not sure how to use them. In the first…
Planning a cruise doesn’t start when you pack your suitcase. For us, it usually starts weeks — sometimes months — before we ever step on the ship. Of course, that gets a little more interesting when we book last-minute cruises like we’ve done a few times recently. And for this upcoming Norwegian Bliss sailing? We’re…
Using points for travel sounds simple in theory. But when it comes to cruises, it gets a lot more complicated. In fact, for a long time, we actually resisted cruising for one main reason: It’s difficult to use points for cruises — and when you can, the value often isn’t great. Coming from a points-and-rewards…
In the first episode of Points in Real Life, we talked about something many travelers don’t realize: Many people already have travel points sitting in credit card accounts, airline programs, or hotel loyalty programs — but they’re not sure how to use them. One of the biggest misconceptions about travel rewards is that you need…
Many people already have travel points. They’re sitting in credit card accounts, airline programs, hotel programs, or shopping rewards programs — often quietly accumulating in the background. But a surprising number of travelers never actually use them. Not because the points aren’t valuable. Because they’re not sure how to use them. Points can feel confusing…
Cruise Ducks: What We Actually Bought 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…
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 again. This list is different. These are the cruise and travel essentials we actually repack because they solve real problems, save space, reduce stress, or make a…
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…
When we started cruising last year, we had no idea that hiding and finding rubber ducks was a thing. Like a lot of cruise traditions, we discovered it through cruise Facebook groups and by seeing people talk about it onboard. At first it sounded a little strange — grown adults hiding rubber ducks around a…
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…
