It’s easy to see why Cancun is Mexico’s most popular destination. It’s home to beautiful beaches, jaw-dropping Mayan ruins, and a busy nightlife scene … getting people to visit this sun-soaked jewel on the coast of the Yucatan Peninsula is not a hard sell.
But we’ve been tipped off to a new fare sale that can get you to Cancun at a steal.
Carriers such as American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines and United Airlines are currently offering flights for as low as $261 round-trip. We found several nonstop routes in this sale from departure cities like Boston, Chicago, Dallas and New York City. Now that Southwest fares can be viewed in searches on Google Flights, it also saves us the trouble of heading to their website to see what a trip costs.
The travel window for this sale is from September through February 2025, but the best availability we saw was in November and December. If you live in the Northeast or Midwest, that’s the perfect time to plan a winter escape to the beaches of Mexico. Best of all, some routes do include the Thanksgiving holiday.
Please note that some of the lowest prices must be booked through an online travel agency.
This sale involves economy fares. You can bring a free carry-on bag with every airline in this deal except for United Airlines. Southwest tickets also allow for two free checked bags, so you can load up on swimwear and sandals. Checked luggage on the other airlines will cost between $35 and $40 each way.
Airlines: Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, JetBlue, Southwest Airlines and United Airlines
Routes: From Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, and New York City to Cancun, Mexico
How to book: Browse Google Flights, then book directly with the airline
Travel dates: From September through February for economy fares
This deal was originally sent out by the deal alert company Going. Sign up for Going to get up to 90% off select flights via its Premium membership, which users can try for free for 14 days and then $69 per year. You can also upgrade to the Elite tier for $199 per year for access to all the Premium deals, plus premium economy, business-class and first-class alerts.
We found nonstop flights from Chicago to Cancun on Southwest for just $266 round-trip. This itinerary takes off from Chicago’s Midway International Airport (MDW) to Cancun International Airport (CUN) in late September.
GOOGLE FLIGHTS
We found the same low price for this route in early November.
GOOGLE FLIGHTS
There are also good discounts to Mexico available out of Boston. JetBlue has nonstop flights from Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) to Cancun in November starting at $284 round-trip.
GOOGLE FLIGHTS
According to Google Flights, this route usually costs almost double this price in the fall.
GOOGLE FLIGHTS
JetBlue also has nonstop flights from New York City’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to Cancun in December — they’re priced at only $283 round-trip.
GOOGLE FLIGHTS
We also dug up some good availability for nonstop flights out of Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) to Mexico from $261 in the fall on American.
American Express® Gold Card: 3 points per dollar spent on airfare when booked directly with the airline or through amextravel.com
The Platinum Card® from American Express: 5 points per dollar spent on airfare when booked directly with the airline or through American Express Travel (on up to $500,000 of these purchases per calendar year, then 1 point per dollar)
In the examples above, we focused on nonstop flights, but some routes have layovers. If you’re only interested in nonstop itineraries, click the drop-down Stops tab and select the “nonstop only” option.
Is a Royal Caribbean cruise on your bucket list? You’ll find no shortage of options when it comes time to pick an itinerary.
The world’s biggest cruise line by passenger capacity offers voyages in almost every corner of the world, from its home base in North America to the far-off waters of Australia and New Zealand.
Royal Caribbean operates more cruise ships than any other major line — 28 in all. This allows it to deploy vessels on all the classic cruise itineraries in places like the Caribbean, Europe and Alaska while still having ships left over for more off-the-beaten-path routes.
For more cruise guides, tips and news, sign up for TPG’s cruise newsletter.
That said, Royal Caribbean has a distinct focus on the Caribbean and Europe — the most popular destinations for its regular customers. In a typical summer, the line will deploy about half its ships on sailings to the Caribbean, Bahamas and Bermuda while sending another seven or eight vessels to Europe. The line typically sends four ships to Alaska every summer.
During the winter, the line will move even more of its ships to the Caribbean, and send a few to Asia and Australia.
In all, Royal Caribbean’s ships visit more than 300 different ports around the world. Here are five of the top destinations you can reach on a Royal Caribbean ship.
The Caribbean and the Bahamas
Royal Caribbean’s Wonder of the Seas in Labadee, Haiti. ERICA SILVERSTEIN/THE POINTS GUY
There’s a reason the word “Caribbean” is in Royal Caribbean’s name. The line got its start operating cruises to the Caribbean way back in 1968, and the region still accounts for a big part of its business.
In fact, the line typically deploys well more than half its fleet to the Caribbean and the Bahamas for at least part of the year. During the winter, the line will have most of its ships in the region. For the coming winter of 2024-2025, for instance, 23 of its 28 vessels are sailing in the Caribbean and Bahamas, including all of the line’s biggest ships. These include the line’s much-ballyhooed new vessel Icon of the Seas — the biggest cruise ship in the world — and its just unveiled Utopia of the Seas.
Royal Caribbean offers a broad range of Caribbean and Bahamas itineraries from over half a dozen home ports. If you’re looking for something short, the line has you covered in the form of lots of quick, three- and four-night trips from Florida ports to the Bahamas (including those Utopia of the Seas sailings). It also offers an abundance of seven-night sailings to Caribbean and Bahamas ports and a handful of longer trips in the region that range from nine to 14 nights.
At the core of the line’s Caribbean and Bahamas program are its seven-night sailings, which break down into three broad categories:
Eastern Caribbean voyages
Western Caribbean voyages
Southern Caribbean voyages
A typical seven-night Royal Caribbean sailing in the Eastern Caribbean will include stops at St. Martin, St. Thomas and Perfect Day at CocoCay, the line’s private island in the Bahamas. But the line sometimes swaps in stops at other islands such as Puerto Rico or St. Kitts. There are typically three and sometimes four calls on an Eastern Caribbean cruise.
Royal Caribbean’s seven-night Western Caribbean voyages typically include three or four stops at some mix of the following destinations: Mexico (Cozumel or Costa Maya), Honduras, Jamaica, Grand Cayman and Belize. Some include a stop at Perfect Day at CocoCay and Labadee, Royal Caribbean’s private beach destination in Haiti.
The Oasis Lagoon at Perfect Day at CocoCay. ROYAL CARIBBEAN
The line’s seven-night Southern Caribbean itineraries are more destination-heavy, with five or even six separate calls. They sometimes include a couple of stops at relatively northward islands such as St. Thomas and St. Martin but focus heavily on southerly islands such as Tobago, Trinidad, Grenada, St. Vincent, Dominica, St. Lucia, Bonaire, Aruba and Curacao.
When sailing to the Caribbean, Royal Caribbean ships generally sail out of PortMiami, Port Canaveral, Fort Lauderdale’s Port Everglades and Tampa in Florida; San Juan, Puerto Rico; New Orleans; Galveston, Texas; Bayonne, New Jersey (one of the ports for New York City); and Baltimore.
Royal Caribbean’s Ovation of the Seas in Sydney, Australia. ROYAL CARIBBEAN
Royal Caribbean has been sending at least one ship — and sometimes several — to Australia every winter for many years. It offers a wide range of itineraries out of Sydney and Brisbane that make calls not just around Australia but also in New Zealand.
While the itineraries the line offers in the region vary in length — from just two nights to 15 nights — the shorter voyages are primarily aimed at a local Australian crowd looking for a quick getaway. Among North Americans, the most popular itineraries are the longer ones, which are often heavily skewed to stops in New Zealand.
Among several New Zealand itineraries are 12-night voyages from Sydney that feature an all-New Zealand lineup of calls: Bay of Islands, Auckland, Tauranga, Wellington, Christchurch and Picton.
A 15-night New Zealand itinerary out of Sydney features cruising in New Zealand’s famed Milford Sound as well as Doubtful Sound and Dusky Sound. The ship also stops in Dunedin, Wellington, Christchurch, Tauranga, Auckland and the Bay of Islands.
Alaska
Royal Caribbean’s Radiance of the Seas at Hubbard Glacier. MICHEL VERDURE/ROYAL CARIBBEAN
Royal Caribbean isn’t the biggest player in Alaska cruises. The giants of cruising to Alaska are Princess Cruises and Holland America, which are sister lines to each other that control a large percentage of the market. Still, Royal Caribbean has a significant presence in Alaska, and its big, activity-filled ships are popular with families looking to visit the destination.
The Alaska cruise season is a short one, lasting roughly from May to September. This year, Royal Caribbean has four ships in the region — all operating seven-night sailings.
Ovation of the Seas and Quantum of the Seas: These 4,180-passenger sister vessels are Royal Caribbean’s newest and largest ships scheduled to visit Alaska. They’re sailing to Alaska round-trip from Seattle with calls at Alaskan ports such as Sitka, Juneau and Skagway; and Victoria, British Columbia. On many departures, they’re also visiting Endicott Arm for glacier viewing.
Brilliance of the Seas: The 2,142-passenger ship sails to Alaska round-trip from Vancouver with a visit to Tracy Arm Fjord and calls at three or four of the following Alaska destinations: Ketchikan, Juneau, Skagway, Haines, Icy Strait Point and Sitka.
Radiance of the Seas: The 2,143-passenger Radiance of the Seas mostly sails one-way Alaska voyages between Vancouver and Seward, Alaska. Calls include Hubbard Glacier and four of the following Alaska destinations: Ketchikan, Icy Strait Point, Juneau, Skagway and Sitka.
For the 2025 season, Royal Caribbean will replace Ovation of the Seas with Anthem of the Seas (the two ships are similar) and substitute Serenade of the Seas for Radiance of the Seas (also similar ships).
The appeal of the one-way sailings on Radiance of the Seas in 2024 and Serenade of the Seas in 2025 is that you can combine them with Royal Caribbean-organized land tours of Alaska. Land tours can last from two to five days in addition to the seven nights on the ship. So, all in all, you will have created a nine- to 12-night “cruise tour” as such trips are called in the cruise world.
The land tour portion of such trips brings visits to such well-known interior Alaska locations as Denali National Park and the town of Fairbanks.
Royal Caribbean’s Anthem of the Seas sails in Europe during summers. MICHEL VERDURE/ROYAL CARIBBEAN
Royal Caribbean is a major player in Europe, with a wide range of itineraries in the Mediterranean and across Northern Europe.
Some of the line’s signature Mediterranean routings offer the chance to see iconic destinations such as Barcelona, Spain, and the Italian cities of Florence, Rome and Naples in a single cruise. Or, you can sign up for a Mediterranean cruise focusing on the Greek Islands.
In Northern Europe, Royal Caribbean will take you to such famed Baltic cities as Stockholm; Tallinn, Estonia; Helsinki; and St. Petersburg, Russia, in a single sailing (although, for now, St. Petersburg has been removed from Royal Caribbean itineraries due to the war between Russia and Ukraine). Itineraries that zero in on the Norwegian fjords also are available.
Until recently, the line has deployed as many as 10 vessels to the region each year on a seasonal basis, with the ships staying from spring until fall. But Royal Caribbean has been cutting back on Europe sailings a bit in the wake of the wars in Ukraine and Israel, and it only plans to send six ships to Europe for the 2025 season.
Royal Caribbean’s Europe voyages range in length from three to 16 nights.
Among the longest sailings that Royal Caribbean offers in Europe is a 16-night voyage from Barcelona to Southampton, England, that brings stops in Valencia, Cartagena and Malaga, Spain; Casablanca and Agadir, Morocco; Lisbon and Porto, Portugal; Cork, Ireland; and Cherbourg and Le Havre, France.
In Northern Europe, Royal Caribbean ships mostly sail out of Southampton, England; Amsterdam; and Copenhagen, Denmark.
In the Mediterranean, the line’s hubs are Piraeus, Greece (the port for Athens); Istanbul, Turkey; Barcelona; and Civitavecchia (the port for Rome) and Ravenna in Italy. The latter port recently replaced Venice as a home port.
Asia
Royal Caribbean’s Spectrum of the Seas, shown here in Hong Kong, sails in Asia. ROYAL CARIBBEAN
In recent years, Royal Caribbean has built up a big business selling cruises out of China ports such as Shanghai and Tianjin (the port for Beijing) that are aimed squarely at the Chinese market. They offer Chinese-language programming, and Chinese-centric food and activities. However, Royal Caribbean also markets some Asia voyages to North Americans.
Among the itineraries meant for a Western crowd are nine-night Thailand and Vietnam cruises out of Singapore that include stops at Bintan Island, Indonesia; Nha Trang and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam; and Bangkok.
There are also 10-night Japan Explorer sailings that take in Aomori, Hakodate, Akita, Kanazawa, Sakaiminato and Kagoshima, Japan; and Busan, South Korea.
For 2025, Royal Caribean will have three of its 28 ships visiting Asia for at least part of the year: Anthem of the Seas, Ovation of the Seas and Spectrum of the Seas.
The line’s main home ports in Asia for cruises aimed at North American travelers are Singapore; Yokohama, Japan (the port for Tokyo); and Hong Kong.
Bottom line
Royal Caribbean has one of the biggest fleets of oceangoing cruise ships worldwide, allowing it to offer a wide range of itineraries. If you’re thinking of a Royal Caribbean cruise, you’ll be spoiled for choice. The line is perhaps best known for its Caribbean sailings — at certain times of the year, it deploys almost all its ships to the region. You’ll also find wonderful Royal Caribbean itineraries everywhere, from Alaska and Australia to Europe and Asia.
KrisFlyer generally charges more miles than other loyalty programs, even on dates with Saver award availability. However, the program offers discounts on select award flights each month through its KrisFlyer Spontaneous Escapes promotion.
Currently, you can book select promo award flights with a 30% discount if you reserve by Aug. 31 and travel between Sept. 1 and 30. This month, you’ll find discounts on Saver award tickets to select destinations in the Singapore Airlines network.
Here’s how you can maximize this iteration of Singapore KrisFlyer Spontaneous Escapes.
Deal basics
ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY
Airline: Singapore Airlines Routes: Between Frankfurt and New York City, Singapore and Los Angeles, and Singapore and San Francisco; and from Singapore to New York City and from Newark to Singapore. Cost: Starts at 17,500 miles in economy, 36,400 miles in premium economy and 56,700 miles in business class from Frankfurt to New York City Travel dates: Sept. 1 to 30 (with some blackout dates) Book by: Aug. 31
Singapore KrisFlyer Spontaneous Escapes offers discounted award flights on select routes Singapore Airlines operates. However, only select flight numbers are discounted each month, so you’ll often only get the discount for travel in one direction.
Discounted flights are between Frankfurt Airport (FRA) and New York City’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), Singapore Changi Airport (SIN) and Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), and SIN and San Francisco International Airport (SFO), and from SIN to JFK and from Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) to SIN.
Here’s a look at the Spontaneous Escapes pricing this month on U.S. routes:
Origin
Destination
Discounted award rate
Blackout dates
Frankfurt
New York City
Economy: 17,500 miles
Premium economy: 36,400 miles
Business: 56,700 miles
*Available on Flight SQ26
Economy: Sept. 1-5, 19-21, 27-30
Premium economy: None
Business: Sept. 2, 3, 27-30
New York City
Frankfurt
Economy: 17,500 miles
Premium economy: 36,400 miles
Business: 56,700 miles
*Available on Flight SQ25
Economy: None
Premium economy: Sept. 20-23
Business: None
Singapore
Los Angeles
Economy: 29,400 miles (SQ38)
Premium economy: 52,500 miles (SQ36)
Economy: Sept. 1-13
Premium economy: None
Los Angeles
Singapore
Premium economy: 52,500 miles (SQ35)
None
Singapore
San Francisco
Economy: 29,400 miles (SQ32, SQ34)
Sept. 1-3, 6-8, 13-16
San Francisco
Singapore
Economy: 29,400 miles (SQ31, SQ33)
None
Singapore
New York City
Premium economy: 56,350 miles (SQ24)
Sept. 1-8
Newark
Singapore
Premium economy: 56,350 miles (SQ21)
None
*Award redemption is only available on the specific flight(s) noted.
Remember, you must still find award availability on the KrisFlyer website. Promo awards may not be available on select dates — even ones not listed as blackout dates. When you search, you’ll see the discounted awards listed as “promo” if available.
Additionally, all the flights on your itinerary must qualify for the promotion to access the discounted pricing. So, if there’s a promo reward available for just one direction of your flight, it might be best to book two one-way flights.
Be aware that flights departing Europe are subject to higher taxes and fees than flights leaving the U.S. Plan to spend about 125 euros (about $137) per person in one-way taxes and fees on westbound transatlantic flights.
Note that it may take up to 24 hours for the transferred rewards to hit your KrisFlyer account. If they don’t immediately appear, consider calling KrisFlyer to hold award seats until the miles post. Doing so will lock in your award seats, so you won’t have to worry about the availability disappearing. KrisFlyer generally charges a service fee of $25 or 2,500 miles to hold award seats.
Use The Platinum Card® from American Express to earn 5 points per dollar spent on airfare booked directly with the airline or through American Express Travel (on up to $500,000 spent per calendar year, then 1 point per dollar); the Chase Sapphire Reserve® for 3 points per dollar spent on travel; the American Express® Gold Card for 3 points per dollar spent on airfare booked directly with the airline or on amextravel.com; or the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card for 2 points per dollar spent on travel.
Bottom line
Singapore Airlines is offering a transatlantic economy-class award for just 17,500 miles. Or, you can book flights between Frankfurt and New York City for as few as 56,700 miles in business class.
Qatar Airways has devalued some Avios sweet spots for award flights on partner airlines including American Airlines and Alaska Airlines, as first reported earlier today by DansDeals.
Historically, Qatar Airways Privilege Club has been a popular, if somewhat niche, loyalty program for U.S. flyers thanks in part to the bargain redemption levels of short-haul flights on Qatar’s U.S. airline partners. Unfortunately, that’s no longer the case. And what’s more, Qatar Airways made this devaluation with no notice to its Privilege Club members. It’s just one more reason that travelers should always consider diversifying the types of points and miles they earn and redeem because devaluations like this come all too often.
Here are the details on this latest blow, what flyers can expect, and how you might still be able to get some value from Qatar Airways Avios on short-haul American Airlines and Alaska Airlines flights.
Qatar Airways devalues American Airlines and Alaska Airlines short-haul awards
VDB PHOTOS/SHUTTERSTOCK
Qatar Airways uses multiple (unpublished) award charts for flights on various airlines.
Although the airline made no announcement that it was changing the chart it uses for American Airlines and Alaska Airlines awards, flight searches reveal that the redemption rates for short-haul American and Alaska routes have indeed gone up. The cost of these flights in Avios has increased by up to 64%, with the shortest routes seeing the most dramatic price hikes. Here is what we have been able to piece together.
Flight distance
Sample flights
Cost before (in Avios)
Cost now (in Avios)
Change
Up to 650 miles
Charlotte to New York City on American
Seattle to Portland, Oregon on Alaska
6,000 economy
12,500 business
9,500 economy
20,000 business
+58%
+60%
651 to 1,151 miles
Miami to New York City on American
Seattle to Los Angeles on Alaska
9,000 economy
16,500 business
13,000 economy
27,000 business
+44%
+64%
1,152 to 2,000 miles
Miami to Chicago on American
Seattle to Minneapolis-St. Paul on Alaska
11,000 economy
22,000 business
14,500 economy
34,000 business
+32%
+53%
2,001 to 3,000 miles
Miami to Seattle on American
Los Angeles to Newark on Alaska
13,000 economy
38,750 business
16,000 economy
43,000 business
+23%
+11%
This means that even the shortest routes, like a 129-mile flight from Seattle to Portland, Oregon, will set you back at least 9,500 Avios each way.
QATARAIRWAYS.COM
The good news is that longer-haul flight awards on American and Alaska, as well as redemption requirements for JetBlue flights appear to be unaffected … for the moment. Since this devaluation came with no warning, there’s no telling whether the Qatar Airways Privilege Club intends to make more changes to its award levels in the coming days. So if you were planning to book something using Qatar Airways Avios, do so sooner rather than later.
For now, the Qatar Airways award charts for flights on other partner airlines remains unchanged as well.
Although Qatar Airways award rates for these flights have jumped significantly, in the grand scheme of points and miles, they’re still relatively affordable.
British Airways Executive Club, which also uses Avios as its currency, recently underwent a similar devaluation. The British Airways award chart for Alaska and American partner flights is structured much like Qatar’s, except that each price tier costs a few thousand more Avios.
Flight distance
Qatar Airways cost (in Avios)
British Airways cost (in Avios)
Up to 650 miles
9,500 economy
20,000 business
12,000 economy
24,000 business
651 to 1,151 miles
13,000 economy
27,000 business
16,000 economy
32,000 business
1,151 to 2,000 miles
14,500 economy
34,000 business
18,000 economy
40,000 business
2,001 to 3,000 miles
16,000 economy
43,000 business
20,000 economy
50,000 business
If you plan to use Avios to book award flights on American or Alaska, you’ll still get the best prices if you book through Qatar Airways. However, depending on what rewards currencies you have, there may be better options.
For instance, if you wanted to fly from Miami to Chicago, a one-way ticket on American booked through Qatar would cost 14,500 Avios in economy or 34,000 in business class.
QATARAIRWAYS.COM
Or you could book the same flight through American for only 8,500 AAdvantage miles in economy or 26,500 miles in business class.
AA.COM
However, since American uses dynamic pricing, using AAdvantage miles may not always be the cheapest option. You’ll need to double check in each case.
AAdvantage miles are also some of the hardest frequent-flyer miles to earn because the program has very few transfer partners (the same is true for Alaska Mileage Plan miles). You may find it easier to book award flights with Avios since you can transfer them from:
As mentioned, Qatar Airways has not, at time of publication, changed its award chart for JetBlue flights, so may still be able to get great value from your Avios by booking short-haul flights on JetBlue. Here’s the current award chart Qatar uses for JetBlue flights:
Flight distance
Cost in Avios
Up to 1,100 miles
8,500 economy
17,000 business
1,101 to 2,000 miles
13,000 economy
26,000 business
2,001 to 2,800 miles
18,500 economy
74,000 business
2,801 to 3,700 miles
25,000 economy
78,000 business
So, you could fly from Fort Lauderdale to New York (a 1,070-mile route) on JetBlue for only 8,500 Avios each way in economy.
A comparable route on American or Alaska would cost 13,000 Avios through Qatar Airways or 16,000 through British Airways.
QATARAIRWAYS.COM
When searching for routes to or from cities that Qatar Airways doesn’t serve, the city or airport may not appear in the destination drop-down menu. That’s okay — just enter the airport code into the destination box and click “Search,” and flight options should appear.
Despite this devaluation, Qatar Airways Avios are still the cheapest type of Avios to book Alaska Airlines and American Airlines award flights.
British Airways’ award chart is pricier than Qatar’s for these partner flights, and it’s much more difficult to book partner award flights on the other airlines that use Avios (Finnair, Iberia and Aer Lingus). You should also always double-check awards on American and Alaska’s own sites if you have their miles to see if you can get a better deal that way.
For now, Avios collectors should keep their eyes peeled, as more devaluations could be in store.
Portland International Airport (PDX) in Portland, Oregon, is undergoing a much-needed $2.15 billion makeover.
While construction has been underway since at least 2020, visitors will likely feel it was all worth the wait when the airport’s temporary walls come down Aug. 14 to reveal the next (and best) part of the project.
Soon, visitors will experience an expansive and reimagined main terminal with a soaring timber roof, the latest in check-in and checkpoint technology, live trees and plants, and plenty of art, shops, restaurants and inviting places to hang out.
HARRIET BASKAS/FOR THE POINTS GUY
Wondering what you can expect? Here’s a first look at what passengers and the public will see at PDX.
This is an airport?
HARRIET BASKAS/FOR THE POINTS GUY
As you walk into the new main terminal, right past the check-in area, you’ll notice a forestlike giant hall with more than 70 live trees, 5,000-plus plants, almost 50 skylights and a soaring 9-acre roof made entirely of Douglas fir wood harvested from all kinds of sustainably managed farms in Oregon and Washington.
The check-in experience
HARRIET BASKAS/FOR THE POINTS GUY
Airline check-in counters are clustered in four carpeted islands perpendicular to the entrance. Passengers flying Alaska Airlines with bags to check will find the newest iteration of the carrier’s automatic bag drop system here. The self-service system encourages passengers to scan their boarding passes, print out and attach bag tags, weigh their bags, pay a checked bag fee (if necessary) and send the bags on their way.
Shops, restaurants and public spaces
HARRIET BASKAS/FOR THE POINTS GUY
On the main floor, you’ll find about a dozen presecurity shops and restaurants (some in pop-up form for now). Current options include Hello From Portland, Steven Smith Teamaker, Orox Leather Co., Paper Epiphanies, The Country Cat and Powell’s Books.
HARRIET BASKAS/FOR THE POINTS GUY
This main terminal area sports two banks of stadium seating with solid wood benches perfect for hanging out before a flight. This space has a stage area for live performances as well. During our visit, we spotted a grand piano ready to be put in place.
The return of the PDX carpet
HARRIET BASKAS/FOR THE POINTS GUY
At the top of each bank of stadium seats are lounges with seating areas. Underfoot, you’ll spot carpeting that brings back the much-loved teal-and-purple pattern that inspired thousands, perhaps millions, of shoe selfies.
HARRIET BASKAS/FOR THE POINTS GUY
The pattern and colors of the original carpet, which was installed across the airport in 1988 and replaced in 2015, were carefully recreated for installation in these lounges and for several other spots in the new main terminal area.
Mezzanine restaurant with views
HARRIET BASKAS/FOR THE POINTS GUY
Loyal Legion, a popular local beer hall, will occupy the mezzanine level of the presecurity main terminal area. In addition to serving more than 90 Oregon beers on tap, this venue will offer great views of the surrounding landscape, including the airfield, as well as a perch to watch the bustling activity in the main hall.
New and improved security checkpoints
The new main hall at PDX has two identical Transportation Security Administration checkpoints equipped with the latest security screening technology. Above each checkpoint is a 120-foot-long video wall displaying shorts about some of the airport art, as well as images inspired by Oregon landscapes. The content on the screens is designed to offer “positive distractions” and changes according to the time of day, the weather and, somehow, the number of people currently in the terminal.
At the carpeted checkpoints, travelers will find TSA officers using Credential Authentication Technology to review travel documents. This means passengers will only need to show a photo ID, not their boarding pass, when passing through.
At six Automated Screening Lanes for general (non-TSA PreCheck) travelers, three passengers at a time will be able to load their belongings into trays. That should speed things up, as will the fact that liquids and electronics will not be removed from bags.
As for the passenger screening process, each checkpoint has five of the newest Advanced Imaging Technology body scanners, which use millimeter wave technology. These machines are wider than previous models and allow passengers to keep their hands at their side, instead of over their heads. According to the TSA, these machines can be used for people who have metal hips, knee replacements or metal pins in their bodies since they are not metal detectors.
HARRIET BASKAS/FOR THE POINTS GUY
An intriguing round, wood “hut” at each checkpoint at PDX serves as a private screening room for travelers who might need additional screening and request that it be done in private.
HARRIET BASKAS/FOR THE POINTS GUY
Bottom line
Passengers at Portland International Airport are about to experience a gleaming new airport terminal, a much-anticipated development for this Alaska Airlines hub and one of the busiest airports in the Pacific Northwest.
From local touches to refreshed public spaces, the terminal overhaul brings a mix of technological advances and aesthetic improvements.
Even classic details like PDX’s iconic carpet are part of the reimagined space. Lovers of the original feature will notice a new version of it linking the old terminal to the updated one.
There’s a new way to earn miles with a major U.S. airline when you stay at a vacation rental property.
On Monday, JetBlue announced a new partnership with Vrbo.
As part of the link-up, you can now book Vrbo stays using JetBlue’s Paisly platform, the carrier’s travel booking site for nonflight reservations. That means you’ll be able to earn JetBlue TrueBlue points for Vrbo reservations and work your way toward Mosaic elite status — including a hefty bonus opportunity over the next couple of weeks.
A JetBlue Airbus A320 taxis at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK). SEAN CUDAHY/THE POINTS GUY
The move is a win for customers who want to book vacation rentals that are more spacious than a traditional hotel room, like a beach house or a cozy mountain cabin for a fall getaway.
Though Vrbo is already part of a loyalty program known as One Key, which also includes online travel agencies Expedia and Hotels.com, this Vrbo-JetBlue partnership offers travelers a way to earn loyalty currency with a major airline program when they stay at a Vrbo property.
What is Paisly?
Paisly by JetBlue is a travel product service subsidiary of JetBlue. You can use the site to book nonflight trip aspects, from hotel stays to car and home rentals — including, now, through Vrbo.
Earning TrueBlue points through Paisly
TrueBlue members who book travel or otherwise make purchases through Paisly can earn 1 TrueBlue point per dollar spent. They can also work their way toward Mosaic elite status; each $100 spent on Paisly purchases earns 1 Mosaic tile.
Keep in mind that 50 tiles is the qualification benchmark for first-tier Mosaic 1 status. However, when you earn just 10 tiles, you’ll get your first shot at the Perks You Pick menu, which includes rewards like free inflight alcoholic beverages on one trip, early boarding and priority security, among other choices. (You can choose additional perks as you reach 20, 30 and 40 tiles.)
Southern Shores, North Carolina. SEAN CUDAHY/THE POINTS GUY
For example, let’s say I wanted to book a week at North Carolina’s Outer Banks and spent $2,500 on an ocean-view beach house booked on Vrbo through Paisly.
PAISLY
That would earn me 2,500 TrueBlue points and 25 Mosaic tiles — halfway to Mosiac 1 elite status. A $5,000 reservation would earn you the status outright.
Keep in mind that you can also earn 1 Mosaic tile for every $1,000 charged to certain JetBlue cobranded credit cards, so if you’re a JetBlue cardholder, it’s a convenient way to stack those earnings.
August promotion
In celebration of the new partnership, JetBlue is also offering a bonus points promotion.
Between now and Aug. 25, you’ll earn 3 TrueBlue points per dollar spent on Vrbo reservations made through Paisly.
That means a $3,000 stay would earn you 9,000 TrueBlue points, which is often more than enough for a one-way domestic flight on its own — and could get you a good chunk of the way to earning a larger redemption.
Bottom line
Finding ways to earn loyalty currency with a major airline or hotel program often requires a bit of creative thinking when you book on a site like Airbnb or Vrbo — though there are ways to do it.
This new partnership between JetBlue’s Paisly and Vrbo gives travelers a new option to do just that.
Those long weekend or weeklong stays common on Vrbo bookings can add up in spending, and this new partnership offers another way to be fully rewarded for the price you pay — beyond whatever you’re charging to a rewards credit card.
If you’re a regular JetBlue flyer, that $3,000 beach house reservation could help put you over the top for Mosaic elite status — or make it possible to enjoy a redemption in the airline’s premium Mint cabin.
Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers.
World of Hyatt Business Credit Card overview
The World of Hyatt Business Credit Card is a mid-tier hotel credit card that can provide serious value to Hyatt loyalists looking to spend their way toward status perks or unlock a 10% points rebate feature. However, there are trade-offs you should consider before putting that much spending on a credit card that doesn’t offer any free night certificates or automatic status beyond the lowest level. Card rating*: ⭐⭐⭐½
* Card rating is based on the opinion of TPG’s editors and is not influenced by the card issuer.
The World of Hyatt Business Credit Card from Chase offers some interesting perks geared toward small-business owners who are Hyatt loyalists. If you have an excellent credit score of 670 or above and are focused on earning World of Hyatt points and status, this could be a good card for you.
The Hyatt Business card lacks some of the features we typically expect from hotel credit cards, like status beyond the lowest level and free night certificates on your account anniversary. However, it offers a powerful set of perks for business owners who are interested in spending their way toward benefits. If you can take advantage of these spending-based perks, the card easily justifies its $199 annual fee. If not, then this card might not be a long-term keeper for you.
Here’s what you need to know before applying.
World of Hyatt Business credit card pros and cons
Pros
Cons
This card can provide serious value to Hyatt loyalists looking to spend their way toward status perks
10% points rebate feature
This card doesn’t offer any free night certificates or automatic status beyond the lowest level
World of Hyatt Business Credit Card welcome offer
Right now, new applicants for the World of Hyatt Business Credit Card can earn 60,000 Bonus Points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in your first three months from account opening.
TPG August 2024 valuations peg World of Hyatt points at 1.7 cents each, making the full bonus worth an impressive $1,020.
THE POINTS GUY
Bear in mind that this card is subject to Chase’s standard application rules, including the Chase 5/24 rule — though opening this card won’t add to your 5/24 number.
Up to $100 in Hyatt credits annually: Get a $50 statement credit when you use your card to spend $50 or more at Hyatt hotels and resorts (up to two times per year for a total of $100 in annual credits)
Discoverist status for you and up to five employees: As the primary account holder, you’ll receive automatic Discoverist status with World of Hyatt and get five Discoverist Upgrade Awards, which you can gift to employees
Earn stay credits toward status through spending: You’ll receive five tier-qualifying night credits for every $10,000 you spend each calendar year.
Ability to get a 10% points rebate: If you and your employees collectively spend at least $50,000 in a calendar year, you’ll get 10% bonus points back on up to a total of 200,000 World of Hyatt points you redeem for free night awards, Points + Cash stays, room upgrades, dining and spa services and Find experiences for the remainder of the calendar year
Hyatt Leverage membership: You’ll receive a complimentary Hyatt Leverage membership, which includes discounts on standard room rates at all participating Hyatt hotels
No foreign transaction fees
HYATT
Again, it’s disappointing not to see a higher level of elite status or a free night certificate on this list of benefits. Still, those who stay at Hyatt properties regularly will benefit from the Hyatt credit and Hyatt Leverage membership. And if your small business spends enough with this card, you can enjoy an easier path to status and a 10% points rebate.
Earning points on the World of Hyatt Business Credit Card
As a World of Hyatt Business cardholder, you’ll earn 4 points per dollar spent at Hyatt hotels, participating Small Luxury Hotels of the World and on Find experiences booked through Hyatt.
Grand Hyatt Baha Mar TADEU BRUNELLI/GRAND HYATT BAHA MAR
You will also earn 2 points per dollar spent on fitness club and gym membership purchases as well as in your top three spending categories each quarter through Dec. 31, 2024. Starting Jan. 1, 2025, that will change to your top two categories each quarter. Categories include:
The points-earning rates are adjusted automatically to the categories where you spend the most each quarter, so there’s no need to select your preferred categories. Beyond your bonus categories, you’ll earn 1 point per dollar on all other purchases.
While this stands out as one of the few cards that earns bonus points on gym memberships, you’ll find many other cards that have better earning structures for the other bonus categories. If you aren’t focused on earning the benefits that come from putting high spend on this card, your best bet will be to use it alongside some other cards to maximize your bonus-earning potential.
Redeeming points on the World of Hyatt Business Credit Card
As is expected of a hotel cobranded card, the best use of the World of Hyatt points you’ll earn on the World of Hyatt Business Credit Card is to cover stays at Hyatt properties. You can do this by covering your stay in full, covering part of your stay with points through Hyatt’s “Points + Cash” rate option, or by using points to upgrade a paid stay.
One of the best things about the World of Hyatt program is that it still uses a published award chart, so you can plan ahead to know how many points you’ll need for a stay. However, each category has different rates for standard, peak and off-peak dates.
Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort MARK KNIGHT/HYATT
To get the most value from your points, use them at either the high or low end of the award chart. TPG content director Summer Hull prefers to stay on the higher end, getting great value from her points by using them to stay at Hyatt resorts or city properties that would otherwise be out of her budget. Conversely, you can maximize your points by staying at the lower end of the award chart. With options as low as 3,500 points, I prefer to stay at Category 1 Hyatt properties when I can to stretch my points as far as possible.
You also have the option to redeem your World of Hyatt points for Avis intermediate rental cars for 6,000 points per day, use them for dining, spa or meeting credits at Hyatt properties, redeem them for Find experiences, or transfer them to some airline programs. However, you’ll generally get lower than our August 2024 valuationof 1.7 cents per-point valuation with these redemption options, so we recommend using your points to cover Hyatt stays when possible.
Which cards compete with the World of Hyatt Business Credit Card?
If you want more perks or a different earning structure, one of these options might be a better fit.
If you want Hyatt perks for a lower annual fee: The personal World of Hyatt Credit Card earns bonus points on Hyatt purchases and provides automatic Discoverist status and a path to higher status through spending for a lower $95 annual fee. For more details, check out our full review of the World of Hyatt card.
If you want to earn more on your business purchases: The Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card earns 3 points per dollar on the first $150,000 in combined purchases on travel and common business categories. It earns Chase Ultimate Rewards points, which you can transfer to World of Hyatt or any of Chase’s other 13 hotel and airline partners. For more details, check out our full review of the Ink Business Preferred.
If you want more general travel benefits: The Chase Sapphire Reserve® comes with complimentary airport lounge access, a $300 annual travel credit, a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit and comprehensive travel protections. Like the Ink Business Preferred, you can transfer your points to World of Hyatt or any other Chase partner. For more details, check out our full review of the Chase Sapphire Reserve.
Is the World of Hyatt Business Credit Card worth the annual fee?
If you can take advantage of the two Hyatt statement credits on your World of Hyatt Business Credit Card, you’ll get $100 in value from that perk alone. That lowers your effective annual fee to just $99. While Discoverist status isn’t noteworthy by itself, the fact that you can gift it to five others is solid — though whether that (and the other benefits) are enough to justify the out-of-pocket cost is up to you.
That said, the fact that the card doesn’t offer an annual free night certificate and includes high spending requirements for status means you might get more value from a different card.
Bottom line
The current welcome offer and value from ongoing benefits make the World of Hyatt Business card worth getting for small-business owners who regularly stay at Hyatt properties. This is especially true if you would otherwise fall short of Globalist status but can make up the difference with spending.
However, those who rarely stay at Hyatt properties or who want more benefits for a lower spending requirement will want to go with a different card.
Nothing quite says “bucket list” like a cruise to Africa.
You get wildlife safaris, ancient wonders of the world and some of the most fascinating cultural epicenters on the globe all in one trip. Are you starting to understand why a cruise here is so unique?
Africa is a big continent, and you’ll find almost as many ways to cruise as marvels to see. Whether you want to visit Africa’s tropical Seychelles islands in the Indian Ocean or prefer the dramatic red sands of Namibia on the Atlantic coast, you can do it on a cruise ship — even on the same itinerary.
And that’s not all! You can book intimate river cruises on Botswana’s Chobe River or Egypt’s Nile River, a rite of passage for many a cruise fan. (We’ve highlighted Viking below for its vast number of sailings, but Lindblad/National Geographic, Uniworld and Avalon Waterways all offer Nile itineraries as well.)
Whether you’re looking for an expedited South African highlights cruise or a multiweek African continent adventure, you can find a cruise itinerary to suit you. Here are our picks for the best Africa cruises in 2025 and 2026.
Norwegian Cruise Line: 11- to 13-night South Africa & Madagascar cruises
Idyllic Camps Bay beach and Table Mountain in Cape Town. FIVEPOINTSIX/GETTY IMAGES
Norwegian Cruise Line has some of the most robust and varied Africa cruise options of all the big-ship lines, with 13 sailings ranging from 11 to 21 nights in 2025 alone.
Among the most popular offerings is the Cape Town to Mauritius (or reverse) route on Norwegian Sky and Norwegian Dawn. These 11- to 13-night cruises combine the highlights of Cape Town with the wildlife wonders of Madagascar. The latter is one of the most enthralling safari destinations in Africa; 90% of the plant and animal species on the island are endemic, including 103 varieties of lemurs. But Madagascar is also a destination that even hardcore safari enthusiasts often skip because flights and lodges are hard to book, making a cruise the perfect way to get there.
NCL’s itineraries also visit Pointe de Galets, Reunion — a lush beach and rainforest area on the Indian Ocean. Norwegian Dawn’s 12-night itinerary adds a stop in Maputo, Mozambique.
Who should go: The 1,944-passenger Norwegian Sky and 2,290-passenger Norwegian Dawn are some of the smallest and oldest ships in Norwegian Cruise Line’s fleet. They suit cruisers looking for a more intimate experience than what you’ll find on bigger ships. Africa cruises tend to draw cruisers who care more about the destinations they visit than onboard attractions, but the ships will still entertain you with multiple eateries and bars and lounges, several pools and whirlpools, a casino and a theater with nightly shows.
Azamara offers an 18-night Western Africa Voyage sailing between the Canary Islands and Cape Town. The 704-passenger Azamara Quest calls on the ports of Dakar, Senegal; Banjul, Gambia; and Luderitz and Walvis Bay, Namibia, along the African coast. The ship also stops at the British-controlled island of St. Helena.
Book excursions to seek out the elusive wild horses of Namibia, take a sightseeing flight over the massive shifting sand dunes of Sossusvlei, race through the desert in a four-wheel-drive vehicle and explore the waterways and villages of Gambia.
Azamara also partners with Micato Safaris for pre- and post-cruise Africa programs to see the “Big Five” (Cape buffaloes, lions, rhinoceroses, elephants and leopards). You can book safaris in Chobe National Park in Botswana or Kruger National Park in South Africa.
Who should go: Azamara caters to affluent, well-traveled cruisers who enjoy smaller vessels, a country house ambience and itineraries that focus on destination immersion. (You won’t find waterslides or roller coasters, and that’s exactly how the line’s fans like it.) Azamara creates an immersive African experience with its focus on longer stays in port; for example, the ship spends two full days in Walvis Bay, Namibia. Additionally, the line’s complimentary AzAmazing Evenings program takes cruisers ashore to experience cultural performances in jaw-dropping locations, such as the “Desert Dinner & Fire spinners and Marimba Band” event in Namibia.
Regent Seven Seas Cruises: 16-night Shores of Madagascar: Cape Town to Port Louis cruises
Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Statue in Port Louis, Mauritius. WESTEND61/GETTY IMAGES
Regent Seven Seas Cruises offers a 16-night itinerary along the southern coast of South Africa and on to Mozambique and Madagascar, concluding in Port Louis, Mauritius. The 750-passenger Seven Seas Splendor departs Jan. 27, 2026, on this itinerary and then repeats the sailing in reverse, from Port Louis to Cape Town, on Feb. 12, 2026.
Along the way, Regent offers some unique shore excursions that set it apart from other lines. Highlights include safari game drives in KwaZulu Natal, South Africa, from Richards Bay; cultural explorations of Durban, South Africa, with visits to Zulu villages in the Valley of a Thousand Hills; and birding in the remote Mayotte, French Comoros.
Who should go: Regent’s all-inclusive luxury cruises — which include airfare, transfers, onboard beverages and dining, gratuities, Wi-Fi and unlimited shore excursions — have correspondingly luxurious prices. Passengers are mostly affluent professionals and retirees who enjoy the seamless ease of an all-inclusive sailing offering high-end service.
Fine dining fans will appreciate the multiple onboard dining options, including Chartreuse for fine French cuisine and Prime 7 with steakhouse menus. Other diversions on board include the sybaritic Serene Spa and a pool deck, plus boccie, a putting green and golf nets for sea day enrichment.
Oceania Cruises: 14-night Cape Town to Cape Town cruise
OCEANIA CRUISES
If you’d prefer a deeper exploration of southern Africa, Oceania Cruises’ Cape Town to Cape Town cruise Jan. 19. to Feb. 2, 2026, explores South Africa’s coast in an unusual up-and-back itinerary, first exploring the east coast up to Richards Bay, then heading to the island of Madagascar, then looping back to the mainland and stopping in Maputo, Mozambique, before returning back to Cape Town.
Highlights include Durban, with its golden beaches and enchanting Indian Market, and Port Elizabeth on the southern coast of South Africa, an area nicknamed the “Garden Route” for its verdant foliage. Port Elizabeth is also a popular migratory path for southern right whales that you might spot, along with schools of dolphins, as you sail.
Oceania offers longer Cape Town to Lisbon, Portugal, and Cape Town to Barcelona itineraries (as well as Lisbon and Barcelona to Cape Town sailings) of 25 and 26 nights, too. Ports include the Canary Islands, Cape Verde, the Ivory Coast and Ghana. Along the way, you’ll stop at Walvis Bay on the western coast of Namibia, with its iconic red sand dunes; here, you’ll have a chance to see flamingos, pelicans and thousands of other migratory birds.
Who should go: Oceania Cruises offers a high-end cruising experience with a residential feel similar to staying in an elegant estate. The intimate 670-passenger Nautica features a relatively uncrowded setting, with a higher crew-to-passenger ratio than you’ll find on mass-market vessels. On board, guests delight in several high-end restaurants offering gourmet cuisine and elegant accommodations.
Viking: 11-night Pharaohs and Pyramids cruise
Esna, Egypt. VIKING/FACEBOOK
Not all Africa cruises are on the ocean. A trip down the Nile River is a tick on many a traveler’s wish list, and Viking offers one of the easiest-to-book options with seven ships sailing its Pharaohs & Pyramids cruises. In 2025 and 2026, sailings depart nearly every day in the October to March high season, though no sailings are scheduled for the second half of June through the end of July.
The round-trip Cairo sailings feel incredibly exclusive, with ships carrying just 82 passengers on board. The itinerary begins with several days in Cairo, where guests can visit the Great Pyramids, the Sphinx, museums and souks before sailing down the Nile. Your ship will linger multiple days in Luxor, Egypt, home of the Valley of the Kings; spend a day in Qena, Egypt, to see the Dendera Temple complex; and stop in the ports of Esna, Aswan, Kom Ombo and Edfu, Egypt.
Who should go:Adults-only cruise line Viking appeals to travelers who appreciate a relaxed onboard experience centered around learning about a destination via guest lectures — in this case, Egyptologists — and shore excursions. The cruise line’s passengers tend to be retirement age or older.
Viking’s fans love the ships’ uncluttered Scandinavian-inspired decor and pricing that includes wine and beer with lunch and dinner, gratuities and one free shore excursion per port. The ships do not have an onboard casino or entertainment spaces beyond the main lounge area, but a shaded pool and sundeck offer a relaxing outdoor venue to watch the river scenery.
If you’re someone who loves the equivalent of a travel buffet and appreciates having a little bit of every experience on your plate, then AmaWaterways‘ incredibly unique Discover Africa cruisetour itinerary is for you. (AmaWaterways also offers Nile cruises.) For this journey, guests start with two full days of guided tours and three nights in a luxury hotel in Cape Town before flying to Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe and transferring to the Chobe River where you embark on the 28-passenger Zambezi Queen for a four-night cruise traversing the wildlife areas of Botswana, including safari drives into the savannah.
Then, it’s back to Victoria Falls to see the thundering waterfall and explore the area by both steam train and smaller sailing vessel during your two-night stay. The adventure ends with a flight to Johannesburg, where you can continue your adventure independently or with a post-cruise extension or fly home.
Who should go: AmaWaterways attracts active guests who appreciate the multiple included excursion options at every port and the line’s attention to both wellness and exceptional culinary offerings. The river cruise line’s Africa sailings use a chartered ship, so you won’t find its signature Wellness Host leading fitness classes or cuisine vetted by the prestigious culinary organization La Chaine des Rotisseurs. However, Zambezi Queen offers unique activities like fishing and bird-watching, as well as dining that AmaWaterways calls “five-star home-cooked cuisine.” A local mother and son duo from a nearby village prepare all the meals for an authentic taste of the region.
Zambezi Queen also has a plunge pool on the sundeck, so you can soak up the African views while you take a dip. All rooms have balconies and floor-to-ceiling windows, so you’re never far from a safari view.
Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers.
Marriott Bonvoy Bevy American Express Card overview
The Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card offers mid-tier perks, including automatic Gold Elite status, solid points-earning at Marriott properties and elite night credits. However, it lacks several benefits that you might expect from a card with a $250 annual fee (see rates and fees). Card rating*: ⭐⭐⭐
*Card rating is based on the opinion of TPG’s editors and is not influenced by the card issuer.
The card lacks one feature we’ve come to expect with hotel credit cards: a complimentary free night each year on your account anniversary, which may leave you wondering whether it offers enough ongoing benefits to make the annual fee worth paying year after year.
It is worth noting that the recommended credit score for this card is 670 or above and that it has some application restrictions like the rest of the Bonvoy lineup. But if you’re eligible, let’s dig deeper to decide whether the Amex Marriott Bonvoy Bevy card merits a place in your wallet.
Bonvoy Bevy Amex pros and cons
Pros
Cons
Mid-tier perks for those loyal to Marriott Bonvoy
Solid points-earning at Marriott properties
Automatic Gold Elite status
15 elite night credits each year
Lacks benefits for a mid-tier annual fee card
No statement credits for perks like TSA PreCheck/Global Entry
High spending requirement to earn a free night award
No lounge membership
Bonvoy Bevy Amex welcome offer
The Bonvoy Bevy Amex currently offers 155,000 bonus points after using your card to spend $5,000 on eligible purchases in the first six months of card membership. Offer ends Oct. 2.
Based on TPG’s August 2024 valuations of Marriott points at 0.85 cents each, the 155,000 points are worth $1,318. This is close to the best-ever offer we have seen for the card and is highly worth considering if you’ve been eyeing it for some time.
THE POINTS GUY
Remember that Amex has restrictions limiting your ability to collect a new member bonus if you’ve had similar Marriott products from Chase or previous Starwood Preferred Guest cards from American Express. Check the card’s offer details page to ensure you’re eligible.
Where the Bonvoy Bevy Amex shines the most is in the perks it offers:
Marriott Gold Elite status: Primary cardholders receive complimentary Marriott Gold status for as long as they have the card. TPG values Marriott’s Gold status at $805 per year. At Marriott Bonvoy’s mid-tier level, the most valuable benefits of Gold status are upgrades to enhanced rooms and a 25% points bonus on hotel spending (available for Qualifying Rates). Typically, we have seen the ability to spend your way to higher levels of elite status with many hotel credit cards, but that’s noticeably absent on the Amex Marriott Bonvoy Bevy card. Enrollment is required in advance for this elite status benefit.
Annual free night award via spending: Cardholders who make at least $15,000 in eligible purchases during the calendar year can earn a free night award worth up to 50,000 points at participating hotels (although certain hotels have mandatory resort charges). That’s more valuable than the free night certificates that come with the lower-tier Marriott cards, which are capped at 35,000 points. Some of the best uses of the 50,000-point free night certificate include luxury hotels such as The Ritz-Carlton, Macau and The St. Regis Langkawi, where rooms routinely top $500 per night — though Marriott’s dynamic pricing can affect the ability to book some of these properties during peak travel dates. Some other Bonvoy cards offer free night certificates without any spending, such as the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card and the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card.
JT GENTER/THE POINTS GUY
Elite night credits: Cardholders will receive 15 elite qualifying night credits each calendar year. This benefit can be stacked with the nights you earn with a Marriott small-business card, allowing you to fast-track up to 30 elite nights per year. For reference, you need 50 nights per year to qualify for Platinum Elite status.
Shopping protections: Purchases made with the card can get 90 days of purchase protection** and up to one year of extended warranty coverage** on warranties of five years or less on covered purchases in the U.S. or its territories or possessions.
*Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for details. Policies are underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company. **Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for details. Policies are underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. ***Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Not all vehicle types or rentals are covered, and geographic restrictions apply. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for details. Policies are underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.
While these perks offer some value, it’s disappointing not to see a free night award given automatically on the card’s account anniversary each year and other premium perks like reimbursement for the application fee for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck.
Cardholders will earn 6 Marriott Bonvoy points per dollar on eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy program, 4 points per dollar on the first $15,000 per year in combined purchases at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (then 2 points per dollar after reaching this limit) and 2 points per dollar on other eligible purchases.
TPG’s valuations peg Marriott Bonvoy points at 0.85 cents apiece. This means your rate of return on spending will be 5.1% (purchases earning 6 points per dollar), 3.4% (purchases earning 4 points per dollar) or 1.7% (other purchases earning 2 points per dollar).
There are many lucrative ways to redeem your Marriott Bonvoy points. The obvious and most valuable redemption is for free stays. With the ability to book more than 8,000 properties across 30 brands in nearly 140 countries, you’ve got a lot of choices.
Beyond hotel stays, you can transfer your Bonvoy points to airline partners, use them to cover flights, car rentals and cruises or redeem them for merchandise and gift cards. However, these options will likely yield well below TPG’s August 2024 valuation of Marriott points is 0.85 cents per point, so we recommend using your points for Bonvoy stays whenever possible.
MARRIOTT
TPG senior points and miles writer Katie Genter gets great value from her Marriott points by redeeming for stays in increments of five nights to maximize Marriott’s stay for five, pay for four offer. She’ll occasionally consider transferring points to one of Marriott’s airline partners but usually prefers to save her points for stays.
You can also transfer your Bonvoy points to more than 35 airline partners, but this rarely offers good value unless you need to top off an account balance for flight redemptions.
D3SIGN/GETTY IMAGES
You may also consider this option if you want access to the frequent flyer points or miles of an airline that doesn’t partner with any of the major U.S. credit card issuers.
The information for the Hilton Aspire card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
For rates and fees of the Amex Marriott Bonvoy Bevy, click here.
For rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Amex, click here. For rates and fees of the Hilton Aspire Card, click here.
Editor’s note: Some of the below offers may be targeted. Citi is a TPG advertising partner.
From lucrative deals for bonus points on hotel stays to generous sales of airline miles, we’re finding plenty of travel deals to help you earn and redeem your points and miles so you can book the vacation of your dreams.
We help our readers each week by rounding up ongoing monthly promotions so you don’t have to scour the internet for the best reward redemptions and offers. From frequent flyer programs and hotel rewards programs to credit card offers that help maximize your spending, you can make the most of your points and miles redemptions with these lucrative offers.
Here’s our list of some noteworthy new points and miles promotions for August.
Airline loyalty program promotions (August 2024)
MESQUITAFMS/GETTY IMAGES
Airline loyalty programs can offer trip discounts on certain dates, the chance to earn more miles for future travel and deals to rack up points toward elite status. Below are some of the offers we found for August.
Bonus Velocity points when you fly Singapore Airlines
If you’re considering a flight on Singapore Airlines, this deal is for you. Velocity Frequent Flyer, the loyalty program of Virgin Australia, is offering a 50% bonus when you take one Singapore Airlines flight and opt to earn Velocity points.
Book an eligible Singapore Airlines-operated flight with an SQ or VA flight number and add your Velocity Frequent Flyer number to your booking before you fly.
You’ll earn a 50% bonus on the Velocity points you would normally earn.
Lufthansa’s Miles & More program partners with car rental companies to let you earn airline miles on rentals — and this fall, you can earn up to 10,000 more miles with Hertz.
Earn up to 10,000 bonus Miles & More miles on your Hertz rental, depending on the rental length and car category.
Book your car here by Aug. 31 and enter your Miles & More number when booking.
Chateau Poesie, a Homes & Villas by Marriott rental in France. MARRIOTT.COM
Hotel loyalty programs occasionally offer discounted stays, ways to earn extra points and deals at various properties. We collected some of this month’s best deals below.
Bonus points and cash discount on Marriott Homes & Villas
Vacation rental fans can rejoice. Homes & Villas, Marriott’s collection of vacation rental properties, is offering both a 10% discount on paid stays and 24,000 bonus Marriott Bonvoy points when you stay at least two nights.
Earn 24,000 bonus Bonvoy points for every qualifying stay at a Homes & Villas by Marriott vacation rental. A qualifying stay is a minimum of two nights with a minimum spend of $2,000.
Plus, you’ll get 10% off at participating vacation rentals globally.
Book by Aug. 31 and stay by Dec. 20 (blackout dates are Nov. 21 and 22).
Registration is not required. Find more details here.
Earn 25,000 bonus Bonvoy points when you book a stay of five-plus nights at an all-inclusive resort through Vacations by Marriott Bonvoy.
Book your stay by Aug. 31, and complete your stay by Jan. 31.
Since TPG values Bonvoy points at 0.85 cents apiece as of August 2024, this bonus is worth roughly $212 and is enough for a free night at some Marriott properties, like some AC Hotels in the U.S.
Complete two separate stays at participating Choice hotels (ineligible locations include WoodSpring Suites, Mainstay Suites, Everhome Suites, Suburban Studios and Ascend Hotel Collection all-inclusive resorts, among others). To qualify, your room rate must be a minimum of $40 per night and must be booked directly through Choice or Book by Google.
For each separate stay (up to four stays), you’ll receive at least 8,000 total Choice points (including base points and bonus points). You can then redeem 8,000 points for a selection of $50 gift cards at retailers like Amazon, Mastercard and Walmart.
Register here, then book and complete two stays by Sept. 4.
You’ll have 60 days after the promotion period ends to redeem your points for a $50 gift card at the reduced rate of 8,000 points, after which the gift cards will return to their standard redemption rate of 16,000 points.
This promotion is only available to Choice Privileges members in the U.S. and Canada.
Quadruple ALL points at new Accor hotels
If you’re thinking about a trip this fall, don’t overlook this promotion. Accor Live Limitless is celebrating the grand opening or reopening of certain Accor hotels — including a luxurious nature retreat in Kenya and an aparthotel in the center of Paris — with quadruple points at these properties.
Register and book by Sept. 29 for stays by Nov. 17. Click “Please see the sales terms for details” to see a full list of participating hotels.
You’ll earn four times the Accor Live Limitless base points you would normally earn on your stay(s).
Card issuers sometimes offer deals and discounts for certain cardholders on everything from airfare to restaurant dining. Here are some of the offers we’ve rounded up this week.
Targeted American Express Offer at Hilton all-inclusive resorts
Get a one-time $200 statement credit when you spend a minimum of $1,000 in one or more purchases on room rate and room charges at participating Hilton all-inclusive resorts in the Caribbean and Latin America.
You must book directly through hilton.com.
As with all Amex Offers, you must register your card and use your registered eligible card to make the purchase to earn a credit.
This offer expires Sept. 30.
Targeted American Express Offer at Waldorf Astoria, Conrad and LXR
In addition to these new offers, many others from previous weeks are still available:
Enroll in a Sixt rental car status match with multiple airline and hotel program partners.
Enroll in an Air France-KLM Flying Blue status match opportunity if you’re a resident of an eligible country (including the U.S., U.K., Canada, Germany and Spain; others can be found here). Successful enrollment in the status match is contingent upon submitting an application, proving equivalent elite status in one of 18 eligible airline loyalty programs and paying a fee determined by your status match level. There is no publicly available end date for this promotion.
Earn bonus World of Hyatt points for attending a virtual timeshare presentation. You must reside in an eligible U.S. state and meet an annual income requirement, among other requirements. You must request information to learn more about this promotion. There is no publicly available end date for this offer.
Some IHG One Rewards members are being targeted for a promotion to earn 12,000 bonus points by staying twice in 60 days. There is no minimum night requirement as long as you spend $30 each stay. See if you’re eligible and register for the promotion here.
Earn double Wyndham Rewards points at these new hotels. You don’t need to register for this promotion, and there is no published end date.
Save up to 25% on cash rates when booking online or up to 35% when booking through the Radisson app, plus earn an extra 2,000 points per stay at select Radisson destinations in India. Book by Aug. 10 for stays between Aug. 11 and Nov. 10.
Earn bonus Hilton Honors points for each AutoCamp stay completed by Aug. 12.
Earn an extra 3,500 points for every stay of two or more nights at participating Marriott properties. No registration required; just use promo code M41 when booking and stay by Aug. 18.
Earn bonus Marriott Bonvoy points on select stays in the Middle East, Africa and participating European cities. Register for the deal and use promotional code “MR5.” Book by Aug. 22 for stays through Sept. 1.
You can earn double or triple Accor Live Limitless points (depending on your status level) when you stay at least two nights at an Accor property across Paris and Ile-de-France. Be sure to activate this deal first, then book by Aug. 30 and stay by Sept. 30.
Earn triple All Nippon Airways miles (9 miles per dollar) when you stay at an IHG property through Aug. 31. Register for the promotion and set ANA miles as your point-earning preference.
Earn bonus Marriott Bonvoy points when you stay at The Prince Gallery Tokyo Kioicho, a Luxury Collection Hotel. Use “M11,” the deal’s promotional code, at checkout. Book and stay by Aug. 31.
Take advantage of United MileagePlus and Marriott Bonvoy’s partner offer to earn 750 Bonvoy points on each qualifying United flight and 500 MileagePlus miles for each qualifying stay at participating Marriott hotels. Also, earn a one-time bonus of 350 miles and 350 points after your first combined flight and stay. Register for this offer and complete your travel by Aug. 31.
Earn 2,000 bonus Radisson Rewards points per stay at select Radisson hotels in Europe, Africa, Asia-Pacific and the Middle East. Register here, then book and stay by Aug. 31.
Earn bonus Marriott Bonvoy points when you stay at the Ritz-Carlton, Vienna. Use “M11,” the deal’s promotional code, at checkout. Book by Aug. 31 for stays through Sept. 13.
Receive a discount on an IHG One Rewards redemption when booking at a select new or renovated property this summer. Book and stay by Aug. 31.
Earn bonus Wyndham Rewards points for staying with the brand. Your bonus is determined by how many consecutive nights you stay. Register for the deal by Aug. 31 for stays completed by Sept. 3.
Earn bonus Marriott Bonvoy points for stays in the Caribbean and Latin America. Register with “MRP,” the deal’s promotional code, and book by Sept. 3. Stay by Sept. 9.
Earn bonus points for joining IHG One Rewards and staying at an IHG property within 21 days of joining. The promotion ends Sept. 13.
Earn 10,000 bonus Radisson Rewards points when you stay four or more nights at a participating resort in Africa, Asia, Europe and the Middle East. Register and book by Sept. 15 and complete your stay between Oct. 27 and Feb. 28, 2025.
Get a discount at participating Fairmont properties when you book directly with the brand. Book by Sept. 15. Stay by Dec. 30.
Earn bonus World of Hyatt points for every three qualifying nights at participating hotels in Latin America and the Caribbean. Register for the promotion before booking. You have until Sept. 30 to register.
Save 15% on award nights when you stay at a new or newly renovated property in IHG’s portfolio. You can register and see the list of participating properties here. Book and stay by Sept. 30.
Enjoy three months of complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status, which you can extend through February 2026 by staying three qualifying nights. Register by Sept. 30, then book your qualifying nights directly through Marriott and complete your stay before the end of your three-month period.
Earn double World of Hyatt points (up to 25,000 points) when you stay at Hyatt Place and Hyatt House hotels. Register for this promotion by Sept. 15 and book and complete your stay by Oct. 15.
Earn 250 bonus Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer miles when you join Marriott Bonvoy. Create your free Bonvoy account here by Oct. 18, and be sure to enter your KrisFlyer number and set your earning preference to KrisFlyer miles when you sign up.
Earn bonus Hilton Honors points on car rentals with Alamo, Enterprise and National. Earn 1,000 bonus points on each qualifying rental of four or more days before Oct. 24, plus 500 points per day on rentals completed by Dec. 31. Reserve your car here.
Earn 250 miles in the Lufthansa Miles & More program by registering for the Marriott Bonvoy loyalty program using this link. The offer expires Nov. 30.
Get 3,000 or 5,000 bonus Avios when you join Qatar Airways Privilege Club and take your first flight. Sign up using promo code JOIN0324 by Dec. 31, then book your first flight and travel by June 30, 2025.
If you book hotels, car rentals and attractions through the Citi travel portal with your Citi Double Cash® Card (see rates and fees), you will earn 3 additional bonus Citi ThankYou Rewards points per dollar spent. This gets you a total of 5 ThankYou Rewards points per dollar spent on eligible bookings through the Citi travel portal. The offer expires Dec. 31.
Earn bonus Spirit Airlines Free Spirit points for completing an eligible round-trip flight at any time in 2024. Register with your Free Spirit number to redeem this offer. Travel must be completed by Dec. 31.
If you haven’t set up a Free Spirit account yet, you can get bonus points by registering as a new member through this promotional link. You must register by Dec. 31.
The information for the Citi Simplicity has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Additionally, there are many stand-alone Amex Offers and two Chase Offers still available across a variety of credit cards.
Targeted Amex Offers
Earn bonus Membership Rewards points on a stay at a Canyon Ranch resort. The offer expires Aug. 12.
Earn a one-time statement credit when you spend at Equinox Hotel at Hudson Yards. The offer expires Aug. 16.
Earn bonus Membership Rewards points after purchasing Delta Air Lines gift cards. The offer expires Aug. 25.
Earn a one-time statement credit when you book one or more flights directly with Qantas and spend at least $1,250. This offer expires Aug. 27.
Earn bonus Membership Rewards points on Amazon purchases. The offer expires Aug. 30.
Get a one-time statement credit on purchases across multiple Boyne Golf resorts in Michigan. The offer expires Sept. 1.
Earn 5 Membership Rewards points (up to 50,000) for each dollar spent on purchases made directly with AmaWaterways. The deal expires Sept. 1.
Earn a one-time statement credit on a stay at participating Langham Hotels and Resorts in North America. The offer expires Sept. 2.
Get a one-time statement credit when you use your enrolled eligible card on purchases with Avis Car Rental. The offer expires Sept. 9.
Earn cash back or extra Membership Rewards points on purchases at U.S. supermarkets, gas stations and spa and personal care centers. These deals expire Sept. 13.
Earn a one-time statement credit when you spend at The Unbound Collection by Hyatt. The offer expires Sept. 15.
Get a one-time statement credit when you spend a minimum of $1,800 in one or more purchases at Virgin Atlantic’s website. This offer expires Sept. 30.
Earn a one-time statement credit on Hilton all-inclusive resorts and vacation hotels in the Caribbean and Latin America. The offer expires Sept. 30.
Earn cash back as a one-time statement credit on purchases at participating Hilton properties. The offer expires Sept. 30.
Earn a one-time statement credit on stays with Omni Hotels & Resorts in the U.S. and Canada. The offer expires Sept. 30.
Get a one-time statement credit when you spend at least $750 in one or more purchases on room rates and room charges at participating Waldorf Astoria, Conrad and LXR properties. This deal expires Sept. 30.
Earn cash back as a one-time statement credit on a stay at select Opal Collection properties, PGA National Resort or Margaritaville Beach House Key West. These offers expire Sept. 30.
Earn cash back on online purchases with ResortPass. The offer expires Sept. 30.
Earn cash back as a one-time statement credit on stays at Terranea Resort in Rancho Palos Verdes, California. The offer expires Oct. 4.
Earn a $100 statement credit when you make a single purchase of $500 or more on room rate and room charges at participating Mandarin Oriental properties in the U.S., Europe and Asia. This offer ends Oct. 17.
Earn cash back as a one-time statement credit on a stay at Lotte Hotel Seattle. The offer expires Oct. 29.
Get a one-time statement credit when you spend at least $300 in one or more purchases at participating Wynn Las Vegas and Encore Las Vegas properties by Oct. 31.
Earn a $100 statement credit when you spend at least $500 in one or more purchases on room rates and room charges at participating Relais & Chateaux properties in the U.S., Canada and Europe. This offer expires Oct. 31.
Earn a one-time statement credit when you use your card to spend with Micato Safaris. The offer expires Nov. 15.
Earn a one-time statement credit when you use your card to pay for a stay at Lotte New York Palace. The offer expires Nov. 22.
Earn a one-time statement credit when you use your card for a stay at a U.S. AKA property. The offer expires Nov. 22.
Get a one-time statement credit when you spend at least $500 in one or more purchases on room rates and room charges at the Sunset Marquis hotel in West Hollywood, California. This offer expires Dec. 31.
Get a one-time statement credit when you spend at least $250 in one or more purchases on room rate and room charges at participating Staypineapple boutique hotels. This offer ends Jan. 25, 2025.
Targeted Chase Offers
Earn cash back when you spend $100 or more on an IHG Hotels & Resorts stay booked directly with IHG. This offer expires Aug. 14.
Earn cash back on purchases made at the following Marriott brands: Fairfield, SpringHill Suites, TownePlace Suites, Sheraton Hotels and Resorts, AC Hotels, Autograph Collection Hotels and Westin Hotels and Resorts. These offers expire Aug. 15.
Earn cash back on a purchase of $50 or more at Southwest Airlines. This deal expires Aug. 19.
Remember that these are targeted, and you must activate the offers before making eligible purchases to enjoy the cash back or bonus points.
