Tag: Travel Planner

Editor’s note: TPG’s Ashley Kosciolek accepted a free trip to sail on Margaritaville at Sea Islander for the ship’s preview voyage. The views expressed below are entirely hers and were not subject to review by the cruise line.

It wasn’t exactly cheeseburgers in paradise, but there were cheeseburgers — and they were amazing. So were the cabins, pizza, coffee and entertainment. Those are just a few of the draws on Margaritaville at Sea’s new ship, Islander, which I recently sailed for three days during a preview voyage.

But, despite all that it does right, the ship had some sizable glitches. I understand that Islander is a 24-year-old vessel purchased from Costa Cruises and refurbished, but I’m still surprised the issues weren’t mitigated before the first sailings began. 

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From keycards that reveal too much personal information and empty hand sanitizer dispensers to larger issues like leaky ceilings and clogged toilets that give new meaning to the phrase “Bubbles Up,” what I experienced made me grimace as much as I grinned during my sailing.

With the addition of the vessel to its fleet, the Jimmy Buffett-affiliated oceangoing offshoot of the popular Margaritaville Resort brand has more than doubled in size. Should a sailing on this ship be your next Caribbean getaway? Here’s what made it a “Lovely Cruise” and what needs work before the ship is ready for prime time.

What I loved

The cabins

For two nights, “I Have Found Me a Home” in one of Islander’s Signature Grand Suites — the largest the ship offers. Although it’s small when compared with suites on newer vessels, it has plenty of space.

All cabins received gorgeous revamps, complete with plenty of nods to Jimmy Buffett and his love of the good life. They include touches like surfboard shelving in some cabins and phrases like “License to chill, and I believe I will” on the walls and mirrors in others. Suites are outfitted with “Livin’ on Islander Time” pillows, copies of Buffett’s books “A Salty Piece of Land” and “A Pirate Looks at Fifty,” and make-your-own margarita fixings.

Everything is done up in a white, blue and teal color scheme, which makes most rooms feel light and airy — like you’re staying in a beachside Airbnb, rather than on a ship.

With their refreshed look, the cabins are some of the most impressive examples of refurbishment on the entire vessel.

Phenomenal burgers and pizza

Flanking the ship’s Six String Stage near the 5 O’Clock Somewhere Pool are the aptly named Cheeseburger in Paradise and Mexican Cutie Cantina. It’s clear that they drew inspiration from Carnival Cruise Line’s pool deck eatery setup, which features Guy’s Burger Joint and the BlueIguana Cantina. I rolled my eyes at first, but I was completely stunned to discover that Margaritaville’s burgers are far superior.

Although the options are simpler than what you’ll find at Guy’s — there are no weird acronyms, nor are there tons of toppings — the burger quality is next-level. You know how everybody’s got that one grill-obsessed uncle who spends all day flipping burgers that are absolute masterpieces at family gatherings? Imagine that sort of flavor — but on a ship.

All patties are cooked well done (but still with tons of flavor), and you can choose simple accouterments like cheese, lettuce and tomatoes.

If you’d rather grab something indoors where it’s cooler, the Port of Indecision Buffet houses Frank & Lola’s Pizzeria. Besides the Margaritaville Coffee Shop and Sandwich Bar, the pizzeria is the only buffet venue that provides standout sustenance. Otherwise, the food is squarely mediocre.

Be sure to try the plain or pepperoni. After trying pizza from all of the major cruise lines, I’m declaring Margaritaville at Sea’s pies the best pizza afloat.

Creative entertainment

Theater shows on Islander aren’t over-the-top groundbreaking, but I enjoyed them immensely.

The first night’s show, “Caribbean Heat Remix,” included singing and dancing to snippets of popular songs from Pitbull, Gloria Estefan, Bob Marley, Justin Bieber and others. On the second night, I grudgingly attended “Conky Tonkin’” — an ode to country music, of which I am decidedly not a fan. I was pleasantly surprised that I knew most of the songs and couldn’t stop tapping my feet. The phenomenal acrobatic performances didn’t hurt, either.

Unique props and a giant LED screen were also incorporated as elements that added to the intrigue, rather than distracting from the performers. Somehow, Margaritaville at Sea has found a way to do theater entertainment that’s engaging and enjoyable, even for people who don’t necessarily like certain musical genres.

Rounding out the entertainment were pop-up nightclub performances by some of the cast’s aerialists and live music — including steel drum performances — throughout the bars and lounges.

Noteworthy drinks

I’ll be blunt: If you think you know what it means to drink on a cruise ship, think again. With a name like Margaritaville at Sea, the line attracts folks who like to have a great time with an alcoholic beverage in hand.

That doesn’t necessarily mean your fellow cruisers will be sloppy, though. I didn’t see anyone who would have been embarrassed by their antics the next day, but what I did find were excellent bar menus throughout the ship.

Every bar has a margarita on its menu; for a photo-worthy concoction, try the Bubbles Up Margarita at the Bubbles Up Bar. Each bar also has a secret drink you can request; just know that it varies by the bartender.

If you’re feeling lucky (or can’t decide what to order), head to the Margaritaville Casino Bar. The menu has separate lists of shots and cocktails, each numbered one through six. Ask the bartender for dice, and roll to see which one you’ll get. I ended up with the Moneyline Margarita (Margaritaville-branded tequila, pineapple and lime juices, and honey-infused simple syrup), which was delicious.

Amplified activities

Like most cruise ships, Islander has a daily schedule of activities. What I discovered, though, is that they aren’t things you’ll necessarily find on other cruises. What showed up on the “Checklist to Chill” were origami classes and family circus workshops. The top deck even has a dedicated pickleball court and a cornhole course with obstacles — something I’ve never seen on a ship before.

Additionally, the miniature golf course, which includes some impressive and elaborate obstacles, was almost always crowded when I was on the top deck.

Overall, Islander receives a nod for coming up with creative ideas and cranking existing ones up a notch.

The throwbacks

Margaritaville at Sea purchased Islander from Carnival Corp. brand Costa Cruises and did a wonderful job of melding new, modern touches with the whimsy of the bygone Joe Farcus era.

Farcus, an architect and interior designer, handled the decor on Carnival Cruise Line vessels and some of Costa’s for more than 30 years. What remains on Islander of his over-the-top decor are intricate mosaic designs, quirky staircases, a larger-than-life atrium space with glass elevators and a two-story nightclub with a hell theme.

The ship’s layout is also intriguing. It’s a maze of semihidden hallways and staircases that lead to surprising places, making me feel like I was always discovering something new.

What needs work

Plumbing problems

Despite its $150 million refurbishment, the ship leaks. Unfortunately, there’s no “Trying to Reason With Hurricane Season,” and we hit some torrential rain on the first day. Shortly after, water trickled into the atrium at a steady clip, and significant numbers of buckets and caution signs popped up in both public areas and cabin hallways.

The plumbing had issues, as well. My cabin’s toilet clogged three times with light to normal use and no flushing of nonflushable items. A couple of people in my travel group experienced the same thing on the final night of our cruise, and every time I used a public restroom on board, I found several of the toilets were clogged. In one of the bathrooms, water bubbled up from under the floor tiles, which made squishing noises when I stepped on them.

The Magrodome — the retractable roof that covers the 5 O’Clock Somewhere Pool — also leaked. It’s not such a big deal if you’re planning to swim or lounge in the hot tubs because you’ll get wet anyway. If you want to stand near the stage and listen to music or pass through on your way somewhere else, you don’t want to get soaked by a cascade of water. I also didn’t see any crew members with squeegees clearing the walkways to make them safer for passengers.

Margaritaville at Sea representatives initially told me these problems were fixed, but reports in a Margaritaville at Sea Islander group on Facebook indicate otherwise. When I inquired again, the line told me the leaks are being addressed and that the clogs are the result of passengers flushing items — wipes, feminine products, etc. — that they shouldn’t.

“The plumbing system was tested, upgraded, and performed fine before the June 11 cruise,” a Margaritaville at Sea representative told me via e-mail. “The issue with the plumbing points to passengers disposing of items that shouldn’t be flushed on a cruise ship, which caused back-ups. We are working to make sure proper toilet usage is communicated to all passengers, so this doesn’t continue to happen.

“During our sailing from Belfast to the U.S., we didn’t encounter any significant rain to test for abnormal leaks beyond what we identified and repaired in dry dock,” the statement said. “As you know, we hit some severe weather leaving Mexico on the inaugural voyage, which alerted us to some additional areas that had leaks when under intensive wind and rainfall. We are in the process of mitigating this and have corrected the spots on the ship already.”

Crew attentiveness

Crew members were friendly and pleasant, but many seemed underprepared. Public restrooms were a mess every time I went in, including the aforementioned clogged toilets and empty soap dispensers. On two occasions, I also experienced empty hand sanitizer dispensers when I entered the buffet. The second time, I told a nearby attendant, and she seemed unconcerned.

Also in the buffet, the crew members were quick to clear up the tables, but they often failed to wipe them clean. I put my plate down on top of stickiness and crumbs more than once. Empty drink glasses accumulated on tables and railings in other public spaces, as well.

The line says it has assigned additional crew members to address these problems.

Beyond cleanliness, several times when I asked crew members if they could point me to the places I was looking for, they weren’t able to do so. I had to ask three people where the teen clubs were before I found one who even knew teen clubs existed on board.

Because the cabin phones weren’t yet programmed with numbers for the front desk, housekeeping and room service — something the line says it’s working on — I was unable to phone the guest services desk to report my clogged toilet. I went down to the reception desk twice to alert someone and ask for assistance. When I reached the front of the line, the two crew members behind the desk just stood there, not acknowledging me. Finally, I stepped up to the counter to get their attention.

Glitchy or nonexistent technology

You’ll find a lot of paper on Islander. Because the cruise line has no mobile app, passengers must print boarding passes for embarkation and rely on physical copies of the daily schedule to plan their days on board.

Wi-Fi problems on my sailing made both the basic and premium packages nearly useless. The connectivity issues have been fixed, but passengers are still reporting cabin TVs aren’t receiving a signal (a problem I also experienced). That means cruisers can’t view their onboard accounts unless they have them printed at guest services.

Reservations for the JWB Prime Steakhouse are taken down on paper instead of a computer system — which the line says it is in the process of adding and improving — and receipts at several for-fee venues are handwritten. The analog approach also makes it nearly impossible for hosts in the main dining rooms to look up passengers’ dinner reservations and slows down the check-in and seating process.

I waited in line for 25 minutes to reach the check-in stand, and when I asked where my group was sitting, the host was unable to locate the reservation by my cabin number. Because the Wi-Fi wasn’t working, I couldn’t text anyone from my group to ask, so I ate alone.

The line tells me it’s currently working on getting those systems up and running.

Keycards with too much information

When you cruise, your keycard serves as an onboard charge card and also allows you to enter your room. Normally, these cards have passenger names, folio numbers, dining assignments and muster stations on them but don’t include cabin numbers for security reasons.

The cards on Islander list passenger cabin numbers, which is unsafe; if a card is lost or stolen, whoever finds it can locate the room and use the card to enter. There’s a “Pencil Thin Mustache” line between helpful and dangerous, and it’s something I hope the line considers changing.

Bottom line

Any ship, regardless of whether it’s new or has just found a new home, will have bugs to eradicate when it first sets sail. Once the cruise line works out some of the considerable kinks, passengers will be able to better appreciate the cozy cabins, excellent entertainment and some standout food and drink on a value-driven getaway that’s just plain fun.

I’m crossing my fingers the cruise line will have Islander’s issues fixed before the ship’s next “Trip Around the Sun.” In the meantime, set your expectations if you book a sailing (or wait a few months before setting sail), and prepare to “Breathe In, Breath Out, Move On” if you encounter an issue. If you’re looking for a luxury sailing, this isn’t the ship for you.

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

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It’s already been a record-breaking summer travel season, with U.S. airlines expecting 271 million travelers between June 1 and Aug. 31, according to Airlines for America.

Lyft has long been in the business of getting travelers where they need to be when they need to be there.

After launching as a holiday travel promotion, Lyft’s On-Time Pickup Promise is now a permanent feature for riders as of this summer, meaning you get paid if you don’t get picked up on time.

On-Time Pickup Promise

As of Wednesday, prescheduled airport rides will be covered by Lyft’s On-Time Pickup Promise, ensuring your ride arrives on time or you’ll be compensated.

Users can schedule Lyft rides up to 30 days in advance so they can lock in their pickup date, time and price to avoid having one more thing to worry about. Scheduled rides are also given priority when it comes time to be matched with a driver, and drivers can accept rides anytime after they are scheduled. Prescheduled rides can be canceled or modified up to an hour before pickup time.

If you aren’t picked up on time for your scheduled airport Lyft ride, you’ll automatically receive Lyft Cash credit in your account as follows:

• $15 Lyft Cash if your driver is more than 10 minutes late (down from $20 during the initial rollout)
• $50 Lyft Cash if you’re not matched with a driver 10 minutes after your scheduled pickup time
• Up to $50 more Lyft Cash if you aren’t matched with a driver and your ride with another company is more than $50

The first two will be paid out automatically, but you must contact Lyft through the help section of its app to submit the receipt from your alternate transportation to be compensated for the additional $50.

Lyft’s On-Time Pickup Promise is currently available in more than 50 North American markets, specifically:

• Atlanta
• Austin
• Baltimore
• Boston
• Charlotte
• Chicago
• Cincinnati
• Cleveland
• Columbus, Georgia
• Columbus, Ohio
• The Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area in Texas
• Denver
• Detroit
• Honolulu
• Houston
• Indianapolis
• The Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario metropolitan area in California
• Jacksonville, Florida
• Kansas City, Missouri
• Las Vegas
• Los Angeles
• Louisville, Kentucky
• Miami
• Milwaukee
• The Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area in Minnesota
• Nashville
• Nassau County, New York
• New Jersey
• New Orleans
• Northern Georgia
• Orange County, California
• Orlando
• Philadelphia
• Phoenix
• Pittsburgh
• Portland, Oregon
• The Raleigh-Durham metropolitan area in North Carolina
• Richmond, Virginia
• Sacramento
• Salt Lake City
• San Antonio
• San Diego
• The San Francisco Bay Area
• Seattle
• Tampa
• Toronto
• Tucson
• Vancouver, British Columbia
• Virginia Beach Hampton Roads, Virginia
• Washington, D.C.
• Westchester County, New York

Extra Comfort mode

Lyft’s Extra Comfort feature is also available for travelers to get into rest and relaxation mode from the moment they step into their car. Rides designated as “Extra Comfort” offer roomier cars, top-rated drivers and preset preferences for temperature, a quiet ride or luggage assistance.

These features follow the successful launch of Lyft’s Women+ Connect, which matches women and nonbinary riders and drivers in select cities.

As a reminder, a variety of credit cards offer additional points, miles or cash back for Uber and Lyft rides when you use them to book rides, including:

• Chase Sapphire Reserve®: 10 points per dollar spent on Lyft rides through March 31, 2025, and complimentary Lyft Pink All Access membership
• Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: 5 points per dollar spent on Lyft rides through March 31, 2025
• The Platinum Card® from American Express: 1 point per dollar spent on ride-hailing services
• American Express® Green Card: 3 points per dollar spent on transit, including ride-hailing services
• Chase Freedom Unlimited®: 5% cash back on Lyft rides through March 31, 2025
• Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® credit card: 2 miles per dollar spent on ride-hailing services
• Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express: 3% cash back on transit, including ride-hailing services (cash back is received as reward dollars that can be redeemed for statement credits)

The information for the Amex Green credit 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.

Related reading:

• 5 things to know before the next time you use a ride-hailing service at the airport
• How to easily earn points and miles on your Lyft rides
• Quick Points: Triple stack these offers to maximize your next Lyft ride
• Earn up to 5 Bilt points per dollar spent on Lyft rides with new partnership
• A guide to Lyft benefits as a Chase Sapphire Reserve cardholder

One of the most appealing things about taking a cruise is getting to visit several new islands or cities during a single vacation. Cruise often enough, however, and you’ll likely double back on ports you’ve already seen. But is that always a bad thing?

Not if the port is a place with lots of sights and activities that can’t all be enjoyed during a single visit. That means certain places are definitely worth going back to on another cruise. Here’s a helpful guide to the nine best cruise ports for repeat visits — and yes, I’ve been to all of them multiple times.

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Barcelona

If you’ve cruised the Mediterranean, chances are good you’ve already been to Barcelona since many ships use it as a home port for the season. I’ve visited six times — including several precruise overnight stays — and I’ve yet to experience everything in this sprawling city filled with architectural landmarks, lush parks, world-class museums, inviting tapas bars and even a beachfront boardwalk.

Perhaps the biggest attraction in Barcelona is architect Antoni Gaudí’s soaring La Sagrada Familia, still a work in progress almost 100 years after his death. (It’s scheduled for completion in 2026.) I’ve visited this landmark each time I’ve been in Barcelona, first in 2005 and most recently in 2022, and I always find something new to appreciate in its towering, whimsical interior.

If you like Gaudí’s style, take advantage of a repeat visit to Barcelona to explore his other creations. You can admire the art nouveau flourishes and alien-looking rooftop chimneys of La Pedrera (aka Casa Mila), an apartment building on the Passeig de Gracia, and the colorful mosaics and sculptures of the whimsical Park Guell.

Many folks walk up and down Las Ramblas on their first visit, but take time on a return trip to further explore The Gothic Quarter, home to Barcelona’s 15th-century cathedral (La Seu), edgy art galleries and bustling tapas bars. Also within walking distance of the port are the Barcelona Aquarium and Barceloneta Beach.

If you’ve seen the city and prefer green spaces, check out Montjuic. This mountaintop park with sweeping city views is home to the Joan Maragall Gardens and the Barcelona Botanical Garden, plus a half-dozen museums, including the Fundacio Joan Miró and the National Art Museum of Catalonia.

Boston

I’ve visited Boston just once on a cruise, in September 2023 during a Canada and New England sailing, but it was my sixth or seventh time in the city. I approached the day without any been-there, done-that frustration because Boston — a city that buzzes with both historic charm and modern-day energy — always has something new to discover.

Boston’s top sights — including Fenway Park, the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, the 18th-century USS Constitution, the kid-approved Museum of Science and the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum — are scattered around the city, so you might not get to all of them in one port stop. If you’ve managed to see them all, a DIY walking tour is a great way to spend a return visit if the weather is nice.

Most cruise lines offer free shuttles from the Flynn Cruiseport to a central location, typically near Faneuil Hall and Quincy Market. That’s perfect if you’re looking to explore a few neighborhoods or take a walk back in time along the 2.5-mile Freedom Trail.

I suggest you start at the Boston Common, America’s oldest park, created in 1634. Look for its newest artistic landmark, The Embrace, a massive 65,000-pound abstract bronze sculpture modeled after a 1964 photo of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and his wife, Coretta Scott King.

At the nearby Granary Burying Ground, you can pay your respects to Paul Revere and several signers of the Declaration of Independence, including John Hancock and Samuel Adams. Across the footbridge, you can wander through the neighboring Public Garden and ride the whimsical pedal-powered Swan Boats that have been in operation since 1877.

Don’t miss the charming Beacon Hill and Back Bay neighborhoods, especially the lavish late-19th-century townhouses along Commonwealth Avenue. Trudge to the Old North Church for a refresher on Paul Revere’s 1775 midnight ride.

Reward yourself for getting your steps in with a bowl of creamy New England clam chowder at the Union Oyster House, established in 1826. Across the street in Union Street Park, you’ll discover the New England Holocaust Memorial. This free outdoor installation features six glass towers etched with numbers representing the tattoos of millions of Holocaust victims, as well as quotes from survivors.

Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

Quite a few sun-and-fun cruise ports offer the same-old options — the beach, a snorkel tour or duty-free shopping — but Cabo San Lucas on Mexico’s Baja Peninsula features so many activities it’s possible to visit multiple times and not do the same thing twice. Since Cabo is a premier port on both Mexican Riviera cruises and Panama Canal transits, it’s a safe bet frequent cruisers might find themselves here more than once.

What can you do in Cabo? On my first visit, I enjoyed a catamaran sail to see the destination’s best-known landmark: the photogenic El Arco natural stone arch and adjacent Lovers Beach. Both are located where the Pacific Ocean meets the Sea of Cortez — a spot where barking sea lions also love to gather. If you visit from December to March, you also might see the humpback and gray whales that winter here; alternately, you can book a whale watching tour to get a closer look.

Other popular water-based activities include glass-bottom boat tours and sport fishing. While the Pacific isn’t as snorkel-friendly as the Caribbean, it is possible to snorkel in the calm waters of Chileno Bay.

If you’ve crossed sightseeing from the water off your must-do list, you can dive into Mexico’s food and beverage culture on a repeat visit to Cabo. A tequila tasting is a must for anyone who craves authentic local flavors and can be enjoyed on its own or in combination with a cooking class or a salsa-making (and salsa dancing) class. Or, skip the tour and visit one of the many bars and eateries near the Cabo San Lucas Marina, where you can pair a salt-rimmed margarita with fresh Baja-style fish tacos.

For something more active, spike your adrenaline during an off-roading adventure, or go old-school with a horseback or camel ride along the beach. Have an artsy side? Options include excursions to San Jose del Cabo, known for its historic Mission (one of Baja’s oldest) and Arts District with eclectic galleries, or to Todo Santos, a quaint Baja village filled with shops and galleries.

Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas

It’s hardly a secret that Eastern Caribbean cruises can get repetitive, especially the itineraries on the newest megaships, which due to their size can call on only a limited number of ports. One of them is Charlotte Amalie on St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands, which welcomes 1.5 million cruise passengers a year and can accommodate up to six cruise ships in port daily.

I’ve been to St. Thomas five times, most recently on a cruise in 2019, and have yet to try all the activities on offer. The island offers both thrills (including zip lining, snorkeling and helmet diving) and chills (such as beach time, daiquiri-sipping and duty-free shopping). Plus, you can tick another island off of your bucket list by visiting neighboring St. John for an island tour or snorkel excursion to stunning Trunk Bay.

If spotting sea creatures is your thing, you can snorkel off of Sapphire Beach or in Christmas Cove or sail on a catamaran to a reef teeming with fish and coral. You can also bump up the adventure with a Sea Trek helmet dive at Coral World Ocean Park (the full-head apparatus allows you to walk along the ocean floor on a guided tour) or book a scuba dive to offshore reefs.

Prefer to stay atop the water? St. Thomas offers sea kayaking tours or, for a bigger adrenaline kick, flyboarding (where you strap your feet onto a water-powered hoverboard and blast out of the water to seemingly fly above it).

Crescent-shaped Magens Bay Beach on the island’s north coast is St. Thomas’ premier sunbathing spot; the panoramic view from Drake’s Seat on the ride there is awesome, too. For a repeat visit, consider taking a 15-minute ferry ride from the Crown Bay cruise port to Water Island, where you can walk to Honeymoon Beach with its shaded palapas and beach bar or head to the island’s east side to enjoy a swim from white sand Sapphire Beach.

If you’re not afraid of heights, you can board a gondola for a ride to Paradise Point for panoramic harbor views from an elevation of 700 feet. Another thrilling option is a zoom above the treetops in a harness during a zip line adventure.

Copenhagen

The major ports of Northern Europe are all ideal for fans of art, culture and architecture, but Copenhagen tops my list for a repeat visit because it also adds culinary creativity and contemporary design to the mix. I’ve visited the canal-laced capital of Denmark three times on cruises, spending a total of seven days — and I’ve yet to see everything.

Perhaps that’s because I’m always drawn to three places. The world’s longest pedestrian street, Stroget, is lined with shops and casual eateries and cuts through the city’s historic center. The much-photographed Nyhavn harbor, where buildings date to the 17th century, offers outdoor cafes that are a magnet for both locals and visitors. The delightful Tivoli Gardens, a nearly 200-year-old amusement park, entices with its extraordinary landscaping, twinkling lights and wonderful dining options (from traditional Danish specialties to international favorites).

I’ve also enjoyed a canal cruise on each visit because it’s both inexpensive (about $15) and offers a terrific overview of the city’s architecture. Sights include the colorful facades of Nyhavn, the unique spire of the Church of Our Savior, the strikingly modern Royal Danish Opera House and the tiny Little Mermaid statue honoring native son Hans Christian Andersen.

Copenhagen also has a regal side, since Denmark is home to one of the world’s oldest monarchies. Experience the pomp firsthand at Amalienborg Palace, the official residence of the royal family; visit at noon for the ceremonial changing of the guard. Rosenborg Castle, meanwhile, is home to 400 years of Danish treasures, including the crown jewels.

Museums are another way to absorb Denmark’s rich artistic and cultural heritage. Statens Museum for Kunst — National Gallery of Denmark houses a collection of Danish and international art, while Copenhagen Contemporary showcases installations from well-known artists and emerging talent. The Designmuseum Danmark features centuries of fascinating objects and special exhibits dedicated to Danish Modern furniture and home design.

Foodies, meanwhile, can follow their noses to an eclectic array of eateries, including street carts selling polser (the Danish version of the hot dog), cafes serving smorrebrod open-faced sandwiches and fresh herring, and 17 Michelin-starred restaurants.

Kahului, Maui

Of all the Hawaiian Islands, Maui offers visitors the most versatility. Not only does its coastline change from golden sand to black lava, but its interior varies from lush valleys to volcanic craters. I’ve been to Maui five times — twice on a cruise — and have spent 16 days enjoying its beaches and top tourist sights. Maybe I’m beginning to sound like a broken record, but, again, I still haven’t done everything.

If you haven’t yet been to the top of Haleakala, the 10,023-foot dormant volcano that dominates Maui’s landscape, book a tour that offers panoramic views from its summit or lets you bike down its slopes. A whale watching excursion to spot humpbacks is an ideal choice from December through April; if the whales are off to their summer home, you can book a dolphin-watching tour instead. You can also enjoy a snorkel excursion to Molokini Crater or the nearby island of Lanai, where spinner dolphins and sea turtles are common sights.

Another Maui highlight is the Road to Hana, the infamously narrow and curved route that leads to the bucolic east Maui town of Hana with its dramatic black-lava beaches. If you’re prone to motion sickness, you’ll want to skip the road’s 59 one-lane bridges and 620 hairpin turns.

If you’re an independent type, you can rent a car near the port in Kahului and see a lot in one day. Visit scenic Iao Valley before heading to Upcountry on the lower volcanic slopes of Haleakala. There, you’ll find the historic cowboy town of Makawao, home to craft shops and the T Komodo Store and Bakery (get there early before the cream puffs sell out), as well as Ali’i Kula Lavender and Surfing Goat Dairy.

Back at sea level, especially if cruising with younger kids, a fun alternative is the Maui Ocean Center, The Aquarium of Hawaii. It features an array of native and endemic marine species. And did I mention Maui’s incredible beaches? You can visit them over and over again and never tire of their white sand beauty.

Naples, Italy

Discovering the complex beauty of Naples during a 2023 Mediterranean cruise was a revelation. I’d been “through” Naples three or four times before — on my way to Capri and the Amalfi Coast — but I’d never actually explored the city. What I learned is that Napoli, Italy’s third-largest city, is more than just the birthplace of pizza and the gateway to Pompeii. Its superb architecture, fascinating history and cache of archaeological treasures have all helped to inspire a recent tourism renaissance.

Naples has something for everyone. History buffs, shoppers and foodies will all enjoy a stroll along the narrow pedestrian street called Spaccanapoli in the city’s historical center. Walking here, you’ll feast your eyes on everything from intricate architectural details and bakery windows lined with cream-filled pastries to two landmark churches: the 15th-century Chiesa del Gesù Nuovo, with its fortresslike facade, and the Cappella Sansevero, a Baroque church known for its sculptures.

More monumental architecture from the 16th to 19th centuries awaits across town, including the ornate Teatro di San Carlo opera house and the elaborately domed Galleria Umberto I shopping arcade. The lavish Royal Palace of Naples was once home to the kings and queens who ruled the kingdom of Naples until the 19th century.

Naples has terrific museums and castles, too. Topping your list should be the National Archaeological Museum of Naples, which counts among its treasures the Roman artifacts from Pompeii. In the medieval Renaissance fortress of Castel Nuovo, you can find a collection of Italian frescos and paintings.

Beyond navigating Naples’ fascinating urban mosaic, you can hop a fast ferry from the cruise port to the isle of Capri. There, take the funicular to chic shop-lined Capri Town, where scenic walkways fan out to stellar viewpoints. You can also take ferries to Amalfi Coast towns, including Sorrento and Positano, or book a tour to see the ruins of Pompeii.

Just remember: Before leaving Naples, enjoy one of the city’s crispy thin-crust pizzas — or make that the reason for your return visit.

San Juan, Puerto Rico

My second Caribbean cruise in 1998 embarked in San Juan, and I’ve been back eight times since — with Old San Juan being my default setting for a day in port. Why? This colorful 500-year-old neighborhood is the perfect spot to explore on foot, has a lively vibe and offers something for history buffs, foodies and souvenir-hunters alike.

On the history front, there’s no missing El Morro (officially Castillo San Felipe del Morro), the hulking fortress set on a promontory overlooking Old San Juan. Other centuries-old sights include the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, constructed in 1540, and Casa Blanca, San Juan’s oldest residence. The latter was built in 1521 for then-governor Juan Ponce de León and is now a museum.

Whenever I’m in Old San Juan, I always stroll the shaded Paseo de la Princesa to the walkway between the sea and the city’s old stone walls that passes beneath the Tiffany-blue La Fortaleza. Completed in 1540, it was originally a fort and prison but was converted to a palace that serves as the governor’s official residence. I reenter through the Puerta de San Juan, a massive red gate, and make my way to vibrant Calle de la Fortaleza (famous for its overhead art installations) to snap a few photos.

If you’ve already seen Old San Juan, try a foodie walking tour to sample local specialties, such as garlicky mofongo (mashed plantains) and a creamy pina colada (which was invented here), or a bike tour from Old San Juan to Condado. This lively beachfront neighborhood is lined with resorts, bars and restaurants.

Beyond San Juan itself, a port call in Puerto Rico offers snorkeling at Escambron Marine Park, a surf lesson at Isla Verde beach and exhilarating all-terrain-vehicle or zip line adventures. Nature lovers can also book a tour of El Yunque National Forest, the only tropical rainforest in the U.S. forest system.

Vancouver, British Columbia

Just because you’ve visited Vancouver before on an Inside Passage sailing to Alaska doesn’t mean you shouldn’t return on a Pacific coast cruise or even another Alaska itinerary. My three visits to this sophisticated city that’s surrounded by the beauty of British Columbia’s mountains-meet-sea wilderness have each been filled with remarkably different experiences — from totem poles and Chinese gardens to whale watching and sky-high gondola rides.

One option for a return visit is a stroll through Vancouver’s downtown neighborhoods. Gastown, the city’s historic core, offers heritage architecture, avant-garde galleries, fashion boutiques and trendy bars, restaurants and music venues. Don’t miss the Gastown Steam Clock, which looks like an antique and sounds and steams every 15 minutes. In Chinatown, you can visit the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden, which replicates Ming Dynasty-era traditions and is the first of its kind outside of China.

For a more nature-based wander, follow the shoreline all the way to Stanley Park on the Seawall Water Walk. (It’s a bit of a hike — bike rentals are an option.) Once in the 1,000-acre park, check out its First Nations totem poles, pretty gardens and city skyline views. Families especially might wish to visit the park’s Vancouver Aquarium to spy on sea creatures large and small or head to Second Beach to take a dip or splash in the fountains.

Take your sightseeing to greater heights with a seaplane tour — or stay grounded and simply watch the planes take off and land in the harbor. Flyover Canada (in Canada Place) only requires you to strap into a flight motion seat to virtually soar above the stunning landscapes of the Canadian Rockies.

Whether you’re hungry for a taste of Vancouver or a souvenir, head to the Granville Island Public Market, which features local food outlets, farmers market stalls and artisans selling handcrafted items. Vancouver is also known for its inventive food trucks, serving everything from hot dogs infused with Japanese flavors to tasty tacos.

And then there’s the great outdoors. On my last visit in April 2019, I finally got around to doing two Vancouver activities I hadn’t done before. I took the Skyride to the summit of 4,039-foot Grouse Mountain to enjoy lunch with a panoramic view (if you’re lucky, you’ll glimpse one of two resident grizzly bears), and I explored the trails and dizzying elevated walkways at Capilano Suspension Bridge Park. The fresh mountain air sealed the deal. I’ll definitely head back to Vancouver for more.

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

• The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship
• A beginners guide to picking a cruise line
• The 8 worst cabin locations on any cruise ship
• The ultimate guide to what to pack for a cruise
• A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines
• 21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly
• Top ways cruisers waste money
• The ultimate guide to choosing a cruise ship cabin

Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information.

When my family and I first landed the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card, it was mostly about snagging a solid sign-up bonus.  However, what I didn’t know when we applied was that this card would quickly claim a prominent spot in my wallet and my husband’s long after the bonus miles were spent.

Here are all the reasons why we’re still using the Venture Rewards more than I expected.

solid earnings rates

My husband will never have lots of cards in his wallet and worry about keeping up with category bonuses for various transactions. He will, however, primarily use whichever card I indicate is best at the time. This card comes in clutch since there are no fees for adding an authorized user to your Venture Rewards account (see rates and fees).

When he isn’t working on hitting a spending bonus, earning 2 miles per dollar everywhere by using the Venture Rewards Card isn’t bad and is actually better than most of the cards on the market for non-bonus spending. If you maximize the miles via transfer partners, then TPG’s June valuations say you can get 1.85 cents per mile. That might not be the absolute best return for everyday spending, but it’s pretty darn close.

Related: Starter card showdown: Chase Sapphire Preferred Card vs. Capital One Venture Rewards

Flexible miles are simply the best

I can’t give up earning airline miles, because there are times when the outsize value they provide can’t be beat. But, as award charts continue to fade, flexible miles are the best type to have. And it seems that the international airline programs that are in the Capital One transfer partner lineup may turn out to be the best options for booking many awards since they largely still have traditional award charts in play.

With Capital One’s list of transfer partners, there’s even more reason to love this card. But here’s the truth. I haven’t (yet) transferred any of our Capital One miles to partners.

Maybe we will one day, as there are some great options out there, from Air Canada Aeroplan to Etihad Guest. But for now, I’ve enjoyed booking whatever travel we want and then redeeming the miles to offset the travel purchase with a few simple clicks.

For example, my husband wanted to meet our family in Hawaii a few summers back and needed to fly on a certain date, at a certain time and on a particular route to maximize his time with us. In this particular situation, it was best to buy a cash ticket and then reimburse ourselves with Capital One miles. Since he had no flexibility, traditional airline miles provided no value, even though Hawaii can sometimes be a great deal with airline miles.

Related: To transfer or not to transfer: What to do with Capital One miles

Bottom line

The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is one of my current favorite credit cards for families who travel — and that recommendation isn’t just based on stats or bullet points.

If you don’t yet have the Venture Rewards card, now is a great time to apply for one to protect yourself a bit from any devaluations and maybe even simplify your award travel strategy a bit in the process. It’s a card well worth applying for for all types of credit card users.

Read our full review of the Capital One Venture Rewards.

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Learn more: Capital One Venture Rewards

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Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information.

One of the most satisfying ways to earn hotel points is to leverage lucrative hotel promotions. Luckily, you can earn bonus points through several IHG promotions this summer.

Some IHG One Rewards promotions are targeted, so your offer details may occasionally differ from mine. But here’s a closer look at the current IHG promotions you might want to utilize.

Targeted offer for bonus points on stays

IHG members can earn bonus points every time they stay a set number of nights between June 20 and Aug. 31. This offer is targeted, so your offer may be for a different number of nights or bonus points. For example, my offer is for 8,000 points every four nights.

Reward nights and points-and-cash stays aren’t eligible for this promotion. For your stay to qualify, you’ll need to spend more than $30 each night and book a qualifying rate (as defined by the IHG One Rewards terms and conditions).

Check the IHG offers page to see whether you’re targeted for this offer. You must register for this promotion before completing your first stay.

Related: The best IHG hotels in the world

15% off reward nights at new hotels and resorts

One IHG promotion that isn’t targeted is a discount on award nights at new IHG hotels and resorts for stays through Aug. 31.

The eligible new hotels and resorts are listed on IHG’s website. You don’t have to do anything specific to get the discount; sign in to your account and redeem IHG points for a stay at one of the new hotels.

You can’t stack this discount with the fourth-reward-night-free perk offered as a benefit of the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card, IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card and IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card. Cardholders can only get the 15% discount on stays of three nights or fewer at new hotels and resorts.

Related: How to maximize redemptions with the IHG One Rewards program

Bonus points on car rentals

When you book a Hertz car rental through the IHG Trip Extras portal, you’ll enjoy special rates and bonus IHG points. Specifically, you’ll earn 1,500 IHG points per rental plus 500 points per day if you’re an elite member and 125 points per day if you don’t have IHG elite status.

If you book a Dollar or Thrifty car rental through the IHG Trip Extras portal, you’ll get everyday savings and 125 IHG points per day for your rental.

Related: Best car rental sites to book your next road trip

Bonus points for attending a timeshare presentation

If you want a discounted stay and don’t mind attending a timeshare presentation, you can earn 10,000 IHG points while getting a three-night hotel stay for $199 or a three-night resort stay for $249. This offer is valid for stays in:

• Arizona: Scottsdale
• Florida: Orlando and Cocoa Beach
• Tennessee: Gatlinburg
• Missouri: Branson
• Nevada: Las Vegas
• South Carolina: Myrtle Beach
• Texas: Galveston
• Virginia: Williamsburg

All of the destinations offer the hotel stay option. But only Orlando, Las Vegas, Branson, Galveston and Williamsburg offer the option to stay on-site at a Holiday Inn Club Vacations resort. You’ll need to meet employment, income and other requirements to purchase one of these packages, so check the requirements on the offer page.

If you buy a package, you must attend a one- to two-hour timeshare presentation. These presentations can be intense and are designed to get travelers to say yes to buying a timeshare. Even if you don’t mind attending a timeshare presentation, know that accepting this offer may exclude you from accepting better offers in the future.

Related: Cruise scams: Why you should toss that ‘free cruise’ card in the trash

Bottom line

It’s worth checking hotel promotions periodically. Current promotions, such as the targeted 8,000 bonus points for every four nights stayed offer I have in my IHG account, can offer value on upcoming trips for no additional cost.

Go ahead and register for your targeted bonus points promotion now. There’s no harm in registering and not using the promotion, but registering now also ensures you don’t forget to register later.

Adventures that take you across oceans and continents are exciting, memorable and sometimes even life-changing journeys … but if you’re going with kids, long-haul flights are probably not the part you are most looking forward to. In fact, you may be downright dreading them. That’s certainly been true in my case.

Missed bedtimes, cramped seats, unusual airplane food, jet lag and strangers as seatmates are not fun elements of travel for kids — or adults, for that matter. But sometimes, points and miles offer a solution to many of those long-haul flight problems in the form of upgraded seats in business class for the whole family.

Instead of uncomfortably sitting upright for upwards of 12 hours and praying for the landing to come as soon as humanly possible, you could use your miles to book business class and make the most of the flight portion of your trip, enjoying lie-flat seats and better meal options.

Related: 7 business class travel tips and tricks from one first-timer to another

But is it still worth the extra miles or cash to fly business class with your kids? Will they even enjoy it? Will you? Will your cabin neighbors hate you?

Thanks to points and miles, I’ve been lucky enough to fly business class with my kids multiple times. Let’s dive into when you can fly business class with kids, when you should consider it and some pitfalls to watch out for along the way.

Related: Guide to getting your child’s passport

Are kids allowed in business class?

While some airlines have tried to prohibit children in premium cabins (or other defined sections of the airplane), generally speaking, yes, kids of all ages — including infants — are allowed in business class.

However, if you want to use a car seat for your baby or toddler in business class, know that some seat types are not compatible with them. For example, when flying United Airlines, car seats aren’t allowed in United Polaris business class on Boeing 767, 777 or 787 aircraft, so be sure to check your airline’s website for any such restrictions.

Related: 43 real-world family travel tips that actually work 

It can cost more than you think to fly business class with babies

If you want to fly in business class with your under-2-year-old as a “lap infant” (meaning they do not require their own seat), it can cost more than you might think.

When flying domestically within the U.S., a lap infant is free. However, when flying on an international ticket, the cost can often be 10% of the adult fare plus taxes and fees. The actual cash cost of a business-class seat can be $5,000 to $10,000, in some cases, so 10% of that plus taxes and fees can be approaching (or more than) $1,000 just to hold your child in your lap.

Thankfully, you can book strategically via an airline program that doesn’t price lap infant tickets in that way. For example, Air Canada Aeroplan prices international lap infant award tickets at 2,500 Aeroplan points or 25 Canadian dollars ($18). On British Airways, the cost of a lap infant award is 10% of the price of a regular award in Avios rather than 10% of a cash fare.

Alternatively, sometimes child award tickets cost less than adult tickets when using miles, even in business class. For example, when booking with Flying Blue miles, award tickets for children up to age 11 cost 25% fewer miles than adults. This means that when there are 50,000-mile business-class awards for adults, those same seats cost just 37,500 miles each way for kids in that age range.

Related: Flying with a lap infant? Here’s what you need to know

Some business-class seats are better for families than others

Now that we’ve established kids are allowed in business class and that there are some ways it can end up costing more — or less — than you might think, let’s talk about how some business-class seats and cabins are better fits for families with young kids than others.

Assuming your child isn’t yet big enough to want or appreciate an ultra-private suite-style business-class seat, which is a model more and more airlines are moving toward since it’s generally better for adult travelers, some business-class cabins are better designed to keep you close to your seatmate than others.

Qatar Airways Qsuite is a great example of a business-class product that essentially allows you to combine either two or four seats into one section. My dream is to try this out as a family of four one day for the ultimate slumber party in the sky.

Others, like United’s Polaris business class, don’t operate quite that close and cozy, but if you select certain rows (typically the odd-numbered ones in seats D and G), you can be right next to your child in a pair of middle seats.

However, the alternating rows of even middle seats are angled away from each other, which makes it a little harder for your kid to feel like you’re right next to them while they are young if you select those seat options.

Less about the Champagne, more about the chicken nuggets

While you have a much better shot at a comfortable flight if you have more space to work with, if you are flying with a baby or young child in business class, you are probably still going to have your hands quite full. Naturally, this workload lessens as your children get older.

But with young kids, your business-class flight is going to be less about enjoying preflight Champagne, gourmet meals and relaxation than it would be sans kids, especially when they are in those squirmy and harder-to-fly-with toddler phases.

When you read complaints about kids in business class, they are often accompanied by a description of the parents sleeping or doing their own thing with headphones on and not focusing on their young kids, who may be listening to their devices loudly without their headphones on, kicking seats or running amok in the cabin.

So, don’t be that family, whether seated in business class or economy.

Unless you hit the napping or movie binge-watching jackpot, flying in business class with your kids will be more about keeping them comfortable and quiet. That said, I do recommend trading off duties periodically if you are flying with another adult so you can enjoy some of the perks of business class for yourself.

Pro tip: If you want your children to have a kids meal in business class, be sure and request it well in advance, either on the airline’s website or over the phone. Even if you do that, know that sometimes they won’t be available, so don’t board empty-handed with picky eaters.

It’s all about bedtime

The dream when flying business class with kids — and the main reason my family sometimes makes this mileage splurge — is having a better shot at good sleep compared to economy flights.

Not only does sleep make the hours of the flight go by quicker for all involved, but it’s sometimes crucial to the success of the first part of the trip. For example, if flying to Europe overnight from the U.S., the tone of those first few days of the trip with kids will depend on how much sleep they got on the flight over.

When prepping your young kids for a long-haul flight, talk to them about how the seats turn into beds and that they will have a pillow and blanket and will need to go to sleep either as soon as possible or right after the meal — depending on the details of your flight. Basically, set expectations.

That value of sleeping on the flight doesn’t end when the kids outgrow a stroller — it’s super handy in reducing the likelihood of having tired, grumpy teenagers while on big trips, too.

If business class isn’t a viable option for your trip and you want your kids to lie down and get good sleep, consider innovative economy products like the ANA Couchii or Air New Zealand Skycouch.

So, is it worth it to fly business class with kids?

International travel with a family is special, regardless of which cabin you are in. However, if you are flying a long-haul route and have the miles to secure business-class seats for the whole family, I’d say it can absolutely be worth it. And don’t assume it’s out of range for your mileage budget until you have done some research.

There are several ways to book business-class flights to Europe for fewer miles. For example, you can fly Iberia from the East Coast to Spain from 34,000 Avios (or sometimes even less with transfer bonuses). The Air France-KLM Flying Blue program often offers business-class awards from the U.S. to Europe for as low as 50,000 miles each way, too — in addition to providing a 25% discount for kids up to 11 years old. Sometimes, you can also effectively spend fewer miles by transferring points from programs like American Express Membership Rewards and Chase Ultimate Rewards during periodic transfer bonuses.

While booking business class as a family is mostly about the improved odds of sleep for us, I’d be remiss not to mention that it’s also just a whole lot of fun to spread out with your kids on the plane and really enjoy the journey in a way that hits differently at the front of the plane.

While spending thousands of dollars to fly my kids in business class would not be worth it to me, using points or miles to do so absolutely makes sense.

I do it by leveraging big credit card welcome bonuses, strategizing everyday spending on credit cards with good bonus categories and taking advantage of points transfer bonuses when they happen. That makes flying the whole family in business class on a big trip doable for us once every year or two.

At that point, when I am considering using a reasonable number of airline miles, it is definitely worth it to fly business class with my kids, as it means we all get to look forward to the flight, enjoy the journey and hopefully get some sleep in a lie-flat bed at 35,000 feet.

Related reading:

• The best ways to travel to Europe using points and miles
• Your guide to flying with kids of every age
• 7 of the best airline award chart sweet spots
• Best times to book business-class award flights: Last-minute vs. advanced bookings

Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information.

Earning Choice Privileges points through stays, promotions and credit cards is relatively easy. However, once you have a stash of Choice Privileges points, you might wonder how to redeem them.

As with most points and miles, the value you’ll get when redeeming Choice points will vary. TPG’s June 2024 valuations peg the value of Choice points at 0.6 cents each, so we typically recommend aiming for at least that redemption value. Choice offers different redemption options depending on your country of residence, but here’s what U.S. residents need to know about redeeming Choice Privileges points.

Redeem Choice points for hotel stays

You’ll typically get the most value from Choice Privileges points when you redeem them for hotel stays. There are three primary ways to redeem Choice points for hotel stays: reward nights, points plus cash stays and Preferred Hotels & Resorts stays.

It’s worth noting that unless you redeem through the Preferred Hotels & Resorts partnership, you can only redeem Choice points for stays that will occur within the next 100 days.

Reward nights

Choice Privileges defines weeknight and weekend reward night rates for each property. These award rates are displayed on each hotel or resort’s landing page. For example, you can book Choice Privileges reward nights starting at 6,000 points for stays at two Australian properties through June 30.

However, Choice Privileges recently updated most of its website to state that reward nights start at 8,000 points. This means Choice Privileges no longer caps reward night prices to 35,000 points in any part of the world. I recently found some hotels in Nashville and New York City pricing at 45,000 Choice points per night.

I found a property in Sweden where paid rates are about $100 per night while award rates hover around 75,000 Choice points per night. If you redeemed Choice points for this night, you’d get a terrible redemption value.

You can find good value award nights when redeeming Choice points, though. For example, I like redeeming Choice points for centrally located stays in Japan.

When redeeming Choice points, you can often book more than just the base room type at many properties. For example, on select dates, you can book a three-bedroom apartment at the Quality Suites Huka Falls in New Zealand for just 25,000 points per night.

You can book far more than Choice-branded hotels with Choice points, though. For example, you can use Choice Privileges points to stay at select Bluegreen Vacations properties (see the list here). Most Bluegreen Vacations properties cost between 20,000 and 30,000 points per night.

Availability can be difficult to snag at some properties, but last-minute bookings are often possible. I found wide-open availability at Bluegreen Vacations Eilan Hotel And Spa, Ascend Resort Collection, in San Antonio.

You can also use Choice points to book select casino hotels and resorts. Most casino hotels and resorts cost 40,000 points per night or less. Check here for the current casino hotels and resorts bookable with Choice points.

You can also book all-inclusive resorts with Choice Privileges points. When searching the Choice Hotels website, you can see the current options by selecting all-inclusive resorts as the hotel type. At the time of writing, Choice Points are redeemable at all-inclusive resorts in Mexico and the Dominican Republic for 20,000 to 45,000 points per night.

Award availability can be difficult to find at some resorts. Still, I found ample availability at the Emotions All Inclusive Puerto Plata, Ascend Hotel Collection in the Dominican Republic, where I once stayed for an entire month. Reward nights at this resort now cost 30,000 points but include rooms with direct pool access and a sitting area, balcony and whirlpool.

The Choice Hotels website also lists an all-inclusive resort in Dominica. However, this resort does not have an award rate listed, and I couldn’t find any award availability.

Finally, keep an eye on Choice Privileges Sweet Spot Rewards. Choice frequently discounts award rates at top select properties through this program.

Related: 14 ways to earn Choice Privileges points

Points plus cash

Choice also offers points plus cash rates if you have at least 6,000 Choice points in your account. Log into your account, search for a reward night and select a result that shows a points-plus-cash rate.

Once you click “See Availability” for the property you want to book, you can compare the reward night, points plus cash and paid rates for each room type.

In the above example, you could pay 35,000 points, $386.62 cash (once taxes and fees are included) or 6,000 points plus $247 per night for a rate that allows you to cancel until shortly before your stay. If you redeem 35,000 points, you will get a redemption rate of 1.10 cents per point. If you redeem 6,000 points plus $247, you’d use fewer points and get a better redemption rate of 2.33 cents per point.

Related: Register for Choice Hotels Your Extras to earn gift cards or other perks on weekday stays

Preferred Hotels & Resorts

Choice Privileges members can redeem Choice points for stays at participating Preferred Hotels & Resorts properties. For single or double occupancy, you can expect to redeem 20,000 to 87,000 points per night, worth $120 to $522, based on TPG’s June 2024 valuations.

You can browse properties and book stays online by starting at this link and logging into your Choice Privileges account. The standard 100-day booking window requirement isn’t used when you redeem Choice points for stays at Preferred Hotels & Resorts properties.

Related: Stays at Preferred Hotels & Resorts now cost up to 87,000 Choice Privileges points per night

Transfer Choice points to travel rewards partners

You can use the online Choice Privileges Rewards Exchange to transfer points to the following partners:

• Aer Lingus AerClub: Convert at a ratio of 5,000 Choice points to 1,000 Avios
• Aeromexico Rewards: Convert at a ratio of 5,000 Choice points to 1,000 Aeromexico points
• Air Canada Aeroplan: Convert at a ratio of 5,000 Choice points to 1,000 Aeroplan points
• Air France-KLM Flying Blue: Convert at a ratio of 5,000 Choice points to 1,000 Flying Blue miles
• Alaska MileagePlan: Convert at a ratio of 5,000 Choice points to 1,000 Alaska miles
• British Airways Executive Club: Convert at a ratio of 5,000 Choice points to 1,000 Avios
• Iberia Plus: Convert at a ratio of 5,000 Choice points to 1,000 Avios
• Qantas FrequentFlyer: Convert at a ratio of 2,000 Choice points to 800 Qantas points
• Southwest Rapid Rewards: Convert at a ratio of 6,000 Choice points to 1,800 Southwest points
• Turkish Miles&Smiles: Convert at a ratio of 5,000 Choice points to 1,000 Turkish miles
• United MileagePlus: Convert at a ratio of 5,000 Choice points to 1,000 United miles
• Velocity Frequent Flyer: Convert at a ratio of 2,000 Choice points to 800 Virgin Australia points

Transfers usually take 48 hours, although some may take up to seven days. You can also call Choice Privileges to transfer points to Spirit Airlines Free Spirit, although the transfer may take two to six weeks.

Related: Should you transfer hotel points to airline partners?

Use Choice points for gift cards

You can’t convert Choice points to cash via Bakkt anymore, as the consumer app was discontinued in early 2023. However, you can still get cash-like value from Choice points when you redeem them for gift cards.

Some retailers only offer $25 gift card cards for 8,000 Choice points. But you may also be able to redeem Choice points for higher-value gift cards with some retailers at a rate of 16,000 points for $50 gift cards or 32,000 points for $100 gift cards.

You can also redeem 5,000 points for a one-year AARP membership or 12,000 points for a three-year AARP membership.

If you redeem 8,000 Choice points for a $25 gift card, you’ll get a redemption rate of 0.3125 cents per point. This redemption provides well below TPG’s June 2024 valuation of 0.6 cents per point, so we typically don’t recommend redeeming Choice points for gift cards.

Related: How to use points and miles to give gifts with zero out-of-pocket cost

Exchange Choice points for cruise credits

It’s possible to redeem Choice points for cruise credit when you book by phone with Cruises for Choice Privileges (powered by Cruise411) at 800-596-0451. You can redeem 85,000 points for $250 in cruise credit or 160,000 points for $500 in cruise credit.

If you redeem 16,0000 points for a $500 credit, you will get a redemption rate of 0.3125 cents per point. This rate is well below TPG’s June 2024 valuation of Choice points (0.6 cents per point), so we don’t recommend this option.

Related: How to book a cruise using points and miles

Redeem Choice points for experiences

In 2022, Choice Privileges introduced the ability to redeem Choice points for college sports events and experiences. Since then, Choice members have gained the ability to redeem Choice points for NASCAR tickets and redeem Choice points for concerts and other events.

Check the Experiences by Choice website, college sports experiences page and Trackhouse racing page for current opportunities.

Donate Choice points

Finally, you can donate Choice points to select charities.

Choice will donate $5 per 1,000 points redeemed to most charities. However, if you donate your points to Polaris, Choice will donate $10 per 1,000 points.

Related: How you can donate your points and miles to charity

Bottom line

You can redeem Choice Privileges points for stays, airline miles, gift cards, donations, experiences and more. To get the best value from your points, I recommend calculating your redemption value and only redeeming when you can get at least 0.6 cents per point. You’ll usually get the best redemption value when using Choice points for hotel stays or unique experiences.

Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers.

Frontier Airlines World Mastercard overview

The Frontier Airlines World Mastercard® is likely not the most rewarding credit card out there, but it does offer some potentially valuable perks for frequent Frontier flyers. While this makes it a good secondary card for Frontier flyers, we recommend having a more well-rounded travel card in addition to this one. Card Rating*: ⭐⭐⭐

*Card Rating is based on the opinion of TPG’s editors and is not influenced by the card issuer.

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With a low-cost carrier like Frontier Airlines, the à-la-carte booking option can be a great way for travelers to save a ton of money on flights.

An $89 annual fee and the ability to pool your Frontier miles with other family members, receive priority boarding and earn credit toward elite status makes this card worth considering. We recommend a credit score of at least 700 before applying for the Frontier Airlines Mastercard.

Let’s analyze this card’s welcome offer, rewards rate and other ongoing factors to see if the Frontier Airlines Mastercard is the best match for you.

The information for the Frontier Airlines World Mastercard has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Related: Budget airline survival guide

Frontier Airlines World Mastercard pros and cons

Pros	Cons
Ability to pool your Frontier miles with others $100 annual flight voucher Award ticket fees waiver when you pay them with this card	$89 annual fee Not ideal for non-Frontier loyalists Sign-up bonus leaves something to be desired

 

Frontier Airlines World Mastercard welcome offer

Currently, the Frontier Airlines Mastercard offers 60,000 miles to new cardmembers for its welcome offer. You’ll get 40,000 miles after spending $500 on purchases and paying the annual fee within the first 90 days of account opening. To earn an additional 20,000 miles, you’ll need to spend $2,000 on the card within the first six months of card membership.

One-way flights on Frontier start at 10,000 miles, so you can potentially book up to three round-trip award tickets with the welcome bonus and still have some miles left over. TPG’s June 2024 valuations peg Frontier miles at 1.1 cents per point, making that 60,000 miles worth $660.

Related: The best time to apply for these 9 popular travel credit cards, based on offer history

Frontier Airlines World Mastercard benefits

The Frontier World Mastercard offers some unusual and potentially valuable perks for frequent flyers of the airline.

First, cardholders can pool their miles with up to eight other Frontier Miles accounts. Although Frontier calls this feature “Family Pooling,”  it can be any eight people you choose — including friends, coworkers and roommates. There are no minimums or caps on the number of miles you can transfer through this program.

You’ll also enjoy a $100 flight voucher every account anniversary after spending $2,500 or more on purchases on the card in the previous year. Plus, for every dollar you spend on the Frontier Airlines Mastercard, you’ll earn one Elite Status Point on top of the bonus miles you’ll earn. This can help accelerate your path to elevated status with Frontier.

Other perks include priority zone two boarding, a waiver for award flight fees paid with this card, your choice of card design from five options and no foreign transaction fees.

Related: Best frequent flyer programs for U.S. travelers

Earning miles on the Frontier Airlines World Mastercard

With this card, you’ll earn 5 Frontier miles for every dollar spent on eligible flyfrontier.com purchases, 3 miles per dollar spent at restaurants and 1 mile per dollar spent everywhere else.

Considering this card’s $89 annual fee, these earning rates aren’t bad. If you’re a Frontier loyalist, earning 5 miles per dollar spent on eligible online Frontier purchases is a great way to quickly secure award redemptions.

Still, the non-Frontier earning rates are nothing special, so this card works best as a complement to another card with better earning rates.

Related: 6 key tools and tips to find the cheapest airfare

Redeeming miles on the Frontier Airlines World Mastercard

When it comes to redeeming your miles, the Frontier award chart is pretty straightforward. The lowest-cost one-way Value awards are 10,000 miles within the U.S. and 15,000 miles for international flights. Standard awards, which have wider availability, will cost you 20,000 miles within the U.S. and 25,000 miles internationally.

You can pay a few more miles to avoid capacity controls if you have elite status. For an extra 2,500 miles on top of the Standard award price, you can book a Last Seat award as long as there’s a seat available for sale on the flight you want.

Keep in mind that you’ll have to pay taxes and fees on these tickets; however, the aforementioned award booking fee is waived as long as you use your Frontier Airlines Mastercard to pay for the taxes and fees. The associated taxes and fees can be quite pricey depending on the booking, so make sure to pay with your Frontier Airlines Mastercard.

Related: The best time to book flights for the cheapest airfare

Which cards compete with the Frontier Airlines World Mastercard?

When considering competitors for this card, you likely think of other airline cards first. However, it may be worth considering a general travel card against the Frontier Airlines Mastercard.

• If you want a general travel card: The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card has a $95 annual fee and earns lucrative Chase Ultimate Rewards points that can be transferred to any of Chase’s 14 airline and hotel partners. In addition, this card offers an up to $50 hotel statement credit on bookings through Chase Travel℠ and a complimentary DashPass membership (activation required by Dec. 31). To learn more, read our full review of the Chase Sapphire Preferred.
• If you want a cheaper airline card: The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card has a $69 annual fee, which is mostly offset by a 3,000-point bonus award on every cardmember anniversary (worth $39 according to TPG’s June 2024 valuations). The Southwest Plus card may be better if you can’t justify the Frontier Airlines Mastercard’s annual fee. To learn more, read our full review of the Southwest Plus card.
• If you want an airline card with no annual fee: The United Gateway℠ Card is a no-annual-fee card that offers 25% back on inflight purchases and has no foreign transaction fees. You’ll also get a one-year complimentary membership to DashPass when you activate by Dec. 31. To learn more, read our full review of the United Gateway card.

For more options, check out our picks for the best airline cards.

Related: Why I chose the Chase Sapphire Preferred as my next credit card

Is the Frontier Airlines World Mastercard worth it?

The Frontier Airlines Mastercard is worth considering if you’re a Frontier loyalist. However, a general travel card is better if you fly with other airlines. Before applying for this card, consider how much value you’ll get from it and whether that value justifies the $89 annual fee.

Related: Are airline credit cards worth it?

Bottom line

The Frontier World Mastercard doesn’t make sense for most people. Still, if you’re a frequent Frontier flyer, the added value of this card brings family pooling, award booking fee waivers and elite qualifying miles — which can all be worth far more than the annual fee.

With Frontier’s route network stretching to the Caribbean and Central America, this card may be a great companion for your upcoming travels.

Related: Frontier Airlines World Mastercard vs. Free Spirit Travel More World Elite Mastercard

American Airlines is planning to open two new lounges — including its more upscale Flagship Lounge — at one of its major East Coast hubs.

Sometime next year, American will unveil both an Admirals Club and a Flagship Lounge at Philadelphia International Airport (PHL), the Fort Worth-based carrier revealed Friday.

The announcement figures to be a win for travelers navigating the hub, which a busy connecting hub for American that includes a number of transatlantic flights.

Want more airline-specific news? Sign up for TPG’s free biweekly Aviation newsletter.

New lounge details

So far, details about the two new Philly lounges are pretty sparse. They’ll both be located in the A-West terminal, a spokesperson said Friday.

And, the lounges will boast the warmer ambience — complete with fireplaces — that we’ve seen in some of the newer clubs American has unveiled.

The rendering American shared, above, is the only image released so far.

However, here’s a look at one of the newer Admirals Club in its portfolio, which opened last fall at Denver International Airport (DEN) and has the newer aesthetic has been using in its new and renovated lounges.

“The opening of the new Flagship Lounge and Admirals Club lounge will continue to create a harmonized design experience across all newly opened lounges that customers will instantly recognize,” American said in a statement Friday.

Bolstering Philly lounge options

American already operates lounges at its Philly hub, but its lack of a Flagship Lounge has been, until now, something of a hole in its network — particularly considering the transatlantic schedule the carrier boasts out of Philadelphia, as shown in the below map from aviation analytics firm Cirium.

American currently has Flagship Lounges at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport (ORD), Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and Miami International Airport (MIA).

There’s technically no Flagship Lounge at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), but the Chelsea Lounge that American shares with joint-venture partner British Airways essentially functions like one.

More upscale than standard Admirals Clubs, the Flagship Lounge network has more robust food options and other premium touches like specialty cocktail bars and a special wine table.

You can gain access to a Flagship Lounge by flying with a Flagship First ticket, or a Flagship Business ticket on certain flights — generally international or a few key transcontinental routes (often flights operated by the Boeing 777-300ER or Airbus A321T).

High-level elite status members can also access the lounge on eligible flights.

American currently operates four Philly Admirals Clubs, including one in A West — the terminal where these two new lounges will be constructed.

Looking ahead

Asked by TPG, spokesperson could not offer a more specific timeline on when these two new lounges might open — just that they are expected in 2025.

An annual Admirals Club membership starts at $850 for a first-time, non-elite member, but there are discounts for AAdvantage elites and members renewing.

Lounge access also can be attained with American’s high-end co-branded credit card, Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® (see rates and fees), which carries a $595 annual fee.

Related reading:

• The best credit cards for airport lounge access
• The ultimate guide to American Airlines Admirals Club access
• The 7 do’s and don’ts in an airport lounge
• The best credit cards to reach elite status
• 7 domestic lounges that are worth going out of your way for
• Best credit cards for American Airlines flyers

If you’ve ever asked the question “How do cruises make money?” you might be surprised to learn that ticket sales only make up about 65% to 70% of cruise lines’ revenue. That’s true even with prices soaring this year due to demand.

If the money coming in isn’t completely related to cruise fares, how are cruise ships profitable in other ways? Here’s a bit about ticket sales, other sources of revenue and some of the factors that play into both. I’ll also list the percentages that make up the full picture for each cruise line parent company.

For more cruise news, reviews and tips, sign up for TPG’s cruise newsletter.

Ticket sales

Ticket sales only account for about two-thirds of the overall revenue pie for the three major cruise line parent companies: Carnival Corp., Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings and Royal Caribbean Group.

In a research report released May 29, Truist Securities projected that ticket sales — cruise fares and airfares for flights booked through the cruise lines — would make up 66.1%, 67.5% and 69.6% of revenue for the three companies in 2024, respectively.

Onboard spending

Truist Securities estimated that onboard spending at Carnival Corp., Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings and Royal Caribbean Group brands would account for the other 33.9%, 32.5% and 30.4% of revenue at the three brands in 2024, respectively.

This onboard spending category includes obvious items like shore excursions, drink packages, Wi-Fi, casino and arcade gaming, alternative dining, spa treatments and purchases in the onboard shops. However, it also encompasses shuttles to and from the airport, travel insurance or protection purchased through the cruise line and even cancellation fees.

“Our orientation is experiences,” said Royal Caribbean Group president and CEO Jason Liberty on a Feb. 1 earnings call, “and we keep trying to advance experiences that our customers not only desire but that they’re also willing to pay for. … Obviously there are a lot of things that we’re adding onto our ships. … You see that also extend into the destination and what we’re doing in the private island space. … Our goal is to keep our customers in our ecosystem.”

Location, location, location

As you might expect, the per diem — the total amount each passenger pays per day to sail, including both ticket sales and onboard spending — is higher in more far-flung regions than it is in some of the more highly trafficked destinations.

For example, per diems are significantly higher in Alaska and Europe than they are in the Caribbean and the Bahamas. Supply and demand play a role, as far more ships offer sailings to the latter pair of destinations than to the former, which drives pricing down in the Caribbean and the Bahamas.

Additionally, people traveling to bucket list destinations are usually more willing to spend money on excursions or other experiences they might not have another chance to try. The more exotic the destination, the more rare the excursion opportunities tend to be, which drives up the price. For example, you can snorkel or parasail in just about every Caribbean destination, but only a couple of destinations worldwide allow for glacier trekking.

Meanwhile, those booked on three-night weekend itineraries might be on stricter budgets and, therefore, could be less willing to spend on extras.

A push to prebook

During recent earnings calls, cruise line executives have said they’re pushing hard to convince passengers to book activities and experiences ahead of time. The thought is that even if cruisers reserve shore excursions, spa treatments and alternative dining before they ever set foot on the ship, they’re still likely to make purchases once they’re on board, which leads to larger overall spending.

“Some of the meaningful progress we’ve seen … is just the ability to buy and design your vacation ahead of time precruise,” said Naftali Holtz, chief financial officer of Royal Caribbean Group, during the Feb. 1 earnings call. “It also leads to great financial success as people are booking their vacations and they get on board and they spend two and a half times more than those that haven’t [booked activities] precruise.”

“In terms of the Norwegian brand … we are in a continuous improvement mode in terms of expanding our presale of onboard revenue and getting more share of the wallet over a longer period of time from the point a customer enters our ecosystem,” said Mark Kempa, executive vice president and CFO of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, on a Feb. 27 earnings call. “That plays a key part going forward as we look at our revenue opportunities.”

“We’ve been making improvements to our precruise planning functionality at Norwegian to allow guests to book even more before they leave their homes,” explained Harry Sommer, president and CEO of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, during the same call.

Bottom line

How do cruise lines make money? Cruise revenue is generated from two areas: Ticket sales (cruise fares and airfare booked through the cruise lines) and onboard spending (the purchase of cruise-related goods and services through the cruise line, as well as cancellation fees).

Although current fares are some of the highest in the history of cruising, lines are focused on increasing revenue generated from onboard spending, and they’re doing so by coaxing booked passengers into making purchases long before they ever set sail.

Have cruise questions? TPG has answers:

• More banned items: What not to pack for a cruise
• What is baked Alaska, and why is it paraded around cruise ships?
• What are the largest cruise ships in the world?
• What is a gentleman host on a cruise?
• What is the Jones Act and how does it affect cruise ships?
• What is a lido deck on a cruise ship?
• What’s a cruise cabin guarantee and will it save you money?
• What’s the difference between a cruise concierge and a butler?