Hotel & Flight Deals
The best hotel and flight deals, booking strategies, and loyalty program tips.
How to Book Flights with Points and Miles: A Complete Beginner Guide
I booked a round-trip flight from Los Angeles to Tokyo in business class for 60,000 United MileagePlus miles plus $56 in taxes. The cash price for the same flig...
Airbnb vs Hotels: Which Is Actually Cheaper in 2026
I spent two weeks in Barcelona, one week in an Airbnb apartment and one week in a hotel, to settle the debate once and for all. The Airbnb was a one-bedroom apa...
How to Score $200 Hotel Rooms for $50
The W Hotel in Barcelona has a rooftop pool overlooking the Mediterranean, a spa with a hammam, and rooms that normally sell for 280 euros ($302) per night. I s...
The Best Hotel Loyalty Programs Ranked by Value in 2026
I hold elite status with four major hotel chains: Marriott Bonvoy Gold, Hilton Honors Gold, Hyatt Discoverist, and IHG Platinum. I did not achieve any of these...
How to Get Hotel Status Matches and Challenges
I had Gold status with Marriott Bonvoy, earned entirely through credit card spending on the Bonvoy Brilliant card. I had never stayed a single night in a Marrio...
How to Negotiate Better Hotel Rates Directly
I called the front desk of the Hotel do Chiado in Lisbon and asked if they had any availability for the next three nights. The rate they quoted was 130 euros ($...
Best Budget Airlines You Have Never Heard Of
I flew from Kuala Lumpur to Kota Kinabalu, Malaysian Borneo, on AirAsia for 89 ringgit ($19). The same route on Malaysia Airlines, the full-service carrier, cos...
Hotel Booking Mistakes That Are Costing You Money
I paid $187 for a hotel room in Lisbon that I later found on the hotel's own website for $119. Same room, same dates, same cancellation policy. The difference w...