-
This Is What Amex Hotel Collection Gets You in Lisbon
The American Express Hotel Collection often sits in the shadow of Fine Hotels + Resorts, but in the right city, it can quietly deliver some excellent value. Lisbon turned out to be one of those cities. Instead of burning a large number of hotel points, we booked a two‑night stay at the DUO Hotel Lisbon, Curio Collection by Hilton using the Amex Hotel Collection through American Express Travel. Here’s exactly what the benefit included, what we paid out of pocket, and why this approach worked so well for this trip. What Is the Amex Hotel Collection? The Amex Hotel Collection is available to eligible American Express cardholders when booking through…
-
How We Booked a Trip to Lisbon Using Credit Card Points
Lisbon is one of those cities where using credit card points actually makes sense. Flights are attainable on points without extreme gymnastics, hotel prices stack well with card benefits, and the overall cash costs stay reasonable even after taxes and fees. Here’s exactly how we booked our trip to Lisbon using credit card points — what worked, what cost cash, and why I’d use this same approach again. Booking Flights to Lisbon with Points For airfare, we booked Air France economy using transferable points. We combined points from two programs: All points were transferred to Flying Blue (Air France / KLM) to make the booking. The total cost for two…
-
Lisbon in 48 Hours: Vibes, Value, and Crowds
Lisbon is one of those cities that rewards curiosity. It’s walkable, layered with history, and full of small moments that happen between the “must‑see” stops. With just 48 hours, we focused on a mix of iconic sights, neighborhoods worth wandering, and food stops that didn’t require overplanning. Here’s how our two days played out — what felt worth it, what was packed, and what I’d actually repeat on a return trip. Day 1: Iconic Lisbon, at City Pace We started the trip intentionally slow. Lisbon has hills, crowds, and a rhythm that doesn’t reward rushing. Breakfast at Quest set the tone. Great energy, strong coffee, and a relaxed start —…
-
I got rid of THIS Premium Travel Credit Card
Why I Downgraded My Venture X ($395) to the Venture Card ($95) At one point, the Capital One Venture X was one of the best premium travel cards in my wallet. But recently, I made the decision to downgrade it to the Capital One Venture Rewards card. This wasn’t because the Venture X is a bad card. It’s actually a great product. But it no longer fits my overall strategy. My New Goal: Reduce Annual Fees Over time, I realized I was carrying: That’s thousands of dollars in annual fees. And while each card “technically pays for itself,” the real question became: Why I Didn’t Cancel — I Downgraded Instead…
-
Hilton Surpass: Why I’m Shifting More of My Strategy to Hotel Cards
Why I’m Reprioritizing Hotel Credit Cards With premium credit card annual fees climbing across the board — Amex Platinum, Chase Sapphire Reserve, Venture X — I’ve been taking a hard look at where I’m actually getting guaranteed value versus chasing lifestyle credits. That’s pushed me to lean more into hotel credit cards, and one that keeps standing out is the Hilton Surpass. This card doesn’t try to be everything. It just delivers consistent value if you stay at hotels even a few times a year. Here is my Video post https://youtu.be/K7D1wyk5kcA The Hilton Surpass Benefits I Actually Care About I’m not interested in cards that only look good on paper.…
-
Why I Upgraded to the Ritz-Carlton Credit Card
85K Free Night + $300 Airline Credit + FREE Priority Pass for All My Kids A Travel Points Move That Actually Makes Sense One of the most underrated upgrades in the points-and-miles world is moving from the Chase Marriott Bonvoy Boundless to the Ritz-Carlton Credit Card. This card isn’t available to new applicants — the only way to get it is by upgrading an existing Chase Marriott card. After sitting on the decision for a while, I finally pulled the trigger… and I’m glad I did. Here’s exactly why this upgrade made sense for my travel style, my family, and my long-term strategy. Here is the Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=inZbVvHPQFc 1. The…
-
Building Your Travel Card Strategy – From Starter to Advanced
Which Travel Credit Card Strategy Is Right for You? Ready to turn your everyday spending into unforgettable getaways? Whether you’re just starting to explore points-based travel or you’re deep into business class lounges and transfer partners, this guide lays out the best credit card setups—from $95 entry points to all-out luxury strategies. Starter Setups – $95/year (No Lounge Access, Strong Transfer Options) Perfect for travelers just getting into the points game who want flexible redemptions and high long-term value. 🔹 Option 1: Chase Trifecta Chase Sapphire Preferred ($95) + Freedom Flex + Freedom Unlimited ($0)Key Benefits: Best For: Hyatt lovers, domestic/international flights, everyday spendEstimated Value: High flexibility with strong long-term…
-
Planes, Points & Passports: The Story Behind 3 Million Miles
Milestone Reached: Over 3 Million Travel Points USED! We officially crossed the 3 MILLION travel points redeemed milestone! This isn’t just about free flights and hotel nights—it’s about using every tool in our travel hacking toolbox to unlock unforgettable experiences with family and friends. Here’s how some of our recent redemptions helped push us over the line: Staycations Spring Break 2025 – Naples, Ischia & Amalfi Coast Bella’s Spring Break 2025 Senior Trip 25-Year Anniversary Celebration booked for Sedona, Arizona Victoria 6 + 3 Significant Others: Tokyo Dec 2025 – Jan 2026 This is our biggest international family trip yet—with 9(3 of the significant others joining in on the fun)…
-
2025 Travel Plans on Points: What’s Next?
2025 is shaping up to be another exciting year of travel, and once again, we’re leveraging points and miles to maximize savings. Here’s a look at what’s booked so far and how we’re making the most of travel rewards! Orlando, Florida – Guys Weekend Getaway In early February, I took a guys’ trip to Orlando, scoring a great deal on flights by using Amex Platinum Airline Incidental Credits: Flight Savings Breakdown: Hotel Savings: Naples, Italy – Spring 2025 Adventure For a detailed breakdown, check out our dedicated post:Exploring Italy in Spring 2025 We booked Premium Economy tickets on Air France for 35K points each (Seattle to Naples). Due to flight…
-
2024 Travel on Points: A Year in Review
2024 was an incredible year of travel, and we maximized our points and miles to visit amazing destinations! From last-minute championship trips to family adventures across Europe, here’s a recap of where we went and how we leveraged our travel hacking strategies. Houston: A Last-Minute Championship Trip We couldn’t miss watching the Huskies in the National Championship, so we booked a spontaneous trip to Houston: Madrid & Lisbon: First European Adventure with the Victoria 6 Our first Europe trip with all six of us was a logistical challenge but well worth it! Madrid Lisbon New York in April: The Gateway to Europe Andrea and I repositioned our flights to JFK…
