Written by Mark Spivak @ Frugal Travel Guy
The world of points and miles can be endlessly rewarding, with options such as free flights, upgrades to premium cabins, complimentary hotel rooms and discounts on gift cards and merchandise. It can also seem bewildering, if you’re a neophyte looking in from the outside. Here are some of the most important things to know when […]
Author: Mark Spivak
Is Premium Economy the New Business Class?
Written by Mark Spivak @ Frugal Travel Guy
Once upon a time, all airline seats were identical. Prior to the 1950s, carriers offered the same cabin experience to all passengers, but with a twist: if you wanted better treatment you took a non-stop flight and paid more, while connecting flights were cheaper. Pan Am introduced the first two-cabin aircraft in 1955, and First […]
Is Priority Pass Worth It?
Written by Mark Spivak @ Frugal Travel Guy
A visit to an airport lounge can be a magical interlude during a day of stressful traveling. Getting into the lounge, however, can be a complicated affair. For many travelers, Priority Pass has been the solution. Founded in 1992, the company is a collection of over 1,200 lounges in 600 airports in 148 countries. The […]
The Easiest Ways to Meet Credit Card Spending for Bonuses
Written by Mark Spivak @ Frugal Travel Guy
The easiest way to quickly accumulate a stash of points or miles is through a credit card signup bonus. Meeting the minimum spending, though, can sometimes seem daunting. In most cases you have three months to do it, and spending requirements tend to go up as cards become more upscale—$4,000 or $5,000 isn’t an unusual […]
Avianca LifeMiles: An Underrated Frequent Flyer Program
Written by Mark Spivak @ Frugal Travel Guy
In the world of points and miles, hobbyists gradually become aware of the possibilities for award travel. When you’re getting started accumulating miles, you tend to look for award flights on your designated airline only. At some point, you realize that your airline’s partners open up a new universe of destinations. Eventually, seasoned travelers understand […]
The Best Travel Cards for 2020
Written by Mark Spivak @ Frugal Travel Guy
As 2020 unfolds, this is the perfect time to take stock of travel goals and develop a strategy for the coming year. Your personal plan will depend on what’s important to you: is it airline miles, hotel points, ease and comfort while traveling, or the opportunity to indulge in special travel experiences? Depending on your […]
The Best Credit Cards for Restaurants
Written by Mark Spivak @ Frugal Travel Guy
Until recently, there were limited options for earning credit card rewards while dining out. In the past few years, however, many premium rewards cards have made restaurant spending just as rewarding as travel—a recognition of the fact that the two categories frequently go together. In selecting a credit card that earns points for dining, remember […]
Hyatt Moves to Peak/Off Peak Pricing for Redemptions
Written by Mark Spivak @ Frugal Travel Guy
Hyatt has long been known for offering the best value on point redemptions of any of the major hotel chains. Beginning in March, they are implementing peak and off-peak pricing for free night awards. While the changes aren’t drastic, all Hyatt loyalists need to be aware of them. The Hyatt award chart will still offer […]
This Icelandic Budget Carrier Rebranded…Again
Written by Mark Spivak @ Frugal Travel Guy
In the early years of the Iceland tourist boom, air traffic was dominated by Icelandair, the national flag carrier. WOW Air was founded in 2011 as a low-cost carrier flying passengers to and from Europe, Asia and the United States. WOW experienced explosive growth, going from 400,000 passengers in 2013 to 1.6 million three years […]
The Cards That Earn AMEX Membership Rewards Points
Written by Mark Spivak @ Frugal Travel Guy
American Express Membership Rewards points are some of the most valuable currencies in the world of travel rewards. Depending on how you choose to redeem them, they can be worth as little as 0.6-0.7 cents per point to as much as two cents per point. They’re also among the most flexible since they transfer to […]
The Best Debit Card Rewards Programs
Written by Mark Spivak @ Frugal Travel Guy
The process of collecting points and miles can be intoxicating at times. We all know the adrenaline rush associated with snagging a large credit card signup bonus, redeeming miles for a free flight or exchanging hotel points for a vacation. It can be so intoxicating, in fact, that we sometimes ignore the cost of accumulating […]
The Truth About Travel Insurance
Written by Mark Spivak @ Frugal Travel Guy
The biggest assumption about travel insurance is true: you don’t need it until you need it. Whether or not you’re a believer in Murphy’s Law, one glance at the current state of travel should be enough to convince you to look for insurance. Flight delays and cancellations are rampant these days (American is reportedly canceling an […]
Chase Sapphire Preferred vs. Sapphire Reserve
Written by Mark Spivak @ Frugal Travel Guy
When the Chase Sapphire Reserve was unveiled in 2016, it electrified the credit card universe. It was perceived as Chase’s answer to the American Express Platinum Card, and it became the card that everyone wanted in their wallet. It introduced a new generation to the concept of travel and dining rewards, and it also set […]
Are Cruise Discounts a Myth?
Written by Mark Spivak @ Frugal Travel Guy
There are dozens (if not hundreds) of websites that promise to deliver the lowest possible price for a cruise. However, if you zero in on a specific sailing and check all the top websites, you’re likely to discover that the fares are virtually identical. If you doubt it, do a search on a site such […]
How to Buy A Cheap Round the World Ticket
Written by Mark Spivak @ Frugal Travel Guy
Phileas Fogg did it in 80 days, but YOU could accomplish it anywhere from 10 days to nearly a full year. The around-the-world ticket, or RTW, is one of the most exotic products in air travel. Many people dream about it, but daily life can get in the way. The truth is that RTW tickets can be cheaper […]
The Best Budget Cruises to Book in Europe
Written by Mark Spivak @ Frugal Travel Guy
We’ve all heard of Carnival Cruise Lines, but how many Americans are familiar with P&O, Cruise & Maritime Voyages or Pullmantur? There are European-based cruise lines that offer a quality experience for a price that sometimes amounts to a fraction of their U.S. counterparts. While they may sail mostly from European or U.K. ports, some […]
Changes to the Chase Sapphire Reserve
Written by Mark Spivak @ Frugal Travel Guy
The long-circulating rumors are finally confirmed: The annual fee for the Chase Sapphire Reserve is increasing from $450 to $550, and Chase is adding some new benefits to the card to compensate for the fee hike. The increase was effective for new cardholders on January 12. Existing cardholders will renew at the old $450 rate […]
The New and Improved Hyatt Visa From Chase
Written by Mark Spivak @ Frugal Travel Guy
Co-branded credit cards succeed for consumers if they accomplish their primary objective: the ability to earn points or miles in a specific hotel or airline program. Every so often, though, a card comes along that offers much more. The World of Hyatt credit card from Chase is one of those. It’s the successor to the […]
How to Avoid Paying Hotel and Resort Fees
Written by Mark Spivak @ Frugal Travel Guy
It may not be the most annoying thing in the world, but it’s pretty close: after booking an overpriced room at a hotel or resort, you discover that a resort fee is being added to the already exorbitant room rate. Usually, those fees cover things that should be included in the first place: Wi-Fi, a […]
The Joys of Off-Peak Travel
Written by Mark Spivak @ Frugal Travel Guy
Anyone who has traveled to Europe in the off-season usually raves about the experience: the museums and other tourist sites have no lines, you can get a table in a restaurant, and you even stand a chance of interacting with a local now and then. For many travelers, those benefits easily outweigh the possibility of […]