Written by Jasmin @ Million Mile Secrets
A friend of mine and her family have been planning a bucket-list trip to Europe this summer for nearly 2 years. They’ve never traveled overseas before, so there was much excitement in anticipation of all the amazing new things they’d see and do. With the help of a travel agent, she came up with an …
Continue reading “Ruined: A Once-in-a-Lifetime Family Trip to Europe (and Plans to Fix It)”
Read MoreNew York City hotels are notoriously expensive and chock full of additional fees. But if you plan ahead, a trip to the Big Apple doesn’t have to break the bank! We’ve found 10 of the best hotels in New York where you can stay for free with points! Looking for the Best Hotels in New …
Continue reading “New York City: 10 Best Hotels That Are FREE With Points”
Read MoreWritten by Million Mile Secrets @ Million Mile Secrets
A common pain point I hear from folks is how much they hate searching for awards. But Hyatt, one of Chase’s hotel transfer partners, does NOT have any blackout dates! That means if a standard room is for sale, you can use your points to book an award stay! You can easily use the 50,000 …
Continue reading “You’re Too Smart to Pay $1,000 for Hotels Because You Got This Card Bonus”
Read MoreWritten by Million Mile Secrets Team @ Million Mile Secrets
We’re trying something new! Our award booker posts will answer a reader’s specific award booking question and show folks exactly how to find and book a similar trip. We can’t wait to answer your questions and get you Big Travel with your hard-earned miles & points! If you’d like us to consider your …
Written by Million Mile Secrets @ Million Mile Secrets
New Year’s Eve is right around the corner. And for folks looking to get away to celebrate, now is the time to book your hotel! The holiday season is the hardest time of year to book free hotel nights. But even then, you still have options if you plan ahead and know where to look. Whether you’re …
Continue reading “New Year’s Eve Planning Starts Now! Here’s How to Get a Free Hotel!”
Read MoreWritten by Jason Stauffer @ Million Mile Secrets
Lots of folks love visiting The Big Apple, because it’s got a little bit of something for everyone. And the holiday season is a great time to visit! New York is one of the most expensive cities in the world to visit. But you can stay free with points from one card offer! Great New …
Written by Million Mile Secrets @ Million Mile Secrets
We’re very optimistic about our Hyatt (and Chase!) points after our conversation with Mark Vondrasek, Hyatt’s new leader of their loyalty program. Earlier this week, I wrote how former Starwood executive, Mark Vondrasek, will now oversee the World of Hyatt loyalty program. With this new hire, I know lots of readers are eager to see if there …
Continue reading “5 Important Takeaways From Our Interview With Hyatt’s New Head of Loyalty”
Read MoreWritten by Million Mile Secrets @ Million Mile Secrets
A Million Mile Secrets reader recently wrote to tell me they saved ~50% off a paid hotel stay. They did so by booking online using a government employee rate. The terms & conditions for booking a government rate usually state you must be a a state or federal government employee or active military. And you have to provide a valid …
Continue reading “This Dubious Strategy Is NOT One I’d Use to Save on Hotel Stays. Would You?”
Read MoreWritten by Million Mile Secrets @ Million Mile Secrets
Million Mile Secrets reader Linda wants to redeem Chase Ultimate Rewards points for a Hyatt award stay near Disneyland in California. There are 3 Hyatt hotels in the area to choose from. And all offer shuttle service to “The Happiest Place on Earth!” She emailed: Do you think it would be a good idea to transfer Chase …
Continue reading “Save Money on a Hotel Stay Near Disneyland With Chase Points!”
Read MoreWritten by Million Mile Secrets @ Million Mile Secrets
A Million Mile Secrets reader, J., emailed: I’ve collected 100,000 miles and points with American Airlines, Delta, and Starwood. Plus, I have the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, so I earn Chase Ultimate Rewards points. Now what? Collecting miles & points is part of the equation. Redeeming them for Big Travel with Small Money is the …
Continue reading “Collected a Bunch of Miles & Points, Now What?”
Read MoreWritten by Million Mile Secrets @ Million Mile Secrets
The Ink Business Preferred℠ Credit Card currently has the highest sign-up bonus of any Chase Ultimate Rewards card. You can earn 80,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points after meeting minimum spending requirements. I’ve asked the Million Mile Secrets team how they’d use this fantastic bonus. Here’s team member Harlan! Harlan: I’d love to be able …
Continue reading “Harlan: “What I’d Do With the Ink Business Preferred 80,000 Point Bonus””
Read MoreWritten by Million Mile Secrets @ Million Mile Secrets
Redeeming Marriott points for a Hotel + Air package can be a great way to save money on a week-long vacation! And that’s why Million Mile Secrets reader, Ann, emailed: I have enough Marriott points to book a Hotel + Air package. But I’m wondering which airline miles I should get. We want to travel …
Continue reading “Which Airline Partner to Select When Booking a Marriott Hotel + Air Package?”
Read MoreWritten by Million Mile Secrets @ Million Mile Secrets
I recently shared 6 reasons why Hyatt is my favorite Chase hotel transfer partner. Booking award nights at Hyatt hotels can get you incredible value when using your Chase Ultimate Rewards points. And Emily and I have had wonderful experiences at many of their hotels, including the Hyatt Regency Maui and Park Hyatt Paris-Vendome. The best part is it’s …
Continue reading “Book Free Stays at Hyatt Hotels by Transferring Chase Points in 4 Easy Steps!”
Read MoreWritten by Million Mile Secrets @ Million Mile Secrets
Million Mile Secrets reader, Michael, commented: Unless you plan to stay at a Starwood or Marriott hotel, I don’t think the Starwood Preferred Guest® Credit Card from American Express is that valuable. Yes, you earn flexible Starwood points. But there are other flexible bank point cards, which have bigger sign-up bonuses, like the Chase Sapphire Reserve. What am I …
Continue reading “Choose the Sign-Up Bonus That’s Right for You!”
Read MoreWritten by Million Mile Secrets @ Million Mile Secrets
I asked Million Mile Secrets team members to share which credit cards are in their wallet. And to let us know if they plan to make any changes. We don’t reimburse writers for their credit card fees, so folks don’t have an incentive to pay unneccesary credit card fees. Here’s team member Keith! Keith: …
Continue reading “Keeping 12 Cards, Downgrading 1, Canceling 3: Keith’s Plan”
Read MoreWritten by Million Mile Secrets @ Million Mile Secrets
Million Mile Secrets reader, Senthil, commented: I travel quite a bit for work, but usually don’t get much of a say in the hotel. It’s typically Hilton or Marriott, but it depends on the work conference. Between the Marriott Rewards® Premier Credit Card, Hilton Honors™ Surpass® Card from American Express, and Starwood Preferred Guest® Credit Card from American …
Continue reading “What’s the Best Card for Business Travelers Who Book Paid Hotel Stays?”
Read MoreWritten by Million Mile Secrets @ Million Mile Secrets
If you’re planning a trip to Los Cabos, Mexico, you can book free stays at fantastic hotels using points! There are highly rated options at chains like Hiton, Hyatt, IHG, and Starwood! But before selecting a hotel, consider which part of Los Cabos (or “Cabo”) you’d like to stay. There’s San Jose del Cabo, which …
Continue reading “5 Fantastic Hotels in Los Cabos Where You Can Stay Free Using Points”
Read MoreWritten by Million Mile Secrets @ Million Mile Secrets
Need to top off your Hyatt account? Here’s good news! Via One Mile at a Time, you can buy Hyatt points with up to a 40% bonus through August 9, 2017! This offer is NOT targeted, so if you have a specific award stay in mind, this could be a good deal! I’ll give you the details of …
Continue reading “Extra Cheap! Buy Hotel Points With a 40% Bonus”
Read MoreWritten by Million Mile Secrets @ Million Mile Secrets
Planning a trip can seem overwhelming, especially when you’re new to the world of miles & points. So I’ve created a step-by-step guide to show you how to plan your hotel stay with points! Let’s take a look at the best ways to find a hotel and how to find the credit card that’s best for …
Continue reading “How to Plan Your Next Great Hotel Stay With Points”
Read MoreWritten by Million Mile Secrets @ Million Mile Secrets
Million Mile Secrets reader, Traveller Tom, commented: Is it better to use 90,000 Marriott points for a 2-night stay at The Cove Atlantis, Autograph Collection or book the stay through the Chase travel portal for ~56,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points? On the surface, using the least amount of points sounds like the best idea. But Chase Ultimate …
Continue reading “Why Using the Fewest Number of Points for a Hotel Stay Is NOT Always Worth It!”
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