PointBreaks Released: Hotels You Can Book This Summer for $30 a Night

The brand new PointBreaks list allows us to book hotel rooms beginning today, for stays through July 31st, 2018 for as little as $30 per night.
InterContinental Mendoza (Argentina wine country): on a previous list

This post will tell you how to book any hotel on the list of IHG Reward Club’s PointBreaks hotels for $30 to $90 per night, even the ones that ordinarily cost a lot more.

What’s my strategy to make the most of PointBreaks?
What are the top properties on the newest PointBreaks list?

IHG Rewards Club Pointbreaks
IHG Rewards Club is the loyalty program for

What August 2018 Holds For Marriott/SPG: Part II

On Friday, I covered some of the changes that Marriott recently announced concerning the merger of Marriott, SPG, and Ritz Carlton's loyalty programs. I am only discussing Marriott and SPG since those are much more commonly used than Ritz points.

In August, the loyalty programs become one, using just one point currency, award chart, elite qualifying system, etc. They will keep their separate names until 2019 when the loyalty program will be given just one (yet to be announced) name.

What August 2018 Holds For Marriott/SPG: Part I

Marriott recently announced a lot of big changes for the future of their combined loyalty programs. Starwood Preferred Guest, Marriott, and Ritz-Carlton will merge into one program in August 2018.

Marriott bought SPG many months ago, creating not only the largest hotel portfolio in the world but also the fastest growing. August of this year marks the day the loyalty programs become one (i.e. using one point currency, award chart, elite qualifying system, etc).

Ink Business Preferred: 3x on Plastiq

For the moment at least, payments made via online payment processor Plastiq with Chase Ink Business Preferred Cards are coding under the 3x category bonus.

The 3x category bonus on the Ink Business Preferred is supposed to be for travel and shipping purchases, internet, cable and phone services, and on advertising purchases made with social media sites and search engines.

Trip Report: Buzios, Brazil

I recently spent two weeks in Buzios, Brazil. Only a 3ish hour drive from Rio de Janeiro, Buzios is an easy and enjoyable side trip if you're planning a vacation in Rio.

Buzios is a resort town nestled into a hilly peninsula with over 20 beaches. The water is a beautiful shade of dark turquoise and green, and the beaches are sandy and often lined with jungle covered hills. It's a popular spot for Brazilian and Argentine tourists, so if you don't want to share the beaches with lots of people, avoid the end of December through February.

Easy Extra 2 Membership Rewards Per Dollar Spent (Up to 5k)

Until May 17, 2018, using your Membership Reward earning Amex card to pay for specific online purchases through Amex Express Checkout will you earn 2 bonus Membership Rewards per dollar spent (on top of whatever category bonus your card may also earn for the card, or on top of the at least one point you'd earn for non-bonused spend).

New Sign Up Bonus Rules for Personal Southwest Cards

Chase has come out with new sign up bonus eligibility rules that make earning a  Southwest Companion Pass more complicated.

As of April 5, if you already have a personal Southwest credit card open (the Personal Plus or the Premier Plus), you are no longer eligible for the other personal Southwest credit card.

Surprise! Delta Lowers Award Price to North Asia

In an interesting departure from Delta SkyMiles' typical behavior, the price of Delta

Devaluation of IHG Card Annual Free Night Benefit

Update: Chase is now responding to people complaining on Twitter that IHG credit card accounts opened from January 1, 2018 through April 5, 2018 (that's tomorrow) will be able to use their Free Night Certificate once with the old terms (meaning at ANY IHG property, not capped at a 40k point property).

Life as a Flight Attendant

I have a friend from childhood who works as a flight attendant for a major legacy carrier based in the United States. We have recently exchanged emails catching up a bit and I took the opportunity to ask some questions about her career. As frequent flyers, I'm sure you guys will find her answers interesting!

Emma Dare has been working as a flight attendant since 2014. All the photos in this post are from her travels.

Sarah Page: Hey Emma Dare! Thank you for taking some time to answer my questions.