When Europe began opening up to U.S. travelers earlier this spring and summer, I started thinking about a trip for my birthday in August.

Similar to Disney’s “Big Hero 6” film, Turkish Miles&Smiles is easily one of the most underrated loyalty programs out there.

In years past, hotel or airline elite status was something unattainable for me. It was also something I didn’t particularly desire. For someone who prefers to stay at a cheap hostel rather than a five-star hotel, it just wasn’t a priority.

However, everything changed in 2020 when the thought of staying in a multi-person dorm while traveling made me want to sanitize every door knob I’d touched that day.

In 2020, I earned Marriott Platinum Elite status without much effort, and in 2021, I became Marriott Titanium Elite (to my own surprise).

Large families looking to vacation together, rejoice. About 60 timeshare and vacation rental resorts that belong to the Hyatt Residence Club Resorts, formerly known as the Hyatt Vacation Club, can now be booked using World of Hyatt points.

Although World of Hyatt elite members don’t receive full benefits and services at these properties, they make up for it by featuring condo-style accommodations with multiple bedrooms, full kitchens and ample living space allowing you feel like home while you’re on vacation with your family.

So far, timeshares of various hotel categories in 12 U.S.

Citi ThankYou® Rewards credit cards don’t get as much coverage as American Express and Chase cards, and there’s absolutely no justification for such poor treatment. In fact, Citi offers enough products to be a strong competitor with both Chase and Amex.

Citi’s unique transfer partners, such as Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles and Qatar Privilege Club, are why it’s worth taking a look at Citi ThankYou Rewards.

I bet you 100 dirhams you’ve heard of Emirates, the flag carrier of the United Arab Emirates. I bet you 1,000 dirhams you haven’t heard much about Emirates Skywards, the Dubai-based carrier’s frequent-flyer program.

Ironically, Emirates continues to deliver the highest levels of service and therefore earns the highest levels of praise.

The American Express® Gold Card is a rather compelling choice for foodies looking to maximize the return on spending. The card earns a rewards multiplier on purchases at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets, and the perks include dining credits at select restaurants and Uber cash credits for Uber Eats orders.

When making purchases with the Amex Gold Card, you’ll earn rewards at the following rates:

4X Membership Rewards points per dollar spent at restaurants (including take-out and delivery)4X Membership Rewards points per dollar spent at U.S.

During the coronavirus pandemic, banks that issue travel rewards credit cards had to pivot and added bonus earnings in various spending categories, such as streaming services, groceries and home improvement stores, to make their products more compelling when travel was put on hold.

Since then, card issuers also have added more ways to redeem rewards and travel credits. One of the most noteworthy redemption options is Chase’s answer to Capital One’s Purchase Eraser—Pay Yourself Back.

You might have noticed that the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card or the Chase Sapphire Reserve get recommended a lot in the points and miles community. There’s a good reason for that.

Rewards earned with these cards can be transferred to a number of airline and hotel loyalty programs, making it possible to book all kinds of travel for free (or almost free).

If you’re a Delta Air Lines flyer, you might think the cards offer little value to you because Chase doesn’t partner with Delta SkyMiles. However, don’t dismiss the Sapphire-branded cards so quickly.

The American Express® Gold Card, with its high reward rate in certain spending categories, is one of the best rewards cards to hold for dining and travel lovers.

The card’s elevated welcome bonus is enough to book a flight in business class on multiple airlines.