Capital One Venture X vs. American Express Gold

The advent of the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card has people reevaluating their wallet space for premium credit cards. The American Express® Gold Card (see rates & fees) with its high earning potential in various categories has been a consistent keeper in many people’s wallets.

It’s easy to get excited about the new kid on the block and throw out the well-worn card in your wallet.

Capital One Venture vs Capital One Venture X

Capital One is attacking the travel reward space aggressively.

Best Ways to Book American Airlines Flights with Ultimate Rewards

So what happens when you need to book a flight on American Airlines but you don’t have any AAdvantage miles? Does that mean that you are out of options? Fortunately, this is another example of transferable credit card points saving the day.

Let’s look at how you can use Ultimate Rewards points to book American Airlines flights. 

When you have a good stash of Ultimate Rewards points, you can get anywhere in the world.

How to Pay Taxes With a Credit Card

Nobody enjoys tax season, but it’s one of those necessary annual pop-ups that we all go through together. While tax season blossoms in tandem with daffodils and tulips, we typically garner far less gratification from doing our taxes than we do from collecting a colorful bunch of flowers. 

Nevertheless, there is a sunny side to tax season. If done correctly, you may stand to earn a fair bit of points and miles by using a credit card to pay your taxes.

Upcoming Hyatt Category Changes

Hyatt recently announced that more than 100 hotels will be changing categories on March 22, 2022. Unfortunately, it’s generally bad news, but there are a few bright spots, mostly for the European travelers. Nearly 150 hotels will change categories, with 70 properties shifting to a higher category, including some of our readers’ favorites. Sixty-nine properties are moving up one category, and one property is going up two categories.

A few Category 4 hotels where you currently can use the Category 1-4 free night certificates will be moving up a category.

Trip Report: Puglia (Apulia) Italy Part I

At the conclusion of June I rented a car and drove south down the Adriatic coast of Italy. In English, the region I explored is called Apulia, also known as Puglia.

I started traveling around Europe in late May and had plans through mid June that took me from Spain, to Portugal, Ireland, and then finally Rome. I asked your advice for a two week hole in my agenda after Rome and before Norway, and those of you that mentioned Italy recommended the Amalfi coast and/or Cinque Terre.

$480+ Roundtrips to Southeast Asia from Many US Cities

I tweeted this deal first from @MileValueAlerts. Follow @MileValueAlerts on Twitter and follow these directions to get a text message every time I tweet from that account. I tweet from @MileValueAlerts only a few times a month because it is designed to be used only for the best and most limited-time deals–like mistake fares–so that you aren’t bombarded by text messages.

A variety of airlines like ANA, Air China, China Eastern, United, and Asiana are offering roundtrip economy flights starting at $480 from various cities across the United States to Southeast Asia.

$502+ Roundtrip from NYC/Chicago to the Middle East

I tweeted this deal first from @MileValueAlerts. Follow @MileValueAlerts on Twitter and follow these directions to get a text message every time I tweet from that account. I tweet from @MileValueAlerts only a few times a month because it is designed to be used only for the best and most limited-time deals–like mistake fares–so that you aren’t bombarded by text messages.

Royal Jordanian is offering cheap economy flights from New York City and Chicago to the Middle East, starting as slow as $502 roundtrip. Most flights have one connection.

Anatomy of an Award: Buenos Aires to São Paulo for 9k Points

A few months ago I booked Iberia Business Class from São Paulo to Madrid with 42,500 Avios because of the great mileage price tag and the lack of fuel surcharges departing from Brazil where fuel surcharges are illegal. This left a hole in my itinerary between Buenos Aires and São Paulo.

Here’s an index to give my whole travel experience from Argentina to Spain some cohesion.

$408+ One Way Business Class Fares from Europe to East Coast

I tweeted this deal first from @MileValueAlerts. Follow @MileValueAlerts on Twitter and follow these directions to get a text message every time I tweet from that account.