The Beginner’s Guide to Award Card Approval
Frugal Travel Guy
by Mark Spivak
4y ago
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 you’re getting started with the points and miles hobby: Pay Off Your Credit Card Balances Every Month This is the cardinal rule—if you can’t do it, you shouldn’t be collecting points and miles. Most credit card issuers charge interest north of 20%, and those interest char ..read more
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Is Premium Economy the New Business Class?
Frugal Travel Guy
by Mark Spivak
4y ago
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 Class quickly became differentiated from Economy (or Coach, as it was called back then). Flying became more segregated in the late 1970s and early 1980s when Business Class was born. Very few carriers still have a dedicated First Class Cabin for long-haul international ..read more
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Is Priority Pass Worth It?
Frugal Travel Guy
by Mark Spivak
4y ago
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 majority of the locations have dedicated workspaces with free Wi-Fi, power sockets to recharge your devices, quiet zones and complimentary snacks and beverages; some include showers, spas and conference rooms. Your travel patterns will dictate whether Priority Pass is a good value ..read more
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The Easiest Ways to Meet Credit Card Spending for Bonuses
Frugal Travel Guy
by Mark Spivak
4y ago
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 threshold for a high-end rewards card. However, it’s easy to accomplish once you know the tricks and shortcuts. Let’s start with the basics. Make Sure You’re Eligible for the Bonus If you’ve had the card before and already received the bonus, you may have to wait 24 (or 48) month ..read more
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How to Pick a Honeymoon Destination
Frugal Travel Guy
by Adam Luehrs
4y ago
Is going to a honeymoon destination on your mind? You may be thinking of enjoying a romantic getaway if you’ve just set a date for your wedding. After all, love birds do need to fly! That doesn’t erase the fact that the thought of planning a honeymoon can seem a little intimidating for some couples as they try to keep wedding costs under control. Others simply want to splurge on what could be the most amazing trip of a person’s lifetime. Where do you fit on the honeymoon scale? Let’s consider some things that may help you to decide on the right honeymoon destination. Start With a Budget It’s r ..read more
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Avianca LifeMiles: An Underrated Frequent Flyer Program
Frugal Travel Guy
by Mark Spivak
4y ago
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 that transferable points are far more valuable and flexible than miles in a fixed frequent flyer program. The final stage is when all of these factors come together: If you have a stash of transferable points, you can shift them into a prog ..read more
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The Best Travel Cards for 2020
Frugal Travel Guy
by Mark Spivak
4y ago
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 goals, here are the best cards to help you achieve them. Bear in mind that signup offers fluctuate, so you’re better off focusing on the card’s ongoing earning power. Best Card for Transferable Points Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Visa From Chase: Transferable points are usually t ..read more
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How You Can Avoid Getting Sick on a Plane
Frugal Travel Guy
by Adam Luehrs
4y ago
The inside of an airplane cabin can be a scary environment during flu season. You need to know that you’re not being paranoid if you’re afraid of becoming ill after taking a flight. Unfortunately, it can be very easy to spread sickness in such a small and enclosed environment. What are your chances of getting sick on an airplane? More than one in five passengers will become ill following a trip. Surfaces like seat pockets, safety belts, armrests, magazines and toilets are teeming with germs. What’s more, many of those germs can survive for hours or days after a passenger exits a plane. Studies ..read more
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The Best Credit Cards for Restaurants
Frugal Travel Guy
by Mark Spivak
4y ago
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 one of the cardinal rules: All points are not created equal. Example: American Express Membership Rewards points and Chase Ultimate Rewards points are the most valuable at nearly two cents apiece. The Amex Gold card gives four points per dollar on tr ..read more
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How to Plan for a Cruise Without Breaking the Bank
Frugal Travel Guy
by Adam Luehrs
4y ago
Is a cruise just what you need to get through the doldrums of winter? You may be too afraid to even dream about taking a cruise because you assume that cruising is synonymous with spending. The truth is that cruise fares can be high. Cruise operators know that people will pay premiums to sail to paradise. However, your dollars don’t necessarily have to get lost at sea when you design a cruise budget. Let’s take a look at simple ways to cruise frugally! Book a Last-Minute Trip This tip may not be for you if you’re dealing with a very tight work schedule. However, the reality is that booking a l ..read more
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