THE BLOG
Points and miles, in plain English.
Real trips, real redemptions, and the beginner basics I wish someone had explained to me. New posts as I travel.
Credit cards
Amex and Chase Pop-Up Jail: What It Is and How to Avoid It
Why Amex and Chase sometimes say you're not eligible for a welcome bonus, what triggers the pop-up, how to get out of Amex pop-up jail, and how to avoid it.
Getting started
What Are Credit Card Points Worth? A Beginner's Guide
How much your credit card points, airline miles and hotel points are really worth, how to figure out cents per point, and the redemptions that waste the most value.
Flights
How I Flew Virgin Atlantic Upper Class to London on Points
How I booked Virgin Atlantic Upper Class from Tampa to London for about 45,000 points each using credit card points and a 40% transfer bonus, step by step.
Hotels
How I Booked 5-Star Hotels With Chase Points (Tuscany, Rome and Florida)
How I used Chase points for a 5-star resort in Chianti, Palazzo Manfredi in Rome through Hyatt, and The St. Regis Longboat Key, plus when to use Chase Travel and when to transfer.
Keep it all in one place
The Beginner Points and Miles Tracker: your cards, points, perks, 5/24 count and trip goals in one plain-English spreadsheet. Excel and Google Sheets.