How I Flew First Class to Japan for $56 Using a Credit Card

How I Flew First Class to Japan for $56 Using a Credit Card

My Most Luxurious Trip Was Paid for by My Daily Coffee

I signed up for a travel credit card with a huge sign-up bonus: 100,000 points after spending $4,000 in three months. I put all my regular, planned expenses on the card—rent, groceries, gas—and hit the bonus easily. I then learned how to transfer those points to an airline partner. I found a first-class ticket to Tokyo that normally costs $12,000 but was available for 90,000 points. I transferred my points, booked the flight, and only had to pay $56 in taxes and fees. I was sipping champagne in a lie-flat bed, all thanks to my responsible, everyday spending.

My Debit Card Was Cloned in Bali. The 7 Days of Hell That Followed

My Cash Was Gone, and So Was My Bargaining Power

At a small shop in Bali, my debit card was cloned by a skimmer. The next morning, I woke up to find my checking account completely drained—over $2,000 was gone. The money wasn’t just “on hold”; it was gone. I spent the next week of my vacation on stressful, expensive international calls with my bank, which could only promise to “investigate.” I had to borrow money from a friend to even eat. It was a week of absolute hell. A credit card fraud would have been a 10-minute phone call to fix the bank’s problem.

Why Using a Debit Card Abroad is the #1 Tourist Mistake

A Direct Link to Your Life Savings in a Foreign Land

Using your debit card abroad is like walking around with your bank account password tattooed on your forehead. If your card is compromised at a sketchy ATM or a tourist-trap restaurant, thieves have a direct pipeline to your actual cash. The fraud protection is weaker, and getting your money back while you’re in a different time zone is a nightmare. A credit card, on the other hand, uses the bank’s money. It’s a firewall between the criminals and your life savings, which is the most important piece of security you can have when you’re far from home.

The “No Foreign Transaction Fee” Clause: The Phrase That Saves You Hundreds

The 3% “Tourist Tax” I Refuse to Pay

On my first trip to Europe, I used my regular debit card for everything. I didn’t realize that my bank was charging me a 3% “foreign transaction fee” on every single purchase. Every coffee, every souvenir, every train ticket got an extra 3% tax. Over my two-week, $3,000 trip, I paid an extra $90 to my bank for absolutely no reason. Now, I exclusively use a credit card with no foreign transaction fees. It’s a simple feature that saves me a significant amount of money on every single international trip.

I Rented a Car with a Debit Card. They Put a $1,500 Hold on My Account

My Money Was Held Hostage by a Minivan

I tried to rent a car in Miami with my debit card because I didn’t have a credit card yet. The rental company agreed, but with a catch. They put a $1,500 “security hold” on my card. This wasn’t a charge, but it meant that $1,500 of my actual cash in my checking account was frozen and inaccessible. I couldn’t use that money for my hotel, food, or anything else for the entire week. It was my money, but they held it hostage. A credit card hold just goes against your credit limit, leaving your cash free.

The Ultimate Travel Wallet: The 3 Credit Cards That Cover Everything

My Trio of Plastic for Global Domination

After years of travel hacking, I’ve perfected my wallet. I carry three cards. First, a premium travel card like the Chase Sapphire Reserve. I use it for flights and dining to earn maximum points, and it provides my travel insurance and lounge access. Second, a no-annual-fee “catch-all” card that earns 2% cashback on everything else. Third, a dedicated hotel co-branded credit card, which gives me automatic elite status and a free night award each year. This simple trio ensures I’m maximizing rewards and perks on every single dollar I spend, at home or abroad.

How My Credit Card’s Travel Insurance Saved Me $5,000 in a Medical Emergency

The Most Important Perk I Never Knew I Had

I was hiking in Peru when I got a severe case of altitude sickness and had to be rushed to a local medical clinic. The bill for the treatment and oxygen was over $5,000, and they wanted payment upfront. I panicked. Then I remembered I had paid for my flight with my travel credit card. I called the benefits administrator, and they confirmed I had emergency medical coverage. They coordinated with the clinic directly. That single, often-overlooked credit card perk saved me from a catastrophic financial disaster. It’s a benefit you hope to never use, but it’s priceless when you do.

Stop Paying for Lounge Access. This Credit Card Perk Gives it to You for Free

My Pre-Flight Sanctuary Is a Credit Card Benefit

I used to watch people disappear into the serene airport lounges and assume they were all super-rich frequent flyers. I’d pay $15 for a sad airport sandwich and sit at a crowded gate. Then I got a travel credit card that came with a Priority Pass membership. Now, I have access to over 1,300 lounges worldwide. I walk in, show my card, and get free food, drinks, comfortable seating, and clean bathrooms. The annual fee on my card is less than what a few single-entry lounge passes would cost.

We analyzed 15 travel cards. This one has the most valuable points for beginners

The Best On-Ramp for Free Travel

For a beginner starting with travel rewards, the Chase Sapphire Preferred card is almost always the best starting point. Why? The points are incredibly flexible. You can easily redeem them for cash back if you need to. You can use them in the Chase travel portal where they are worth 25% more. Most importantly, you can transfer them to valuable airline and hotel partners like United and Hyatt. This flexibility gives you the best of all worlds and is the perfect way to learn the travel rewards game without being locked into a single airline.

The “Dynamic Currency Conversion” Scam: How Airport ATMs Steal Your Money

The Button That Says “Yes, Please Rip Me Off”

At an ATM in London, a screen popped up after I entered my PIN. It asked if I wanted to be charged in U.S. dollars or in British pounds. Being charged in dollars felt safer, so I chose that. This was a huge mistake. It’s a scam called Dynamic Currency Conversion. By choosing to be charged in your home currency, you’re allowing the ATM operator to set their own, terrible exchange rate, often 5-7% worse than the real rate. Always, always choose to be charged in the local currency. Let your own bank handle the conversion.

I told my bank I was traveling. They still froze my debit card

My “Travel Notice” Was Completely Ignored

Before a trip to Mexico, I did everything right. I called my bank, told them my exact travel dates, and put a travel notice on my debit card. The first time I tried to use it at a restaurant, it was declined. I called the bank’s fraud department from the restaurant. They said the transaction looked “suspicious” and they had frozen my account for my own protection. It was infuriating. This rarely happens with major credit cards, which are designed for travel and use better fraud detection algorithms that don’t automatically flag foreign transactions as suspicious.

How to Turn Your Grocery Shopping into a Free Hotel Stay in Paris

Earning Points on the Mundane

I got a hotel co-branded credit card that offered extra points on grocery store purchases. For a year, I used that card for all my weekly grocery runs. It didn’t change my spending habits at all. But those mundane purchases of milk, eggs, and bread were quietly accumulating a mountain of hotel points. After a year, I had enough points to book a five-night stay at a beautiful Hyatt hotel in central Paris. My trip of a lifetime was paid for, in part, by a year’s worth of cereal and bananas.

The Hidden Perks of Your Credit Card: Free Museum Entry, Concierge Service, and More

Your Card Is More Than Just a Payment Tool

I was planning a trip to New York and complaining about the cost of museum tickets. My friend told me to check my credit card benefits. I dug into the guide and was shocked. My card offered free entry to a dozen museums on the first weekend of the month. It also had a concierge service that could help book hard-to-get dinner reservations. Most people only think about points and cashback, but premium cards are loaded with hidden perks that can save you real money and provide incredible convenience if you just take the time to look.

Debit Card vs. Credit Card: Which is Safer at a Sketchy Foreign Market?

A Firewall for Your Finances

You’re at a bustling street market in Marrakesh and want to buy a rug. The vendor’s card machine looks a bit old and sketchy. What do you use? Always, without question, use a credit card. If that machine is a skimmer, the thief gets access to the bank’s money. You can dispute the charge, and you’re not liable. If you use your debit card, that thief now has a direct link to your personal checking account. They can drain your actual cash. A credit card is a financial firewall that is essential in unfamiliar situations.

I lost my wallet in Rome. The story of which card company saved me

One Phone Call Made All the Difference

I was pickpocketed in Rome and lost everything—cash, debit card, credit cards. I was in a full-blown panic. I called my debit card’s bank first. They said they could mail me a new card, which would take 7-10 business days. Useless. Then I called American Express. The agent was incredibly calm. He said, “Don’t worry, sir. We will have a new card couriered to your hotel. It will be there tomorrow morning.” They completely saved my trip. The superior customer service and global support of a good travel card company is priceless.

The best credit cards for earning points on Airbnbs and VRBOs

Your Vacation Rental Can Pay for Your Flight

Many travel cards don’t count services like Airbnb or VRBO as “travel,” so you only earn 1 point per dollar. But there are a few standouts. The Chase Sapphire Preferred card is great because it has a broad definition of travel that often includes these rentals. The Capital One Venture card is even simpler, as it gives you a flat 2 miles per dollar on every purchase, so you don’t have to worry about categories. Using the right card for your vacation rental booking can mean earning thousands of extra points that can pay for your next trip.

How a Sign-Up Bonus on a New Credit Card Paid for My Entire Vacation

The Easiest $750 I Ever Made

I was planning a trip to the national parks out west. I saw that a new travel credit card was offering a 60,000-point sign-up bonus after spending $3,000. I knew I had a few big, planned expenses coming up, so I got the card. I put my car insurance payment and some home repairs on it. Once I hit the spending threshold, the 60,000 points posted to my account. I redeemed them through the card’s travel portal for a statement credit of $750. That bonus paid for my entire trip’s flights and hotels.

“Trip Cancellation Insurance”: The credit card perk you pray you never need (but will thank God you have)

The Sickness That Didn’t Ruin Me Financially

Two days before a non-refundable, $3,000 trip to Costa Rica, I came down with a severe case of pneumonia. I was devastated. Not only was my vacation ruined, but I was about to lose all that money. Then I remembered I had paid for the trip with my travel credit card. I called the benefits line, submitted my doctor’s note and the trip invoices, and filed a trip cancellation claim. A few weeks later, they approved it and I received a check for the full amount. It turned a potential financial disaster into just a disappointment.

How to Avoid Your Points Expiring: The Traveler’s Worst Nightmare

My Hard-Earned Miles Disappeared

I had been saving up airline miles with a specific airline for years, planning a big trip. I got busy with work and didn’t check my account for a while. When I finally logged in to book my trip, my balance was zero. My miles had expired due to 18 months of inactivity. It was heartbreaking. I learned a valuable lesson. Flexible points from credit card programs, like Chase Ultimate Rewards or Amex Membership Rewards, don’t expire as long as you have the card open. It’s much safer to keep your points with the bank until you’re ready to book.

Is it better to book flights with points or cash? A data-driven answer

The Cents-Per-Point Calculation

Sometimes, using your points isn’t a good deal. The key is to calculate the “cents per point” value. It’s simple math. I was looking at a flight that cost $300, or 40,000 points. To calculate the value, I divide the cash price by the points price (300 / 40,000), which equals 0.0075. That means I’m only getting 0.75 cents per point in value. Since I know I can usually get at least 1.5 cents per point on other redemptions, this is a terrible deal. I paid with cash and saved my points for a better opportunity.

The “Global Entry / TSA PreCheck Credit” is the best $100 you’ll never spend

Sailing Through Security Thanks to My Credit Card

I used to wait in the long, stressful security lines at the airport like everyone else. Then I got a travel card that offered a statement credit for the Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee. The application cost me $100, and a few days later, a $100 credit appeared on my credit card statement, making it completely free. Now, I breeze through the PreCheck line in five minutes. It has single-handedly removed the biggest point of stress from air travel, and it didn’t cost me a penny.

My rental car got a flat tire. My credit card’s insurance covered it all

The “Decline the Insurance” Power Move

I was driving a rental car in Arizona when I got a flat tire. The repair cost me $150. I wasn’t worried. I had rented the car with my credit card, which offers primary rental car insurance. I had politely declined the expensive, high-pressure insurance offered at the rental counter. I paid for the repair, submitted the claim and the receipt to my credit card’s benefits administrator, and a few weeks later, I received a full reimbursement. It’s a powerful perk that can save you $20-30 per day on rental insurance fees.

The math behind transferring points to airline partners vs. using a travel portal

How I Got Double the Value for My Points

I had 50,000 credit card points. In my card’s travel portal, I could book a flight to Hawaii that cost $500, so my points were worth 1 cent each. But I checked the airline’s own website. I found that same flight was available for only 25,000 of their miles. I transferred 25,000 of my credit card points directly to the airline and booked the flight. I got the exact same $500 flight, but it only cost me half the points. By doing that extra step, I effectively doubled the value of my points.

Why a debit card is useless when disputing a charge with a foreign hotel

A Battle of Your Word Against Theirs

I checked out of a hotel in Prague. A week later, I saw a mysterious, extra $100 charge on my debit card. I called the hotel; they claimed I had damaged the room, which I hadn’t. I called my bank, but since the money was already gone from my account, it was my word against the hotel’s. It was a long, frustrating battle I eventually lost. If I had used a credit card, I could have initiated a chargeback. The burden of proof would have been on the hotel to prove the damage to the credit card company.

The best card strategy for a 2-week European backpacking trip

Light Wallet, Maximum Perks

For my backpacking trip through Europe, I needed a smart, simple card strategy. I took just two. The first was a travel card with no foreign transaction fees. I used this for all my hostel bookings, train tickets, and meals to save that 3% fee. The second was my debit card from a bank that was part of a global ATM alliance. This allowed me to withdraw cash from partner ATMs for a very low fee, which I needed for small purchases at cash-only bakeries and markets. It was the perfect combination of security, rewards, and cash access.

How to meet the minimum spend for a huge sign-up bonus (without buying junk)

Hitting the Target Responsibly

I signed up for a card that offered a huge bonus if I spent $4,000 in three months. I didn’t want to buy a bunch of stuff I didn’t need. So, I timed my application carefully. I knew I had to pay my car insurance for the year, which was $1,200. I also prepaid my cell phone and utility bills for the next three months. I used the card for all my regular groceries and gas. By “pre-paying” my normal, budgeted expenses, I easily hit the minimum spend without any extra, frivolous purchases.

I tried to use my debit card on a cruise ship. The fees were astronomical

Trapped at Sea with a Useless Card

On my first cruise, I linked my debit card to my onboard account. At the end of the week, I got my statement. Every single purchase I made on the ship, which uses a “satellite” connection, had been treated as a foreign transaction with a 3% fee. On top of that, there was a daily service charge. It was a financial nightmare. I learned that cruise ships are a world unto themselves. A credit card with no foreign transaction fees is the only smart way to pay for things while at sea.

The simple phone call that can get you a “retention offer” of 50,000 points

The Power of Asking “Is There Anything You Can Do?”

The $550 annual fee was due on my premium travel card. I wasn’t sure if I was getting enough value from it, so I called the bank and selected the option to “cancel my card.” This immediately sent me to the retention department. I politely explained that I was thinking of canceling because of the high fee. The agent said, “We value your business. If you agree to spend $3,000 on the card in the next three months, we can offer you a bonus of 50,000 points.” I kept the card and easily got the bonus.

The ultimate guide to using airport lounges like a pro

Etiquette for the Educated Traveler

Getting into an airport lounge with your credit card is easy. Using it like a pro takes a little practice. First, don’t treat the buffet like it’s your last meal on earth. Take a normal-sized plate. Second, use headphones for any calls or videos; it’s a shared, quiet space. Third, don’t overstay your welcome. The general rule is to arrive no more than three hours before your flight. And finally, always be polite to the staff. They have the power to make your stay pleasant or to ask you to leave.

Why I have one Visa, one Mastercard, and one Amex in my travel wallet

The Holy Trinity of Acceptance

On a trip to a small town in Scandinavia, I went to a cafe that only accepted Mastercard. My primary travel card was a Visa. Luckily, I had a Mastercard backup. While Visa and Mastercard are accepted almost everywhere, there are still pockets where one is preferred. American Express is great for earning points, but its acceptance is much lower, especially outside of major tourist hubs. Carrying one of each means that no matter where I am in the world, I’ll almost certainly have a card that works.

My luggage was lost. My credit card paid me $500 to buy new clothes

A Silver Lining to a Travel Nightmare

My airline lost my luggage on a trip to a wedding in Chicago. I arrived with nothing but the clothes on my back. I was panicking. Then I remembered the “lost luggage reimbursement” perk on my credit card. I called the benefits administrator, who confirmed I was covered. I went to the store and bought a new suit, shoes, toiletries, and casual clothes for the weekend, up to the policy limit of $500. The airline eventually found my bag, but my credit card saved me from a huge, stressful, and expensive ordeal.

The “4th Night Free” hotel perk: Is it a gimmick or a game-changer?

A Powerful Perk with Some Fine Print

One of my premium credit cards offers a “fourth night free” benefit on hotel stays. It sounds amazing, but you have to read the rules. You usually have to book through the credit card’s own travel portal, and the “free” night is actually an average of the four nights’ cost, credited back to you. It’s not a gimmick, but it’s most valuable for expensive, four-night stays at independent hotels. For a cheap hotel or a stay of a different length, the benefit might not be worth the effort. It’s a game-changer, but only in specific situations.

The best ways to pay for things in a country that is still “cash-heavy”

My Payment Strategy for Southeast Asia

I was traveling through Vietnam, where many small restaurants and street vendors are cash-only. My strategy was twofold. First, I used my credit card with no foreign transaction fees for all larger purchases, like hotels and tours. Second, I used my debit card from a specific bank (Charles Schwab) that reimburses all ATM fees worldwide. Every few days, I would take out a larger sum of cash, about $200 worth, from a local ATM. This minimized the number of withdrawals I had to make and gave me the cash I needed for daily life without incurring any fees.

How to protect your physical cards and digital info while on the road

A Traveler’s Guide to Paranoia

When I’m traveling, I’m extra cautious. I keep my primary credit card and a small amount of cash in my pocket or a front-facing bag. I keep my backup credit card and debit card locked in the hotel safe. I never use public Wi-Fi at a cafe or airport to log into my bank account; I always use my phone’s cellular data instead. I also have digital copies of my cards and passport stored in a secure, encrypted app on my phone. A little bit of paranoia goes a long way in preventing a travel disaster.

The surprising number of countries where American Express is basically useless

My Amex Stayed in My Wallet

I love the points I earn with my American Express card. But on a recent trip through Eastern Europe, it was almost completely useless. Most smaller shops, restaurants, and even some hotels just didn’t accept it because of the higher processing fees Amex charges merchants. I was constantly met with a shake of the head and had to use my Visa instead. It was a clear lesson that while Amex is great for earning rewards at home, you absolutely must have a Visa or Mastercard as your primary card for international travel.

A pilot’s perspective on the best travel rewards credit cards

The View from the Cockpit

I once sat next to an airline pilot on a flight and asked him what credit cards he used. He said he has two main ones. The first is a premium card from the airline he flies for. The co-branded card gives him perks like free checked bags for his family and priority boarding, which are valuable to him. The second card he carries is one with flexible points, like a Chase Sapphire. He uses this for everything else, so he’s not locked into his own airline and can transfer points to hotels or other carriers if he finds a better deal.

How to calculate the “cents per point” value to know if a redemption is a good deal

A Simple Formula for Smart Travel

Don’t just redeem your points blindly. A simple formula will tell you if you’re getting a good deal. Find the cash price of the flight or hotel, then divide it by the number of points required. For example, a $400 hotel room that costs 20,000 points is a great deal. You divide 400 by 20,000, which gives you 0.02. That means you’re getting 2 cents per point. A general rule of thumb is to aim for a value of 1.5 cents per point or higher. If it’s lower, you might be better off paying with cash.

The annual fee debate: When is a $550 travel card worth more than a “free” card?

Doing the Math on a Premium Card

I hesitated for years to get a travel card with a $550 annual fee. It seemed insane. Then I did the math. The card came with a $300 annual travel credit, which I easily used. It gave me free airport lounge access, which I valued at about $200 a year. It gave me a Global Entry credit worth $20. And the points I earned were worth more than those from a free card. The “effective” annual fee was close to zero, and the travel insurance and perks were priceless. A high fee is worth it if you use the benefits.

I downgraded my premium travel card. Here’s why and what I lost

Trading Perks for Simplicity

I had a premium travel card with a high annual fee for years. But my travel habits changed after I had kids. I was no longer using the airport lounges or the fancy travel credits. I was paying a high fee for perks I didn’t need. I called my bank and asked to “product change” my card to a no-annual-fee cashback card from the same family. I lost the lounge access and the travel insurance, but I kept my line of credit open and I’m no longer paying for benefits I don’t use.

Using your debit card at a foreign ATM: A guide to minimizing fees

The Smart Way to Get Cash Abroad

Sometimes you just need cash. Using your debit card at a foreign ATM is often the cheapest way to get it, if you’re smart. First, use a debit card from a bank that charges no foreign transaction fees and reimburses ATM fees from other banks. Second, always decline the “dynamic currency conversion” and choose to be charged in the local currency. Third, take out larger, less frequent withdrawals. Taking out $300 once is much cheaper than taking out $50 six times, as you’ll only pay the flat ATM fee once.

The hidden benefit of booking travel with a credit card: Better consumer protection

The Airline Went Bankrupt, But I Got My Money Back

I booked flights for a family vacation on a small, budget airline. A month before our trip, the airline abruptly went bankrupt and ceased all operations. All the people who had paid with a debit card were out of luck; their money was gone. But because I had paid with my credit card, I was protected by the Fair Credit Billing Act. I filed a dispute for “services not rendered,” and a few weeks later, the full cost of the tickets was credited back to my account.

My flight was delayed overnight. My credit card paid for my hotel and meals

A Travel Nightmare with a Silver Lining

My flight home from a conference was cancelled due to a mechanical issue, and the next flight wasn’t until the morning. The airline gave us nothing. I was stuck. Then I remembered my credit card’s trip delay insurance. I booked a room at a nearby airport hotel, had a nice dinner, and took a taxi. I kept all my receipts. I submitted a claim for my $250 in expenses, and my credit card company reimbursed me for the full amount. It turned a stressful, expensive night into a minor inconvenience.

How to create a travel budget that accounts for both debit and credit spending

The Two-Bucket System

When I travel, I create a simple two-bucket budget. Bucket one is my “Cash” budget. This is the money I plan to withdraw with my debit card for small things like street food, tips, and markets. Bucket two is my “Card” budget. This is for all my larger, planned expenses like hotels, nice meals, and train tickets, which will go on my credit card. I track the spending in both buckets with a simple app. This way, I know exactly where my money is going and I can still take advantage of my credit card’s rewards and protections.

The “Points Guy” for Dummies: A simple start to travel hacking

It’s Easier Than It Looks

I used to be intimidated by “travel hacking.” It seemed so complicated. Here’s the simple way to start. First, pick one great, flexible travel rewards card, like the Chase Sapphire Preferred. Second, put all of your normal, everyday spending on that card. Third, always pay your bill in full every month. That’s it. Just by doing that, you’ll accumulate a valuable stash of points. Once you’re comfortable with that, you can start learning about more advanced strategies like transferring points to airlines, but this simple start is 90% of the battle.

I compared the travel portals: Chase vs. Amex vs. Capital One. Here’s the winner

A Battle of the Booking Engines

I had points with all three major credit card companies and decided to see which travel portal offered the best deals for a hotel in San Diego. I found the same room on all three sites. Capital One and Amex offered it for a standard price. The Chase Ultimate Rewards portal, however, had it for about 15% cheaper because of a special “preferred partner” rate. While it can vary, I’ve consistently found that the Chase portal offers slightly better deals on hotels and rental cars, giving you more value for your points.

The best card for a family road trip (gas rewards, food credits, etc.)

Fueling Up on Points

For our annual family road trip, I use a specific credit card that is optimized for the journey. I have a card that gives 3% cashback on all gas station purchases, which saves me a ton over a 2,000-mile trip. It also gives me extra points for spending at supermarkets, which is great for stocking up on snacks and drinks for the car. The right card can turn the expensive parts of a road trip into a rewarding experience, putting money back in my pocket with every fill-up and grocery run.

Why you should NEVER use a hotel’s Wi-Fi to check your bank account

A Hacker’s Paradise

Hotel Wi-Fi is notoriously insecure. It’s an open network where it’s relatively easy for a moderately skilled hacker to “eavesdrop” on your internet traffic and potentially see your login credentials. I made a strict rule for myself when I travel: I never, ever log into my bank account, credit card portal, or any other sensitive financial site using the hotel’s public Wi-Fi. I will always switch to my phone’s cellular data connection for those tasks. It’s a simple precaution that can prevent a massive financial headache.

The one phone call to make to your credit card company after you book a flight

Unlocking Hidden Offers

Here’s a travel hack most people don’t know. After you book a flight with your credit card, call the number on the back and ask to be connected to the “travel benefits” department. I did this after booking a trip to Miami. The agent told me about special offers available to cardholders at my destination, including a discount on a boat tour and a “third night free” deal at a partner hotel that wasn’t advertised on the main portal. That one phone call can unlock hidden value and save you hundreds on your trip.

How a credit card can give you elite status at hotels without ever staying there

The Shortcut to Upgrades

I love the perks of hotel elite status, like room upgrades and late checkout, but I don’t travel enough to earn it the hard way. The shortcut is a co-branded hotel credit card. I signed up for a Marriott Bonvoy credit card. Just for having the card, I was automatically given “Silver Elite” status in their loyalty program. I got a room upgrade on my very next stay. Many hotel cards offer this as a standard perk. It’s an easy way to get VIP treatment without being a true road warrior.

My worst travel money mistake (and how you can avoid it)

The Airport Currency Exchange Kiosk of Doom

On my first international trip, I landed at the airport and immediately went to a currency exchange kiosk to get some local cash. I exchanged $300 and got a huge bundle of notes. I felt like a real traveler. It wasn’t until later that I did the math. The kiosk had given me a horrific exchange rate and charged a massive service fee. I had lost nearly $40 in the transaction. The lesson: never, ever exchange money at the airport. You will always get a much better rate by simply withdrawing cash from a local ATM with your debit card.