If you’re like me, you like to plan your points and miles vacations far in advance to have the most redemption options. However, sometimes this strategy doesn’t yield the best return on your points. Let me explain. This summer I booked a five night stay at Atlantis Bahamas using Marriott points. With the fifth night…
Click here for more from our Egypt vacation series! After a delayed flight from Luxor, we arrived back at Cairo International Airport close to midnight. Our flight to JFK on Egyptair Business Class wasn’t until the morning so we needed a place to spend the night close to the airport. Directly connected to the airport,…
This fall, we spent a long weekend in Vermont to see the foliage. The Equinox Resort is the place to stay when visiting Manchester, the last stop on our itinerary. Here’s my review of the Equinox Resort Vermont. Booking the Equinox Resort with Points The Equinox Resort is a Luxury Collection property that can be…
After four days in Dubai, we headed to Abu Dhabi for the last full day of our epic France and UAE trip. We decided to stay at the St. Regis Abu Dhabi, our first St. Regis stay to date! With its beautiful decor, full-service beach club, and amazing views, we were happy with our choice.…
We started our time in Dubai at Al Maha Desert Resort which I knew would be a tough act to follow. Dubai has a ton of luxury hotels to choose from. I ultimately picked the Ritz-Carlton Dubai because of its large beach and the fact that I could book it at a lower points rate…
Narrowing down the location of our last big vacation was tough. My husband wanted to go to France while I wanted to go to UAE for two reasons. First, I wanted to fly Etihad First Class Apartments. Second, I wanted to stay at Al Maha Desert Resort in Dubai before Marriott increased the points value.…
I don’t stay in airport hotels often, but occasionally find the need after a late flight. Last fall, we spent one night at the Renaissance Chicago O’Hare, a suites only hotel. Located about 3.5 miles from O’Hare, the Renaissance is a great choice if you need to stay near the airport. Here’s my review of…
This past March, my husband and I visited my sister for a few days in San Diego. There are a lot of points options in San Diego, and admittedly, I went with the cheapest choice. While the Hotel del Coronado was tempting, I knew we’d be out exploring and not spending much time in the…
Before we headed off on our Inca Trail hike to Machu Picchu, we stayed at the JW Marriott Cusco for two nights to acclimate to the higher altitude. We booked a third night at the JW Marriott Cusco after our trek before heading up to Lima. The hotel kindly stored the luggage that we didn’t…
Update 3/5/2020: Starting May 2020, this may no longer be an option as American Express has added terms to limit this (see here). The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card from American Express isn’t my favorite luxury credit card. I personally think the $450 annual fee is too high for the limited benefits it provides. One of…
