Whenever a juicy signup bonus is available on a credit card, it usually comes paired with a hefty minimum spending requirement. Depending on your personal finances, meeting it to unlock the welcome bonus can either be a breeze or possibly a significant hurdle. As you grow from a Miles & Points beginner to a more advanced participant, one of the most important lessons you learn is that minimum … [Read more...]

One very useful benefit given to cardholders of many Mastercard products is complimentary Wi-Fi through Boingo. The access is available at over one million hotspots around the world, both on the ground and in the air. While passengers could previously enjoy relatively unrestricted use of in-flight Wi-Fi on 26 airlines, there is an upcoming change that will significantly alter the benefit. As of … [Read more...]

In Fall 2022, it was announced that Virgin Atlantic would join SkyTeam at some point in 2023. The date has been announced, and as of March 2, 2023, Virgin Atlantic will officially become SkyTeam’s newest member airline. This marks the first new addition to the alliance since 2014. While Virgin Atlantic has previously partnered with other SkyTeam airlines, such as Delta and Air France/KLM, this … [Read more...]

Big banks like to encourage you to do more business with them. Whether it’s more products, more expensive products, or more deposits, they want more, more, more, to earn your loyalty and dependence. As consumers in our own pursuit of more, we can benefit from this integration ourselves. The more you put into a bank, the more awards you can get out – the trick is making sure you’re still getting … [Read more...]

I visit Edmonton a few times per year to spend time with family and friends. Whenever I need a place to stay downtown, my go-to Marriott hotel to book is the Courtyard Edmonton Downtown. While it’s not the flashiest option available, and it certainly doesn’t compare to the JW Marriott Edmonton ICE District in terms of luxury, it’s a great spot to choose for a balance of location, value, and nice … [Read more...]

Three of the four Hilton Honors co-branded credit cards issued by American Express US have just come out with new welcome bonuses that are amongst the best we’ve ever seen. The offers are available until April 5, 2023. The Amex US Hilton cards represent one of the best ways to diversify your hotel rewards game outside of Marriott Bonvoy. With these juicy welcome bonuses, you can unlock nights at … [Read more...]

This article may contain affiliate links where we make a small commission for purchases you make from links that you click from this article. For more details, read the disclosure page.Famously nicknamed “the Emerald City” in the late '80s, Seattle is a city that truly has it all. Not only do a plethora of famous musicians, actors, and other well-known personalities call the city home, but it's … [Read more...]

World of Hyatt is fast emerging as an interesting alternative hotel loyalty program to Marriott Bonvoy and Hilton Honors. They’ve recently announced their latest promotion on purchased points, a valuable way for members to top up their points balances and book hotel stays. This could be a great deal, especially if you’re looking to enjoy your Globalist status as often as possible. Buy World of … [Read more...]

During a recent ski trip, I had the pleasure of staying at one of the more luxurious hotel options in Whistler, the Fairmont Chateau Whistler. This sprawling and prestigious hotel sits at the base of Blackcomb Mountain, and this would be my first time posting up near Blackcomb after mainly staying around Whistler Village during my previous visits. In This Post Fairmont Chateau Whistler – … [Read more...]

Many credit cards come with extra perks and benefits far beyond just earning points. While some of these benefits are widely known and often used, others don’t get quite as much attention. In this article, we’re going to explore a credit card benefit that is rarely discussed and infrequently utilized: concierge services. While not every credit card comes with concierge services, a surprising … [Read more...]

I stayed at the Westin Whistler on a recent ski trip to the Whistler Blackcomb resort.  The Westin is one of the best options for using points and saving money on sky-high accommodation rates if you’re headed up to the Whistler area. Here’s a full review of the property from my recent trips, including some additional thoughts from a separate stay I had in a Bi-Level Loft Suite.  In … [Read more...]

While Japanese cuisine is delicious, it’s also a fascinating peek into the country’s culture. As these culinary traditions have been followed for centuries, they’ve landed a spot on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list. The way food is prepared with impeccable care and presented in a beautiful yet simplistic way speaks volumes about Japanese culture. People there take great pride in their … [Read more...]

The Air France/KLM Flying Blue loyalty program is popular for its monthly Promo Rewards in select markets on Air France and KLM flights, unique redemptions on partner airlines, and more. Flying Blue has just launched a new promotion for purchasing miles, which can be a great opportunity to buy Flying Blue miles if you have plans to redeem them for higher value.  Buy Flying Blue Miles with a … [Read more...]

During the Winter 2022 travel chaos, my wife and I were stuck in Edmonton for two nights as we tried to navigate our way back to Vancouver Island. We spent the first night of the delay at the Four Points Edmonton Airport, which we paid for out-of-pocket. For our second night, I asked the Concierge in the Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge Edmonton if we were eligible for accommodation due to the delay, … [Read more...]

If you’re in the market for a new credit card, it’s important to consider the welcome bonus that the credit card is offering. This is a one-time incentive to encourage you to apply for the card, only available in your first year with the card. The signup bonus is a big part of the value you’ll get from a new credit card, above and beyond its core features, at least in the first year. Often the … [Read more...]

Air Canada has launched a digital identification system through the Air Canada app. Passengers can voluntarily create a digital profile prior to travel, which is then used to verify their identity at airports using facial recognition technology. At the outset, the system will only be available to access the Air Canada Café in Toronto; however, it’s expected to roll out to other Maple Leaf Lounges … [Read more...]

Following a stay at The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong, which embodied classic opulence, the third and final stay of my 2021 trip to Hong Kong would be the much more vibrant W Hong Kong. The W Hong Kong first opened its doors in 2008, marking the brand’s debut in the region. As someone who generally admires W properties, I was indeed looking forward to checking it out for myself. In This Post W … [Read more...]

In its first new Canadian route announcement of 2023, Air France has revealed that it will begin service between Paris and Ottawa later this year. As of June 27, 2023, the Paris-based airline will launch a new flight between the two capitals, beginning with five times per week. In the same announcement, Air France also stated that the service to Quebec City will resume for Summer 2023, and the … [Read more...]

Marriott has announced a major change to part of its loyalty program. Beginning March 1, 2023, Marriott Bonvoy members staying at Protea Hotels will only earn one elite night credit for every two nights stayed. This is not only strange, but also unprecedented, as it’s the first time a loyalty program has introduced partial elite night credits. In addition to this, the number of points earned per … [Read more...]

Similar to Amex Offers, RBC rolls out its own RBC Offers for holders of their suite of Avion co-branded credit cards. RBC Offers tend to get less attention than Amex due to the deals historically being less lucrative. However, RBC is making a splash to start out 2023 with a great Marriott RBC Offer, in which cardholders can earn 8x the Avion points on the first $500 (CAD) spent across two … [Read more...]