On my recent trip to Guatemala, my daughter and I stayed at a beautiful Airbnb rental, Sacred Tree, in the small town of Santa Cruz La Laguna on Lake Atitlán. Location/Getting There From Antigua, we took a shuttle to Panajachel that we booked through Guatego. The drive is normally 2.5...

What? You just sit in your seat when the plane gets to the gate? Have I got a story for you...

Yesterday, Chase announced a 25% transfer bonus to Southwest Airlines. We haven’t seen this transfer bonus in 5 years! Details on Chase 25% Transfer Bonus to Southwest Airlines From October 23, 2025 through 11:59 PM ET November 6, 2025, get 25% transfer bonus from Chase Ultimate Rewards points to Southwest...

I’ve got some major expenses coming up–namely, my home insurance and property taxes. You know what that means: It’s time to sign up for a new credit card and get some bonus miles from paying these expenses! But which card? (See Beginner’s Guide: 7 Steps to Free Travel with Miles...

On my recent trip to Guatemala, my daughter and I visited Hobbitenango, a Lord of the Rings themed attraction in the mountains above Antigua. In 2019, on a trip to New Zealand, we visited Hobbiton, the OG set of the movies. How would this experience compare? Getting to Hobbitenango Hobbitenango...

Full disclosure: I returned from Guatemala last week, and I got sick on the last day. After 4 days of severe stomach issues, I went to the doctor and was prescribed an antibiotic for my presumed traveler’s ailment from consuming contaminated food on my trip. And I thought I was...

Catching up on recent miles and points news: New Mid-Tier Citi AA Card: Citi just launched the new Citi AAdvantage Globe Mastercard (non-affiliate link) with 90k welcome bonus after spending $5000 in the first 4 months, $350 annual fee. I’m going to consider this card for myself since I fly...

Growing up on O’ahu and reviewing dozens of hotels across the island, I’ve come to realize that the question “Where should I stay on Oʻahu?” doesn’t have a one-size-fits-all answer. On its own, the question means well, but it’s a terrible question in practice. And I see it on social...

My daughter and I just returned from a trip to Guatemala. This was technically my 4th time visiting Guatemala, but it had been over 30 years since my last visit. Traveling in Guatemala is always an adventure! But, I don’t recommend it to everyone. Pros of Visiting Guatemala Scenery: Guatemala...

A family that went out of their way to make sure their child traveled as safely as possible, spending extra money on a separate seat and the only FAA-approved safety restraint system for infants, were barred from using it by a flight attendant who contradicted the advice of her own...

If you’ve ever tried to figure out the best time to visit O‘ahu, you’ve probably realized there’s no single right answer — it really depends on what kind of trip you want. Maybe you’re dreaming of calm beaches and clear snorkeling water, or maybe you want to see the legendary...

If you’ve spent even five minutes on social media before your Hawai‘i trip, you’ve probably been told — usually by someone holding a coconut in front of a drone shot — exactly what not to do here. Don’t go to Waikīkī. Don’t eat at chain restaurants. Don’t stay in a...

This is a continuation of my Japan/China trip report. See also Back from China and Japan Trip! 5 Takeaways, Worth it: JAL Premium Economy Award Seats, Better Than Expected: AA Premium Economy Shanghai PVG to DFW, Hits and Misses from our day at Tokyo DisneySea, Take this Line and Shove...

This week, I contacted American Airlines through X (Twitter) to have them add my AAdvantage account number to my upcoming flight reservation. Since I booked the flight with Alaska Airlines miles, I couldn’t add my AA number myself online. If my AA number isn’t on my reservation, I won’t get...

As a frequent traveler, my travel habits raise some eyebrows in my friend and acquaintance group. Mostly, it’s due to the sheer number of times my family travels each year, which seems crazy to “normal” people. If they don’t know that I use miles and points for all our flights...