It can be impossible to book saver-level award travel over the holidays, but certain points are better than others for doing so. Transferable credit card points lend travelers an extra layer of flexibility when it comes to redeeming for award flights and nights. Chase Ultimate Rewards points are some of the most useful rewards points …
Author Archives: TravelKinds.Com
The best hotel bars in the US, according to Forbes travel experts
Forbes releases worldwide critic-curated travel recommendations every year, from best destinations to restaurants and even hotel bars. This year, of the 44 hotel bars Forbes Travel Guide included in its worldwide roundup, only 10 were in the United States. Those 10 bars were all located inside luxury hotels and most were noted for having a …
Continue reading “The best hotel bars in the US, according to Forbes travel experts”
Japan is developing 50 luxury hotels to cash in on the 40 million visitors it expects next year, and it signals that the country’s hotel boom is finally hitting its stride
The number of visitors to Japan has increased significantly in the past few years and is expected to reach 40 million in 2020, the Economist reported. The upcoming 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games have placed Japan in the spotlight as a major travel destination. Earlier this month, Japan announced that it would invest in opening 50 …
Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel and Spa might be Disneyland’s most expensive hotel, but it poses the best value for Disney fans
Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel and Spa is, without a doubt, the highest-end hotel serving the Disney theme park. Hotel guests enjoy exclusive perks such as a private entrance to Disney California Adventure and early entrance. The hotel is expensive, much more so than other area options, with standard rooms starting at $431 per night. But …
The richest ZIP code in the US is turning 100. Here’s what the ritzy private island off the coast of Miami used to look like and what it looks like now.
Fisher Island, a private, man-made island off the coast of Miami, is currently celebrating its 100th anniversary. Members-only Fisher Island is known for being the richest ZIP code in the US, where the average income of residents is $2.2 million and the median home value is roughly $2.7 million. The island, although founded in 1919, …
The Ace Hotel Chicago speaks to the modern traveler who values design, personality, and an accessible price point
Once the site of an Italian-American cheese factory, the hip Ace Hotel Chicago is fittingly located in consistently-cool West Loop, which is one of Chicago’s top neighborhoods for award-winning restaurants. Opened in 2017, the ninth Ace Hotel in the US shows off a signature minimal yet modern style, while incorporating Chicago’s famous prairie-style architecture and …
The best travel rewards credit cards, from the Chase Sapphire Reserve to the Capital One Venture card
Here are the best travel rewards credit cards available now: Best overall: Chase Sapphire Reserve Best for beginners: Chase Sapphire Preferred Card Best for easy redemptions: Capital One® Venture® Rewards Credit Card Best for luxury perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express Best for dining rewards and benefits: American Express® Gold Card Best card with …
The CEO of a luxury brand that has 5-star hotels around the world explains why Miami is a better city to invest in than New York City in 2020
Vladislav Doronin is the chairman of real-estate development firm OKO Group and CEO of Aman Resorts, the luxury resort brand famous for its wellness offerings and celebrity guests. Doronin is building a luxury hotel, several luxury residential towers, and an office building in Miami, as well as a hotel and condos in New York City. …
Located near New York’s best shopping and dining, Sixty SoHo made me feel like a downtown A-lister
Sixty SoHo is a long-established hip haven, adjacent to some of New York’s best shopping and nightlife. The hotel’s vibe exudes serious cool factor, and while some guests commonly complain of staff members being snobby or unaccommodating, I didn’t experience that at all during my stay. I stayed in a King Suite, which starts at …
The Amex Platinum offers members luxury experiences that cost over $1,000 and regularly sell out. I’ve been to 2, and I was blown away.
American Express hosts a series of upscale By Invitation Only events for cardmembers who have the Platinum Card® from American Express, the Business Platinum® Card from American Express, or the Centurion Card. These events are meant to be “once in a lifetime” experiences that give cardholders access to luminaries in the fields of food, fashion, …
The 5 best hotels in New York City
Condé Nast Traveler released its 2020 Gold List of the world’s best hotels, resorts, and cruises. The selections, curated by editors in New York and London, “exemplify the gold standard of service and hospitality.” On the Gold List of best hotels, five New York City establishments made the list. The Baccarat Hotel in Midtown and …
The best cruises to take in 2020, according to Condé Nast Traveler
Condé Nast Traveler just released its annual Gold List, which is a collection of editors’ favorite travel experiences. The list included hotels, resorts, and cruises. Below are the top-rated cruise vacations to take next year. Athens, Greece is the most popular port on the list. The majority of featured ships were smaller and had more …
Continue reading “The best cruises to take in 2020, according to Condé Nast Traveler”
The 10 best new luxury hotels opened in the last decade
LTI — Luxury Travel Intelligence — recently released their ranking of the world’s best luxury hotels opened in the past decade. The travel research firm’s team narrowed down the list from 296 properties around the world that opened between 2010 and 2019. The list includes hotels from cult luxury resort brands Aman and Six Senses, …
Continue reading “The 10 best new luxury hotels opened in the last decade”
At Andaz 5th Avenue, standard rooms offer the greatest value — why I would skip the suite next time
Andaz 5th Avenue, a member of World of Hyatt, boasts an unmatched Midtown Manhattan location close to New York landmarks such as Bryant Park, Times Square, and the Chrysler Building. With rooms starting at $281, the hotel offers a solid value for well-appointed rooms with the chance to earn points and redeem perks if you’re …
Plenty of credit cards offer elite loyalty status, but only Hilton has cards that provide one of my favorite hotel perks: complimentary breakfast
Two of Hilton’s rewards credit cards — the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card, and the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card — offer cardholders complimentary elite status. While plenty of hotels offer low levels of status, these two Hilton cards offer higher levels, which come with a variety of perks including complimentary breakfast during …
The Hoxton Downtown LA is a hip new hotel for those who revere art and design over traditional hotel chains
Hoxton Hotels just opened a new location in downtown Los Angeles in a stunningly updated 1922 beaux-arts building. The rooms are small (European-style, this is a British brand after all), but the design-forward approach, buzzy dining scene, and picturesque rooftop pool are serious draws. I spent a night in a “Roomy” room, which starts at …
The Park South Hotel delivers on affordable room prices without sacrificing comfort in New York’s NoMad neighborhood
The Park South Hotel is a recently-renovated, well-reviewed property in Manhattan’s NoMad neighborhood from World of Hyatt’s Joie de Vivre boutique hotel collection. The rooms are relatively straightforward, but the culinary program is a stand-out. The rooftop bar, as well as the Mediterranean-inspired Covina, are both well worth a visit during any stay. I stayed …
A family of 8 is traveling through Australia’s most remote regions in a fully customized double-decker camper van. Here’s a look inside.
An Australian family of eight commissioned one the largest campers in the world in order to explore Australia’s most remote regions for months at a time. Designed by Australian luxury expedition vehicle manufacturer SLRV, it serves as a fully functioning house on wheels. Dubbed the Commander 8×8, the vehicle is 40 feet long, two stories …
Forget toiletries and bathrobes — surprising items like mattresses are being stolen from luxury hotel rooms too
A Germany-based luxury hotel guide just conducted a survey that found hotel guests are taking unconventional “souvenirs” from their hotel rooms. While common items like towels, bathrobes, pens, and toiletries find their way into departing guests’ luggage most frequently, 1,157 luxury hotels in Europe reported that other items are regularly stolen too. Coffeemakers, television sets, …
The best hotel deals to book right now if you still want to get away for the holidays
The period between Christmas and New Year’s tends to be one of the most expensive times to travel, with high demand resulting in increased prices for airfare, hotels, and vacations. But if you’re still looking for a last-minute getaway by the year’s end, many hotels are offering deals and packages at competitive rates. Brands such …
The 5 best credit cards for parents, according to a father of 2
Expenses add up quickly when you have children, writes father of two Eric Rosenberg, so you’ll want to understand your spending habits to pick a card that offers bonuses where you spend most. Only use credit cards if you can pay them off in full each month. Otherwise, the interest costs will probably cost more …
Continue reading “The 5 best credit cards for parents, according to a father of 2”
We compared the Amex Gold and Amex Green cards — the best option for you depends on where you spend the most
Amex recently unveiled a new credit card option, the American Express® Green Card. This card offers a big welcome bonus, lucrative ongoing rewards, and the opportunity to earn Membership Rewards points. The American Express® Gold Card is also worth considering if the Amex Green Card caught your eye. This card offers a bigger welcome bonus …
5 reasons why the Capital One Venture is better than an airline or hotel credit card
Unless you’re loyal to a specific brand, airline and hotel credit cards may not be worth the annual fee. The Capital One® Venture® Rewards Credit Card is a good alternative because it earns 2x miles on all your purchases, and you have lots of options for redeeming your rewards. You can use Capital One miles …
The 8 best places to travel in Asia in 2020
Travel & Leisure released its list of 50 Best Places to Travel in 2020. The list is compiled by Travel & Leisure editors as well as travel writers, advisors, and other experts. Destinations were chosen based on their prominence in the “global conversation” as well as “perennial favorites that are reinventing themselves in exciting ways,” …
Continue reading “The 8 best places to travel in Asia in 2020”
The parents of the toddler who fell from the 11th-floor of a Royal Caribbean cruise ship are suing the company (RCL)
The parents of Chloe Wiegand, an 18-month-old toddler who died on a Royal Caribbean International cruise ship in July after falling from the ship’s 11th floor are suing the company, the Associated Press reported. The lawsuit, filed on Wednesday, reportedly alleges that Royal Caribbean was negligent by leaving open the window Wiegand fell through. “Our …
6 credit card benefits that double as last-minute holiday gifts
Premium rewards credit cards like the Platinum Card® from American Express and the Business Platinum® Card from American Express offer annual statement credits. With the Amex Platinum, you also get up to $100 in statement credits each year toward Saks Fifth Avenue purchases. Several cards offer up to $100 in statement credit to cover the …
Continue reading “6 credit card benefits that double as last-minute holiday gifts”
I travel 4 months of the year, and my bank reimburses all my ATM fees no matter where I am
While SoFi is well known for its student loan products, the company branched out into the personal finance space this year with SoFi Invest and SoFi Money. SoFi Money is a checking/savings account hybrid that comes with no account minimums or fees. One of the biggest benefits of a SoFi Money account is the fact …