A hidden United benefit will extend your trip for next to nothing

United’s Excursionist Perk lets you add an extra flight in your destination region for no extra miles. It doesn’t require any extra steps to use, only that you book with miles and create a multi-city itinerary. If you have miles from the United Explorer Card or another source, like points transferred over from the Chase …

I always book a warm-weather escape around the holidays using points from the Hilton Aspire card. It’s not too late for you to do the same if you start now.

The Hilton Honors Aspire Card from American Express can help you earn enough points for a free winter resort vacation The card offers several opportunities to rack up points quickly, including a big welcome bonus and earnings rates The free weekend night certificate and resort fee credit that come with the card annually can help …

Before-and-after photos reveal how landmarks have been ravaged by fires, floods, and melting ice over the last decade

Many famous landmarks and iconic natural wonders have been flooded, scorched, or eroded by extreme weather in the last decade. In the US, the Statue of Liberty and Glacier National Park have both been affected by climate-related disasters. In some cases, the damage is irreversible. Visit Business Insider’s homepage for more. The effects of climate …

I sat in every type of seat on Qantas’ new world’s longest flight from New York to Sydney, Australia. Here’s what they were like.

Qantas recently tested the new world’s longest flight, a nearly 20-hour nonstop from New York to Sydney, Australia, using the Boeing 787-9 — Business Insider was aboard the test flight. The airline uses the same plane on its current longest route, a 17-hour trip from Perth to London. We sat in the seats in all …

I’ve always thought travel insurance was a scam — but it saved me $124 my first time using it

I can’t even begin to count the number of times I’ve declined travel insurance when booking plane tickets. But when it came to Amtrak, horror stories of delays that I couldn’t shake from my head convinced me it might be worth the investment for my cross-country trip this fall. Turns out I was right. The …

The Amex Green card earns valuable bonus points on travel and dining, but it faces stiff competition from Chase’s Sapphire cards

The American Express® Green Card was recently re-launched with a bunch of new benefits, including 3x bonus points on travel purchases and spending at restaurants worldwide. It’s a much improved card for earning valuable Amex points, but it faces some strong competition from cards like the Chase Sapphire Reserve and the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card. …

The world’s first hybrid cruise ship is currently on its maiden voyage, an 18-day trip to Antarctica with 450 guests onboard. Here’s a look inside.

Hurtigruten, a Norwegian expedition cruise company, unveiled the world’s first hybrid cruise ship earlier this year. It is currently on its maiden voyage to Antarctica with 450 passengers aboard. The vessel, MS Roald Amundsen, runs on low sulfur diesel fuel that is supported by battery packs, cutting emissions by 20%. But it’s not all science …

Eerie photos of an abandoned airport that hasn’t been touched in 25 years

I recently visited Abkhazia, a disputed region in Georgia, to photograph abandoned buildings and towns. The Sukhumi Babushara Airport in Abkhazia was built in the 1960s, but hasn’t been used since the early 1990s after it was heavily damaged in a war with Georgia. Eerie photos of the abandoned airport show what it looks like …

Southwest is pulling the 737 Max from its schedule for another month as questions mount about whether Boeing can get the plane ungrounded this year (LUV, BA)

Southwest Airlines is pulling the Boeing 737 Max from its schedule until at least March 6, a month later than previously. Boeing is facing increasing hurdles getting the plane returned to service, putting its goal of having the Max flying by the end of 2019 into doubt. The plane type has been grounded worldwide since …

A $20 million 3-deck superyacht made in Dubai won best in show at the world’s biggest in-water boat event. Here’s a look inside.

Majesty 140, a yacht made in Dubai, was named the best in show at the biggest in-water boat show in the world. The boat was sold on the fifth and final day of the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show for “about $20 million,” according to the South Florida Sun Sentinel. The three-deck superyacht features a …

Using points or miles for holiday travel can be tricky, but 5 strategies can help you stretch your rewards as far as they can go

Limited award availability among hotel and airline programs can make travel over the holidays a challenge. Having some flexible travel rewards points, such as the points you earn with the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card or the Capital One® Venture® Rewards Credit Card, can make the process easier, since you can redeem your rewards in more …

Hotel review: I spent a night at MADE, in Manhattan’s NoMad neighborhood — here’s what I liked most about the understated, boutique hotel

A relatively new spot in Manhattan’s NoMad neighborhood, the MADE Hotel is a great spot for travelers who crave convenience, comfort, and creativity while traveling. MADE was designed by a team with a passion for art and style, which can be seen in everything from unique textiles in the guest rooms, to rotating art exhibits …

Hotel review: Walking into the Chicago Athletic Association Hotel is like entering a scene straight out of Harry Potter, minus the children and wand-waving

For a luxury hotel on Chicago’s Michigan Avenue that feels anything but generic, the Chicago Athletic Association Hotel plays on its rich history, gothic architecture, and curated design to offer unique personality without feeling kitschy. With multiple excellent on-site bars and restaurants (including what I consider Chicago’s best rooftop bar), the hotel is a worthy …

Hotel review: One of New York’s best hotels is hiding in plain sight — here’s why I was so impressed by The Beekman New York

The Beekman is a luxury hotel housed in a renovated New York City landmark building dating back to 1881. The preserved nine-story atrium is a breathtaking architectural triumph often utilized for high-fashion photo shoots, music videos, and of course, hundreds of Instagram photos. I spent a night in a Studio Suite, which starts at $462 …

Vintage postcards of San Francisco reveal the city’s early cable cars, amusement parks, and the ‘Painted Ladies’

Vintage postcards of San Francisco from the last 150 years reveal the city’s history from a unique perspective. The images show how San Francisco’s population skyrocketed during the Gold Rush in 1848 then evolved to become a financial center and tourist destination. Postcards from the past also depict attractions and businesses that were once popular …

21 stunning photos from the night the Berlin Wall came tumbling down 30 years ago

The Berlin Wall came tumbling down on November 9, 1989, reuniting East and West Germany, and foreshadowing the fall of the Soviet Union. It stood for 28 years to separate the two sides of Berlin and the two sides of Germany. The night it fell — by accident — people stormed from East to West …

I closed my Business Platinum card, but I’d still recommend it to small business owners for these 9 reasons

The Business Platinum® Card from American Express charges a high annual fee, but it can be worth it after you factor in travel rewards, credits, and other benefits. I closed my Business Platinum when the annual fee increased and opened the Chase Sapphire Reserve instead, because its benefits were a better fit for me. But …

Meet the 2 Americans who were chosen from a pool of 140,000 people to spend 10 days on a mini-sabbatical in Antarctica with Airbnb this winter

Airbnb received 140,000 applications this fall for its all-expenses-paid expedition to Antarctica in December. Five individuals were selected for the trip. Among those are two Americans: Tynthia King from Arizona and Spencer Ingley from Hawaii. Together with citizen scientists from Dubai, Norway, and India, King and Ingley will study the impact of microplastics alongside scientist …

The best backpack coolers

Backpack coolers are a convenient and comfortable way to carry cold food and drinks with you when you’re camping, hiking, or wandering about the wilderness. Yeti’s Hopper Backflip 24 backpack cooler sets a high standard of quality for backpack coolers with a durable, insulated, leakproof design and a comfortable load system that evenly distributes weight. …

The head of the largest flight-attendant union in the US explains why Delta’s cabin crews might finally vote to unionize (DAL)

Delta flight attendants are organizing a drive to unionize with the AFA, the Association of Flight Attendants. While flight attendants with competitors like United, American, and Southwest are represented by unions, Delta is the largest US airline with nonunion cabin crew employees. Delta flight attendants voted against joining the union in 2002, 2008, and 2010. …

I flew nonstop domestic economy on both American Airlines and JetBlue to see which was better, and JetBlue had a slight edge

JetBlue and American Airlines have similar rankings in Money’s report of the best and worst US airlines, though American Airlines has a slight edge. I recently flew round-trip from New York to Austin with one flight operated by JetBlue and one flight operated by American Airlines, and although they were similar, I found that the …

The president of a luxury lifestyle management company says millionaires are avoiding ‘cookie cutter’ trips in favor of immersive experiences — and it’s changing how the ultrawealthy vacation

While the idea of luxury travel once immediately brought images of a Ritz-Carlton to mind, a newer trend is influencing how the ultra-wealthy vacation: “transformational travel.” Business Insider spoke to Richard Lewis, the US president of Insignia, a lifestyle management service, to determine how travel trends are changing, specifically in the luxury sector. The richest …

The Croatian city featured in ‘Game of Thrones’ is so flooded with tourists that it might ban new restaurants. It’s one of many cities buckling under the weight of overtourism.

Dubrovnik, Croatia, is proposing a ban on new restaurants, Julia Buckley reported for CNN Travel. The ban would prohibit restaurants from adding outside tables and chairs, Buckley reported. Dubrovnik mayor Mato Franković told Buckley that the majority of Dubrovnik restaurants operate with outside tables since indoor space is so limited. The city — where several …

Hotel review: I spent a night at 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge and loved the waterfront location, city views, and how my room embraced nature

1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge in DUMBO is a five-star sanctuary for a sustainable stay, while responsibly embracing luxury. Rooms seek to bring nature indoors, with living plants and repurposed wood and materials, many of which were locally made. I spent a night in the entry-level Dumbo King Room, which starts at approximately $277 and felt …

We broke down the differences between credit card points and frequent flyer miles — here’s why you should be collecting both

While “points” and “miles” are often used interchangeably, they’re usually two very different things. You can earn flexible rewards points such as Amex Membership Rewards and Chase Ultimate Rewards with cards like the Platinum Card® from American Express and the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card. You can use these points to book travel directly with the …

I have more than 30 credit cards, but I use a two-card strategy to earn maximum Amex and Chase points at home and abroad

I have more than 30 rewards credit cards, but I rely on just two of them to maximize most of my purchases both at home and when I’m traveling: the American Express® Gold Card and the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card. These are two of my favorite cards due to the bonus points they offer on …

Hundreds of thousands of travelers face chaos as more than 1,300 flights are canceled across Europe because of a strike at Lufthansa

Lufthansa is canceling 1,300 flights between Thursday and Friday due to a strike by its flight attendants. The airline said 180,000 passengers would be affected. The airline said that passengers could rebook on other flights on on trains, in the case of domestic flights. However, passengers reported problems accessing their flight details online or reaching …