Elizabeth Aldrich is a freelance writer who lives in Costa Rica when she’s not traveling. Aldrich saves 50% of her income by controlling her biggest expenses: housing, transportation, and food. She spends the most money on travel, which adds up to over $12,000 a year. For Business Insider’s “Real Money” series, she tracked her spending …
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Marriott’s small-business Amex card is currently offering a 100,000-point welcome bonus, but it’s only available for one more week
The Marriott Bonvoy Business™ American Express® Card has been offering an elevated welcome bonus of 100,000 points. New cardholders can earn this bonus after spending $5,000 in the first three months. The offer will end on October 23, so your last chance to grab it is approaching. Other Bonvoy Business card benefits include a free …
My Chase Sapphire Reserve points are currently worth 20% more on Apple purchases, but I’m not taking the bait
Select Chase Sapphire Reserve cardholders can get 20% more value for their points when they use them to buy Apple products through November 15. This means each Chase point is worth 1.2 cents, rather than the standard 1 cent. By comparison, Chase Ultimate Rewards points are worth 1.5 cents apiece when you use them to …
We asked 14 travel experts to share their No. 1 tip for saving money when they’re on vacation
Traveling can be an expensive endeavor if you don’t approach it with a plan. Being flexible with your travel dates, being open to where you stay, and even simple things like bringing food to the airport can all help save you money and stress. We talked to 14 travel experts to get their takes on …
10 top-rated Airbnbs in Chicago that are under $205 and available to book most weekends for the rest of the year
Chicago is a great city to visit year-round, but fall offers a chance to explore with cooler temps, and before holiday crowds descend. With flight deals readily available, consider planning an affordable weekend escape to the Windy City. Many highly-rated, inexpensive Airbnbs are available to book for the next several weeks, ranging from $93 to …
Qantas is about to test the world’s longest nonstop flight, taking passengers from New York to Australia in 20 hours
Qantas is testing the new world’s longest flight, New York to Sydney, on Friday. Business Insider will be on board and reporting from the test flight. The flight, at nearly 10,000 miles and 20 hours long, presents a number of potential challenges, including how to keep passengers comfortable, and how to keep pilots and cabin …
33 eerie photos show just how polluted China’s air has become
As winter approaches, China has ordered its northern cities, along with Beijing and Tianjin, to cut emissions by 4%. The government also ordered more than 5 million households to stop using coal heaters. These eerie photos show why China has spent the last six years aggressively trying to cut down its pollution. Visit Business Insider’s …
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Airlines are scrambling to work out how to tell passengers they’re flying on a 737 Max when it finally returns to service, and avoid the ‘chaos’ it could cause if they get it wrong
Airlines are trying to figure out how to deal with passengers who say they don’t want to fly in a Boeing 737 Max when the plane returns to service after two fatal crashes that killed 346 people. Some airlines say they will let passengers switch to other planes, but are still debating how to tell …
By upgrading my Southwest Premier Card to the Southwest Priority, I could miss out on 60,000 points. Here’s why I’m doing it anyway.
The Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card offers big value if you fly Southwest even once or twice a year. The card is subject to Chase’s 5/24 rule, and current Southwest credit card holders aren’t eligible to apply. Since I have the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card, that means I won’t qualify for the …
I’ve carried the Chase Freedom in my wallet for over a decade — here’s why the credit card is a great value
The Chase Freedom is a longtime favorite cash-back credit card, with no annual fee. For me personally, this card is good enough to have held a permanent spot in my wallet for more than a decade. While the Freedom isn’t my only card, I use it regularly and never miss using it for a purchase …
5 ways to make the most of a business trip to Milan
Milan is the financial capital of Italy and a big destination for business travellers around the world. The city also has a rich history dating back centuries. There are so many other things to explore outside of the traditional sights — from food to art to architecture. Read more from this series — Global Experience, …
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Hotel Review: We spent a night at the boutique Park Terrace Hotel in Bryant Park and loved the mod room, free breakfast, and upscale amenities
Many people visiting New York want to stay in Midtown Manhattan, near Times Square. Nearby Bryant Park is a more relaxed option to consider, and home to the boutique four-star Park Terrace Hotel. Only a year old, the Park Terrace is an amenity-rich, sophisticated hotel with many perks that help offset a starting price of …
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass review: If you want Hilton perks with a low annual fee, this is the card for you
The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card is a top hotel credit card that comes with a big welcome bonus, an excellent earning structure, and several lucrative perks. You can use Hilton Honors points for hotel stays, as well as other types of travel, shopping and dining and more. However, you’ll get more bang for …
You can rent the James Bond villain’s ‘floating lair’ from ‘Casino Royale’ — for about $72,000 a week. Take a look inside the sleek yacht.
A yacht, named Casino Royale, was featured in the 2006 James Bond movie of the same name, appearing as the “floating lair” of the villain, and was subsequently named after the film. The yacht is a Sunseeker Predator. According to Camper & Nicholsons, it was first delivered in 2004 before being refitted in 2016. Over …
A 75-year-old cruise-ship passenger jumped overboard between Portugal and Spain (CCL)
A 75-year-old Costa Cruises passenger jumped overboard, a Costa representative told Business Insider. The representative said the woman “voluntarily” jumped from the balcony in her cabin on the Costa Pacifica ship. The woman’s body was found on the morning of October 11 off the coast of Spain, the NATO Allied Maritime Command said in a …
Hotel review: This all-inclusive Conrad luxury resort in the Maldives is like having your own private island — that you can actually afford
If you’re looking for a relaxing honeymoon, the Maldives is a no-brainer. Consisting of more than 1,000 islands across 26 atolls, there is a lot to choose from — too much, in fact. The is unique from many other resorts in the Maldives because it’s on two islands instead of one, resulting in lots of …
My husband and I saved $36,000 in 2 years to quit our jobs and travel the world. These are the offbeat ways we cut costs.
In early 2019, Mary Kearl and her husband left their full-time jobs to travel the world with their 1-year-old. To prepare for this trip, the couple saved $36,000 over two years. Kearl broke down exactly how they did it, from keeping food and shopping spending low to freelancing on the side to cutting costs in …
I spent 3 days in Lisbon during shoulder season, and there are 4 things everyone should know before they book a trip there
Lisbon, Portugal, was named the most popular travel destination for millennials, but there are four things you should know before you go. Be prepared: Lisbon is bigger than it looks and a bit colder during shoulder seasons than I expected. Lisbon is a great place to visit if you want to see a foreign city …
5 ways to experience Istanbul like a local
Home to the offices of many global companies, Istanbul is seen as one of the top cities for international meetings. But a business trip to Istanbul doesn’t have to be all about work. There are lots of activities that allow you to experience the city like a local, from outdoor activities to culinary delights. Read …
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19 of the best ski resorts in North America that don’t cost a fortune
Vacation rental website HomeToGo compiled a list of the most affordable ski resorts in North America. Resorts were ranked by the cost to enjoy one day/night on the slopes, including equipment rental, lift pass, lunch, and accommodation in the 2018/2019 ski season. British Columbia, Canada was a popular spot last year, with five resorts in …
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How to pick the right credit card to maximize rewards where you spend the most
Beyond earning points, miles, or cash back through a credit card sign-up bonus, one of the easiest ways to rack up rewards is to use a credit card that offers bonus rewards for your most frequent purchases. For example, if you spend a lot on dining, you’ll want a card that earns bonus points when …
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I flew Delta’s extra legroom seats to Iceland and the flight was fine, but the extra space comes with a catch (DAL)
Wow Air and its low-cost Iceland flights no longer exist after its March 2019 bankruptcy, but it’s still possible to score a flight deal to the Land of Fire and Ice. I recently flew on Delta from New York’s JFK to Keflavik, Reykjavik’s main international airport, and got a free upgrade to Comfort-Plus, Delta’s extra-legroom …
The 17 best resorts in the world, according to travelers
Condé Nast Traveler just released its annual Readers’ Choice Awards winners, where travelers rate the best destinations and experiences. 600,000 voters weighed in on nearly 10,000 hotels, resorts, and spas around the world. Here are the top-rated, traveler-approved resorts worldwide. Of the resorts included on this list, seven are centered around African safaris. Two private …
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5 ways you can use Chase Ultimate Rewards points from cards like the Sapphire Preferred, including the most valuable option: free travel
Chase Ultimate Rewards points are some of the most flexible rewards points anyone can earn. Not only can you redeem them for gift cards and statement credits, but you can book travel or transfer points 1:1 to popular airline and hotel partners. You can earn Ultimate Rewards points with the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card, the …
Paul Allen’s 414-foot superyacht is for sale for $325 million. Take a look at the late Microsoft cofounder’s yacht, which has 2 helipads and a glass-bottomed underwater lounge.
Paul Allen’s former 414-foot superyacht is for sale for 295 million euros, or about $325 million, yacht brokerage Burgess told Business Insider. The Lürssen-built yacht, Octopus, has eight decks, an elevator, a cinema, two helipads, and a glass-bottomed underwater observation lounge. The yacht, which Allen reportedly paid about $200 million to have built, has been …
I spent 3 days in Lisbon, Portugal — and I totally get why it’s the most popular travel destination for millennials in 2019
Lisbon, Portugal, is the most popular travel destination for millennials, according to müvTravel. I recently visited Lisbon and I totally see why millennials love it. The city delivers on the millennial aesthetic and gives them what they want when traveling – it’s affordable, and has great nightlife and restaurants. It also doesn’t hurt that Lisbon …
Why James Cameron is arguing with a fellow millionaire about who dove to the deepest point in the ocean
In September, film director James Cameron contacted The New York Times, disgruntled by a declaration made by millionaire adventurer Victor Vescovo, that claimed he had completed the deepest submarine dive in history. Vescovo had dived down to the Mariana Trench, off the coast of Guam — the same area Cameron had dived down to seven …