The Marriott Bonvoy Business™ American Express® Card is currently offering a higher-than-usual welcome bonus. You can earn 100,000 Marriott points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first three months (the standard offer is for 75,000 points). You have lots of options for redeeming those points — just one example is four free nights …
Author Archives: TravelKinds.Com
Like smartphones, credit cards have drastically evolved over the last decade. Here’s how they’ve changed — for better and for worse.
Like smartphones, credit cards have changed a lot over the last several years. Recent updates to credit cards include chip-and-PIN technology and the ability to tap to pay. Cards like the American Express® Gold Card also now feature metal designs. As credit cards have become more sophisticated and added new benefits, some of their annual …
Rafael Nadal, one of the highest-paid tennis players of all time, just won his 4th US Open. Here’s how he spends his millions, from a $725,000 Richard Mille watch to a mansion in Mallorca.
Rafael Nadal, the world No. 2 men’s singles player, won the 2019 US Open and his 19th Grand Slam title. With more than $114 million in career winnings, Nadal is one of the highest-paid tennis players of all time. From buying a yacht to playing the French Open wearing a six-figure Richard Mille watch, Nadal …
The owners of the boat in the California fire that killed 34 blamed their insurers for a lawsuit aimed at limiting victims’ payouts to $0
The owners of the diving vessel that caught fire in California and killed 34 people last week filed a pre-emptive lawsuit last week, seeking to limit payouts to the families of victims. The lawsuit was filed three days after the boat caught fire, while families were still grieving, and bodies of the victims were still …
Exactly what to eat and do at the iconic Pike Place Market, according to a Seattle native
Pike Place Market is one of Seattle’s most famous tourist attractions. But even though it’s a major tourist hub, there are also many hidden local gems to be found and enjoyed there. From a cheese store where you can watch cheese being made to an indie bookstore where the owner sings to guests, these are …
Flight attendants reveal 11 of their best travel hacks
Flight attendants are traveling constantly, so they get plenty of opportunities to hone their skills. Six flight attendants told Business Insider their best travel hacks. They work for a total of six carriers, including Delta Air Lines and United Airlines. Visit Business Insider’s homepage for more stories. Flight attendants fly a lot, so they get …
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A 150-foot, champagne-colored superyacht reportedly once owned — and apparently abandoned — by Nicole Kidman just hit the market. Take a look inside.
A superyacht reportedly once owned by actress Nicole Kidman has hit the market for an undisclosed price, according to yacht management firm Imperial. The superyacht is named Hokulani, the same Hawaiian name Kidman told InStyle Magazine in 2014 that her parents gave her at birth. The boat features a distinctive champagne-colored hull and sleeps 12 …
Brex, the buzzy credit card startup valued at $2.6 billion, is opening a restaurant in the heart of San Francisco’s VC district
Brex, the buzzy credit card startup with a $2.6 billion valuation, is opening a restaurant in San Francisco’s South Park neighborhood. The venture-backed startup decided to revive a neighborhood favorite, South Park Cafe, while introducing a whole new menu and updated vibe. “We saw this as, how could revitalize this for ourselves and for the …
These photos of 90-year-old Japanese men competing in full-contact rugby are all the fitness motivation you need
The Fuwaku Rugby Club, which stages full-contact rugby matches for players over 40 years old, was the first club of its kind in Japan. Players as old as 90 still play competitively for the Tokyo side. “Since I joined Fuwaku Club, I have broken ribs many times and broke my collarbone too.” 86-year-old Ryuichi Nagayama …
An Alaska Airlines employee yelled at passengers to evacuate over Labor Day weekend. The men at the center of the false alarm believe the event was racially charged.
Newark Airport passengers stampeded away from a false threat of an active shooter on Monday. The two Chinese-born men at the center of the incident reportedly believe it was due to racial profiling. The incident unfolded around 8:30 p.m. on Monday, after an Alaska Airlines employee yelled at passengers to evacuate and set off an …
A San Francisco startup pays its employees to go to Burning Man. Their pictures show what it’s like to live in the art-filled desert festival on the company’s dime.
15Five, a performance management software company based in San Francisco, paid for two of its employees to go to Burning Man this year. The startup’s cofounder said the festival teaches people about creativity, an important business skill. The employees shared pictures of their experience with Business Insider. Visit Business Insider’s homepage for more stories. Burning …
The 25 best countries for tourists in 2019, ranked
The World Economic Forum released its ranking of the best countries for tourists in 2019. The organization looked at factors including business environment, safety and security, tourist infrastructure, cultural resources, and price competitiveness. Spain, France, Germany, and Japan tied for the top spot. The US, the UK, Australia, and Canada all made the top 10. …
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The Amex Business Platinum is one of the best credit cards for business owners, and it’s offering a welcome bonus up to 100,000 points right now
If you’re a small business owner who travels frequently, the Business Platinum® Card from American Express is worth a look. It does have a high annual fee of $595, but it offers a long list of perks including up to $200 in airline fee credits each year, up to $200 in annual Dell statement credits, …
Capital One miles are incredibly easy to redeem. Here are 5 ways to use them to book a spontaneous end-of-summer vacation.
Summer may be ending soon, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t time for a final summer trip to enjoy the warm weather. Capital One miles can be redeemed for virtually any flight, hotel, cruise, train, and other eligible travel at a rate of 1 cent per mile. You can also transfer them to a list …
These were the most delayed airports in the US this summer
Flight delays are an inevitable part of travel, but some airports this summer saw more delays than others. Factors ranging from severe weather in some areas, to airline operational problems, to mechanical and even alleged labor issues, led to more than one-third of all flights being delayed at some airports this summer. Passenger advocacy company …
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Some Amex cardholders can get $100 back on stays at luxury hotels like the Ritz and the St. Regis, but not everyone is eligible. Here’s how to see if you are.
Amex Offers are deals for cash back or bonus points, available to Amex cardholders. Cards from the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express to the American Express® Gold Card are eligible. One current offer gets eligible cardholders $100 back on Marriott bookings of at least $500 with select brands. The offer only applies to …
Angry Norwegian Cruise Line passengers said they had to sit in buses for hours without food and water after Hurricane Dorian forced their ship to change its final destination (NCLH)
Passengers on Norwegian Cruise Line‘s Norwegian Breakaway ship told the Miami-based CBS affiliate CBS4 News that they were left on charter buses without food or water for hours after Hurricane Dorian forced their the ship to reroute from Miami to New Orleans. After the ship docked, the passengers were reportedly confined to a cargo terminal …
The 19 most visited cities around the world in 2019
No matter what travel trends crop up, tourists still return to the same tried-and-tested places they know they’re bound to love. The Mastercard Global Destination Cities Index 2019, released this week, ranks 200 cities based on how many international overnight visitors they’re set to receive this year. Here are the 19 most visited cities around …
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Here’s exactly what to do as soon as you open an Amex Platinum credit card to get up to $2,000 of value in your first year
The Platinum Card® from American Express comes with benefits, perks, and rewards that can get you a ton of value. For example, I got more than $2,000 in value during my first year with the card. The card’s steep $550 annual fee may seem unappealing, as long as you’re willing to float that annual fee …
A drive through the exclusive Moscow suburb that’s been compared to Beverly Hills and where homes go for up to $80 million made it clear where ultra-wealthy Russians’ priorities lie: privacy and security
A ritzy Moscow suburb called Rublyovka is home to some of Russia’s most expensive real estate. In Rublyovka, the area surrounding the Rublyovskoye highway, government officials and wealthy businesspeople live in homes that cost up to $80 million, according to Moscow Sotheby’s International Realty. President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev both reportedly have …
14 unexpected places where statues of US presidents can be found around the world
France, Greece, Hungary, Paraguay, Poland, Russia, and the United Kingdom all have former US presidents memorialized as statues. Abraham Lincoln and Ronald Reagan appear the most. But George Washington, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Benjamin Franklin, Rutherford B. Hayes, Thomas Jefferson, Harry Truman, George W. Bush, and Bill Clinton are also all remembered. China, for a while, …
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Russia is the world’s largest producer of diamonds. I toured a mine in Siberia that produced 1.4 million carats of diamonds in 2018 — here’s what it was like.
Russia is the world’s largest producer of diamonds by volume. More than 43 million carats were mined in Russia in 2018. On a recent trip to Russia, I flew from Moscow to Siberia to visit a diamond mine operated by Alrosa, the world’s largest diamond miner by volume. The Botuobinskaya open-pit mine operates 24 hours …
The 10 most livable cities in the world in 2019
The Economist Intelligence Unit released its annual Global Liveability Index, measuring the most livable cities in the world in 2019. The cities were judged by metrics like crime rates, healthcare quality, infrastructure, education, and levels of corruption. Vienna, Austria, kept the top spot for the second year in a row. No US city made the …
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I love the Amex Platinum for its airport lounge access, but I may switch to the Chase Sapphire Reserve for these 4 reasons
The Platinum Card® from American Express has saved me hundreds of dollars while traveling by giving me access to premium airport lounges. I also discovered this card offers the best emergency evacuation insurance, which is a must for regular travelers. Unfortunately, it’s hard for me to use the travel credits offered by this credit card, …
I’m taking over $12,000 worth of flights in 2019, but I paid less than $2,500 — here’s how.
I fly 80,000 miles per year on average, and the costs of all of those flights can add up With some simple strategies, I’m taking $12,154 worth of flights in 2019 but I’m only paying $2,477. I take advantage of flight deals to save money, and use points and miles to cover the cost of …
Inside Trump’s controversial luxury golf resort in Ireland, where Pence spent US tax dollars and sparked outrage
US Vice President Mike Pence was widely criticized for staying at the Trump International Golf Links and Hotel in Doonbeg, Ireland. Critics like US Senator Ted Lieu questioned the ethics of the vice president staying at a Trump-owned resort. Lieu tweeted that Pence’s actions are tantamount to “funneling taxpayer money” to Trump. Doonbeg is approximately …
Some Royal Caribbean, Disney, and Norwegian Cruise ship passengers are stuck at sea as Hurricane Dorian creeps dangerously close to Florida (RCL, CCL)
Royal Caribbean International, Disney Cruise Line, and Norwegian Cruise Line have extended the itineraries for some cruises that began in Florida as Hurricane Dorian nears the state. The cruise lines have canceled or changed the itineraries for a number of other cruises. Hurricane Dorian has killed at least five people in the Bahamas. The Category …