There is a New York City girls’ trip that costs $800 per person before you even leave the airport. Flights, hotels, the whole thing adds up fast. This is not that version. Four of us flew from Kansas City to LaGuardia for $45 total. We checked into the Andaz 5th Avenue — one of the […]

When my son was in 3rd grade, we started reading and listening to the Harry Potter books together—and something just clicked. Before long he was mixing “potions” in the kitchen, carrying around a wand made of sticks from our backyard, and even building a life-size Nimbus 2000 out of whatever he could find in the […]

If you’ve been hanging around the points and miles world lately, you know Bilt has been busy. And their latest update might be my favorite one yet — because it gives everyday shoppers a brand-new way to earn Bilt points without needing a Bilt credit card. Yep, you can now transfer your Rakuten earnings into […]

Sometimes the best trips don’t go exactly as planned. When we landed in Oakland, our original plan was to drive straight to Yosemite National Park — but a record-breaking snowstorm had other ideas. Roads were closed, the park had no electricity, and all we could do was pivot. So we pointed the car toward the […]

Seattle marked both the beginning and end of our 10-day Washington road trip. We flew into Seattle, drove straight to Mount Rainier National Park, spent several days exploring Olympic National Park, and finished our trip back in the city. Our final stop was everything we needed — a comfy stay at the Hyatt Place Seattle […]

If you’re planning a Maui family trip and want easy access to the island’s best snorkeling beaches, this guide is your cheat sheet. From turtle-filled bays to colorful coral reefs, these snorkel spots showcase the best of Maui’s underwater world — and every one of them is close to a Hyatt resort bookable with points. […]

Looking for a Santa Barbara family getaway with a unique twist? Combine a stay at a beachfront Hyatt, a ferry ride packed with marine wildlife, and sea cave kayaking at Channel Islands National Park for an adventure you’ll never forget. This trip was extra special because we booked most of it using points and miles […]

One of my favorite parts of this hobby? Helping my family travel like they deserve—without paying full price. My sister and her husband recently took a long weekend to Philadelphia, and thanks to smart points strategies, they paid just $22 total for flights and hotel. Here’s how they booked it—and what made it one of […]

All-inclusive resorts in Mexico can be shockingly expensive when you pay cash, especially for families booking multiple rooms during school breaks. The good news? You can still book Hyatt all-inclusive resorts in Mexico using points. But Hyatt made major changes to its award chart in May 2026, and almost everything you may have read about […]

In December, my family of four headed to New York City for a festive holiday getaway — and get this — we paid less than $50 out-of-pocket for our flights and hotel thanks to points and miles! From the nostalgic window displays at Macy’s Herald Square to the twinkling lights at the Columbus Circle Holiday […]