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Sign up for our daily newsletterEmail addressSign upI would like to subscribe to The Points Guy newsletters and special email promotions. The Points Guy will not share or sell your email. See privacy policy.I’m not going to say that school is starting soon, but I’m also not going to say that it isn’t. Even if school isn’t on your radar, retailers are stocking fall items on their virtual shelves and summer selections are starting to enjoy discounts....

Last week, Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico and completely devastated the US territory. Many are still without power, food and water are scarce and much of the island’s infrastructure and housing has been damaged or destroyed.One of the hardest hit areas is Vieques, an island just seven miles off the eastern coast of Puerto Rico. Reports from CNN reveal that the island has been completely destroyed and is almost totally cut off from the world....

If I am being honest, rental car points have never been very high on my priority list. I’ve gotten a free rental here and there over the years, but never anything to jump up and down over. That changed dramatically today! I signed my husband and myself up for Hertz Gold Plus Rewards a few months ago when they started giving away 500 points (enough for a free weekend rental day) just for signing up....

Update 1/5/17: Following a change in policy, it is only possible to use hotel transfers to qualify for the Companion Pass through March 31.See the answers to your most pressing SPG/Marriott Rewards questions in our post-merger Q&A with the heads of both programs.Very early this morning, Marriott closed its acquisition of Starwood — the combined chains now have a total of 5,700 hotels in 110+ countries around the world. Perhaps even more exciting than the number of properties at which you can earn and redeem rewards are the opportunities that Marriott’s new transfer option opens up — particularly when it comes to partners....

Sign up for our daily newsletterEmail addressSign upI would like to subscribe to The Points Guy newsletters and special email promotions. The Points Guy will not share or sell your email. See privacy policy.Every year, most hotel programs make adjustments to their hotel categories, which alters the rate at which you can redeem points for award nights at properties that change categories. Some hotels drop and some (usually more) go up....

Can you guess which Asian airline almost went bankrupt in 2014 but has since rebounded and has become the “world’s best-performing airline stock?” You might want to say Malaysia Airlines, but you’d be wrong. It’s actually an all-economy low-cost carrier you may not be familiar with: SpiceJet.India-based SpiceJet has seen its stock grow 124% already in 2017, with its stock value septupling (that’s 7x) over the last two years:So, what’s the secret to this carrier’s (current) success?...

Scrolling through Instagram, one usually finds a flurry of travel porn and influencers who seem to have the picture-perfect life, seemingly traveling every week to some incredible international destination. But how does a normal, everyday person get the same experience?Today we are announcing TPG Guest Pass where we team up with celebrities and influencers to show you how to recreate their trips using points and miles.Once a month, TPG will partner with celebrities, athletes, photographers and bloggers — with the hope that you can get some serious “tripspiration’ to plan out your next vacation on points....

The 2018 Winter Olympics kicks off this Friday, with opening ceremony scheduled for 6:00am Eastern Time in Pyeongchang, South Korea. But the latest batch of US Olympians just arrived in Seoul, following a high-profile sendoff at San Francisco International Airport (SFO) Tuesday morning.I was on hand to capture the excitement, including an interview with United CEO Oscar Munoz and freestyle skier Gus Kenworthy, who won a silver medal at the 2014 Winter Olympics and will compete in Pyeongchang this month....

A United captain was removed from her flight last night after showing up for duty out of uniform and making strange announcements to passengers over the plane’s PA system.The incident began before takeoff of United Flight #455 in Austin (AUS) when the pilot boarded the aircraft wearing plainclothes and flip-flops along with a green cap and asked passengers to vote on whether she should change into her uniform or fly as she was dressed....

Each Saturday, we round up news stories that you might have missed from the week before, plus a few new stories. If you’re an avid TPG reader, you’ll want to skip ahead to the new stuff. Here’s the top miles, points and travel news you might have missed on TPG this week.Meet Mommy Points: Two Kids, Hundreds of Flights and Millions of MilesIt was a momentous week for TPG – a new vital member has been added to our team, and you may recognize her....

Since announcing its retirement from the fleet in 2017, United has been honoring its beloved 747. From surprise celebratory domestic and international legs to an all-out party flight between San Francisco and Honolulu, the folks at United are certainly dedicated to the Queen of the Skies. But where do those legendary jets go after they are retired? We tracked them down to Victorville, California (VCV), where TPG Editor-at-large Zach Honig captured some stunning photos from above....

Just in time for your next vacation, Croatia, one of the world’s trendiest destinations, is increasing the amount in taxes you’ll have to pay in order to visit it by 25%.In an effort to dull the pains of its exponentially growing tourism industry, Croatia is increasing the price of its tourist tax from 8 kuna ($1.25) per night to 10 kuna ($1.56) per night. The change takes effect as of January 1, 2019, and will apply to accommodations during the peak season, with the exception of campsites....

TPG Contributor Jack Archer rounds up five super-sleek carry-on bags perfect for your next trip, whether you’re looking to splurge on a new suitcase or save money on one.Nothing puts a damper on a getaway like an ugly run-of-the-mill carry-on with zippers that decide to work only periodically. If you’re feeling less than proud of your packing situation, it may be time to ditch the hunk of junk and upgrade to one of these stylish selections, which range in price from $225 to $585....

Most everyone (over a certain age) has seen the “Home Alone” movies where 8-year-old Kevin McCallister is accidentally left behind at home near Chicago while his large extended family goes on holiday to Paris. Due to miscounting, chaos, running late, scattered seat assignments and lots of different “caregivers” involved with no one person in-charge, no one noticed he was still at home by himself until they were flying over the Atlantic....

Ever wondered what it’s like inside the cockpit of a commercial airliner? I recall visiting the cockpit of a Boeing 747 mid-flight at age four and being blown away by the breathtaking views over the Pacific Ocean. Today, however, increased security measures mean access is generally limited to pre-takeoff and post-landing visits with the permission of the flight crew.Luckily, you don’t actually need to sit in the cockpit anymore to take in stunning panoramic views....

While the hot springs are a serious plus, Iceland’s surreal landscape is the true selling point for travelers. With such incredible views, it’s almost a tragedy to hide yourself away in a hotel room, especially when you can stay in a glass cabin on the ocean.The Panorama Glass Lodge is located an hour and fifteen-minutes from Keflavik Airport (on a good day) and is surrounded by mountains, trees, and a scenic fjord....

Sign up for our daily newsletterEmail addressSign upI would like to subscribe to The Points Guy newsletters and special email promotions. The Points Guy will not share or sell your email. See privacy policy.Boeing announced Monday a new order for 20 787-9 Dreamliners, in a deal that would be worth $5.6 billion at current list prices. The customer? An airline you’ve probably never heard of — Bamboo Airways.Bamboo Airways is a Vietnamese startup airline that plans to begin commercial operations in 2019 out of Hanoi’s Noi Bai International Airport (HAN)....

Sign up for our daily newsletterEmail addressSign upI would like to subscribe to The Points Guy newsletters and special email promotions. The Points Guy will not share or sell your email. See privacy policy.Traveling light is a mantra for many frequent fliers, but the phrase takes on a whole new meaning when you decide to leave the atmosphere.Travel and Leisure asked retired astronauts for some of their best travel tips. No, not how to properly suit up for a space walk before making repairs on the International Space Station — but practical advice for us meager earthlings....

Update: Some of the offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here: Barclaycard Arrival.This past week, TPG reader Manu sent me a message via Facebook:“What is the advantage of the Barclaycard Arrival over the Fidelity Investment Rewards American Express Card, which also gets 2% cash back on all purchases, but (unlike the Barclaycard) has no annual fee?“When it comes to cash back, the Fidelity American Express (which earns 2% across the board and has no annual fee) is hard to beat....

At the Paris Air Show today, Boom Supersonic unveiled the complete, refined design of its XB-1 Supersonic Demonstrator, which is set to begin flying next year. Plus, Boom added that the aircraft is going to offer customers a first-class product with lie-flat seats. And with the model in place, the prospect of supersonic travel with Boom is now even closer to a reality, as the company announced that it’s received 76 orders from five airlines....