Category: Redeeming Rewards
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Our First Award Travel Road Trip: 7 Free Hotel Nights Out West
This summer we took our first-ever award travel road trip — an 11-day adventure out west where we used points to cover all seven hotel nights. From Rapid City to Rifle to Lincoln, we saved $1,394 and made core memories with our kids along the way. Here’s exactly how we booked it all using Chase…
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Romanticize Where You Live: Travel Doesn’t Always Mean Far
Turns out you don’t need a passport stamp to feel like you’ve escaped — sometimes all it takes is a 3-hour drive, a tank of gas on your travel card, and the reminder that “travel” doesn’t always mean far.
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From Points & Miles to Travel Concierge: My Journey as an Independent Travel Agent
I became an independent travel agent to help families plan affordable vacations using points, miles, and the best cash deals. As your personal travel concierge, I’ll show you how to travel more for less — without the overwhelm.
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Richmond on Points + Miles
My first points-and-miles redemption trip took me to Richmond, Virginia for a girls weekend with my biz besties — the women who’ve cheered me on through every win, flop, and ugly-cry moment in entrepreneurship. Between laughter, charcuterie, and $908 in travel savings, it was the sweetest reminder of why I love teaching families to travel…
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Day 10: Venice — Pizza, Rain & a Dream Come True
In just four hours, we explored Venice — St. Mark’s Basilica, shopping, glass blowing, and of course, pasta and pizza. Even in the pouring rain, this city was pure magic, and we can’t wait to go back.
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Croatia in a Day: Castles, Gelato & a Little Drama
Croatia wasn’t my favorite stop, but it had its moments — from exploring Game of Thrones filming locations and eating gelato in Split to a stressful attempt at swimming in the Mediterranean (plus an angry Croatian bathroom lady 😅). Not every day is perfect, but every stop has a story.
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Day 8: A Fairytale Day in Montenegro
Montenegro was the port I’d been most excited for, and it exceeded every expectation. From watching the sunrise over the Bay of Kotor to winding mountain roads, village shopping, and my first gelato, I left feeling like a different person.
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Day 7: At Sea — Both Can Be True
Our at-sea day was full of massages, ice shows, and water slides — but also some honest reflections about feeling like an outsider. Both can be true, and this was the day I began to see things differently.
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Day 6: Falling in Love with Cephalonia — Villages, Myrtos Beach & Melissani Cave
Cephalonia was hands down my favorite Greek island we visited. From pastries in mountain villages and the breathtaking Myrtos Beach overlook to the magical Melissani Cave, this day was full of wonder (and a little rain drama).
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Day 5: Exploring Chania — Monastery, Olive Oil & a Magician’s Tricks
Our day in Chania started with a visit to the beautiful Arkadi Monastery, a crash course in Greek olive oil, and a wander through Rethymno’s old town (complete with getting scammed by a rose seller 🤦🏻♀️). We wrapped it up with dinner, friends, and a magician’s show back on the ship.
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Mykonos in a Day: Beauty, Bougainvillea & a Bit of Chaos
Waking up in Mykonos felt like a dream — from windmills and waterfront gyros to jewelry shopping and bougainvillea-lined streets. But with three cruise ships in port, the crowds were intense, and I ended the day feeling drained. Still, watching Mamma Mia! as we sailed away was the perfect ending.
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Day 3: Boarding the Voyager of the Seas — Ice Cream, New Friends & a Hot Tub Night
Day 3: Boarding the Voyager of the Seas. We settled in with naps, ice cream, people-watching, and even a hot tub night. Here’s why I love cruising.