Ashley Onadele
Content Contributor
124 Published Articles
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Ashley didn’t travel internationally until she was in her early twenties when she and her then-boyfriend, now husband, gifted themselves with an all-inclusive trip to Cancun, Mexico after graduating from college. Since then there have been a few more all-inclusive resort stays, over a dozen more countries explored, and the added addition of two kids.
Ashley’s travel adventures have evolved to match her lifestyle. While she and her husband still enjoy coveted time away without the kids, the majority of her travel now revolves around family.
Points and miles have made otherwise impossible travel goals a reality for Ashley and her family. Her favorite thing in the world is showing other parents how to pursue the dream of travel through a combination of points, miles, and savvy travel tips.
Formerly the sponsored content writer at The Points Guy, Ashley has also contributed to Conde Nast Traveler, Matador Network, and other online and print publications. She also briefly shared her travels and points and miles tips on her own blog (frommyworld.com) as well as self-published “Your Baby Can Travel” which shows parents how to travel with their babies.
In other media, Ashley has appeared as a guest on podcasts like The Lily and Magnolia Travel Podcast and the Black Women Travel Podcast. She also recently moderated a panel about Black travel at the first-ever AfriCon conference in Los Angeles in 2022.
When she isn’t traveling, Ashley is obsessing over a new fiction novel, spending quality time with her kids and husband or the likeliest activity of researching where her points and miles will take them next!
During the month of October, you could earn 8x Marriott Bonvoy points per dollar spent on dining out through Marriott’s latest Eat Around Town promo, which ends on October 31, 2024. Here’s what you need to know to earn bonus…
Hyatt recently acquired the luxury hotel and resort brand Mr & Mrs Smith, which includes more than 800 locations. To celebrate the recent integration of more than 100 of these properties, Hyatt is offering double points at Mr & Mrs…
Card perks aren’t just for free hotel stays and award flights. Sometimes, the benefits of holding a particular debit or credit card can be enjoyed right at home, and one example is Bank of America’s Museums on Us program. More…
As we say goodbye to summer and hello to fall, you may be considering a trip to take in the beauty of this season. And as with any vacation, you might be looking for accommodations where you can use your…
Fall is such a beautiful time of the year. Changing leaves, cooler weather, and a general slowing down are welcome after an often busy summer season. It’s also a great time for weekend road trips where you can take your…
Marriott Bonvoy and Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer allow elite members of their respective loyalty programs to match their status to the other program, thanks to an expanded partnership. It takes mere minutes to complete the process, and your matched status is…
Disney has announced a fall sale, with room rates starting at $79 for a limited time at select Disney Springs Resort Area Hotels in Orlando. Here’s everything you need to know about saving on your next Walt Disney World vacation….
If you’re headed to the Olympics and have the Chase Sapphire Reserve® in your wallet, you’re in for a special treat. Cardholders have the opportunity to enjoy athlete meet-and-greets with former Olympians, curated dining experiences, lounge access at the Visa…
This summer, my family and I embarked on an 8-week trip to Europe. We had grand plans of exploring new-to-us places as well as returning to some old favorites. When planning the details of our adventure, I included a variety…
Theme park vacations are fun for every age. Whether it’s an adults-only trip with friends or a family vacation with kids, you’re in for a good time. Universal Studios is one such theme park in the U.S. and abroad that…
With more than 30 hotel brands and thousands of hotels across 139 countries, Marriott International is one of the world’s largest hotel chains. Marriott Bonvoy, the brand’s loyalty program, has almost 200 million members, making it the largest hotel loyalty…
Snorkeling is a popular beach vacation activity that almost anyone can enjoy. You don’t have to be a particularly strong swimmer as you can wear a snorkel vest to keep you afloat. Snorkeling also doesn’t require you to swim too…
Mexico is a popular destination for American and Canadian travelers due to its proximity, world-class accommodations, and amazing beaches. All major airlines fly several times a day to many cities in Mexico from cities throughout North America. It also doesn’t…
When kids who love Disney grow up and have kids of their own, they often can’t wait to share that incomparable Disney magic with them. But what if your kids are still toddlers or babies? What you can and can’t…
Los Cabos, Cabo San Lucas, or even just “Cabo” — you’ve heard about the popular Mexican resort destination. It’s been a top pick for travelers for several decades, largely thanks to its fantastic weather, beautiful beaches, excellent food, rousing nightlife,…
At the start of a 2-week trip to South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, my best friend and I had the opportunity to spend 5 nights at the Hyatt Regency Cape Town. We would spend the remaining part of our trip…
Hawaiian Airlines remains one of the most comfortable ways to fly to the Hawaiian Islands. For starters, it’s standard practice that every passenger gets a hot meal on every flight regardless of which cabin they fly in. Amenity kits are…
Travelers to Jamaica can look forward to warm, humid weather, great beaches, rum punch, and a laid-back attitude. Indeed, it’s a great destination for families and singles alike, even if they’re not sharing a resort. At an all-inclusive resort, guests…
Alaska Airlines is a Seattle-based airline often rated one of the best family-friendly U.S. airlines. The airline’s hubs are located along the West Coast and Anchorage, Alaska, making it ideal for West Coast travelers. Families can enjoy a comfortable travel…
There are more than 50 rides between 4 theme parks and 2 water parks at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida. While plenty of rides don’t have a height requirement — meaning anyone can ride — there are some…
In addition to Disney theme parks around the world, Disney provides magical cruise vacation experiences for guests of all ages on Disney Cruise Line. Castaway Club, the cruise line’s loyalty program, rewards cruisers with status and perks after completing just…
Founder & CEO
Founder and CEO of Upgraded Points, Alex is a leader in the industry and has earned and redeemed millions of points and miles. He frequently discusses the award travel industry with CNBC, Fox Business, The New York Times, and more.
Senior Content Contributor
Amar is an avid traveler and tester of products. He has spent the last 13 years traveling all 7 continents and has put the products to the test on each of them. He has contributed to publications including Forbes, the Huffington Post, and more.
Former Content Contributor
Andrew was born and raised in the Chicago suburbs and now splits his time between Chicago and New York City.
Former Content Contributor
Brandon was born and raised in California and really didn’t travel much growing up, even outside of his own state. While attending college, he was constantly looking to find the cheapest fares to any destination abroad, and quickly learned about the motto- “Chase the fare, not the destination”. Luckily, his first international flight was to Costa Rica (under $300 roundtrip) where that “Pura Vida” lifestyle (and Imperials) hit him hard, and he knew he had to see more.
Content Contributor
Brett is a personal finance and travel junkie. Based out of Fort Lauderdale, he’s had over 100 credit cards and earned millions of credit card rewards. He learned the tricks of the trade from his mom, and has taken many steps forward. He wasn’t exposed to much travel as a kid, but now has a goal of reaching 100 countries in his life. In 2019, he sold all of his possessions to become a digital nomad, and he says it was one of the best decisions he ever made. He plans to do it again at some point in his life.
Former Content Contributor
Brian’s first ever airplane ride was in a private turbo-prop jet. He was merely an intern boy trying to make a good impression, but it turns out the plane made an impression on him.
Former Content Contributor
Caroline Lupini always enjoyed traveling, but it became her goal to do as much as possible after a 3-week trip around Europe in 2011. In March 2014, Caroline left her job and embarked on nearly full-time travels.
Former Content Contributor
Charlie is a Senior First Officer and has been an airline pilot for nearly 15 years. He currently flies long-haul on the Boeing 787 Dreamliner after 10 years buzzing around Europe on the A320. He got into travel and aviation from an early age, fortunate enough to be taken on some great family holidays.
Former Content Contributor
Cherag was born in a family associated with aviation and was hooked on to planes since the age of 3, the time he undertook his first flight on an Airbus A310 from Mumbai to Dubai.
Social Media & Brand Manager
Chris holds a B.S. in Hospitality and Tourism Management and managed social media for all Marriott properties in South America, making him a perfect fit for UP and its social media channels. He has a passion for making content catered toward family travelers.
Senior Finance Contributor
Christine ran her own business developing and managing insurance and financial services. This stoked a passion for points and miles and she now has over 2 dozen credit cards and creates in-depth, detailed content for UP.
Travel & Finance Content Contributor
After having “non-rev” privileges with Southwest Airlines, Christy dove into the world of points and miles so she could continue traveling for free. Her other passion is personal finance, and is a certified CPA.
Senior Content Contributor
Daniel has loved aviation and travel his entire life. He earned a Master of Science in Air Transport Management and has written about travel and aviation in publications like Simple Flying, The Points Guy, and more.
Content Contributor
Realizing that it wasn’t all first class flights and 5-star hotels, Dan started the Points With a Crew blog in 2014, with the aim of helping families (especially large families) to use miles, points and credit card rewards to take that trip that they might have thought they couldn’t afford. He has spent over 10 years covering developments in the travel rewards credit card space. His expertise extends to all things personal finance, including student loans, budgeting and real estate, and his work has been featured in sites all over the Internet, including NerdWallet, Forbes, Business Insider, Rocket Mortgage, CreditCards.com, Bankrate, Turbotax, Credit Karma and Intuit Mint.
Former Content Contributor
Born and raised in New York, David still remembers his first flight when he was only four years old: a U.S. Airways trip from New York-La Guardia to Palm Beach, Florida. He formed his love of travel around that and other family vacations, including to England at age eight and Namibia when he was 13. During college, a four-country trip around Europe with a friend cemented his passion for seeing the world.
Content Contributor
An experienced points hacker, Erin is Alex’s partner-in-crime and contributes to Upgraded Points with in-depth guides and relationship management. Erin’s work has been cited in multiple major publications.
Former Content Contributor
Greg got bitten by the travel bug at a young age while traveling with his Dad on business trips to Asia. He took over the family business in 2012 and uses it to maximize his loyalty points earning. His obsession with earning and burning loyalty rewards points allows him to travel over 100 days every year.
Former Content Contributor
Since discovering miles and points in 2010, Jeff has traveled to over 35 countries, flying in first class, business class, and sometimes even in coach. Whether he’s staying in a hostel dorm, or in a luxury suite at a 5 star hotel, Jeff is constantly looking for the best deal to make travel as close to free as possible.
Senior Editor & Content Contributor
A long-time points and miles student, Jessica is the former Personal Finance Managing Editor at U.S. News and World Report and is passionate about helping consumers fund their travels for as little cash as possible.
Former Content Contributor
Julian Kheel first learned the ins and outs of credit card rewards and travel loyalty programs while flying more than 200,000 miles a year as a TV producer and director for World Wrestling Entertainment. With over 15 years of professional experience studying travel loyalty programs, Julian has served as CNN’s Senior Editor covering travel and credit cards, as well as the Editorial Director of The Points Guy, and has worked as a consultant for the Big 3 U.S. airlines.
Compliance Associate
From credit cards to high-yield savings accounts, debt management and avoidance, CDs, and insurance, Kathryn has or does edit it all, and more. Just don’t expect her to always be at home while working. All she needs is four things — her computer, phone, passport, and wallet — and she can get her work done from anywhere. She does pack clothes, of course, but they’re easily replaceable if anything goes amiss (and she has baggage insurance with two of her credit cards).
Former Content Contributor
Currently based in New York, Lindsey spent her childhood in Connecticut dreaming of far-off places. Her first flight was to Disney World at age 11. Her second flight was for a high school field trip to Italy, though travel as a career didn’t stick until she studied abroad in London during college and discovered the true power of her passport. Since then, she’s worked as a travel editor at Jetsetter and Travel + Leisure, where she reported on everything from African safaris to hot hotel openings to, yes, Disney World.
Senior Content Contributor
Lori is an intrepid traveler who loves creating itineraries that exude “luxe on a budget.” She’s written for CNN, NBC, The Infatuation, and more, and loves to muse about points-fueled trips to Sri Lanka, Sicily, and Myanmar.
Former Content Contributor
Lukas escaped his hometown south of Sydney and moved to the big smoke immediately after high-school, but the bright lights of the city weren’t enough, and he soon set his sights on more exotic international destinations and has been in love with travel ever since.
Former Content Contributor
Born and raised in Mobile, Alabama, Michael took his first international trip in 2013 with friends to the Bahamas. Although he didn’t travel much in his younger years, on that trip, he caught the travel bug and has been hooked ever since.
Former Content Contributor
Senitra Horbrook is a frequent solo traveler who began using points and miles in 2012. Formerly credit cards editor at The Points Guy, Senitra has also contributed to Forbes Advisor, AwardWallet, Insider, among others.
Former Content Contributor
Always a fan of flying, it was only natural that Spencer was drawn to finding a way to improve the travel experience.
Former Senior Content Contributor
Stephen is an established voice in the credit card space, with over 70 to his name. His work has been in publications like The Washington Post, and his Au Points and Awards Consulting Services is used by hundreds of clients.
Former Finance Contributor
While writing about finance and insurance isn’t something that keeps most people awake at night, it is what Susan Wright has focused on for more than 25 years. As a financial copywriter, Susan has an eye for money-related details such as credit and savings, and she loves to pass along helpful information to consumers. Susan holds 11 financial industry designations (including CLU, ChFC, RHU, REBC, ADPA, CITRMS, CIPA) as well as several licenses.
Content Contributor
Ehsan is an avid traveler who has traveled to 100 countries, diligently using points and miles to fund his journeys. Currently, he holds 32 active credit cards and earns over a million points and miles annually, primarily using them for luxury hotels and long-haul premium cabins.
Senior Editor & Content Contributor
Nick’s passion for points began as a hobby and became a career. He worked for over 5 years at The Points Guy and has contributed to Business Insider and CNN. He has 14 credit cards and continues to leverage the perks of each.
Editor & Content Contributor
Chris is a freelance writer and editor with a focus on timely travel trends, points and miles, hot new hotels, and all things that go (he’s a proud aviation geek and transit nerd). Formerly full-time at The Points Guy, his work can now be found at AFAR, Travel + Leisure, Condé Nast Traveler, The Washington Post, and Lonely Planet, among others
Senior Content Contributor
Carissa served in the U.S. Air Force where she developed her love for travel and new cultures. She started her own blog and eventually joined The Points Guy. Since then, she’s contributed to Business Insider, Forbes, and more.
Senior Content Contributor
Victoria holds a B.A. in Broadcast Journalism from the Howard University School of Communications and is an award-winning journalist, travel reporter, and the founder of the “Carrying On with Victoria M. Walker” newsletter.
Editor & Content Contributor
Alberto joined UP in 2024 after serving as the international editor in chief of Forbes Advisor. His passion for points and miles began when he moved to the U.S. from Italy in 2000, leading him to become the first managing editor of The Points Guy in 2017. He previously worked at Vice News, Bloomberg, and CNN.
Originally from Milan, Alberto has lived in Rome and Atlanta and now resides in Brooklyn, New York. He speaks Italian, French, and Spanish, has traveled to every continent except Antarctica, and enjoys skiing, mountaineering, and flying—often with his wife, Regan, and always in a window seat.
Senior Content Contributor
Boasting a portfolio of over 20 cards, Jarrod has been an expert in the points and miles space for over 6 years. He earns and redeems over 1 million points per year and his work has been featured in outlets like The New York Times.
News Managing Editor
Ryan completed his goal of visiting every country in the world in December of 2023 and now plans to let his wife choose their destinations. Over the years, he’s written about award travel for publications including AwardWallet, The Points Guy, USA Today Blueprint, CNBC Select, Tripadvisor, and Forbes Advisor.
Senior Editor & Content Contributor
Juan has extensive experience in writing and editing content related to credit cards, loyalty programs, and travel. He has been honing his expertise in this field for over a decade. His work has been featured in various prestigious publications, such as USA Today, CNN Underscored, Forbes and The Points Guy. Juan is the visionary behind JetBetter, a premier award booking concierge service.
Senior Editor & Content Contributor
Michael Y. Park is a journalist living in New York City. He’s traveled through Afghanistan disguised as a Hazara Shi’ite, slept with polar bears on the Canadian tundra, picnicked with the king and queen of Malaysia, tramped around organic farms in Cuba, ridden the world’s longest train through the Sahara, and choked down gasoline clams in North Korea.
Editor-in-Chief
With years of experience in corporate marketing and with a nonprofit, Keri is now editor-in-chief at UP, overseeing daily content operations and reviewing thousands of UP articles in the process.
Director of Operations & Compliance
Kellie’s professional experience has led her to a deep passion for compliance, data reporting, and process improvement. Kellie’s learned the ins and outs of the points and miles world and leads UP’s compliance operation.
Senior Features Editor
With a degree in media and journalism, Stella has been in the points and miles game for more than 6 years. She most recently worked as a Corporate Communications Analyst for JetBlue. Find her work in The New York Times, USA Today, and more.
Senior Content Contributor
James (Jamie) started The Forward Cabin blog to educate readers about points, miles, and loyalty programs. He’s spoken at Princeton University and The New York Times Travel Show and has been quoted in dozens of travel publications.
Senior Content Contributor and News Editor
Katie has been in the points and miles game since 2015 and started her own blog in 2016. She’s been freelance writing since then and her work has been featured in publications like Travel + Leisure, Forbes Advisor, and Fortune Recommends.
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