Christy's Latest Posts

The coronavirus pandemic caused international travel to grind to a halt in 2020. In March 2020, the U.S. Department of State imposed a “Level 4: Do Not Travel” advisory instructing Americans “to avoid all international travel due to the global…

You may have heard of both APR and APY, but not been sure what each means. It’s also easy to understand why someone might confuse the terms APR and APY since both are used to calculate interest and both significantly…

Are you planning a trip to Oahu, the Big Island of Hawaii, or Lanai? Or maybe you’re just trying to decide which island is the best choice for your next vacation? Well, you’re in luck because we’ve put together an…

No one wants to get to the airport only to realize you’ve left your driver’s license at home. Well now, depending on what state you live in, you may be able to access your ID from your smartphone thanks to…

If you’re planning on driving in another country, you’ll need to get familiar with International Driving Permits (or IDPs). They’re inexpensive and easy to obtain — and even work as a form of identification in more than 180 countries worldwide….

Trusted Traveler Programs (or TTPs) allow members to use expedited lanes at U.S. airports and when crossing international borders. They are specifically set up to preapprove “low-risk” travelers, and each applicant must meet a set of minimum requirements in order…

Your COVID-19 vaccination record card (or at least a digital version) might soon be something you can’t leave home without! It’s your passport to being allowed to visit many countries around the world, returning to work or school at some…

While COVID-19 meant travel came to a standstill, it also ushered in the golden age of virtual travel! Searches for virtual tours became increasingly popular, which lead to a rise in the quality and availability of some pretty incredible videos….

A credit report is a very important document — it can help you obtain a mortgage, a new car, or a student loan. It can also determine whether or not you get approved for a new travel rewards credit card…

One thing we try to reinforce here at Upgraded Points is that if you pay the full statement balance on your credit card bills each month, you won’t ever have to pay interest! If you are a responsible credit cardholder,…

Both credit cards and personal loans offer a way to borrow funds — and both may even have some of the same standard terms. For example, both credit card and loan agreements will both include the funds offered, interest rate,…

Now that travel restrictions are starting to ease, you might be planning for a trip. Whether you are traveling domestically or internationally, you will possibly be required to provide a negative COVID-19 test in order to travel. Some are free (with…

You probably factor in a number of things when picking your next credit card, including the card’s travel rewards, cash-back potential, interest rates, and more. But looking at a card’s particular processing network? It’s probably not even on your radar! But…

Credit and debit cards are some of the easiest ways to pay for goods and services while traveling internationally. You can avoid carrying large amounts of cash, benefit from your card’s automatic currency conversion, and withdraw cash from ATMs as…

If you’re ready to start paying down your debt, the first step is to create a debt payoff plan. If you only have 1 debt, the strategy is pretty straightforward: just make the biggest monthly debt payment you can afford…

If you’ve ever tried to get a loan or credit card, you’ve probably heard of your personal credit score. But if you own a small business, you’ll probably want to get familiar with your business credit score as well. Having…

If you need to make a payment on your personal or business Chase credit card, want to notify Chase of any potential fraud, or need to contact Chase Customer Service with a question, you can contact Chase using the number…

If you want to contact American Express Customer Service regarding your personal, business, or corporate card, you’ve come to the right place. Whether you want to make a payment, apply for a new card, dispute a fraudulent charge, or simply…

When you apply to open a new checking or savings account at your local bank or credit union, you might not realize that these companies will review something called a ChexSystems report. If you are approved, there is generally no…

The thought of getting sick or injured while traveling can be one of the most stressful aspects of planning a trip. Often, travelers assume that their primary health insurance will cover all costs of medical expenses on their trip, but not every…

While Airbnb has been offering in-person Experiences, it recently expanded these Experiences to make many of them virtual due to the COVID-19 pandemic. For times when travel isn’t an option and we are desperately craving some cultural immersion, Airbnb Online…