Jessica's Latest Posts

Timing is key when buying travel insurance. It’s best to buy travel insurance within 2 weeks of making your first trip payment. You can buy travel insurance at any time, even after departure with some travel insurance providers. Still, the…

Airline: Spirit AirlinesAircraft: Airbus A320Flight #: NK1679Route: Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) > George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH)Date: May 26, 2023Duration: 2hr 59minCabin and Layout: Spirit Airlines main cabin economy class; 178 standard seats and 8 Big Front Seats across 31…

‌COVID-19 continues to add a layer of uncertainty to travel, especially international journeys. Travelers may be unsure how to travel protected from COVID-19 and navigate international vaccine, testing, and quarantine requirements. While most countries have dropped COVID-19 entry requirements, there’s…

Traveling can be exciting but also comes with uncertainties and risks. But if you’ve covered your trip with travel insurance, you’ve got a lifeline in your pocket: the travel insurance company’s 24-hour travel assistance hotline. Whether you’re just planning your…

Traveling abroad can introduce you to new and thrilling experiences as you immerse yourself in diverse cultures and stunning landscapes. But you’re probably not prepared to explore the complexities of a foreign healthcare system. Medical emergencies can happen anytime, and…

Travel can be an exciting and enriching experience, but it’s not without risks. Unforeseen events such as medical emergencies abroad or trip cancellations can disrupt your plans and leave you with financial losses. When things go wrong on your trip,…

Planning an adventurous trip? Your travel insurance might not cover everything you want to do — particularly if you plan on adventure activities or winter or extreme sports.  Whether diving the ocean’s depths or ziplining through a forest, sports travel…

Unexpected circumstances can disrupt even the best-laid travel plans, which is where Cancel for Any Reason (CFAR) travel insurance comes in. With CFAR travel insurance, you can cancel your trip for almost any reason and receive partial reimbursement for nonrefundable…

I visited Hilton Grand Vacations Club Elara Center Strip Las Vegas for 3 nights in May with my husband. We stayed at the hotel using a timeshare vacation package from Hilton Grand Vacations (HGV) and attended a presentation during our…

Behind the scenes of every credit card transaction are processes and payment infrastructures that come with costs — and credit card networks charge businesses interchange fees for these costs. Credit card interchange rates affect every credit card payment you accept…

When you log in to your credit card account, you’ll see your current balance and available credit. If you don’t understand what these numbers mean, you may get confused about what you’ve spent on your credit card — and what…

I stayed at the Great Wolf Lodge Grapevine in the Dallas, Texas, area with my family of 5 for 2 nights in May 2023. We visited with another family and packed a lot of fun into 3 short days at…

A derogatory mark on your credit report can make getting approved for new credit challenging. From late payments to bankruptcies, derogatory marks may stay on your credit for up to 7 years — or sometimes 10 years for certain types…

I attended a Hilton Grand Vacations (HGV) “ownership” presentation in Las Vegas in May 2023. As a travel and finance nerd, it was honestly pretty fun, and I found it more fascinating than the awkward, high-pressure sales meeting I was…

A credit card minimum payment is the lowest amount you can pay on your credit card account each month to avoid late payment fees and penalties. It’s what you must pay to skate by and avoid immediate disaster, but not…

Having at least 1 credit card can help you build credit as long as you make on-time payments and keep a low credit utilization ratio. However, holding additional credit cards can help you further raise your credit score as they…

When you freeze your credit, you restrict access to your credit report by potential creditors and lenders. Unfreezing your credit lifts this restriction and allows access to your credit report again.  There’s a simple process to follow to freeze or…

You paid off a collection account, but it’s still haunting your credit report. What gives?  It’s a good idea to pay off collection accounts, but the fact is that even paid collection accounts can stay on your credit report for…

I recently stayed at the Tru by Hilton Frisco Dallas with my family for 4 nights on a group trip. The hotel was clean, modern, and welcoming, and its lively lobby made it a great choice for a group stay….

Purchasing a home is typically one of the largest purchases in a person’s lifetime. And with significant closing costs involved in purchasing a home, many wonder if they can use a credit card to potentially earn rewards on these large…

You may not realize that you have multiple credit scores — your FICO score is just one of them.  People often consider FICO scores and credit scores to be the same thing. When we say “credit score,” we often mean…