Michael Y. Park
Senior Editor & Content Contributor
28 Published Articles , 467 Edited Articles
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Michael Y. Park is a journalist living in New York City. For both work and pleasure, he’s traveled to over 60 countries, including having snuck 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. He is a survivor of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on Lower Manhattan, and photographs from his experience have been displayed at the 9/11 Memorial & Museum and at exhibits about the event. He worked at a restaurant helmed by chef Anthony Bourdain, who once threatened to cut off his hands. Justifiably.
Park’s written or edited for The New York Times, The New York Times Magazine, the Points Guy, New York Post, New York Magazine, Toronto Globe and Mail, Toronto Star, Reuters, Epicurious, Bon Appetit, Gourmet, Food and Wine, Oyster, Architectural Digest, People, Men’s Journal, Blender, Details, Rodale’s Organic Life, and other publications, on everything from space chimps to Elmo bongs to serial killers and from inside prisons. In addition, he was the former head of the travel section for LIFE magazine and digital managing editor for the world’s largest publisher of history magazines.
He’s reviewed hundreds of hotels, resorts, and properties, from the infamous “Murder Hotel” in Times Square to the very suite of Costa Rican rainforest retreat where Beyonce and Jay-Z sequestered to allegedly mend their marriage, and has taken forms of transportation from dogsled to dugout canoe. His reporting on the airline industry led to the release of a flight attendant from ICE detention and ultimately led to congressional hearings. He always travels with an extension cord.
When a woman is going to be a parent, everyone tells her, “Now you’re eating for 2.” But no one warns future parents that, from then on, they’ll also be packing for 2 — or more — whenever they travel. As a proud light…
If you have Chase Ultimate Rewards points, there’s a new, very attractive bonus offer. You can currently get 40% more Virgin Atlantic Flying Club Virgin Points when you transfer your Chase Ultimate Rewards points to your airline account. Let’s take…
The Brooklyn Bridge is one of New York City’s most iconic landmarks, rivaled only by the Statue of Liberty and the Empire State Building. Not only older than both of those landmarks, it’s an engineering marvel that revolutionized how bridges…
The U.S. Capitol Building is the center of government in the U.S., an instantly recognizable symbol of democracy, and a byword for everything that various people think is right or wrong about America today. (And, yes, this is where that…
After carrying around an encyclopedia-sized wallet for decades, killing my back, and going through several shattered or otherwise ruined phones over the years, I finally decided to ditch the wallet, go almost entirely cashless, and live a freer life with…
Points and miles are sweet, but you know what’s even sweeter? Especially in the morning and possibly dunked into a steaming hot cup of coffee? That’s right, doughnuts. But you no longer have to choose between infusing points and miles…
The Palace of Versailles, the final home of the prerevolutionary French kings and queens, is another of France’s bucket-list tourist sites and one of the most visited destinations in the world. It’s pretty much one of the first things Americans…
Whether it’s just a side trip during the Olympic Games or the highlight of your trip to Paris, the Eiffel Tower is on pretty much everyone’s bucket list, making it both the world’s most cliched tourist visit and something you…
Being a parent can be tough. Being a parent taking your kid to a Disney park can be even tougher. And being a parent taking your kid to a Disney park in a country where you don’t really speak the…
There are only a handful of hotels that have earned a place as an ingrained part of popular culture — The Plaza in New York City, for example, or Raffles in Singapore. But arguably, only 2 have actually altered the…
One of the most fascinating aspects of travel for me, coming from a globally dominant culture, is seeing what pieces of Americana we dismiss as kitsch or lowbrow that other people throughout the world embrace wholeheartedly and without irony (such…
Airline: Air France (AF)Aircraft: Boeing 777-300ERFlight #: AF0051Route: Dulles International Airport (IAD) to Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG)Date: April 23, 2024Duration: 7 hours, 48 minutesCabin and Layout: Economy class, 3-4-3 configurationSeat: 40J, 40K, 40LCost: 20,000 Flying Blue miles per adult each way (or from $600 cash) A…
Airline: American Airlines (AA)Aircraft: 737-800Flight #: AA1056Route: LaGuardia Airport (LGA) to Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW)Date: April 5, 2024Duration: 3 hours, 9 minutesCabin and Layout: Economy class, 3-3 configurationSeat: 28E, 28FCost: 12,000 American Airlines AAdvantage miles each (or from $166 cash) Sometimes, we fly for work; sometimes,…
LaGuardia Airport’s been the butt of jokes in New York City for as long as anyone here can remember, from its too-short runways that seem to dare pilots to dip their toes in Flushing Bay to terminals that leave confused…
If you’ve ever read an E.L. Doctorow novel or caught an episode of “The Gilded Age,” you may know Saratoga Springs as the ultimate playground for posh Americans in the late 19th century. It was an elite retreat known first…
Albany! If the mere mention of the state capital of New York doesn’t send a shiver of excitement down your spine, then, well, congratulations, you’re a perfectly normal human being. Despite its storied history, central location, and obvious political importance…
The biggest award chart change of 2024 (so far) is upon us! The highly anticipated revision to Alaska Airlines’ Mileage Plan charts is going into effect starting today and through March 24, 2024, according to One Mile at a Time….
Update:The offer mentioned below has expired and is no longer available. A week after New Year’s Day, you’re probably going to be out of Champagne. So why not get your refill in Paris? If you’ve got the Flying Blue miles,…
American Airlines has good news and bad news for flyers who just can’t stay off their laptops and phones. The good? AA is rolling out high-speed Wi-Fi to almost 500 regional, third-party-operated aircraft starting next year — which means that…
The vacation ownership company Hilton Grand Vacations has agreed to acquire Bluegreen Vacations Corporation in a $1.5 billion deal, both companies announced today, November 6, 2023. “Bluegreen Vacations … boasts key lead-generating strategic partnerships that will broaden our reach and…
Spirit Airlines is giving Coloradans a big lump of coal for the winter holidays: It will leave Denver International Airport in early January. “We’re forced to make some tough choices,” Spirit spokesperson Thomas Fletcher said in an emailed statement to…
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.
Content Series Lead
Andrew was born and raised in the Chicago suburbs but now lives in Queens, New York.
Content Contributor
Ashley discovered a love for travel in college that’s continued as her family has grown. She loves showing parents how they can take their families on trips using points and has contributed to numerous publications and podcasts.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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).
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.