Stephen's Latest Posts

PNC, also known as PNC Bank, is one of the largest banks in the U.S. With locations primarily in the Northeast and headquarters in Pittsburgh, this bank has a tremendous customer base across its 2,500+ branch locations. PNC participates in…

Choice Hotels International is one of the largest hospitality companies in the world. Choice Hotels is one of the bigger competitors to mainstay hotel chains like Hilton, Marriott, and IHG. With headquarters in Rockville, Maryland, Choice Hotels has 7,000+ hotels…

Copa Airlines is the national airline and flag carrier of Panama and is one of the most strategically well-located airlines in the world. By connecting the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, Copa Airlines can take advantage of its equatorial positioning to…

The British-headquartered company is the mastermind behind some of the most profitable hotel brands in the world, including Holiday Inn, Candlewood Suites, and Crowne Plaza. IHG also has numerous luxury brands such as InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, which make up…

Wyndham is the world’s largest hotel chain by number of properties, thanks to its focus on more modestly-sized hotels. It has over 9,000 properties across more than 80 countries globally, which makes Wyndham an internationally renowned hospitality company. While the…

Marriott has been in frequent travelers’ headlines for quite a while now and is bigger than ever with the Marriott Bonvoy program. We already put together the best ways to redeem Marriott Bonvoy points for flights, but if you’re interested…

Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts, formerly known as The Waldorf-Astoria Collection, is a world-famous luxury hotel brand with its first location in none other than New York City. The Waldorf Astoria brand began as an extension of the Waldorf Astoria…

Sometimes it can feel like the credit limit you’re given when you’re approved for a credit card is arbitrary. Card issuers’ algorithms for determining risk are extremely complicated, and they’re relegated completely to software most of the time. If, let’s…

Over the last couple of years, since COVID-19 began impacting the global travel industry, banks and credit card issuers have started offering ways to keep their travel-focused credit cards relevant. American Express worked to boost the value proposition of its…

Gol Transportes Aéreos, shortened to GOL, is a Brazilian low-cost airline. Launched at the turn of the century, this airline now represents one of the major arteries through which South American consumers are transported aerially. With its hub located in…

Maximizing credit card rewards and building up your creditworthiness is all about discipline. It takes a lot of discipline to learn the ins and outs of credit card rewards, from transfer partners to award charts. The name of the game…

The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass^® Card is one of the best hotel credit cards you can get for mid-tier elite status in the world. Whether you pledge loyalty to Hilton or just want the best perks for the lowest…

Credit card retention offers are best defined as 1-time incentives extended from card issuers to continue your card membership. Most of the time, the big banks spent a good chunk of money marketing their credit cards, funding initial welcome bonuses,…

The Blue Cash Everyday^® Card from American Express is a fantastic option for those who prefer a cash-back rewards structure and don’t want to deal with an annual fee. At the same time, this card offers a generous structure and…

Frontier Airlines is an American low-cost carrier, similar to the likes of Spirit Airlines. This airline is the eighth largest in the U.S. and was founded in 1994. Unlike many other airlines, Frontier Airlines was essentially a concoction from the…

In the realm of points travel, people often brag about booking “free travel.” Unless you’re booking a ticket through the Chase Travel Portal, for example, you’re probably not going to get an outright free ticket. When you use points to…

Panama is famous as being an offshore tax haven, but it’s also famous for its tactically shrewd location. Advantageous for facilitating world trade to/from the Western Hemisphere, you can bet Panama’s flag carrier Copa Airlines has a deep regional route…

South African Airways is an unexpectedly small airline when you consider its strategic position as the flag carrier of South Africa. Home to one of the economic powerhouses in Africa, South African Airways has been plagued by a continuous bout…

Hainan Airlines is one of China’s largest airlines. Though not quite as big as Air China, China Southern, or China Eastern, this airline holds the honor of the largest civilian-run airline in China. Even more interesting is the fact that…

TAP Air Portugal is the national flag carrier of Portugal. With its strategic headquarters located centrally in the nation’s capital of Lisbon, it is uniquely positioned to transport passengers to the Western European country. The boutique airline has traditionally been…

South Africa is quite a picturesque vacation spot, located at the southern tip of Africa. Home to some of the best wine in Cape Town and beautiful safari experiences across many ultra-luxurious game reserves throughout the country, there’s something to…