Hotels

Planning an annual Caribbean vacation is always a welcome respite from the bitter cold in the Northeast. I’ve island-hopped from Aruba to Jamaica (cue “Kokomo” by The Beach Boys), but this past winter, I wanted to visit someplace off the…

All-inclusive resort vacations are a great option when you want an all-in-one experience, especially for families. The best part about an all-inclusive resort for families is that there will inevitably be facilities and activities aimed at satisfying every member of…

Last year I flew across the country to meet a group of women I met on Instagram. It sounds a little nuts, but it ended up being fantastic. We’re all heavily involved in the points-and-miles world so we got along…

Istanbul is a huge city with a rich history, culture, and beautiful architecture. Türkiye’s most populous city has long been on my radar as a place I’ve wanted to visit. The motivation for my journey to the megacity came from…

Costa Rica is a country in Central America known for its coffee, outdoor adventures, world-class surfing, and laid-back lifestyle. It’s an increasingly popular destination for Americans looking to expatriate from the U.S. or buy a vacation home. There are also…

“All-inclusive” is a term you’ve probably heard if you’ve searched for a vacation destination recently, but what, exactly, does it mean? The dictionary definition is “including everything or everyone,” but when we’re talking about all-inclusive in terms of travel, it’s…

Sometimes you need a carefree vacation where the most difficult choice to make is whether to have chicken or fish for dinner. This is particularly true after the holiday season, which can be a stressful and anxiety-inducing time for many…

New York City can be an expensive place to visit, especially if you want to stay in a luxury hotel. It’s a place I’ll travel to any chance I get, and this was actually my second trip there in as…

I embarked on a 2-week trip to Uruguay and Argentina in early December 2022. I visited Punta del Este, a famous seaside resort town in Uruguay; Montevideo, the Uruguayan capital; Buenos Aires, the Argentine capital; and, finally, Mendoza, the city…

Who here likes Disneyland? Who here also likes fancy hotels? Well, you’re in luck, because the JW Marriott, Anaheim Resort is a scant 12-minute walk from Disneyland’s entrance — and it does fancy exceptionally well. I recently spent 2 nights at this…

Park Hyatt is Hyatt’s most exclusive brand, and the majority of the brand’s properties are traditionally found only in major cities, including New York, Tokyo, and Chicago to name a few. The hotels are refined and luxurious and represent the…

In October 2022, Upgraded Points hosted a reader meetup in none other than fabulous Las Vegas, Nevada. I was thrilled at the opportunity to meet some of the amazing UP community and also to meet some of my coworkers who…

I recently took a weekend trip to New York City with my daughter for her birthday. Since New York is expensive, I knew I wanted to book my hotel room with points. Hyatt is my go-to hotel brand and thankfully…

No matter how many times you visit New York, there’s always something new waiting to be discovered. I say that as even on my most recent visit, which was my 12th time in the city, there was still enough of…

When I was planning a recent trip to New York City, I knew I wanted to choose a hotel located nearby Central Park South. My plans were to see a Broadway show and the Radio City Christmas Spectacular, and I…

Update: As of March 2024, Bellagio, a Luxury Collection Resort & Casino, Las Vegas, is now part of Marriott Bonvoy. This review was for a 2022 stay when the property was partners with World of Hyatt. Las Vegas has an…

It’s no secret I’m a fan of Marriott’s AC hotel brand. I’ve stayed at several, mostly in Spain, where I’ve found exceptional value for my travel dollar and for my Marriott Bonvoy hotel loyalty points. My previous AC hotel destinations…

If your first question when I tell you I just visited Curaçao is, “Where’s that?” you’re not alone. This Caribbean island may not be as well known as some other popular vacation spots but it shouldn’t be counted out. Located…

Thompson Hotels is a luxury and upper-upscale hotel brand in the Hyatt family that’s growing in popularity every day. Chances are, you’ve probably heard of Thompson properties, whether in New York, Nashville, or Cabo. In this guide, we’ll show you…

One of Hyatt’s most intriguing hotel brands isn’t Park Hyatt or Grand Hyatt, but rather The Unbound Collection by Hyatt. This small, but growing bunch of hotels has graced Hyatt and added quite a bit of excitement to an otherwise…

I adore the AC Hotels by Marriott brand for its great overall value. Marriott describes the brand as “Distinctively Select” with “modern designs for modern businesses” and mentions that AC Hotels by Marriott can be found in more than 175…