Travel

Banff National Park, Canada’s first national park, is located in Alberta’s Rocky Mountains, just under 100 miles from Calgary. This spectacular park stretches over 2,564 square miles of mountains, ice fields, striking lakes, scenic valleys, rivers, forests, and meadows. Each…

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…

Joshua Tree National Park is located in southeastern California, where 2 major deserts, the Colorado Desert and the Mojave Desert, meet. Each year, 1.3 million visitors come to see this magnificent park which is known for its rugged rock formations,…

Greece is known for many things. Its history and culture have kept the country at the top of many people’s must-see lists. However, Greece isn’t all about ancient ruins and art. Greece has miles of coastline between the mainland and…

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…

One of the world’s most exclusive and sought-out first class experiences is Air France’s posh first class product, which is known as La Première. Flying almost exclusively to/from its hub airport in Paris-Charles de Gaulle (CDG), the Air France La…

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…

Located in the Chihuahuan Desert, the largest desert in North America, Big Bend National Park stretches over 1,252 square miles of Texas. Big Bend is one of the largest national parks in the country, yet it is also one of…

Spain is one of Europe’s most popular beach destinations, and it’s not hard to see why. Its southern location helps ensure that temperatures never drop too low and its warm summers are tempered by the country’s cool water. Choosing which…

I get it — all you want to do after a long flight is get to your accommodation as fast as possible. When flying to the U.K., the likelihood is you’ll land at London Heathrow (LHR) and be tempted by…

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…

Arches National Park is in Utah’s Canyon Country, a 4-hour scenic drive from Salt Lake City. This incredible park is known for having the largest concentration of sandstone arches on the globe. The park has a remarkable geological story shaped…

When people say they dream about visiting Hawaii, they often mean they dream of visiting Oahu. The island is as close to paradise as you can get on Earth, with beaches to match. Whether you’re a thrill-seeking surfer or prefer…

On a recent trip to New York City, I was excited to check out the new Escape Lounge – A Centurion Studio Partner from my home airport of John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH) just 2 weeks after its opening….

Las Vegas has an abundance of hotels and resorts for all tastes and budgets. So when we decided to have our Level UP Travel meetup in Sin City, picking a hotel was both exciting and a bit overwhelming. With so…

The sinking feeling of dread you get when you hear the final boarding call before you reach your gate is nothing short of awful. Whether you consistently run late or have never missed a flight in your life, you may…

Airline: Virgin Atlantic Aircraft: Airbus A350-1000 Flight#: VS9 Route: London Heathrow (LHR) to New York (JFK) Date: October 28, 2022 Duration: 7hr 7min Cabin and Layout: Upper Suite, 1-2-1 Seat: 4K Cost: 95,000 Virgin Points or from $2,869 cash I was recently invited…

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…

Rocky Mountain National Park is in Colorado, high on the Continental Divide. This national park is part of the Rocky Mountains running from Canada to Mexico. This magnificent park offers breathtaking views of the majestic mountains, free-roaming wildlife, sprawling meadows,…

Italy is at the top of nearly everyone’s travel bucket list. Its history, culture, food, and art make it a haven for all sorts of travelers. The country’s beaches are also a huge draw for tourists who flock to the…

Airline: TAP Air Portugal Aircraft: Airbus A321LRneo Flight #: TP1352 Route: Lisbon (LIS) > London (LHR) Date: September 23, 2022 Duration: 2hr 7min Cabin and Layout: 16 lie-flat seats in a staggered 2-2, 1-1 configuration Seat: 2D Cost: $336 After wrapping up a…