Travel

The most notable credit card lounge collection is, of course, the American Express Centurion Lounges, but more recently, we’ve seen the launch of Capital One Lounges and now Chase Sapphire Lounges. The addition of Chase Sapphire Lounges is a great…

Outside of aviation geeks, most travelers don’t pay much attention to what type of plane they’re flying on. However, if you’re someone who values the best possible experience while flying, whether it’s in economy, premium economy, business, or even first…

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…

Olympic National Park is found in the northwest corner of Washington nestled between the sand and mountains. Mount Olympus dominates this area, which is where the park got its name. This unique park is composed of 3 diverse ecosystems, including…

Every year, tens of thousands of visitors flock to the island paradise of Kauai in the Hawaiian Islands. Known as the “Garden Island,” it’s full of lush greenery and gorgeous tropical flowers. This island appeals to nature lovers and beach…

Using points and miles to make luxury travel more affordable is kind of my thing. I love using points and miles to plan exotic trips to faraway destinations. But, let’s be real — most of us can’t travel like that…

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….

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…