About Amar Hussain
Amar was born and raised in England and sadly didn’t catch his bout of wanderlust until his early twenties.
Playing catch up, Amar embarked on an 11-country round-the-world gap year after graduation and then became well and truly hooked. The first gap year inspired a second which ended up being a 23-country down-the-world trip along the Americas.
Since then Amar has endeavored to turn his gap year into a “gap life” and has spent the last 13 years traveling the 7 continents. He has also lived in places such as Australia, Colombia, Costa Rica, and Mexico.
Amar is also an avid travel and outdoor product reviewer and tester. From the blistering Sahara Desert to the glaciers of Antarctica, he has put travel gear through its paces on 7 continents.
Amar holds a B.S. in Management & Strategy from Aston University, still runs the travel website OnlyWanderlust.com, and has contributed to publications such as Forbes, Entrepreneur, Huffington Post, Elite Daily, and Business 2 Community. You can follow him on Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
Countries Visited
U.S. States Visited
Hilton Honors Diamond
Delta SkyMiles Platinum Medallion
Oneworld
The Apartment on Etihad
Virgin Atlantic Upper Class
Lufthansa First Class From Boston (BOS) to Frankfurt (FRA) With 50,000 Asiana Club miles
Chase Ultimate Rewards
Chase Sapphire Preferred®, American Express® Gold Card, Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card
Amar's Latest Articles
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Silver Falls State Park Guide — Camping, Trails, and More
Silver Falls State Park is often called the crown jewel of the Oregon State Park System because of its captivating beauty and scenery. This park is the biggest state park in all of Oregon, and it offers something for everyone,…
Natural Bridge State Park Guide — Hiking, Programs, and More
Virginia’s Natural Bridge State Park is a paradise for nature enthusiasts with its fantastic mountain and valley views, lush forests, and meadows that stretch on and on. This park has a host of activities for visitors to enjoy, including hiking…
The 12 Best Museums in Portland, Oregon [2024]
Portland is known for its eclectic culture and has enough museums to suit virtually any interest. Whether you’re a fan of oddities, photography, or learning about other cultures, there’s an exhibit in the City of Roses for you. Here’s a…
Echo Bluff State Park Guide — Lodge, Trails, and More
Echo Bluff State Park is a hidden gem in the Ozarks region of Missouri. The park allows visitors to experience the beauty of Missouri’s rugged wilderness, surrounded by stunning natural landscapes. With various trails available for hiking, biking, and horseback…
Huntington Beach State Park Guide — Hiking, Camping, and More
Huntington Beach State Park is in Murrells Inlet, South Carolina, and covers a 3-mile stretch of the Grand Strand beach. This park offers many exciting activities, including exploring historic landmarks, hiking on scenic trails, participating in educational programs, fishing, and…
The 12 Best Museums in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania [2024]
Music, history, and science are just a few of the topics visitors can learn about when visiting Pittsburgh’s galleries and exhibits. No matter what your interests are or who you’re traveling with, there’s a Pittsburgh museum that belongs on your…
The 25 Best Zoos and Aquariums in the U.S. [2024]
Nearly every city in the U.S. has at least 1 zoo or aquarium, so choosing which attractions to visit can be daunting. From facilities that focus on rehabilitating animals to those that prioritize education and conservation, there are hundreds of…
Rock Island State Park Guide — Camping, Trails, and More
Rock Island State Park is renowned for its roaring waterfalls and rugged beauty. You can enjoy a variety of activities, such as hiking, fishing, camping, and exploring historic sites. The park is home to the Caney Fork River Gorge, one…
Indiana Dunes State Park Guide — Camping, Beach, and More
Indiana Dunes State Park is a stunning park in Chesterton, Indiana, an hour’s drive from Chicago. The park features vast dunes, 3 miles of beautiful beaches, abundant wildlife, and fantastic hiking trails. With almost 2 million visitors annually, it’s an…
The 20 Best Museums in Montréal, Canada [2024]
As one of the largest cities in Canada, it’s not surprising that Montréal has some of the country’s best and most beloved museums. From art and culture to science and history, there’s a facility to suit anyone’s interests. Whether you’re…
Travelpro Pathways 3 Hardside Luggage Review – Is It Worth It? [Video]
Travelpro has become synonymous with high-quality, reliable luggage that is still affordable. Offering both softside and hardside luggage options in multiple materials has allowed the company to expand its designs to include checked bags, carry-ons, and even underseaters. When it…
Valley of Fire State Park Guide — Hiking, Camping, and More
Nestled in the heart of the Mojave Desert, Valley of Fire State Park is a true gem of Nevada. With its vibrant red sandstone formations and ancient petroglyphs, it’s a natural wonderland that attracts visitors from around the world. As…
Travelpro Maxlite 5 Softside Spinner Luggage Review – Is It Worth It? [Video]
Travelpro is slowly but surely rising in the ranks when it comes to the luggage market. The brand’s durable and versatile pieces have prompted many travelers to become loyal customers. Offering both hardside and softside luggage in a variety of…
Slide Rock State Park Guide — Orchard, Camping, and More
Slide Rock State Park attracts nearly half a million visitors annually. The park’s primary attraction is the 80-foot-long natural waterslide, but there’s more to this park. Visitors can explore historic homesteads and long-standing apple orchards and hike through the park’s…
The 10 Best Museums in Santa Fe, New Mexico [2024]
Santa Fe is one of the country’s most artistic cities, so it’s no surprise that it has dozens of appealing galleries and exhibits. Whether you’re an art lover or a history buff, there’s a museum in Santa Fe worth adding…
Travelpro Platinum Elite Hardside Spinner Luggage Review — Is It Worth It? [Video]
With more than 35 years of experience, Travelpro has slowly but surely become a mainstay in the luggage market. Trailblazing the first rolling trolley in 1987, the brand continues to innovate, developing luggage built to last. Founded by commercial airline…
Travelpro Bold Softside Rollaboard Luggage Review – Is It Worth It? [Video]
Slowly but surely, Travelpro is becoming a leader in the midrange luggage market. With its selection of high-quality bags that can withstand the toughest adventures, the company offers travelers a chance to invest in pieces that won’t break the bank….
Lost Maples State Natural Area Guide — Hiking, Stargazing, and More
Lost Maples State Natural Area is famous for its stunning fall foliage but offers year-round opportunities to enjoy nature. Visitors can enjoy various activities, including birdwatching, hiking, camping, and fishing. With its beautiful hiking trails, abundant wildlife, and breathtaking fall…
Gulf State Park Guide — Hiking, Nature Center, and More
Gulf State Park is a wonderful destination for experiencing nature and enjoying the beach. You can engage in a wide range of activities, such as saltwater fishing, sunbathing on the beach, hiking and biking on the fantastic trails, and learning…
The 15 Best Museums in Lisbon, Portugal [2024]
Lisbon, the vibrant and picturesque capital of Portugal, stands out as a premier destination for those seeking to immerse themselves in the rich tapestry of European art and culture, offering an enchanting blend of historical landmarks, world-class museums, and a…
Find out about other members of the team
Andrew Kunesh
Former Content Contributor
Andrew was born and raised in the Chicago suburbs and now splits his time between Chicago and New York City.
Brandon Brunner
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.
Brian Graham
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.
Caroline Lupini
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.
Charlie Page
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.
Cherag Dubash
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.
Chris Dong
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
Christine Krzyszton
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.
Christy Rodriguez
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.
Dan Miller
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.
David Slotnick
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.
Erin Miller
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.
Greg Stone
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.
James Larounis
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.
Jeff Brownson
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.
Lindsey Olander
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.
Lukas Picton
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.
Michael McHugh
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.
Ryan Smith
Content Contributor
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.
Senitra Horbrook
Writer
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.
Spencer Howard
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.
Stephen Au
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.
Susan Wright
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.
Victoria M. Walker
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.
Ehsan Haque
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.
Chris Hassan
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.
Julian Kheel
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.
Katie Seemann
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.
Brett Holzhauer
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.
Jarrod West
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.
Alex Miller
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.
Nick Ellis
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.
Juan Ruiz
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.
Michael Y. Park
Editor
Michael Y. Park is a journalist living in New York City. He’s traveled 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.
Keri Stooksbury
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.
Kellie Jez
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.
Stella Shon
News Managing 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.
Lori Zaino
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.
Carissa Rawson
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.
Ashley Onadele
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.
Jessica Merritt
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.
Daniel Ross
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.
UP's Bonus Valuation
This bonus value is an estimated valuation calculated by UP after analyzing redemption options, transfer partners, award availability and how much UP would pay to buy these points.