Before I first went traveling in 2006, I had these expectations in my head based on nothing but my imagination and popular culture. My trip was going to be a nonstop adventure filled with colorful and exciting people. Crazy things were going to happen to me. I’d make friends everywhere. I’d be talking to strangers…

If you’ve traveled recently, you may have seen the hulking new Transportation Security Administration screening machines at a local airport. The TSA has replaced old screening machines with new computed tomography X-ray systems at more than 250 security checkpoints across the U.S. TSA screening at the Asheville, North Carolina, airport. CLINT HENDERSON/THE POINTS GUY This…

The morning of Feb. 11, 1986, was a new dawn for United Airlines. Overnight, the carrier went from offering just three flights across the Pacific Ocean to operating a full hub at Tokyo’s Narita Airport (NRT) and connecting the U.S. with at least six cities in Asia. That hub, which United bought from Pan Am…

I’m a tough critic when it comes to Italian restaurants as I was born Italian but grew up in the U.S. I’m the “heritage keeper” of the family, and a vital part of that responsibility is keeping the recipes and southern Italian cooking techniques alive in our kitchen. I make pasta with semolina I import…

Amsterdam celebrates a milestone event in 2025: its 750th anniversary, which is officially on October 27 (the day the city was first mentioned in official records). However, a yearlong calendar of events promises plenty of options to join the fun whenever travelers are visiting, from small neighborhood gatherings to city-wide shindigs — like a nine-mile…

One appealing aspect of the Hilton Honors program is redeeming points for upgraded room types. Hilton premium room rewards mean you can secure the room type you want — or need — when booking. For example, if you want a room with a specific view, you can book it with points. Likewise, if you want…

Although some travelers like to redeem their points regardless of the redemption rate, many of us are interested in getting good value when redeeming our rewards. The value you’ll get from Hilton Honors redemptions will vary depending on how you redeem. For example, redeeming Hilton points for premium rooms or Amazon purchases often provides a…

As credit card annual fees continue to climb, it’s natural to start questioning how much value you’re getting from adding a new card to your wallet. This is especially true since multiple cards out there charge no annual fee. However, there can be solid reasons to pay an annual fee. Many popular rewards cards come…

Owning a small business can present lucrative opportunities for maximizing credit card rewards. It can also present unique challenges because much of the information surrounding travel credit cards is focused on personal options rather than those geared toward businesses. Let’s review 10 things you should consider as you build a strategy to maximize the rewards…

No matter where you go in America’s 50th state, Hawaii offers a wide variety of topographies, accommodations, activities and experiences. Related: The best ways to get to Hawaii using points and miles Each Hawaiian island has its own distinctive vibe. Six major islands in Hawaii are open to visitors, including Kauai, Oahu, Maui, Molokai, Lanai…