Andy Shuman
Zermatt: Gateway to the Matterhorn
The Swiss call the Matterhorn “the mountain of the mountains”, which is a particularly impressive designation, given its location in the Alps. This nearly triangular rock towers over beautiful Riffelsee Lake, and it is so famous that Disneyland decided to build a 147-foot-high replica in its honor.
How to Book Saudia Alfursan Awards
Saudia, Saudi Arabia’s flag carrier, is a luxurious airline with outstanding service. Its loyalty program, Alfursan, is well-regarded, offering members some nice perks.
Although the program’s redemptions for miles are generally priced conservatively, there are a few excellent deals hidden in its award charts. In some cases, Saudia Alfursan will give you better redemption rates than its partner Delta Air Lines.
SriLankan Airlines FlySmiLes Program Review
SriLankan Airlines, the nation’s flag carrier, serves 46 destinations in 23 countries, though it doesn’t yet fly to the Americas. Before joining the oneworld alliance in 2014, the airline revamped its fleet and improved its service. Recent reviews suggest that customers noticed and welcomed the changes.
JAL USA Credit Card Review
Who Is the JAL USA Card Good For?
The Japan Airlines USA card is good for people who want to collect JAL Mileage Bank miles, but may not fly the airline that often. With only one transfer partner, Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG), it can be difficult to accrue miles with the airline. This card allows members to earn on every purchase, plus it gives them the ability to collect extra miles while flying on JAL.Budget-Friendly Lisbon Doesn’t Disappoint
Lisbon might not be as popular as Rome, Paris or London, but it’s rich with culture, architectural beauty and history. The capital of Portugal is built on seven hills and has a lot to offer to visitors. And it’s much more budget-friendly than most of Europe’s capital cities.
How to Book Finnair Plus Awards
Finnair, the flag carrier of Finland, dates back to 1923, making it one of the oldest airlines in the world. From its main hub in Helsinki Airport, the airline flies to 88 destinations in Europe, Asia and North America. In the United States, it serves Chicago, Miami and New York.
Air India Flying Returns Program Review
Air India is the country’s flag carrier, and its third-largest airline, after IndiGo and Jet Airways. It flies to 60 domestic and 31 international destinations in 19 countries across Australia, Asia, Europe and North America. In the United States, Air India flies to New York and Chicago.
Virgin Atlantic Black Credit Card Review
Who Is the Virgin Atlantic Black Card Good For?
The Virgin Atlantic Black Card is a great source of miles for anyone who flies on Virgin Atlantic. While Virgin Atlantic’s White Card has a lower annual fee, the Black Card has more benefits.The Unique Feudal Abbey of Mont Saint Michel
Mont Saint Michel, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is often called the Wonder of the West. During high tides, its slender towers and sky-scraping turrets, encircled by stout ramparts and battlements, appear to rise out of the middle of the bay. In addition to being home to the abbey that is its namesake, this feudal town once served as an impenetrable fortification and jail.
TAP Portugal Victoria Program Review
TAP Portugal flies to 88 destinations in 38 countries, including New York and Miami in the United States. The airline has received several awards over the years for its excellent service, including the World’s Best Airline from Condé Nast Traveller magazine. Because it’s a Star Alliance member, its frequent flyer program, Victoria, can get you almost anywhere.
Virgin Atlantic White Credit Card Review
Who Is the Virgin Atlantic White Card Good For?
Virgin Atlantic offers two credit cards to loyal flyers in the United States: the White Card and the Black Card. The White Card is good for those who are collecting Virgin Atlantic miles but don’t want to pay a big annual fee. The Black Card comes with a few more benefits, but also a higher annual fee and more conditions.Taiwan’s Modern Marvels and Natural Beauty
Taiwan is an island nation probably best known for its modern cities, but it also has beautiful tropical beaches, sea-skirting cliffside roads, mountain peaks, hot springs and tranquil lakes. Portuguese sailors who saw it for the first time in the 16th century were so impressed with its natural beauty that they called it Ilha Formosa, which means Beautiful Island.
How to Book Aeroflot Bonus Awards
Aeroflot, Russia’s flag carrier and largest airline, flies between Moscow and four U.S. cities: New York, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles and Miami. It also has an extensive network of routes in Europe and Asia, making the airline a convenient choice for connecting flights beyond Moscow.
Malaysia Airlines Enrich Program Review
You may not be familiar with it, but Malaysia Airlines is one of the largest
Citi Prestige® Credit Card Review: No longer available but worth keeping
Who Is the Citi Prestige® Credit Card Good For?
Citi Prestige® Credit Card is an upscale premium travel reward card that is comparable to the American Express Platinum Card®. It has many similar travel benefits, and quite hefty $495 annual fee. The Citi card is no longer accepting new applications, but current cardholders still enjoy its outstanding perks, particularly those who travel a lot.For starters, cardholders are reimbursed for Global Entry application fees. If you fly frequently, Global Entry will save you a lot of time in airport security lines. It guarantees you a coveted spot in a TSA Precheck line, and you will be able to skip immigration lines on your return home from international destinations.
Cardholders also receive a Priority Pass Select membership, which gives you free access to one of the best airport lounge programs available today. It’s good for you plus your family or two guests, and membership can be extended to authorized users for $50 each.
The Prestige card comes with some other great benefits, such as a $250 annual credit toward air travel and a free fourth hotel night. In addition to the airlines listed below, you can transfer points to your ALL – Accor Live Limitless, Choice Privileges®, Leaders Club, and Wyndham Rewards® account.
| AIRLINE TRANSFER PARTNERS | Aeromexico Avianca LifeMiles Air France KLM Cathay Pacific Etihad Guest EVA Air Emirates Skywards JetBlue TrueBlue Qantas Qatar Airways Singapore Airlines Thai Airways Turkish Airlines Virgin Atlantic |
| ANNUAL FEE | $495 |
| Recommended Credit Score | 750+ |
| Type of Card | World Elite MasterCard |
| ISSUER | CitiBank |
Sign-Up Bonus:
Although the Citi Prestige isn’t currently available to new applicants, previously, the card’s sign-up bonus was 50,000 points after spending $4,000 in the first three months.Miles Earned:
- 5 points per dollar on restaurants and air travel
- 3 points per dollar spent on hotels and cruise lines
- One point for everything else
What Do Your Points Get You?
Citi ThankYou is an incredibly flexible program. It’s the only major travel reward program that allows you to share points with other members.This is a fantastic benefit, especially considering that other reward programs are adding more restrictions to prevent people from sharing points and miles. Shared points expire in 90 days, so don’t transfer unless you or your friends or family are ready to use them.
You can redeem your points for air travel online through the Citi ThankYou Travel Center at a value of 1.33 cents per point.
While none of the airline transfer partners are based in the U.S., each carrier is either a member of a major alliance or has powerful partners of its own. That means you’ll be able to redeem miles on dozens of airlines all over the world, including all of the major U.S. carriers.
Some of the airline partners are also the most desirable and luxurious carriers in the world, including Cathay Pacific, Singapore Airlines, Etihad and Qatar Airways. These are an excellent option if you want to fly in business or first class.
Usage Perks
- $250 annual credit for airline purchases
- Points can be transferred to anyone with a ThankYou account
- Free airport lounge access
- Points can be earned through banking
- Multiple airline transfer partners
- A 35 percent bonus when redeeming points for flights through the ThankYou Travel Center
- $100 credit toward Global Entry application fees
- Free fourth night at hotels booked through ThankYou.com
- Three free rounds of golf annually when booked through Citi’s golf portal
Usage Quirks
- High annual fee
- Shared ThankYou points expire in 90 days
- No major U.S. airline partners
- Most airline partners add fuel surcharges to award flights
How Far Do Your Points Go?
If you’re interested in premium class travel, one of the best ways to experience ultimate luxury is with Singapore Airlines’ First Suite. It’s best to transfer your ThankYou points to Singapore’s loyalty program, KrisFlyer, because it offers a 15 percent discount to members booking award flights online.With the discount, you can fly one way between New York and Frankfurt, or Houston and Moscow, in the carrier’s extravagant First Suite for 57,375 miles and $203 in taxes and fuel surcharges.
Additional Cardholder Benefits:
- Special bonuses for Citi banking
- 24/7 customer service
- Citi® Concierge
- Citi Entertainment®
- Zero liability
- No foreign transaction fees
The City of Pearls: Hyderabad, India
Hyderabad sits at an ancient crossroads of commerce, and was once famous as a pearl and diamond trading center. Still known as the City of Pearls, its centuries-old shopping bazaars offer modern and exotic goods from all over India. This 400-year-old city on the banks of the Musi River is full of striking Qutb arches, royal palaces and minarets.
How to Book Air New Zealand Airpoints Awards
Air New Zealand is a global airline based in Auckland. It flies to four cities in the United States: Honolulu, Los Angeles, Houston and San Francisco.
Saudia Alfursan Program Review
Saudia, the flag carrier of Saudi Arabia, is the third-largest airline in the Middle East. Its main hub is Jeddah, with secondary hubs in Riyadh, Dammam, Medina and Abha. The airline flies to 80 countries, including destinations in Europe, Africa, Asia and North America. In the U.S., it flies to Houston, Los Angeles, New York, Orlando and Washington, D.C.
Citi ThankYou Preferred Credit Card Review
