Site Visit: The Fairmont Grand Del Mar, San Diego 🏌️

I was recently invited for a site visit to the Fairmont Grand Del Mar, and I have to say — the property is stunning. Disclosure: I was not paid for this review and received no compensation in any form.

Let's get into it!

The Fairmont Grand Del Mar sits in Carmel Valley, San Diego, right on the edge of acres of protected nature reserve. It's consistently ranked among the top luxury resorts in the U.S., and it's part of Accor, a hotel brand that's better known outside the US.

This is a resort destination, not a beach resort — think Mediterranean villa architecture and grounds designed to keep you on property. And there's plenty to keep you busy: The Grand Golf Course (a private course designed by Tom Fazio), pickleball courts, archery, four pools, and a full stable offering trail rides, meet-and-greets, and riding lessons. 🐴

On the dining side, the resort is home to Addison by William Bradley, San Diego's only Michelin three-star restaurant. Reservations book up months in advance, but here's a hot tip: the tasting menu is available as a walk-in. The property also houses one of San Diego's best spas. 💆

With more than 200 rooms, accommodations here are spacious throughout, all with marble bathrooms, though sizes vary. There's also a villa that fits a group of 10 — and it comes with a round of golf included. ⛳

Since the Fairmont is part of Accor, both Capital One and Citi points transfer directly into the program — 2,000 Accor points is worth roughly $45. Loyalty members also unlock perks like free WiFi, room upgrades, and online check-in.

If a true luxury destination is what you're after, this fits the bill. Just plan on having a car or booking a Lyft, since there are no restaurants or shops within walking distance. All of San Diego's attractions are within a 30 minute drive. 

As part of the site visit, I am able to offer you a third night FREE at the resort. Let's chat! 

Do you want more personal help using points and miles for almost FREE travel? Join my Travel Coaching Program and we will design your personal strategy to travel for almost FREE and guide you through the process. Right now, you can use the promo code "FREETRAVEL" to get $50 off the program. 

Or you can pay a travel planning fee and we will find all the best points and miles deals for your trip! 

Or you can book a consulting call with us for just $100. I would love to help you make priceless family memories affordable. 

***In honor of every new paid client, we will make a donation of 10% to one of our favorite charities.

Stop the FOMO: Here's How to Use Points & Miles to Book Europe Next Year

Stop the FOMO: Here's How to Use Points & Miles to Book Europe Next Year

Deep into summer, the travel envy is real 😅 Your feed is flooded with friends sipping wine in Santorini and wandering cobblestone streets in Rome. If that's you, here's the good news: now is the perfect time to start planning your own European adventure for next year — using points and miles.

So where do you start? Let's break it down.

The 4 Types of Points & Miles You Need to Know

Not all points are created equal. Here's a quick rundown:

1. Airline Miles ✈️
The most familiar of the bunch. Fly with an airline, earn loyalty miles. Many airlines belong to alliances or partnerships, meaning you can fly one carrier and credit the miles to another. You can also rack up miles faster by opening an airline-branded credit card that earns miles on everyday purchases. Once you hit the threshold, redeem them for a free flight or cabin upgrade directly through the airline. Simple enough.

2. Hotel Points 🏨
Same concept, different category. Stay at a hotel, earn loyalty points. Add a hotel-branded credit card to the mix and you'll earn even faster. Stack up enough and you're looking at free nights.

3. Flexible Points 💳
Here's where it gets interesting. These are earned through bank-branded credit cards — think Chase, Capital One, Amex, and Citi — and they're not locked into one airline or hotel. Instead, they can be transferred to more than a dozen different travel partners, giving you serious options. You can also spend them directly in the bank's travel portal on flights, hotels, car rentals, activities, and even cruises. One important note: use them before you cancel the card or they disappear.

4. The Others: Bilt, Rove & Rakuten 🛍️
Bilt functions like flexible bank points, but you earn them by paying rent — yes, really. Rove and Rakuten are shopping portals that layer bonus points on top of your regular credit card earnings when you shop online. Think of them as a rewards multiplier for purchases you're already making. Use my Rove referral link and get 500 points when you sign up. Use my Rakuten referral link and get $50 when you spend $50. 

Why Flexible Points Win

Here's a real example that says it all. A client came to me with nearly two million American Airlines miles — which sounds incredible, and we did manage to book business class flights for her whole family. But when it came to hotels? She had to pay cash 💸

If those had been flexible points instead, we could have covered both the flights and luxury hotels entirely on points.

That's the power of flexibility.

Our Favorite Card Right Now 👑

Now that you understand the difference, you'll have a whole new appreciation for the Chase Sapphire Preferred's current 100,000-point welcome bonus. Those are Chase Ultimate Rewards — flexible points that transfer to dozens of airlines and hotels, including the best sweet spots like Avios, Flying Blue, and World of Hyatt.

The card runs just $95 a year, and a new $100 hotel credit effectively knocks that down to $5 back into your pocket. For what you get in return, that's a no-brainer.

👉 Ready to start earning? Read more about the Chase Sapphire Preferred here — and if you decide to apply, we'd love it if you use our referral link!

Want more personal help using points and miles for almost FREE travel? Join my Travel Coaching Program and we will design your personal strategy to travel for almost FREE and guide you through the process. Right now, you can use the promo code "FREETRAVEL" to get $50 off the program. 

Or you can pay a travel planning fee and we will find all the best points and miles deals for your trip! 

Or you can book a consulting call with us for just $100. I would love to help you make priceless family memories affordable. 

***In honor of every new paid client, we will make a donation of 10% to one of our favorite charities.

Wyndham Is Adding a 4th Points Tier — Here's What You Need to Know 👀

Wyndham Is Adding a 4th Points Tier — Here's What You Need to Know 👀

Wyndham just announced a new tier in its points redemption structure, and depending on how you use your points, this could be great news… or not so great. Let me break it down.

First, a Quick Wyndham Refresher 🏨

You might not think of Wyndham as a go-to loyalty program, but it actually covers 25 hotel brands across the full spectrum — from budget roadside stops to legit luxury resorts and all-inclusives. Here's a quick snapshot with some examples of the brands:

Luxury

• Registry Collection
• Dolce Hotels and Resorts
• Esplendor Boutique Hotels
• Tryp

Mid-Range

• La Quinta
• Wingate
• Ramada

Budget

• Days Inn
• Super 8
• Microtel

The Current Setup (Until September 15th) 📅

Right now, Wyndham keeps things simple with three redemption tiers:

• 7,500 points/night
• 15,000 points/night
• 30,000 points/night

Enjoy it while it lasts, because that's all changing on September 15th.

What's Changing: A New 4th Tier 🆕

Starting September 15th, the new redemption structure will look like this:

• 5,000 points/night ← new lower tier
• 15,000 points/night
• 30,000 points/night
• 45,000 points/night ← new top tier

Wyndham says the change is designed to accommodate its growing lineup of luxury and high-end properties. And look, a 5,000-point night sounds exciting on paper — but realistically, that's going to be reserved for a rural Super 8. The properties most of us actually want to book? They're almost certainly moving up to 45,000 points per night.

Case in point: I just locked in an all-inclusive resort in Cancún for 30,000 points per night plus $26 in taxes. 🌴 Once the new tier kicks in, I'd be shocked if that same resort doesn't jump straight to 45,000.

The Move? Book Now ⏰

If you've been eyeing any Wyndham luxury or all-inclusive properties, don't sit on it. Booking before September 15th means locking in current rates before the top tier inflates.

Need more Wyndham points to make it happen? Here are your transfer partner options:

• Capital One ✅
• Chase ✅ — and right now Chase is offering a 30% transfer bonus to Wyndham 🔥How to transfers work, read about it here. 
• Bilt ✅
• Citi ⚠️ — technically a partner, but the transfer ratio isn't great, so use this one as a last resort

That Chase transfer bonus is especially worth paying attention to right now — it can go a long way toward covering a luxury or all-inclusive redemption at today's rates.

Have Wyndham points sitting around or a transfer in mind? Now's the time to put them to work before the math changes.

Want more personal help using points and miles for almost FREE travel? Join my Travel Coaching Program and we will design your personal strategy to travel for almost FREE and guide you through the process. Right now, you can use the promo code "FREETRAVEL" to get $50 off the program. 

Or you can pay a travel planning fee and we will find all the best points and miles deals for your trip! 

Or you can book a consulting call with us for just $100. I would love to help you make priceless family memories affordable. 

***In honor of every new paid client, we will make a donation of 10% to one of our favorite charities.

A Guide To The Canary Islands

The Canary Islands are one of Spain's most underrated treasures, and honestly, they deserve way more attention than they get. Here's why they should be on your radar 🌴

The Weather Is Exceptional — Year Round ☀️

The Canaries sit off the northwest coast of Africa, which means they enjoy a mild, spring-like climate every single month of the year. Average temperatures hover between 20–28°C (68–82°F). No real off-season here — this is a genuine 365-day destination.

Seven Islands, Seven Completely Different Experiences 🗺️

This is what most people don't realize. The islands are wildly different from each other:

• Tenerife — dramatic volcanic landscapes, Spain's highest peak (Mount Teide), and buzzing nightlife
• Lanzarote — otherworldly lunar terrain, UNESCO-protected biosphere, incredible wine region
• Gran Canaria — massive sand dunes at Maspalomas, a cosmopolitan capital in Las Palmas, lush interior mountains
• La Palma — one of the world's best stargazing destinations 🌟, dense laurel forests, seriously off-the-beaten-path
• Fuerteventura — endless white sand beaches and world-class windsurfing
• La Gomera — tiny, lush, and almost entirely unspoiled
• El Hierro — Europe's most remote island, completely solar-powered and utterly peaceful

✈️ Points tip: From Madrid, Iberia flights can be found for as little as 5,000 Avios points each way.

---

Two Weeks on Gran Canaria — Here's What It's Actually Like

I spent two weeks based in Las Palmas, the island's capital, and it exceeded every expectation.

Las Palmas 🌊

Las Palmas is a city nestled between two bays, with miles of boardwalk hugging the coastline. What makes it special is how the sea transforms throughout the day — the same bay where surfers catch waves in the morning becomes a calm, shallow playground by afternoon, where you can swim alongside fish and pick your way across rocks as the tide shifts. It's genuinely spectacular to watch.

The boardwalk is lined with cafes, and morning yoga on the beach is a regular thing. The vibe is relaxed without being sleepy. 🧘

Just 15 minutes south by bus is the old town — cobblestone streets, shaded promenades, and plenty of spots to sit and people-watch. We did a three-hour walking tour that covered the neighborhood in real depth and was absolutely worth it. 🚶

Getting Around 🚌

The bus system known as the Guaguas on Gran Canaria is excellent and genuinely affordable — it should get far more credit than it does. That said, for maximum flexibility, renting a car opens up the island considerably.

There are plenty of Airbnb rentals in Las Palmas that are affordable and just a few blocks from the beach. 

Day Trip: Teror 🍯

The mountain town of Teror, known as the spiritual heart of the island, makes for a wonderful day trip by bus. Wander the streets, visit the main basilica, stop for lunch, and before you leave pick up some local honey and fresh-baked goods from one of the small shops. Be sure to check out the beautiful Canarian wood balconies. 

Sunday is market day where the town fills up with fresh produce. Simple, unhurried, and very Gran Canaria.

Day Trip: Maspalomas Dunes + Mogán 🏜️

Heading south to the Maspalomas sand dunes is a must. It's a longer journey — a few hours from Las Palmas — but the dunes are free to enter and completely worth the trip. My strong recommendation: time your visit for just before sunset. The light on the dunes at that hour is something else entirely. 🌅

If you rent a car for this one, make a stop in Mogán on the way — a small seaside town with flower-draped streets that's well worth an hour or two of your afternoon. There are plenty of resorts in the south though not many US brands of hotels where you can use points and miles. But you can use flexible points in the travel portal. You can also use the "erase" tool with Capital One points. 

Hot tip: take lots of before and after photos of your rental car. We hear there are a lot of "damage" claims made against renters here. Remember to use a credit card like your Chase Sapphire Reserve with rental car insurance to make this purchase. 

Want more personal help using points and miles for almost FREE travel? Join my Travel Coaching Program and we will design your personal strategy to travel for almost FREE and guide you through the process. Right now, you can use the promo code "FREETRAVEL" to get $50 off the program. 

Or you can pay a travel planning fee and we will find all the best points and miles deals for your trip! 

Or you can book a consulting call with us for just $100. I would love to help you make priceless family memories affordable. 

***In honor of every new paid client, we will make a donation of 10% to one of our favorite charities.

How You Can Rack Up 15,000 Chase Points Fast

Chase Quietly Launched a 10x Points Offer You Don't Want to Miss 👀

Chase just announced a partnership with Paze, a new digital wallet platform — and it comes with a seriously impressive earning opportunity: 10x points on purchases, up to 15,000 points per month. 💳✨

What Is Paze?

Paze is a digital payment system owned by Early Warning Services (the same company behind Zelle) that's accepted by select online retailers and linked directly to your credit card. Several major banks have already signed on — Chase, Wells Fargo, Bank of America, Capital One, and US Bank among them.

The Chase 10x Offer

Chase is sweetening the deal for certain cardholders by offering 10x points when you use Paze for online purchases. Here's which cards are eligible:

• Sapphire Preferred
• Sapphire Reserve
• Chase Freedom
• Chase Freedom Unlimited
• Chase Freedom Flex

United credit cards are also eligible for 10x points, though their cap is 20,000 points total.

How to Get Set Up

Getting started is straightforward:

1. Open the Chase mobile app
2. Tap Digital Wallet, then select Paze
3. Choose your eligible card — it should link instantly ✅

Where to Shop

Head to Paze.com to see the current retailer list. It's still growing, but a few highlights include Fanatics, Broadway.com, Harry & David, Domino's, and GNC.

Here's where it gets interesting for points enthusiasts 🤓 — New Egg is on the list, and they sell gift cards for a wide range of brands we actually use for travel and everyday spending:

• ✈️ Southwest Airlines
• 🏨 Hotels.com
• 🚢 Princess Cruises
• ✈️ Delta
• 🚗 Lyft
• 🛒 Chewy, Instacart, DoorDash, Uber Eats, Grubhub, Chipotle, Airbnb

Stacking 10x points on gift cards for travel brands? Yes, please.

👉Hot tip: try 3x stacking with Rakuten or your favorite shopping portal

The Numbers

The offer caps at $1,500 per card per month, which translates to a clean 15,000 Chase points. With this promotion running through December 31, 2026, there's real earning potential here if you stay consistent — especially if you're already spending at these brands anyway.

Once your purchase posts, the 10x points will appear in your account automatically. No hoops, no codes.

With 7 months left on this offer, that's a lot of points!  

Want more personal help using points and miles for almost FREE travel? Join my Travel Coaching Program and we will design your personal strategy to travel for almost FREE and guide you through the process. Right now, you can use the promo code "FREETRAVEL" to get $50 off the program. 

Or you can pay a travel planning fee and we will find all the best points and miles deals for your trip! 

Or you can book a consulting call with us for just $100. I would love to help you make priceless family memories affordable. 

***In honor of every new paid client, we will make a donation of 10% to one of our favorite charities.

 

Why airline loyalty limits your travel options

Met with a new client today to talk about booking a dream Europe trip using points and miles. ✈️ Here's the exciting part — they're sitting on more than one million miles! 🎉

The catch? Every single one of those miles is with American Airlines, which significantly narrows the options.

Here's what we found when searching available business class seats to Europe on the American Airlines site: prices ranged from 57,500 to a jaw-dropping 443,000 miles each way. 😬 Those lower-end seats often came with two stops and limited availability, while the best flights were sitting at the top of that range. Not ideal.

This is the reality of putting all your eggs in one airline's basket. When you're locked into a single carrier, you're at the mercy of whatever they decide to offer — and the sweet spots can be few and far between.

The good news? There's a smarter way to build your points stash. 💡 Flexible points currencies like Chase Ultimate Rewards, Citi ThankYou, American Express Membership Rewards, Bilt, or Capital One Miles give you real options. You can book directly through their travel portals OR transfer to dozens of airlines and hotels — whichever gives you the best value for your specific trip.

Flexibility really is everything when it comes to points. 🙌

The best offer out there right now, the Chase Sapphire Reserve is offering 150,000 bonus points to new cardholders, and this is one worth paying attention to. We have heard this offer is ending soon. 

Here's what the current offer looks like:

Spend $6,000 in the first 3 months and you'll earn 150,000 bonus points. Those points are conservatively valued at around $2,500 — but depending on how you redeem them, (transfer to a dozen different airlines and several hotel chains including Hyatt) they can stretch significantly further.

The annual fee is $795, which I know sounds steep. But before you close the tab, take a look at what's included:

• ✈️ $300 Travel Credit
• 🎟️ $300 StubHub Credit
• 🍽️ $300 Dining Credit
• 🏨 $500 Edit Hotels Credit
• 🏨 $250 Select Chase Hotels Credit
• 🛂 $120 Global Entry Credit
• 🚗 $10/month Lyft Credit
• 🛵 $25/month DoorDash Credit
• 🎵 Complimentary Apple TV+ & Apple Music
• 🚴 $120 Peloton Credit
• 🛋️ Priority Pass Lounge Access (you + 2 guests)
• 🛋️ Sapphire Lounge Access

If you actually use these credits, the math works strongly in your favor. That said, it does take some intentionality to make sure you're not leaving value on the table — this card rewards people who engage with it.

If this card seems like too much, the Chase Sapphire Preferred is a great flexible travel card. The annual fee is just $95 and the bonus is 75,000 points for a $5,000 minimum spend. 

If this fits how you already travel — or how you want to travel — it's a genuinely strong offer. Hit the link below to apply through my referral link, and feel free to reach out with any questions!

Want more personal help using points and miles for almost FREE travel? Join my Travel Coaching Program and we will design your personal strategy to travel for almost FREE and guide you through the process. Right now, you can use the promo code "FREETRAVEL" to get $50 off the program. 

Or you can book a consulting call with us for just $100. I would love to help you make priceless family memories affordable. 

***In honor of every new paid client, we will make a donation of 10% to one of our favorite charities.

Mexico's Most Charming Colonial City 🇲🇽

San Miguel de Allende: Mexico's Most Charming Colonial City 🇲🇽

A UNESCO World Heritage City and consistently ranked among the world's best small cities, San Miguel de Allende is the kind of place that gets under your skin fast. Cobblestone streets wind past art galleries, live music spills out of mezcal bars, flower-draped balconies frame every corner, and somehow it all costs less than you'd expect. Walkable, beautiful, and endlessly interesting — this one belongs on your list.

---

Getting There ✈️

There's no airport in San Miguel itself, so you'll need to plan your arrival. Three airports serve the city, each with its own trade-offs. You can fly from the US or use the Cross Border Express from San Diego to fly out of Tijuana. If you can't use points in the travel portal to cover your flights or miles, you can always use your Capital One Venture X and "erase" the flights. 

1. Del Bajío International Airport (BJX) — León/Guanajuato 🥇 Best for most travelers

• About 1.5 hours away (~100 km)
• The most direct flights from the US, including nonstops from Houston, Dallas, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Atlanta
• Served by United, American, Delta, Volaris, and Aeromexico

2. Querétaro International Airport (QRO) 🥈 Solid alternative

• About 1 hour 15 minutes away (~60 km) — actually the closest geographically
• Fewer international routes, but the airport is growing quickly
• Works well if you connect through Mexico City

3. Mexico City International Airport (MEX) or AIFA (NLU) — Widest selection, longer transfer

• About 3 to 3.5 hours by highway (~270 km)
• Your best bet if you're flying in from Europe, South America, or Asia
• Many travelers tack on a night in CDMX and turn the drive up to SMA into part of the trip

💡 Hot tip: Budget airline Volaris sells an annual unlimited flights pass for around $500 — the catch is you can only book a few days before departure. Worth it if you're flexible.

---

Getting to Town 🚐

From BJX or QRO, pre-booking a shuttle is the move. We recommend BajioGo Shuttle — shared rides run about $66 per person round-trip. If you plan to use it regularly, their pass drops the cost to just $10 per ride.

---

Getting Around 👟

San Miguel is small and very walkable, but here's something the Instagram photos won't tell you: it's built on a hillside. When booking accommodation, pay attention to where you land on that slope — your legs will thank you. We stayed a few blocks from the historic center at casaavra.com, which hit the sweet spot of flat location, great price, and genuine comfort.

One more thing: almost every street is cobblestone. Gorgeous? Yes. Forgiving on heels? Absolutely not. Pack good walking shoes — we watched a few brave souls attempt the streets in stilettos and it was not going well. Also worth noting: the city sits at 6,400 feet elevation, so give yourself a day to adjust before going full tourist mode.

---

What to Do 🎨

Start with a walking tour. It's the fastest way to get your bearings, pick up local recommendations, and discover buildings you'd never find on your own. Our guide took us inside stunning off-the-beaten-path spots, including an incredible mural hidden inside the Arts and Culture Building.

Visit Fabrica La Aurora. A converted 19th-century textile factory turned high-end gallery and studio complex — plan to spend a couple of hours here.

Spend time in the main square. The neo-Gothic pink Parroquia church anchors the plaza and looks different (and frankly better) every hour of the day.

Wander without a plan. Some of the best moments in San Miguel happen when you have nowhere specific to be — ducking into a courtyard, stumbling on a jazz trio, finding a rooftop bar with a view.

Take a cooking class. Learn to make chiles rellenos at Pura Vida Kitchens, pair them with natural wines, and leave with a skill you'll actually use at home. 🍷

Hit the Saturday farmers market. The whole town shows up for this one — live music, local produce, great people-watching. Don't skip it. 🌿

Day Trips. Check out the thermal hot springs just 15 minutes drive from town

---

The Expat Factor 🏡

San Miguel has a well-established expat community, drawn largely by the low cost of living. Rental rates are reasonable, daily life is affordable, and the quality of life is high. It's not a secret, but it still feels like one.

Want more personal help using points and miles for almost FREE travel? Join my Travel Coaching Program and we will design your personal strategy to travel for almost FREE and guide you through the process. Right now, you can use the promo code "FREETRAVEL" to get $50 off the program. 

Or you can book a consulting call with us for just $100. I would love to help you make priceless family memories affordable. 

***In honor of every new paid client, we will make a donation of 10% to one of our favorite charities.

Score 10,000 Free Miles for Your Fall Europe Trip ✈️

Score 10,000 Free Miles for Your Fall Europe Trip ✈️

Planning a trip to Europe this September? Here's a deal worth knowing about: book a qualifying flight now and you'll pocket a bonus 10,000 Flying Blue miles — no hoops, no tricks.

Here's what you need to qualify:

• 📅 Book by May 3rd
• 🗓️ Travel between April 22nd – September 30th, 2026
• 🛬 Fly at least one segment from the US to Amsterdam or Paris (CDG)
• 💺 Economy class only
• 🇺🇸 US residents only
• New bookings only — existing reservations don't count

---

So what can you actually do with 10,000 miles? 🤔

More than you might think. Every month, Flying Blue — the loyalty program shared by KLM and Air France — releases a promotional transatlantic route priced at just 18,750 miles. That means your 10,000 bonus miles put you well over halfway to a completely free flight to Europe. You'd only need to earn (or buy) the remaining 8,750 miles to redeem a one-way award ticket.

Plus Capital One, Bilt and Chase are transfer partners with Flying Blue. 👏

If a fall trip to Paris, Amsterdam or anywhere in Europe is already on your radar 🗼, this is a genuinely solid reason to book sooner rather than later. That May 3rd deadline moves fast.

Want more personal help using points and miles for almost FREE travel? Join my Travel Coaching Program and we will design your personal strategy to travel for almost FREE and guide you through the process. Right now, you can use the promo code "FREETRAVEL" to get $50 off the program. 

Or you can book a consulting call with us for just $100. I would love to help you make priceless family memories affordable. 

***In honor of every new paid client, we will make a donation of 10% to one of our favorite charities.