Chasing Totality In Greenland

Incredible, overwhelming, otherworldly — that's the only way to describe it. A solar eclipse is something everyone should see at least once in their lifetime.

I've been fortunate enough to see three. One from a ship off the coast of Australia and one from a nature reserve in Cleveland, Ohio. The most recent one I watched from Eastern Greenland aboard the Quark Ultramarine expedition ship. I'll share more about the Ultramarine soon, but for now, let's talk eclipse. ☀️

What Exactly Is a Solar Eclipse?

Solar eclipses happen periodically when the moon moves directly in front of the sun. If you're in the path of totality — where the moon completely covers the sun — you experience a sunset-like darkness. Totality can last anywhere from one minute to six minutes.

The path changes depending on a number of factors. You might remember the last one that crossed the U.S. from Texas to Ohio in 2023, or the one before that in 2017 that crossed Oregon.

This latest eclipse, on August 12, 2026, crossed Northern Spain, Iceland, and Greenland, with a totality of 2 minutes and 15 seconds.

A Last-Minute Change of Plans

Our ship's captain had originally planned to position us in the Kong Oscar Fjord in Eastern Greenland. But as the day got closer, the weather wasn't cooperating, so he made the call to head further south to Scoresby Sund Fjord instead.

We arrived by noon on August 12th, and the ship got into position with the starboard side facing the sun. Dozens of photographers set up camp on the mid-ship helipad, while the rest of the guests gathered on the forward helipad. (Yes, the ship has two helipads — one for each helicopter! 🚁)

The Eclipse Begins

At around 3:30pm, we put on our safety glasses and watched the moon start to move into position. A "bite" appeared out of the sun, and it kept growing as the moon crept further across. But take off the glasses and look around, and nothing seemed different at all.

We passed the time playing with Saltine crackers and colanders, watching tiny crescent shadows appear on the walls and floor. 🧑‍🍳

Racing the Clouds

At approximately 4:05pm — just 25 minutes before totality — clouds started rolling over the mountains and into the fjord. The captain and expedition leader huddled to discuss moving the ship. By 4:10pm, the decision was made, and the announcement went out to guests.

Everyone held their breath. The ship turned and headed across the water.

Ten minutes later, it stopped and turned again so the starboard side faced the sun.

Totality

And at 4:33pm, the moon slipped completely in front of the sun. The light switched off. Everyone tore off their glasses and cheered. 🎉

If you've never seen a solar eclipse before, it's genuinely otherworldly. There's an energy that moves people to tears, a kind of peace that just washes over you.

Then, 2 minutes and 15 seconds later, the moon slides over to reveal "the diamond ring" — and just like that, it's over.

The light returns, the birds start singing again, and life moves on.

Where to See the Next One

The next solar eclipse is expected on August 2, 2027, with the path of totality crossing Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia, and Southern Spain. If you want to see it, reach out and I'll help you plan. I'll be in the Mediterranean aboard a small ship myself — hope to see you there! 🚢

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.

Turn Your Next Airbnb Booking Into Free Miles ✈️

When you book your next Airbnb, one extra step can earn you a nice stash of extra points or miles. It used to be just Delta SkyMiles or British Airways Avios. Now you can add Tap Air Portugal miles to the mix, too.

Here's how to make sure every Airbnb booking is working double-duty for your next trip.

• Delta SkyMiles Earn 1 mile per $1 spent on stays and 3 miles per $1 spent on experiences and services. Just connect your accounts via Delta Air Lines and Airbnb before you book.

Hot tip: this one has a catch. You'll need to book within a 10-day active window after connecting your accounts, so don't link up months before your trip and forget about it.

• British Airways Avios Earn 2 Avios per $1/€1/£1 spent on stays and 3 Avios per unit spent on experiences. Just click through the British Airways portal before you book your stay.
• Tap Air Portugal Miles Earn 2 miles for every 1 Euro spent on Airbnb. Simply log into your Tap Air Portugal account first, then book your Airbnb through the linked session.

Prefer VRBO? You're not left out. VRBO bookings can also earn extra points and miles through United Airlines, plus shopping portals like Rakuten.

The best part about all of this? It costs you nothing extra. Same booking, same price, just a few extra clicks for miles you'd otherwise leave on the table. 🧳

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.

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.

How to Use Your Chase Sapphire Reserve Edit Credits With Points Boost 🏨

It's been frustrating trying to make the most of the Chase Sapphire Reserve Edit credits, so let's break down how they actually work.

Last year, the Reserve got a refresh and added $500 per year in "Edit" credits. These credits apply to hotel stays booked through the Chase Travel Portal at properties categorized as Edit Hotels. Cardholders get $500 annually, split into $250 to use January–June and another $250 for July–December. The credit requires a minimum two-night stay, and Edit hotel stays come with some nice perks built in: a $100 property credit, daily breakfast for two, early check-in when available, and a welcome amenity.

I wrote previously about how I used the Edit credit for a quick weekend getaway to Las Vegas — alongside the Edit credit, I also used the StubHub credit and the $150 dining credit on that trip.

The real sweet spot? Combining the Edit credit with the Points Boost feature in the Chase Travel Portal. Points Boost is a seemingly random sale on properties. booked in the portal. It changes constantly, so it's worth checking regularly. 🔍

Here's what that looks like in practice:

I searched properties in my hometown of San Diego and found the Kona Kai, with Points Boost cutting the points needed in half — just 46,207 points. Here's the trick: once you add the reservation to your cart, use the points adjuster to shift enough of the cost to cash to trigger the Edit credit. That credit gets applied to your cash payment on your Reserve card, and you pay the rest with points.

For this reservation, we adjusted the points to 33,500 plus $254.20 in cash. Pay that $254.20 with your Sapphire Reserve, and within a few days you'll see a $250 credit hit your account — bringing the total cost of a two-night stay down to just $4.20. 🤯

A few more finds using this same combo:

• Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort & Spa (Edit + Points Boost)
• Wayfinder Waikiki (Edit + Points Boost)
• Marquesa Key West — 41,513 points, dropping to just 28,500 points for two nights once you factor in the $250 Edit credit
• Isla Bella Beach Resort (Edit + Points Boost)

One catch: the portal only lets you filter for Points Boost or Edit Hotels, not both at once. My suggestion is to filter for one, then manually cross-check against the other. If you get lucky and a property qualifies for both, plus the hotel credit, you've hit the trifecta. 🎯

Still confused? Want a strategy session to see if this offer is right for you? I offer 30-minute credit card audits for just $100. Book your session here.

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! 

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

Do Co-Branded Credit Cards Ever Make Sense? ✈️

I love flexible points, they have taken my family of five all over the world! But a new client asked me something great the other day: does it ever make sense to apply for a hotel or airline branded credit card?

Short answer: yes, it absolutely can. I've personally held several branded cards over the years, including:

• British Airways
• Iberia
• Atmos
• Hilton
• Hyatt
• Marriott
• American Airlines
• Southwest Airlines

So when does a co-branded card actually make sense? Here are a few scenarios where it can be the right move:

• You have a specific destination in mind. A co-branded card can cover your flights or stay outright. When we went to Hawaii, our Hyatt credit card covered all four nights of our stay. More recently, the American Airlines card covered our flights to Tahiti. 🌴
• You're chasing the Southwest Companion Pass. A solid strategy here is applying for two Southwest cards to rack up enough points to earn the pass.
• Some co-branded cards unlock genuinely flexible points. British Airways, Iberia, Finnair, Aer Lingus, Qatar, and Vueling all earn Avios, which transfer freely between these programs. So a co-branded card can actually be a backdoor into a whole flexible points ecosystem.
• You live near an airline's hub, or want cardholder perks. Think free checked bags or lounge access — perks that pay for themselves if you're already flying that airline often.
• Atmos points have gotten a lot more flexible lately, since Alaska is now partnered with more than 30 different airlines — many of which fall outside the usual flexible points partners. 🌍

The bottom line: there's a lot that goes into choosing the right card for your travel style, but co-branded cards absolutely have their place in the mix.

Want a strategy session to see which points work best for you? I offer 30-minute credit card audits for just $100. Book your session here.

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! 

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

Client Case Study: Turning 200,000 Points Into Real Savings ✈️

 

Client Case Study: Turning 200,000 Points Into Real Savings ✈️

I met with a new client this week who's planning a true bucket list trip: the Arctic, Norway, and the Cotswolds. She'd already booked several hotels before we sat down together, but here's the thing — she was sitting on more than 200,000 Citi points and had no idea how far they could go.

We got to work switching her existing hotel reservations from cash to points, which saved her $600 right off the bat. 💰 Then we booked one of her internal flights with points instead of cash, saving her another $200. She's now working through her remaining hotel reservations to see how much more she can save.

This is exactly why we love flexible points — they can flex to cover whatever part of your trip needs it most. 🙌

I get it, spending points can feel hard sometimes. You can read about the top five reasons why it's hard to spend those points. But here's a good reminder: points don't gain value the longer you sit on them. Cash does. So hold onto your cash, and let your points do the work.

Want a strategy session like this one? I offer 30-minute credit card audits for just $100. Book your session here.

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! 

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

Starbucks and Delta: How The Changes Affect You

You can earn miles by flying, sure, but sometimes it's faster and easier to rack them up through everyday purchases instead.

One of the simplest ways to earn Delta miles is to link your Delta SkyMiles account with your Starbucks Rewards account, so every latte run also earns you a few miles. And by the way — you can earn Delta miles through Airbnb stays too!

Now, Delta and Starbucks are changing how this partnership works. Here's what's new:

• You'll need to have flown Delta within the past 12 months to keep earning miles at Starbucks. This is a big one — if you're a heavy Starbucks drinker but an infrequent Delta flyer, pay attention here.
• The program is moving back to a flat 1 mile per $1 spent on eligible Starbucks purchases, replacing the old model where miles were earned only when reloading your Starbucks balance in certain tiers. One nuance worth noting: reloading your card won't earn miles anymore — it's the purchase itself that counts.
• Double Stars on Delta travel days are sticking around — so on days you're flying Delta, your Starbucks purchases still earn double Stars. 🌟

This change kicks in August 5, 2026. 

If you've already linked your accounts, Delta is giving you a grace period through October 5, 2026 to get a qualifying flight in and keep earning, regardless of your flying history before that.

If you're not linked yet: wait to link your accounts until after August 5th, you'll get 12 months of automatic earning eligibility from the start — even without a Delta flight on the books yet.

You can connect your accounts here

If this all gives you a headache, and 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.