by Cherry | Senior Travel Editor, The Miles Academy | Dec 23, 2025 | Maximizing Points and Miles
A lot of travelers say they would happily give up things like fast food, coffee, or alcohol for a whole year if it meant they could take their dream trip. At the same time, many of those same people have hotel, airline, and other travel points just sitting in their...
by Cherry | Senior Travel Editor, The Miles Academy | Dec 22, 2025 | Maximizing Points and Miles
If you have ever looked at your airline miles or points and thought, “Is this really a smart way to use them, or am I wasting value?” you are not the only one. Choosing between paying cash and using miles can feel like a side job. You jump between...
by Cherry | Senior Travel Editor, The Miles Academy | Dec 22, 2025 | Maximizing Points and Miles
We do not live on cruise ships, but we have met enough cruise fans to see a pattern. People who love cruises really love them. They learn the ships, the routes, and even which days are best for sitting outside and watching the water. Most people who collect travel...
by Cherry | Senior Travel Editor, The Miles Academy | Dec 22, 2025 | Maximizing Points and Miles
We like earning flexible rewards that we can move into different airline and hotel loyalty programs. When we collect this kind of points and miles, we are not stuck with only one option. We can wait, see what trips we want to take, then decide where to move our...
by Cherry | Senior Travel Editor, The Miles Academy | Dec 22, 2025 | Maximizing Points and Miles
Everyone approaches earning miles and points a little differently. Some of us collect rewards with a specific dream trip in mind that we want to book soon. Others quietly build balances for years and treat these loyalty currencies like a long term stash, with no clear...
by Cherry | Senior Travel Editor, The Miles Academy | Dec 4, 2025 | Maximizing Points and Miles
Suite upgrade certificates are one of the main reasons many travelers chase top tier hotel status. We see these awards as a way to turn a regular trip into something that feels like a small luxury, because you can lock in a suite before you even pack your bag. Here,...
