Top kid-friendly things to do in Kauai, Hawaii

by

Kauai is known for its beautiful beaches, lush forests, and stunning natural beauty, making it a popular destination for travelers.

When you look at the map of Hawaii, the island of Kauai is the northernmost, which actually means that Kauai is the oldest island in the chain of the Hawaiian islands (making the Big Island the youngest of all). Its volcanic activity ended 3.8 million years ago!

Kauai’s remote location and age make it a special place with unique flora and fauna. There is a lot to see and explore on the island, and it’s perfect for a family vacation! Our eight and two year olds had a great time on the island. Let’s take a look at some of the best things to do on a trip to Kauai when visiting with kids!

Read more

How to get an American Airlines status without flying?

by
An American Airlines plane flying over San Juan, Puerto Rico.

American Airlines is one of the biggest airlines in the world, and it flies to more than 235 destinations on six continents, including Europe, Asia, and South America. This airline is also top-rated in North America to get to the Caribbean or the Pacific destinations.

Like all airlines, American Airlines has a frequent flyer program. The American Airlines Frequent Flyer Program is called “AAdvantage,” and it is the most popular frequent flyer program in the US! It is important to mention that It is linked to the Oneworld Alliance loyalty program.

In 2022, American Airlines completely revamped the method of qualifying for an AAdvantage status. Before the update, you were required to keep track of three status metrics: EQM (Elite Qualifying Miles), EQS (Elite Qualifying Segments), and EQD (Elite Qualifying Dollars).

In the update, the carrier has changed how its status is calculated. And now, instead of the three status metrics, it uses one: Loyalty Points.

This update made earning an AAdvantage status much easier for people who aren’t frequent fliers. So, let’s dive into a few methods that can help you fast-track your status with American Airlines and get an American Airlines status without flying.

Read more

5 things to do in Paso Robles, California

by

The little town of Paso Robles on the Central Coast is a well-kept Californian secret with its fabulous vineyards, outdoor installation with thousands of glowing spheres, fine dining, and so much more. 

It is a perfect place for a short family weekend getaway and is only 2.5 hours from San Jose, CA, or 2 hours from Monterey, CA. Let’s take a look at some kid-friendly activities that the whole family would appreciate.

Read more

Visiting Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks with kids

by

What comes to your mind when you think about visiting Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks? It should be mountains, canyons, waterfalls, and of course, a forest with magnificent ancient giants, the largest living things on Earth, sequoias.

Representing two of the nine National Parks in California, these parks spread across thousands of acres of land (including 808,000 acres of designated wilderness). Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks are very popular tourist destinations and are visited by people from all over the world.

Read more

The Cape, a Thompson Hotel Review

by

There is nothing like a quick trip to the tropical seaside with gorgeous views to soak up the sun, swim in the warm ocean waters, enjoy some good food, recharge your energy, and simply have a good time.

Cabo San Lucas is the closest Mexican resort destination to the San Francisco International Airport, but somehow we had never been there before. We did not want to spend hours on a plane, and the direct SFO-SJD flight was only 2.5 hours to the beautiful Sea of Cortez, so The Cape, a Thompson Hotel, seemed like a perfect choice for a short vacation.

The Cape from the Thompson brand, owned by Hyatt, is a Category 6 five-star luxury beachfront retreat situated at the junction of the Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Cortez in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. This hotel is relatively new and was built in 2015, with a rather compact layout consisting of 161 rooms, suites, and villas. The hotel features an on-site spa, a beautiful infinity pool with a swim-up bar, and oceanfront accommodations.

Read more

American Express Hilton Honors Aspire credit card review

by

The American Express Hilton Honors Aspire Credit Card is a credit card that offers a lot of benefits to frequent travelers who stay at Hilton properties often.

American Express has four flavors of the Hilton Honors credit card:

  • Hilton Honors (No annual fee)
  • Hilton Honors Surpass
  • Hilton Honors Aspire
  • Hilton Honors Business

If you are looking for a hotel rewards card, the American Express Hilton Honors Hilton Aspire card is one of the best available. With it, you can earn 14x points on Hilton purchases, 7x points on flights booked directly with airlines or through American Express Travel, 7x points for dining out and car rentals booked directly from select car rental companies, and 3x points on other eligible purchases. You’ll also get the highest Diamond status with Hilton, which comes with perks such as free breakfast (or a breakfast credit), late checkout, and complimentary room upgrades.

There’s a $550 annual fee, which is offset by a $400 annual ($200 semi-annually) Hilton resort statement credit and a $200 yearly airline fee credit. Moreover, you get a Free Night Reward annually that can be redeemed at one of the numerous Hilton hotels and resorts.

Read more

Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort, Spa and Casino, the Hotel Review

by

Lake Tahoe in the Sierra Nevada Mountains is a unique, large and second deepest (1,645 ft / 500 m) freshwater lake in the U.S. With its blue crystal clear waters and famous beaches, surrounded by the National Forest, this area is home to summer water activities and winter sports.

There is no better way to explore Lake Tahoe than to stay on the lakeshore. Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort, Spa and Casino is located right on the lake, has a private beach, and offers so much more to have a great time on Lake Tahoe. There are plenty of things to do in the summertime at this resort!

Read more

Visiting Lassen Volcanic National Park with kids

by
Lassen Volcanic National Park
Lassen Volcanic National Park

This summer we visited Lassen Volcanic National Park, California. We had to postpone our visit several times due to unforeseen circumstances such as the closure for reconstruction of the most popular area and trail (Bumpass Hell), Covid restrictions, and of course, the Dixie Fire in the park in 2021.

Finally, the stars aligned, and we could explore this National Park with its ancient volcanos, fumaroles, meadows, and crystal clear lakes. Lassen Volcanic National Park is one of the oldest National Parks in the U.S. and spreads through over 100,000 acres of land.

Read more

Grand Hyatt Istanbul, the Hotel Review

by

This summer, we spent a few weeks in Turkey, visiting the Mediterranean coast, hiking to the ruins of ancient cities, and exploring Istanbul. Istanbul is a large city, but if you stay on points, you probably want to choose a hotel within your preferred chain. We, as Hyatt loyalists, decided to try out the best of the Hyatt brands the city has to offer.

For our first three days in Istanbul, we stayed at Park Hyatt Istanbul (you can read about our stay at Park Hyatt Istanbul – Maçka Palas here), then we ventured off on our road trip, and on the way back, we decided to try out another Hyatt hotel brand available in the city – Grand Hyatt Istanbul. It’s located in the heart of Istanbul, within minutes of Taksim Square, Istiklal Street, restaurants, and shops.

Read more

Chase World of Hyatt credit card review

by

Chase World of Hyatt Credit Card is great for people who stay at Hyatt hotels often. We consider it to be a keeper card as it offers a decent earning rate in general categories such as dining, and airfare (and a great rate at Hyatt hotels), coupled with a modest annual fee that can be easily outweighed by an annual Free Night Award Certificate that can be redeemed at Category 1-4 Hyatt hotels worldwide (read our post to learn more about Hyatt hotel categories), and other benefits.

This card is a must-have for everyone who wants to earn or keep the Explorist status (requires 30 qualifying nights) or the Globalist status (requires 60 qualifying nights) with Hyatt since it offers a kickstart of 5 nights annually. You can earn two more nights with every $5,000 spent towards the status.

Read more