From low-budget to ultra-luxury, there's a Hilton property for everyone. The global Hilton portfolio includes almost 20 brands and over 7,000 hotels.
02.10.2023 - 16:09 / thepointsguy.com
I never planned to be loyal to one airline. But I found myself on United Airlines flights more often than not when flying long-haul routes, first from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) and then after a cross-country move in 2016 from Dulles International Airport (IAD). So, I decided to go all-in and get an airline-affiliated credit card, namely the United℠ Explorer Card.
Since then, my expert colleagues at The Points Guy have been teaching me how to maximize my travel rewards with cards offering flexible points, not to mention the joy of chasing high sign-up bonuses on new cards. But I'm not giving up my United Explorer Card anytime soon — here's why.
As a premium credit card beginner, I'm still getting my head around paying upward of $500 for the privilege of charging purchases to a fancy card. The United Explorer Card is not snooty like that — I get to keep it in my wallet for a reasonable $95 annual fee.
Some newbies might think that $95 is a hefty fee to own a credit card, and you wouldn't be wrong. But the card pays for itself with just one flight (see below), and the freebies start piling up afterward.
With my United Explorer Card, I'm entitled to one free checked bag for myself and a travel companion on each flight. With United charging $35 for the first, standard-sized checked bag, that's a value of $140 per round-trip flight. With one round-trip flight (1 1/2 if I'm flying alone), I can more than cover the cost of the card.
As a frequent cruiser, I often check a bag because it's next to impossible to fit all the formalwear, swimwear and gymwear I need for a weeklong cruise into a carry-on. And don't forget about the full-size bottles of sunscreen I need to protect my pasty skin against the strong Caribbean sun. You can bet I make the most of my card's checked bag benefit.
Much of my business travel is booked by others, so I don't always have a say in which airline I fly. So until recently, I was flying a lot — but not enough to reach elite status on United. That's where my United Explorer Card saves the day.
It gives me Group 2 boarding, the same as I now get as a Premier Silver elite member. I board after all the "important" people — the upper-tier MileagePlus and Star Alliance loyalty program members and passengers in first and business class — but before all the economy-class flyers with no status. That means I don't have to worry about finding a spot for my carry-on, and I don't have to stand around in a crush of travelers waiting to board. Plus, I get to feel special.
Until I joined TPG, I did not own a credit card that gave me lounge access. So, I value the two free United Club passes I receive annually with my United Explorer Card, which usually cost $59 apiece.
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From low-budget to ultra-luxury, there's a Hilton property for everyone. The global Hilton portfolio includes almost 20 brands and over 7,000 hotels.
Imagine a world where you don’t have to play jump rope over headphone wires every time you climb into or out of your airplane seat, settle for a set of subpar provided plug-in earbuds to enjoy the inflight entertainment, or remove your wireless headphones to hear about the snack selection from your friendly flight attendant. Too utopian? Perhaps. But United Airlines and Apple believe it is possible.
Portugal has long been a popular spot for tourists, but that demand has reached new heights. In fact, the first half of 2023 saw record foreign visitors to the country. So, it should come as no surprise that its national carrier — TAP Air Portugal — has increased its presence within the U.S. in recent years.
These days, wireless headphones have become a staple item on my packing list (and likely yours, too).
I've never considered myself a superstitious person or a believer in the supernatural — until I moved into my current apartment.
Paying rent has been a part of my life since I started living in an off-campus house in college. It was like the first big adult payment I was responsible for. I would usually pay my rent via check or online portal to the landlord or management company, and it felt like that money was disappearing into a black hole, never to be seen again.
When it comes to taking care of your credit card, the first things that come to mind are probably paying your bills on time, managing your budget and monitoring your credit score.
When I arrived at the Hyatt Regency San Francisco from the Ferry Building trying to find the entrance, I underestimated how large it was. I got lost looking for the lobby to check in, and it turned out that it was two floors above street level. I pressed the elevator button, which transported me to one of the largest and most futuristic lobbies I’ve ever seen.
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United Airlines passengers en route from San Francisco to Tel Aviv endured a 14-hour "flight to nowhere" after the Palestinian militant group Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel on Saturday.
Disney movies can act as the perfect inspiration for family travel, highlighting lesser-known destinations as a possible location for the next trip — Colombia in the Oscar-winning Encanto, for example, and the South Pacific in Moana. With the studio marking its 100th anniversary this October, there are new ways to get inspired. Start with Disney100: The Exhibition, running at ExCeL London from 13 October 2023 and celebrating the centenary through 10 interactive galleries of memorabilia. It gives the whole family a chance to revisit their favourite Disney flicks — and, through them, some of the real-life destinations that inspired their beloved storylines.
This series of articles about credit cards, points and miles, and budgeting for travel is brought to you in partnership with The Points Guy.