Relationship

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see rates and fees) has long been one of the best travel rewards cards for beginners — and for good reason. With strong earning rates on everyday spending, flexible Chase Ultimate Rewards points and a modest $95 annual fee, it delivers outsize value for beginners (as well as seasoned travelers). … Read more

I love the Caribbean, and have been lucky enough to travel to many of its beautiful island countries. But when I married into a family from Boston, I learned that one island lives rent-free in the minds of Bostononians: Aruba. Having not been there myself (much to the disappointment of my loved ones up north), … Read more

I never wanted to gate-check my carry-on in the first place. On a recent Austrian Airlines flight from Valencia, Spain, to Vienna, I was asked to gate-check my carry-on bag. I’d traveled with the same bag many times before, but its dimensions slightly exceeded Austrian’s published limits, a reminder that many European airlines enforce carry-on … Read more

Whether you’re paying for a wedding, replacing your roof, buying a new laptop or covering an unexpected medical bill, a large purchase can be an opportunity to earn valuable rewards. The right credit card could help you earn a lucrative welcome bonus, rack up thousands of points or miles, finance your purchase with a 0% … Read more

In the hottest months of summer, the appeal of an expansive, glittering swimming pool cannot be understated when perusing hotels or resorts to book for that next vacation, holiday weekend or even staycation. There are, of course, perennial favorite pools that can’t be denied season after season, year after year. But properties across the country … Read more

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see rates and fees) has a strong reputation behind it, and for good reason. With strong earning rates, benefits that easily outweigh its $95 annual fee and access to Chase’s 14 transfer partners, it’s easy to see why this card is a great fit for both beginners and die-hard points … Read more