Well hello and happy weekend, friend ❤️
I’m writing to you from Nashville, Tennessee, where the summer humidity is so thick my hair could now qualify as carry-on luggage.
We’ve had a week, y’all! There’s lots going on, from hotel promotions and family travel to business-class award flights and more, so let’s get this party started.
🏨 Hilton points are half off right now (through September 25)!
✈️ Don’t miss these major updates to our award search tool!
🎥 One of our favorite cards has an insane welcome offer… are you eligible?
🏆 Our Favorite Pick: How to Use Miles for Anything
I’m not saying Capital One coined the phrase, “you can have your cake and eat it, too.”
But I’m also not, not saying that. 😎
On the real, Capital One is built a little different from our other points-and-miles friends, since it allows you to cover any travel purchase — flights, hotels, Airbnbs, trains, theme parks, ferries, you name it — at a fixed rate of one cent per mile.
How it works:
Book any travel directly with your card (no portals, no partner rules)
Redeem miles as a statement credit to cover the charge
And that’s it!
Why we love this trick:
It works for budget airlines and random routes that you might normally ignore
It helps avoid those “surprise” $150 taxes that make award flights suddenly terrible
It lets you pick flights based on convenience, not whether they fit a points chart from forever ago
The best way to gain access to this “pay with points” situation? The Capital One Venture X Card.
We love this card because it also gives you a $300 annual travel credit (when booking through Capital One Travel), 10,000 anniversary miles each year (worth at least $100 in travel), and tons of other sweet, sweet perks.
Bottom line: Capital One miles are the rare currency that works for both “I need to book this weird ferry tomorrow” and “I want to transfer these points to fly lie-flat to Europe.”
👀 This Week’s Must-Reads
 | Is Airport Lounge Access Still Worth It in 2025? We break down Priority Pass value, domestic and international lounges, and the best cards for access. |
 | How to Combine UR Points in Your Household Learn how to share UR points with family or household members to unlock more valuable redemptions. |
 | Guide to American Airlines Main Cabin Extra Seats (And If They're Worth It) What they offer, how to book them, and whether they’re worth the upgrade for your next flight. |
🌍 Week in Review
Wednesday: 😍 Biz class to London for 29k points
Friday: 🔥 Europe for 22k Delta miles (round-trip!)
That’s gonna do it for today, friends! Now go forth, sip that coffee reaaaal slow, and we’ll meet back here next weekend.
Love ya, mean it! 💛
With contributions by Benji Stawski
