Ending Bonuses, Chase Categories and More... A Look Ahead at the Last Week of 2016

Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.

The gifts have been unwrapped, the kisses exchanged under the mistletoe and Uncle Lou is passed out in a food-induced coma while football plays in the background. What better time to take a moment and look at what's coming up this week in the travel world?

Monday, December 26, 2016

The day after Christmas is one of the busiest days for retailers, as people head out Monday to use newly acquired gift cards and exchange or return gifts that don't quite fit them (or perhaps their personality). But if you've been spending on a new credit card to earn a sign-up bonus, will a return count against you and cost you the extra points? Possibly. Check out the guidelines in our post, "Do Refunds Count Against Spending Toward a Sign-up Bonus?"

Wednesday, December 28, 2016

The ongoing Emirates fare sale, which Delta, Alitalia and now American have matched, is scheduled to end on Wednesday, with routes from New York to Milan and other cities available as low as $498 round-trip. Travel dates are available for most of next year, so if you're heading to Europe or the Middle East in 2017, this is your chance to lock in a cheap ticket.

Thursday, December 29, 2016

Through the end of Thursday, Hyatt Gold Passport members can earn 20% bonus points for stays at most MGM properties in Las Vegas. Registration for this promo is still open, so make sure you take advantage of it.

Saturday, December 31, 2016

A whole swath of offers will expire on Saturday, the last day of the year. Just one example is the six free months of Boingo Wi-Fi that Android users can get for signing up via Amazon Underground before the ball drops on Times Square.

For many other deals disappearing at the end of 2016, check out "Deadline December 31! Your To-Do List Before the Last Day of 2016," where you'll find a comprehensive list.

Sunday, January 1, 2017

The start of 2017 brings with it new opportunities, and new categories for the Chase Freedom card (No longer open to new applicants). Next year, the first quarter will feature gas stations and local commuter transportation for earning 5x Ultimate Rewards points on up to $1,500 in spend. So on Sunday you'll want to switch the cards in your wallet to make sure you're maximizing your bonus points.

Happy holidays to everyone — have a terrific end of 2016!