The cost of travel keeps climbing. So let’s talk about getting more out of what you already have — whether that’s avoiding the mistakes that cost you points, squeezing maximum value from a credit card welcome bonus or turning your hard-earned elite perks into memorable experiences for someone else.
Today we’re covering:
💳 Your last chance to get an extremely rare 150K-point offer on a $95-a-year card
🎁 How to turn unused elite perks into lavish gifts for loved ones
Our hotels reporter finally did what we’ve all been desperately wanting him to do: put together a list of his top picks.
Our newest polling finds that most Americans are planning to travel as much or more than last summer. But the traveling public may soon be at a breaking point with rising costs.
No funny math: Here is how much one TPGer actually got from her premium card over the last year (with the real numbers).
This booking hack helped one TPGer find award availability at a Waldorf Astoria — even after Hilton told him there wasn’t any.
Getting a credit card with airport lounge access can feel like an investment. Here’s how to pick the right one.
ICYMI: We didn’t think the surcharges on this airline’s award fares could get any higher. But now they’ve somehow raised them even further.
And don’t make the same mistake as this reader. It cost him more than 100,000 miles.
INCREDIBLE OFFERS
Last chance: Up to 150K miles on a $95 card
It pains me to say this. It’s last call on what is easily the most lucrative offer on a business card we’ve seen so far this year.
The new Capital One Venture Business has been letting new cardholders earn up to 150,000 bonus miles since it debuted a couple months ago — an incredible value for a card that carries only a $95 annual fee.
That’s a huge value for any business with enough expenses to hit those requirements. Even if your expenses only get you to the first tier, 75,000 Capital One miles are worth a solid $1,388, per our June 2026 valuations. And hitting that second tier would mean a massive $2,775 in value.
Either one gives you a big pile of miles you can transfer to any of Capital One’s 15-plus travel partners to really maximize redemptions, or keep things simple and use them to cover any travel purchase at a fixed 1-cent-per-mile rate.
And the low $95 annual fee is basically a wash, since the card comes with an annual $50 credit for Capital One Business Travel and up to $50 each year for advertising and software purchases.
Plus, these are incredibly simple and straightforward rewards (the kind you don’t need a spreadsheet to keep track of) which are extremely popular with busy business owners who want to keep things simple.
Don’t let this rare opportunity slip by without at least one more look. This is your last chance to get this extremely high-value offer of up to 150,000 bonus miles before it’s gone!
They’re also expensive. Like, $1,000–$2,000 per night.
But if you’re a road warrior and a World of Hyatt member, you can potentially earn not just one but several free nights at these incredible resorts each year.
Stacking up lots of elite perks like that is the privilege of any road warrior (or business owner with the right credit card). But getting to actually use all of those big-value benefits doesn’t always come easy.
Ed Pizzarello spends so many nights on the road that he couldn’t possibly use all of his World of Hyatt perks.
But you know who could really use an elite retreat? His wife, who holds down the fort week after week while he’s away.
If your business travel or spending earns you more benefits than you can use, here’s how you can share those perks with loved ones —and which programs make it easiest.
From phishing emails, vishing voicemails and urgent calls from fraudulent agents, here are the most common travel scams that could cost you money this summer.
You are receiving this email because you opted in at thepointsguy.com.
Where to find us:
The Points Guy 100 5th Ave., 16th Floor New York, NY 10011 USA
If this newsletter was forwarded to you, you can subscribe here.
Advertiser Disclosure:
The cards we feature here are from partners who compensate us when you are approved through our site, and this may impact how or where these products appear. We don’t cover all available credit cards, but our analysis, reviews, and opinions are entirely from our editorial team. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.
Editorial Note: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
Photo Credit: MARTIN BARRAUD/GETTY IMAGES, JEREMIE TARDIEU/GETTY IMAGES, DANIEL DE LA HOZ/GETTY IMAGES
