Don’t get me wrong — I love the hustling that comes with playing the points and miles game. (It’s practically my only hobby.) But I also love when I get to stay off the beaten path while traveling, and I frequently opt for an independent hotel with a lot of character, or a mom-and-pop bed-and-breakfast or agriturismo — the kinds of places you can’t access through a traditional hotel rewards program.
This is why Capital One miles are so alluring to me. These miles can cover purchases on any airline and any hotel — whether it’s part of a major chain or completely independent.
With the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card currently boasting its best welcome offer in years, I can’t help but think of all the ways I could use those rewards. For a limited time, you can get 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening — plus, you’ll receive a one-time $250 credit for Capital One Travel for opening the account.
Those 75,000 miles can take you far with Capital One’s many airline transfer partners.
You can find nonstop economy flights from the West Coast to Honolulu through partners like Virgin Red, Air Canada Aeroplan and Qantas Frequent Flyer for as little as 12,500 miles one-way. Prefer a fall trip to Europe? You can score one-way economy fares from the East Coast to Barcelona through those same partners for as little as 25,600 miles.
Of course, you could always save those miles for the perfect redemption, like TPG’s senior editorial director, Nick Ewen, recently did. He used his Capital One miles to upgrade his family to first class on an Emirates flight from Athens, Greece, back to the U.S. at 39,000 miles per person (some readers may recall this story from the June 21 newsletter) in a spur-of-the-moment move at the check-in counter that he calls “one of my best redemptions to date.”
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Educators save more with Norwegian
Now is a great time to book your 2025 cruise with Norwegian. Educators can take advantage of the Teacher Cruise Discount, which includes 5% off all cruise fares and a $50 onboard credit. Plus, you can combine this discount with Norwegian’s Free at Sea cruise deals for even more value. Educators must be validated through ID.me.
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