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Before I embarked on my first trip to Israel, I’d heard horror stories about the security questioning and long lines at Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv, the principal gateway to the country. But the airport offers a VIP arrival-and-departure service that allows you to bypass most of this process, so I had to give it a try.My trip coincided with the closing of the older Masada Lounge and the opening of the new Fattal Lounge at TLV....

Millennials are quick to get a bad rap, but the truth is they are likely to share one important quality with TPGers: a serious love for travel. This generation has single-handedly put solo travel on the map and fostered a wave of entrepreneurs who have turned their lust for seeing the world into successful careers as digital nomads.And now, thanks to a recent study from Contiki — a travel company that specializes in adventures for said generation — we know just how important packing up and seeing the world is to this group of sightseeing-hungry spirits....

One of Iceland’s biggest tourist attractions has temporarily closed to visitors — and Justin Bieber may be at least partially to blame.Remember that time Justin Bieber filmed a music video for his song “I’ll Show You” in Iceland? Frolicking through the fields of lava rock and moss may have looked really cool on film in 2015, but it’s not so great for the actual environment.(Screenshot via YouTube)The Environmental Agency of Iceland just shared that Fjaðrárgljúfur, a very popular canyon region in the south featured in Bieber’s video, will be closed until June to repair damage caused in part by the influx of tourists....

Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.Update: The Chase Freedom card no longer offers a bonus of 10% on all purchases plus a 10 point per transaction bonus additional 10% Cash Back. Instead, both of those benefits have been replaced with a 10% annual bonus at the end of the year on all purchases.The Chase Freedom (No longer open to new applicants) is a cash-back card that gives 1 point per dollar spent on all purchases and up to 5 points per dollar spent on rotating categories - all with no annual fee....

Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.For the past few years, Hyatt’s offered co-branded cardholders the opportunity to score a 10% rebate on all award redemptions. Now, we just got word that the promo’s back for 2018!As with past years, this particular offer is only available to World of Hyatt members who also have an active World of Hyatt Credit Card, or who still hold the previous version of the Hyatt Credit Card that was closed to new applicants last month....

Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.Thanks to JetBlue’s Mint class, Virgin America’s innovative first class and potential improvements to Southwest’s offerings, smaller US carriers are starting to look a lot more appealing. In light of this, TPG Senior Points & Miles Contributor Jason Steele takes a look at which airlines are best for which travelers.Like many people, I grew up flying carriers like Continental, Eastern, Pan Am and TWA....

Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.Fret not, SkyTeam flyers: After a multi-month hiatus, Air France’s Flying Blue award calendar search tool is back online. As one of the best options for finding award space across the SkyTeam network — which encompasses airlines like Delta, KLM, Air France and Korean — the tool enables those searching for availability on Air France and its partners to do so with (relative) ease....

Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.The Starwood Preferred Guest Credit Card from American Express and the Starwood Preferred Guest Business Credit Card from American Express tend to offer sign-up bonuses of 25,000 Starpoints (after spending $3,000 or $5,000 in the first three months, respectively). Compared to 100,000-point bonuses available on other cards, this might not seem like much — though Starpoints are the highest-rated currency listed in TPG’s monthly valuations, and we have seen sign-up offers rise a bit higher, to 35,000 Starpoints....

Sign up for our daily newsletterEmail addressSign upI would like to subscribe to The Points Guy newsletters and special email promotions. The Points Guy will not share or sell your email. See privacy policy.On this episode of Talking Points, Host Brian Kelly, The Points Guy, talks to Amy Weinberg, the senior vice president of the World of Hyatt program to find out what members can expect in 2019, like more Small Luxury Hotel properties and more digital interaction....

Get ready for takeoff: The soon-to-open TWA Hotel at JFK Airport is going to be an AvGeek’s dream come true. And starting at noon EST on Feb. 14, it will begin accepting reservations for stays beginning on May 15.Airport hotels are rarely something to get excited about, but this property is bringing new life to Eero Saarinen’s iconic TWA Terminal, which was built in 1962 at the height of the Jet Age and shuttered in 2001....

Don’t forget to look up at the sky tonight, because the last supermoon of the year will rise this evening.The third and final supermoon of 2019 — called the Super Worm Moon because it’s the time of year when earthworms emerge after the long winter — follows last month’s Super Snow Moon and the Super Blood Wolf Moon in January. As far as supermoons go, this one is even more special because it coincides with the spring equinox....

When it comes to choosing the best piece of luggage for any type of trip, wheels are pretty much essential. While a rolling suitcase can do wonders in lessening the stress you put on your body when you’re forced to drag your luggage from Point A to Point B, there’s one place where all the wheels in the world won’t help you: a steep staircase (or worse: a broken escalator). This is where TraxPack comes in....

It’s been a great year for TPG. In 2019, we doubled in size and moved to a new office in New York City. We’ve also been able to use our passion for travel and points and miles not only to help our readers but also to help people and organizations in need around the globe.Our efforts at have paid off. TPG raised and donated more than $920,208 for a variety of organizations....

Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here – The Hyatt Credit CardCosta Rica’s all about doing active things, so I couldn’t wait to spend my birthday soaking up the Costa Rican sun with some of my friends at the Andaz Peninsula Papagayo Resort and checking out some of the area’s activities like zip-lining and horseback riding. Check out the latest episode of TPGtv below to see how it went!...

It’s been just over six months since United unveiled its new Polaris business class, and the airline’s first aircraft with the new product — a 777-300ER (or 77W) — is just about ready to take off. While UA rolled out some Polaris amenities on December 1, including a fantastic new lounge and updated service in business and first class, we’ve been eagerly awaiting the arrival of the airline’s 77W, given that it’ll be the first plane to offer the new Polaris seat....

Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.Last Thursday I decided to bite the bullet and apply for two of the most lucrative credit card offers I’ve seen this year:1) Platinum Delta SkyMiles Business Credit Card from American ExpressUpdate: The current offer is 5,000 MQMs and 35,000 bonus miles after you spend $1,000 on your new Card in your first 3 months.Earn 25,000 bonus miles, (5,000 of which count as MQMs) after your first purchase on the Card within the first year of Cardmembership....

Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.Last month, Singapore Airlines announced that it would soon allow customers to book their flights with KrisFlyer miles in premium economy starting May 24. And starting June 1, the carrier would allow passengers to upgrade their paid ticket from premium economy to business class or from economy to premium economy — however, only one of the upgrades can be made....

Have you wondered where all of Boeing’s 737 MAXes have gone since being grounded in March? Aerial footage from King 5 News in Seattle shows that for at least for some of them, the answer is the parking lot.As the jet manufacturer waits for FAA recertification for its single aisle plane, Boeing is being forced to find space dozens of MAXes fresh off of the assembly line, unable to be delivered....

Edit: These bonuses seem to be targeted and may vary on the Amex card that you have. Feel free to report your experience in the commentsI personally think the American Express Membership Rewards program is great - for airline redemptions. However, when it comesto their hotel transfer ratios, I don’t see a lot of value in transferred 2 Amex to 1 stinking Starwood point or even a 1: 1.5 ratio to Hilton....

Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.As ski resorts around the country — and the world — start opening their doors, it’s time to start thinking about your next snowy getaway. Ski and snowboard holidays can quickly add up between all the flights, chalet stays, lift tickets and equipment rentals. These six trips from Park City to St. Moritz are great ways to cash in those points and miles you’ve been saving up all year, helping you save big on flights and accommodations....