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Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here: Citi PrestigeTO THE POINT: The Radisson Blu, Dakar Sea Plaza is a waterfront resort just outside the center of Dakar, Senegal. The pros: stunning views, a relaxed, beach vibe and spacious rooms. The cons: The location isn’t ideal if you’d like to be within walking distance of Dakar’s most popular attractions.When I learned I’d be traveling to Dakar, Senegal, I was excited to explore a new country and region of the world — but first I needed a place to stay....

Saving up for an award redemption at a specific hotel can be a nerve-wracking process, as award availability can change day to day while you’re still working on earning enough points. Marriott Bonvoy lets members get around this stress through its Points Advance booking feature. This redemption options allows members to lock in award space at a hotel even when they’re short on points; you’d then need to earn the required number of points within 14 days of arrival....

Airplanes, like cars, have user manuals. That includes the Boeing VC-25B, also known as the future Air Force One. That is not news.What is unusual is that the manuals for the future U.S. presidential jet are going to cost taxpayers $84 million. You read that right.The Drive reported that Boeing was just awarded an $84 million by the U.S. Air Force to “modify commercial manuals, update with VC-25B-specific information and deliver integrated manuals for the VC-25B system....

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.An unexpected, new tourist hot spot has emerged in northern Thailand. Tham Luang-Khun Nam Nang Non forest park in Chiang Rai province has never been a must-see destination, but now, the once quiet area has people lining up for selfies....

Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.Paying several hundred dollars for access to FoundersCard travel benefits may seem steep, but as TPG Contributor Peter Rothbart discovered, membership can come in handy during a trip to Vegas, helping you waive resort fees, enjoy lounge access and more.As a poker enthusiast, I’ve become fond of Las Vegas for its bounty of card rooms, and have been visiting regularly over the last few years....

Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.There’s a big world out there waiting to be explored, but lots of women think they can’t travel if they don’t have someone to go with them. TPG Contributor Rebecca Benson says that’s not true and shares some tips she’s learned from traveling solo in 18 countries. (All photos are by the author).In February, two female Argentine backpackers were murdered as they traveled through Ecuador....

Here at TPG, Etihad Apartment is one of our favorite ways to fly. We’ve reviewed it several times and have been blown away each time. If you’re trying to score an Apartment (or business class) seat for future travel, you’re in luck. Etihad just launched a new 30% off sale on award flights. Here’s what you need to know.For more TPG news delivered each morning to your inbox, sign up for our daily newsletter....

Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.Want to see the latest flight deals as soon as they’re published? Follow The Points Guy on Facebook and Twitter, and subscribe to text message alerts from our deals feed, @tpg_alerts.Airfare deals are typically only available on limited dates. We recommend that you use Google Flights to find dates to fly, then book through an online travel agency, such as Orbitz or Expedia, which allows you to cancel flights without penalty by 11pm Eastern Time within one day of booking....

Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.Want to see the latest flight deals as soon as they’re published? Follow The Points Guy on Facebook and Twitter, and subscribe to text message alerts from our deals feed, @tpg_alerts.Airfare deals are typically only available on limited dates. We recommend you use Google Flights to find dates to fly, then book through an online travel agency such as Orbitz or Expedia, which allows you to cancel flights without penalty by 11pm Eastern Time within one day of booking....

Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.Want to see the latest flight deals as soon as they’re published? Follow The Points Guy on Facebook and Twitter, and subscribe to text message alerts from our deals feed, @tpg_alerts.Airfare deals are typically only available on limited dates. We recommend you use Google Flights to find dates to fly, then book through an online travel agency, such as Orbitz or Expedia, which allows you to cancel flights without penalty by 11pm Eastern Time within one day of booking....

Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.WOW Air’s cheap flights are available again for travelers heading to Iceland this year. Most of the discounted fares are for service from Boston (BOS), however you might be able to find a handful of deals from Baltimore (BWI).Prices start around $228 round-trip, although tickets for the summer are a bit more expensive. Keep in mind, though, that WOW is a budget airline, so you’ll have to pay extra fees for things like checked bags or choosing a seat, but there’s still plenty of room for savings....

Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.United’s MileagePlus X app is running what looks to be a Back to School promotion offering up to 10 miles per dollar on a variety of retailers that sell clothes and the sort of food that a back-to-college ‘kid’ may be after. The end date on this bonus isn’t posted, so it might not last for long. For now, the following merchants are participating in the 10 miles per dollar promotion:Chili’sOld NavyAthletaBanana RepublicColumbia SportswearCold Stone CreameryDave and Buster’sExpressDomino’s PizzaAt 10 United miles per dollar spent — based on TPG’s latest valuation of 1....

Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.Groupon has shared the details a new program allowing you to earn airline miles and hotel points when shopping through its website. This may sound similar to shopping portals that offer miles and points when shopping with certain retailers, but what separates this is that the functionality is directly built into Groupon’s website and is powered by Points....

Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.The entry of Delta’s A350 into commercial service marks a new era for the airline. On one hand, it means that Delta is retiring its fleet of Boeing 747s, which for any AvGeek is sad news. However, the A350 is a huge step forward in terms of technology and onboard product: it’s the most advanced jet flying, and features all of the latest technology available, which should provide better comfort for passengers....

Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.One of the foundational elements of the points and miles hobby is that you should maximize every online purchases by going through a shopping portal. This doesn’t just apply when buying stuff online; you also can score bonus points, miles or cash back on hotel reservations and flight purchases by using these shopping portals.A new offer popped up this weekend that makes it especially valuable to book through a portal....

There are only seven Star Alliance-branded lounges in the world, usually in larger cities that aren’t a hub for any member airlines. Outside of those seven airports, Star Alliance premium-cabin passengers and Star Alliance Gold members are directed to lounges operated by the local carrier (i.e., Lufthansa Senator lounges in Europe, Singapore Airlines lounges in Southeast Asia, etc.) or at smaller outstations to a third-party contract lounge. Although LAX is a hub for United, most of its operations and lounges are in the distant Terminal 6, while the majority of Star Alliance flights depart out of Tom Bradley International Terminal....

This summer, you should be planning trips that will get you outside and immersed in nature — and your doctor will thank you. A new study published last week by the Journal of Scientific Reports found that spending at least two hours per week in nature can benefit your health and well-being.Of a sample of nearly 20,000 people in the UK who responded to the Monitor of Engagement with the Natural Environment Survey from 2014 to 2016, those who spent 120 to 300 minutes per week in nature reported better health and well-being compared to those who didn’t....

Serious golfers, and mediocre ones, bring along their clubs for the ride no matter where they travel.“I’ve taken clubs to London, Scotland, even Africa with no problem, and they come with me every time I fly. My status with Delta lets me check them for free,” said Andrew Haynes, a New York-based creative director and golfer. “There’s always a course or range somewhere!“But travel with prized golf clubs isn’t stress-free. “I am in constant fear of my clubs being lost, bludgeoned or generally maimed,” said Patrick Koenig, a golf photographer who takes more than 30 trips per year (and hundreds of flights) around the world with his clubs....

To say that Marriott’s loyalty program merger with Starwood hasn’t gone smoothly for travelers would be an understatement. We get emails daily at TPG from readers frustrated with the merger.However, besides a unique elite status issue – which took Marriott more than five months to resolve – I’ve generally had a decent experience with Marriott since the merger. Or, at least that’s what I thought until I dug in deeper.With a couple of days off this week, I did something that comes naturally to me: reconciling my loyalty program accounts....

JetBlue is in the midst of a transformative period that will see the airline take delivery of longer range, next generation aircraft and expand its international service, most notably when it launches flights to London in 2021. The airline currently has 85 Airbus A321neo aircraft on order, as well as 13 of the even longer range A321XLRs.At the end of June, JetBlue took delivery of its first Airbus A321neo from the Airbus factory in Hamburg....