Delta unveils 8 new and expanded Sky Clubs coming in 2023

HOSTED BY: 1 AIR TRAVEL

Delta Air Lines continues to invest in modernizing and expanding the Sky Club network.

This year, the Atlanta-based carrier opened four stunning lounges, including its two largest in New York’s LaGuardia Airport (LGA) and Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), as well as its only international club in Tokyo’s Haneda Airport (HND) and a major, 22,000-square-foot new space in Terminal 5 at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport (ORD).

And Delta isn’t resting on its laurels. The carrier announced news Wednesday of some major club growth planned for 2023, including a whopping eight new and expanded spaces nationwide.

Here are the latest details.

5 new Sky Clubs

Kansas City International Airport (MCI)

Estimated opening: February 2023.

ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY

It’s been years in the making, but Kansas City, Missouri, is finally gearing up to open its $1.5 billion new terminal at MCI. TPG recently toured the construction, and the new terminal is on track to open early next year.

At the outset, the space will be home to just one airline lounge, Delta’s first Sky Club in Kansas City. The details are light, but Delta promises two all-weather Sky Decks in the 11,000-square-foot lounge.

Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP)

Estimated opening: April 2023.

Delta is opening a brand-new club at its hub in Minneapolis-St. Paul early next year. It’ll measure 21,000 square feet, which is roughly twice the size of the existing F/G concourse club, and it’ll offer seating for 450 travelers. Amenities include an indoor-outdoor bar, a year-round Sky Deck (protected from the cold weather during the winter) and tarmac and runway views from the main relaxation area.

It’s expected that this lounge will become the nicest at MSP and will be designed in Delta’s new signature Sky Club style.

John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)

Estimated opening: June 2023.

Delta is consolidating its operations at JFK in Terminal 4 next year, which will coincide with the decommissioning of Terminal 2. At that time, the airline will open a second Sky Club in Terminal 4, but this one will be at the A gates. It’ll measure nearly 14,000 square feet, with seating for over 200 travelers. No other amenities were teased as part of the announcement.

As Delta continues to suffer from Sky Club overcrowding in New York, the airline will open a Sky Club Express — a concept that first debuted this year in Boston — in Terminal 4 starting in January 2023. This temporary space will remain open until the new club in Terminal 4’s Concourse A opens next year.

Additionally, the airline is still planning a business-class-only lounge for JFK, but that’s expected to open in 2024.

Boston Logan International Airport (BOS)

Estimated opening: Late summer 2023.

ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY

Delta’s Boston hub received a major upgrade earlier this year with the completion of the main Sky Club in Terminal A, near Gate A18. As part of Delta’s growth in Boston, the airline expanded its international operations to the airport’s Terminal E, and connecting passengers can now take a bus between the A gate and E gates to simplify the transit experience.

Delta opened its first Sky Club Express in Boston to accommodate premium travelers departing from Terminal E, and next year, the airline will open a permanent lounge in this terminal that’s sure to impress. The 21,000-square-foot space will seat over 400 travelers.

Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR)

Estimated opening: Fall/winter 2023.

ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY

Newark is getting a big glow-up with the opening of the stunning new Terminal A on Dec. 8. When the new facility opens, American, Air Canada, JetBlue and United will call the terminal home. (Only a subset of United flights will depart from Terminal A.)

Delta will move into Terminal A after the second phase of construction is completed there next year, and the airline will open a brand-new Sky Club in the new terminal at that time.

No additional details are currently available, but Delta will share the upper-level lounge space with an American Admirals Club.

3 expanded Sky Clubs

Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL)

Estimated opening: September 2023.

ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY

Delta opened its new Fort Lauderdale club in June 2021. The lounge is designed with luxurious finishes and offers an impressive buffet selection. At 8,000 square feet, the new Sky Club seats 180 guests, representing a nearly 50% capacity boost compared to the one it replaced. That said, overcrowding continues to be an issue at FLL, and Delta is already expanding the new lounge by an additional 2,200 square feet, which will add 90 seats to the existing footprint.

Miami International Airport (MIA)

Estimated opening: December 2023.

With the recent approval of the Delta and LATAM joint venture, Miami is turning into a gateway hub for Delta, whereby the carrier can funnel domestic connections to the South American airline’s extensive network from this key South Florida city.

Delta’s existing Miami Sky Club is in Concourse H, and it’ll be expanded late next year to accommodate a total of 320 flyers with over 12,000 square feet.

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)

Estimated opening: Winter 2023.

Delta Sky Club at ATL. ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY

Delta plans to renovate its existing Concourse E club in Atlanta. The airline will update the design motifs and will add new self-serve check-in kiosks and an expanded full-service food and beverage station there. As part of the renovation, the club will be expanded to over 18,000 square feet and hold 353 travelers.

This has historically been one of Delta’s busier clubs in Atlanta, especially during peak afternoon and evening departure banks for long-haul flights that depart from Concourse E.

Delta also plans a brand-new Sky Club for Concourse D in Atlanta, but there’s been no official word from the carrier yet confirming these plans or the construction timeline.

Bottom line

No other U.S. airline is doing as much as Delta to grow and expand its lounge network. The airline’s lounges are among the nicest in the U.S., and it’s great to see a big round of investment from the carrier.

All of these new and renovated spaces come as the airline has been suffering from some severe overcrowding, so these larger spaces can’t come soon enough. At the same time, the carrier is overhauling the lounge access policy, which will hopefully help alleviate some of the lines and crowds we’ve seen at Sky Clubs nationwide.

With the recent access policy changes, using an eligible American Express card to access the Sky Club is now more lucrative than ever, so be sure to check out the full details.

By: Zach Griff
Title: Delta unveils 8 new and expanded Sky Clubs coming in 2023
Sourced From: thepointsguy.com/news/new-delta-sky-clubs/
Published Date: Wed, 30 Nov 2022 14:05:23 +0000

Read More

__________________________________

How digital marketing can take your hotel business to the next level in 2023 - Hotelier India

Google's business profile makes sure that people find your business when looking for the services offered to you. This makes it easy for the ...

Google is going after scammers that prey on small businesses - Tech - Mashable SEA

If you're being charged to set up a Business Profile on Google, it's a scam.

TODAY'S ADVENTURE

Fort Lauderdale Airport (FLL Airport): Getting there and HacksLISTEN TO THE EPISODE: APPLE PODCASTSSPOTIFYGOOGLE PODCASTS

Fort Lauderdale Airport (FLL Airport): Getting there and Hacks

Fort Lauderdale International Airport, which is actually located in Hollywood, is outside of the main city of Fort Lauderdale. We’re talking maybe like 15 minutes away. Everything around that area is quite close to one another. It’s quickly growing as a much larger international hub. Today we’re going to be talking about FLL Airport.

Although, obviously, Miami International Airport is the main airport. Fort Lauderdale does have a lot of international flights flying in.

FLL Airport

What I like about Fort Lauderdale way more than Miami is that it’s smaller. It only has four terminals. They’re not excessively huge and really complicated to get around because in Miami, from one terminal to another could take you like, 20 minutes. Not in the case of Fort Lauderdale. Fort Lauderdale, as I was saying, is an international airport. It’s a huge domestic hub as well, where you could take a lot of domestic flights.

How to get to Fort Lauderdale Airport?

Obviously, the most given forms to get to FLL Airport are renting a car, taking a shuttle if you’re staying in some hotel, or picking you up in an Uber. But you could also take the train, which is such an incredible convenience because the thing is, with Florida, a lot of people fly into that area of Florida, southern Florida, but they are a couple of hours away.

If you are planning on coming to Fort Lauderdale International Airport. You could take the train there and then the shuttle is waiting for you right as you arrive. It will bring you to whichever terminal you need. With those two stops, the terminals are within two minutes of walking of each of those.

If you are renting a car and make sure that you arrive a little bit beforehand so that you have enough time to return the car and then either walk or take a shuttle, depending on where your car rental is, and obviously with the Uber and whatnot I always recommend arriving to an airport around 3 hours before when you’re flying out.

Getting Around FLL Aiport Using the Tri-Rail

If you’re going north, let’s say all the way up through the Palm Beach areas, Boca Raton, all of those, and even a little bit inland, we’re talking a good hour away. There are no planes. So the traffic can be pretty immense. If you can avoid driving, and you just want to be on a train, the Tri-Rail is the best there is.

Firstly, you have to go to either terminal. Between terminal one and terminal two is one stop, and between terminal three and terminal four is another stop for the shuttle, which is completely free.

That will bring you to the Tri-Rail train station, and from there you can go south to Miami or north, going past West Palm Beach.

Price

Usually, the tickets are between five dollars to ten dollars. Super well priced, super cheap, and they run every 30 minutes.

Fort Lauderdale Airport Customs

One thing with Fort Lauderdale, the customs when you do arrive in Fort Lauderdale has become notoriously long. So make sure that you have a long enough connection in between your flights. An hour and a half will not work. I don’t think it works anywhere anymore, but it really does not work there. Sometimes we’ve been stuck in customs for over an hour, so they are trying to get together, but it is still a little bit unorganized.

Just remember, I would recommend at least a two or three-hour time span between your connections. Other than that, Fort Lauderdale is really easy to get around. It’s quite simple. Interestingly enough, another main difference between Fort Lauderdale and Miami is that Miami is predominantly Spanish. It always amazes me that a lot of the people that are staffed, barely speak English because obviously, that’s the client.  But in Fort Lauderdale, you will not have this issue at all.

How to subscribe?

If you subscribe to my podcast you’ll be the first one to know when a new podcast is up!

Subscribe on iTunes

Follow-on Spotify

Subscribe on Google

Did you enjoy the podcast? Leave a Review!

Leave a review on Apple Podcast! They are one of THE most important factors for podcasts, and it’s super easy to do:

Click on “View in iTunes” on the left-hand side under the picture.Leave an honest review.Thanks, you’re super!

The post Fort Lauderdale Airport (FLL Airport): Getting there and Hacks appeared first on Travel Experta - Travel, Lifestyle, Freedom.

-

By: Angel
Title: Fort Lauderdale Airport (FLL Airport): Getting there and Hacks
Sourced From: travelexperta.com/fort-lauderdale-airport/
Published Date: Mon, 28 Nov 2022 17:00:57 +0000

How to check your business credit score

HOSTED BY: 1 AIR TRAVEL

Editor’s note: This post has been updated with new information.

It’s pretty easy to stumble into — nay, hard to avoid — an advertisement from some company offering you free access to your personal credit score. They’re everywhere. And the federal government has mandated that you can get a free credit report from each consumer credit bureau once a year via annualcreditreport.com. You can also get a free credit report from annualcreditreport.com once a week through December 2023.

But when it comes to business credit reports and scores, be prepared to fork out some cash. There are some free services available, but they won’t necessarily give you the full picture.

You should check your business credit report for the same reasons you check your personal one: to find and fix errors (they do happen), to look for evidence of fraud and to keep an eye on what might be dragging down your business credit score. But there’s another good reason to keep an eye on your business credit: It’s public, which means your potential clients or suppliers could use it (for a fee) when deciding whether to do business with you.

Business credit is similar to your personal credit in that it allows potential creditors to judge what kind of credit risk your business may pose. For established firms, a higher business credit score could mean you’ll have better access to loans and lines of credit, lower interest rates and cheaper insurance premiums. When you’re just starting, you won’t have a business credit score until you open a business credit card or secure a line of credit from a vendor that reports to the major business credit bureaus — Experian Business, Equifax Small Business and Dun & Bradstreet.

Related: More than half of small businesses don’t have a credit card — here are some good 1st choices

Where to get free business credit reports

Dun & Bradstreet offers a free service called CreditSignal, which sends alerts whenever your scores or reports change. However, it doesn’t give you access to the full reports themselves. Here’s what the fine print on the website says:

CreditSignal only shows four of your Dun & Bradstreet scores for 14 days, then provides directional changes to such scores. To view additional scores and ratings or view scores and ratings following the 14-day period, we recommend that you upgrade to one of our paid credit monitoring or credit building solutions.

Credit monitoring services like Nav will give you free access to a summary of your Experian Intelliscore and Equifax reports when you sign up for a free account. The site says its free service “provides business credit grades for each score as well as summary reports, your personal credit score from Experian, and free tools that may help you build business credit. (No credit card required.)”

THOMAS BARWICK/GETTY IMAGES

Again, these are summaries only. You will need to pay to get more tools or details related to your credit report. However, this is a great place to start if you aren’t tracking your business credit.

Nav offers a Business Boost plan for $49.99 per month, while Experian offers a credit report starting at $39.95 per report or up to $189 per year for unlimited reports and tracking data.

Dun & Bradstreet offers CreditSignal Plus for $15 per month and CreditMonitor for $39 per month. The difference is that the former only offers five scores per month; the latter offers all scores and ratings throughout the month without limits.

Another option is Tillful. Just as there are different types of personal credit scores, there are different types of business credit scores. Tillful is free to use but is not exactly the same as the options listed above. If you apply for a loan or business credit card, the issuing bank will probably pull your data from Equifax, Experian or D&B. Tillful will help you understand your business credit and will issue its own score, but it’s important to understand that this is not the same as the scoring methods lenders are likely to use to evaluate your business.

What details are needed to obtain your business credit report?

No matter which service you’re using to view your business credit report and check your score, you’ll need to provide information about your business. This will include details like the business name, ZIP code for the business address and personal details of the business owner on file to verify your identity.

You’ll likely have to complete security questions as well. These can be information about previous financial obligations or personal details. Providing these answers confirms your identity and that someone isn’t pretending to be you.

Reading your credit reports and scores

Business credit reports show some information similar to your personal credit reports, such as debts and repayments. However, business credit reports also show public records like bankruptcies and tax liens.

Here’s how a typical business credit report is broken down:

Credit: Number of trade experiences, balances outstanding, payment habits, credit utilization and trends over time.Public records: Recency, frequency and dollar amounts associated with liens, judgments or bankruptcies.Demographic information: Years on file, Standard Industrial Classification code and business size.

Each bureau will use this data to help generate a business credit score ranging from one to 100 from Dun & Bradstreet’s Paydex score or Experian’s Intelliscore Plus. Equifax uses a score from 101 to 992, while FICO’s Small Business Scoring Service uses a score from zero to 300. These numbers differ from personal FICO scores, which range from 300 to 850.

The closer your business’s credit score is to the top of the range, the better. Eighty out of 100 is considered a good score on the D&B and Experian scales.

THE GOOD BRIGADE/GETTY IMAGES

How to improve your business credit score

If you see your business credit score and come away unimpressed, there are ways to improve it. You’ll have to follow similar strategies as you would when looking to improve your personal credit score.

Related: 6 things to do to improve your credit score

Just as with your personal credit score, you can improve your business score by decreasing your credit utilization — paying off balances, opening new lines of credit or asking for a larger credit line — and, of course, continuing to pay your bills on time, if not sooner.

Related: The best way to pay your credit card bills

Negative marks on your business report may remain in place for some time, according to Experian. Here are the estimated lengths of time you have until they fall off the report:

Bankruptcies: Nine years and nine months.Judgments: Six years and nine months.Tax liens: Six years and nine months.Collections: Six years and nine months.Uniform Commercial Code filings: Five years.Bank, government and leasing data: 36 months.Trade data: 36 months.

If you have business credit cards and are paying these on time, you can earn rewards while also building your credit history and improving your business’s credit score.

Related: 10 considerations for your small-business credit card strategy

Mind your personal credit score also

While opening a business credit card can be an important way to separate your personal and business expenses, your personal credit isn’t immune from taking hits because of your business activity. Some issuers report business card activity to both personal and business credit bureaus. Plus, all major credit issuers will check your personal credit when deciding on your business credit card application, which could cause a small temporary drop in your personal credit score related to this hard pull. Keep these factors in mind when you’re considering opening a business credit card.

Related: Small business credit card vs. corporate credit card: Which is right for your business?

However, you’ll have little to worry about — concerning either your personal or business credit score — if you pay your card bills on time every time and try to stay well below your credit limit.

KELVIN MURRAY/GETTY IMAGES

Bottom line

Keeping track of your business credit can help you ensure you have access to the best interest rates and loan options available to a business of your size and longevity. It’s an important way to keep tabs on how others see your business — and how you see it as well. However, tracking this information requires jumping through a few more hoops than you’ll encounter while exploring your personal credit. That doesn’t make the effort any less important, though.

Additional reporting by Ryan Smith.

By: Mike Cetera
Title: How to check your business credit score
Sourced From: thepointsguy.com/guide/how-to-check-business-credit-score/
Published Date: Tue, 29 Nov 2022 18:00:30 +0000

Read More

__________________________________

NITDA-Digital Economy Employability Programme 2022 for young Nigerians

Learn Skills to set up Google Business Profile, and Google Suite and monetize content online. 4. Connect to learning platforms.

Polish Your Online Presence | Cleaning & Maintenance Management

A Google Business Profile is a free online account that allows customers and clients to review your business. It's yet another opportunity to market ...

TODAY'S ADVENTURE

Palm Beach Florida: What to Do, What to See and Where to GoLISTEN TO THE EPISODE: APPLE PODCASTSSPOTIFYGOOGLE PODCASTS

Palm Beach Florida: What to Do, What to See and Where to Go

Palm Beach is literally just a few minutes away from West Palm Beach. Though, it has a completely different feel to it overall. First, it’s considered to be literally one of the richest zip codes in the United States and, perhaps, there are a ton of things to do and amazing attractions to check. Today we’re going to be talking about Palm Beach, Florida.

Palm Beach, Florida

If you’re not from the United States, a zip code is for postal purposes of towns, neighborhoods, and areas that we have in the US. Palm Beach has a different zip code than West Palm Beach, and that’s why it’s considered to be one of the wealthiest zip codes in the United States. It’s literally where we have billionaires row, which is located right along the ocean or facing the other waterway if you’re into those kinds of things.

Walk Around Worth Avenue

Some people love that you could take a tour looking at who lives where like different celebrities. Also, celebrity spotting is definitely a thing to do in Palm Beach. Not really my thing to do, but a lot of people enjoy doing those kinds of things. So it’s definitely something that’s available for you to go and do. And you could probably find a lot of celebrities walking around Worth Avenue.

What is Worth Avenue? It’s literally Rodeo Drive, the Fifth Avenue of Florida. Overall, and especially obviously in Palm Beach, it’s all high-end designer shops, very trendy, very high-end dining.

The dining, I have to admit, is quite delicious, obviously, because they do have some of the top chefs in the world in quite a few of the restaurants around there.

Breakers Resort

Also, Palm Beach is known for the iconic Breakers Resort, which was one of the very first of that type of resort.  Super high-end. We’re talking like the 1% of the 1% that go there. It is really amazing. We did stay there several times, and we’ve eaten in quite a lot of the restaurants they have around their properties. If you are up for trying something that’s definitely decadent on all levels.

The Circle

If you do want to feel rich for the day, you don’t necessarily have to stay there. You can go to their world-famous Sunday brunch, which is in The Circle. It’s one of their most beautiful restaurants. And today, I think it’s like $155 per person. That does not include tax or tip. So you’re talking about $200 per person. The magnitude of food you will get there is as you could just imagine.

Palm Beach is not a place to go where you are going to be thrifty, this is where you will be spending money simply because you are in Palm Beach.

Walk Along the Beaches

Also, what I really recommend doing other than obviously walking along the beaches above the boardwalk. And if you have a bike, an amazing five-and-a-half-mile flat, gorgeous bike trail that takes you to these most hidden beaches all along Palm Beach. It’s really fantastic. I highly recommend you do that. You could do that with your kids. A great way to spend the day. Absolutely. And then go to the beaches.

Equestrian Scene

I did mention the Equestrian scene, which is a world scene. It’s in Wellington. It’s actually a town maybe 15 minutes away where you can see Polo. You could go to all these different events, but the majority of people do stay in Palm Beach. So these are just some of the things that you will be enjoying when you’re staying in Palm Beach.

Walk Around the Streets

The streets are just perfect and everything is manicured. It’s a gorgeous place to visit, even if you only have half a day to walk around and visit. I highly recommend it.

Things to Know Before Going

Beaches Don’t Have Public Bathrooms

A couple of things you do need to know about the beaches. A lot of them do not have public bathrooms. There are some beaches that are part of national parks, which do have all the amenities you need, which are usually free. So just do have that in mind. You cannot just go to any hotel or restaurant or store to go use the bathroom. Definitely, something you need to understand.

If You Can’t Afford to eat There

If you cannot afford to eat at any of their more expensive restaurants or to even eat there, you could literally go 15 minutes into West Palm Beach. Literally go west, 15 minutes, super close. And then you have an entire array of more diversity and much more affordable places.

Please listen to my podcast on West Palm Beach to get a much better idea of what there is to do in West Palm Beach as well. But again, Palm Beach, it’s a place of elegance, decadence, and a lot of money.

It was more or less I don’t want to say it was founded, but the person that really put it on the map was Flagler, who was this tycoon. And you could actually go and visit Flagler house where he resided. It’s a 60,000-square-foot house with over 70 rooms, and it’s now a museum, so you could go and visit that. And he was the man that pretty much brought all the money people to the area. And so there is that history as well to Palm Beach.

Best Time To Visit Palm Beach

The busiest time of the year is obviously when the snowbirds and the horse season, the equestrian season is, and it’s usually from November through April.

I’ve been there in all different seasons. I personally love it more when it’s really slow and quiet because you have the whole place to yourself, but obviously, it’s when your schedule works best for you. And even in the highest season, it’s still not that crowded. It’s not that kind of scene as you would get if you were to go to Fort Lauderdale or Miami. It’s very low-key, very upper scale, and it’s amazing.

Conclusion

I highly recommend visiting Palm Beach, even if you cannot afford to spend a lot of money there. Or maybe you do have the money to spend, or you just want to feel really wealthy for a day and visit the brunch. It’s a place that I highly recommend visiting. It’s absolutely gorgeous, and it’s a great place to have fun.

How to subscribe?

If you subscribe to my podcast you’ll be the first one to know when a new podcast is up!

Subscribe on iTunes

Follow-on Spotify

Subscribe on Google

Did you enjoy the podcast? Leave a Review!

Leave a review on Apple Podcast! They are one of THE most important factors for podcasts, and it’s super easy to do:

Click on “View in iTunes” on the left-hand side under the picture.Leave an honest review.Thanks, you’re super!

The post Palm Beach Florida: What to Do, What to See and Where to Go appeared first on Travel Experta - Travel, Lifestyle, Freedom.

-

By: Angel
Title: Palm Beach Florida: What to Do, What to See and Where to Go
Sourced From: travelexperta.com/palm-beach-florida/
Published Date: Fri, 25 Nov 2022 17:00:14 +0000

Chase Sapphire Reserve Adds Lyft Pink All Access Membership

HOSTED BY: 1 AIR TRAVEL

Link: Apply now for the Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Chase and Lyft have just expanded their partnership, and this is exciting news for those with the Chase Sapphire Reserve® (review).

Chase Sapphire Reserve offers Lyft Pink All Access membership

When Chase and Lyft first introduced their partnership a couple of years ago, they included a Lyft Pink membership for premium cardmembers. Well, this is making a comeback.

As of November 15, 2022, those with the the Chase Sapphire Reserve have the option to receive a complimentary Lyft Pink All Access membership, which retails for $199 per year, and is the most premium membership option from Lyft.

This is offered complimentary for two years, and in the third year you can receive a 50% discount on the membership cost (it auto-renews, so if you’re not interested, you’ll want to make sure you cancel your membership before that).

This stacks with the existing Chase and Lyft partnership. Through March 2025, those with the Chase Sapphire Reserve earn 10x Ultimate Rewards points on Lyft spending. I value Chase points at 1.7 cents each, so to me that alone is a 17% return on Lyft spending, which is huge.

Also keep in mind that you can earn points for your Lyft purchases with either Alaska Mileage Plan or Hilton Honors, adding even more value with this spending.

How to activate your two year Lyft Pink All Access membership

Activating your Lyft Pink All Access membership is easy. First make sure that your Chase Sapphire Reserve is linked to your Lyft account, as a payment method.

Click the three horizontal lines at the top left of the Lyft app, and then you’ll see that the menu appears on the left side of the screen. Click “Lyft Pink.”

Activate Lyft Pink All Access membership

On the next page, you should automatically be prompted to activate your two year free Lyft Pink All Access membership.

Activate Lyft Pink All Access membership

Activate Lyft Pink All Access membership

Once you agree to the terms, your membership will be activated, and you can start using your perks right away — it’s that easy!

Activate Lyft Pink All Access membership

What are the perks of a Lyft Pink All Access membership?

Lyft has two membership tiers — Lyft Pink and Lyft Pink All Access. What are the perks of Lyft Pink All Access?

Free Priority pickup upgrades to get picked up faster Member-exclusive pricing including 10% off all Lux ridesCancellation forgiveness, cancel up to three times per month for freeIn-app roadside assistance for your own car, free up to four times a yearFree Grubhub+ for one year Free SIXT car rental upgradesFree, unlimited 45-min classic bike ridesFree unlimited ebike and scooter unlocksDiscounted ebike and scooter ratesThree bike or scooter guest passes per year

This adds value to the Chase Sapphire Reserve

If you ask me, this is a hugely positive development, and makes it much easier to justify the annual fee on the Chase Sapphire Reserve. Nowadays we see premium credit cards offer all kinds of limited time partnerships, which are of varying value.

I’d say this is about as useful as these kinds of partnerships get, especially as it’s valid for two years, and is even valid for those who took advantage of the Lyft Pink membership when the partnership between Lyft and Chase was first introduced.

Often it can be hard to crunch the numbers on premium cards, though I think for many people, this will make the Chase Sapphire Reserve be worth it. So whether you’re an existing cardmember trying to justify the annual fee, or whether you’re considering picking up the card (this is a great time to apply), this is a fantastic incentive to have the card.

If you rideshare with any frequency, then the partnership between Chase and Lyft really is a game-changer, if you ask me. Being able to earn 10x Chase points plus getting Lyft Pink All Access benefits is an awesome combination that makes using Lyft a no-brainer in a vast majority of cases.

Bottom line

The Chase Sapphire Reserve now offers a two year Lyft Pink All Access membership, which would ordinarily retail for $199 per year. This offers lots of perks with Lyft, and stacks with the ability to earn 10x Chase points with Lyft.

This is an exciting new feature, and for me makes it much easier to justify holding onto the Chase Sapphire Reserve. Well done, Chase and Lyft!

What do you make of the Chase Sapphire Reserve adding a Lyft Pink All Access membership?

By: Ben Schlappig
Title: Chase Sapphire Reserve Adds Lyft Pink All Access Membership
Sourced From: onemileatatime.com/news/chase-sapphire-reserve-lyft-pink/
Published Date: Tue, 15 Nov 2022 14:00:28 +0000

Read More

__________________________________

American Towing Receives 5-Star-Ratings For Service in Scranton, PA

... assistance company, American Towing, now has a five-star rating after receiving more than 300 glowing reviews on its Google Business Profile ...

Daily Search Forum Recap: November 25, 2022 - Search Engine Roundtable

Google Business Profiles suggested service areas is live. Did you know former Google spam boss, Matt Cutts, fought to prove Google Search can be ...

Common Money Mistakes Travelers Make

TODAY'S ADVENTURE

Common Money Mistakes Travelers Make

Most adventurers know that traveling is expensive. Alongside flights, you must also pay for accommodation, food, activities, and transport. The costs can quickly add up, and it can sometimes feel like you have to save for several years just to afford a short holiday. However, part of the issue is that many travelers don’t know how to manage their money and make it work for them as they travel. Here are some of the many money mistakes you might like to avoid. 

Not Having a Money-Making Plan

If you’re going on an extended holiday to see as much of a country as possible, you might find yourself running low on funds. If you have a plan to make money, that might not happen. For example, if you travel to Australia, you could choose to study for your RSA certificate online and pick up casual work in the hospitality industry. As long as you have the correct visas for working while vacationing, you can enjoy your trip without having to make every penny count.

Not Considering Exchange Rates

While the United States Dollar (USD) is the most traded currency in the world, it’s not an accepted form of currency everywhere. Make sure you’re aware of the money each country uses and how much you’ll have to spend once you factor in exchange rates.

If you’re traveling to Europe, you’ll need to exchange your USD for Euro, which typically fluctuates from $0.80 to $0.96 to the dollar. American travelers venturing to Australia will also be pleased to know they can receive between $1.30 to $1.50 for every US dollar.

Forgetting Hidden Fees

You might have saved enough money for accommodation, transport, and food on your travels, but many people forget about the hidden fees often associated with overseas travel. For example, there might be extra fees with airlines and hotels, and you might even have to pay a foreign transaction fee on your credit card. This can be up to 4% on each transaction. Don’t budget your money down to the dollar. Instead, make sure you set aside funds for unexpected costs.

Not Researching the Cost of Living

You might know how much money you’ll have to spend in a new country, but that doesn’t mean you know how far your money will go. Research the cost of living to ensure you’re aware of how much everyday items cost to purchase.

For example, restaurant food might be affordable in your home country, but it might be vastly more expensive in the country you’re visiting. Many online calculators are available to help you work out your purchasing power across multiple countries to ensure you save enough money for your upcoming vacation.

Failing to Look for Deals

There’s no harm in treating yourself to the best food and accommodation while traveling, but it sometimes pays to look for special deals. Some accommodation and activity providers offer package deals and weekend specials to encourage more visitors. Don’t be afraid to seek out deals when there’s potential for you to save your hard-earned cash.

You shouldn’t need to worry about money when you’re trying to enjoy your vacation, but it doesn’t hurt to be aware of what you’re spending. These money mistakes above might be worth avoiding if you want to get the most value out of your vacation.

The post Common Money Mistakes Travelers Make appeared first on Travel Experta - Travel, Lifestyle, Freedom.

-

By: Marina 'Travel Experta'
Title: Common Money Mistakes Travelers Make
Sourced From: travelexperta.com/common-money-mistakes-travelers-make/
Published Date: Fri, 25 Nov 2022 16:40:03 +0000

Get rewarded for staying active with the new Paceline Visa Signature Card

HOSTED BY: 1 AIR TRAVEL

Introductory note from TPG founder Brian Kelly:

“The key to any successful credit card strategy is diversification. While miles and points can be invaluable for travel, it’s always good to have a cash-back credit card that can cover other expenses — or simply improve your monthly finances, especially if you don’t have any trips on your horizon.

“My pick is the Paceline Card, because the earning rates when you hit your weekly activity goal — 5% on health and fitness purchases plus an unlimited 3% back on everything else — are unparalleled (most cash-back cards offer just 1-2% back). And perhaps the best part of the card is that it holds me accountable for staying active — which ultimately is the best reward for my body.

“As they say — health is wealth!”

Physical health and financial well-being aren’t two separate things according to Paceline, the wellness platform that combines your fitness and financial goals.

Working out has numerous long-term health benefits, and Paceline is making fitness even more rewarding. The platform allows you to keep track of your physical activity by syncing your Apple Watch, FitBit or Garmin with its mobile app and then claiming rewards each week after reaching an activity goal.

Earlier this year, the unique and exciting fitness platform added an even greater incentive to stay active: The Paceline Visa Signature Card.

The Paceline Card is the credit card that rewards you for focusing on your physical health. Cardmembers can double their cash-back earnings and enjoy statement credits (up to $429) to cover a brand-new Apple Watch — just by reaching 150 minutes of elevated heart rate activity. This can happen with something as simple as a brisk walk!

WESTEND61/GETTY IMAGES

Here’s how you can get rewarded just for staying active with the new Paceline Visa Signature Card.

What is Paceline?

Paceline’s goal is simple: Provide tangible rewards to incentivize customers to stay physically active, thus preventing long-term health concerns.

It’s easy to use for anyone:

First, you sync your wearable fitness device to the Paceline mobile app.When you work out, the app tracks your movement and activity level.When you hit an elevated heart rate for at least 150 minutes per week, you’ll unlock rewards.

These rewards can include $1 Amazon gift cards, $50 off your first purchase at luxury activewear brands like Alala and more.

150 minutes may seem like a long time, but it’s just about 21 minutes a day. Depending on your fitness level, that elevated heart rate could be hit on a brisk walk around the neighborhood.

But there’s a way to take these rewards to the next level when you use the Paceline Card as you work toward your fitness goals.

How to earn rewards with the Paceline Card

The Paceline Card rewards health and wellness activity, including at the grocery store.

All cardmembers earn 2.5% cash back on eligible health and wellness purchases — including gym memberships, fitness equipment, sporting goods and select athletic apparel retailers. This 2.5% rate also applies to grocery stores and pharmacies. All other qualifying purchases will earn 1.5% back.

These are solid reward rates to begin with — but they get even better.

When you stay physically active — which is defined as just 150 minutes of elevated heart activity per week — your rewards on all purchases double (to 5% on eligible health and wellness purchases and 3% on all other qualifying purchases). The Paceline app and credit card work in tandem to track your progress through a wearable fitness device and then reward you accordingly.

JON FEINGERSH PHOTOGRAPHY INC/GETTY IMAGES

But don’t worry if you don’t have a Fitbit, Garmin or Apple Watch. There’s another perk on the Paceline Card that comes with physical activity.

All you have to do is purchase a new Apple Watch directly in the Paceline app using the card. Then, when you hit that same 150-minute weekly activity goal, you’ll earn a statement credit each week to help reimburse the cost of that purchase — up to $429 over 12 months.

Who is the Paceline Card for?

The Paceline Card is for anyone who wants to be rewarded for staying active, while at home or on the road. Paceline cardmembers prioritize health and wellness spending, including recovery activities such as spa visits and massages, and enjoy the cash-back incentive of using their card.

It’s worth noting that the 2.5% and 1.5% rewards rates on the Paceline Card already stack up favorably compared to other cash-back cards. But when you double those with 150 minutes of physical activity each week, they are outstanding.

Consider the following earning chart for those who reach their weekly fitness goals:

Cash-back rateTypes of purchases5%Gym memberships, fitness classes, sports equipment, athletic apparel, groceries and pharmacies.3%Dining out, travel, entertainment, utilities, online shopping and more.

This can translate to an incredible amount of rewards back in your pocket every year — in addition to the long-term health benefits of staying physically active.

Bottom line

The Paceline Visa Signature Card takes a new approach for a credit card, rewarding customers for their physical fitness with cash back.

Cardmembers will enjoy 5% cash back on eligible health and wellness purchases when they meet a weekly fitness goal — just 150 minutes of elevated heart rate activity per week. Doing so will also unlock 3% cash back on travel, dining and all other qualifying purchases.

Paceline understands that your financial health and physical health are critical to your overall well-being — and rewards you accordingly.

If you want to boost your physical fitness and take home up to 5% cash back on a wide variety of purchases, apply for the Paceline Card today.

Click here for Paceline Rewards terms. Click here for Paceline Cash Rewards terms. Click here for terms and conditions of weekly Apple Watch statement credits.

By: Ashley Onadele
Title: Get rewarded for staying active with the new Paceline Visa Signature Card
Sourced From: thepointsguy.com/news/paceline-visa-signature-card/
Published Date: Wed, 16 Nov 2022 13:00:21 +0000

Read More

__________________________________

Interest in leaving Twitter grows as Musk's grip tightens - Digital Journal

The company also saw a major increase in Google web search trends for other ... Elon Musk dubbed himself 'Chief Twit' in his Twitter profile and ...

Get Expert Insights on Google Search, Analytics, and Advertising Features

Find the Best Virtual Assistant Services for Your Business. Virtual assistants can help with your website, inbox, social media profiles, and so much ...

The Difference Between Gambling and Betting

TODAY'S ADVENTURE

The Difference Between Gambling and Betting

Most folks know the feeling. That rush of adrenaline when you put your money on the line and hope for the best. The heart-pounding, stomach-churning anticipation as the game or race unfolds. Gambling can be thrilling, there is no doubt about it, but what exactly is gambling? And what’s the difference between gambling and betting? This post will explore these two similar but different topics, and by the end, you should gain a better understanding of the difference between the two.

What Is Gambling?

The primary aim of gambling is to win money or possessions by wagering on an event with an uncertain outcome. Gambling is a popular activity that dates back centuries, and it is estimated that the industry is worth over $58 billion as of 2021. Gambling can be practiced in person at a casino, online, or through legal lotteries. Moreover, due to the enormous increase in participation, more and more online casinos have begun to offer new gambling options, from crypto to anonymous casinos. However, you need to have specific factors in mind when choosing the best anonymous casinos for your circumstances since they can affect how much enjoyment you get from the game itself. You can use the following tips to get the most out of any online casino you visit to ensure that your data remains safe and you have a great time:

Ensure the casino uses secure encryption techniques: This is especially important when using anonymous casinos, as you obviously want to remain anonymous! However, it is also vital to protect your data from malicious actors. The easiest way to check is by ensuring it uses an encrypted protocol on its website or app.Read plenty of online reviews: Reviews can help determine whether a casino is legitimate or worth playing at. You can find lots of great reviews on social media and gambling forums.Check ease of use: Any site you end up on should be easy to use and allow you to deposit, withdraw and play unhindered.See how you can take advantage of the bonus: Bonuses are a critical part of the gambling experience, so you should find out what they offer and how to use them to your advantage.

Types Of Gambling

When it comes to gambling, there are two distinct categories:

Skill-based: This option refers to games requiring a certain skill level to increase your odds of winning. Games like poker, blackjack and various other table games often fall into this category. However, betting on races or sports (more on that later) can also require analytical skills to make the right choice.Chance-based: Games like bingo and slots tend to fall into the chance-based group since they tend to rely more on luck than skill. Essentially, any game that provides an equal chance of winning, regardless of ability, is classed as a game of chance.

What Is Betting?

The process of betting is simply the process of analyzing, predicting, and estimating potential outcomes. The bettor is responsible for ensuring every bet is carefully examined before it is placed to increase the odds of winning or mitigate the risk of loss. People bet on events such as sports and politics, which can be done through a bookmaker or at a betting exchange. The odds in betting are expressed as a ratio of two numbers known as the “odds” and the “bet amount.” For example, if someone places a bet with odds of 1/1, they risk one unit for every unit they could win.

Types Of Betting

As previously hinted, there are lots of things that people can bet on, from the outcome of a sporting event, to who will win in a political race (although this is currently illegal regarding US presidential elections). Moreover, you could argue that the entire financial market is one big bet, as was made distinctly clear during the financial crash of 2008. Nonetheless, there are several types of wager that are integral to the process of betting (on sports in particular):

Moneylines: This is the most straightforward and is a wager on which team will win an event.Parlays: A parlay combines multiple wagers into one, all of which you must win to win the parley.Point Spread: The purpose of point spread betting is to determine who will win by a certain margin.Prop Bets: Prop bets predict something that may or may not impact the final score of a sporting event rather than determining the final score, such as which player will score first or last, etc.Futures: All bets are placed on future events, but future bets are significant for events in the distant future, such as who will be the highest scorer during a specific season.

While both types of gambling are fun and exciting, it is crucial to understand the difference so that you can make the correct choices for your own life. Hopefully, after reading this post, you will be able to tell the differences and similarities between the two.

The post The Difference Between Gambling and Betting appeared first on Travel Experta - Travel, Lifestyle, Freedom.

-

By: Marina 'Travel Experta'
Title: The Difference Between Gambling and Betting
Sourced From: travelexperta.com/the-difference-between-gambling-and-betting/
Published Date: Fri, 25 Nov 2022 16:30:39 +0000

10 best Hawaii cruise tips for getting the most from your island-hopping trip

HOSTED BY: 1 AIR TRAVEL

A Hawaii cruise solves one of the major hassles of island-hopping in the 50th state: Packing and unpacking as you take multiple inter-island flights in a bid to experience Oahu, Maui, Kauai and the Island of Hawaii (aka the Big Island) in a single vacation. Most Hawaii cruise itineraries visit all four of the main islands and offer full days — and, in some cases, overnights — in port, so there’s ample time for sightseeing and learning about Hawaiian culture.

On the other hand, compared with a weeklong, land-based visit to just one or two islands, you might find yourself hard-pressed to fit in everything you want to do in each port of call. You need to make sure your cruise ship and itinerary help you reach your vacation goals — not hinder them.

Here are my top 10 Hawaii cruise tips to help you make the most of your sailing and your time in the islands.

For more cruise news, reviews and tips, sign up for TPG’s cruise newsletter

Choose your cruise based on your love (or loathing) for sea days

UNCRUISE ADVENTURES

There are several ways to cruise the Hawaiian Islands and the itinerary you choose depends on factors such as the amount of vacation time you have, whether you want to fly to Honolulu, your openness to spending up to 10 days at sea and the time of year you want to sail.

If you love the actual “cruising” part of cruising, many of the major lines offer round-trip sailings from West Coast ports on itineraries lasting two weeks or more. This means you’ll spend extensive time on board your ship as you cross the Pacific Ocean, but only four or five days in port in the Hawaiian Islands. Lines such as  Princess Cruises, Royal Caribbean, Carnival Cruise Line, Holland America and Viking offer 14- to 18-night round-trip sailings to Hawaii, usually in the winter months.

If you’d rather spend the majority of your cruise visiting the islands and sightseeing, a seven-night itinerary that sails round-trip from Honolulu or between multiple islands is also an option. The most popular all-Hawaii cruise option is on Norwegian Cruise Line’s Pride of America, which sails round-trip from Honolulu year-round, departing and returning every Saturday.

On a much smaller scale, UnCruise Adventures offers inter-island sailings on the 36-guest Safari Explorer from November to April. The focus is on exploring the natural wonders of Hawaii via active, small-group land and water excursions, and itineraries include lesser-cruised islands such as Lanai and Molokai.

void the holidays and summer months for fewer crowds

The busiest times to cruise the Hawaiian Islands are the last two weeks of December through March, plus July and August. Expect larger crowds as well as higher cruise fares and hotel rates if you travel during these periods.

Instead, choose a shoulder season sailing. May and November are excellent months to cruise the islands. The weather is ideal in May and the summer vacation rush has yet to start. November is also a month with fewer crowds and generally favorable weather. If you visit early enough in May or late enough in November (into early December), you may even catch sight of the humpback whales that winter here, especially in the waters around Maui.

Related: Best time to cruise Hawaii

Book a pre- or post-cruise hotel stay if embarking in Honolulu

If your cruise embarks and/or disembarks in Honolulu, you won’t actually have much time to enjoy Oahu’s sights and attractions unless you arrive a day or two early or add a night or two post-cruise. Extending your Hawaii vacation with a hotel stay can add to your relaxation, help you adjust to the time change and allow you to fully enjoy much of what Hawaii’s most populous island has to offer, from Waikiki Beach, Diamond Head and Pearl Harbor to the scenic North Shore.

If you’re truly strapped for vacation time, a round-trip Honolulu itinerary can efficiently deliver a four-island experience and let you see a bit of Oahu with a disembarkation-day excursion that combines a Pearl Harbor or North Shore tour with an airport drop-off.

Plan your sightseeing in advance

NAOMI RAHIM/GETTY IMAGES

Unlike some ports in the Caribbean and Mediterranean, Hawaii isn’t a destination where it’s easy to just walk off the ship and explore on foot. The ports in Honolulu, Kahului (Maui), Nawiliwili (Kauai) and Hilo (island of Hawaii) aren’t located near top sights, while Kona, also on Hawaii, is a tender port where ships anchor offshore and ferry passengers in tender boats to a dock, although some shops and restaurants are within walking distance.

The solution? Once you’ve booked your Hawaii cruise, do some research and decide what you want to see — and what the best way is to do that. Your strategy can include a combination of shore excursions booked via the ship or arranged independently and exploration in a rental car.

For example, if your cruise overnights on Maui, you may want to explore the island on your own in a rental car the first day, visiting a beach, a resort area or Upcountry and the summit of Haleakala, and then book a snorkel trip or a ship’s shore excursion along the Road to Hana for the second day when you’ll need to be back on board in time for sail away.

Kauai is easily explored on your own via car, whether you’re heading into the Waimea Canyon to go hiking or seeking out the perfect beach. Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is just 45 minutes from Hilo on the Island of Hawaii, meaning you can drive there yourself and visit more areas, including Chain of Craters Road, than on standard cruise ship shore excursions.

Related: Avoid these 10 mistakes when booking cruise shore excursions

Choose a convenient rental car pick-up location

Opting for the rental car route can also be quite cost-effective, since the daily rate can be much less than the cost of two excursions and offer major savings for a family of four. Mixing your sightseeing up with independent exploration can also alleviate “tour bus burnout.”

With a little pre-travel research, you can pinpoint the nearest rental car location to the port. Some rental car companies used to provide shuttles from certain locations to the port, but that is no longer the case.

For example, there’s an Enterprise location that’s an easy 10-minute walk from the cruise terminal in Kahului, Maui. The only downside is that the location is only open Monday to Friday from 8  a.m. to 5 p.m., so if you’re renting on a day when you’re overnighting in port and you want to keep the car to head to dinner or a luau, arrange to return it to the nearby Kahului Airport (OGG) location, where vehicles can be returned after hours; then take an Uber or taxi back to the ship.

On Kauai, there are multiple national rental car agencies at Lihue Airport (LIH), which is a five-minute drive (by taxi or Uber) from the port at Nawiliwili Harbor. The cruise port in Hilo on the Island of Hawaii is about 8 minutes’ drive from Hilo International Airport (IHO), home to Avis, Enterprise, Thrifty, National and other agencies, while both Thrifty and Hertz have locations within walking distance of the tender pier in Kona.

Pack for both sun and rain

The Hawaiian Islands get lots of sunshine — 270 days on average annually — but rainfall is also frequently in the forecast. This is especially true from December through March and most notably on the windward sides of each island, which ironically are the most scenic areas known for their lush landscapes and cascading waterfalls.

This variability is important to remember when packing for your Hawaii cruise. Alongside those multiple bathing suits, cover-ups and sun hats, be sure to stash a travel umbrella and a lightweight rain jacket. The latter will also do double duty as a protective layer should you venture to the summit of Haleakala, where winds can be fierce and the elevation often drops temperatures into the 50s and 60s.

Related: Hawaii cruise packing list: What to pack for a tropical sailing

Don’t forget to taste local specialties

A traditional Hawaiian meal with Kalua pork, pork lau lau, lomi lomi salmon, loco moco and Spam musubi. RICK POON/GETTY IMAGES

Many cruise passengers fall into the trap of rushing back to their ship for lunch and dinner — why pay extra to dine in port, right? But if you always eat on board you’ll miss out on Hawaii’s unique culinary experiences. And most of them are quite affordable.

If you like sushi or ceviche, be sure to try poke, which is raw fish (most often ahi tuna) marinated with soy sauce, sesame oil and green onions and typically served in a bowl. Another popular midday option is the traditional Hawaiian plate lunch (or mixed plate), which consists of favorite Hawaiian foods such as loco moco (a hamburger patty topped with brown gravy and a fried egg), kalua pork (slow-cooked pork shoulder), lomi lomi salmon or even grilled Spam, served with scoops of white rice and macaroni salad.

If you opt to explore the North Shore of Oahu, a tasty lunchtime indulgence is locally farmed garlic shrimp served up by assorted “shrimp trucks” parked along the Kamehameha Highway.

For an afternoon cool down, have a shave ice, which as its name implies is a cone or cup of shaved iced drenched in sweet fruit syrup, or enjoy a few slices of ripe, freshly cut Hawaiian pineapple or other tropical fruit such as mango, lychee or sweet apple bananas. Other flavor-packed snacks not to miss are macadamia nuts and taro chips. Indulge in fat-laden carbs by trying malasadas, tasty Portuguese fried donuts.

Serious foodies should make time to sample the islands’ signature Hawaii Regional Cuisine. Developed over the past three decades by a dozen top Hawaiian chefs that include Roy Yamaguchi (Roy’s), Peter Merriman (Merriman’s) and Beverly Gannon (Hali’imaile General Store), the movement focuses on local and sustainable ingredients that emphasize Hawaii’s melting-pot culture and fusion of Polynesian, Asian and Portuguese flavors. If your ship is overnighting in Oahu or Maui, reserve a table in advance for dinner; Hali’imaile General Store on Maui is also open for lunch.

Seek out reef-safe sunscreen

Hawaii has been at the forefront in passing legislation to protect vulnerable coral reefs from bleaching and erosion caused by certain ingredients in sunscreen products. In early 2021, the state banned the sale of sunscreens containing the chemicals oxybenzone and octinoxate, so look for the words “reef safe” on any sunscreen you purchase for use in Hawaii.

Using sunscreen in the islands is key if you want to prevent severe sunburn, which can happen quickly, especially in the middle part of the day. Hawaii’s location (it is about 1,300 miles from the equator) means the sun’s rays are more intense than they are in much of the mainland U.S. You’ll also be spending the majority of your time outdoors, so as added protection it’s a smart idea to also pack an SPF-rated swim shirt or rash guard to wear while enjoying water-based activities.

Prepare to hit the beach

All beaches in Hawaii are, by law, open to the public. That doesn’t mean, however, that you can just head to a resort, select a lounger and act like you’re a guest. Instead, there are public access points for popular resort beaches, such as Wailea and Kaanapali on Maui, Waikiki on Oahu and Poipu on Kauai. You’ll be able to stake a spot on the sand, generally to either side of a resort’s beach chairs — so bring along beach towels and/or pareos as well as water and snacks.

Don’t overlook Hawaiian history and culture

The Bishop Museum in Honolulu.​ BERNICE PAUAHI BISHOP MUSEUM/FACEBOOK

It’s certainly tempting to spend your time in port enjoying Hawaii’s natural beauty and its myriad water-based activities, but be sure to take off your mask and snorkel from time to time and get to know the islands’ unique history, language and culture. Opportunities to learn abound — and it’s fun to be able to use a few key Hawaiian phrases while in the islands. In addition to aloha, which means hello and is used as a greeting, words you’ll likely hear are mahalo (thank you), hale (house), kama’aina (local person), ohana (family), honu (turtle) and pupu (appetizer). But the most fun word to learn to pronounce is the 21-letter name of the Hawaiian state fish: humuhumunukunukuapua’a.

Cultural sites also give context to the Hawaiian way of life. When in Honolulu, you can delve deeper into the islands’ natural history with a visit to the Bishop Museum or head to Iolani Palace to see how Hawaiian royalty lived in the late 19th century before the U.S. annexed the islands. The Royal Hawaiian Center in the heart of Waikiki also offers free cultural programming that includes hula and ukulele lessons.

On Maui, you can step back in time with a visit to the artsy Upcountry town of Makawao in what’s known as paniolo (cowboy) country. And on the island of Hawaii, it’s possible to visit the Puʻuhonua National Historical Park, also known as the Place of Refuge, an ancient spiritual sanctuary for defeated warriors who would be protected from death there.

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise shipA beginners guide to picking a cruise lineThe 8 worst cabin locations on any cruise shipThe ultimate guide to what to pack for a cruiseA quick guide to the most popular cruise lines21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly15 ways cruisers waste moneyThe ultimate guide to choosing a cruise ship cabin

By: Donna Heiderstadt
Title: 10 best Hawaii cruise tips for getting the most from your island-hopping trip
Sourced From: thepointsguy.com/guide/best-hawaii-cruise-tips/
Published Date: Mon, 21 Nov 2022 14:00:46 +0000

Read More

__________________________________

Citation Vault's Local SEO Solution: Scale Your Business, Not Your Overheads

... embedded Google My Business Maps, links to social media accounts, ... ensuring a business profile goes live on all 300 Local Directories in a ...

Swimming with whales in Tahiti | Incredible adventure (GoPro 4K)

HOSTED BY: https://1airtravel.com

TODAY'S VIDEO

Join me on one of the most magical and amazing experiences I've ever had in my life: swimming with humpback whales in Tahiti.

Humpback whales are seasonal visitors to French Polynesia. From August to October, the giant animals are abundant in the clear and warm waters around the archipelago as they search for a mate or nurse their young. The best places to swim with them are the islands of Moorea and Tahiti.

Looking humpback whales in the eye while swimming with them is a truly unforgettable adventure that touched my soul in an unimaginable way. I was extremely lucky to have an incredible close encounter with a family of three magnificent whales who stayed with me for more than one hour! I recorded the entire experience in 4K with my GoPro.

Subscribe to my YouTube channel if you like my videos (one million followers so far). Each Saturday, I upload a new video about my travels around the world.

FOLLOW ME:
Instagram:
Blog:
Twitter:
Facebook:

-

By: the Luxury Travel Expert
Title: Swimming with whales in Tahiti | Incredible adventure (GoPro 4K)
Sourced From: www.youtube.com/watch?v=TcugTRDVWdM

Elon Musk says he'd consider 'alternative phone' if Twitter is booted from Apple and Google ...

READ ON THE FOX BUSINESS APP ... Elon Musk's Twitter profile is seen on a smartphone placed on printed Twitter logos in this picture illustration ...

My First Vacation: What Should I Know About Traveling Alone?

TODAY'S ADVENTURE

My First Vacation: What Should I Know About Traveling Alone?

Although you may have previously traveled with family or friends, there may come a point where you want to see different parts of the country, or even the world, without them present. When going away on your own, there can be different factors you should bear in mind. These can include safety aspects, as well as things that could make your trip even more enjoyable. The consequences of proper care and planning may be a need to book more trips in the future!

Book on excursions

There may be several sights or events on offer at each place you visit. Depending on the time of year, or type of event in question, there may be a high demand for places. So that you don’t have to miss out, you might want to book tickets for excursions on this page as soon as you have your travel dates figured out.

You may want to do your research first so that these can be incorporated into your overall budget. Having these tickets for excursions booked well in advance can help you to figure out when you want to arrive at and depart from each location on your agenda, as well as your general daily itinerary. 

Take out travel insurance

When traveling on your own, you may not have someone with you should you get hurt or fall ill. Likewise, if you are the victim of crime, there may be no one else who can provide you with funds or support. This can be incredibly daunting for both beginner and experienced travelers alike.

It can be a good idea to take out travel insurance before any trip, to give you some peace of mind. You may also find that travel insurance is more affordable than you originally thought. Some plans may also give you cover if you need to cancel your trip for genuine reasons, such as a family member falling ill, which could be important if saving for your vacation took a long time.

Be careful when out drinking

As an adult, it can be tempting to go out for a few drinks when on vacation. You may even want to socialize with people you have just met. However, without trusted individuals around you, you may want to be even more cautious than you are at home. As a rule, you should never leave a drink unattended, or put too much trust into people you have just met. Limiting the amount of alcohol you consume, and never accepting substances from others, can also help to keep you safer when on a night out away from home.

Keeping yourself safe when traveling solo can be incredibly important. Likewise, you may also want to find ways to make your trip as memorable as possible. While there may be some dangers present, which may not be as severe when with others, there are ways that you can take a vacation on your own and avoid danger or disappointment. 

The post My First Vacation: What Should I Know About Traveling Alone? appeared first on Travel Experta - Travel, Lifestyle, Freedom.

-

By: Marina 'Travel Experta'
Title: My First Vacation: What Should I Know About Traveling Alone?
Sourced From: travelexperta.com/my-first-vacation-what-should-i-know-about-traveling-alone/
Published Date: Wed, 23 Nov 2022 17:58:10 +0000

Hold the lobster: Two major cruise lines to charge extra for some once-free dinner items

HOSTED BY: 1 AIR TRAVEL

One of the most longstanding cruise traditions is lobster on formal night in the main dining room — an onboard eatery that’s supposed to be free. But, with two of the industry’s largest cruise lines making changes to their policies, you could find yourself paying an additional fee for lobster tail, among other dishes.

Royal Caribbean is experimenting with changes to its main dining room menu on one of its largest ships, Symphony of the Seas, with the possibility that it will roll out the changes fleetwide. As part of those changes — which also include simplifying and streamlining the menu to cut down on dining times — passengers who request more than one lobster tail on formal night will incur a $16.99 charge (plus 18% gratuity) for each additional order.

Currently, all other Royal Caribbean ships allow unlimited free lobster tail on formal nights. (Cruisers can order lobster during any night of their cruise, but it comes with the $16.99-per-order surcharge when it’s not formal night.)

For more cruise news, guides and tips, sign up for TPG’s cruise newsletter.

Lobster on formal night. ALLISON CHERRY/ISTOCK VIA GETTY IMAGES

“Using a combination of comments from guests and data-driven findings after each sailing, across the fleet, the team developed a new set of menus that offer a different selection every night with the same variety to choose from — beef, chicken, fish and vegan options,” said a Royal Caribbean spokesperson in a statement to The Points Guy. “Each night, the … menus celebrate a different cuisine, such as Caribbean, Italian, French, Mediterranean and American, alongside ‘Royal Night,’ when cold-water lobster is the featured entree with the additional options of beef, chicken and vegan dishes.”

“We are testing the new theme night menus … and every day reviewing feedback from guests and crew. We expect to make modifications over the next few weeks. Based on comments so far, [the new offerings are] being very well received.”

In addition to menu changes, the line is also testing flash mob-style entertainment on formal nights on Symphony of the Seas, similar to what Carnival Cruise Line has presented in its dining rooms for years with its dancing, costumed waiters.

Members of Carnival Conquest’s waitstaff dance in the dining room on formal night. ASHLEY KOSCIOLEK/THE POINTS GUY

Speaking of Carnival, as TPG reported earlier this month, the line will be making dining changes of its own. One of the most significant is that passengers will no longer be able to order unlimited free entrees in the main dining rooms. Under the new policy, the first two main courses will be free; each additional one will come with a $5 charge. (Appetizers and desserts are still unlimited with no extra fee.)

Carnival only serves lobster on one formal night on cruises of six nights or more. It used to be unlimited on those nights, but now each lobster tail after the first two will cost $5, per the new policy.

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise shipThe 8 worst cabin locations on any cruise shipA quick guide to the most popular cruise lines21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly15 ways cruisers waste money12 best cruises for people who never want to grow upWhat to pack for your first cruise

By: Ashley Kosciolek
Title: Hold the lobster: Two major cruise lines to charge extra for some once-free dinner items
Sourced From: thepointsguy.com/news/cruise-lines-charge-extra-lobster/
Published Date: Wed, 23 Nov 2022 13:00:01 +0000

Read More

__________________________________

Citation Vault's Local SEO Solution: Scale Your Business, Not Your Overheads ... - AsiaOne

... embedded Google My Business Maps, links to social media accounts, and Schema on all profile pages, ensuring a boost in local search engine ...

High-profile Apple executive managing App Shop erased his Twitter account, which had ...

Musk is referring to the 15 to 30% fee Apple and Google charge companies like Twitter for purchases made inside their apps.

7 Items That Every Skier Must Have When Hitting the Slopes

TODAY'S ADVENTURE

7 Items That Every Skier Must Have When Hitting the Slopes

There are things that every skier must have if they are planning on hitting the slopes. Of course, it can be difficult to know what those items are, but we’ve put together a list of essential things you need when skiing.

1. Ski Jacket

A ski jacket is essential for keeping warm and dry on the slopes. It should be waterproof, windproof, and breathable. Also, look for a jacket with pockets to store small items like your phone or snacks.

You should look for the qualities of a ski jacket: insulation, waterproofing, and breathability. A good ski jacket is an investment that will last you many seasons.

2. Ski Pants

Like a ski jacket, ski pants keep you warm and dry. A good pair of ski pants should also be waterproof, windproof, and breathable. Look for adjustable pants at the waist and legs to customize your fit.

Another thing to consider when choosing ski pants is the fabric. Nylon or polyester are good choices as they protect against wear and tear on the slopes.

3. Ski Gloves

Gloves are an essential item for keeping your hands warm and dry. Look for gloves with waterproof materials on the outside and insulation inside. Make sure the gloves fit snugly, so they don’t slip off your hands.

What you’re looking for in a good pair of ski gloves is warmth, waterproofing, and breathability.

4. Ski Goggles

The best ski goggles should have UV protection and an antifog coating. Goggles should also fit comfortably on your face without pinching or being too tight.

When choosing your ski goggles, make sure they are designed to fit the shape of your face. Check for adjustable straps and air vents that can help increase comfort.

5. Ski Helmet

A ski helmet is a must-have for any skier. It provides essential protection from falls and collisions. Look for snow helmets that fit snugly on your head and have adjustable straps to ensure a secure fit.

Also, make sure the helmet is certified. Look for a certification mark from an organization such as ASTM International.

6. Ski Socks

Ski socks keep your feet warm and dry. Ski socks should be high enough to cover your ankles and calf and be made of wool or synthetic materials. Look for socks with arch support to provide extra comfort when skiing.

When choosing ski socks, make sure they are the right fit. They should be snug but not too tight and have cushioning to reduce friction on your feet.

7. Ski Poles

Ski poles are essential for helping you maintain balance while skiing. Look for adjustable poles that comfortably fit your hands and have a secure grip. You should also ensure the poles are the right length for you — they should reach a few inches above your waist when standing.

The best advice when choosing ski poles is to try out a few pairs. Test the grips and pole length to ensure they’re comfortable and provide the right support.

No matter your skiing level, it’s crucial to have the right gear when hitting the slopes. With the right ski equipment, you’ll surely have an enjoyable and safe experience. The best way to enjoy skiing is to be prepared. Make sure you have the essential items, and you’ll be ready to tackle the slopes and have a great time.

The post 7 Items That Every Skier Must Have When Hitting the Slopes appeared first on Travel Experta - Travel, Lifestyle, Freedom.

-

By: Marina 'Travel Experta'
Title: 7 Items That Every Skier Must Have When Hitting the Slopes
Sourced From: travelexperta.com/7-items-that-every-skier-must-have-when-hitting-the-slopes/
Published Date: Wed, 23 Nov 2022 17:53:42 +0000

Need a little Christmas? 8 places that feel like a holiday movie

HOSTED BY: 1 AIR TRAVEL

Editor’s note: This post has been updated.

When I wrote my first Hallmark movie, “Christmas Camp,” it was inspired by several charming towns I’d visited doing my “Travel Therapy” TV segments and one magical historic home, the Quartermain House B&B in Fredericton, New Brunswick.

As I went on to write more Christmas movies for Netflix, Hallmark and Lifetime, I continued to draw from the places I had visited that brought me such comfort and joy, like a hug from an old friend.

I think now more than ever, we all need to feel that same boost of positivity and uplifting escape, so why not visit the destinations that can give us the same warm and fuzzy vibe all winter long?

Here are eight favorite places to visit where you can feel like you’re starring in your own Christmas movie.

Fredericton, New Brunswick

The Quartermain House B&B in Fredericton, New Brunswick. QUARTERMAIN HOUSE B&B

On my first visit to Fredericton, the capital of beautiful New Brunswick in eastern Canada, which runs along the Saint John River, I was immediately captivated by this quaint, artsy city.

Fredericton is known for its rich history, culture, music, unique local shops, restaurants and bars, and nature.  The city says you’ll find more trees in Fredericton, aka Forest City, than anywhere else in Canada, turning Fredericton into what looks like a magical Christmas movie set as soon as the snow starts to fall.

Where to stay: Voted one of the best bed-and-breakfasts in North America, the Quartermain House B&B is just like stepping into a Hallmark movie. When I wrote my first script, “Christmas Camp, I remembered my special stay at Debra Quartermain’s B&B, where her whimsical historic home, warm welcome and delicious cooking had my heart from the moment I arrived.

Don’t miss: A visit to the Beaverbrook Art Gallery, one of Canada’s best art museums.

Insider tip: If fiddleheads are on the menu, order them. This edible fern top is a delicious local culinary gem.

Closest airport: Fredericton International Airport (YFC) is right outside the city. Other nearby airports include Saint John Airport (YSJ) and Greater Moncton Roméo LeBlanc International Airport (YQM). You’ll find the most flight options on Air Canada and United Airlines.

Leavenworth, Washington

Leavenworth, Washington. CONNIE COLEMAN

I grew up in Washington state, so a trip to the small Bavarian-style alpine village of Leavenworth during Christmas was always on my wish list. The dreamlike gazebo inspired the cover for my novel “Finding Christmas.”

Leavenworth’s many unique shops, art galleries and restaurants evoke all the Christmas cheer. With more than a half-million Christmas lights, this Northwest gem will spark your Christmas spirit.

Where to stay: The Bavarian Lodge and Icicle Village are popular picks and there are cabin rentals throughout the area if you’re looking for extra space.

Don’t miss: The Nutcracker Museum with more than 7,000 nutcrackers.

Insider tip: Download the event guide on Leavenworth’s website to make sure you don’t miss any of the festive fun.

Closest airport: The closest major airport is Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA), then it’s about a 2 1/2-hour drive in the Cascade Range up to Leavenworth.

Quebec City

Old Quebec in Quebec City. GAELLE LEROYER

Quebec City will likely remind you of those royal romance Christmas movies that always top the ratings.

Old Quebec is 400 years old and on UNESCO’s list of Treasures of the World Heritage of Mankind. The historic city’s charming cobblestone streets, boutiques and bistros helped inspire the two royal rom-coms I wrote, Netflix’s “A Christmas Prince and my novel “A Royal Christmas Fairy Tale.”

Related: 5 small Canadian towns where you can use your points

Where to stay: I felt like a princess staying at the five-star Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac, which looks like a majestic castle and is consistently rated one of the top hotels in Canada.

Don’t miss: Shops and street vendors rolling up maple taffy on ice is unique to Quebec City.

Insider tip: Enjoy local cuisine at Aux Anciens Canadiens, situated in one of the oldest buildings in Quebec City.

Closest airport: Quebec City Jean Lesage International Airport (YQB) is about 6 miles outside the city. It’s only an hour-and-a-half flight to Quebec City from New York City or Toronto.

Redding, California

Redding Garden of Lights in Redding, California. SETH MCGAHA

In Redding, they’re all about celebrating romance in the same kind of enchanting settings Hallmark Christmas movies are celebrated for.

At the dazzling Redding Garden of Lights, the Sheraton Redding Hotel at the Sundial Bridge commissioned renowned artist Tres Fromme to use more than 1 million twinkling lights to create stunning festive displays covering 10 acres.

Some highlights include reindeer encounters and the Candy Cane Causeway, covered with red, green and white lights where machines pump in the mouthwatering scent of peppermint for an immersive experience.

Where to stay: Stay in the heart of where all the action is at the Sheraton Redding Hotel at the Sundial Bridge, where there are several overnight hotel packages and Marriott Bonvoy Moments.

Don’t miss: The Polar Pathway, featuring a super-cool 30-foot-wide illuminated igloo and a snowy pathway to explore.

Insider tip: The Holiday Village is a great place to pick up some delicious food, artisanal snacks and s’mores.

Closest airport: Sacramento International Airport (SMF) is 154 miles away, Oakland International Airport (OAK) is 220 miles away and San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is 228 miles away.

Related: A wellness trip through the Northwest

Sun Valley, Idaho

Sun Valley, Idaho. VISIT SUN VALLEY/TRAVIS AMICK

For one of my first jobs as a TV reporter, I worked at KMVT-TV in Twin Falls, Idaho, and the resort town of Sun Valley was my beloved winter skiing escape.

Made famous by Hollywood’s elite, Sun Valley is a superstar without the attitude. The romantic sleigh ride from the Sun Valley Inn to the Trail Creek Cabin for dinner is an all-time favorite experience that I can’t wait to include in a movie I’m working on.

Related: Overlooked ski resorts

Where to stay: Stay in the legendary Sun Valley Lodge, a favorite of writer Ernest Hemingway.

Don’t miss: The Sawtooth Botanical Garden, which features a prayer wheel blessed by the Dalai Lama.

Insider tip: If you like unique cocktails, try Duchin Lounge for drinks like the Jack Winter Sour made with Jack Daniel’s whiskey, cranberry-cinnamon simple syrup, Becherovka liqueur, fresh lemon and orange juice, and egg whites.

Closest airport: Sun Valley’s closest major airports are Boise Airport (BOI) and Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC). You can find nonstop flights from six major cities: Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Salt Lake City, Denver and Chicago.

Related: Why you should visit Twin Falls, Idaho

Park City, Utah

Park City, Utah. JASON CAMERON

When I lived in Salt Lake City, I visited Park City as much as possible because I loved the city’s authentic charm and its two world-class ski resorts.

The city’s Snowfest celebration is Christmas movie gold with music and carolers, ice sculptures and Santa’s appearance riding on the town’s ski lift.

Where to stay: For a ski-in, ski-out property, the luxurious Grand Summit Hotel is a fabulous choice. If you’re traveling with your family or friends, the Apex Residences should have a vacation rental that’s right for you.

Don’t miss: Spend some time on Main Street, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, where you’ll find some unique local shops, restaurants, bars and art galleries.

Insider tip: If you’ve always wanted to try dog sledding, this is your place. Park City has several companies with some furry four-legged rock stars that are ready to take you on the ride of a lifetime. Mush! Mush!

Closest airport: Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) is the closest airport and is just under 30 miles from Park City.

Related: 15 of our favorite ski-friendly resort hotels you can book on points

Paris

The Printemps Haussmann department store in Paris. CHESNOT

I’ve spent the holidays in Paris and I’ve seen firsthand how the dreamy City of Light is illuminated even more during the holidays, making it feel like one of the most romantic cities in the world.

From the famed Christmas markets to the lovely Nativity scenes at the city’s historic churches, Paris embraces Christmas with an exuberant joie de vivre that our favorite holiday movies are famous for.

Related: Book this, not that: Getting the most from your hotel points in Paris

Where to stay: The award-winning Dorchester Collection’s Paris properties, Le Meurice and Hotel Plaza Athenee, are always my top hotel picks when you’re looking for world-class hospitality and cuisine in a gorgeous Christmas setting.

Don’t miss: The breathtaking Christmas lights and holiday display along the Avenue des Champs-Elysees, Avenue Montaigne, in the Montmartre district and at Bercy Village.

Insider tip: Indulge and relax with a special Christmas tea at Le Meurice, where you can sip Champagne while enjoying French pastry chef Cedric Grolet’s glazed chestnuts, gingerbread, truffles, and sugar and cinnamon brioche.

Closest airport: Paris-Orly Airport (ORY) is the closest airport to Paris, just eight miles away. Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) is the main airport and is 14 miles from Paris. It’s also France’s busiest.

Related: The best ways to get to Paris using miles and points

New York City

New York’s Rockefeller Center at Christmas. ROY ROCHLIN/GETTY IMAGES

I lived in New York City for 14 years, and it will always have my heart at Christmas.

I’m not alone — millions of visitors come to see Manhattan’s spectacular Christmas decorations, with a highlight being the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree. Skating at the magical ice rink always makes me feel like I’m in a Christmas movie and that anything is possible at Christmas.

Where to stay: For a phenomenal festive view of Central Park, the Mandarin Oriental is one of my favorite places to stay. Its award-winning spa is just what you need to unwind during the hectic holiday season.

Don’t miss: The New York Botanical Garden Glow, where you can explore this sensational setting all lit up for the holidays while enjoying live music and fun holiday-themed food and drinks.

Insider tip: If you love Christmas lights, go to the Dyker Heights neighborhood, where you’ll be blown away by the millions of lights decorating all the houses.

Closest airport: New York’s La Guardia Airport (LGA) is just about 5 miles from the city. Other nearby airports are John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and New Jersey’s Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR).

Related: 37 best hotels in New York City for every type of traveler

Other options to get you in the spirit

If you’re looking for even more magical places to visit that feel like you’re walking into one of your favorite Christmas movies, you can do a little research and find out where those movies were filmed. Movie locations are often mentioned in the show’s credits and movie databases like IMDB.

Related: Famous holiday movie destinations

A Google deep dive will show you that many holiday movies are shot in Canada, especially in Vancouver, British Columbia, known as “Hollywood North.”

Before you pack your bags and go searching for hot chocolate and romance, make sure the places where the movies were shot actually have the things you’re looking for and that they weren’t just constructed as part of the movie sets.

For more festive fun, make a list of places in your community that have elements that feel like they’re Christmas movie-worthy and create your own holiday staycation.

By: Karen Schaler
Title: Need a little Christmas? 8 places that feel like a holiday movie
Sourced From: thepointsguy.com/news/8-places-like-a-christmas-movie/
Published Date: Thu, 24 Nov 2022 16:00:03 +0000

Read More

__________________________________