Author: Kate
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Trip Report: A Long Weekend in Washington
My family recently spent a three-day weekend in Washington, DC, using points and miles. I think DC is one of the best destinations for families because it’s such an easy trip and there’s so much to do that’s free! You can read about how I booked this trip here, but in this post, I’m recapping…
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A Budget Family Weekend Trip to Washington, DC
I lived in Washington, DC with my partner for five years, and both of my children were born there. We moved away in 2021, but because both of my kids were so young, neither of them remember the city. I loved living there, because the city is highly walkable and has great public transportation, and…
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How Credit Cards Can Help When Travel Goes Wrong: My Experience Using Chase Travel Insurance
In February of 2025, I used points and miles to take my 7-year-old son on a bucket list trip to Paris. We had a totally magical trip, including a dreamy stay at the Hyatt Regency Paris Etoile. Although I booked our trip for four nights, it turned into five when our flight home was canceled…
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Run, Don’t Walk, to Get This Incredible Welcome Offer
I don’t usually write about individual card welcome offers, since they change all the time, but this offer is so good, it merits a public service announcement. The Chase Sapphire Preferred currently comes with a jaw-dropping 100,000 Ultimate Reward points for spending $5,000 in three months. We haven’t seen an offer this high on this…
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How I Booked a Luxury Trip to Spain and Portugal for 94% Off
In my junior year of college, I spent my fall semester studying abroad at the University of Barcelona. I had no intentions to do this. One of my friends was interested in studying abroad, so I accompanied him to the International Programs office on campus one day. He never went. I did. I fell immediately…
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Hyatt Regency Paris Etoile: Value, Convenience, and Comfort
I recently completed a five-night stay at the Hyatt Regency Paris Etoile, located in Paris’s 17th arrondissement, and I absolutely love this hotel. I found this to be a convenient and pleasant place to stay with my seven-year-old. This property is ideal for visitors looking to conserve both cash and points, and although not the…
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How to Write a School Excuse for Travel
I have been an educator for over 20 years, so let me just start by saying how much I value school and education. I believe that consistent school attendance is important. I also believe that travel is an educational experience. Travel presents SO many opportunities for learning; kids get exposure to different languages, geography, modes…
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The Art of the Backup Flight
Have your plans ever been disrupted by a delayed or canceled flight? If you’re traveling for an important event, like a wedding or a cruise embarkation, you really need to get where you’re going, when you’re going. This is also true for positioning flights–when you’re traveling to get to the point of departure for a…
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A Love Letter to My Venture X
Update 7/3/25: Capital One has broken my heart by announcing that they will severely restrict lounge access for Venture X cardholders starting February 1st, 2026. As of that date, cardholders will not be entitled to any free guests for either Capital One lounges or Priority Pass lounges. Additionally, authorized users will no longer enjoy free…
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Why Hyatt is the Only Hotel Chain I’ll Book on Points
I love a bougie flight as much as the next person, but once you get to your destination, you need a place to stay! Beloved in the award travel community, World of Hyatt is the only hotel loyalty program I’ll transfer my points to, and in this post, I’m going to tell you why. Hyatt…
Kate's on a Plane 