In this pilot episode of The Travel Scholar Podcast, Nathan talks about planning a last minute Thanksgiving trip to visit family in Spokane, WA. Next up is a Vancouver Trip Report. Finally, when it comes to redeeming miles and points, there’s more to value than just cents per point. Check out this episode!
On 24 October 2023, it will have been 20 years since the last commercial flight of Concorde, BA 002 from JFK to LHR, and it’s hard to argue that we didn’t take a step back that day when humanity gave up the ability for passengers to fly supersonic. I was fortunate to fly a roundtrip …
International travel is trending higher, which means that processing times for US passport applications are, too. As Americans started to make travel plans in 2023, many were caught by surprise as promised turnaround times for new and renewal passports stretched longer than anticipated. I had to renew my passport early in 2023. Fortunately, I had …
You Can Request a Refund of Your Passport Expedite Fees Read More »
I see this question posted regularly on social media: “I’m thinking of flying Spirit. Are Spirit really that bad?” My answer is always this: “It entirely depends on your expectations. If are aware of the caveats, then it can be a great, economical way to fly. If you aren’t, then you might encounter several unpleasant …
Are Spirit Airlines Really That Bad? How to Fly Spirit without Hating Yourself. Read More »
I visited The Strat today for the first time since I moved from my Las Vegas residence in 2013 and was welcomed by their recently instituted paid self-parking garage. I miss the days of complimentary parking on The Strip, and The Strat was one of the last to convert to paid parking. Nobody likes to …
Every Time Someone Pays for Parking at The Strat, A Kitten Dies Read More »
I recently took a last-minute trip to Orlando where I had to book a same day hotel for the night. When I looked at rates (both cash and points), everything where I wanted to stay was more than I wanted to spend, and the idea of a $359 rate at a Fairfield Inn didn’t appeal …
tru by Hilton Provides Great Value for Last Minute Stay Read More »
I visited Resorts World Las Vegas for the first time in April 2022 to explore the property’s public areas and play in the casino with the hope of generating some offers for future trips. Last month, I was able to take advantage of an offer that included three complimentary nights at the Conrad. Resorts World …
Why Conrad at Resorts World Las Vegas Will Never Be a True Luxury Hotel Read More »
Whenever someone finds out how much I love to travel, and how much I’ve travelled, the inevitable question is, “What’s your favourite place you’ve ever been?” So here are my top five favourite North American travel destinations, in no particular order. Alaska My cruise to Alaska in July of 2016 is one of my favourite …
My Five Favourite North American Travel Destinations Read More »
Carnival Cruise Lines tried a new strategy when it announced its latest round of cutbacks and price increases this week: blame the customer! In an email to customers published on 02 November 2022 and titled “Culinary Update,” Carnival tried to lay a foundation of empathy by citing how inflation, higher fuel prices, and supply chain …
JetBlue is the best US airline in terms of in-flight experience for the average traveller–those without status who purchase tickets in non-premium cabins. If you don’t believe me, then please find me another carrier that offers complimentary snacks and non-alcoholic beverages, complimentary WiFi, complimentary seat back entertainment, 32″ (and on some aircraft, 34″) of seat …