Travel Tips

Takeoff Made Easy: Airport Lounges, Cruise Reviews, and More!

Ditch the airport stress and cruise into relaxation! This page is your one-stop shop for insider info on airport lounges, cruises, and more. We've got real traveler reviews to help you find the perfect pre-flight oasis or the dream cruise for your next adventure.

Here's what you'll find:

So, skip the travel FOMO and explore with confidence! Our reviews will have you feeling relaxed and ready to explore the world in style.

Scroll down to find articles I've written for up and coming website "Points Inspector!" Here, you can find a plethora of information about flights, lounges, and loyalty programs, and learn how to get the best value out of your points!

Tips & Tricks

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Reviews

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Preferred Vendors and Service Providers

Who do I use to help make my travels smoother?  The vendors and providers below have all helped out in my travels in some way or another.  Check them out when making your travel plans and hopefully they can help you too.

Guides, Tours, and Outfitters

The Points Guy
Pixie Vacations

Our favorite cruise travel agent, John Barbian, also has a website called “Physician Travel Guide.” Contact him to help plan your next cruise

Tripadvisor.com
Omar

Licensed tour guide and mountaineer in Morocco, Omar took great care of us during and after our trek in the High Atlas Mountains: 

Cruisecritic<br />
Andrea Natali

Experienced tour guide based in Florence, Italy, Andrea has taken care of our family several times when traveling to Italy.

Cruisecritic<br />
Naipenda Safaris

Naipenda is the Swahili word for "love to travel." We used them for our first safari in Tanzania, and they were fantastic!

The Points Guy
Mountain Gurus

Specialize in climbing, mountaineering, and hiking in the US and all over the world.

Tripadvisor.com
Culinary Backstreets

Insider food tours in several countries. Experience cultures through your taste buds!

Cruisecritic<br />
Journey Smiths

This company has prepared several bespoke, high end tours for us in Vietnam, Thailand, Botswana, and Peru.

Cruisecritic<br />
Tours in Istanbul

This is a wonderful, personalized agency that provides private tours in Turkey at excellent prices.

Agents, Travel Companies, and Booking Sites.

The Points Guy
Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours

A high end Australian-based cruise line specializing in River Cruises all over the world. On par with Viking, but even more exclusive.

Tripadvisor.com
Tripadvisor

Popular go-to source with information about every travel destination you can think of. Reviews and forums by real travelers.

Cruisecritic<br />
Cruise Critic

The messageboards on cruise critic discuss everything from logistics to specific cabins to shore excursions. I never cruise without exploring this site.

Cruisecritic<br />
Kayak

I use kayak to find which airlines serve my destinations, then book directly with the airline.

Cruisecritic<br />
Point.me

This amazing site helps find the best deals on flights booked with points. I always start here! For a low annual fee, find out exactly how to book the flights of your dreams!

seatguru
SeatGuru

The data here can be somewhat dated, so verify! Still great for showing cabin layouts and potential pitfalls of certain seats.

Cruisecritic<br />
Loungebuddy

The Lounge Buddy app is no more, but the website is still helpful. You can add a shortcut to the website on your phone, and it is almost as good as the app!

Cruisecritic<br />
Award Wallet

AwardWallet is a tool that helps you track loyalty programs and points. Not only that, but you can sync it with your email and it will keep track of your trips and credit card spend.

one mile at a time<br />
Tours by Locals

Find amazing tours all over the world at reasonable prices. They also offer shore excursions.

seatguru
Booking.com

Booking.com is a great comprehensive source for finding hotels all over the world.

Cruisecritic<br />
Priority Pass

Priority Pass Membership gives you access to airport lounges all over the world! It comes with many premium credit cards, or you can pay for membership.

Cruisecritic<br />
Vrbo

Rent traditional or unique homes all over the world through VRBO. This is a wonderful alternative to hotels, providing lodging with personality and amenities.

Additional Resources

The Points Guy
The Points Guy

The original website for all things points and travel. Read reviews on flights, lounges, hotels, credit cards, and more here. Get started on your points journey!

one mile at a time<br />
One Mile At A Time

Great site with lots of reviews and points strategies. Frequent updates and valuable information!

Cruisecritic<br />
Points Inspector

Points Inspector is a fresh new site with all the latest information and reviews in the points world. 

Cruisecritic<br />
Vestra Interactive

Love my website? It was a fun, collaborative project with Vestra Interactive. Offering a range of managed services, they can tailor a solution to fit your needs and, more importantly, budget.

 

Articles, Shows, and Podcasts

Virgin Atlantic Upper Class Review

Virgin Atlantic Upper Class Review

Since I flew coach on Virgin Atlantic in my early days of travel, this airline had been in the back of my mind as one I wanted to experience on a premium level. So, when I was planning a complex trip to Asia, I researched them and decided to look for a seat from the...

United Polaris Business Class Review

United Polaris Business Class Review

I recently experienced flying United Airlines Polaris Business Class. Buckle up, because it was a doozy! And I'll be sharing it all with you in this honest Polaris review. This trip actually started out as a completely different adventure - a flight to Quito, Ecuador...