Tim Winship
SmarterTravel
Los Angeles, CA, United States
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Past articles by Tim:
InterContinental Devalues Popular Credit Card Perk
The IHG Rewards Club MasterCard, issued by Chase, has long been a favorite of the frequent-traveler crowd. For good reasons: A 60,000-point sign-up bonus, after spending $1,000 within three months A modest $49 annual fee, waived the first year Platinum elite status A free night at any IHG hotel on the cardholder’s anniversary That’s a … → Read More
Enter to Win a Caribbean Cruise for 2
Enter the Treasury Wine Estates “Coastal Cruise a Week” sweepstakes by June 30, 2018, for a chance to win one of 52 weekly grand prizes: each a four- or five-night Caribbean cruise for two, on a Royal Caribbean cruise ship. To enter, provide the requested contact information (name, email, etc.) on the sweepstakes landing page … → Read More
Big Changes at Hilton Honors from April 3
Hilton announced early this year that there were significant changes coming to the Honors program, set to take effect on April 3. This is a reminder of what’s coming, and how it’s likely to affect you. Earning The most impactful changes take place in points-earning. First, members will earn points only—no more points-and-miles or points-and-points. … → Read More
Visa Versus MasterCard Versus American Express
As someone who writes regularly about credit and charge cards—specifically, travel-rewards cards—I’ve often found myself chasing after a key data point. It’s well known that American Express charges higher merchant fees, and that fewer merchants accept their cards as a result. What’s been harder to pin down was the exact number of Amex merchants, to … → Read More
How to Earn an Easy 300 American AAdvantage Miles
Sometimes you just need a few frequent flyer miles, to reach an award threshold or to keep your accumulated miles from expiring. Here’s one quick and easy way to do that, if what’s needed are American Airlines AAdvantage miles. First go to Miles for Opinions and spend two minutes setting up an account (name, address, … → Read More
Alaska Airlines to Add New Mileage Partner: Aer Lingus
When Aer Lingus launches its new service between Dublin and Seattle on May 18, it won’t be going it alone. Aer Lingus has partnered with Seattle’s hometown carrier, Alaska Airlines, in an interline relationship designed to make it easier for Aer Lingus passengers to transfer to Alaska Air flights, and vice versa. But that’s just … → Read More
Earn Double Delta Miles for Partner Transactions
Double miles are always nice, but … Offer Details Through May 31, Delta SkyMiles members can earn double miles for transactions with program partners the member did not do business with in 2017. Transactions eligible for the bonus include hotel stays, Airbnb stays, Lyft rides, car rental bookings, SkyMiles Cruises bookings, FTD and Vinesse purchases, … → Read More
Airfare, Hotel Rates Will Rise How Much in 2018?
Basic economics, but is this low-ball prognostication correct? → Read More
Here's How You Can Win a 15-Day European River Cruise
Enter the Viking River Cruises “Grand European Tour” sweepstakes by April 30, 2018, for a chance to win the grand prize: a 15-day European river cruise spanning four countries, including airfare, 12 guided tours, meals. To enter, provide the requested contact information (name, email, etc.) on the sweepstakes landing page and press “Submit.” Done! Time … → Read More
The Top 10 Airports in the U.S. and the World
The best airports marry convenience with amenities that make air travel more of an adventure than a chore. Here are the top airports in the U.S. and the world. → Read More
From Choice Hotels: A Free Night After 2 Stays
Earning enough points for a free night after two stays, even at a lower-end hotel, is a potentially high-value offer. → Read More
Avoid Getting Sick from the Plane By Choosing This Seat
It is the recirculated air on commercial aircraft that’s responsible for travelers’ propensity to get sick when flying. True or false? False. It turns out that more germs are spread by human movement throughout the aircraft cabin than are spread by recirculated air. That’s according to a new study published this week in the Proceedings … → Read More
The Cheapest Airfare? Here's When to Book
This new research also looks at the day-of-the-week conundrum. → Read More
Delta Downgrades SkyMiles with New Award-Ticketing Rule
Effective immediately—or whenever it was that Delta posted the new rule to its website, with no notice to SkyMiles members—SkyMiles award tickets for travel that doesn’t begin or end in the U.S. or Canada must be booked at least three days in advance. Here’s the verbiage Delta added to its site within the past few … → Read More
Will Warren Buffett Buy Southwest Airlines?
One of the world’s most successful investors eyes one of America’s most popular airlines. → Read More
When to Visit the World's Top Travel Spots, According to TripAdvisor
TripAdvisor has paired its readers' choices with its own data to suggest least expensive months to visit, average hotel rates, and best available airfares. → Read More
Survey Confirms That Coach Seating Sucks
Consumer Reports is in the business of rating and ranking everything, from refrigerators to running shoes. In a shift from its normal product-review routine, where the publication’s in-house experts do the testing and comparisons, Consumer Reports turned to its readers for a review of U.S. airlines. The publication queried 55,000 travelers on a range of … → Read More
Here's How You Can Win a 6-Day Trip to Northern Portugal
Enter the Wine Awesomeness “Portugal Wine + Beach Adventure” sweepstakes by April 10, 2018, for a chance to win the grand prize: a six-day trip for two to northern Portugal, including $1,000 to cover airfare, hotel accommodations, daily breakfast, and a river tour of the Douro wine region. To enter, provide the requested contact information … → Read More
The 10 Most and Least Expensive Cities in the World
If it seems that most of the cities you most want to visit are particularly expensive, you’re probably right. According to The Economist’s latest “Worldwide Cost of Living 2018” report, the world’s 10 most expensive cities are also among the world’s top travel destinations. The study’s rankings are based on prices for 160 products and … → Read More
Delta Discounts Award Flights to Asia
Fly roundtrip to or from select Asian destinations for as few as 50,000 Delta miles in coach. That’s the gist of Delta’s latest flash sale on SkyMiles award travel. And it is a flash sale, as in book quickly or you’ll lose out. Offer Details Through March 20, SkyMiles members may book roundtrip coach award … → Read More