World of Hyatt 5-Tier Award Chart for Hotels The landscape of luxury travel is shifting, and if you have a stash of World of Hyatt points , the clock is officially ticking due to the recent Hyatt Points devaluation. With a brand-new award chart taking effect in May 2026, and annual category reshuffles arriving in April, the window to maximize your value is closing fast. At Resort Chasers, we are dedicated to helping families—no matter how many children you have—navigate the w

In a move that significantly broadens the horizons for luxury travel, Marriott Bonvoy has introduced a game-changing update https://www.marriott.com/offers/free-night-award-off-206324 . Members can now "top off" Free Night Awards (FNA) with up to 25,000 points —a substantial increase from the previous 15,000-point limit. For a community like Resort Chasers, where the goal is to maximize high-end experiences through points and miles, this adjustment is a major win. By having

The Bilt Palladium Card If you’ve been following Resort Chasers for a while, you know our philosophy: luxury travel shouldn’t always come with a luxury price tag. We’ve spent years "travel hacking" to find the best ways to turn everyday spending into five-star experiences. But recently, a new player has completely disrupted our wallet hierarchy. The Bilt Palladium Card has officially taken the top spot as our favorite credit card. While Bilt originally made waves by letting

By Resort Chasers Staff If you’ve been eyeing a luxury escape to the beach resorts of Okinawa or a high-end stay in Tokyo, your points strategy just got a serious upgrade. Rove Miles—the platform that lets you rack up travel rewards without needing yet another credit card—has officially brought Japan Airlines (JAL) Mileage Bank onboard as its 14th transfer partner. For those of us in the points-and-miles world, this is a big deal. JAL miles are famously valuable but notorious

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express Card Luxury travel is about leverage—using the right tools to secure better rooms, smoother airport days, and high-value stays. With a $650 annual fee, the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express Card is a significant investment. However, for those who understand how to stack its benefits, it often provides value far exceeding its cost. The "Big Three" Value Anchors These three benefits alone can effectively "zero out" the annu

In the world of travel hacking, there are "good" redemptions and then there are "legendary" ones. Using a Hilton Honors Aspire American Express card to unlock a weekend at the Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach Resort & Club falls firmly into the latter category. For our family of four, this wasn’t just a quick Dana Point, CA getaway; it was a masterclass in maximizing credit card benefits for a high-end luxury experience. By stacking an Annual Free Night Reward with the Aspire

The Ritz Carlton Credit Card While the Ritz-Carlton Credit Card isn’t available for a standard application, it remains a "holy grail" for travel enthusiasts because its benefits far outweigh its $450 cost. Here is the expanded blueprint for adding it to your wallet and exactly how to maximize its perks in real life. How to Get the Card: The Product Change Blueprint Since this card is "grandfathered," you have to transition into it. It requires patience, but the process is re

Chase Ultimate Rewards In the world of luxury travel, points are more than just a loyalty perk—they are a specialized currency. While the average consumer views credit card rewards as a modest rebate, a disciplined traveler treats the Chase Ultimate Rewards ecosystem as a financial tool designed to unlock five-star experiences at a fraction of their retail cost. Think of this guide as your operational manual. To pull off those high-value redemptions, you need to move beyond

For the modern traveler, the airport experience is often a hurdle to be cleared before the real vacation begins. But at Resort Chasers , we believe the journey should be just as seamless as the destination. That is why the recent overhaul of the Priority Pass app is such a game-changer for lounge lovers worldwide. Priority Pass has long been the gold standard for independent airport lounge access, providing entry to over 1,300 lounges globally. However, their latest digita

The launch of Bilt Cash  represents a fundamental shift in Bilt Rewards’ strategy. What began as a points program optimized for aspirational travel has evolved into a internal true lifestyle currency—one that rewards everyday living just as much as five‑star hotels and business‑class flights. With a simple promise— $1 Bilt Cash = $1 USD —Bilt has eliminated the friction that typically separates points from real life. You can now offset housing transaction fees, book a weekly

Bilt 2.0 Credit Cards For years, Bilt Rewards was the "cheat code" for renters—the only way to earn travel points on your largest monthly expense without losing 3% to transaction fees. On February 7, 2026, the game changed forever. Bilt 2.0 Rewards has officially launched, transforming from a single "rent card" into a comprehensive housing and lifestyle ecosystem. Whether you’re a lifelong renter or a homeowner with a mortgage, the new rules are more powerful but require a

Citi ThankYou Rewards logo Welcome to the definitive guide to mastering one of the most versatile travel rewards programs on the market. If you are a reader of resortchasers.com , you know that we don’t just travel; we travel smarter. While Chase and Amex often steal the spotlight, the Citi ThankYou Rewards  program remains a compelling transferable points ecosystem in 2026 — adaptable for everyday spenders and luxury travelers alike. With cards like the Citi Strata Elite , C

Plaza Premium Lounge Rome (Schengen Area Departures Terminal 1, FCO) | Resort Chasers For many travelers, the airport is a gauntlet of fluorescent lights, $22 wilted sandwiches, and the undignified hunt for a functioning power outlet. But at ResortChasers, we believe the vacation begins the moment you leave your front door. What if your terminal experience felt less like a survival mission and more like a pre-arrival retreat? That is the promise of Priority Pass , the world’s

If you’ve been hoarding your credit card points and hotel rewards, it’s time to start planning your 2026 escape. While 2025 has its fair share of gems, 2026 is shaping up to be a legendary year for luxury travel. From historic landmarks in London to secluded eco-sanctuaries in Vietnam, some of the most prestigious hotel brands in the world are expanding their footprints. Here at Resort Chasers, we’ve rounded up the 10 most anticipated openings of 2026 that you can book using

The Citi Strata Elite Credit Card I ’m always hunting for the "holy grail" of points: a card that offers a massive bonus and a way to use those points that actually makes sense for luxury travel. The Citi Strata Elite just raised the bar. With the limited-time 100,000-point sign-up bonus (earned after spending $6,000 in the first 3 months), this card is essentially handing you a first-class ticket or a week at a high-end resort on a silver platter. The 100K Jackpot: How to U

December Retreat at The Tribune Hotel in Rome

As "resort chasers," we often find ourselves needing a sanctuary between long-haul flights, especially when traveling with our two young explorers (ages 6 and 9). The Air France Lounge in Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) airport Terminal 2E, Hall K , has long been a key stop, and after its extensive renovation, completed on April 2, 2025, it has truly stepped up its game. Here is our family's detailed report on this massive (almost 30,000 sq ft), multi-level hub of French comfor

As a family of four who travels a lot, finding the right balance between comfort and cost on a long-haul flight can feel like chasing a unicorn. But let me tell you, fellow resort chasers, our recent experience flying Virgin Atlantic Premium Economy from San Francisco (SFO) to London Heathrow (LHR) was nothing short of a dream. It wasn't just a great flight; it was a revelation on how travel with kids should be, proving that the middle ground between standard economy and spl

Virgin Atlantic Flying Club Transfer Bonus | Resort Chasers The points-and-miles world just gifted us a phenomenal treat! For a limited time, both American Express Membership Rewards and Chase Ultimate Rewards are offering incredible transfer bonuses to Virgin Atlantic Flying Club. This is a phenomenal opportunity to turbo-charge your points balance and unlock some of the best-value redemptions in the entire travel landscape. If you've been sitting on a stash of Amex or Chase

Hilton Honors Logo A new era is coming to Hilton Honors — and elite travelers have plenty to celebrate. Hilton has officially confirmed  a major overhaul to its loyalty program launching January 2026 , making top-tier recognition more achievable for many guests while adding a brand-new ultra-elite tier for the most dedicated spenders: Diamond Reserve . Accessible Elite Status: Gold & Diamond Just Got Easier Travelers who have struggled to hit the current night thresholds will