The WanderWise Blog
Points strategies, booking guides, and travel insights — written for people who'd rather enjoy the trip than decode the jargon.
Featured Articles
How to Earn 100,000 Points in 6 Months Without Changing How You Spend
You don't need to spend more or game the system. Learn how to earn 100,000+ credit card points in 6 months through your existing everyday spending.
First Time Flying Business Class? Here's What to Expect
A gentle, detailed guide to your first business class flight — from the airport lounge to the lie-flat seat. Written for adults 55+ who've earned this experience.
All Articles
What Is a Transfer Partner? (And Why It's the Key to Free Travel)
The single most important concept in credit card points — explained so clearly that you'll wonder why nobody told you this years ago.
What Happens to Your Points When You Cancel a Credit Card?
The honest answer — plus exactly what to do before you pick up the phone.
Understanding Credit Card Categories: Travel, Cash Back, Business, and Store Cards
*Meta Title:** Understanding Credit Card Categories: Travel, Cash Back, Business, and Store Cards | WanderWise
TSA PreCheck vs Global Entry vs CLEAR: Which Should You Get?
Three programs, three promises, three different price tags. Here's a plain-English breakdown of what each one actually does — and which one makes sense for h...
Traveling With Mobility Challenges: A Points-Savvy Accessibility Guide
Accessible travel isn't just possible — it's something credit card points can make significantly easier and more comfortable. Here's how to plan trips that w...
How to Travel With Grandkids Without Losing Your Mind (or Your Points)
Multigenerational trips are among the most meaningful vacations you'll ever take. They're also logistically complex, emotionally charged, and capable of burn...
Travel Insurance for Seniors: What Your Credit Card Already Covers
Before you spend $200 on a travel insurance policy, check your wallet. You might already be covered — and not even know it.
Travel Hacking for Couples: Double Your Points, Halve Your Costs
When two people coordinate their points strategy, the math changes completely. Here's the couples playbook that turns ordinary household spending into extrao...
Solo Travel After 60: A Points-Savvy Guide for Women
You don't need a travel companion to see the world. You just need a plan, a passport, and the points you've already earned.
The Snowbird's Guide to Wintering on Points
Extended stays in Florida, Arizona, or the Caribbean don't have to drain your savings. Here's how to use points, loyalty perks, and a few lesser-known strate...
Should You Get the Amex Platinum? A Realistic Guide for Travelers Over 55
It costs $695 a year. It's one of the most prestigious credit cards in America. And whether it's right for you depends on exactly three things. Let's do the ...
Retirement Travel Budget: How Points Change the Math
You planned for retirement. You saved. You budgeted. But most financial plans treat travel as a line item to minimize. Here's a different approach — one that...
Planning a 50th Anniversary Trip on Points
How to turn fifty years of partnership into the trip of a lifetime — without spending a fortune in cash.
How to Plan a National Parks Road Trip on Points
*Meta Title:** How to Plan a National Parks Road Trip on Points | WanderWise
Multigenerational Travel on Points: How to Take the Whole Family for Less
The trip where all three generations are together? That's the one they'll talk about forever. Here's how to make it happen without a second mortgage.
The Best Airport Lounges You Can Access With a Credit Card
Complimentary drinks, hot food, comfortable seating, and peace and quiet — you don't need a first-class ticket to get in. Here's how credit cards unlock airport lounges.
IHG One Rewards: A Hidden Gem for Budget-Savvy Travelers Over 55
A complete guide to the loyalty program behind Holiday Inn, Kimpton, InterContinental — and why it deserves a closer look.
How to Use Points for Upgraded Hotel Rooms and Suites
Practical strategies for getting a better room — whether you're using points, elite status, or just knowing what to ask for.
How to Use Marriott Bonvoy Points for Travel (Complete 2026 Guide)
The world's largest hotel loyalty program, explained from the ground up — so you can turn those points into stays you'll actually remember.
How to Use Hyatt Points Like a Pro (The Best Value in Hotel Loyalty)
If you only learn one hotel loyalty program, make it this one. Hyatt points are worth more than any other hotel currency — and it's not even close.
How to Use Hilton Honors Points for Travel (Complete 2026 Guide)
Hilton has more hotels than anyone else — and a loyalty program that rewards patient, strategic travelers handsomely. Here's how to get the most from every p...
How to Use Chase Ultimate Rewards Points for Travel (Complete 2026 Guide)
The most popular points program in America, explained like a friend would explain it — clearly, patiently, and with zero jargon.
How to Protect Your Travel Points From Expiring
A practical guide to keeping your hard-earned points alive — because losing them to fine print is the one thing worse than never earning them at all.
How to Plan a Trip to Italy on Points (Rome, Florence, Amalfi)
A complete, step-by-step guide to planning the Italian dream trip — flights, hotels, trains, and experiences — using the credit card points you've already be...
How to Plan a Transatlantic Cruise on Points
The Queen Mary 2 from New York to Southampton. A repositioning cruise from Fort Lauderdale to Barcelona. Seven nights across the open Atlantic — and a surpri...
How to Plan a European River Cruise on Points (Step by Step)
River cruises are one of the most rewarding ways to see Europe — and one of the most expensive. Here's how to use credit card points to bring the cost down d...
How to Maximize Credit Card Sign-Up Bonuses (Without Gaming the System)
Sign-up bonuses are the fastest way to earn travel points — and you don't need to be a "travel hacker" to take advantage of them. Here's a practical, ethical...
How to Book a Hotel With Points: Step-by-Step for First-Timers
You've got the points. You've got the destination. Here's exactly how to turn one into the other.
How to Book a Caribbean Vacation Entirely on Points
Sun, sand, and zero out-of-pocket — here's how to plan a week in the Caribbean using credit card points you probably already have.
How to Book Award Flights: A Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners
*Meta Title:** How to Book Award Flights: A Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners | WanderWise
How to Avoid Foreign Transaction Fees (And Which Cards Charge Them)
That 3% surcharge on every purchase you make abroad adds up faster than most people realize. Here's how to stop paying it — and which credit cards quietly ch...
Gift Travel to Your Kids: How Parents Use Points to Give Experiences
*Meta Title:** Gift Travel to Your Kids: How Parents Use Points to Give Experiences | WanderWise
The Empty Nest Travel Bucket List: 10 Trips You've Earned
The kids are gone. The house is quiet. Your passport is gathering dust. Let's fix that.
Credit Card Points vs. Airline Miles: What's the Difference?
They sound the same. They're not. Here's why it matters — and which one is better for you.
Credit Card Annual Fees: Why Paying $95 Can Save You Thousands
The annual fee is the single biggest reason people talk themselves out of a great travel credit card. Let's do the math — because the math always wins.
The Complete Guide to Credit Card Travel Protections
Trip cancellation, flight delays, lost luggage, rental car insurance — your credit card may already cover more than you think. Here's how to know what you ha...
Capital One Miles: A Simple Guide for Travelers Who Want Simple
The points program built for people who don't want to think about points programs — explained in the clearest terms possible.
The Best Travel Apps Every Points Traveler Over 55 Should Download
Twelve apps that make earning, tracking, and using your points simpler — plus a few that make the trip itself go smoother.
The Best Time to Book International Flights on Points
*Meta Title:** The Best Time to Book International Flights on Points | WanderWise
The Best Airline Lounges You Can Access With Priority Pass
1,500 lounges in 148 countries — but which ones are actually worth visiting? Here's the practical guide to finding the good ones, skipping the disappointing ...
The Best Hotel Loyalty Programs for Travelers Over 55
Hyatt vs. Marriott vs. Hilton vs. IHG — which loyalty program actually deserves your loyalty? A clear-eyed comparison for travelers who want comfort, value, ...
The Best Cruise Cabin You Can Book With Points
Balcony suites, ocean views, and the room that makes the whole trip — how to use your credit card points to book the cruise cabin you actually want.
Amex Membership Rewards: The Complete Guide for Travelers Over 55
Everything you need to know about American Express points — how to earn them, how to use them, and why they might be the single best currency for the trips y...
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