Blog
Points and Miles Are Not Just for Spreadsheet Men
Points and miles aren’t just for travel hackers with spreadsheets. Here’s a simple, beginner-friendly way to use rewards strategically without overspending or opening random cards.
Travel Gives Me Something Home Cannot
Travel interrupts routine, sharpens our attention, and reminds us there is more than one way to live. Here’s why I need both the comfort of coming home and the excitement of leaving.
London Without the Checklist: How I Traveled Differently This Time
On my third visit to London, I stopped trying to see everything and started traveling differently. From finally touring Big Ben and exploring Bletchley Park to slowing down in the Cotswolds, visiting Churchill’s grave, and discovering the Gilded Age story behind Blenheim Palace, this trip was about depth—not a checklist.
12 Trips in 12 Months: The Year I Said Yes to Travel
There comes a point in life when you realize you've become really good at waiting. Waiting until you have more money. Waiting until the kids are grown. Waiting until you find someone to travel with. Waiting until life feels a little less busy. I know, because I've...
How to Travel New York City Smarter (Without Trying to See Everything)
How to Travel New York City Smarter (Without Trying to See Everything) There was a time when I thought traveling to New York City meant trying to see everything. The iconic landmarks. The museums. The restaurants. The neighborhoods. The hidden spots. The “must-see”...
The Kind of Travel That Stay With You: Hiking Across England
Hiking Hadrian’s Wall across England introduced me to an entirely different style of travel — a walking holiday filled with history, challenge, simplicity, and unexpected mental clarity. Here’s what the experience was really like and why it became one of my most meaningful trips.
How I Earned My Next Flight at Home Depot
Most people think you have to be a corporate road warrior—living out of suitcases and middle seats—to earn enough miles for a business-class seat to Europe. But as a pilot, I’ll tell you a secret: Flying is, perhaps, the slowest way to earn points. If you’re only...
London, Again: Why the Best Trips Aren’t About the “Must-Sees”
The most common question I get when I book a flight to a city I’ve already visited is, "Haven’t you been there already?" Yes. Multiple times. And that’s exactly why I’m going back. As a pilot and the founder of flyGIRL, I’m a big believer in strategy. Most travelers...
Points vs. Reality: Why I Paid Cash for Hotels on our Spain Trip
Points vs. Reality: Why I Paid Cash for Hotels on our Spain Trip Spain, AmEx Portals, and the "Value" Trap: A Reality Check I’ve got more trips booked for 2026 than I’ve ever had, but I’m still buzzing from the trip I wrapped up at the end of December 2025. I took my...
My Pre-Trip Travel Routine: 9 Things I Always Do Before an International Trip
Whenever I’m getting ready to travel—especially internationally—I follow the same routine in the days before departure. This process helps me stay organized, earn extra travel points, and start my trip feeling calm instead of stressed. This isn’t about packing. This...
The 5 Best Websites & Newsletters for Cheap Flights and Points Deals (Busy Women’s Guide)
If you’re a busy woman, a mom, or both, you don’t have time to refresh Google Flights every hour hoping to stumble across a deal. That’s exactly why I let flight deal experts do the work for me. In this post, I’m sharing the five best websites and newsletters I...
European Christmas Markets: Dates, Tips & Top Destinations!
European Christmas Markets: A Quick Guide European Christmas markets are undeniably magical: twinkling lights, wooden stalls, mulled wine warming your hands, and entire cities that feel straight out of a holiday movie. I’m planning a European Christmas market trip for...