PointsYeah is my favorite all-in-one award search tool — and it's completely free. NerdWallet named it the #1 award travel search tool for 2026, and I agree. It searches flights AND hotels, shows you results in under 20 seconds, and the Daydream Explorer feature lets you browse flight deals for the next 365 days. I use the price drop alerts to get notified when award prices drop on routes I'm watching.

Key Features:

Real-time award search across multiple airlines in under 20 seconds

20+ search filters to customize results

Price drop alerts when award prices change

Daydream Explorer — browse flight and hotel deals for the next 365 days

Hotel award search across 10+ hotel programs

Free forever — no hidden fees

Julie's Take:

point.me is incredible for finding the cheapest way to book an award flight. What makes it special is that it doesn't just show you available flights — it shows you every possible way to book them using your existing points, including transfer partner paths you'd never think of. It literally tells you "transfer X points to Y airline to save Z points." The step-by-step booking instructions are perfect if you're new to award travel.

Key Features:

Searches award availability across dozens of airlines

Shows the cheapest booking path for each flight, including transfer partners

Step-by-step booking instructions walk you through the process

Free basic plan with destination tips and Explore access

Standard plan ($129/year) adds real-time search, filters, and deal alerts

Julie's Take:

Seats.aero is my go-to for finding award availability at a glance, especially for premium cabin seats. I love the calendar view — you can see an entire month of availability in one screen. The alerts are great for routes where award space is hard to find.

Key Features:

Award availability calendar view across multiple airlines

Alerts for specific routes when award space opens

Great for finding business and first class award seats

Clean, fast interface

Hyatt is my #1 hotel loyalty program — and it's not even close. Their points are worth more per point than any other hotel program, their properties are consistently excellent, and the award night values are unbeatable. When I have the points, I always check Hyatt first. The category system makes it easy to find great redemptions, and their all-inclusive resorts (Zilara and Ziva) are some of the best points-bookable stays in the world.

Key Reasons Julie Books Here First:

Highest point value per redemption of any major hotel program

Consistently excellent properties across all tiers

All-inclusive resorts (Hyatt Zilara & Ziva) bookable with points

World of Hyatt credit card is one of the best hotel cards available

Guest of Honor feature lets you share elite benefits with someone else's reservation

Julie's Take:

Hilton is my second stop. They have the most properties worldwide, which means I can almost always find a Hilton wherever I'm going. Their points are easier to earn in bulk (especially with the Amex Hilton cards), and the 5th night free on award stays is a huge perk for longer trips. I also love that Hilton lets you combine points + cash for bookings when I don't have quite enough for a full award night.

Key Reasons Julie Books Here Second:

Massive global footprint — properties almost everywhere

5th night free on award stays (huge for week-long trips)

Points + cash option when you don't have enough for a full redemption

Hilton Amex cards earn points quickly

Digital Key lets you skip the front desk entirely

Marriott is my third stop, and it fills in the gaps when Hyatt and Hilton don’t have what I need. With one of the largest global footprints, Marriott almost always has a property in the right location — from budget-friendly brands to luxury stays like JW Marriott, St. Regis, and The Ritz‑Carlton. Their points aren’t as valuable as Hyatt’s, but the sheer number of hotels makes Marriott a reliable backup when I’m traveling somewhere with fewer options.

I also like that Marriott offers PointSavers, off‑peak pricing, and the ability to mix points + cash when I’m trying to stretch my balance a little further.

Why Marriott Is My Third Stop

Huge global footprint — great for destinations where Hyatt/Hilton are limited

Wide range of brands from budget to luxury

Off‑peak and PointSavers rates can offer solid value

Points + Cash option helps when you’re short on points

Elite benefits improve at higher tiers (late checkout, upgrades, lounge access)

When I don’t have points, or the hotel I want isn’t Hyatt, Hilton, or Marriott, I book through Expedia.

Lower cash rates

Mobile‑only deals

Free cancellation options

Boutique hotels not available on loyalty sites

Vacation rentals + hotels in one place

I also use Expedia when:

Points rooms are sold out

I need two rooms

I’m booking a non‑chain hotel

I want to compare cash vs points quickly

When I’m renting a car, Budget is my first stop. Their prices are consistently competitive, and I’ve had the best luck with availability and clean vehicles.

I always price compare with Costco. Their rental car rates are often unbeatable, and the extra driver is free.

Perfect for:

Family trips

Road trips

Long weekend getaways

My #1 for tours, skip‑the‑line tickets, and guided experiences. Great availability, great cancellation policies, and tons of options.

My go‑to for Europe and big cities. Their app is fantastic, and their curated experiences are always high‑quality.

When I’m visiting a major U.S. city, CityPASS saves a ton of money on attractions. Perfect for family trips and long weekends. We have saved a lot of money this way!

We get Epic Passes every year, but not the full season passes — we don’t ski enough days to make those worth it. Instead, we save big by choosing exactly how many days we plan to ski ahead of time. You can save even more by avoiding holiday weekends, which are always priced higher.

Why I Love ResortPass

Access luxury pools, spas, and cabanas without booking a room

Perfect for pre‑cruise days or long layovers

Flexible cancellation policies

Great for families who want pool time before/after flights

Easy to stack with Chase Offers + portals

Undercover Tourist is one of my favorite places to buy discounted theme park tickets, especially for Disney and Universal. I’ve used them before and the savings are real — plus the tickets are always legit and delivered instantly. It’s an easy way to save money on big family trips without dealing with complicated promo codes or blackout dates.

Why I Like Undercover Tourist

Real discounts on Disney, Universal, and major attractions

Instant digital ticket delivery

Trusted, authorized seller

Great for family trips and theme park vacations