Good morning from beautifully crisp and autumnal Krakow, Poland. The pumpkin presence is strong here, but so are the travel highlights from this past week — so let’s indulge. 🎃
🚀 Don’t sleep on Rove Miles — a booking platform where you can score hotels, flights, and even do some shopping to earn these valuable miles that transfer to our favorite travel partners.
➡️ Should you go for this 30% transfer bonus to Marriott Bonvoy?
🎥 In this week’s YouTube video, learn how airline alliances work and why having elite status with one airline can unlock the benefits for dozens of others.
🏆 Our Favorite Pick: New to Europe? Go here.
Dreaming of your first European getaway but not sure where to begin? McKay is fresh off an iconic Euro trip and shared some insider tips to help you get going.
Her recommendation? Start simple — with London and Paris. 🤗
I also personally love London. It might even be my favorite city for its historic landmarks, international food scene, all-things Harry Potter (fellow Ravenclaw here 🐦⬛🧙🏻♀️), and just the sheer amount of things to do.
And who doesn’t love a cheery British accent, am I right?
It’s also so insanely well-connected to the rest of Europe and beyond, so I find myself connecting through London quite often from my home airport of Vancouver.
And speaking of getting there…
Award travel deals are plentiful, especially from major East Coast hubs like New York and Boston. Virgin Atlantic, United, and American Airlines often feature low off-peak rates.
Additionally, this is my hot take — I love British Airways. I can’t help it. I do. And I’ve only ever had positive experiences with them. And thanks to the Avios program, finding and booking awards with Avios is plentiful.
💡 Pro Tip: Don’t forget to check for transfer bonuses before booking! I often use points from both this card and this card to make my award redemptions happen when flying to London.
Paris is also unapologetically iconic, and if it’s your first time on the continent, it deserves a visit to fulfill all your stereotypical tourist dreams.
McKay further breaks down:
- The deets of taking the Eurostar from London to Paris
- Where to stay in the best spots for both cities
- Suggestions for where to go outside of these cities
- And perhaps most importantly — where to eat 🤤
Hoping to get to Europe soon? Or maybe for the first time ever? We’ve got you covered.
Do you have any other recommendations for best places to go for first-timers to Europe?
👀 This Week’s Must-Reads
Guide to World of Hyatt Guest of Honor
Hyatt Guest of Honor lets you share Globalist perks with friends and family. Here’s how it works, how to book, and how to maximize it.
Double (or Triple) Dip On Lyft With This Rewards Stack
Stack merchant offers, a Lyft credit, and loyalty programs to earn cash back, credit card rewards, and miles on one $100 purchase.
The Ultimate Guide to Family Points Pooling
Pooling points can help families earn free travel faster. Here’s a guide to which airline, hotel, and credit card programs allow it.
🌍 Week in Review
- Monday: 👀 Should I take this Delta upgrade offer?
- Tuesday: 🥂 Sneaky way to fly business class on the cheap
- Wednesday: 😬 I almost fell for this offer (almost)
- Thursday: ✈️ This program is ridiculous (in the best way)
- Friday: 💳 Cheap lounge access for occasional flyers
That brings another week to a close. I’m gonna get back to eating Polish pierogi of all varieties. 🤤
Tiffany EasthamWriter & Editor, Daily Drop
With contributions by McKay Moffitt
