Welcome back, friend. In my mind, sweater weather = travel weather. So now’s the perfect time to book your next getaway! 🍁
Let’s see what happened in the travel world this week.
👀 There are a whopping 32 cards with elevated welcome offers right now.
✈️ Get Platinum Status and free companion travel with Frontier Airlines.
🏨 Take advantage of IHG’s new flash sale (heads up, it’s good).
🎥 This week’s Daily Drop YouTube video takes you inside this billionaire’s palace… and how you can book it with points.
🏆 Our Favorite Pick: Set sail on Virgin Voyages — with just points
Ready to swap your points for some serious sea vibes? Virgin Voyages — aka the adults-only (18+) cruise line that feels more like a floating boutique hotel — is bookable entirely with points through Virgin Red.
Think boozy brunches (honestly, say no more), live music, trendy fitness classes, and hammocks on your balcony… all with that signature Virgin flair.
Here are a couple of good examples for upcoming itineraries:
A six-night Caribbean sailing from Miami to the DR, St. Maarten, the BVIs, and Puerto Rico runs 160,000 Virgin Points per cabin (yes, that’s for two people!).
Even a five-night cruise around the Riviera Maya for 190,000 total points is an excellent deal.
What’s included? Basically everything:
- 🍽️ All meals at every restaurant
- 💃 Entertainment and nightlife
- 💪 Fitness classes and group workouts
- 💻 Wi-Fi to make your friends jealous
But where this gets even sweeter is that until October 18, there’s a 30% transfer bonus from ThankYou points to Virgin Atlantic. That means you’d only need 124,000 ThankYou points for that Caribbean cruise, or 147,000 points for the Riviera Maya sailing.
Simply link your Virgin Atlantic and Virgin Red accounts to transfer your points and redeem them for a dream cruise.
Only catch? Gratuities run about $20 to $22 per person, per night. Still, it’s an all-in sailing for two at an unreal value.
I personally have this ThankYou points-earning card that would work perfectly for this transfer bonus.
However, even if you’re not ready to take advantage of this bonus and book a cruise, there are plenty of other travel cards whose points can be transferred to Virgin.
👀 This Week’s Must-Reads
Best Vegas Hotels You Can Book With Points
Maximize your points in Vegas. Here's where to stay, how elite perks work, and what the new MGM and Marriott partnership means.
Best Airlines With Stopover Programs (And How to Book Them)
Learn how airline stopover programs can turn one trip into two. This guide covers which airlines offer them, how to book, and the best credit cards to use.
Ultimate Guide to Capital One Lounges
Learn how to access Capital One Lounges, where they’re located, and what perks you’ll find inside — plus the best cards to get in free.
🌍 Week in Review
- Monday: ✈️ Double Southwest points (expired Monday)
- Tuesday: 🍭 New program, new sweet spots
- Wednesday: 👯 Get a companion pass with Frontier
- Thursday: 🛳️ How to book a cruise with points
- Friday: 🌎 My mom’s first trip abroad
That brings this week to a close. Have a lovely rest of your weekend, and we’ll see you next time around. 😘
Tiffany EasthamWriter & Editor, Daily Drop
With contributions by McKay Moffitt
