Welcome to The Morning Shave for Monday, February 3, 2025. Expedia shares booking hacks that no longer work, and what travelers should do instead to find lower flight prices. Marriott is offering a limited-time elite status match. And American Express is eliminating some benefits and redemption options. Visit BaldThoughts.com/tms to read all the stories.
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The Morning Shave
These Popular Travel Booking Hacks Were Just Debunked by Expedia — but Here Are New Tips on How to Save.
Travelers are always looking to save money on flights, hotels, and other travel expenses. While some people still think there’s a “best day to book flights,” those old rules don’t really apply in today’s travel world. To learn about the best ways to save money on flights, check out the Expedia Air Hacks report.
How you can leverage this promo to fast track to Marriott elite status
Marriott elite status comes with numerous perks designed to improve your hotel stay. The perks vary by level, and you can reach higher levels based on your annual activity or by having the right credit card. For a limited time, you can qualify for a fast track to Marriott elite status by completing select activities. Are you planning on taking advantage of this promo?
American Express Changes: ShopRunner & Auto Purchasing Program Ending.
Credit cards change benefits on a regular basis, which means that a card that was worthwhile yesterday may not be today. In this case, Amex is eliminating a points redemption option, a useful free shipping benefit, and its auto purchasing program. While I haven’t used all of these benefits, the free Shoprunner 2-day shipping benefit has been a real money-saver over the years. However, so many sites offer free shipping now, that it has lost much of its value.
Hyatt Extends Discussions with Playa Hotels on Potential Acquisition.
Hyatt and Playa Hotels extended their discussion period to February 10th. The hotels reached an exclusivity agreement late last night, but have been unable to come to terms that were agreeable to both sides. Playa Hotels is a developer of all-inclusive resorts, and it owns or operates 24 resorts with more than 8,600 rooms. Its properties are located at prime beachfront locations in Mexico, Jamaica and the Dominican Republic. These resorts would be a welcome addition to the Hyatt portfolio for travelers to earn and redeem points.
Will luxury travel slow down? One expert expects a dip in hotel rates.
As travelers get spooked by a resurgence in inflation and the uncertainty of tariffs, they may not be willing to open their wallets so widely on vacation. This hesitancy to spend could lead to a recession and a drop in hotel rates… especially at affluent, aspirational, and luxury hotels.
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