Short of an Award Flight? Quick Strategies To Reach a Redemption

January 16, 2019 Erica Ho 2 minute read

How annoying is it to be less than a few thousand miles shy of an award flight? Here’s how I quickly topped off an airline account that had 11,768 miles—732 miles short of redeeming a flight.

Travel

Map Happy Wishes You a Very Happy Holidays!

December 27, 2018 MH Staff Less than a minute to read

Here’s to a fabulous 2019 and to even more adventures, whatever that looks like.

Flights Loyalty Transit

How Long Will It Take Before Basic Economy Creeps Into Award Tickets?

December 19, 2018 Erica Ho Less than a minute to read

It’s one of those ‘speak, and give it further power’ things that we don’t want to believe in. But alas, it’s a matter of time.

Business Money Technology Tools

Smart Receipts Is the Best Business Expensing Smartphone App So Far.

December 5, 2018 Erica Ho 2 minute read

Consider this required as part of the business travel arsenal. There’s is no greater gift in this universe than billing someone else.

Adventure Ground Trains Transit

Amtrak’s Social Media Residency May Be the Coolest Way to Travel

November 28, 2018 Erica Ho Less than a minute to read

Got some free time to criss-cross the country?

Adventure Ground Transit

Caveman Basics: How To Use the Sun as a Navigational Guide

November 15, 2018 Erica Ho Less than a minute to read

It’s often the simplest tips that are the most useful. It also helps that no matter where you are, the sun rises in the east, and sets in the west.

Business Culture & Science Hacks Transit

Repurposing Those Weird Travel Amenities (Like the Shower Cap)

October 31, 2018 Erica Ho 1 minute read

After awhile, all those little oddities and ends add up. I can’t remember the last my shoes were shined, but trust me, I have a shoe brush if the going gets rough.

Business Ground Lyft Money Taxis Technology Transit

Lyft Unveils a National Monthly Subscription Pass

October 29, 2018 Erica Ho Less than a minute to read

Urban city dwellers! Lyft recently unveiled a national monthly subscription pass that allows riders to take up 30 rides in a single month for $299.

Business Culture & Science Misc.

Notes From the Road: I Left My Phone Charger at Home.

October 25, 2018 Erica Ho 1 minute read

Dear Adam,

Sorry, I know you literally heard from me 20 seconds ago because we WhatsApp like 900 million times a day, but you know how I barely made it out of the apartment alive? Well, guess what, I was so tired that I ended up leaving my PHONE CHARGER at home.

Adventure Budget Flights Money Transit

How To Survive and Fly Basic Economy (With No Carry On)

October 9, 2018 Erica Ho 2 minute read

Dial those expectations back. Set them back at “paying for water,” and that will leave you in a good position to be pleasantly surprised, for instance, if you don’t have to pay for water.

Adventure Culture & Science Itinerary Technology Trip Planning

The Adventure Map You Should Have Been Building All Along

October 8, 2018 Erica Ho 2 minute read

The sense of wonder often starts young. I remember digging through stories of archaeology, history and Indiana Jones until I realized it would most likely require an encounter with a bug at some point.

Culture & Science Health Ladies Transit

How To Keep Skin From Looking Like the Wicked Witch of the East

August 15, 2018 Erica Ho 2 minute read

Men! This is for you too. There is no discrimination here, equal opportunity for everyone.

Travel

Can Someone Else Deposit a Check for Me While I’m Out of Town?

July 31, 2018 Erica Ho 1 minute read

Something gotta fund it all, right? Certain activities like cooking, attending jury duty or checking snail mail tend to be hard when you’re not… there.

Customs Documentation Travel Trip Planning Visa

The APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC) Is Kinda Like Global Entry for 21 Countries

July 3, 2018 Erica Ho 2 minute read

Do business for yourself? It’s worth looking into an APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC) card, since they’re open to anyone doing business.

Adventure Cars Ground Transit

Relocation Service imoova Is Another Option for Road Trip Rentals

June 21, 2018 Erica Ho 1 minute read

Tis the season for the summer road trip. Instead of renting a car, why not move a car that already needs to be moved for bucket loads of savings?

Adventure Features Guides Leisure Trip Planning

How To Travel Without a Reservation for Anything, Including Flights

June 14, 2018 Erica Ho 7 minute read

Here’s how to travel without a confirmed reservation for almost anything, including—wait for it—a flight. It really wasn’t so bad, except the one time we got dumped off the side of the road.

Adventure emergency Leisure

Help! The Best Way To Remember SOS in Morse Code

June 6, 2018 Erica Ho Less than a minute to read

In case there’s a bear that comes at you like The Revenant this summer on the family camping trip. Oh wait, that’s just a three-year old throwing a tantrum.

Itinerary Leisure Technology Tools Trip Planning

KAYAK’s Trip Huddle Is Another Great Tool for Group Travel Planning

May 31, 2018 Erica Ho 1 minute read

Hey KAYAK! Not sure why we just got the memo on this one.

Gear Leisure Reviews Technology

Should Travelers Upgrade to the Kindle Oasis?

May 30, 2018 Erica Ho 7 minute read

There’s no doubt about it: The Kindle is a godsend on the road. Nothing beats full access to a bookshelf when there’s no Wi-Fi around.

Loyalty News

Come Join Us at Frequent Traveler University in New York on June 10

May 28, 2018 MH Staff 1 minute read

Occasionally, we emerge from the Map Happy cave to prove that the site is run by live, breathing human beings. Come meet us in New York as we talk travel gadgets galore.

Bags Business Gear Reviews

The Everlane Modern Twill Single Snap Backpack Is a Great Buy for the Price

May 22, 2018 Erica Ho 7 minute read

In the four years since we reviewed the Twill Weekender, Everlane has rolled out a full line of bags, backpacks and weekenders.

Culture & Science Expat Family Money

The Price of Sending a Kid to an International School

May 16, 2018 Erica Ho 1 minute read

Kids. They are are expensive.

Bags Business Gear Reviews

The Incase EO Travel Backpack Actually Lives Up to the Hype.

May 3, 2018 Erica Ho 9 minute read

So, the Amazon reviews are correct. In case (pun clearly intended) you were wondering.

Business Food Gear Health Hotels

Cooking Gadgets for the Road That You Never Knew You Needed

May 1, 2018 Erica Ho 2 minute read

Did you know it is possible to soft-boil an egg in a coffee pot? Neither did I, but living on the road does weird things to a person.

Budget Leisure Money Trip Planning

The Main Money-Saving Principle for Booking Tours in a Small Town

April 11, 2018 Erica Ho 1 minute read

It generally doesn’t matter what travel agency that gets booked for a tour. Outside specialty services like super-lux operators, the service will more or less be the same.

Ladies Safety Technology

How To Stop Blowing Out a Hair Dryer Abroad

April 3, 2018 Erica Ho Less than a minute to read

Okay, it’s not rocket science, but unless you’re one of those people that like to pack voltage converters, read up.

Flights Food Leisure Transit

More Cocktail Recipes for Getting Smashed on the Next Flight

March 27, 2018 Erica Ho Less than a minute to read

It’s not St. Paddy’s day anymore. I know that.

Itinerary Leisure Technology Tools Trip Planning

How To Update Personal Recommendations for the Modern Era

March 14, 2018 Erica Ho 1 minute read

It’s time to stop emailing people long text descriptions on where to eat. (Or upgrade those old recommendations, which hopefully still pass muster.)

Itinerary Leisure Technology Tools Trip Planning

The Best Tools for Group Travel Planning

March 6, 2018 Erica Ho 3 minute read

So, how to organize a big destination trip with more than one person? Hmmm.

Business Hotels Lodging Loyalty Luxury

Mandarin Oriental Launches a Loyalty Program (Get an Extra Night)

February 27, 2018 Erica Ho 1 minute read

How about a free upgrade without having to jump through hoops?

Adventure Health Packing Trip Planning

A Survival Guide for Enduring F*cking Cold Weather (Under 30 Degrees)

February 6, 2018 Erica Ho 3 minute read

East coasters, get out of here. I don’t want to hear about that Syracuse weather, and how it is winter, but for most of us normal folk, it’s not a bad idea to take a crash course in cold weather survival every now and them.

Culture & Science Leisure Polls

How Long Do You Have To Date Someone Before Taking a Trip Together?

February 5, 2018 Erica Ho Less than a minute to read

At some point in every relationship, there’s a question every couple encounters: How long do you have to date before taking a trip with them? How serious does it have to be?

Business Flights Hacks Transit

Some Interesting Ways To Repurpose Old Airline Amenity Kits

January 24, 2018 Erica Ho 2 minute read

First world problem, raise your right hand. Flying business so much you don’t know what to do with those amenity kits once they’ve been used?

Culture & Science Features Luxury Travel

How in the World Did Travel Become so Fashionable?

January 23, 2018 Erica Ho 4 minute read

Gone are the days when picking up and taking off was the most carefree, blasé thing in the world. If it didn’t happen on Instagram, it didn’t happen, right?

Travel

How To Pack Under the 7 kg Limit for Carry-On Luggage

January 11, 2018 Erica Ho 1 minute read

First of all, don’t even try to think about getting away with it if you’re flying out of Asia. Especially in Japan.

Travel

The Tool You Already Have for Ejecting a SIM Card

January 3, 2018 Erica Ho Less than a minute to read

I’m partially horrified 18% of readers still buy a SIM on the go, but it might pay to know there’s often a simple fix for not carrying an extra tool around.

Budget Flights Money Transit Travel Trip Planning

Does Basic Economy Ever Make Sense?

December 13, 2017 Erica Ho Less than a minute to read

Actually it can. Not in every situation, but for some circumstances, if the trip is short enough and you’re a great packer, basic economy can be a chance to save some money.

Airlines Bags Flights Gear Technology Travel

Stop Freaking Out About Bringing a Smart Suitcase Onboard

December 6, 2017 Erica Ho Less than a minute to read

Despite recent news smart suitcases are being semi-banned from planes, most people will still be able to bring their smart gear onboard an aircraft. God, you and your Instagram.

Travel

Google Maps Shows You Where Those Calendar Appointments Are

November 8, 2017 Erica Ho Less than a minute to read

Fine, a little late on the game here. Nobody died, right?

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