Nearly all the major mass-market cruise lines offer flat-fee drink packages that, in some cases, can save you money when cruising. The exceptions are Disney Cruise Line and Virgin Voyages, though both offer alternative ways to save on beverage purchases.

What’s included in a cruise ship drink package, and how do they work? And, perhaps more to the point, how much do cruise drink packages cost? Read on for the answers in this ultimate guide to cruise drink packages.

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For a line-by-line guide to drink package costs, inclusions, limitations and fine print, scroll to the second half of the guide.

What is a drink package on a cruise ship?

Cruise ship drink packages let you order as many drinks as you want while on a cruise for one flat fee. This takes the place of paying for drinks one at a time.

At some lines, there are several tiers of drink packages. Basic tiers often include just sodas and bottled water. More elaborate (and expensive) tiers will add alcoholic and nonalcoholic cocktails, wine, beer and specialty coffee drinks. In some cases, there will be more than one tier of such all-encompassing plans.

Some lines also offer coffee cards that let you get a fixed number of fancy coffee drinks at a shipboard coffee bar for a discounted price. Some also offer wine-specific packages.

How much do alcoholic drink packages cost on cruise ships?

The cost of cruise ship drink packages varies widely by line. At several of the biggest cruise brands, including Carnival Cruise Line and Holland America, the main drink packages that include all types of drinks cost about $60 per person per day. Other brands, such as Norwegian Cruise Line, charge as much as $138 per person per day for a top-tier package.

Drink packages that don’t include alcoholic drinks, such as soda packages, typically cost far less. Soda packages often are under $10 per person per day. Note that some cruise lines discount drink packages if you buy them online in advance of sailing, and others offer periodic sales on their drink packages online.

Related: How to get free or cheap drinks on a cruise

Can you buy drinks on a cruise without a drink package?

Yes. All major cruise lines will let you buy drinks on an a la carte basis when cruising. You don’t need a drink package to be able to drink alcoholic beverages or any other type of beverage on a ship.

Can you share a drink package on a cruise ship?

In many cases, no. Several of the biggest cruise lines, including Carnival, Holland America and MSC Cruises, have a rule that if one adult in a cabin orders a drink package, all adults in the cabin must order the package. This is to prevent two or more people in a cabin from sharing a single drink package.

Two lines that notably don’t have such a rule are Princess Cruises and Windstar Cruises. Technically, you are not supposed to use your package to buy drinks for other people.

Are drink packages on cruise ships really unlimited?

It depends. Some cruise lines, such as Carnival, limit the number of alcoholic drinks that any one person can order using a drink package to 15 in a day. That is, of course, an enormous number — more than most people will ever want to order.

Related: The 8 best drinks to order with a cruise ship beverage package

Where can you use a cruise ship drink package?

Cruise ship drink packages generally are honored anywhere you can order a drink on a ship — think bars, lounges and eateries. However, you usually can’t use them when ordering room service. They also generally don’t apply to drinks taken out of cabin minibars. Be sure to check the fine print in your particular line’s drink package before placing an order for a drink to your room.

Some cruise lines also let you use your packages when visiting their private islands.

A line-by-line guide to cruise drink packages

Below is a line-by-line look at available drink packages at the major lines that offer them. Note that the pricing listed is per person per day. In cases where a line offers more than one drink package, we’ve highlighted the most inclusive package in detail while also noting other packages cruisers can consider.

Carnival Cruise Line drink package

Package name: Cheers! Beverage Program

Cost per day: $64.95 when purchased on board, not including an 18% automatic gratuity charge; $59.95 plus the gratuity charge when purchased in advance of sailing

Available on: All ships except those sailing in Europe or Australia

What it includes: Beer, wine by the glass, mixed drinks, specialty cocktails, soda, juices, nonalcoholic cocktails, energy drinks, specialty coffees, teas and most bottled water. The package also features a 25% discount on wine bottle purchases.

Limitations related to drink cost: Cannot be used for drinks priced over $20

Fine print: More expensive drinks are available at a 25% discount. If one adult in a cabin purchases the package, all adults in the same cabin also must purchase it. There’s a limit of 15 alcoholic drinks per person in a 24-hour period.

Celebrity Cruises drink package

Package name: Premium Drink Package

Cost per day: $109, not including a 20% automatic gratuity charge, for passengers who have purchased a cruise-only rate. Passengers staying in the premium Retreat areas on Celebrity ships receive the Premium Drink Package for free.

Available on: All ships except those in the Galapagos (where drinks are included in the fare)

What it includes: A large selection of beers including craft beers, wine by the glass, mixed drinks, specialty cocktails, Coca-Cola products, juices, nonalcoholic cocktails, energy drinks, specialty coffees, teas and premium bottled water. The package also offers a 20% discount on wine bottle purchases.

Limitations related to drink cost: Cannot be used for drinks priced over $17

Other packages: Celebrity also offers a less inclusive “classic” drink package that is included in the fare for its sailings if you choose the All Included fare (rather than the cruise-only fare). When purchased separately, it costs $89 per person per day, not including a 20% automatic gratuity charge.

Fine print: Packages do not include drinks from in-room minibars. Drinks ordered through room service also aren’t included.

Related: These cruise ship bars are not to be missed when cruising

Holland America drink package

Package name: Elite Beverage Package

Cost per day: $59.99, not including an 18% gratuity charge

Available on: All ships

What it includes: Beer, wine by the glass, mixed drinks, specialty cocktails, soda, juices, nonalcoholic cocktails, energy drinks, specialty coffees, teas and bottled water

Limitations related to drink cost: Cannot be used for drinks priced over $15

Other packages: The slightly less expensive Signature Beverage Package only includes drinks costing up to $11. It costs $54.95 per day. In addition, the line offers a nonalcoholic drink package called Quench that brings unlimited bottled water, juices, specialty coffees, Coke products and mocktails. It costs $17.95 per day. There’s also a Coca-Cola Products package available that covers purchases of Coke products on ships for $8 per day.

Fine print: If one adult in a cabin purchases a package, all adults in the same cabin also must purchase it. Packages do not include drinks from in-room minibars or ordered through room service. The package is not valid on Holland America’s private island, Half Moon Cay, or for minibar charges.

Related: How to book a cruise with points and miles

MSC Cruises drink package

Package name: Premium Extra Package

Cost per day: $85 for sailings of seven nights or more if booked in advance; $100 if booked on board. Pricing is $88 and $104, respectively, for sailings of six or fewer nights.

Available on: All ships

What it includes: Drinks by the glass including draft, craft and bottled beer; a selection of wine and Champagne by the glass; premium-brand spirits, liqueurs and cordials; a variety of frozen and classic cocktails; soda; juices; nonalcoholic cocktails; energy drinks; hot chocolate drinks; specialty coffees; teas; and bottled water. The package also offers a 25% discount on wine and Champagne bottle purchases.

Limitations related to drink cost: Cannot be used for drinks priced over $16

Other packages: A less expensive Easy Plus package is available that only includes drinks priced up to $10. It costs $61 per day for sailings of seven nights or longer when booked in advance ($72 when booked on board). Easy Plus package pricing for shorter sailings is $64 per day ($76 when booked on board).

An even cheaper Easy package is available. It only includes a limited number of drinks and is not valid in extra-charge specialty restaurants. It costs $46 to $60 per day, depending on when it’s booked and the length of the sailing.

MSC Cruises does not add service charges to drink package purchases, in contrast to the policy at most lines.

Fine print: If one person in a cabin purchases a package, all people in the same cabin or traveling group also must purchase a package (children in cabins will be charged for a less expensive, nonalcoholic package). Packages are not available on sailings shorter than three nights, with the exception of South America sailings. Note that the package is valid on Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, MSC Cruises’ private island in the Bahamas.

Related: Can I bring my own alcohol onto a cruise ship? 

Norwegian Cruise Line drink package

Package name: Premium Plus Beverage Package

Cost per day: $138, not including a 20% gratuity charge

Available on: All ships except Pride of America

What it includes: All beverages by the glass (top-shelf spirits, cocktails, beer and wine) and select premium bottles of Champagne and wine. Also includes unlimited Starbucks coffee and specialty drinks, bottled water, soda, juices and energy drinks. There’s a 40% discount on other bottles of wine as well.

Limitations related to drink cost: None

Other packages: Norwegian has one less inclusive, less expensive alcoholic beverage package. The Unlimited Open Bar Beverage Package, priced at $109 per day, adds spirits and cocktails priced up to $15. This is the drink package that many travelers get comped as part of Norwegian’s Free at Sea promotion (though you still have to pay 20% of the package price for gratuities). In addition, the Hawaii-based Pride of America has a single drink package that costs $109 per day.

Fine print: If one passenger in a cabin purchases a package, everyone in the same cabin as well as other cabins tied to the same method of payment must purchase the package, too. Children are charged for a less expensive, nonalcoholic package. Packages do not include drinks from in-room minibars or ordered through room service. Beverage packages can be used on Norwegian’s private island in the Bahamas, Great Stirrup Cay.

Related: My strange night out at Norwegian’s new ‘zero waste’ cruise ship bar

Oceania Cruises drink package

Package name: Prestige Select Beverage Package

Cost per day: $30, including gratuities

Available on: All ships

What it includes: Under Oceania’s relatively new “simply MORE” value promise, all passengers receive a House Select beverage package for free with their booking that lets passengers order Champagne, wine and beer with lunch and dinner at onboard restaurants. For $30 more, passengers can then upgrade to the Prestige Select package that allows for ordering beer, wine by the glass, mixed drinks and cocktails at any time. Soda, bottled water and specialty coffees already are included in the fare on Oceania sailings. The Prestige Select package also comes with a 20% discount to wine-pairing dinners on Oceania’s Marina and Riviera.

Limitations related to drink cost: None

Other packages: As noted above, a House Select package — which covers Champagne, wine and beer with lunch and dinner at onboard restaurants — is included in the fare when booking an Oceania cruise as part of the line’s relatively new “simply MORE” program.

Fine print: None

Princess Cruises drink package

Package name: Premier Beverage Package

Cost per day: $84.99, not including an 18% gratuity charge (Princess calls these “crew appreciation” charges). On Australia cruises, the package costs 140 Australian dollars (about $89) per day. There is no gratuity charge on the Australian package.

Available on: All ships

What it includes: Beer, wine by the glass, mixed drinks, specialty cocktails, soda including canned soda, juices including juice bar offerings, nonalcoholic cocktails, energy drinks, smoothies, milkshakes, specialty coffees, teas and bottled water. The package also brings a 25% discount on wine bottle purchases.

Limitations related to drink cost: Drinks that cost $20 or under are included. Passengers who order drinks that cost more than $20 must pay the difference between the purchase price and $20. For packages on Australia sailings, the cost cutoff is 30 Australian dollars.

Other packages: Princess also offers a less pricey Plus Beverage package that can be used for drinks priced up to $15 (20 Australian dollars on Australian sailings). It’s priced at $64.99 (110 Australian dollars on Australian sailings).

Fine print: There’s a limit of 15 alcoholic drinks per day.

Royal Caribbean drink package

Package name: Deluxe Beverage Package

Cost per day: $56 to $105, not including an 18% gratuity charge (pricing varies by ship and itinerary)

Available on: All Royal Caribbean ships

What it includes: Beer, wine by the glass, spirits, mixed drinks, cocktails, soda, juices, nonalcoholic cocktails, energy drinks, specialty coffees, teas and premium bottled water. The package also offers a 40% discount on wine bottle purchases for bottles priced up to $100. More expensive bottles come with a 20% discount.

Limitations related to drink cost: Cannot be used for drinks priced over $14

Fine print: If one adult of legal drinking age in a cabin or traveling under the same booking number purchases a package, all adults of legal drinking age in the same cabin also must purchase it. Packages do not include drinks from in-room minibars or those ordered through room service. Drinks served in souvenir glassware, specialty beers and beverages served inside licensed Starbucks stores on ships are not covered by the package. Beverage packages can be used on Royal Caribbean’s private islands, Perfect Day at Coco Cay and Labadee.

Viking drink package

Package name: Silver Spirits Beverage Package

Cost per day: $25, including gratuities

Available on: All ships, including river and expedition ships

What it includes: Beer, wine by the glass, mixed drinks and cocktails priced at up to $18. Soda, beer and house wines by the glass ordered at lunch and dinner are already included in the fare at Viking; so are specialty coffees and teas at all hours. The package also brings a 15% discount on wine bottles and premium beverages costing more than $15 that aren’t included in the package.

Limitations related to drink cost: Cannot be used for drinks priced over $18

Fine print: None

Windstar Cruises drink package

Package name: Captain’s Exclusive Beverage Package

Cost per day: $65, not including an 18% gratuity charge. Windstar also has begun offering optional All-Inclusive Pricing rates for cruises that include unlimited drinks at no extra charge.

Available on: All ships

What it includes: Beer, wine by the glass, spirits and cocktails. Soda, specialty coffees and other nonalcoholic beverages are already included in the fare on Windstar sailings. The package also brings a 30% discount on wine bottle purchases for bottles costing up to $100.

Limitations related to drink cost: None

Other packages: The less costly Topmast Discoveries Beer and Wine Package, at $55 per day, includes a choice of beers and premium wines but not spirits and cocktails. Windstar also offers an All-Inclusive Fares add-on package that gives passengers included drinks, Wi-Fi and gratuities for an upcharge of $89 per day.

Fine print: None

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

• The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship
• A beginners guide to picking a cruise line
• The 8 worst cabin locations on any cruise ship
• The ultimate guide to what to pack for a cruise
• A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines
• 21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly
• Top ways cruisers waste money
• The ultimate guide to choosing a cruise ship cabin

The end of the year is quickly approaching. Now is the perfect time to ensure you’ve completed your annual points and miles tasks before it’s too late.

With many loyalty programs and credit card benefits, the end of the year is an important time to maximize every opportunity before the next year hits. Here are six essential things to do this month to avoid an (unfortunate) surprise come January.

Check airline elite qualifying metrics

Status qualification miles and dollars often reset Jan. 1, though American Airlines Loyalty Points reset March 1. If you are only a few miles (or dollars) shy, you might consider taking a flight before the end of the year.

If you can’t fit another flight into your schedule, you might also be able to buy your way into the next level of elite status. Or you might find it useful to add a new credit card to your wallet, as some credit cards can help you earn airline elite status.

If you decide to make a last-minute push for airline elite status, ensure the money (and time spent) will benefit you next year. Here are some guides to help you strategize:

• Last-minute strategies for earning American AAdvantage elite status
• Last-minute strategies for earning Delta Medallion elite status
• Last-minute strategies for earning United Premier elite status
• Last-minute strategies for earning Alaska Mileage Plan elite status

Related: How to get airline elite status

Check hotel elite qualifying progress

You typically have to re-earn your hotel status annually to reap the benefits. So, if you are just a few nights shy of earning that next level of status, it might be worth finding a hotel for a staycation or even going on a mattress run. With school break right around the corner, this could be an excellent opportunity to do something fun over the holidays.

If you need more nights but don’t want to burn through cash, remember that award stays count toward status in many programs.

Many programs also allow you to work toward status with hotel credit cards. For example, the World of Hyatt Credit Card gives you five qualifying night credits toward your next tier status every year. It also offers two additional qualifying night credits toward your next tier status every time you spend $5,000 on your card.

Some hotel credit cards provide high tiers of elite status just for being a cardholder. For example,  the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card gives you complimentary Platinum Elite status simply for being a cardmember. Also, the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card gives you top-tier Hilton Diamond status as a cardmember perk. Terms apply.

The information for the Hilton Aspire Card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

If you need some tips for leveling up your hotel elite status, check out these stories:

• Last-minute strategies for earning World of Hyatt elite status
• Last-minute strategies for Marriott elite status
• Last-minute strategies for earning IHG One Rewards elite status
• Last-minute strategies for earning Hilton Honors elite status

Related: Last-minute tips for locking in hotel elite status

Use your annual airline, credit card and travel credits

Many credit cards offer sweet benefits to help offset the annual cost of the card. If you have any premium travel credit cards, ensure you’ve redeemed all available credits — and if not, make a plan to do so before they expire.

For example, each month, cardmembers of the American Express® Gold Card get up to $10 in Uber Cash and up to $10 in dining statement credits. Also, cardmembers of The Platinum Card® from American Express may need to use the following credits before the end of the year (enrollment is required for some benefits):

• Up to $200 in airline incidental fee statement credits with one qualifying airline of your choice annually
• Up to $15 in Uber Cash monthly (up to $35 in December)
• Up to $50 in Saks Fifth Avenue statement credits semiannually
• Up to $200 in prepaid hotel statement credits for Amex Fine Hotels + Resorts and The Hotel Collection stays annually (two-night minimum stay required for The Hotel Collection)
• Up to $189 in Clear Plus membership statement credits annually
• Up to $20 in digital entertainment statement credits monthly
• Up to $300 in Equinox statement credit annually
• Monthly Walmart+ statement credit, excluding Plus Up Benefits
• Up to $300 in SoulCycle statement credit when you purchase an eligible SoulCycle At-Home Bike

Many other cards also offer statement credits that you may need to use by the end of the year. It’s a good idea to check in on your credits and make a plan to use them before they expire.

Related: Don’t let credits go to waste: Your 2023 end-of-year credit card checklist

Meet annual spending thresholds for bonuses

Many credit cards offer annual perks based on spending a certain amount during a set period. If you are close to meeting the spending requirements on a card with a calendar-based threshold, you might consider using that card more this month.

Some credit card spending bonuses based on a calendar year include:

• Aer Lingus Visa Signature® Card: Spend $30,000 in a calendar year on your card and earn an economy companion ticket good for 12 months.
• Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card: Earn a second Hilton free night award when you spend $30,000 and a third night when you spend $60,000 on the card in a calendar year. This is in addition to the free night award given automatically each year after you renew your card.
• Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card: Earn a night reward after spending $15,000 on your card in a calendar year.
• The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card: Earn a free night reward after spending $15,000 on your card in a calendar year. Plus, earn a second free night reward after spending $60,000 on your card in a calendar year.
• Iberia Visa Signature® Card: Spend $30,000 in a calendar year and receive a $1,000 discount voucher toward two tickets on the same flight.
• Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card: Earn a free night award valued at up to 35,000 points after spending $60,000 in purchases on your card during a calendar year. This is in addition to the free night award given automatically each year after you renew your card.
• World of Hyatt Credit Card: Spend $15,000 on your card in a calendar year and receive a free night at a Category 1-4 hotel. This night is in addition to the free Category 1-4 night you receive after each card anniversary.

Related: Free elite status, bonus points and more: Credit cards offering rewards for annual spending

Secure your Southwest Companion Pass

One of our favorite benefits in the travel world is the Southwest Companion Pass. This pass allows another traveler to fly with you for (almost) free for the life of the pass.

To earn this pass, you need to earn 135,000 qualifying points in a calendar year or fly 100 segments on Southwest.

The Companion Pass expires Dec. 31 of the year following the one in which you earned it. If you earn the Companion Pass in 2023, it will expire Dec. 31, 2024. However, if you earn the Companion Pass in January 2024, it won’t expire until Dec. 31, 2025.

Unfortunately, Companion Pass qualifying points do not carry over from year to year. If you are close to having 135,000 qualifying points this year, you’ll want to ensure all points hit your account ASAP.

If you earn your final few points from one of the many Southwest credit cards, only purchases through your December statement closing date will count. Points posted within a few days of your closing date count toward the year when the points are posted — not necessarily the year you made the purchase.

For those holding off and looking to earn the Companion Pass in 2024 so it lasts to the end of 2025, make sure not to meet your minimum spending requirements on any new Southwest credit cards until January. Theoretically, you can start hitting the minimum spending after your December statement closing date. Still, we’d recommend waiting until the new year begins to avoid something going wrong with your timing.

Related: 15 lessons from 15 years of having the Southwest Companion Pass

Earn your British Airways Travel Together Ticket

Although significantly different from the Southwest Airlines Companion Pass, British Airways also offers the opportunity to earn a companion pass called the Travel Together Ticket.

To earn a Travel Together Ticket, you must spend $30,000 on your British Airways Visa Signature® Card within a calendar year. Doing so will earn a one-time pass to bring a companion on a British Airways award ticket or a 50% discount on the Avios redemption cost when traveling solo.

You are still on the hook for taxes and fees, but this could be a great way to save Avios on a flight to Europe, especially in business class. The Travel Together Ticket will be issued at the end of the billing cycle when you reach $30,000 in purchases and is valid for a reward flight on British Airways taken within two years of the issue date.

Related: How to book award flights using British Airways Avios

Bottom line

With the end of the year quickly approaching, now is the time to ensure you maximize every credit card benefit and earn your desired elite status. It is also the perfect time to confirm that all hotel stays and flights you completed were credited property.

Finally, remember that even though 2023 is not over, it isn’t too early to plan your 2024 strategy. For inspiration on your 2024 elite status strategy, staffer Clint Henderson weighs in on what statuses he’s downgrading and which ones he’s requalifying for.

In 2020 and 2021, many major hotel companies offered some of their most generous promotions. That’s how some TPG staffers achieved top-tier Hyatt Globalist status with just 10 nights. But those days are far behind us.

Though hotel promotions aren’t quite as generous as they once were, they certainly should be on your radar. These promotions help you accrue additional points to earn elite status faster.

However, keeping track of the latest hotel bonuses can be difficult — especially if you’re juggling points and elite status with multiple programs. With that in mind, we’ve created this guide to track current promotions across the major hotel chains.

Most of these promotions require you to book directly with the hotel chain. Bookmark this page for regularly updated offers, links and other information about your favorite hotel programs. We’ll also discuss which offers will get you the most bang for your buck.

This article focuses on limited-time promotions, excluding ongoing offers like AAA and AARP member discounts. Further, the list doesn’t include ongoing offers on cobranded hotel credit cards, but you can check out the following links for details on these cards:

• The best Marriott credit cards
• Hilton Honors credit card bonuses
• World of Hyatt Credit Card
• IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card

Related: Unexpected travel discounts that can save you money

Limited-time credit card hotel discounts

Amex Offers, Chase Offers and Citi Merchant Offers can offer significant hotel discounts. Here are a few targeted offers that TPG staff members found on their Amex, Chase and Citi credit cards — check your cards and see if you have them, too.

Amex Offers

American Express is currently offering several hotel promotions for select cardholders via its Amex Offers program, including:

• InterContinental and Kimpton: $75 back after you spend $300 or more (expires Dec. 31)
• Waldorf Astoria, Conrad and LXR: $200 back after you spend $1,000 or more (expires Dec. 31)
• Small Luxury Hotels of the World: $100 back after you spend $300 or more (expires Dec. 31)
• Cambria and Ascend: $100 back after you spend $300 or more (expires Dec. 31)
• Marriott luxury brands: $150 back after you spend $500 or more (expires Dec. 31)
• Loews Hotels: $60 back after you spend $300 or more (expires Jan. 1, 2024)
• Sunset Marquis Hotel: $200 back after you spend $1,000 or more (expires Jan. 21, 2024)
• Hyatt Latin America: $100 back after you spend $400 or more (expires Jan. 31, 2024)
• Hilton Latin America and Caribbean: $150 back after you spend $750 or more (expires Feb. 15, 2024)
• Terranea Resort: $200 back after you spend $1,000 or more (expires Feb. 16, 2024)
• Lotte Hotel Seattle: $100 back after you spend $500 or more (expires March 1, 2024)
• Hilton Las Vegas and Nevada: $100 back after you spend $500 or more (expires March 15, 2024)
• Staypineapple: $50 back after you spend $250 or more (expires March 23, 2024)
• Wynn and Encore Las Vegas: $60 back after you spend $300 or more (expires April 1, 2024)
• Expedia prepaid hotels: 10% back on purchases using the provided link, up to $100 back (expires April 12, 2024)
• Stein Erikson Lodge Deer Valley: $150 back after you spend $500 or more (expires May 11, 2024)
• The Ned MoMad Hotel: $100 back after you spend $500 or more (expires May 12, 2024)
• Lotte New York Palace: $150 back after you spend $750 or more (expires May 22, 2024)

This is not an exhaustive list, as Amex Offers are targeted and can differ across accounts. So, you should check your offers and enroll in any that interest you.

Related: Which is the best American Express credit card for you?

Chase Offers

There are a handful of hotel-specific Chase Offers in the accounts we checked.

• SpringHill Suites by Marriott: 10% back when you spend $100 or more, up to $61.50 (expires Dec. 31)
• AC Hotels: 10% back when you spend $100 or more, up to $57 (expires Dec. 31)
• TownePlace Suites by Marriott: 10% back when you spend $100 or more, up to $63 (expires Dec. 31)
• Element Hotels: 10% back when you spend $100 or more, up to $57 (expires Dec. 31)
• Aloft Hotels: 10% back when you spend $100 or more, up to $57 (expires Dec. 31)
• Four Points by Sheraton: 10% back when you spend $100 or more, up to $57 (expires Dec. 31)

These offers from Chase are targeted and require enrollment in advance, so check your account to see what’s available to you.

Citi Merchant Offers

• Caesars Rewards: $30 back when you spend $150 or more (expires Dec. 31)
• Extended Stay America Hotels: 4% back, up to $670 back (expires Jan. 31, 2024)

Related: The best Chase credit cards

Accor Live Limitless

Accor Live Limitless has an ongoing promotion that might help you earn extra points.

Related: The award travelers guide to Accor Live Limitless

Best Western Rewards

Best Western has a winter promotion. You can also check this page for its latest offerings.

Related: Your ultimate guide to Best Western Rewards

Choice Privileges

Choice Privileges isn’t running any newsworthy promotions, but you can read more about its ongoing deals here.

Related: The best hotel credit cards

Hilton Honors

Hilton has been generous with its recent promotions, adding another sweet bonus points deal for 2024 to a current offer of up to double or triple points (registration required in advance at this link). For more details, visit this page.

Related: How to choose the best Hilton credit card for you

IHG One Rewards

IHG One Rewards has a noteworthy promotion running through the end of the year. You can refer to this page for its latest offers.

Related: 7 ways to earn more IHG One Rewards points for your next redemption

Marriott Bonvoy

Marriott Bonvoy is offering a number of promotions to save money and earn points on stays. You can check out more about its offerings on this page.

Related: The award travelers guide to Marriott Bonvoy

World of Hyatt

World of Hyatt has an opportunity to earn up to 10,000 bonus points at an Inclusive Collection brand this winter. You can keep up with its latest offers here.

Related: The most award-friendly hotel program: Everything you need to know about World of Hyatt

Wyndham Rewards

Wyndham Rewards has multiple generous promotions. Here’s an overview.

In April 2021, Marriott partnered with Uber, allowing its members to earn Marriott Bonvoy points when ordering food delivery on Uber Eats and requesting select Uber rides. So, by linking my Marriott Bonvoy and Uber accounts, I earn points whenever I order food or a ride.

The process is as simple as linking your accounts with a few taps on your phone. Keep reading to find out how to earn points on autopilot whenever using Uber or Uber Eats.

Related: Download the Uber app and link your Marriott and Uber accounts to earn 1,000 Marriott Bonvoy points

Earning Marriott points on Uber rides and food delivery

Just by linking your Marriott Bonovy and Uber account, you can earn points on qualifying food and grocery orders through Uber Eats, as well as rides with Uber throughout the U.S.

You’ll earn points as follows:

• 6 Marriott Bonvoy points per dollar on Uber Eats deliveries to hotels operating under Marriott brands in the United States with a minimum purchase of $40 (a 5.04% return based on TPG’s valuations)
• 3 Marriott points per dollar on Uber Premium rides: Uber XL, Uber Black, Uber SUV and Uber Comfort (a 2.52% return)
• 2 Marriott points per dollar on non-hotel Uber Eats deliveries  in the United States with a minimum purchase of $40 (a 1.68% return)

Plus, as a limited-time offer, you can earn 1,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points on your first qualifying food delivery of $40 or more with Uber Eats or your first qualifying ride. This offer ends on Dec. 31, 2023.

If you want to maximize your rewards while still earning Marriott Bonvoy points, consider paying with a credit card that earns bonus points or miles on Uber rides or food delivery so you can effectively double dip on rewards. For example, the Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Card will earn you unlimited 10% cash back on Uber and Uber Eats plus a complimentary Uber One membership through Nov. 14, 2024.

TPG’s senior points and miles editor, Gabrielle Bernardini, maximizes her rewards by using The Platinum Card® from American Express, which offers a monthly statement credit — $15 each month, plus a $20 bonus in December — to use for Uber or Uber Eats (enrollment required). She then earns 1 Amex Membership Rewards point per dollar spent beyond those credits, which TPG values at 2 cents apiece, in addition to bonus Marriott points.

Related: How I save hundreds of dollars on food delivery and takeout

How to link your Marriott and Uber accounts

Link your Marriott and Uber accounts to start earning points. This is a one-time process, so you’ll automatically earn bonus points on all qualifying rides and food deliveries moving forward.

Linking your accounts is quick and easy.

• Open the Uber app and tap “account” in the bottom right.
• Tap “Settings” and scroll down to tap “Marriott Bonvoy” under the Rewards section.
• Tap “Link Account” and log in to your Marriott Bonvoy account.

Voila, that’s it! You’ll now automatically earn Marriott points on all qualifying Uber transactions. Even if a few extra points here and there might not seem like much, the points add up over time.

Marriott says it could take a few business days for Bonvoy points to post after eligible Uber rides and food deliveries. However, based on the TPG team’s experiences, the points typically post almost immediately.

However, getting that perfect passport photo of an infant that can’t raise their head, ensuring both parents are available to go and apply in person, and keeping track of renewing the passport every five years (really, every 4 1/2 years) is slightly less exciting.

But if you want to leave the country with your whole family, you must put in the work to have the fun. So, here’s what you need to know about obtaining your child’s U.S. passport.

Child passport basics

Wait until your baby is born and then request that birth certificate

You can do lots of things to prepare for life “after baby” before your baby is born. Unfortunately, getting a passport isn’t one of those things you can check off the list in advance.

Sit tight and once your tiny traveler arrives, immediately request a certified birth certificate, which is necessary for obtaining the passport. You’ll need the “long form” version of the birth certificate that comes from the Bureau of Vital Statistics and not a commemorative version you may get from the hospital. The birth certificate will need the registrar’s signature and must be embossed, impressed or have a multicolored seal of the registrar.

The exact process of getting the birth certificate varies around the country, but it’s often possible to request one within the first week or two of life. You don’t have to have your baby’s social security number to get a passport. However, if you have one, you must provide it.

Make an appointment

If you need your child’s passport ASAP due to a family emergency, try to make an appointment with a passport agency for life or death circumstances. However, know these are extremely limited.

Those with international travel in three business days may qualify for a life-or-death emergency appointment if you have a family member outside of the U.S. who has died, is dying or has a life-threatening illness or injury, per the U.S. Department of State.

For urgent non-emergency travel within 14 days, call 877-487-2778 to make an in-person appointment at a passport agency or center. Note these appointments are also limited.

Otherwise, you must submit your child’s completed passport application — including supporting documents, photo and fees — in person at a passport acceptance facility. This may require making an appointment.

When searching passport acceptance facilities, you’ll see courthouses and post offices on the list of approved places to complete the passport application process in person. In many cases, you’ll need to make an appointment at these acceptance facilities before just showing up and assuming they can assist you. This is true even at places that previously accepted walk-ins.

Have passport photos made

Some acceptance facilities will take your passport photos on-site, but many don’t. Again, don’t assume without double-checking.

Basic passport photo rules are that you need to submit one color photo taken within the last six months using a plain white background. The photo needs to be 2 inches by 2 inches in size. Within that space, the head must be between 1 inch and 1 3/8 inches (25 to 35 millimeters) from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head. You can’t make any alterations or use filters.

The photo will require a neutral expression or natural smile with both eyes open. You will need to face the camera straight-on with your face in full view.

In the photo, your child cannot wear glasses, masks, hats, uniforms and so on. They’ll need to wear everyday clothes and take everything off the head except for some basic jewelry (if desired) that doesn’t obstruct their face.

There is a little more leeway with passport photos of babies than for older children and adults. For example, an infant’s eyes don’t have to be open or entirely open.

Getting a newborn to look right at the camera with their eyes can be hard, so just do your best to check all the other boxes. You can put a child in a car seat with a white or off-white blanket behind the child to get the photo if that helps. We’ve also done it with our youngest lying on a white sheet when she was an infant.

Some websites help crop your homemade passport photo to the appropriate dimensions if you go this DIY route.

Gather your paperwork

Before your appointment, you must complete some paperwork.

For most U.S.-born infants, you will need the following items to apply for a U.S. passport:

• Completed, unsigned DS-11 form.
• Certified birth certificate meeting the criteria outlined above (which serves as both evidence of U.S. citizenship and evidence of relationship). If the parents’ full names are not both listed on the birth certificate, you will need some additional documentation, or you can utilize a fully valid, undamaged U.S. passport (which may be expired) as proof of citizenship. (Digital copies of the birth certificate will not suffice.)
• A copy of the front (and back, if there is printed information) of the U.S. citizenship evidence you’re submitting.
• Evidence of the parental relationship. This may be the birth certificate but could also be an adoption decree, divorce/custody decree or similar document.
• Parent’s ID. (A valid driver’s license or passport will work.)
• Copy of each identification document (front and back).
• Both parents need to appear in person with the child if the child is under 16, or you may be able to complete form DS-3053 in the presence of a certified notary public if it is not possible to appear together.
• Submit an eligible passport photo of the child.
• Payment for fees (total fees will likely be $135 or more depending on your specific needs — $100 to the State Department and $35 to the acceptance facility). Be aware that you may need to pay the acceptance facility separately from the application fee, so bring a few checks. If you have a photo taken at the facility, you’ll likely need to pay some additional amount for that as well.

Child passports are only valid for 5 years (and not even really that long)

Adult U.S. passports are typically valid for 10 years, so it may not even cross your mind that your kid’s passport has expired after just five years if they obtained it when they were under 16. Plus, many countries won’t allow you to visit with fewer than six months left on a passport. This makes the true life of a child’s passport shorter than five years.

To make things extra complex, the passport expiration and renewal rules change when kids turn 16 and again when they reach 18.

Kids can’t just renew passports

Most adults can renew their passports by mail. So, the second time around, the renewal should be easy for kids, too, yes? Wrong.

Unfortunately, you can’t just renew a kid’s passport. You must get an entirely new one in person, just like the first time.

Bottom line

While you are thinking about your child’s passport, it’s also probably a good time to think through whether your family would benefit from your kids having Global Entry or Clear, both of which would be separate applications.

Getting your child’s passport is not fun, and it will take more effort than you are probably used to when getting your own passport. However, once it is done, you’ll have about 4 1/2 years of passport stamps to collect and memories to make.

Read on for additional child passport-related tips:

• If you need a passport quickly, this service may be for you
• Passport processing wait times decrease for the 1st time since February
• 1st-time US passport holders can apply in person at fairs this summer
• Guide to taking your passport photo at home
• Guide to the 6-month passport rule — what is it?
• 5 things I learned when renewing my passport for the first time
• Why you should renew your child’s 5-year passport after 4 years
• How to take your baby’s passport photo
• Why your family may want to get Clear before your next flight

You obviously don’t want to leave value on the table if you can help it. Here’s a quick look at popular loyalty programs and their rewards expiration policies.

Do points and miles expire?

If you’re an avid collector of travel rewards, you can bet that most of the currencies you’ve amassed have an expiration date. This may seem alarming at first — or, at the very least, inconvenient to monitor — but it’s really not that bad. In just about every case, you can push the expiration date by simply earning or redeeming a single point. If you’re a frequent traveler, you shouldn’t have much to worry about.

To boot, some points and miles will never expire as long as you have a credit card that earns those rewards. For example, World of Hyatt points will never expire if you have a Hyatt credit card. Likewise, Chase Ultimate Rewards points won’t expire if you hold a Chase Ultimate Rewards-earning credit card.

But here’s the more important point: Even if the rewards you have never expire, you shouldn’t drag your feet in redeeming them. We routinely see loyalty program devaluations that weaken the value of rewards. All this to say, it’s likely that the points you have will never be worth more than they are right now.

Do airline credits expire?

Airline credits often expire — but not always. Each airline publishes unique terms, so you’ll need to read the fine print. Here’s a quick rundown of the rules for the most popular airline credits.

Alaska Airlines

If you cancel your nonrefundable Alaska Airlines flight or change it to a flight that costs less than your original ticket, you’ll get a credit certificate for the remaining value of your ticket. This expires either 12 months from the date it’s issued or 30 days from the date of your modification, whichever is greater. You can purchase a new ticket up to 11 months beyond the expiration date, but you must use it to pay for the flight before it expires.

Similarly, those who hold either the Alaska Airlines Visa® credit card or the Alaska Airlines Visa® Business card will receive Alaska’s Famous Companion Fare each cardmember year after spending $6,000 or more on purchases within the prior anniversary year. This allows you to book your travel buddy a round-trip economy flight from $122 ($99 fare plus taxes and fees from $23). These fare codes generally must be redeemed within 12 months of the issue date, though you can book travel within 12 months beyond the issue date.

American Airlines

Those with unused or canceled tickets will receive a flight credit for future travel with American Airlines. To use them, you must book travel within one year of the original ticket date.

You may also receive a trip credit for a number of reasons, including as a refund, as compensation or when you don’t fully use a flight credit. Trip credits expire one year from the date they are issued unless otherwise specified.

Finally, you’ll receive a travel voucher, which is issued as a paper voucher. These must be used one year from the date they are issued.

Holders of select American Airlines credit cards even have the opportunity to earn a companion certificate each year after meeting annual spending requirements. These are generally only valid for one year. You can earn this certificate with cards such as the CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Mastercard® and the AAdvantage® Aviator® World Elite Business Mastercard®.

The information for the CitiBusiness AAdvantage Platinum Select Mastercard and AAdvantage Aviator Business Mastercard has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Related: Best uses of American Airlines miles

Delta Air Lines

As a result of an unused ticket or a paid service that was only partially used (such as a flight, seat upgrade or travel voucher), you may receive a Delta eCredit. These expire one year from the date of purchase.

Also, those with a valid Delta credit card will receive an annual companion certificate, allowing you to bring a travel partner along with you on a round-trip domestic flight for just the cost of taxes and fees. These certificates expire 12 months after the date they are issued. You can earn these certificates each cardmember year when holding the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card, the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card, the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card and the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card.

Related: Your complete guide to the Delta SkyMiles program

Frontier Airlines

Frontier often only issues flight credits and vouchers (or electronic travel certificates) with a 90-day shelf life. However, you can book travel beyond that window.

Southwest Airlines

When you cancel a nonrefundable Southwest flight, you’ll receive a flight credit to use toward future Southwest flights. This credit does not expire. Southwest LUV Vouchers, on the other hand, are doled out as compensation for things like flight delays. These expire after one year of the issue date.

It’s worth noting that those with LUV Vouchers approaching expiration should be able to redeem them for a flight and then cancel — thus turning it into a flight credit with no expiration.

You may also earn the Southwest Companion Pass after taking 100 qualifying one-way flights or earning 135,000 qualifying points in a calendar year. This pass allows you to bring a travel companion every time you fly Southwest for just the cost of the taxes and fees. The Companion Pass is valid for the remainder of the year in which you earn it, as well as the following calendar year. In other words, if you earn it in Feb. 2024, it’ll expire on Dec. 31, 2025.

Related: How to redeem your points with the Southwest Rapid Rewards program

United Airlines

If you change or cancel your trip or change your United flight to a less expensive option, you’ll receive a future flight credit. To use it, your future trip must begin within one year of issuance.

You may also receive a travel certificate, which is a gesture of goodwill by United for doing things like giving up your seat on a full flight. This also expires after one year, but your trip doesn’t have to begin by that date. Instead, you need only to redeem it — so you can book a trip well beyond the expiration date.

Do hotel credits expire?

Hotel credits may also have varying expiration rules, but you’ll largely find that certificates will expire a year after they are issued. Let’s look at the terms published by the most popular hotel chains.

Choice Hotels

Unlike many hotel loyalty programs, Choice doesn’t offer annual free night certificates. However, it’s worth noting that Choice points expire after 18 months of inactivity. You can reset the clock by simply earning or redeeming points.

Hilton

Hilton free night certificates are valid for nearly any Hilton hotel on the planet (minus a few exceptions). If you can find standard rooms for sale for up to 150,000 Hilton Honors points, you can likely use a Hilton free night certificate there.

These certificates normally expire within one year of the issue date. Hilton issues annual free night certificates to select Hilton credit card holders, some of which require that you achieve a yearly spending threshold, such as the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card. You can earn a free night reward after spending $15,000 on eligible purchases on the card within a calendar year.

Hilton points expire after 24 months of account inactivity. As long as you earn or redeem points at least once during that time, the expiration clock will reset.

Hyatt

Hyatt issues free nights in more ways than one. You can earn them by holding (and spending on) the World of Hyatt Credit Card. Cardholders will receive 1 free night at any Category 1-4 Hyatt hotel or resort every year after your cardmember anniversary. Cardholders can also earn an extra free night at any Category 1-4 Hyatt hotel or resort after spending $15,000 in a calendar year.

Additionally, Hyatt enthusiasts can earn a free award night via Milestone Rewards, which you can achieve by completing a specific number of stays or earning a specific amount of base points in a calendar year.

Free night certificates earned from the Hyatt credit card are valid for 12 months from the date of issuance. Free night certificates earned as a Milestone Reward are valid for 180 days from the date of issuance.

Additionally, World of Hyatt points will expire after 24 months of account inactivity. You can reset the clock by earning or redeeming points. Even holding an active Hyatt credit card associated with your account will keep your points active.

IHG Hotels & Resorts

If you hold the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card or the IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card, you’ll receive a free night certificate worth up to 40,000 points after each account anniversary. You’ll have 12 months to complete your stay from the issue date. Additionally, InterContinental Ambassador members receive a free night certificate that expires within 12 months from the issue date.

IHG One Rewards points expire after 12 months of inactivity for those without elite status. If you have elite status (which you can achieve simply by holding any IHG credit card), your points will never expire.

Marriott

Marriott offers free night awards of varying values. You can earn them by holding a Marriott credit card, such as the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card, which offers one free award night each year after your card account anniversary. This award night can only be redeemed at a participating hotel with a redemption level under 35,000 Marriott Bonvoy points. Certain hotels have resort fees.

You can also earn a free night award by selecting them as an Annual Choice Benefit after staying a certain number of nights. Either way, the certificates are valid for one year after they are issued.

Marriott Bonvoy points will expire if your account is inactive for 24 months. But again, you can prevent expiration by simply earning or redeeming points.

Wyndham Hotels & Resorts

You can’t earn a free night certificate with Wyndham Rewards. As a result, you can only stay for free by using points.

Wyndham points expire after 18 months of account inactivity. Additionally, points you earn from a hotel stay may expire four years after your checkout date —  even if your account is active.

Credit card statement credits

It’s worth noting that some hotel credits aren’t directly tied to an airline or hotel loyalty program. For example, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card offers up to $50 in annual credit toward prepaid hotels booked through the Chase travel portal. This expires and resets each account anniversary.

Also, The Platinum Card® from American Express offers up to a $200 prepaid hotel credit when booking through American Express Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection. It also comes with up to $200 in annual airline incidental fees (enrollment required). Both of these perks expire on Dec. 31 if not used.

Some cards also offer annual credits that cover just about anything travel related. For example, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® comes with up to $300 in credits to offset travel on each member’s anniversary.

These perks allow (or in some cases require) that you prepay for your travel, so you should be able to use them for travel beyond their expiration dates.

Bottom line

Some travel certificates expire at the end of each year. Many others expire a specific number of months after they are issued. Before the end of the year, it’s worth combing through your stash of certificates, awards and vouchers to ensure that you don’t let anything go to waste.

After writing about cruising for nearly 30 years, I can tell you this is far from the truth. Quality dining has always been a big part of the cruising experience, and cruise ship restaurant offerings only have improved over the years.

You’ll now find stand-alone restaurants on high-end cruise ships created and overseen by some of the world’s most famous chefs, including Nobu Matsuhisa, Alain Ducasse and Jacques Pepin.

For more cruise guides, news and tips, sign up for TPG’s cruise newsletter.

But even on the largest mass-market cruise ships, the food is getting ever more elaborate and diverse. Norwegian Cruise Line brags that its biggest vessel, Norwegian Encore, has more than 20 different food venues — everything from a casual barbecue restaurant (with live country music) to a high-end Italian spot from the creators of New York City’s Scarpetta.

Some mainstream lines, such as Princess Cruises and Celebrity Cruises, even have called in chefs from Michelin-starred restaurants to help them design entire culinary programs.

Over the years, as part of testing and reviewing nearly 200 vessels operated by 41 different lines, I’ve eaten at pretty much every cruise ship restaurant.

Just like at resorts on land, there’s incredible diversity out there. Some are great. Some aren’t. Some are too pricey for what they are. Others are bargains.

But the bottom line is there are a lot of wonderful restaurants on cruise ships. Below are my picks for the very best cruise ship restaurants at sea. As you might expect, many of my favorites are on higher-end ships, but several of the top restaurants can be found on the bigger, more affordable cruise ships.

Manfredi’s

Where you’ll find it: All Viking ocean and expedition ships

Found on every Viking ocean and expedition ship, Manfredi’s is our hands-down pick for the best Italian restaurant at sea. It serves up authentic and hearty Tuscan and Northern Italian specialties such as bistecca fiorentina and osso buco alla Milanese. Appetizers range from hand-cut beef tartare to — our favorite — a chilled asparagus and polenta dish that’s served with a perfectly poached egg, Parmigiano Reggiano and truffle dressing.

Here’s a bit of trivia: Manfredi’s was named after Manfredi Lefebvre d’Ovidio, who once owned one of Viking’s rivals, Silversea Cruises, and now owns the recently relaunched luxury line Crystal. Viking chairman Torstein Hagen and Lefebvre are friends. If you’re a cruising aficionado, be sure to hunt among the photos on the wall for the images of Lefebvre and Hagen experimenting with recipes during the restaurant’s creation. The Italy-born Lefebvre supposedly shared some of his favorite childhood recipes for the venue.

Cost: There’s no extra charge to dine at Manfredi’s, but reservations are required. Passengers are entitled to one visit per voyage (those staying in higher cabin categories receive up to four priority reservations).

Related: The ultimate guide to cruise ship food and dining

Umi Uma by Nobu Matsuhisa Restaurant and Sushi Bar

Where you’ll find it: Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony

When it comes to sushi at sea, the gold standard for years has been Umi Uma by Nobu Matsuhisa Restaurant and Sushi Bar. Found on both of Crystal’s ships, the venue is the creation of famed Japanese chef Nobuyuki Matsuhisa — yes, that Nobuyuki Matsuhisa — and offers sushi as well as Matsuhisa’s trademark Japanese-Peruvian fusion cuisine. We’re talking dishes like Nobu-style lobster with truffle-yuzu sauce and miso-glazed black cod.

If you’ve been to Matsuhisa’s Nobu restaurants in New York, Las Vegas or other cities, you know what we’re talking about. This is Japanese cuisine transformed into high art. On the two Crystal ships, it’s also one of the best deals on sushi anywhere.

While it’s easy to rack up a $150 per person bill at a Nobu on land (a single piece of toro sushi costs $17 at Nobu New York Fifty Seven), a night at Umi Uma on a Crystal ship is included in the fare. That fare, of course, isn’t insignificant. Crystal voyages can run as much as $1,000 per person, per day.

Cost: There is no extra charge to dine at Umi Uma. Passengers are entitled to one visit per voyage, with reservations required. Additional reservations may be requested on a space-available basis for a $50 per person reservation fee.

Related: These are the 6 cruise lines with the best food at sea

Red Ginger

Where you’ll find it: Oceania Cruises’ Marina, Riviera, Sirena and Vista

Red Ginger might be the most gorgeous restaurant you’ll ever see on a cruise ship. With a nod to feng shui, it radiates harmony and tranquility with ebony woods, a soothing waterfall wall and striking, modern Asian artworks. But it’s not just a pretty place: It’s a den of yumminess, too.

Found on four Oceania Cruises ships — Marina, Riviera, Sirena and Vista — Red Ginger offers classic Asian dishes with a contemporary twist, all dreamed up by Oceania’s well-regarded, in-house culinary team with input from famed chef Jacques Pepin. We’re talking about miso-glazed sea bass wrapped in a hoba leaf, and sole tempura with an orange ponzu sauce and spicy daikon. For dessert, don’t miss the lemongrass creme brulee.

Cost: There is no extra charge to dine at Red Ginger, but reservations are required. Passengers are entitled to one visit per voyage (those staying in top suites can go twice).

Fahrenheit 555

Where you’ll find it: Carnival’s Mardi Gras, Carnival Celebration, Carnival Venezia, Carnival Breeze, Carnival Vista, Carnival Horizon, Carnival Panorama, Carnival Sunshine, Carnival Sunrise, Carnival Radiance, Carnival Luminosa, Carnival Jubilee (debuting in December) and Carnival Firenze (debuting in April)

One of the great paradoxes of the cruise world is that one of the lowest-cost operators — Carnival Cruise Line — has one of the best steakhouses at sea. At a fixed price of $48 per person, Fahrenheit 555 is also a relative bargain compared to similar steakhouses on land.

Found on Carnival’s six most recently built ships plus a few others, Fahrenheit 555 offers all the steakhouse staples, from a 14-ounce New York strip to a nine-ounce filet mignon (both USDA Prime, aged 28 days). Other entree choices include an appropriately marbled hunk of Australian Wagyu beef, grilled lamb chops and Dover sole. Starters include Heritage Berkshire pork belly, bone marrow and hand-cut beef tartare, and — of course — jumbo shrimp cocktail.

Carnival has a long tradition of offering high-end steakhouses on its ships. The line began rolling out steakhouses in 2001 with the debut of its Spirit Class ships (where, in one of the great quirks of cruise ship design, the steakhouses are located in red domes that form the forward portions of the ships’ funnels).

There now are steakhouses on 23 of Carnival’s 25 vessels, with varying names and decor (only Carnival Elation and Carnival Paradise lack one). When it comes to culinary offerings, they’re all similar to Fahrenheit 555.

Cost: $48 per person

Related: 5 reasons you should splurge on a cruise ship specialty restaurant

Nuna

Where you’ll find it: Le Commandant Charcot

The newest temple to gastromy at sea is Nuna on Ponant’s epic new icebreaking expedition ship, Le Commandant Charcot. Elegant and refined, it’s a high-end French restaurant that serves dishes designed by Alain Ducasse, the famed French chef.

You’ll find everything from French-style beef fillet served with a pepper sauce and veal tenderloin with a vegetable matignon and potato cake to monkfish medallions on the menu, with some international dishes mixed in with the classic French cuisine. Dessert options include a selection of French cheeses that number into the dozens — perhaps the most spectacular cheese selection found on any cruise vessel.

The setting itself is lovely, at the back of the vessel overlooking the wake and featuring furniture from iconic French furniture design house Ligne Roset, Bernardaud French china and glassware by Elne.

Cost: There is no charge to dine at Nuna

La Dame

Where you’ll find it: All Silversea ships except Silver Origin

The premier restaurant on Silversea Cruises ships is a temple to high-end French cuisine. Named after La Dame de Paris, aka the Eiffel Tower, it serves such classic dishes as filet of Limousin beef, grilled rack of lamb and pan-fried Dover sole. The menu includes two different styles of foie gras, as well as caviar.

As you might expect for a fancy French venue, the service is all white-glove elegance in a refined but contemporary setting. As you might not expect on an upscale all-inclusive cruise line, the restaurant does have a hefty cover charge.

Cost: $60 per person for all ships, with the exception of the new Silver Nova. The cover charge for La Dame on Silver Nova, where the experience includes an exclusive selection of French wines and digestives, is $160 per person.

Pacific Rim

Where you’ll find it: Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ Seven Seas Explorer, Seven Seas Splendor and Seven Seas Grandeur

Another one of my favorite cruise ship restaurants is Pacific Rim, found on the two largest Regent Seven Seas Cruises vessels. Serving pan-Asian cuisine, it’s elegant and upscale — as you would expect from one of the world’s leading luxury lines — and has a mouthwatering menu.

Signature dishes include grilled Korean barbecue lamb chops (served with wok-fried Brussels sprouts and gochujang sauce) and a miso black cod wrapped in a hoba leaf. Signature appetizers include a crispy soft-shell crab served with a kizami wasabi mayo.

For dessert, don’t miss the chili chocolate mousse. True to its name, it’s infused with chile and wonderfully spicy. For something more neutral, my pick is the green tea panna cotta, served with mango and a lychee ragout.

Cost: There’s no extra charge to dine at Pacific Rim, but reservations are required.

Related: Peek at the over-the-top luxury of Regent’s Seven Seas Splendor 

Eden Restaurant

Where you’ll find it: Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Edge, Celebrity Apex, Celebrity Beyond and Celebrity Ascent

Celebrity Cruises has created a temple to gastronomy with Eden Restaurant, found on its new Edge Class ships. Located at the back of each vessel in a whimsical glass-walled and plant-filled dining and entertainment space called Eden, it offers a fixed-price menu with a wide range of choices for appetizers, three entrees and two desserts.

In a sharp departure from Eden Restaurant’s original concept of mesmerizingly imaginative dishes with fanciful names and often exotic ingredients, the menu now offers such classic dishes as filet mignon and mini short rib Wellington with mashed potatoes, vegetables, mushrooms and bordelaise sauce, and slow-cooked corvina — all cooked perfectly.

In addition to the regular menu, Eden offers two seven-course tasting menus — one with some dishes derived from animals and one that is completely vegan.

Cost: $65 for the basic menu; the tasting menus cost $100.

Remy

Where you’ll find it: Disney Cruise Line’s Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy

For the most part, the food on Disney Cruise Line ships is just so-so (in my opinion, at least). It’s a line you book for its great family entertainment, not cuisine. But Remy is the great exception — a dining experience that is among the finest at sea.

Created by two renowned chefs (Arnaud Lallement of France’s three-Michelin-starred l’Assiette Champenoise and Scott Hunnel of Disney World’s high-end Victoria & Albert’s), it offers exquisitely presented, French-inspired cuisine of the highest quality in an elegant setting at one of the highest prices of any cruise ship eatery.

Like pretty much all venues on Disney ships, Remy has some whimsical Disney touches. Named after the rat hero in the Disney animated film “Ratatouille,” it has his stylized likeness worked into the art nouveau design.

But there’s nothing Mickey Mouse about the restaurant’s sophisticated decor and finishings, which include high-end Frette linens, Riedel glassware, Christofle silverware and gold-cushioned stools to hold ladies’ purses. This is a fine dining establishment where you wear a jacket or cocktail dress to dinner while savoring mouth-watering small plates of duck, quail, Wagyu beef, king crab and the like.

Cost: $135 per person for dinner, not including wine. A brunch service is also available for $80 per person, and a dessert offering is $65 per person.

Steakhouse at the Verandah

Where you’ll find it: All Cunard ships

Steakhouse lovers will find another great option in Steakhouse at The Verandah, located on all Cunard vessels. It’s a shrine to the most indulgent, marbled and mouth-watering cuts of beef, from 35-day dry-aged Scotch grass-fed Black Angus to Australian grass-fed Wagyu beef (the latter for a $30 upcharge). It also serves seafood options such as grilled whole Dover sole and Maine lobster. Appetizers include clam chowder and lobster cocktail.

At a price of just $45 per person if booked in advance of sailing (with a few supplemental charges for premium items), it’s a great bargain in my book — at least compared to fine steakhouses on land.

Cost: $45 per person if booked in advance of sailing; $50 per person if booked on board. A few premium dinner items come with extra “supplemental” charges. The steakhouse is also open for lunch for $25 per person if booked in advance and $30 per person if booked on board.

Bottom line

Good food is plentiful on cruise ships, where you will find a few truly world-class restaurants. Some of the same chefs behind the best-known restaurants on land have turned their attention to restaurants at sea in recent years, making it easier than ever to have a knockout meal during your cruise.

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

• The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship
• A beginners guide to picking a cruise line
• The 8 worst cabin locations on any cruise ship
• The ultimate guide to what to pack for a cruise
• A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines
• 21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly
• Top ways cruisers waste money
• The ultimate guide to choosing a cruise ship cabin

There’s nothing quite as magical as paying for one class of service and being upgraded into a superior cabin, be it premium economy, business or first class. However, the upgrade process remains shrouded in mystery. For example, who is eligible for upgrades? When do these upgrades process?

From complimentary elite upgrades, SkyMiles upgrades and Global and Regional Upgrade certificates to understanding the upgrade priority process, we’re here to demystify it all. So, buckle up and keep reading to find out how you can snag a seat in the front of the Delta plane.

Complimentary Delta upgrades

All Delta Medallion elite members are eligible for day-of-departure unlimited complimentary upgrades to the Delta One experience on flights within the U.S., including flights to Hawaii.

While it pays to understand the intricacies below, it’s worth mentioning that Delta is systematically selling more first-class tickets. Its revenue maximization models are pricing first-class tickets to encourage more people to buy them outright, and according to quarterly earnings reports over the years, it continues to sell more of its forward cabin rather than give it away via an upgrade. You may notice this when you view a Delta reservation and are offered a buy-up upgrade.

Unfortunately, the more first-class tickets Delta sells, the fewer are available for complimentary upgrades.

Below are the Delta products that are eligible for complimentary upgrades, including paid tickets, SkyMiles award tickets, Pay with Miles tickets and SkyMiles Companion Certificates:

• Delta Comfort+ (all Delta-operated flights)
• First class (all Delta-operated domestic flights and select short-haul international flights)
• Delta One (all Delta-operated domestic flights, including Hawaii and Alaska)

Of course, Delta’s top-tier Medallions (Diamond) get preference over lower-tier Medallions, and timing is everything. Diamond and Platinum Medallion members can clear from Main Cabin into Comfort+ immediately upon booking if space is available. At the same time, Gold members must wait until 72 hours before departure to clear into Comfort+, and Silver members must wait until 24 hours before departure.

For flights with heavy passenger loads — New York to San Francisco, for example — the Comfort+ cabin is often full when Gold and Silver Medallions are eligible to clear. However, last-minute upgrades at the gate can happen.

Related: Delta Medallion status: What it is and how to earn it

For Delta One domestic upgrades, Medallion members will clear on the day of departure following the same clearance priority hierarchy as first-class upgrades, subject to upgrade availability.

You may still clear at the gate even if your upgrade doesn’t clear in advance. If an upgrade is still not confirmed at your upgrade window or when you check in, your pending upgrade request will automatically be added to the airport standby list for a potential upgrade at the gate before you board. You may view your spot on the standby list in the “My Trips” section of the Delta app and at the gate information display at the airport.

Medallion members are also eligible for complimentary upgrades on Aeromexico-operated flights within Mexico and between Mexico and the U.S., Central America, the Caribbean, Colombia and Ecuador. Upgrades are available to Class Premier, but not Aeromexico Plus. Once a SkyMiles number is added to an eligible AeroMexico reservation, Medallion members will automatically be added to the upgrade list.

Complimentary upgrade hierarchy

Here’s how Delta will determine your spot on the upgrade list:

1. Medallion status
2. Fare class groupings — higher-priced fares are ranked above lower-priced fares per the following order: B, M, H, Q, K, L, U, T, X and V, then SkyMiles award tickets, then Pay with Miles
3. Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card cardholders
4. Delta corporate travelers (ticket must include your employer’s corporate ticket designator)
5. Cobranded credit cardmembers who earned the Medallion Qualification Dollars waiver in the current calendar year
6. Million miler status
7. Date and time of upgrade request

All Medallion members with Y-class tickets are eligible for instant upgrades and will appear ahead of all other complimentary upgrade requests. Typically, passengers do not book Y tickets unless it’s very last minute or demand is unusually high, such as the last available seat on a weekend flight to the Super Bowl host city.

If two members are identical at a given level, it goes down the above list until the tie is broken. For instance, if two Platinum Medallion members are traveling on K-fare tickets and one has a Delta Reserve credit card, and the other does not, the card-holding passenger will be prioritized.

Diamond and Platinum Medallion members will clear first-class upgrades beginning 120 hours (or five days) before departure. Gold Medallion members will clear beginning 72 hours (three days) before departure, and Silver Medallion members will clear beginning 24 hours (one day) before departure, subject to upgrade availability.

It’s also worth noting that upgrade certificates (Regional Upgrade Certificates and Global Upgrade Certificates) and upgrades with miles are prioritized ahead of these complimentary upgrades; we’ll cover these wrinkles in the sections below.

Exclusions and fine print on Delta upgrades

Unfortunately, not all tickets are eligible for complimentary upgrades — here’s what’s excluded:

• Basic economy (E) fares are not eligible for paid or Medallion complimentary upgrades, regardless of Medallion or other elite status.
• Delta Premium Select is not eligible for a complimentary Medallion upgrade.
• Delta One seats on flights that start or end outside of the U.S. do not qualify for a complimentary Medallion upgrade.
• Complimentary upgrades are not available for selection by any passenger while aboard the aircraft, regardless of status or fare class.
• For companion upgrades, both passengers must be ticketed, and upgrades must be requested at least three hours before the scheduled departure of the flight.
• Except for eligible Pay with Miles tickets and eligible award tickets, complimentary upgrades are not eligible on fares that do not earn miles.
• Companions who change their itinerary and no longer travel with the higher-tiered Medallion member after the change are not eligible for a complimentary upgrade at the higher-tiered member’s clearance window. If an upgrade was confirmed before the itinerary change, a reservation for a companion without Medallion status would be changed to reflect the original class of service for the new itinerary, and they will no longer be eligible for a complimentary upgrade. If the companion is a Medallion member, the reservation will be changed to reflect the original class of service. It will continue to be eligible for an upgrade at the companion’s own clearance priority. If the Medallion or partner airline elite member is no longer traveling on their original reservation, the companion traveling on the original reservation will no longer be eligible for complimentary Delta Comfort+ seating. Their Delta Comfort+ seat assignment may be removed.

Improving your chances of a Delta upgrade

Beyond racing for a higher tier of Delta’s Medallion status, you can better your chances of receiving a complimentary upgrade by opening a Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card or Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card. These cards also net you complimentary access to Delta’s global network of Sky Club airport lounges when flying Delta.

Effective 2/1/25, Reserve Card Members will receive 15 Visits per year to the Delta Sky Club; to earn an unlimited number of Visits each year starting on 2/1/25, the total eligible purchases on the Card must equal $75,000 or more between 1/1/24 and 12/31/24, and each calendar year thereafter.

If possible, consider booking a corporate ticket through your employer. Also, if you’re a Platinum/Diamond Medallion with free same-day change abilities, you can sniff around and change to a less popular route on your day of departure. ExpertFlyer — owned by TPG’s parent company, Red Ventures — is an excellent tool for searching flights. You can use the “Flight Availability” functionality to understand how many seats remain open/unsold.

You’ll often have a better shot at an upgrade if you avoid peak business travel periods. This lets you compete with fewer frequent flyers. Generally, this means avoiding flying on Sunday night, Monday morning and pretty much all day Friday if you want to sidestep top-tier business travelers.

Related: Choosing the best credit card for Delta flyers

Delta Upgrade certificates

Delta offers two types of dedicated upgrade certificates, known as Global Upgrade Certificates (GUCs) and Regional Upgrade Certificates (RUCs). The only way to get them is to earn Platinum or Diamond Medallion status and select them using your Choice Benefits.

Upgrade certificates have a higher priority than complimentary upgrades and may be requested and, subject to availability, cleared when you book your ticket. In other words: They’re a hyper-exclusive and extremely powerful way to sit in the front of the plane.

GUCs, available exclusively for Diamond Medallion members, offer upgrades on both international and domestic flights with Delta, along with select flights with KLM, Air France, Virgin Atlantic, Korean Air and Aeromexico. RUCs, available for Diamond and Platinum Medallion members, offer upgrades on the same routes as complimentary upgrades, including all flights with first class and the domestic Delta One experience.

Related: The ultimate guide to Delta Choice Benefits

As a Choice Benefit selection, Diamond Medallion members may choose any of the following three options as one of their selected benefits:

1. Four global upgrades
2. Eight regional upgrades
3. Two global upgrades and four regional upgrades

Platinum Medallion members may choose four regional upgrades as their single Choice Benefit.

So if you want one of the coveted GUCs, you’ll need first to achieve Diamond status, Delta’s highest published Medallion tier.

Related: Last-minute elite status strategies for Delta Medallion

Important notes about Global and Regional upgrade certificates

Of course, these certificates have several quirks and nuances you must know.

These certificates only offer confirmed upgrades for one cabin higher than originally purchased. Main Cabin tickets will upgrade to Premium Select on flights with a Premium Select cabin. Then, the elite member processing the upgrade will be placed on a Delta One upgrade waitlist 24 hours before departure. The good news is that there will be last-seat upgrade availability in Premium Select on international flights. Likewise, last-seat availability will be when you use your GUC to upgrade to a domestic flight, even on Delta One routes.

An RUC or GUC is for one-way travel, so you’d need to burn four to take you and a guest on a round-trip itinerary. You can apply an RUC or GUC to a paid ticket, a SkyMiles award ticket, a Pay with Miles ticket and a companion ticket. Crucially, you cannot apply an RUC or a GUC to a basic economy (E fare) ticket regardless of your Medallion status level.

While these certificates are not fully transferable to others, Delta will allow you to apply your RUC or GUC to a guest’s ticket if that person is traveling on the same flight as you. Even if you’re booked on separate reservations (e.g., your company books your economy ticket, and you book your spouse’s economy ticket later), you can use your upgrade certificates for both passengers.

Each GUC or RUC expires one year from the date it’s issued. Upgrades are valid through the end of the following elite year. Each certificate may be used to upgrade flights operated by Delta Air Lines or Delta Connection booked in the P, A, G, W, Y, B, M, H, Q, K, L, U, T, X or V fare classes, and may also be used to upgrade on SkyMiles awards, Pay with Miles tickets and companion certificates.

Upgrading to Delta partner flights with certificates

You can also use GUCs to upgrade select partner flights. GUCs applied to Air France and Virgin Atlantic flights will only move you from economy to premium economy unless you book a premium economy ticket outright. Note that all partner upgrades must be confirmed 24 hours before departure.

These are the rules for upgrading partner-operated flights:

Upgrading KLM flights

• Delta-marketed, KLM-operated flights: Main Cabin seats booked in Y, B, M, H, Q, K, L, U, T, X or V to Z class (business class). This is because KLM does not offer a premium economy cabin on many flights.
• KLM-marketed, KLM-operated flights: Economy seats booked in Y, B, M, K, H, L, Q, T, N, R or V class can be upgraded to Z (business class).
• Air France-marketed, KLM-operated flights: Economy seats booked in Y, B, M, K, H, L, Q, T, N, R or V class can be upgraded to Z class (business class).
• For flights departing Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS), Global Upgrade Certificates must be applied prior to check-in with a KLM ticketing agent or at a KLM Crown Lounge.

Upgrading Air France flights

• Air France-marketed, Air France-operated flights: Economy seats booked in Y, B, M, K, H, L, Q, T, N, R or V class can be upgraded to A class (premium economy) or from W, S or A class to Z class (business class).
• KLM-marketed, Air France-operated flights: Economy seats booked in Y, B, M, K, H, L, Q, T, N, R or V class can be upgraded to A class (premium economy) or from W, S or A class to Z class (business class).
  
• Delta-marketed, Air France-operated flights: Economy seats booked in Y, B, M, H, Q, K, L, U, T, X or V class can be upgraded to A class (premium economy) or from W, S or A class to Z class (business class), or from P, A or G class to Z class (business class).

Upgrading Virgin Atlantic flights

• Delta-marketed, Virgin Atlantic-operated flights: Economy seats booked in W, S, Y, B, M, H, Q, K, L, U, T, X or V class can be upgraded to P class (premium economy), or from P, A or G class to Virgin Atlantic’s G class (business class).

Upgrading Aeromexico flights

• Delta-marketed, Aeromexico-operated flights: Economy seats booked in W, S, Y, B, M, H, Q, K, L, U, T, X or V class can be upgraded to O class (business class).

Upgrading Korean Air flights

• Delta-marketed, Korean-operated flights: Economy seats booked in Y, B or M class can be upgraded to J class (business class).

Related: The best Virgin Atlantic Upper-Class seats

How to use a Delta upgrade certificate

Until recently, you had to call to apply a GUC or an RUC to a Delta-operated ticket. Now, you only have to do this for existing tickets, as new tickets can be upgraded online.

Upgrading a new Delta booking with a certificate

Delta allows you to upgrade new bookings online (but not on the Fly Delta app). You’ll see the option to upgrade your ticket with a GUC or an RUC on the checkout page.

Look for the “Upgrade Certificate Request” box and select the flight you’d like to upgrade. Then, select the type of upgrade certificate you’d like to use.

The upgrade certificate will be automatically applied when you complete your booking.

Upgrading an existing Delta booking with a certificate

For existing bookings, you must dial the phone number given with your associated Medallion tier or the general hotline at 800-323-2323 and make the request. Be sure to call at least three hours before departure to apply your certificate, though 24 hours before departure is strongly recommended.

If you want to confirm an upgrade immediately, search for your flight on the Delta website. Upgrade availability is shown underneath the flight times. Make sure you’re logged in to your Delta account, as upgrade availability only shows on elite accounts.

If you can avoid waitlisting, do so. Waitlist upgrades are not guaranteed to clear, and they’re known to rarely clear on particular routes — such as West Coast gateways to Hawaii.

On itineraries with connections, ask the Delta agent to place upgrade priority on the leg that matters most to you. If you don’t clarify this, upgrades can clear on relatively unimportant/short legs, while you remain waitlisted on the long leg. The upgrade certificate is considered used if you don’t prioritize the hard-to-get leg and the upgrade clears on any other leg of your itinerary.

For example, you don’t want to burn a valuable GUC on a 45-minute domestic positioning leg when the leg that matters is the long-haul ride from the U.S. to Europe, Asia, Oceania, etc. Remember, there’s no way to “undo” an upgrade clearing. Once it’s burned, it’s burned.

While upgrade requests on the waitlist can be cleared before you get to the gate, it is more likely that they will be cleared at the gate before departure. If your certificate doesn’t clear, it will be automatically reissued to your account and can be used on a future flight.

Related: How not to ‘waste’ your Delta Regional and Global upgrade certificates

Delta SkyMiles mileage upgrades

While we typically recommend storing up SkyMiles until you can exchange them for a true award ticket, that’s not always practical for infrequent flyers. Delta allows its passengers to upgrade their existing tickets with SkyMiles regardless of status.

You can use Delta’s Upgrade with Miles feature to upgrade to Delta One, Delta Premium Select, first-class or Delta Comfort+ for eligible flights. If your reservation is eligible for an upgrade, you’ll see the option to upgrade in your trip summary.

Delta typically prices mileage upgrades by placing a value of roughly 1.07 cents on each SkyMile. In other words, if Delta is charging $60 for a particular seat upgrade, it’ll also allow you to part ways with roughly 5,600 SkyMiles to achieve the same upgrade. Just note that you may be able to achieve marginally higher value by booking an award ticket outright.

Buy-up upgrades can come in handy if you’re chasing elite status too. You’ll earn Medallion Qualification Dollars on the cash or SkyMiles you spend on an upgrade, boosting you toward the next status tier. If you use SkyMiles to upgrade, you’ll earn MQDs on award tickets. Every 1,000 SkyMiles you spend equal 10 MQDs, so a 10,000-SkyMile upgrade would earn 100 MQDs.

Related: How I used SkyMiles to upgrade my Paris flight from coach to Delta One

Bottom line

Getting upgraded for “free” is a glorious thing, and you can better your chances by climbing Delta’s Medallion elite ranks and holding a Delta SkyMiles Reserve card or Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business card. You’ll also be wise to choose flights that aren’t during peak business travel periods, and if there’s a connection involved, avoid Delta’s largest hubs like Atlanta, Minneapolis, New York (LaGuardia and JFK) and Los Angeles.

Using a stash of SkyMiles to upgrade can be a great way to boost your flight experience. Still, you’ll want to think carefully before using Upgrade with Miles — Delta will only allow you to extract roughly 1.07 cents per SkyMile via this method.

Upgrade certificates are the most exciting option, but you must reach Platinum or Diamond status to secure them. If you’re fortunate enough to have a few in your account, you can strategically plan a dream trip, pay cash for an OK seat and fly there in a great seat.

It’s not easy to feel small in a world determined to keep us all connected all the time. However, spend an evening staring slack-jawed at the northern lights, and you’ll quickly be reminded of your place in the universe.

Scientifically speaking, the northern lights – also known as aurora borealis – are formed when electrically charged solar particles collide with the earth’s atmosphere.

Next year looks to be an especially good year to experience this ethereal phenomenon, with solar activity expected to intensify and peak at a much higher level, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Solar cycles track the activity of the sun’s magnetic field and generally last around 11 years. We are currently in Solar Cycle 25, which began in December 2019. Updated forecasts suggest that this 25th cycle will peak between January and October 2024, activating more vivid displays than usual of the aurora borealis. 

This also means that eclipse chasers should benefit from a particularly impressive corona display during the total solar eclipse, which will occur around the solar cycle peak and be visible across swaths of the U.S. on April 8, 2024.

Pair this heightened solar activity with the weather conditions that need to occur for the northern lights to appear — as well as getting away from light pollution — and you’re in for an adventure.

There are a handful of destinations around the world where aurora hunters are more likely to encounter this natural phenomenon.

Here’s TPG’s guide on how to plan a trip to see the northern lights in 2024.

What are the northern lights?

This phenomenon occurs when a solar flare penetrates the Earth’s magnetic field, and shoots charged particles into the atoms and molecules that make up our atmosphere.

The bursts of colorful light you see are actually the colliding particles and atoms. The various colors indicate what types of atoms and molecules are interacting.

Green, pink, yellow, blue and purple are the most common colors you’ll see during a northern lights show. However, particularly intense flares can manifest as orange or white.

According to space.com, particles colliding with oxygen will produce green and yellow, while nitrogen results in red and violet. Additionally, the lights will sometimes only appear as a faint color filter across the night sky — barely a shimmer on the horizon. Part of the fun is the unpredictable nature of the lights.

How to photograph the northern lights

If you plan on capturing the light show with your iPhone camera, think again. Unless you’re lucky enough to catch some seriously strong collisions, you’ll need some equipment, including a camera, tripod, wide-angle lens and even a flashlight.

Camera: No matter how powerful the lens is, don’t depend on your phone camera for this task. Any digital single-lens reflex camera with a manual settings option will do the trick.

Tripod: You’ll need a steady surface to take photos of the northern lights, as your f-stop (aperture) will be set at a minimum value. The smaller the value, the more light your camera will let in during the exposure. This helps capture as much of the northern lights’ movement as possible. All of this being said, you don’t want to move your camera around while this is happening, or you’ll blur the image.

Wide-angle lens: Not a requirement, but the best way to capture a stunning pro-quality shot of the horizon.

Flashlight: One trick I learned while trying to find the northern lights when I was in northern Finland was to bring along a flashlight. If you specifically want to take portraits in front of the northern lights, you will need to light up your subjects. As soon as you click the shutter, shine the flashlight toward your subjects, at the ground, and then back at your subjects.

Now that you’ve got the basics of photographing the elusive northern lights, here are the spots where you can best see them around the world.

Where to find the northern lights

Continental US

When to visit: When there is high solar activity

While rare and tough to predict, when conditions are right, you can view the northern lights from New York, Minnesota, Michigan, Maine and, occasionally, Midwest states as far south as Kansas and Colorado.

You have to be ready to go when high solar activity strikes (or be lucky enough to live in the area), so planning when to go and where to stay may be difficult.

If your schedule allows, your best bet may be International Dark Sky Parks and Sanctuaries, such as Montana’s Glacier National Park or Maine’s Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument.

The best resources: For your best shot at seeing this celestial light show, subscribe to Night Sky Alerts for $5.99 monthly or check in regularly with the Space Weather Prediction Center’s aurora forecast.

Iceland

When to visit: September to mid-April

Getting away from light pollution is simple all across Iceland. With only two major cities — Reykjavik and Akureyri — you’re a 15-minute drive from the perfect viewing spot almost anywhere in the island nation.

There is an overwhelming number of tours available for travelers seeking the northern lights, many of which are bus tours.

However, there are a few that stand out from the crowd: Special Tours’ Northern Lights by Boat experience and a photography-focused Jeep tour.

Remember, if you’re flying from the U.S., chances are your flight is overnight. Keep an eye out for the northern lights as you pass over Greenland and approach Iceland.

You really can’t beat seeing them from an airplane, an experience that passengers on an EasyJet flight between Reykjavik and Manchester, England, were treated to in late February.

Big thanks to the @easyJet pilot of EZY1806 from Reykjavik to Manchester who did a 360 fly-by midflight to make sure all passengers could see the incredible Northern Lights 🤩 pic.twitter.com/A4CHi9Hqgo

— Adam Groves (@APTGroves) February 27, 2023

Where to stay: On an old geothermal energy site, the Ion Adventure Hotel is designed around the surrounding views: large wall-size windows open up to the surrounding mountain range. However, the best view might be from the outdoor geothermal pool underneath the hotel. You can even request that the hotel staff call and wake you up if the northern lights are out.

About an hour’s drive from Reykjavik near the Golden Circle is Thingvellir National Park; it’s a drive worth experiencing to get away from the city lights. If you want to stay in town, book a room at the Canopy by Hilton Reykjavik City Centre.

The best resource: The Icelandic Meteorological Office website does a great job of tracking all things weather-related. The aurora tracker even shows cloud coverage across the country and a forecast for how likely it is to catch the northern lights on any given day.

There are a lot of apps that indicate they’ll alert you when the lights are making an appearance in your location, but unless you’re constantly updating the app, chances are it isn’t accurate.

Alaska

When to visit: Late August to mid-April

When the northern lights are especially strong, you could catch a glimpse anywhere around the state. However, if you want a sure sighting, consider Fairbanks, Anchorage or the Brooks Range.

Fairbanks is known as the most reliable location for spotting the aurora borealis, and the best time to see it is generally between 11:30 p.m. and 3:30 a.m. Later in the year, that time range shifts from 12:30 a.m. to 4:30 a.m.

Consider a northern lights photography workshop with The Aurora Chasers or an overnight Aurora Chaser tour with Last Frontier Mushing Co-Op that will take you to your yurt accommodation via dog sled. Whether you want to brush up on your nighttime photography skills with professional photographers or have a completely private view of the show, these two tour operators will get you away from the crowds and into the wilderness.

Where to stay: If either of these tours sounds like your ticket to the northern lights, consider making Fairbanks your home base, even if you plan to bed down in a yurt. However, there are several points hotels worth checking out.

The best resource:  Much like Iceland’s weather website, the online forecast from the University of Alaska Fairbanks details the likelihood of seeing the aurora borealis and where. There’s also a scale of one to nine that shows the strength of the solar activity.

Northern Norway

When to visit: September to early April

Northern Norway is where you’ll really want to travel to see the northern lights. Tromso, one of the country’s northernmost cities, is right in the center of the aurora borealis zone.

Where to stay: New for 2024, Off the Map Travel will launch a Panorama Luxury in Tromso program to coincide with the peak solar cycle. The itinerary, which includes guided tours in a Tesla and activities each day, is perfect for stargazers and adventure seekers. It includes three nights in a three-bedroom apartment with views of the Norwegian fjords in Tromso and two nights in a sustainably focused (and luxurious) glass lodge just outside the city. Each lodge is designed for optimal viewing of the aurora borealis and comes equipped with a king-size bed, luxury bathroom, kitchenette and dining area.

You can also stay in a traditional lavvu, or temporary Sami dwelling, at Green Gold of Norway; there, you’ll find yourself far, far away from light pollution. Travelers are driven to the Lyngen Alps for dinner and to enjoy a quick photography workshop before tracking down the northern lights. After a night in your lavvu, you’ll pack up for the beautiful drive back to Tromso.

The best resource: The experts at Visit Norway created the Norway Lights app. It’s a super-simple interface with information about the forecast and the cities where you’re most likely to see the lights. Think of it as a forecast, itinerary and guide to use while killing time waiting for the auroras to show up.

Northern Finland

When to visit: Late August to April

According to Visit Finland, the northern lights are out and about approximately 200 nights of the year. Head to Finnish Lapland — a region bordering Russia, Norway and Sweden —  for your best chances.

Where to stay: A small town called Rovaniemi is home to 37 treehouses built for the sole experience of gazing at all the beautiful nature around you. Each suite at the Arctic TreeHouse Hotel is on a steep slope and features panoramic windows.

If you want to sleep under the northern lights, some accommodations make the splendor of the auroras visible from the comfort of your room. The Aurora Bubble at the Wilderness Hotel Nellim has a glass roof that offers 360-degree views of the night sky, as do the glass igloos at Levin Iglut in Finnish Lapland.

The best resource: Add your location to the My Aurora Forecast & Alerts app, and you’ll receive real-time alerts when the probability of northern lights spikes. It will also provide the top spots for viewing the aurora across the world at any given time.

Northern Sweden

When to visit: September to March

Similar to Finland, you can see the northern lights throughout the Swedish Lapland region. You usually won’t catch sight of the lights in southern Sweden, so plan accordingly — and dress warmer than warm. The best part? Sweden’s weather is a tad bit milder than its Scandinavian neighbors.

Consider venturing to the Aurora Sky Station in Abisko National Park, a popular spot for aurora borealis enthusiasts. The station is nearly 3,000 feet above sea level in an area clear of light and sound pollution. Here, you can take a Night Visit Tour, which brings you to the station on a chairlift (the incredible mountain views are a highlight). If you take the guided Night Visit Tour, you’ll be equipped with warm overalls for northern lights spotting.

Where to stay: Fall asleep under the northern lights in the elevated 7th Room at Treehotel. It features panoramic windows that offer 360-degree views of the night sky. Or, “glamp” it up in a tent at Aurora Safari Camp.

The best resource: Don’t let the scant website turn you away — locals and travelers who have spotted the lights will tell you the same thing: The personal alerts from Soft Serve News are the real deal. A monthly $3.10 subscription gives you access to immediate aurora alerts as they’re happening. You will also receive updates on potential future solar activity, outlining three-day forecasts for when the weather looks ideal for a sighting.

Northern Canada

When to visit: November to April

Compared to other destinations, there are a lot of places in Canada to view the northern lights. Head to the Yukon, Saskatchewan, British Columbia, Alberta, Nunavut, Newfoundland or the Northwest Territories for your best chance at catching the show. In the Rockies, Jasper is the world’s second-largest Dark Sky Preserve, with the northern lights visible more than 300 nights per year (best viewed from October to April). 

Where to stay: The highlight of Aurora Village — a northern lights-focused community — may be the heated outdoor seats designed for spending hours outdoors waiting for (or admiring) the auroras. The seats even spin 360 degrees for optimal viewing.

Aurora Village is family- and Aboriginal-owned and focuses on the heritage, culture and traditions of the Northwest Territories. The village comprises 21 tents, each with its own wood stove. When you aren’t checking the skies, you can snowshoe, learn how to lead a dog sled or take a trip down the property’s giant snow slide.

The best resource: The Northern Lighthouse Project aims to raise awareness of local weather, the northern lights and other space-related phenomena. Each lighthouse works on a color system. Flashing blue signifies low solar activity. Flashing green means the geomagnetic field is quiet, and auroras could be expected. Flashing red indicates that there has been a recent solar flare that could spark vibrant auroras.

Scotland

When to visit: September to March

Northern Scotland shares the same latitude as some Scandinavian locations. That means there’s a good chance you could spot the northern lights here if conditions allow.

Visit Scotland recommends several destinations for aurora viewing. They include Orkney, Caithness, the Moray Firth coast, Aberdeenshire, Lewis, Harris, Skye, Applecross, Lochinver, Cairngorms National Park, Galloway Forest Park, Rannoch Moor, Perthshire, Angus and Calton Hill.

The northern lights have also been known to appear as far south as Edinburgh during especially strong storms. If you really want to fit in, refer to the northern lights as “mirrie dancers” for local cred.

Where to stay: The Isle of Skye is a dark-sky enthusiast’s dream. With nine Dark Sky Discovery Sites in the area, it’s the perfect spot for stargazing and checking out the northern lights. The Shulista Croft Wigwams all offer incredible views of the Trotternish Peninsula.

The only thing second to the views may be the local wildlife: You can spot sheep, rams, chickens, sea eagles, buzzards and minke whales all within walking distance of the property.

The best resource: AuroraWatch UK alerts will send real-time alerts via Twitter, Facebook or the messaging app Telegram. The site also offers an AuroraWatch API, showcasing historical data you can (theoretically) use to build your own alerts.

Plan your northern lights trip

If your dream northern lights trip includes thoughtful, authentic and off-the-beaten-path travel experiences, consider booking your trip with Elsewhere (owned by TPG’s sister company, Lonely Planet).

Experiencing a northern lights trip of a lifetime can be very simple with Elsewhere, thanks to fantastic local experts who create an itinerary based on your preferences. Edvinas in Finland, Trent in Iceland or Steven in Scotland can plan and book everything for you through the Elsewhere platform.

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• Key travel tips you need to know — whether you’re a beginner or expert traveler
• The best travel credit cards
• Where to go in 2024: The 16 best places to travel
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If you’re starting to feel the itch to plan a getaway in the New Year, January can be the perfect month to embark on a new adventure. Whether you’re looking to escape the chilly winter weather, experience unique cultural festivals or simply explore a new destination, there are many options to satisfy your travel cravings.

For those who prefer to embrace the cold and snowy conditions, there are destinations renowned for their winter sports and stunning icy landscapes. Imagine bundling up in cozy layers, gliding down powdery slopes or sipping hot cocoa by a roaring fire. It’s a winter wonderland waiting to be explored.

On the flip side, if you’re eager to trade snowflakes for sunshine, there are plenty of warm-weather havens that boast beautiful beaches, lush landscapes, and vibrant local cultures. Picture yourself lounging on sandy shores, exploring tropical rainforests or immersing yourself in lively street festivals — the perfect antidote to the winter blues.

No matter what type of adventure you’re seeking, January’s diverse travel options offer something for everyone.

But where should you go? Here are the 14 best destinations to visit in January.

Fort Worth

If you’re contemplating a trip to the Lone Star State, you might want to set your sights on Fort Worth. Often dubbed the “Modern West,” Fort Worth has emerged dynamically from the shadow of its more famed neighbor, Dallas. It’s a city that marries modernity with its classic Texas twang.

In fact, 2023 saw Fort Worth crowned as the fastest-growing city, outpacing even trendy Austin, with a population growth rate nearly four times faster. With such growth, there’s an exciting surge in hotel openings on the horizon and an abundance of new eateries that further solidify its status as a burgeoning boomtown.

Why should you visit in January? Well, that’s when the city plays host to the much-anticipated Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo, kicking off on Jan. 13. This world-renowned event is set in the newly revamped $540 million Dickie’s Arena and offers attendees a thrilling spectacle of bull riding, barrel racing and much more. With carnival rides, live music and an assortment of food and drinks, it’s a Texas-sized extravaganza.

TPG Tip: The city’s very first Kimpton Hotel, The Harper, is the perfect jumping-off point to experience all the city has to offer; it’s centrally located in downtown Fort Worth. Book for 32,000 IHG points, or $200 per night.

Related: The top Kimpton Hotels across the world, according to IHG Diamond members

Cancun

If you’re looking for a unique way to ring in “El Ano Nuevo,” or the new year, experience unique Mexican traditions. When the clock strikes midnight, many Mexican families will run around with empty suitcases to bring in new travels, eat 12 grapes to beckon luck or sweep coins on the floor out of their homes to bring good fortune and prosperity in the new year.

Of course, no New Year’s celebration would be complete without fireworks, which many Mexicans see as a way to frighten evil spirits and ring in the New Year.

TPG tip: Perched between the Caribbean Sea and Nichupte Lagoon, Breathless Cancun Soul Resort & Spa has nearly a dozen on-site bars and restaurants as well as five pools, including a rooftop infinity pool, providing endless ocean views. Book for 29,000 World of Hyatt points or around $470 per night.

Related: The best all-inclusives in Mexico

Panama

January is a great time to visit Panama as the area is still in its dry season, and travelers can expect plenty of sunshine, making it the perfect beach destination. The weather is pleasant and ideal for outdoor activities such as the Feria de las Flores y del Cafe (Flower and Coffee Festival), one of the world’s grandest celebrations of flowers. From Jan. 11 to 21, travelers can enjoy lush flower displays, food stands, live music, amusement rides and handicrafts booths.

TPG tip: Opened under The Unbound Collection by Hyatt in April 2022, travelers can experience three different eras of Panama history that come to life at Hotel La Compania. Book for around 20,000 World of Hyatt points or $294 a night.

Denver

Winter in Denver? It’s the perfect mix of city vibes and snowy adventures — absolutely magical. Imagine sipping hot cocoa at Union Station and strolling through the Dairy Block, all decked out in twinkling lights — it’s like stepping into a winter wonderland. The best part is you can spend your day hitting the slopes and then come back to enjoy Denver’s nightlife.

Getting here is a breeze, too, thanks to Denver International Airport (DEN) and its whopping 1,600 flights a day. That number is much higher than most ski spots offer.

Also, don’t miss the National Western Stock Show from Jan. 6 to 21. It’s the biggest horse show, packed with rodeos, livestock and a Western trade show. Plus, it’s been a Denver staple since 1906, attracting more than 700,000 visitors yearly. Get ready for some top-notch bull riding, bronco busting and a parade through Downtown Denver that’s just bursting with cowboy spirit.

TPG tip: The parade passes directly in front of the Hyatt Centric Downtown Denver, giving guests a prime, uncrowded view of the spectacle. Book for about 9,000 World of Hyatt points or $165 a night.

Related: The best Denver hotels to experience when staying in the Mile High City

Montreal

For travelers looking to immerse themselves in a true winter wonderland without the holiday crowds, Montreal is the ideal destination to visit for snow-filled fun in January.

This charming city offers a wide range of attractions in the late winter months, including festivals, shopping, outdoor activities and more. Montreal is also central to some of the best ski destinations in eastern Canada, including Mont Tremblant and L’Escapade, for cross-country skiing or snowshoeing. The city is also filled with more than 260 outdoor rinks for ice skating; options include Beaver Lake Skating Rink or the Old Port of Montreal’s Bonsecours Basin, which is transformed into a lively winter village during the colder months.

Related: Where to go in 2024: The 16 best places to travel

TPG tip: There’s history around every corner in Montreal, and Hyatt Centric Ville-Marie Montreal — available for around 9,000 World of Hyatt points or $213 a night — is no exception.

Aruba

January in Aruba is not just about soaking up the sun on the beautiful beaches: It’s Carnival season, the island’s most vibrant and exciting time of the year. This celebration isn’t just a weekend affair — it spans a whole two months of parades, music, dancing and colorful costumes. Imagine the streets filled with lively day and night parades, the air buzzing with Caribbean tunes and people from all walks of life coming together to celebrate.

You’ll get to witness incredible music contests, partake in the excitement of queen elections and dance along with the spontaneous jump-ups.

TPG tip: Book Aruba Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino for 102,000 Marriott Bonvoy points or around $1,003 a night.

Related: Best all-inclusives in Aruba for a perfect Caribbean vacation

Montgomery, Alabama

Montgomery, Alabama, known for its profound role in the American Civil Rights Movement, continues to reinvent itself as an essential destination for purposeful travelers seeking ways to connect to the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. this January.

In addition to the annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Day celebrations, visitors can walk in his footsteps through many historic landmarks. Visit the Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church, where King first preached his message of love and brotherhood, or experience the city’s profound exhibits, memorials and museums. They include the nationally noted Anarcha, Lucy, Betsey Monument; the Equal Justice Initiative’s Legacy Museum; the National Memorial for Peace and Justice; and the stunning Civil Rights Memorial designed by Maya Lin.

TPG tip: The city’s first luxury boutique hotel, Trilogy Autograph Collection Hotel, which opened in May of 2023, features thoughtful design that celebrates the region’s multicultural heritage. Book for around 20,000 Marriott Bonvoy points or around $156 a night.

Paradise Coast, Florida

For those seeking much-needed winter sun, Florida’s Paradise Coast offers a tropical getaway all winter long. Florida’s Paradise Coast (Naples, Marco Island, Everglades) is tucked into Southwest Florida and features miles of white sand beaches, diverse wildlife, luxurious resorts and various nature trails for guests to explore.

January is the ideal time for travelers to sneak away from the cold and get a taste of paradise. Enjoy a relaxing winter along the Gulf at stunning Naples Beach, or get up close and personal with some of the state’s natural beauty and wildlife on a tour through the famed Everglades National Park.

TPG tip: This January, guests can enjoy the newly reopened The Ritz-Carlton, Naples, for around 120,000 Marriott Bonvoy points or around $1416 a night.

Jamaica

Reggae lovers from all over the world visit year in and year out to the cultural stylings of the Rebel Salute reggae festival on Jan. 19 and 20. This family-oriented event is renowned for its respectable environment free of alcohol, weapons and offensive lyrics.

Every January, Organic H.E.A.R.T Group of Companies hosts the annual musical festival, which was birthed by international reggae superstar Tony Rebel. Described as a modern Indigenous work of art that goes from dusk until dawn for two days, the festival focuses on displaying Jamaican music in all forms — roots reggae, dancehall, ska, mento, rocksteady — before the largest and most discerning audience of any music festival in the Caribbean.

Complemented by a diverse lineup of performing acts from all over the world (including England, Germany and African states), Rebel Salute boasts a massive cultural food village, a Jamaican arts village and the famous Herb Curb.

TPG tip: Book the Hilton Rose Hall Resort & Spa for 90,000 Hilton Honors points or around $435 a night.

Related: The best all-inclusive resorts in Jamaica, from honeymoon hot spots to family-friendly resorts

Marquette, Michigan

Tucked away in one of the snowiest parts of the east, Marquette County in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula is a winter adventure haven with activities for everyone. Save the date for Jan. 26-27, 2024, for the 26th Annual Noquemanon Ski Marathon — an event loved by both elite and casual cross-country skiers from all over. It takes off from Ishpeming’s Al Quaal Recreation Area and finishes at the NMU Superior Dome.

After the race, dive into Marquette’s winter adventures, top-notch dining and amazing craft beer scene, or hit the trails for some snowshoeing and skiing.

TPG tip: Book the Fairfield Inn & Suites Marquette for 25,000 Marriott Bonvoy points. Book the Hampton Inn Marquette/Waterfront for 69,000 points or $175 per night.

San Diego

This Southern California city is always a good choice for a winter getaway. Not only will you still get temperatures in the high 60s, but some special events in January make it worth a trip.

The 13th annual San Diego Brew Festival takes place in NTC Park in Liberty Station on Jan. 6 and will feature more than 70 breweries, 200 beers, 10 of San Diego’s best food trucks, bands and more.

Other popular events in San Diego include the Monster Jam, the Borrego Springs Film Festival and the San Diego Lunar New Year Festival.

Additionally, more than 20,000 gray whales migrate from Alaska to the lagoons of Baja California in January, when the females give birth to their calves. San Diego is an ideal destination for viewing this impressive spectacle, with 70 miles of coastline set along the migration path.

San Diego (along with Tijuana, Mexico) has also been designated the World Design Capital for 2024. The World Design Organization accolade recognizes cities that enhance their residents’ economic, social, cultural and environmental quality of life through design. It’s the first time that two cities will simultaneously celebrate the designation through unique experiences, from events and festivals to exhibitions and summits.

TPG tip: Perched on a hilltop above the beachy hamlet of Carlsbad, the Park Hyatt Aviara feels like a classic California resort. There are plenty of on-site amenities including a Splash Pool Deck that’s great for families, an expansive fitness center, tennis courts and rounds at the Aviara Golf Club; there are also nearby hiking trails along the Batiquitos Lagoon. Rates from $552 or 21,000-29,000 points per night.

Related: The best hotels in San Diego

St. Barts

January is one of the most popular months to visit St. Barts, and it’s easy to see why.

The weather is perfect, and the beaches are sparkling. Also, the island hosts the 40th annual St. Bart’s Music Festival on Jan. 6-15. The festival is a music connoisseur’s dream.

Related: The best Caribbean resorts in 2023

It brings some of the world’s most prominent classical, opera, ballet and jazz stars from Montreal, Boston, New York, Chicago, Pittsburgh, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, London and Paris, as well as from the Juilliard and Curtis schools of music.

TPG tip: Stay at the luxurious Hotel Barriere Le Carl Gustaf from $969 per night or 100,400 Chase Ultimate Rewards points per night.

Khao Yai, Thailand

If you’re considering visiting Thailand, January is the time to do it.

Once you land in Bangkok, venture about three hours to Khao Yai National Park. Established as Thailand’s first, and currently one of its largest, national parks, Khao Yai is a serene landscape of forest and grassland that offers an escape from the outside world.

As one of the richest conservation areas in Thailand, the UNESCO-protected preserve encompasses miles of hiking and biking trails, picturesque waterfalls and nature in its purest form. You may encounter varied wildlife — from wandering elephants and hornbills to gibbons and bears.

TPG tip: Transporting guests back to the golden age of rail travel, the InterContinental Khao Yai Resort takes historical inspiration from King Rama V’s reign in the late 1800s. Rooms are available for around $199 or 33,000 IHG One Rewards points per night.

Park City, Utah

For powderhounds, Park City is the ultimate winter escape. In January, the snow is at its prime, ideal for skiing and snowboarding.

If you don’t want to shred some powder, this month also marks one of the biggest Hollywood events. The Sundance Film Festival is when lots of A-listers descend on the charming ski town to show off their new films, lead discussions with fans and throw some epic parties.

While there, discover Utah Olympic Park, explore the buzzing Main Street, book a spa treatment at Westgate Park City and have an apres experience with Alpine Distilling. It’s hard to find a reason not to visit in January.

TPG tip: The AC Hotel Park City — available from $307 or 32,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night — is a sleek hotel less than 10 minutes from the ski slopes and 15 minutes from downtown. If you want to splurge on more polished quarters along with ski-in and ski-out access, the Waldorf Astoria Park City is in a prime location close to the slopes and amenities of Canyons Village. Rates start from around $1,500 per night during ski season, making Hilton Honors points redemptions a fantastic option. If you act fast, there’s currently plenty of availability for 110,000 points per night in January and March.

Related reading:

• Key travel tips you need to know — whether you’re a beginner or expert traveler
• The best travel credit cards
• Where to go in 2024: The 16 best places to travel
• 6 real-life strategies you can use when your flight is canceled or delayed
• 8 of the best credit cards for general travel purchases
• 13 must-have items the TPG team can’t travel without