<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" version="2.0"><channel><title><![CDATA[Our Travel Pointers]]></title><description><![CDATA[Travel Smarter with Our Pointers]]></description><link>https://www.ourtravelpointers.com/blog</link><generator>RSS for Node</generator><lastBuildDate>Thu, 23 Jul 2026 21:14:34 GMT</lastBuildDate><atom:link href="https://www.ourtravelpointers.com/blog-feed.xml" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><item><title><![CDATA[Hotel Trip Report: Grand Hyatt Baha Mar]]></title><description><![CDATA[Quick Take If you're looking for the ultimate family resort, Grand Hyatt Baha Mar is hard to beat. Between the incredible Baha Bay Water Park, countless pools, amazing wildlife experiences, and endless activities, our kids never once said they were bored—which is saying a lot! We stayed for seven nights and loved it so much that we booked another trip before we even left. Next time we'll be staying six nights, which we think is the perfect amount of time to experience everything the resort...]]></description><link>https://www.ourtravelpointers.com/post/hotel-trip-report-grand-hyatt-baha-mar</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a612e77b252e37e4d32520b</guid><pubDate>Wed, 22 Jul 2026 21:13:51 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/addab5_497f62f5c31647eb89f9a910f736f854~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>ashfrancke</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Hotel Trip Report: The Ritz-Carlton Naples, Tiburón]]></title><description><![CDATA[One of our all-time favorite family resorts in Florida. We've stayed at The Ritz-Carlton Naples, Tiburón multiple times, and it continues to exceed our expectations. If you're looking for a luxury resort that's just as enjoyable for kids as it is for adults, this is one of the best we've found. One of the biggest reasons we keep coming back is the incredible service. Every stay, the staff goes above and beyond to make us feel welcome. The hospitality here is truly exceptional and is one of...]]></description><link>https://www.ourtravelpointers.com/post/hotel-trip-report-the-ritz-carlton-naples-tibur%C3%B3n</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a6129906ed1567a596dc15c</guid><pubDate>Wed, 22 Jul 2026 20:36:11 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/addab5_0a502545628c45b7b1c000d713ed05b3~mv2.jpeg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>ashfrancke</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Hotel Trip Report: Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort &#38; Spa]]></title><description><![CDATA[Quick Take We've now stayed at the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point twice, and somehow it keeps getting better. Between the incredible pool complex, fast water slides, spacious suite upgrades, and excellent Globalist benefits through a Guest of Honor (GOH) booking, this has become one of our family's favorite Hyatt resorts. If you have kids who are at least 48 inches tall, this resort deserves a spot on your travel list. The water slides alone are worth the trip—but they're only the beginning....]]></description><link>https://www.ourtravelpointers.com/post/hotel-trip-report-hyatt-regency-coconut-point-resort-spa</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a6128236f3edb48b201bb19</guid><pubDate>Wed, 22 Jul 2026 20:34:16 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/addab5_85f9b2c775b249bc856af0e6441eef15~mv2.jpeg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>ashfrancke</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Hotel Trip Report: Walt Disney World Swan]]></title><description><![CDATA[Quick Take Our four-night stay at the Walt Disney World Swan was everything we hoped it would be—and more. We booked the hotel using points through the Chase Travel portal, and surprisingly, it cost fewer points than booking directly through Marriott, even after factoring in a 70% Chase-to-Marriott transfer bonus. If you're looking for one of the best values at Disney World, it's hard to beat staying in the EPCOT resort area without paying deluxe Disney resort prices. The location,...]]></description><link>https://www.ourtravelpointers.com/post/hotel-trip-report-walt-disney-world-swan</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a61278f6f3edb48b201b980</guid><pubDate>Wed, 22 Jul 2026 20:28:48 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/addab5_337167cad1dd46b0bf611be8816a6050~mv2.jpeg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>ashfrancke</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Hotel Trip Report: JW Marriott Marco Island Beach Resort]]></title><description><![CDATA[Quick Take Our three-night stay at the JW Marriott Marco Island Beach Resort was one of the most memorable hotel experiences we've ever had. We booked a standard Tropical View room entirely on Marriott Bonvoy points, and thanks to a little proactive communication, we were upgraded to an incredible Beachfront Lanai Suite. Between the amazing upgrade, thoughtful birthday surprises for my daughter, and extra Marriott elite perks, this trip reminded me that sometimes reaching out before your stay...]]></description><link>https://www.ourtravelpointers.com/post/hotel-trip-report-jw-marriott-marco-island-beach-resort</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a612705b252e37e4d323cd8</guid><pubDate>Wed, 22 Jul 2026 20:26:06 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/addab5_edef70ba90754c998ac9d1309bf2bcf6~mv2.jpeg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>ashfrancke</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Hotel Trip Report: Thompson Central Park New York]]></title><description><![CDATA[Quick Take We booked a two-night stay at the Thompson Central Park, and it exceeded every expectation. We booked the hotel for 29,000 Hyatt points per night, and between the incredible location, exceptional service, and valuable Globalist benefits through a Guest of Honor (GOH) booking, this ended up being one of our favorite city hotel stays. The free breakfast (included with GOH for 2 adults and 2 kids) was incredible and well over $200 each morning. We were even upgraded to a King Suite,...]]></description><link>https://www.ourtravelpointers.com/post/hotel-trip-report-thompson-central-park-new-york</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a611ab66f3edb48b2019346</guid><pubDate>Wed, 22 Jul 2026 19:51:25 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/addab5_7b538cb6207a411a9491c1201bf5fa61~mv2.jpeg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>ashfrancke</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Free Upgrade Template]]></title><description><![CDATA[About a week before every trip, I send a quick email to the hotel manager letting them know how excited we are for our stay and mentioning any special occasion we may be celebrating. (There is always something to celebrate!) I usually don't send it much earlier than that, since the hotel may not have a clear picture of room availability or potential upgrades until closer to our arrival. To find the manager’s email address, I usually start by searching the hotel online and looking for the...]]></description><link>https://www.ourtravelpointers.com/post/free-upgrade-template</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a6103ecbc66ff1e99e1794a</guid><pubDate>Wed, 22 Jul 2026 17:55:37 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/addab5_3eba54176c044390904deddd4ccfad4f~mv2.jpeg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>ashfrancke</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Tips to Maximize Travel Rewards]]></title><description><![CDATA[Understanding Travel Rewards Programs Travel rewards programs are designed to incentivize customers to use specific credit cards, airlines, or hotel chains. These programs allow you to earn points or miles for every dollar spent, which can later be redeemed for travel-related expenses such as flights, hotel stays, and car rentals. Types of Travel Rewards Airline Miles: Earned through airline loyalty programs, these miles can be redeemed for flights, upgrades, and other travel perks. Hotel...]]></description><link>https://www.ourtravelpointers.com/post/maximize-travel-rewards-tips-for-points-and-miles</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a53bef81f3b88f8a4ec760f</guid><pubDate>Sun, 12 Jul 2026 16:21:12 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/addab5_8a5ee74ea257410a992de21bedb2cfc6~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_768,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>ashfrancke</dc:creator></item></channel></rss>