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  • Advertiser Disclosure: The credit card offers that appear on AwardWallet are from credit card companies from which we receive compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on AwardWallet (including, for example, the order in which they appear). AwardWallet does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers.

    Editorial Disclosure: The editorial content on this page is not provided by any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain, and has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. Opinions expressed here are author's alone, not those of the bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

JT Genter

Editor-In-Chief
Distance Traveled in 2026
Visited in 2026

JT is AwardWallet’s Editor-In-Chief. JT originally joined the AwardWallet team in early 2020 as a freelance editor and writer, but he has been part of the points and miles ecosystem since 2014. Looking for a way to reduce the cost of a trip to China, he found he could sign up for just one credit card to get enough miles to fly round-trip for almost nothing out of pocket.

That experience prompted him to dive headfirst into the world of airline, hotel, and credit card points and miles. After working for a decade as a tax accountant, JT focused his analytical skills on writing about points, miles, and credit cards. He started contributing at The Points Guy in 2015 and published over 2,000 articles on the site before joining AwardWallet in early 2020.

In June 2017, JT and his wife Katie sold or donated nearly all of their possessions to become digital nomads, proving firsthand how points, miles, and credit card rewards can drastically reduce the cost of travel. JT has logged over 2.1 million miles on 115 airlines, visited 86 countries, and maintains elite status with 6 airlines (including British Airways Silver, Turkish Miles&Smiles Elite, Asiana Diamond) and 5 hotel loyalty programs (including IHG Diamond Elite, Hilton Diamond, and Marriott Titanium Elite).

Award Travelers Guide to Le Meridien Maldives Resort & Spa
Award Travelers Guide to Le Meridien Maldives Resort & Spa
2

The Le Meridien Maldives is one of the best point values in the Maldives, with overwater villas often even being bookable with Free Night Award certificates earned through Marriott credit cards. My wife and I returned to this property this month for our second visit and were impressed by the excellent service and well-designed villas. However, the resort isn't going to be right for everyone. Here's what award travelers should know about the Le Meridien Maldives.

JT Genter
JT Genter
How To Renew Your Global Entry Membership (And a Trick to Getting a Quick Approval)
How To Renew Your Global Entry Membership (And a Trick to Getting a Quick Approval)
46

Global Entry is a US customs screening program that allows low-risk, pre-approved, international travelers expedited entry into the United States. Since US Customs and Border Protection runs the program, it also allows members to use TSA Pre✓ lines when traveling domestically. It’s an excellent tool for frequent travelers and easy to obtain for free through various travel rewards credit cards.

JT Genter
JT Genter
You Can Now Convert MGM Rewards Points to Marriott Bonvoy Points — And Vice Versa
You Can Now Convert MGM Rewards Points to Marriott Bonvoy Points — And Vice Versa
0

Earlier this year, the long-awaited integration of MGM and Marriott Bonvoy took center stage. Outside of making 16 MGM properties bookable with Bonvoy points, the Marriott-MGM tie up offers resort-goers tier match opportunities, reciprocal elite benefits, and more. The "and more" grew today as Marriott and MGM finally made good on a benefit proposed many months ago. Here's why that matters.

Tyler GlattJT Genter
Tyler Glatt & JT Genter
Marriott Lifetime Elite Status: What You Need to Earn It and the Perks It Yields
Marriott Lifetime Elite Status: What You Need to Earn It and the Perks It Yields
2

Marriott is one of several hotel loyalty programs that offers lifetime elite status, rewarding its loyal members after years of faithfully staying at its hotels. Lifetime elite members enjoy various benefits depending on which lifetime status level they have achieved. In this guide, we also highlight a way you can slowly progress toward Marriott lifetime status even if you don't stay with the chain frequently.

Ian SnyderJT Genter
Ian Snyder & JT Genter

Reviewed by Tyler Glatt

How To Book Vacation Rental Properties From 15,000 Capital One or Citi Points Per Night
How To Book Vacation Rental Properties From 15,000 Capital One or Citi Points Per Night
0

Thanks to Wyndham Rewards' partnership with Vacasa, travelers can book vacation rentals for 15,000 points per night — or just 13,500 points per night if you're a Wyndham Rewards cardholder. Don't have Wyndham points? You can transfer Capital One miles or Citi ThankYou Points to Wyndham at a 1:1 transfer ratio. Here's what you need to know about this potentially lucrative redemption option.

JT GenterBrie Bash
JT Genter & Brie Bash
511 United Award Routes That You Can Book for Just 6,500 Avianca LifeMiles
511 United Award Routes That You Can Book for Just 6,500 Avianca LifeMiles
0

One of the best uses of LifeMiles is booking United flights within North America. On certain routes, you can find United award flights for just 6,500 LifeMiles each way. Let's dive deep into this particular sweet spot to show you 511 routes where AwardWallet found this excellent award rate. Plus, we'll review the many LifeMiles transfer partners and other ways to get LifeMiles.

JT Genter
JT Genter

Reviewed by Tyler Glatt

Choice Privileges Devalues Program, Pricing Nights Higher Than Ever Before
Choice Privileges Devalues Program, Pricing Nights Higher Than Ever Before
0

The Choice Privileges program became a little less valuable today — or whenever it began ignoring its stated points cap on award nights. Choice seems to have devalued its program without notice. Consequently, prices for a free night have already begun creeping upwards. Here's what you need to know about the Choice Privileges devaluation and why this one stings a little more than most.

Tyler GlattJT Genter
Tyler Glatt & JT Genter
Card Question: Do You Need a Chase Sapphire Card Before Getting a Chase Ink or Unlimited?
Card Question: Do You Need a Chase Sapphire Card Before Getting a Chase Ink or Unlimited?
2

The Ink Business Cash® Credit Card and Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card both offer valuable sign-up bonuses. One reader reached out to ask if he needed to have an existing Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or Chase Sapphire Reserve® before applying for an Ink card to convert that cash-back bonus into transferrable Ultimate Rewards points. We break down the answer in this post.

JT Genter
JT Genter

Reviewed by Ryan Smith

Chase Freedom Flex Card Review: A Worthy Addition to Your Chase Card Lineup
Chase Freedom Flex Card Review: A Worthy Addition to Your Chase Card Lineup
89

The Chase Freedom Flex℠ is a strong earner in the Ultimate Rewards family of cards. It offers many of the best benefits of the Chase Freedom® and the Chase Freedom Unlimited® — including no annual fee and generous spending categories. In addition, the Freedom Flex comes with a unique set of benefits, from complimentary cell phone protection to savings with Lyft and DoorDash.

Ashley OnadeleJT Genter
Ashley Onadele & JT Genter

Reviewed by Ryan Smith