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I almost never use my points to spring for business class, but on this trip to L.A., there was a particular reason I did: It was priced lower than economy class 😂
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The points world is full of tech quirks, but unfortunately, they won't all benefit you the way this one did. Here are a few problems you may run into when booking free flights (and how to avoid them!):
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❌You don't see award availability - Trying to check for availability on certain airline websites can be a lost cause. There are so many instances where one airline website won't display a partner's space correctly (or at all), but if you haven't done your research beforehand, you won't know and may just think there are no free flights available. There are tons of resources online about which websites you can use to reliably check award space - try googling "how to search award space on xyz airline" before you start for some helpful pointers. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
❌The availability you see isn't really there - This is called "phantom availability," and it's a thing. The last thing you want is to do a permanent points transfer only to realize you can't use those points to complete a transaction. You can confirm that space is available by checking for it on other partner airlines' websites, but given what I just told you about websites, the option I vastly prefer is just picking up the phone for a minute and confirming with an agent. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
❌Your points take forever to transfer - Not all transfers are instant! It depends on where you're transferring from (Chase, Amex, etc.) and which partner you're transferring to. There's no shortage of handy tables online that will lay out transfer times for you so you know what to expect. And if it's going to take a few days, definitely call and try to put your itinerary on hold until your points come in to make sure availability doesn't disappear while you're waiting.
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Any other tech quirks you've run into when using points and miles? Tell me about them below!

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Tip time!! Let's talk about how to save money on hotel bookings 💰
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I think you guys know by now that if given the choice, I will take staying at a hotel over another accommodation option 11 times out of 10. It's not necessarily always the cheapest choice (let's be real, it rarely is), but there are a few key things I do that can help cut down costs! A few of them:
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💎Book early and re-check your bookings - If rates fall between when you book and when you stay, you can re-book your reservation at the lower rate (assuming it wasn't nonrefundable). I do this alllllll the time.
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💎Break your stay into multiple reservations - Depending on the situation, this can help! If there's a night (or nights) that one hotel is particularly pricey, I sometimes even split my stay between different hotels (and then you get the fun of checking out two!)
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💎Use hotel points 😉
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I rounded up lots more tips in a new post for @bontraveler that's live today! Check out the rest of Jessica's site, too—it's been one of my favorite travel blogs for years. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Photo is from the @hotelsuissemajestic, a beautiful property in Montreux, Switzerland that's bookable with @marriottbonvoy points! Any tips I missed? How do you save on hotel bookings?

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10 years ago today, I boarded a flight that changed everything.
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That flight took me to Prague, where I spent the next 18 months teaching English, leading pub crawls, playing in an Irish band, traveling around Europe and generally figuring out who I wanted to be in this world.
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While the whole thing seems comically short in retrospect, I truly feel as though those 18 months shaped every aspect of who I am today. I owe so much of my self-confidence, my resourcefulness and my independence to that experience, not to mention my relationship to travel and my livelihood (for those who don't know, I am a pharmaceutical journalist, a job I pursued after teaching English lessons at Pfizer Czech Republic).
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There were challenges and low points, sure. I got scammed by taxi drivers, servers, bartenders, my landlord and even my employer—and I got robbed nearly as many times as I got scammed 😂 Expat life had its scary and confusing moments to navigate, and missing big events at home (okay, it was mostly the @nhlblackhawks' 2010 Stanley Cup championship) gutted me.
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But when I think back on my time in Prague—which is often—what I mainly remember is waking up every day and wondering how anything could ever top living there.
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I know I mainly write about how to take trips from your home base (and occasionally how to digital nomad/temporarily work from abroad), but if you're ever considering actually MOVING abroad, please don't hesitate to reach out. I will happily be your cheerleader and spout off an endless list of reasons why it'll be the best leap you ever take. 😊
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To my dear TEFL friends, happy anniversary 🤗A Praho—díky. Miluji tě 💖

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For the first time in a long time, my New Year's resolutions don't revolve completely around travel. Instead, I promised myself I'd drink more water, put myself in a position to have more in-person social interactions throughout my days spent working from home, and prioritize keeping my space clean and organized. (And learn more about Linda Ronstadt, because she just seems like a badass.)
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That, of course, doesn't mean I don't have a 2020 travel wish list. But for whatever reason, I don't feel the sense of urgency I've felt in years past, and I know if I don't get to all the places on it, I'm not going to get bent out of shape. Maybe this is the decade I finally become chill? 😂
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Head to 52citiesblog.com if you want to see where I'm hoping to visit this year, and tell me—what's on your list for 2020?!

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When I think back on 2019, I honestly feel as though I may have spent 95% of it wandering around smiling for no specific reason, barely able to process the insane level of gratitude I feel for so many aspects of my life. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
I am grateful that I get to watch the sunrise almost every day, and that I can see a mountain from my roof when the weather's clear. I am grateful for the new friends I've made in my new state and for the old friends who feel as close as ever, even when they're far in distance.
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I am grateful that after years of spinning my wheels, I finally know what I need to do to get where I want to go as an entrepreneur. And that even during moments of crippling overwhelm⁠—which are many⁠—I know in the back of my mind that they will pass.
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I am grateful that in 2019, I rediscovered the joys of leaving myself unstructured time and room to be spontaneous⁠. Somewhat relatedly, I also learned how to chill the fuck out and just watch TV sometimes like a normal person if I decide that's what I feel like doing.
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I am so, so, so grateful that I got to stand at the edge of the earth, where so few people have the privilege of going, with two of the people I love most on this planet. If I didn't have the penguin pics to prove it, I swear I'd think it was all a dream.
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And, my dear Instagram family, I am truly so grateful for you. This year alone, this platform and the people I've met here have brought me clients, writing opportunities, cheerleaders, collaborators and, most importantly, new friends. I'd be lying if I said Instagram wasn't a huge part of my daily life, and it wouldn't be the same without your messages, comments, tips and questions. I am so honored to have you following along.
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More end-of-year reflections are up on 52citiesblog.com (including a recap of my year in travel and how I tracked against my goals).
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Wishing you the happiest new year ever 💖
xoxo
Carly

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I don't celebrate Christmas, but I definitely celebrate Christmas markets 🙌 Here are just a few of the reasons the one in Montreux, Switzerland was my favorite of those I've been to so far:
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🧀Food: You'll probably find good food at almost any market in Europe, but who doesn't want to add Swiss chocolate, raclette, and fondue to the mix?!
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⛰️Setting: You can't see it here, but this stall is sitting right on a stunning lake surrounded by snowcapped mountains. Game over.
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🎡Size: The huge markets in Germany are fun in their own way, but they can also be a little overwhelming. Montreux's is the perfect size to explore for the afternoon/evening and feel like you got to hit all the highlights.
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Have you been to any of the Christmas markets in Europe? Which was your favorite?

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