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Hardcore tequila snobs will tell you that great tequila is wasted in a margarita. I’d like to push back on that a little. While yes, you probably shouldn’t be using your sip-worthy or rare bottles in a mixed drink unless you like burning money, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that a great tequila is a strong foundation for making great margaritas. Not exactly rocket science, right?

When I say “margarita” I’m talking about the simple straightforward classic version of the cocktail — tequila, fresh lime juice (from a lime, not a bottle), and some orange liqueur all stirred with ice. If you’re blending up one of those syrupy sweet frozen versions, sure, use the cheapest stuff on hand, but when we’re talking about a three-ingredient drink, a great agave-forward and complex tequila is going to make all the difference.

If you’re looking to level up your margarita game, we’d like to help. Here are 9 of our go-to tequilas for making a delicious margarita, ranked from good to great.

• We Put The 10 Best Selling Tequilas On The Market To A Blind Test
• Tequilas Under $100 That Are Perfect For Sipping Straight
• The Absolute Best Bottles Of Tequila For Taking Shots, Ranked
• Additive Vs. Additive-Free Reposado Tequilas, Blind Tasted And Ranked
• The Best Tequilas For Whiskey Drinkers, Power Ranked By A Whiskey Pro

9. Lunazul — Tequila Blanco

ABV: 40%
Average Price: $18.99

The Tequila:

A great starting point would be Lunazul’s Blanco tequila, a surprisingly good tequila for the price. Produced at NOM 1513, Tierra De Agaves, Lunazul’s agave is hand-harvested, cooked in an autoclave, fermented with a proprietary yeast, and twice distilled in copper pots.

On its own, it’s a bit harsh, but that harshness disappears when mixed, serving as a fine base.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Dry cracked black pepper softened by vanilla with a hint of roasted agave.

Palate: A balance between vegetal and sweet characteristics. I’m tasking vanilla, black pepper, and sour apple skins.

Finish: Dry and peppery with a lingering minty quality.

The Bottom Line:

A mildly harsh agave-forward tequila that will give your cocktails a nice little kick on the backend.

8. Olmeca Altos — Blanco

ABV: 40%
Average Price: $25.99

The Tequila:

Olmeca Altos is made low and slow with a strong agave character. The tequila is produced at NOM 1111, Pernod Richard Mexico, using traditional practices like slow-cooking the agave in brick ovens, crushing the juice with a tahona, and distilling in copper pots.

The tequila is made using well water which gives it some palpable minerality.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Warm roasted agave wafts from the glass. It’s shockingly pleasant and inviting for a tequila in this price range.

Palate: Heavy on the citrus zest mixed with fresh green peppers.

Finish: Initially herbal and smooth but after a while the heat starts to build.

The Bottom Line:

A nice mix of zesty citrus notes and agave which present nicely when mixed with lime juice and Cointreau. I like the little burn this one has on the backend as well.

7. Tequila G4— Blanco

ABV: 40%

Average Price: $43.99

The Tequila:

G4 is the sort of tequila that will inspire seasoned collectors to wonder why I’d want to use a tequila this nice in a margarita, to which I say, “Have you tried it?”

Because yes, G4 is amazing neat, but the qualities of this additive-free tequila translate through a margarita amazingly. Produced by 4th generation master distiller Felipe Camarena at NOM 1579, Destileria El Pandillo, G4 cooks its agave in stone brick ovens, extracts the juice with a tahona, and is made with natural spring and rainwater.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Lots of agave on the nose with a spikiness that tickles the nose akin to inhaling spices.

Palate: A lovely mix of roasted agave and warm citrus paired with wet grass.

Finish: Bright and nutty with a supple buttery mouthfeel.

The Bottom Line:

A clean and bright additive-free blanco with a lot of distinct character that is sure to elevate your cocktail game.

6. Siete Leguas — Blanco

ABV: 40%

Average Price: $45.99

The Tequila:

Siete Leguas is produced at NOM 1120 at a distiller of the same name. It should go without saying but this is the only brand in production.

This is another traditionally made additive-free tequila made from slow-cooking agave in stone ovens.

Where this differs from the other similarly prepared bottles on this list are the prominent green and grassy flavors.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Warm agave and wet rock. There is a natural quality to this tequila that I find particularly additive.

Palate: Incredibly earthy and highly vegetal with a strong green grass flavor. Cracked peppercorns help balance this out.

Finish: The grassy and earthy mineral flavors are contrasted by a prominent citrus finish and a light vanilla kiss.

The Bottom Line:

Highly grassy and vegetal. If you want something to balance the tangier aspects of your margarita, this is your tequila.

5. Cascahuin — Blanco

ABV:40%

Average Price: $47.99

The Tequila:

A great tequila that highlights the natural sweetness of agave. Produced at NOM 1123 at Tequila Cascahuin, this is another additive-free tequila that is cooked low and slow in stone brick ovens, roller mill extracted, and fermented in stainless steel tanks before being twice distilled in a stainless pot with copper coil.

My favorite expression from this brand is the reposado but given the price on that one, you’re stepping into ‘money-burning’ territory, so I’m going to shout out this blanco instead!

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Roasted agave, citrus, and warm wet soil.

Palate: The humid warmth from the nose translates to the palate, with some caramelized agave sweetness black pepper, the slightest hint of vanilla, and a mineral quality.

Finish: That mintiness peaks out a bit more here but it’s balanced out by citrus and black pepper.

The Bottom Line:

Sweet and agave forward with a bit of comforting warmth to it. Pretty mellow despite the lack of aging. A great option if you like your margaritas to lean sweet rather than tart.

4. LALO — Tequila Blanco

ABV: 40%

Average Price: $42.99

The Tequila:

I’m such a hardcore LALO fan that I started to become self-conscious about putting the brand on lists last year. But considering this is one of my go-to tequilas in the house, making this list and not including this exquisite blanco would just feel wrong.

The brand makes a single additive-free expression — their blanco — and they are damn good at it. The agave here is sourced from the Jalisco highlands and cooked in stone steam ovens for 20-32 hours before being rested for an additional 18 hours, which allows the sugars to intensify.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Bright and spikey with nose-tickling citrus notes.

Palate: Rich agave and caramel dominate with some cinnamon spice, a hint of vanilla, and a slight touch of fruit.

Finish: Bright, juicy and punchy.

The Bottom Line:

Agave forward, sweet, and rich. Not just great for a margarita, try it with a Paloma as well — the cinnamon character pairs nicely with some grapefruit juice.

3. Tapatio — Reposado

ABV: 40%

Average Price: $41.99

The Tequila:

This will get you in the same ballpark as our number one choice, so if you’re looking to make a mellow margarita without breaking the bank, this will probably be your top pick.

Produced at NOM 1139, the famed La Alteña, Tapatio cooks agave in stone brick ovens, extracts the juice via a roller mill, and ages the liquid in bourbon barrels for a mellow additive-free tequila that still retains some of that characteristic agave bite.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Roasted agave, warm barrel oak, and rich vanilla and banana.

Palate: Agave and earth, with some caramel, cinnamon, and creamy butter. There is a confection quality to the flavor here.

Finish: Mellow and soft with a bit of citrus.

The Bottom Line:

Mellow and sweet. It’s not as agave-forward as our number one or number two pick, but it brings a nice rich quality to a margarita.

2. El Tesoro Blanco

ABV: 40%

Average Price: $46.99

The Tequila:

El Tesoro is a brand that introduced me to good additive-free tequila. Prior to drinking El Tesoro, I was the sort that thought Patrón and Don Julio were top-tier, so the brand will always have a place in my heart for opening the door to truly great tequila.

El Tesoro is produced at NOM 1139, Tequila Tapatio (La Aleteña) where it is one of three brands produced. The agave is cooked in stone ovens, tahona extracted, and fermented in open-air wood tanks before being twice distilled in a copper pot.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Juicy agave leads the way with a hint of fruity mango interest.

Palate: Roasted agave, cracked black pepper, fresh flowers, baking spices, a hint of salt, grass, and minerals. There is a lot to latch onto here.

Finish: Remarkably clean. Agave and grass with no lingering flavor.

The Bottom Line:

Juicy, agave forward, floral and fruity. Use this in a margarita and people won’t believe you kept your cocktail simple with just three ingredients.

1. Tequila Ocho Reposado

ABV: 40%

Average Price: $54.49

The Tequila:

Yeah, okay, this is my asshole pick. Maybe you shouldn’t use a tequila over $50 in a margarita, that’s fair. On most days, I’m not going to do it either. But on certain occasions if I want a mellow margarita with deep and complex flavors, something worth savoring and slow sipping. I’m going to use Tequila Ocho’s Reposado, even if it’s against my better judgment.

This tequila is made at NOM 1474, Cía Tequila Los Alambiques, from single estate agave that is harvested at peak maturity, slow-cooked in brick ovens for 48 hours and cooled for an additional 24 before the piñas are crushed in a roller mill and fermented for 100 hours in open air wood fermentation tanks.

After being twice distilled, the tequila is aged in bourbon barrels for over eight weeks to reach the reposado state.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Remarkably warm and inviting. I’m getting rich roasted agave, prominent vanilla notes, and some oak.

Palate: What I love about this repo is that the smell suggests something it’s not, you’d think this would lean syrupy and sweet but what you get instead is a lot of fruit. Prominent notes of citrus, mango, melon and pineapple dominate, balanced with spicy cinnamon and caramelized agave.

Finish: That creamy rich quality from the nose appears on the finish. It’s sumptuous, smooth, and round with a mouthwatering savory finish.

The Bottom Line:

Warm mellow and sweet, but still agave forward. A truly luxurious foundation for a margarita.

I’ve been to the Caribbean a handful of times now, and what I love about this tropical region of the world (you know, besides a whole lot of perfect weather) is that every island has its own distinct identity. Each slice of paradise sprinkled throughout the azure Caribbean Sea has unique cuisine, culture, scenery, and stories to share.

A Caribbean island that might not be on your radar, but should be, is St. Kitts (one half of the country Saint Kitts and Nevis). The island is still (relatively) off the tourism track, as the primary industry was sugar up until 2005. In other words, it’s not yet totally overcrowded with visitors. And while the days when cruises arrive do get busy, for the most part St. Kitts feels like a laidback destination with pristine beaches, rainforests, outdoor adventure, cultural sites, and fresh farm-to-table cuisine.

The island is one of those places that made me utter “Yeah, I could live here,” as soon as I stepped off the plane. If you’re not ready to get up and move just yet, I highly recommend adding this island to your travel bucket list. Read on to find my full guide to your next vacation in St. Kitts.

PART I: WHERE TO STAY

Belle Mont Sanctuary Resort

If you’re seeking serenity and nature with a dose of luxury, look no further than Belle Mont Sanctuary. The boutique property spans 400 acres on Mount Liamuiga, nestled in the rainforest with a view of the sea. Most of the rooms available are a luxury cottage with a private deck and an infinity plunge pool.

Picture this: You’re in your bikini, the rain is coming down but the sun is still peeking through the fog, the sunset begins on your left and a rainbow appears on your right. You’re surrounded by lush green flora and you can hear monkeys chattering in the distance. Sorry for overusing the word “paradise” but come on!

Belle Mont Sanctuary is a “farm-to-table hotel” focused on wellness and sustainability, so you feel truly immersed in the tropical setting — even the bathrooms are located outside of your cottage, immersed in nature. I was slightly terrified to get up and go in the middle of the night, but getting ready at my outside vanity with the sunrise reflected in the mirror behind me was something special.

The property also has a farm, and the restaurant sources most of its food from the land, forest, and sea around the hotel, or it works with local farmers for other necessary ingredients. Every meal you eat here is organic and fresh, not to mention downright delicious.

Rates start at about $760 per night. Book your stay at Belle Mont Sanctuary here.

St. Kitts Marriott Resort

I’m not usually one for large-scale chain resorts, but if there’s any place for it, it’s on a tropical island. Plus, it’s more affordable than some of the luxury boutique options available. The Marriott in St. Kitts offers classic resort vibes with multiple pools, roomy suites, and various dining options, not to mention a casino located in the lobby. But it’s also in a prime location, within walking distance or a short drive to Frigate Bay, a lively part of town with beachside restaurants and bars.

The resort also has a private beach area with tons of cabanas and safe swimming areas, so you don’t have to go far to put your toes in the sand. The only downside is that the property faces away from the sunset, but if you’re open to an early wake-up call, it’s worth getting up for sunrise at least once.

Rates start at $351 per night. Book your room at the Marriott here.

PART II: WHERE TO PLAY

Catamaran & Snorkel Tour

It’s not a trip to the Caribbean without a Catamaran ride and snorkeling. I recommended a half-day sail with Leeward Island Charters. You’ll sail along the coastline to the nearby Nevis Island, where you’ll snorkel among the stingrays and glowy rainbow fish. (If you have an underwater camera, bring it!) For $80, you get four hours of sailing, unlimited booze, snorkeling gear, and a light lunch.

It’s impossible to be in a bad mood when you’re cruising in the sunshine, with a rum punch in your hand, island jams playing in the background, and nothing but blue sea and sky ahead. The staff is also incredibly friendly and tons of fun.

Book a sail and snorkel tour here.

Brimstone Hill Fortress National Park

Brimstone Hill Fortress National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is a must on your St. Kitts itinerary. Located atop a volcanic mountain, this incredibly well-preserved fortress represents centuries of history on the island. It was built by African slave labor and used by the British colonial military in the 17th and 18th centuries. While exploring the halls of Brimstone Hill Fortress, you’ll learn about the cultural impacts of St. Kitts’s past and take in the panoramic views of the island around you.

Learn more about Brimstone Hill Fortress here.

Wingfield Estate and Romney Manor

Wingfield Estate and Romney Manor, located right next door to each other, are the home of several noteworthy attractions — the first one being Caribelle Batik. Batik is a traditional Indonesian fabric-dying technique that made its way to St. Kitts, and Caribelle Batik is the spot to find beautifully handmade clothing, home decor, and souvenir pieces.

Some of the women who work here have been perfecting their technique for nearly 50 years. In the store, you’ll get to watch their artistic process in real time while learning more about the technique. If you want a hands-on experience, you can even make your own Batik to bring home. Despite my lack of artistic ability, I loved creating something special with the help of the local artisans to remember my time on the island.

Around the corner from Caribelle Batik is Wingfield Estate, where you can walk through the ruins of an old sugar plantation and a recently discovered rum distillery, which was uncovered in 2013. Wandering the grounds here is another great way to learn more about the island’s history. Old Road Rum, a locally-owned rum brand, now uses the distillery site as its home base. So you can sip on a cocktail when you’re done touring the estate.

Tip: Wingfield Estate and Romney Manor are located near the bottom of Brimstone Hill, so it’s convenient to do these excursions on the same day.

PART III: WHERE TO EAT & DRINK

Make Your Own Rum at Spice Mill

If you want to dive further into the local rum industry, head to Spice Mill Restaurant for a Kittitian Rum Master Experience. You’ll make your very own bottle of spiced rum to bring home with the guidance of Roger Brisbane, the founder of a local infused spirits brand called Hibiscus Spirits. (He’s also the owner of Spice Mill.)

In addition to his spiced rum recipe, Brisbane will teach you how to make his signature cocktail, so you can impress your friends with your newfound bartending skills when you get home. The distillery is a single room located beneath the restaurant, and the experience is reminiscent of high school chemistry class, except you get to drink the final concoction!

Spice Mill Restaurant itself is also the perfect spot for lunch, as it’s located right on the beach with a view of the Caribbean coastline. Personally, I recommend grabbing a bite here before the rum experience — for obvious reasons.

Learn more about the Kittitian Rum Master experience here.

Farm to Table at Ital Creations

For a true farm-to-table experience, go to Ital Creations at Fari Organic Farm, a vegan, sustainable, and family-owned kitchen. The entire experience of dining here will make you feel grounded and healthy. You’ll order food from a tin and wooden stand painted yellow, red, and green, then enjoy it at a picnic table under a mango tree.

You can also get a tour of the farm from the owner, Judah Fari, whose calming and knowledgeable demeanor is soothing for everyone around him. He’ll teach you about the healing properties of the various herbs and plants throughout his farm. Fari Organic Farm also hosts events often, such as yoga classes and movie nights, so make sure to ask about their schedule during your visit.

Learn more about Ital Creations here.

Boozies At the Beach

For beachside dining and laidback bar vibes, head to Boozies at the Beach, located on the Frigate Bay Strip amid lively weekend crowds and beach-goers. The restaurant offers a selection of classic bar snacks like nachos and wings, as well as Caribbean favorites like Mahi Mahi with rice and beans. I ordered the curried conch as my main course, which I savored every bite of. The food is good but it’s the ambiance of this place that makes it stand out, from the ocean view to the brightly colored lights and decor.

Stay up to date with Boozies’s hours and menu options here.

If you’re considering a trip to the Caribbean, make sure to put St. Kitts at the top of your list of islands to visit. Between its stunning scenery, kind people, and diverse selection of activities, St. Kitts will leave you feeling inspired and dying to come back the second you leave.

The wave of Leave the World Behind jokes that emerged during the nationwide AT&T outage may have been onto something. According to a new report, the widespread outage is being investigated as a potential cyberattack. If true, that would mean the AT&T outage mimicked the Netflix movie starring Julia Roberts and Ethan Hawke far more than anyone realized.

Citing “two sources briefed on the situation,” ABC News reports that “the FBI and Department of Homeland Security (DHS), among other agencies, are now urgently investigating to determine whether the AT&T outages are the result of a cyberattack or a hack, or simply some sort of technical malfunction.”

This afternoon, [National Security Communications Adviser John] Kirby told reporters that DHS and the FBI are looking into the outages as well, and are working with the tech industry and network providers to see what can be done “from a federal perspective to enhance their investigative efforts to figure out what happened here.”

“The bottom line is we don’t have all the answers,” he said. “We’re working very hard to see if we can get to the ground truth of exactly what happened.”

While the implications of the outage being a potential cyberattack are concerning, A&T has informed customers that the situation has been resolved. However, no official explanation for the outage has been disclosed at this time.

“We have restored wireless service to all our affected customers,” AT&T said in a statement. “We sincerely apologize to them. Keeping our customers connected remains our top priority, and we are taking steps to ensure our customers do not experience this again in the future.”

(Via ABC News)

Central Cee takes a stylistic swerve on his first single of 2024, aiming to show off a bit more versatility as he prepares to follow up his 2022 album 23. On “I Will,” Cee makes romantic(-ish) overtures to a potential paramour over a gently strummed guitar, promising, “You’re tryna find someone to take you home and show you love / If nobody will, I will.”

In the video, Cee narrates as his video star spends time going through her daily life and hanging out with her homegirls. The video also shows a softer side of the London rapper, who is set to have a massive breakout this year after receiving a high-profile co-sign from Drake in 2023.

Cench was also included in the 2023 XXL Freshman class alongside GloRilla, Luh Tyler, and more. His buzz increased with the release of “Sprinter” with Dave and the Valentine’s Day single “Me And You.”

Next week, Cee will be at the 2024 BRIT Awards, competing for four awards: Hip-Hop/Grime/Rap Act, Song Of The Year for “Sprinter” and “Let Go,” and Artist Of The Year. He recently won MOBO Awards for Best Male and Song Of The Year for “Sprinter,’ giving him a total of six MOBO Awards.

Watch Central Cee’s “I Will” video above.

Not all of us are born into generational wealth. While people like Darrell Booker are out there helping educate people on how to achieve financial security and abundance, it’s ultimately up to each individual to read up on life hacks and budget tips to save more money. Financial literacy is our responsibility.

If you’re reading this weekly travel hacking column, you’re already on the path!

Hopefully, you’ve scouted out the best travel credit card for you and learned how to find the best airfare deals. But what about the ways to maximize your rewards with travel purchases? With concert-tripping at an all-time high and winter being the season of soaking in spas, use these tips to maximize your rewards on direct travel purchases to help get you there.

Brighton & Mila (@themilescouple): Use A Credit Card That Specifically Earns Bonus Points On Hotels & Flights

The starting point is to use a credit card that specifically earns bonus points on travel categories, such as hotels and flights. Some of these cards include the Capital One Venture X (10x points on hotels booked through the bank portal), the Amex Platinum (5x on flights), etc.

However, to go a step above that you should always check whether there’s a way to stack rewards! For instance, British Airways has a partnership with Airbnb that allows you to earn three Avios per dollar spent. At the same time, for your next weekend getaway, you could buy Airbnb gift cards from a grocery store using a card that earns extra in supermarkets (such as the Amex Gold for 4x), then use the gift card to check out at Airbnb (though we recommend reading up on Reddit and Flyertalk about the pros/cons).

More generally, always check your credit card offers and shopping portals for any limited-time discounts and bonus earnings. Maybe there’s a “Spend $500 get $100 Off at Hilton” stay offer that you could link to your Amex card, or 12% cashback at IHG Hotels & Resort when you use Rakuten, etc. Finding ways to earn bonus points through more than one rewards stream is the easiest way to maximize rewards on travel spending!

Serena Stone (@passionforpoints): Use A Card With Embedded Travel Protections

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When paying for flights or taxes and fees on award travel, I always use a card with embedded travel protection such as trip cancellation and trip interruption coverage. My favorite cards to use for flights are Chase Sapphire Reserve, Chase Sapphire Preferred, or Capital One Venture X. These cards are also great for embedded rental car coverage.

When booking activities, check Cashback Monitor to get the maximum cashback or points for purchasing Viator or Tripadvisor experiences.

When dining, use a credit card that earns you a higher multiple at restaurants. The American Express Gold card earns 4x and the Chase Sapphire Preferred and Reserve earn 3x on dining worldwide.

Also when traveling internationally, always remember to use a card with no foreign transaction fees.

Michele Lowery (@fancytravelpointers): Use Hotel Credit Cards While Staying At That Hotel

The best time and place to use a hotel credit card is when you are staying at that hotel for a paid stay. Hotel credit cards often earn 5x – 15x+ points per dollar when staying at that hotel. I personally don’t advise putting every day spend on hotel cards, but using them at the actual hotel is where these cards shine in earning points.

Most hotel credit cards come with an annual fee night certificate (after year one), making hotel cards a valuable part of your overall award travel strategy.

Victor Cheng (@travelhackvic): Get 10X Points On Car Rentals With Capitol One Venture X

You might not need to rent a car on every trip you go on, but when you do, make sure you have Capital One Venture X in your wallet. Capital One Venture X can earn unlimited 10X miles on rental cars when you book through Capital One Travel. This will be a huge bonus whenever you need a car. Better Yet, Venture X cardholders are eligible for complimentary Hertz President’s Circle status, and you can Enroll online for the ability to skip the rental counter, choose from the widest selection of Hertz cars, and get guaranteed upgrades.

However, make sure to always compare the price of the travel portal to the other prices on the internet to make sure it’s competitive before booking.

Ryan Horn (@profitsandpoints): Charge All Hotel Expenses To The Room To Ensure Maximize Travel Reward Points

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I put absolutely everything I can on a credit card, and I do so strategically by using the right credit card for the right category. When it comes to travel spend, I like to use the Chase Sapphire Reserve, the American Express Green Card, or the Citi Premier card because all three of these cards earn 3x points on most travel spend.

How do I make sure that I get the full 3x points out of most of my purchases when I’m traveling?

Well, if I’m staying at a hotel, I like to charge everything to the room that would otherwise maybe only earn 1-2x points. This ensures that the purchase will be coded as a travel since it’ll appear on my final hotel bill.

Adam Hill (@adamhillyeah): “Double Dip” Or Stack Rewards

This is a rule that should come with any purchases or and spend you put on your credit cards, but always try to double dip or stack rewards if possible. Anytime you are purchasing a flight, you should be crediting that flight to a specific airline rewards program.

For instance, I typically credit any One World Airline I buy a cash fare on to my American Airlines account but put in my Frequent Flier number and then pay with a card that earns the best return. Depending on the card, you could be earning 2x-5x points back. It is a great idea to do a little research on Airline Alliances and what airlines are in those groups to understand how you can fly on one airline but receive credit for another one. A great website to use is Where To Credit.

I also will typically look for excursions through Viator and I will activate my Rakuten link to earn Amex points and earn points back with the card I’m using to purchase with. This takes a little bit of research to find the best return as well as a bit of strategy for the points currency you are trying to earn.

Allison Tackette (@luckytictac): Spend Within Your Means

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It’s easy to get caught up in spending more and more money to watch your points balances grow. The quicker you earn points the faster you can redeem for flights and hotels. Spend within your means just to earn points. Don’t go into debt for points and miles.

Spencer Howard (@straighttothepoints): Don’t Obsess Over Maximizing Every Purchase

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You don’t need to obsess over maximizing every purchase. Yes, it’s great to utilize bonus categories to earn more points on purchases, but it’s not the end of the world if you forget. Points and miles is a fun hobby that can help enhance your travel. It doesn’t need to cause you stress.

Angel Trinh (@pennywisetraveler): Use A Credit Card With Built-In Travel Protections

If you have any big expenses coming up, ask your friends/family to pay you back for the purchase. You can also get instant card approvals from Amex right away, so you can easily get a lot of points.

Use a credit card that has built-in in travel protections. For example, Chase Sapphire Preferred has the auto collision damage waiver, trip cancellation, trip interruption, trip delay, baggage delay, and lost luggage.

Anytime you buy anything, remember you can layer on points and cash back. For example, for online purchases, you can get cashback/miles from a shopping portal like American Airlines or Rakuten.

If you dine at specific restaurants you can get American Airlines/Southwest/Delta points (you can get only one airline).

Thomas Lonergan (@travelliketommy): Strategize Credit Cards To Earn Points Twice

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This is most lucrative spend to maximize your points earning. We want to earn points not once but twice! One from the credit card being used, the other from the hotel/airline program you are booking with!

Having elite status will amplify this significantly.

For example:

Hotels

• I earn a minimum of 23.5x points per dollar when staying at Marriott hotels
• 10x for being a base member
• 7.5x bonus for my elite status
• 6x by paying with my Marriott card

• I earn a minimum of 34x Hilton points per dollar when staying at Hilton hotels
• 10x base member
• 10x elite status bonus
• 14x paying with my Amex Hilton Aspire card

Airlines

• American Airlines: I earn 15x miles per dollar minimum
• 5x miles for base member
• 6x bonus miles for exec plat status
• 4x miles for paying with my Citi AA card

• United Airlines: I earn 16x miles per dollar minimum
• 5x miles base member
• 6x miles bonus for 1k status
• 5x amex points when paying with my platinum card

Vivian Tu (@your.richbff): Transfer Your Points To An Airline Or Hotel Partner

Order “RICH AF: The Winning Money Mindset That Will Change Your Life” here.

Don’t redeem your points directly through the credit card. Instead, transfer your points to a hotel or airline and then book your travel there. Sometimes it’s even better to transfer those points and rewards to the hotel and airline’s partners. For example, One World United is an airline “class” for American Airlines, Cathay Pacific, British Airways, Iberia, Japan Airlines, Qatar, Fiji Airways, etc. and it can be cheaper to transfer your points to a transfer partner than booking directly through American Airlines.

• One World United is partnered with American Airlines
• Star Alliance is partnered with United Airlines

Angelo Minella (@paidwithpoints): Make Sure The Credit Card You’re Using Has Zero Foreign Transaction Fees

When it comes to using a credit card overseas the biggest tip is to make sure you use a card that has zero foreign transaction fees. I also like to bring my travel wallet which consists of more cards than my daily driver wallet.

This travel wallet holds any relevant cards that I may need for lounge access or airline/hotel spend that I don’t have in my everyday wallet that also provide more benefits and points!

Since Deonna Purrazzo was nine years old, all she’s wanted is to be was a professional wrestler. With nearly 12 years in the game, she’s had various stints across each of the major American promotions. It hasn’t always been easy for Purrazzo, but with each road block, she’s overcome adversity and come out on the other side stronger.

“It’s definitely not been easy,” Purrazzo tells Uproxx Sports ahead of her AEW Women’s World Championship match at AEW Revolution on March 3. “I struggled a few years ago to even know if I wanted to continue to wrestle.”

The ups and downs of the business had gotten to Purrazzo. What helped her bounce back was finding a group of people and developing working relationships that became productive in both her personal and professional life — a great husband, great friends, and people who wanted to see her succeed.

“I think coming out of that really uncomfortable period where I didn’t know what my next steps were and just having that core group of people around me to be like, ‘You’re good at this, put that drama aside, dig down deep and re-evaluate, because you should be doing this.’ Madison Rayne is one of those people. Britt Baker is one of those people who didn’t let me give up on this dream. And now I get to work with them on a weekly basis,” Purrazzo says. “I feel like it’s a fairy tale, really. Just where I was and where I’m at right now. I didn’t imagine it for myself four years ago.”

In 2020, Purrazzo was released from WWE and joined Impact Wrestling/TNA. She went on to become a multi-time world champion and was ready for, as she says, “that next thing that was going to propel me to the next level.” She determined it was joining AEW, and while she’s etched her place among the top wrestlers in the world, getting to join the promotion doubled as an opportunity to do something she turned down in the past.

“Back in 2018, I was supposed to be a part of the very first All In,” Purrazzo says. “I was supposed to do things like the Jericho Cruise, and I chose a different path. So, this time around, I wanted to kind of right those wrongs, and do something that I never thought would be possible, and that was coming to AEW. So to have that opportunity presented to me meant the world.”

Purrazzo says there’s been an adjustment in joining AEW due to the scale of the promotion and the production — things like being on national television every week and having matches that get interrupted by commercial breaks are new to her.

“I don’t think people realize that I’m almost 12 years into my career, and my match with Red Velvet live on TV was nerve wracking for me because I hadn’t done that in so long,” she says. “So I think I’m just trying to reframe what professional wrestling is and how the Virtuosa translates to such a large scale has been career defining in the last month.”

Fresh out of the gates, Purrazzo has been met with a familiar face in her program with AEW Women’s World Champion Toni Storm. The current champ is someone Purrazzo previously lived with — up until recently, the pair had matching tattoos — and is someone she calls a bit of a “saving grace” as she joins AEW and attempts to learn a new company.

When she joined AEW, Purrazzo didn’t know how she’d be involved and certainly didn’t expect to be in the position she’s in right from the start.

“It’s a testament to Tony Khan and how highly he thought of me, and then the product Toni and I have been able to put out thereafter,” Purrazzo says about immediately jumping into a rivalry with Storm.

Purrazzo says she’s been nervous since the day her match with Storm was announced for the upcoming AEW Revolution pay-per-view in Greensboro, North Carolina.

“I think that’s probably one of the largest crowds I’ve ever wrestled in front of up until this point,” Purrazzo says. “Just to have that all culminate, Sting’s last match, we’re in Greensboro, the Coliseum. I am just elated. This is such a huge moment for me, and so many new eyes on me throughout the last few months. Going out there and having an absolute killer match with Toni for the AEW Women’s World Championship is going to help continue to redefine who the Virtuosa is.”

Regardless of what happens in Greensboro, the future is bright for AEW’s women’s division.

Purrazzo is joining AEW in what can be seen as a turning point year for the promotion. She points to rising stars like Queen Aminata as an exciting opponent in the future. There’s first-time matchups like mixing it up with the returning Jamie Hayter, Saraya, Ruby Soho, and so many other women she’s never gotten in the ring with.

And then, there’s the “dream match” after the heavily-expected debut of Mercedes Moné.

“There’s never been a real opportunity for it to happen, so like you said, nothing’s been announced, nothing’s been set in stone, but just that possibility would be very, very cool,” Purrazzo says. “I think to have someone like Mercedes, with all of her accomplishments, and everything she’s done for women’s wrestling across the board would help continue to redefine our AEW women’s division.”

Alan Ritchson and Hilary Swank stopped by The View this week where the two actors promoted their new movie, Ordinary Angels. However, their interview went viral for an entirely different reason. The Reacher star made the panel all hot and bothered with his tale of chasing down a thief in Montreal while on a date with his wife. Turns out, his co-star also did some amateur crime-fighting.

Shortly after Ritchson recalled his real-life tussle with a thief, Swank opened up about chasing down a robber in Paris. According to Sky News, the incident happened in 2013, and Swank was determined to catch the guy.

“I was living in Paris, I got robbed and I chased the guy down too,” she told The View panel. “I was like, ‘I’m gonna get my bag, I just need my passport. Give me my passport!’”

Via PEOPLE:

Ritchson jumped in as his costar told the story, too, adding, “The craziest part is it wasn’t like somebody – she wasn’t like, ‘I think that guy’s doing something wrong.’ She was in the vehicle and the guy smashed her window out. And chased him.”

Swank was in heeled boots while it happened, she said, and laughed as co-host Whoopi Goldberg joked, “You know how long it takes to get a passport?”

The Oscar winner said her passport at the time “was nice and thick and I’d added pages with all the places that I’d ever traveled. I was like, this is so meaningful.”

Despite her dogged pursuit, Swank never caught up with the guy. Although, she did tease that there was more to the harrowing story that she’ll share during her next visit to The View.

Ordinary Angels arrives in theaters on February 22.

(Via PEOPLE)

If you’d told me 15 years ago that Jelly Roll, the Nashville rapper who functioned as kind of a mascot of sorts for other Tennessean rap crews like Three 6 Mafia and 8ball & MJG, would be a household name after making the switch to country… well, I’d probably believe you, but I would’ve been floored all the same. And yet, that’s what happened; after making a post-pandemic transition to country, he’s spent the last few years all over television and awards shows, not to mention topping the US rock chart with his 2023 album Whitsitt Chapel.

Now, he’ll be taking his countrified stylings on the road with the Beautifiully Broken Tour in August. Tickets will go on sale on Friday, March 1 at 10 a.m. local time. Before that, there will be two presales: one for Citi cardholders beginning on Monday, February 26, and another for fans who sign up on his website on Tuesday, February 27. You can find more information here. See below for the full schedule of tour dates.

Jelly Roll 2024 Tour Dates: Beautifully Broken Tour

08/27 — Salt Lake City, UT @ Delta Center
08/28 — Nampa, ID @ Ford Idaho Center
08/30 — Spokane, WA @ Spokane Arena
08/31 — Seattle, WA @ Climate Pledge Arena
09/01 — Portland, OR @ Moda Center
09/03 — San Jose, CA @ SAP Center
09/04 — Sacramento, CA @ Golden 1 Center
09/06 — Los Angeles, CA @ Crypto.com Arena
09/07 — Anaheim, CA @ Honda Center
09/09 — El Paso, TX @ Don Haskins Center
09/11 — San Antonio, TX @ Frost Bank Center
09/13 — Lafayette, LA @ CAJUNDOME
09/14 — New Orleans, LA @ Smoothie King Center
09/17 — Orlando, FL @ Kia Center
09/19 — Charleston, SC @ North Charleston Coliseum
09/20 — Raleigh, NC @ PNC Arena
09/21 — Washington, DC @ Capital One Arena
09/24 — Albany, NY @ MVP Arena
09/26 — Boston, MA @ TD Garden
09/27 — New York, NY @ Madison Square Garden
09/28 — Belmont Park, NY @ UBS Arena
09/29 — Newark, NJ @ Prudential Center
10/01 — State College, PA @ Bryce Jordan Center
10/02 — Philadelphia, PA @ Wells Fargo Center
10/05 — Pittsburgh, PA @ PPG Paints Arena
10/06 — Buffalo, NY @ KeyBank Center
10/09 — Columbus, OH @ Nationwide Arena
10/11 — Chicago, IL @ United Center
10/12 — Louisville, KY @ KFC Yum! Center
10/15 — Wichita, KS @ INTRUST Bank Arena
10/18 — Tulsa, OK @ BOK Center
10/20 — Bossier City, LA @ Brookshire Grocery Arena
10/22 — Little Rock, AR @ Simmons Bank Arena
10/23 — St Louis, MO @ Enterprise Center
10/25 — Knoxville, TN @ Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center
10/26 — Atlanta, GA @ State Farm Arena
10/27 — Charlotte, NC @ Spectrum Center

Did a rough day for technology just get even worse? Earlier today, a man named Chris Bakke wrote on X, “I’m the SVP of Product at Google ($28.8M TC). Last night, [Google CEO Sundar Pichai] asked me to ‘fire the entire Gemini team.’ I misread his message (insanely bad service at my 7br 11bath cabin in Park City) and I accidentally fired the entire Gmail team. Gmail…Gemini.” He added, “Anyway, I’m rolling with the decision. Gmail’s gone.”

Bakke then shared a lengthy screenshot of an email to Gmail users. It reads:

We are reaching out to share an important update about Gmail. After years of connecting millions worldwide, enabling seamless communication, and fostering countless connections, the journey of Gmail is coming to a close. As of August 1, 2024, Gmail will officially be sunsetted, marking the end of its service. This means that as of this date, Gmail will no longer support sending, receiving, or storing emails.

Is Gmail going the way of Hotmail? Uh, no. Bakke is not the “SVP of Product at Google.” He’s an Elon Musk-approved “notorious shi*poster,” who, according to Business Insider, once used “a photoshopped news article about McDonald’s Hamburglar to make fun of the New York Times‘ profile of Elizabeth Holmes, the Theranos founder sentenced to over 11 years in prison.” Your Gmail is fine (but it’s still a good idea to back up your emails).

If you were playing any Fortnite Festival last weekend, odds are you had seen The Weeknd, Madonna, and Playboi Carti’s new video for “Popular,” as it debuted exclusively on the platform and was available to watch from February 15 to 18. If you’re not a gamer but would still like to see the clip, though, they’ve given the visual a wider release and it’s available on YouTube as of today, February 22.

It’s a video that shows off the high life, as the three artists find themselves performing and flexing in a gorgeous castle environment.

The tune is a relic from the era of The Idol, The Weeknd’s 2023 HBO show that ultimately kicked the bucket after a short and controversial run. The song was intended for The Idol, but while it was initially shared and promoted in association with the show, it ultimately never ended up on any of the show’s soundtrack releases.

The Weeknd previously said of the song, “I’m proud of it. I’m definitely proud of it. Me and Carti had this… I mean, we’ve jammed out before. We’ve had a different version of this song prior. So I’ve had these vocals for a while and I’ve kind of just worked around it, and then kind of kept it in the tuck. But now it felt like it was time. It was time. And it felt right and it felt cohesive with this album that I’m working on right now. Or that I just actually finished. The Idol soundtrack, yeah. And so I’ve been producing the song for a while. And then Madonna, Madge. She’s the ultimate co-sign for this song, for this album, and for this TV show. And you’ll hear more of her in the show as well, too. She is the ultimate pop star.”

Watch the “Popular” video above.