Benet Wilson

How I got my family access to Atlantis Paradise Island at a steep discount

I have been traveling the globe for more than five decades, first as a military brat during my childhood, then as a travel and aviation journalist. I grew up in Europe, where my parents were keen on taking me and my sister on trips across the…

In a summer of extremely full flights I found myself on a Southwest 737 with just 9 passengers

If you’ve traveled anywhere since about March, you probably know what to expect: full flights, delays and cancellations, lost luggage and long lines. We’ve all seen the photos of mountains of unclaimed bags, snaking airport checkpoint queues and…

Benét on the runway: How to eat locally at the airport

Editor’s note: This is a new column by senior editor Benét J. Wilson that will cover what’s happening at the world’s airports. My child and I recently traveled to New Orleans for a quick work trip. They are a huge foodie and quite the budding chef,…

Canada is giving away park passes to Americans: How to get one and where to use it

Destination Canada and Parks Canada have teamed up to help U.S. citizens visit the country’s National Parks for free. Canada is giving away 4,000 year-long passes that include access to more than 80 destinations. Canada has 171 national historic…

Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport 101: The ultimate guide to PHX

Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) is the eighth-busiest airport in the U.S., serving 21 million passengers in 2020, according to Airports Council International-North America. The airport is a hub for American Airlines and Southwest…

Seattle-Tacoma Airport 101: The ultimate guide to SEA

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Las Vegas Airport 101: The ultimate guide to LAS

Las Vegas’ Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) is the eighth-busiest airport in the United States, serving more than 39 million passengers in 2021, according to Airports Council International-North America. It serves as a focus city for Allegiant…

Airport hotels with day rates and how to book them

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These are the checked bags carried by TPG’s staff

If anyone knows about checked luggage, it would be TPG staffers, who travel the globe on the regular. Our readers are always asking us about our go-to checked luggage for our trips, and we definitely have our favorites. I polled TPG staff members to…

Benét on a budget: Saving on an Orlando family vacation

Editor’s note: This is a new monthly column by senior editor Benét J. Wilson on how to travel comfortably on a budget without sacrificing fun or enjoyment. I became a bargain hunter as a kid sitting at the feet of my paternal grandmother, who hated…

Credit card strategies for non-obsessive cardholders

I’m a rare breed at The Points Guy. While I keep an eye on the points and miles I accumulate on my credit cards and do some spending to accrue more, I’m not nearly as obsessed as some of my fellow TPG coworkers (no offense). I also don’t have nearly…

10 countries you didn’t know you could fly to on Southwest

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White House tours are back: Here’s what you need to know

I remember visiting the White House for the first time during former President George H.W. Bush’s time in office. A friend with a friend who worked in the Washington, D.C., landmark at the time — if that isn’t a quintessential D.C. thing to say, I…

Spring break travel is here: These 6 tips will help you survive it

TPG readers from around the country are sharing photos of long lines at U.S. airports as travel ramps up for spring break. This airport onslaught is being exacerbated by an uptick in people returning to travel after having been grounded the past two…

These are the 11 women in aviation who inspired my career

My love affair with aviation began at the tender age of 6, when I took my first flight from John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to London’s Heathrow Airport (LHR) on a Pan Am Boeing 747 in 1970, the same year the jumbo jet first entered…

Disney Imagineers reveal how they brought the new ‘Star Wars’ hotel to life

Editor’s note: TPG’s Benét Wilson was a guest of Walt Disney World on a two-night media preview of the Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser experience. Disney provided her travel to the event and the two-night experience itself. The opinions expressed…

The all-new ‘Star Wars’ hotel is the travel experience I waited 45 years to enjoy

Editor’s note: TPG’s Benet Wilson was a guest of Walt Disney World on a two-night media preview of the Galactic Starcruiser experience. Disney provided her travel to the event and the two-night experience itself. The opinions expressed below are…

More than a month: These 7 destinations elevate Black culture year-round

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Not quite ready for commencement: A review of the Graduate Charlottesville hotel

Founded in 2014, Graduate Hotels is a relatively new chain, with 30 locations across the U.S. in college and university cities. Curious to see what this group of hotels was all about, I decided to take a quick getaway and stay at one of three…

Boston museum exhibit illustrates US history using quilts

I come from a long line of quilters on both sides of my family. Naturally, quilting holds a special place in my heart. The art form isn’t just a hobby I have personal ties to, though. It’s an incredibly important piece of American history. In…