Staying sober at summer parties can seem tough. One fact stands out: fun doesn't require alcohol. This article offers strategies to enjoy these gatherings without booze. Read on for solid advice.

I'm probably like a lot of you guys - I'm sitting on a literal mountain of hotel, airline, and car rental miles, credit card points and other loyalty credits from various sources. For some brands - like my Marriot and Hilton points, these are being saved up for an awesome "free vacation" at some point but with others such as my 300,000+ AAvantage miles from American Airlines that I banked while in San Diego, I'm frankly not sure what to do with them. I don't fly American Airlines anymore since Delta is the big player out of Detroit. Because of this, I've started thinking about what I can do with those points besides redeeming for a flight somewhere. At one point I'd just looked at them as being something to bank like cash but the reality is that every year the industry continues to devalue them by changing redemption rates, adding fees, and restricting what flights you can redeem them for. This isn't cash in the bank, it's an asset that becomes less and less valuable every year!

In short, don't let those unused airline miles or loyalty points go to waste. Use them creatively and practically in your journey from tenant to homeowner. Trust me, every bit helps.

Always Check Your Loyalty Program Terms and Conditions To Find Limitations

To understand your loyalty program's limitations, it is imperative to carefully read through the terms and conditions of your specific program. Each program differs, like an exclusive club with its own set of rules and regulations. This includes restrictions on how you can redeem points and what you can do with them other than buying airline tickets or hotel room nights. For instance, while some programs allow selling miles, this can be against the terms and conditions of other programs. This can be confusing for some folks since there can be restrictions that, while not "illegal," are against the company's policies. 

The last thing you want to do is make a mistake and find that your hard-earned points have been completely wiped from your account!

Key Terms And Conditions Details To Look At

• Expiration Dates: Many programs have expiration policies for points and miles. If not used within a certain time frame, typically ranging from 12 to 36 months, these can expire and be irretrievably lost.
• Blackout Dates: Some programs restrict the use of miles or points on certain peak travel dates, known as blackout dates. This can limit your ability to use rewards during popular travel periods such as holidays or major events.
• Transfer Restrictions: Points and miles often cannot be transferred between different programs or may incur fees when transferred. Additionally, transferring points to another person may be restricted or subject to high costs.
• Earning Limitations: There might be caps on how many points or miles you can earn within a certain period or on specific types of purchases. This can limit the potential rewards from big purchases or frequent spending.
• Redemption Fees: Redeeming miles or points for travel or other rewards can sometimes involve additional fees, reducing the overall value of your points. These fees can vary widely among programs and redemption types.

Where To Find The Terms And Conditions For Popular Loyalty Programs

If you have questions about what you can and can't do with your loyalty program, the best bet is to look on the airline or hotel website. We're going to discuss some common suggestions below but as I've found out from personal experience - what works for AAdvantage Miles might not be the same as Delta SkyMiles. While most programs work similarly, as they say... the devil is in the details!

Airlines

• American Airlines AAdvantage: Offers miles for flights with American Airlines and its partner carriers, redeemable for flights, upgrades, and more.
• Delta SkyMiles: Features no blackout dates on Delta flights, and miles do not expire, redeemable for flights, seat upgrades, and car rentals.
• United MileagePlus: Provides opportunities to earn and spend miles on United flights and services, with extensive partner networks.
• Southwest Rapid Rewards: Known for its ease of earning reward flights without blackout dates or seat restrictions on Southwest Airlines.
• British Airways Executive Club: Allows earning and spending of Avios on flights, upgrades, and more with a focus on transatlantic travel.

Hotels

• Marriott Bonvoy: Combines previous loyalty programs from Marriott, Starwood, and Ritz-Carlton, offering benefits across a vast portfolio of hotels.
• Hilton Honors: Provides benefits and point earning opportunities across Hilton's extensive global network of hotels.
• World of Hyatt: Known for its generous point earnings and redemption opportunities across Hyatt hotels and resorts worldwide.
• IHG Rewards Club: Covers InterContinental Hotels Group hotels, offering rewards for hotel stays, airline miles, and more.
• Wyndham Rewards: Includes a straightforward point system for stays at Wyndham hotels and the ability to redeem points for free nights.

With all of that out of the way, let's take a look at some things that you can do with your unused airline miles and other loyalty points... 

Donate Miles To A Charity Or Non-Profit

Donating your unused miles to a charity or non-profit organization is a noble act that many organizations appreciate. Such donations can be used to support their operations or help those in need. Not only does this allow you to contribute to a cause you hold dear, but it also fosters a sense of community involvement.

Please note, however, that donating miles has tax implications. Most often, you won't receive a tax deduction for these kinds of donations, as the IRS does not categorize miles as income. It's advisable to consult a tax professional for an accurate understanding of your specific situation though.

Generally speaking, donating miles and points is more of a generous act rather than something that can be used to benefit you financially. While some airlines may allow full flexibility when it comes to donating miles, most offer a limited set of organizations that allow you to donate miles. For example, American Airlines restricts you from donating miles to four different organizations, including Miles for Social Good and Miles For Heros. On the other hand, Delta has a much more robust list of organizations, including Habitat For Humanity and American Red Cross.

These miles donated are used by the organizations to help move people around the world as needed to serve their mission, help refugees, or even service dogs in the case of Canine Assistants.

Donating is usually simple and can be completed online through the airline or loyalty program's website.

Use Points To Upgrade Your Inflight Experience

Aside from purchasing airline tickets, using unused airline miles and loyalty points to upgrade your inflight experience is one of the most common uses. These points can be a fantastic way to enhance the comfort and luxury of your journey, making it more enjoyable.

This can include everything from upgrading your flight from coach to business class, purchasing lounge access day passes, or depending on your program sometimes you can even use the miles to buy inflight food and drinks.

Use Airline Miles To Buy Non-Flight Items Like Magazines

While most programs offer miles that don't expire yearly like they once did, buying magazines was a common way to use small amounts of points and keep the account active. Today there are plenty of other things you can buy depending on the program from magazines to gifts. For example, you can even use United MileagePlus points to buy a 4lb rib roast from Kansas City Steak Company (23,900 Award Miles) or a Traeger Pro Pellet Grill for as little as 161,600 Award Miles!

This feature is very rewarding to me since a do most of my travel paid for by someone else so its not like I need to save money paying for my own flights. Shopping like this though feels like a bonus gift for all my travels. Knowing it didn't cost me anything, receiving a new magazine issue in the mail is a small pleasure and certainly a new grill or a prime rib dinner is pretty special too. It's another way to maximize your travels, allowing your miles to offer you more than just destinations.

Gift Or Transfer Airline Miles To Friends and Family

You can gift or transfer your airline miles to your friends and family. This can be a thoughtful gesture, particularly if they need help planning a trip or are in a tight spot. But before you proceed, it's crucial to be aware of the Mileage Gifting Regulations. Different airlines have distinct rules. Some may allow unlimited transfers, while others may cap the number of miles you can gift or transfer annually. 

You also need to consider the Miles Transfer Fees. Most airlines impose a service fee per mile for gifting miles. It's crucial to balance these charges against the Recipient Benefits, but generally, this is a pretty nice gift if you have family members that can't afford a vacation or where last-minute travel - for instance, to a funeral - makes purchasing a ticket prohibitively expensive sometimes miles redemption can be a great option.

Convert Airline Miles To Hotel Points

Some programs will allow you to convert your airline miles to hotel points to maximize each mile. The conversion rates vary among different airlines and hotel programs, with some offering more value than others. Others will allow you to use your miles to purchase vacation packages, including hotel and air bundled.

Firstly, you need to find the best hotel programs that partner with your airline. Some top-notch ones include Marriott Bonvoy, Hilton Honors, and World of Hyatt. Converting your miles into points in these programs can let you enjoy benefits at partner hotels, such as complimentary nights, room upgrades, late check-out, and access to exclusive events.

Before you proceed with the conversion, you should do a quick calculation to ensure you're getting a good deal. Find out how many hotel points you'll receive per airline mile, and compare this with the usual cost of a hotel room or the points needed for a free stay. Additionally, keep an eye out for promotional periods when you could earn bonus points for conversions.

Use Airline Miles To Bid On Travel Experiences

You can use your airline miles to bid on unique travel experiences through experiential auctions. These exclusive opportunities allow you to use your accumulated points strategically to bid on unforgettable experiences such as private tours and VIP event access.

Although your number of points is important, the key lies in how you use them. To enhance your chances of success, it's recommended that you familiarize yourself with various bidding techniques. Many airlines host these auctions on their own websites, making it easier for you to participate.

Before placing a bid, consider the value of the experience you're bidding on. This can be challenging since these experiences are usually designed to be exclusive and essentially "priceless". For instance, how do you put value on Trackside Access and Pre-Race Access to the driver introductions and access to the Green Room Lounge at the Ally 400 NASCAR Race in Nashville? For race fans looking for a great guys getaway, spending SkyMiles for two passes to an experience like this could be a great option.

Evaluate whether it is worth the number of miles you would have to spend. Just because you have the ability to bid doesn't necessarily mean you should. To ensure you're maximizing the value of your miles, take your time, consider the advantages and disadvantages, and make a decision that matches your travel aspirations and points strategy.

Conclusion: Miles Are For More Than Just Tickets!

To sum up, don't let your unused airline miles or loyalty points go to waste. You have numerous options, from upgrading your inflight experience to bidding on travel experiences. You can also convert them into hotel points or even donate them to charity. Remember, checking your loyalty program's terms and conditions is important to understand any limitations. So, start making the most of your accumulated rewards today.

For most adventurers, there’s nothing more exciting than driving to a new destination and taking in nature and culture along the way. Whether it’s with family, friends, or by yourself, a trouble-free road trip can help create some awesome memories.

However, there’s only so much we can control while sitting behind the wheel. Your journey could involve undesirable weather, reckless drivers, risky terrain, and more. That’s why it’s essential that you do what you can to ensure a safe road trip. This road safety guide is here to help you mitigate travel risks.

Online gambling used to be a taboo subject, a murky "grey area" dominated by disreputable foreign sites with little accountability. Today, though, some of the biggest land-based casinos have jumped in the game. While there are still some sites that operate in a less than honorable manner... the reality is that whether Malta, UK, Australia, or one of the American states regulates the organization, chances are that you're going to have a good experience. These regulatory bodies are reputable and organized to help make sure the casinos maintain a positive experience for the players. Plus... it's easier to keep good players than to piss them off by trying to cheat them. All of these factors, plus the fact that the industry is innovating rapidly, have combined to make this one of the most popular online activities for men from around the world.

Attaining elite gamer status involves dedicated practice, similar to athletes. Most people don't think about this and merely look at video games as a passtime like reading a book or watching a movie. Today though video games are a nearly $200 BILLION dollar industry with fans worldwide. I look back at my youth and remember competing in tournaments and LAN parties but those activities almost seem quaint compared to the industry that has developed around competitive gaming today. As with anything though, there are those who want to achieve more and level up faster than they would simply by being a casual player. That's what we're looking at today. Are you ready to take your gaming skills to the next level? 

I understand the unique challenge of maintaining productivity as a digital nomad, as someone who travels regularly it is essential that I am able to maintain productivity on the road so that things appear seamless to you guys reading my content. Balancing travel, work, and personal time, all while ensuring that you have time to enjoy life may seem intimidating. With proper planning and discipline, though, it's more than achievable. However, it's important to ask yourself, how do you manage all this while staying safe online and not overcommitting yourself? Let's explore some strategies to help you thrive in your digital nomad journey.

Camping trips are a brilliant way to spend time outdoors and connect with the guys. There's a sense of freedom and positive masculinity when you are out there in the elements. Not only are you close to nature but there is also a protective barrier of distance from your group and civilization in general that provides comfort and comradery. Aside from this though, simply being in a different environment opens up plenty of new possibilities for adventure beyond what you can do in your own backyard. This is especially true for city-dwellers where nature is limited to rodents and cockroaches and lights obscure the sun and the moon. These are just some of the reasons why I love getting out of the city and going camping. Let's take a look at some of the other awesome stuff you can do on a camping trip with the guys beyond just sitting around the fire telling stories and drinking cans of beer. 

Writing reviews is tough... especially when it comes to something like video games where people who play more, have more skills and experience that you, and quite frankly "care more" about the games than most normal people ever could. There are many times when I've read a review that completely pissed on a game but then I found some moderately enjoyable redeeming feature that made the work something that I could recommend. This isn't the case. The reviews are generally accurate and as someone who was once a game developer, it pains me to admit that.

You've finally found a weekend when you and all of your buddies can get away to the lake for some R & R, away from the endless honey-do lists and invitations to brunch. The cooler’s stocked, there’s gas in the truck, and the boat’s ready to go. It should be an amazing week, with nothing to do but land that large mouth that you just know is lurking somewhere out in the lake. Except that the trip is a disaster and you come home more stressed than when you left — and bummed that it didn’t even come close to meeting your expectations.

The US Open is one of the biggest golf tournaments in the world and, this year, will take place at North Carolina’s Pinehurst Country Club for the fourth time in the last 25 years. While you might be able to make your own plans, the reality is most of the best accommodations have been booked or allocated to travel companies long ago. Luckily for you guys though, there are various companies offering bespoke travel packages that include tickets to the rounds of your choice, high-quality accommodations, and hospitality options to folks looking to make it a trip.

Surviving sexual harassment charges requires measured strategies. First, cease contact with the accuser to respect their boundaries and protect your interests. Following that, secure professional legal representation to navigate the complex legal landscape. A competent lawyer will guide you through plea deal discussions, potentially lessening penalties. To conclude, maintaining appropriate personal conduct can heavily influence the court's perception of you. Respectful and disciplined behavior towards all parties is crucial. This guide can provide further insights into managing such situations.

So you've got your eyes set on a new vacation home or maybe you are considering building a beach house in North Carolina but you are from another state. The laws and regulations regarding general contractor licenses is something that you owe it to yourself to spend a few minutes exploring. Quite frankly, I didn't do that when we moved to Michigan and while things worked out... I got lucky. You might not have the same experience as we did!

If you're feeling a bit restless in your tree stand, why not mix things up and dive into diverse hunting styles? Ever thought about testing your aim with handgun hunting? Or grappling with the intricacies of reloading a black powder muzzleloader? Experience the adrenaline rush of spear hunting or fine-tune your precision and patience with bow hunting. You could even dabble in trapping using snares or body grips. If you're a tech enthusiast, hunting carts and e-bikes can open up unchartered territories for you to explore. Hunting and outdoor adventure sports are not just about sitting silently in a tree. So venture out, try these styles, and you might just stumble upon a new favorite. And guys, there's more where that came from, so stay tuned!

After countless reviews of different massage guns I've come to the opinion that they are pretty much all the same. Sure... some have heating or cooling heads, better/worse quality materials that they are built from but they all pretty much do the same thing and have the same biggest weakness - they are impossible to use if you want to massage awkward areas like shoulders and back. Even calf muscles and triceps can be a challenge.. While we've reviewed a dozen or so massage guns over the past several years - nothing was like the WingSpan. While we've been let down in the past, this one promised to hit the right spot.

Most sex toys for men that we've been pitched over the years focus on replicating stimulation from the front, but that's not the only area in which men can have a pleasurable experience, and things are changing. Couples are experimenting more and taboos that existed for generations are quickly fading away. LELO knows this and has updated their Hugo prostate massager to make it better and more accessible for couples who are looking for something new to try together.

Drawing from the wisdom of Benjamin Franklin who said, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure," I recently invested some time to check out the Hedgehog Turbo Boot and Glove Dryer. Straight from the icy fjords of Norway, this little gem is a travel friendly accessory that will keep you comfortable hiking in Utah, fishing in Montana, or Skiing in Tahoe. No matter where you go, you'll be armed with a compact brushless motor and high-pressure airflow, promises to nip the problem of damp footwear in the bud. Its design has claimed prestigious accolades including the Red Dot Award, MUSE Design Award, and NY Product Design Award in 2022.

Just as the frost begins to retreat, revealing the fresh green of spring, I find myself yearning to shake off my winter lethargy. It's the perfect time to reinvigorate our fitness routine, don't you think? Let's explore some effective spring fitness tips to get back in shape. From investing in the right footwear, setting achievable goals, to tracking our progress - there's much we can do to ensure we're ready for summer. But, where should we start? What's the best strategy to follow? Stick around; I promise you'll find the answers intriguing.

Summer is here, and I am sure you are dreaming about planning an awesome boys trip, heading off to somewhere fun and unique to blow off some steam and have fun with the guys. Whatever your travel plans are this summer, it's important to ensure you have your stuff in order. Otherwise, what should be a once-in-a-lifetime trip could quickly turn into something memorable for lesser reasons. Shaving is a lot like traveling if you think about it, while anyone can do either, when you do it right it's great experience. However, if you have the wrong tools or bad technique, it is no fun!

Assault charges can significantly impact an individual's life. They can have severe consequences, even when they do not end in conviction. The mere accusation can strain your relationships, cause financial strain, and harm your reputation. If you are convicted, the consequences are more severe and can range from fines and probation to community service and even jail time.

The holiday season brings joy, camaraderie, and festivity, making it the perfect time for office holiday parties. These events are not just about celebrating the end of the year but also about building relationships, appreciating employees' hard work, and setting a positive tone for the upcoming year. However, organizing a successful office holiday party requires careful planning, creativity, and attention to detail. In this blog post, we'll walk you through the essential steps to ensure your office holiday party is memorable, inclusive, and enjoyable for everyone involved.