We would bookend our twelve year non-rev adventure in the U.S. Virgin Islands; the standby sojourner story would begin and end on the same little specks of land drifting warmly in the Caribbean Sea.

From beautiful beaches to underwater museums and swimming with whale sharks, there are so many fun things to do in Isla Mujeres this summer!

Egypt, home to the last remaining Seven Ancient Wonders of the World, is a bucket list destination for many travelers. However, given geopolitical turmoil in recent years coupled with the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s not necessarily the easiest country to navigate currently. A silver lining for non-rev travelers, right now may be the best time to… Read more »

Tips for Safe Non-Rev Travel during the COVID-19 Pandemic The last week in May, I scanned a boarding pass, walked down a jet bridge, and boarded an aircraft for the first time in exactly 9 weeks and 1 day. A few minutes later, as I instinctually gripped the armrest, I realized how badly I missed… Read more »

Since 2009, we’ve visited at least 33 international destinations and dozens of U.S. cities via non-rev travel (plus a handful more international destinations via revenue and award travel). I’ve mentioned plenty of times how harrowing non-rev travel can be, but looking back on the last decade, every single hour spent waiting around in airports and taking… Read more »

Non-rev travel truly is a privilege, but it does come with a price. Last-minute changes (sometimes in your favor, often not), tight connections, and the otherwise sheer uncertainty of the game can make it seem daunting. There are plenty of employees and their family members who rarely or never use their benefits, because it just seems too… Read more »

The thousands of islands of Micronesia offer a diversity of culture, ecology, and topography. The journey to reach this forgotten region of the world is long, but for lovers of nature and history, the experiences to be had in Micronesia are unrivaled.

To celebrate our first wedding anniversary (the international counterpart to our domestic anniversary trip), Rufio and I traveled back in time in the steamy and romantic cobblestoned and walled city of Cartagena de Indias, Colombia. Here’s our guide to enjoying a long weekend in Cartagena.

Standby (or non-rev) travel is an amazing privilege any time of the year, to any destination. But, it becomes an even more advantageous perk for special events or celebrations around the world – times when already pricey airfare can become prohibitive to many travelers. For the standby traveler, huge demand means slimmer chances for open… Read more »