How to Travel Free with Points
Showing you the best places to wander and how to choose the best travel rewards credit cards that turn everyday spending into free flights, hotel stays, and upgrades.
Hey, I’m Marina!
Your Canadian travel points enthusiast with a love for elevated and quiet stays who also has a serious obsession with cruising. I share real-world tips, honest and experience-based travel reviews, strategies, and lessons from my own travels to help you unlock luxury experiences and free travel stays.
I’ll be straight with you, I don’t travel completely free. But with the right strategy, I’ve dramatically cut what I spend on every trip. Through my loyalty free night awards, and racking enough points, I was to even able to get a free 1 week all inclusive for my family of 4 in Montego Bay, Jamaica, I’ve scored tons of stays that I’ve never had to pay for.
If you are new to collecting points through credit cards, keep reading and be sure to download my free guide. I also share travel logs, cruise tips, best excursions and best hotels places to stay at.
And why Gen X? Well, if you’re like me, then you’ve survived the questionable motels, mystery stains, red-eyes, and Greyhound adventures. We have paid those well with our youth. I think it’s safe to say that I now crave a bit more luxury, comfier sheets, and a firm commitment to never rough it!
From the Blog
Use Marriott Bonvoy Amex Canada and Amex Platinum to Get Free Hotel Stays Worldwide
THE GEN X WANDERER / Canadians: How to Use Marriott Bonvoy Amex Canada and American Express Platinum Credit Cards to Get Free Hotel Stays Worldwide TABLE OF CONTENTS If you're a Canadian who's [...]
Catalonia Grand Costa Mujeres Review: An Honest Family Trip Report
THE GEN X WANDERER / Catalonia Costa Mujeres Review: An Honest Canadian Family Trip Report TABLE OF CONTENTS BOOK CATALONIA GRAND COSTA MUJERES NOW! Full Video Review https://youtu.be/qCjbwz666as?si=LLBQPAEnbMEMIP2I Catalonia Grand Costa Mujeres Reviews: [...]
Best Seasickness Medication: A Complete Guide for Cruisers
THE GEN X WANDERER / Best Seasickness Medication: A Complete Guide for Cruisers TABLE OF CONTENTS Best Seasickness Medication: A Complete Guide for Cruisers If you have ever cancelled a cruise booking, or [...]
Toronto Film Festival Hotels TIFF: Best Places to Stay and Where to See Stars 2026
THE GEN X WANDERER / Planning your trip to TIFF? Here is a full guide to the best Toronto Film Festival hotels, nearby eateries, celebrity hot spots, and everything else you need to know about the festival. TABLE OF CONTENTS [...]
Conrad Fort Lauderdale Review: Our Free Post Cruise Stay with Amex Points
THE GEN X WANDERER / Conrad Fort Lauderdale Review: Our Free Post Cruise Stay with Amex Points TABLE OF CONTENTS BOOK THE CONRAD FORT LAUDERDALE BEACH NOW! Conrad Fort Lauderdale Review: Our Free Post [...]
JW Marriott Miami Marquis Review: A Free Bonvoy Points Pre Cruise Stay
THE GEN X WANDERER / JW Marriott Miami Marquis Review: A Free Bonvoy Points Pre Cruise Stay TABLE OF CONTENTS BOOK JW MARRIOTT MARQUIS MIAMI NOW! JW Marriott Miami Marquis Review: A Free Bonvoy [...]
Celebrating My 50th Birthday at the Royalton Bavaro Punta Cana with 28 People
THE GEN X WANDERER / Celebrating my 50th Birthday at the Royalton Bavaro Punta Cana, Dominican Republic with 28 People TABLE OF CONTENTS BOOK THE ROYALTON BAVARO PUNTA CANA NOW! Book Your Stay with Royalton [...]
Toronto in 5 Days: The Ultimate Summer Itinerary (2026)
THE GEN X WANDERER / Toronto in 5 Days: The Ultimate Summer Itinerary TABLE OF CONTENTS Toronto in 5 Days I've been a Toronto resident for over 46 years so I can confidently say that [...]
Toronto Harbourfront Guide: Discover the 10 Best Stays & Things to Do Along Toronto’s Waterfront
THE GEN X WANDERER / Toronto Harbourfront Guide: The Complete Visitor Guide for Your Summer Vacation TABLE OF CONTENTS Toronto Harbourfront Guide: The Complete Visitor Guide for Your Summer Vacation I've been a Toronto native [...]
The Best Boutique Hotels in Toronto Downtown: 6 Main Neighbourhoods Guide
THE GEN X WANDERER / The Best Boutique Hotels in Toronto Downtown / Image Source: The Broadview Hotel TABLE OF CONTENTS The Best Boutique Hotels in Toronto If you've ever booked a big, glassy downtown [...]
Where to Stay in Toronto: The Ultimate City Guide (2026)
THE GEN X WANDERER / Where to Stay in Toronto: This complete Guide Breaks Down Every Neighbourhood - from King West to Yorkville TABLE OF CONTENTS https://www.youtube.com/shorts/EF3oAMJOc5A My 46 Year History with [...]
MSC vs Celebrity for your First Cruise?
THE GEN X WANDERER / MSC vs Celebrity for your First Cruise? TABLE OF CONTENTS Which on is better? MSC or Celebrity? If you've been down the cruise-research rabbit hole for more than thirty minutes, [...]
Is Monos Luggage Good? A Minimalist’s Honest Review
THE GEN X WANDERER / Is Monos Luggage Good? A Minimalist's Honest Review TABLE OF CONTENTS Why Monos Became My Go-To Gear for Minimalist Travel Let me be clear and transparent upfront, this is not [...]
The Old Mill Toronto Haunted: History & Scary Ghost Stories
THE GEN X WANDERER / The Old Mill Toronto Haunted: History & Ghost Stories / Image Source: Tripadvisor TABLE OF CONTENTS The Old Mill Toronto: A 230-Year Journey from Sawmill to Spirit-Filled Landmark [...]
Is Celebrity Aqua Class Worth It? We Sailed on the Beyond for our 25th Anniversary
THE GEN X WANDERER / Is Celebrity Aqua Class Worth It? My Honest Take After Sailing on the Celebrity Beyond TABLE OF CONTENTS Pre and Post Cruise Stays This is a definite must and if [...]
4 Best Cruise Lines for First Time Cruisers
THE GEN X WANDERER / Best Cruises for First Time Cruisers TABLE OF CONTENTS 4 Best Cruise Lines for First Time Cruisers: The 2026 Guide to Getting It Right So you've decided to finally try [...]
What to Pack for a Cruise: The Ultimate Checklist for Solo/Couples/Families (2026)
THE GEN X WANDERER / What to Pack for a Cruise: The Ultimate Checklist for Solo/Couple/Family (2026) TABLE OF CONTENTS From Wall Magnets to Sea Bands Setting sail on a cruise is one of the [...]
How to Get Into the MSC World America Speakeasy Secret Hidden Bar
THE GEN X WANDERER / How to Get into the MSC World America Speakeasy Hidden Bar TABLE OF CONTENTS Crew Members Have Not Even Seen this Secret Bar There is no booking link for this [...]
Lifeboats on Cruises: 10 Crucial Things You Need to Know
THE GEN X WANDERER / Lifeboats on Cruises TABLE OF CONTENTS Lifeboats on Cruises: Titanic Changed Everything Most people board a cruise ship, glance at those big orange boats hanging off the sides, and don't [...]
What Is a Pilot Boat? The Most Dangerous 60 Seconds You Will Most Likely Miss!
THE GEN X WANDERER / What Is a Pilot Boat? The Most Dangerous 60 Seconds You Will Most Likely Miss! TABLE OF CONTENTS What Is a Pilot Boat? A Complete Guide for Cruise Travellers If [...]
Inside vs Balcony Cabin on Cruises: Which One Should You Choose?
THE GEN X WANDERER / MSC World America / Balcony Stateroom Deck 9 TABLE OF CONTENTS THE GEN X WANDERER / Inside vs Balcony Cabin on Cruises: Which One Should You Choose? / [...]
Best Cruise Cabins for Seasickness / Motion Sickness
THE GEN X WANDERER / Best Cruise Cabins for Seasickness or Motion Sickness / MSC World America / Deck 6 TABLE OF CONTENTS The right cabin location can make or break your cruise [...]
Fear of Cruising? 6 of Your Biggest Worries are Probably Wrong
THE GEN X WANDERER / Fear of Cruising: 6 of Your Biggest Worries are Probably Wrong TABLE OF CONTENTS If you've ever felt a knot in your stomach at the mention of booking a cruise, [...]
First Time Cruisers: What You Need to Know (2026)
THE GEN X WANDERER / First Time Cruisers: What You Need to Know (2026) / St. Thomas ~ U.S. Virgin Islands TABLE OF CONTENTS Never been on a cruise before? Here are you [...]
Day 7: Ocean Cay Marine Reserve: Add this Hidden Gem to Your Bucketlist
THE GEN X WANDERER / 7 Days Aboard the MSC World America Eastern Caribbean Day 1: Embarkation Day 2: At Sea Day 3: Puerto Plata | Dominican Republic Day 4: San Juan | Puerto Rico Day 5 + 6: At Sea Day 7: Ocean [...]
Day 5 & 6: MSC World America what to do on Sea Days
THE GEN X WANDERER / 7 Days Aboard the MSC World America Eastern Caribbean Day 1: Embarkation Day 2: At Sea Day 3: Puerto Plata | Dominican Republic Day 4: San Juan | Puerto Rico Day 5 + 6: At Sea Day 7: Ocean [...]
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