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This post was originally published on this site The iconic Waldorf Astoria New York is now welcoming guests following a multibillion-dollar renovation, months ahead of schedule. The hotel, which was originally expected to open in September and offered TPG a sneak peak last month, began a phased reopening on Tuesday, with rooms and dining venues now welcoming guests, the company shared with TPG. The famous property first debuted in 1893 before moving to Park Avenue in 1931. JOE THOMAS/WALDORF ASTORIA “In many ways, Waldorf Astoria New York is the most important hotel in the world. It is the original luxury property and the place where luxury service was perfected. It not only holds a special place in Hilton’s history, but also in modern history,” Chris Nassetta, the president and CEO of Hilton, said in a statement shared with TPG. “Today, we build on this legacy as we mark the start of a new chapter for this iconic property. We look forward to once again welcoming guests to experience its timeless charm and modern enhancements, as this hotel and Waldorf Astoria properties around the world set the standard for luxury stays.” JOE THOMAS/WALDORF ASTORIA When travelers arrive, they will find a

This post was originally published on this site Chase Ultimate Rewards points are one of the most valuable transferable currencies you can earn. Because of this — and Chase’s 5/24 rule — many people start with an Ultimate Rewards points-earning card when they first get into points and miles. Currently, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® (see rates and fees) has a best-ever welcome bonus of 100,000 Ultimate Rewards points plus a $500 Chase Travel℠ promo credit after you spend $5,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening, so its a great time to apply. If you’re new to Ultimate Rewards, you can redeem your points for travel through the Chase Travel portal. However, the most valuable Chase Ultimate Rewards redemptions often involve transferring points to Chase’s 14 airline and hotel transfer partners. This guide will cover some of the best Chase sweet spots to help you maximize your next redemption. Book luxury Hyatt hotel stays with Chase points ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY Chase’s partnership with World of Hyatt is great news for anyone collecting Ultimate Rewards points. That’s because World of Hyatt’s award chart is very generous: Top-tier Category 8 properties cost between 35,000 and 45,000 points per

This post was originally published on this site Nothing ruins a summer travel day quite like a line of thunderstorms. And this week has been a rough go at U.S. airports, capped by a whopper of a storm system Monday that scuttled more than 2,000 flights and led to significant flash flooding, including at some New York City subway stations. Travelers aren’t out of the woods. At least 600 additional flights had already been preemptively canceled for Tuesday by 10 a.m. EDT, according to data from FlightAware. And, the Federal Aviation Administration warned travelers could face significant disruptions at 10 of the largest airports along the East Coast. Travel perks: Domestic lounges that are worth going out of your way for As for the rest of the week? I wish I had better news to share. “I think we will likely see a pretty high number of flight cancellations through the rest of the week,” AccuWeather senior meteorologist Adam Douty told TPG on Tuesday. The worst days ahead, Douty predicted, will be Thursday and Sunday — though it’s possible neither will see disruptions quite as significant as Monday’s. A silver lining, perhaps? That could mean more delays, cancellations and headaches