Hey there! We are Chai & Sunkist, travel content creators based near Washington, DC. We are just like most of you, with a 9 to 5 job trying to make the most of our paid time off.
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Oct 19, 2025
Croatia
First things first — apologies for missing the October 1 and 15 editions. We’ve just returned from our longest trip yet — 18 days on the road across five countries! 🌍
Consider this a double-dose edition — we’ll catch you up on where we’ve been and pack in twice the value you usually get. Let’s dive in. ✈️
🔥 Mad Travel World Updates
The travel world moves fast. There's so much that has happened since we last landed in your inbox, but we are here to break through the noise to surface what's most important.
The latest Spontaneous Escapes list is live: you can score ~30% off KrisFlyer award redemptions when booking by September 30 for travel during October 1 to 31. Some amazing redemptions include:
New York to Frankfurt for 17,500 miles
West Coast (Seattle, SF) to Singapore for 29,400 miles
You can also check the Premium Economy fares in this list.
Heads-up: these awards can’t be changed or canceled, and availability is limited, so be ready to pounce if one matches your itinerary.
Delta has a new offer: book a Delta Main fare from the U.S. to eligible European cities between now and November 30 for travel between January 1 and April 30, and you’ll receive a $100 eCreditafter flying.
Just make sure you enroll here first, and note that award tickets and premium cabins are excluded.
This one’s a bit more under the radar (so good for the insiders). The United Mile Play promo gives you bonus miles for completing activities (booking flights, hotels, etc.) and is targeted, so the requirements and awarded miles vary from member to member. Check yours here. Here's an example:
American Express recently overhauled the Platinum card, increasing the annual fee from $695 to $895.
To offset the higher cost, they’ve added or expanded several perks: enhanced dining/restaurant credits, more robust hotel & wellness benefits, and new “lifestyle” credits.
For existing members, the new fee takes effect at your next renewal (on or after Jan 2, 2026). New members can get as high as 175,000 points in a welcome bonus.
Our take: if you’re already extracting value from the existing perks (hotels, dining, Uber, etc.), this refresh can land in your favor. If not, it’s worth re-evaluating.
Stay tuned towards the end of the year for a comparison of all the major premium travel credit cards to know which one is worth your money in 2026!
Capital One just added three new airline & hotel transfer partners:
Qatar Airways Privilege Club at a 1:1 transfer ratio
Nothing exciting because Cap One miles could be transferred to British Airways, which could be turned into Qatar Avios.
Japan Airlines Mileage Bank at a 2:1.5 ratio
Very exciting because only BILT transferred to JAL.
Sweet spots from major US cities to Tokyo start at 27,000 miles in economy, 40K miles in premium econ., 55K in biz, and 110K in first class.
With the current limited-time 30% transfer bonus, the ratio becomes 1:0.975 (very close to 1:1).
Transfer bonus
I Prefer Hotel Rewards at a 1:2 ratio
That means a 30,000-mile stay on I Prefer will only cost 15,000 Cap One miles. Calculate the cents-per-point for your redemption to know if it makes sense.
On the Bilt side, they’ve added Etihad Guest as a transfer partner, further broadening your mileage options. We aren't too excited about it because Etihad flights are better booked through other partner programs.
Bilt is rolling out a partnership with UWM (United Wholesale Mortgage). Starting early 2026, UWM mortgage customers can earn Bilt Points for every on-time mortgage payment.
This completes Bilt’s vision of covering the entire housing journey — from renting to ownership — under a rewards umbrella.
All you homeowners out there, like us, we'll share more of the how-to as we get closer to the actual launch.
🌟 Current Transfer Bonuses
🔹 30% from Capital One Miles → Japan Airlines Mileage Bank (ends Oct 22)
🔹 80% from Chase Ultimate Rewards → IHG One Rewards (ends Oct 22)
🔹 30% from Chase Ultimate Rewards → British Airways, Iberia, Aer LingusAvios (ends Oct 31)
🔹 20% from Amex Membership Rewards → Flying Blue (ends Oct 31)
🔹 30% from Amex Membership Rewards → Marriott Bonvoy (ends Nov 30)
📍 Over the Christmas Lights
🎄 Holiday Markets Trip in Germany
If you’ve ever dreamed of seeing Europe dressed up for the holidays — twinkling lights, steaming cups of glühwein, and cozy markets on every corner — this is your sign to make it happen.
Holiday market in Marienplatz, Munich
Last year, we spent a week exploring Bavaria at Christmas, and it’s easily one of our favorite winter memories. Here’s the route we took (and recommend!):
🇩🇪 Munich – 2 nights
Start your Christmas trail in Bavaria’s capital. Wander through Marienplatz, where the Christmas market spills out in front of the glowing Neues Rathaus, and stop by the BMW Museum if you need a warm indoor break (and a dose of sleek design).
🏰 Rothenburg ob der Tauber – 1 night
Straight out of a fairy tale. This small, walled town is the definition of Christmas charm, especially around the Plönlein, one of Europe’s most photographed corners. Don’t miss Käthe Wohlfahrt’s Christmas Village — it’s Christmas year-round inside!
🎅 Nuremberg – 2 nights
Home to one of the oldest and most traditional Christmas markets in Europe, the Christkindlesmarkt. Grab a mug of mulled wine, snack on Nuremberg sausages and gingerbread, and soak in the festive spirit that fills every cobbled lane.
🏙 Optional: Berlin – 1 night (or two!)
If you have more time, wrap it up in the capital, where you’ll find dozens of themed markets — from the grand Gendarmenmarkt to the artsy vibes at Lucia Christmas Market. We only stayed a night before flying to our next winter adventure (more on that in the next edition). But we wished we had added another night in Berlin to enjoy the museums and holiday lights longer.
While this route is super easy to do by train, pick up a rental car from Nuremberg to drive to Rothenburg for more flexibility. 🚄🚙
Every town and city has its own twist on German Christmas magic, so feel free to customize your itinerary according to your taste.
🌍 Exploring Eastern Europe
💫 Fall in Europe + 5 Countries + Family Reunion
Remember a few editions ago when we hinted we were working on an Eastern Europe plan? Well… it happened — and it turned into one of our most memorable adventures yet!
This time, it wasn’t just us — Sunkist’s brother flew in from London, and we traveled with his cousins from India. What started as a family reunion became an epic 18-day journey across five countries.
Music, mountains, and museums — a perfect mix of nature and culture. Plus, Vienna’s café scene is chef’s kiss.
🇸🇰 Slovakia – Bratislava (day trip)
We popped over for a day (because Europe is that connected!) and checked off a new country over cobblestoned lanes and castle views.
🇭🇺 Hungary – Budapest (3 nights)
The perfect grand finale — thermal baths, ruin bars, and some of the best views we’ve had from the Buda Castle and Fisherman’s Bastion.
It’s hard to sum up 18 days of leaf-peeping, spectacular waterfalls, historic cities, old-town charm, alpine peaks, and lakeside views — so head over to our Instagram for all the stories and reels we have started dropping already.
Wish you a happy and prosperous Diwali 🪔 and also a happy and spooky Halloween 🎃.
Hey there! We are Chai & Sunkist, travel content creators based near Washington, DC. We are just like most of you, with a 9 to 5 job trying to make the most of our paid time off.
