You could live in New Zealand for free

August 14, 2026 | View Online

If you’re ever bummed out about being stuck in the back rows of an airplane, think of it this way: it might be the safest seat on the aircraft.

In all honesty, I still might choose being in danger over sitting by a bathroom, but I’m not entirely sane, so don’t listen to me.

In today's edition:

• Your weekend to-do list

• Marriott's new bonus offer could get you 4 free nights

• All the travel news you may have missed

Stay safe out there,

Arijana

Having trouble narrowing down your weekend plans? Whether you're staying in or jetting off on an adventure, we have you covered. Here’s what to do this weekend:

✈️ If you’re at home this weekend and focusing on planning a trip, use our guide to learn how to track prices so you can book at the best time. 

🌞 If you’re sad you missed out on the total solar eclipse this year, now is the time to start planning your 2027 and 2028 eclipse trips.

🐴 If you’re itching for a unique adventure, don’t miss your chance to live in New Zealand for free while you help take care of some cute horses.

🎮 Are you a gamer? Well, the FAA wants to hire you. The new hiring approach might be your chance to work in the travel industry.

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Marriott Bonvoy launches a new bonus, but is it worth it?

If you’re looking to level up your hotel travel game, this might just be the bonus deal you’re looking for. Marriott Bonvoy just launched a new welcome deal through its Boundless credit card.

If you sign up, you’ll earn four free award nights after you spend $3,000 within the first three months of having the card. You’ll also get up to $100 in statement credits after you spend $500 on eligible airline purchases. 

🏨 Is the welcome bonus worth it?

Overall, I would say this is a pretty stellar deal if you’re looking for a new travel credit card that can earn you major hotel rewards. The card has an annual fee of only $95, and you get a ton of perks like free anniversary night awards, automatic Bonvoy Silver Status, and really high earning, like 6x points on Marriott spending, and 3x on gas, dining, and groceries. 

The only reason I wouldn’t rank this as a must-have deal is if you have a general travel credit card that allows you to transfer points for hotel stays. 

Generally, four free nights would be a steal of a deal, but remember that these are four free award nights, meaning that these can only be redeemed for a one-night stay at properties up to 50k points per night. 

That significantly limits how you can use those four nights, so if you’re picky about hotels, maybe this isn’t the card for you. But if you do a lot of short stays and don’t really care how fancy a room is, then go for it.

Learn more here.

I cannot believe this hotel is real. Wow.

Having trouble keeping up with all the travel news? Don't worry, we have you covered with our travel news highlights. Here's what you need to know in case you missed it.

• Whoa! A hippo charged at a group of tourists in Botswana

• FAA approves a new privacy upgrade for United Airlines

• A luxury residential-style stay in NYC offers pools, private chefs, and Central Park views

• Family-friendly microcations in the US

• Some Qatar passengers can finally skip bag recheck entirely now

• Yikes! A Vegas hotel is scamming people with AI photos

📍 Ibiza, Spain

Today, instead of posting a picture, I had to do something different and include a video of people marveling at the solar eclipse in Ibiza. It warms my heart to see so many people gathering for the special event and hear all the cheering.

We’ll be back to regular pictures next week, so don’t forget to submit your fav travel pic here.