work travel benefits

Why Work and Travel Can Be Good for You

The rise of remote work has made it easier for people to live anywhere..

Posted November 19, 2023 | Reviewed by Jessica Schrader

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• Remote work has become the norm for many.
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• The digital nomad lifestyle has both advantages and disadvantages.

The pandemic brought about a new way of working for a vast majority of knowledge workers. Working from home became a rising trend well before COVID-19 , but it seems to have become legitimized as most of the world struggled to maintain their business workflow despite our collective isolation. Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and other forms of digital communication have become the norm for much of the world. As companies scan for talent across national borders and time zones, remote work has become the norm for many.

Being a digital nomad is an amplified version of remote work that may not be suitable for everyone. It entails working and living wherever you choose as long as you have an internet connection and a digital device to remain in contact with your employer or client base. It is an ideal solution for freelancers who may work on asynchronous projects that require end results with little real-time input. But even for those who have regular meetings, working digitally can offer a great deal of benefits. Oftentimes people combine their work with travel, thus the nomad component to this type of lifestyle.

According to a recent study by WorkMotion, Barcelona was ranked the best city for remote work among the 85 cities examined worldwide. The top 10 cities for remote working infrastructure included (in ranking order) Barcelona, Dubai, Prague, Madrid, Melbourne, Amsterdam, Lisbon, Sydney, Gran Canaria, and Reykjavik. It appears that as a country, Spain is the most popular place to have a so-called workation.

The pros and cons of being a digital nomad

In a recent email interview, Chase Warrington, head of remote at Doist and a U.S. expat living in Spain, pointed to the advantages and disadvantages of the digital nomad lifestyle.

“Crafting your perfect workday involves working from a place that inspires you, and when you have the freedom to choose that place, it can be an absolute game changer,” he states, but he also highlights the downsides to a nomadic lifestyle.

“The paradox of choice is a blessing and a curse,” he says. “When you have the freedom to choose your location for the afternoon, day, week, month, or year, there tends to be a constant analysis running in the background that's hard to turn off. I know digital nomads who have completely burnt themselves out because they were trying to maximize their location independence, and ended up suffering from overanalyzing their options. This downside is relative and comes from a place of privilege—nobody will feel sorry for you—but speaking with nomads from around the world, I know it's a challenge nonetheless.”

How travel can improve your mental health

If you find the right mixture of work and pleasure while being able to avoid overthinking where you are going to go next, the digital nomad lifestyle can improve your mental health. According to a survey of German travelers conducted by IcelandAir, 37% of those surveyed pointed out the benefits adventure travel has on their mental well-being. Nearly half experienced a confidence boost while traveling, while nearly 44% underscored the importance of work-life balance issues as a top priority in life.

The principles of the Power of Slow include delegating, expectation management , saying "no," and befriending time. What better way to test those principles than engaging in remote work in a foreign country? It may not be for everyone, but one thing is for certain: Travel can open the mind in ways that can add to your joy while building your work experience, no matter where your laptop takes you.

Christine Louise Hohlbaum is the author of The Power of Slow: 101 Ways to Save Time in Our 24/7 World.

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What are the benefits of business travel (and downsides)?

Congratulations. You just took a job that includes 25% travel (or maybe 50% or even more) . But you’ve never really traveled before and frankly you are a little unsure if this is a good career move or not. In this post I cover benefits of business travel as well as some of the downsides.

Before we get too far let’s define business travel. Here’s how we define it :

Business Travel is when employees travel (fly, drive, train, etc) for some company related activity. Often this involves meeting w/ a customer, visiting a project site, installing something, training, or meeting w/ staff in other locations.

Wikipedia has a more straightforward definition that we like to:

Wikipedia defines business travel as: “ Business travel  is  travel  undertaken for work or  business  purposes, as opposed to other types of  travel , such as for leisure purposes or regularly commuting between one’s home and workplace.” I think this is a fair definition of business travel.

There are no shortage of jobs where frequent travel is a key element . But, when considering a job that has frequent travel it’s important to look at the pros and cons. What are the benefits of business travel? To you? To the company? What are the downsides? In the remaining sections we examine these very questions.

The Benefits of of Business Travel

Let’s start first with some of the benefits of business travel…and there are many:

• You will raise your profile inside your firm . Being willing to travel lets management know that  you are an all-in kind of employee, willing to go the extra mile. It will start to let them view you as more than just a “doer.”
• You will be exposed to higher profile projects . By traveling you will likely get to visit and be involved in higher profile projects. For example, I got my big break by traveling unexpectedly to a customer’s site where an install was going wrong. I was with the CEO, the head of Sales, and the big dog’s from the customer. Great exposure. Especially when I delivered.
• You will learn to be flexible . Traveling involves a healthy dose of “crud, that happened.” You got to roll w/ the punches and travel will help keep you flexible which is always a good thing for the business world.
• You will meet new people inside your firm . I like this the most. Lots of good network opps on the road and the chance to build your virtual Rolodex.
• You will get 1:1 time with important people in your company . I spent 4 hours in a car w/ our national sales director – excellent bonding time. We now trust each other and I have an internal coach when I needed one. When you are on the road you often will be there 1:1 with key members of the firm. I once picked up and dropped off the CEO from the airport. Later he hired for me a very senior role.
• You will rack up points and miles that you can use to book personal trips . If you gonna travel you might as well get the points. Use those points to pay for your personal or family vacations.
• You can brag to your friends (via Instagram, of course) about your “glamorous travel life .” Hey, it’s not that glamorous, but what do they know. Give ’em the ole duck face photo at the Hampton Inn in Bismarck, ND and throw a sweet filter on it. They will think you are living the good life. #Sarcasm. Or if you are actually at some place sweet those photos will be awesome. #Millenial (not me!)
• You get to see a lot of interesting places (bucket list!) . Through business travel I’ve been able to visit almost all 50 states, and check off quite a few bucket list destinations. Sometimes you gotta rush through them given the business constraint, but its still far more economical than you could do on your own.
• You will gain a more global (or at least “National”) view of the world / country . If you live on the left coast (like I do), you might have a tendency to get a skewed view of the universe. I’ve spent so much time in all parts of this country that I know that there are equal parts good and bad people everywhere. Travel will bring you into contact with all kinds of folks.

Be sure to read: 147 Business Travel Tips – the ultimate list of road warrior tips & tricks

The Downsides of Business Travel

Yes…it’s not all glitz and glam and unicorns. In fact, often it’s not. Here are some of the downsides of business travel:

• Time away from family . This is the biggest drawback. And one I’ve struggled with. I love my family and I love providing for them. I know for a fact that I could not provide the same quality of life that I do today if I didn’t have a job that involved business travel. All the same, it totally sucks being away from your family.
• The hassles of business travel . Non-business travelers often think the business travel life is glamorous. And I suppose that parts of it are (like getting a sweet upgrade to first class), but the reality is that it’s a job and it has its own daily grind. You are cramped in airline seats, shuttling from one location to the next, tired, etc.
• You will be tired . Different time zones, jet lag and having to the “up” and “on your game” for you client meetings is taxing on the body. You learn to live with, but it’s still difficult.
• You will occasionally miss your kids events . This sucks. No two ways about it. I’ve made more events than I’ve missed, but sometimes you will miss a soccer practice or a midweek game. Not fun.
• You will travel to places people don’t really want to visit (like Minot, ND) – but I see this as an upside, honestly.
• You will be alone a lot . All of those bucket list places are often done alone. I’ve seen cool lighthouses…by myself. I can honestly say while it was cool to see, I wished my wife was with me. It would have made it so much better. At the end of the day, you are alone in your hotel room with your email and your TV.

For more thoughts on the downsides of frequent travel consider these articles:

• Travelling for Work: The Dark Side of Work Travel
• 9 Crazy Myths About Business Travel – Debunked!
• What to do on a Business Trip Alone – 7 Ideas to Never Be Lonely on a Work Trip
• Travel Tip Tuesday #19: Staying Connected is Important (to your loved ones!)

Final Thoughts on the Benefits of Business Travel

There are a lot of pros and cons to business travel. I have been doing it for many years and the impact it has had on my career has been significant. The world is pretty flat these days and many corporate jobs require some level of travel.

If you want to really advance in your career it is better to embrace the benefits of business travel. Find a supportive partner (my wife is amazing and we have a great routine! I could not do this job w/out her) and jump in headfirst. Your career will thank you.

Don’t forget to read my post on 11 Tips to Crush your First Business Trip for ideas on how to get the most out of your first experience and to avoid making those rookie travel mistakes.

By the way, if you are interested in more travel tips and travel advice, you might be like these great articles:

If you liked this content, please do us a favor share it on social media and  click the “like” button below  and don’t forget to follow us on social media including  Twitter ,  Instagram ,  Pinterest  and  Facebook .

And, of course, if you are interested in more travel tips and travel advice, you might like these great articles:

• 147 Business Travel Tips  – the ultimate list of road warrior tips & tricks
• 31 Amazing Hotel Hacks  Travel Pros Use all the Time
• 53 Amazing Gifts for Business Travelers  in the 2020 Gift Guide for Travelers
• 9 Healthy Travel Snacks  – eat smarter on the road
• Product Review: OGIO Metro Backpack , The Business Traveler’s Backpack
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• 26 Must Have Travel Gadgets & Gear  to add to your travel kit
• The Ultimate List of the  Best Travel Blogs 2020  Edition
• The Mileage Run  – A Frequent Flyer Travel Hack You Need to Know
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Jeremy Ballou is the editor of the CBoardingGroup.com and a long-time writer in both the travel and tech industry. Most days he's in thinking about travel or writing about it.

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Enjoyed this article and it’s great that you have been able to travel on business for a long time.

One downside I’ve noticed is marital splits.

Thanks so much! And yes heavy travel can be rough on the marriage. No doubt about it.

I like the idea that I’ll be likely to get involved with higher-profile projects with business travel. My boss is offering me this opportunity since he told me that I have the potential to take over his place when he retires, and he wants me to get started as soon as possible with traveling on all parts of the country. If I were to choose, I’ll look for a company that posts business class travel fares so I’ll know how much I should put for the travel expenses when I begin my training.

You should definitely take advantage of it!

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Offering 5-star travel in your employee benefits package could help your company attract talent and boost retention

• Companies can add value to their benefits packages by offering travel perks.
• Experts told Business Insider that it's a great strategy for attracting and retaining talent.
• Travel benefits can include stipends or subsidized hotel stays.
• This article is part of " Talent Insider ," a series containing expert advice to help business owners tackle a variety of hiring challenges.

Recruiting top talent today often means offering more than a competitive salary. One way businesses can entice prospective employees is through a five-star travel benefits package.

A travel benefits package is a company-sponsored plan for employees that can include travel stipends or complimentary flights and hotel stays. It's become a valuable offering, especially as more employees embrace the digital-nomad lifestyle.

Earlier this year in a survey of American adults by The Vacationer, nearly 85% of respondents said they planned to travel over the summer . In a November survey from the company, about 50% of American adults said they were planning to embark on holiday travels .

With many Americans prioritizing travel, we asked three experts for their advice on how businesses could implement travel perks as part of a company benefits package.

Why offer a travel benefits package?

Travel is a popular motivator, especially among millennial workers who are spending less on material items and more on experiences .

"When companies talk about 'benefits,' they generally discuss health and wellness benefits," Barbara Palmer, a workplace-leadership consultant and the founder of Broad Perspective Consulting , said. "But anything that compensates an employee, including travel benefits, should be taken into consideration when you are trying to attract and retain talent."

Millennial and Gen Z workers also want a better work-life balance and view vacations and leisure time as a necessity.

"As the job market has shifted dramatically over the past couple of years, employees are considering benefits as a major determining factor as to whether they will accept a job," said Heather Rider Hammond, an employment attorney at the legal service provider Gravel & Shea . "Things like compensated or discount travel, enhanced medical benefits, and generous PTO allowances that allow workers to achieve a better work-life balance are playing a bigger role when employees are job searching."

What to consider including in a travel-benefits plan

Palmer told Business Insider that companies could consider flexible travel benefits and allow employees to book travel with their preferred firms.

"Giving employees the option of working with a travel-booking service, allowing employees to stay at their loyalty chain of choice, and keeping rewards points for airline and hotel stays are all travel benefits that midmarket businesses can offer to their employees," Palmer said. "Also, consider offering access to airport lounges and gym memberships like ClassPass that can be used in different locations or offering deals on upgraded seats."

While a travel benefits package can go far in attracting and retaining talent, it doesn't have to come with a hefty price tag.

"Companies can consider partnering with certain hotel groups to provide room blocks and discounted room prices," Hammond said. "Companies could also provide discounted airline tickets or tickets to events happening in destination cities. The price point of providing travel benefits is usually the biggest misconception, and it's important for companies to 'shop around' and see what they can achieve within their budget."

Foster a company culture that encourages travel

If a company is going to offer travel perks as part of a benefits package and reap a reward, experts told BI, it should make sure employees are aware of what's available.

"A major mistake companies make is having these benefits available but not advertising them to employees," Hammond said. "It is also important to foster an environment where an employee feels comfortable actually utilizing the benefits. If employees are too scared to take time off, they will also not utilize any travel benefits available to them."

Jennifer Kraszewski, Paycom's vice president of human resources, also advocates for making employees feel like they can take time off without punishment and that it's not frowned upon to take a break. Offering generous travel benefits needs to align with the company's values around paid time off.

"Providing workers great discounts and stipends without the time to take advantage of them will not be of benefit to individual employees, so it's integral to build a travel-benefits program that fits your company's needs and culture," she said.

How to implement travel benefits

A company can roll out a comprehensive travel-benefits plan that includes international travel deals or a more curated plan with local hotel discounts, but Kraszewski said it's crucial that companies communicate to their employees how to participate in the program.

"One of the most common mistakes companies make in offering travel benefits is focusing too much on good intentions without a plan for the implementation, since managing travel benefits for large organizations can pose challenges if not done correctly," Kraszewski said. "If you offer a stipend to every employee for travel, make sure it's easy for them to access and take advantage of. Then be sure they are reimbursed quickly and seamlessly, which is where strong HR software is integral.

"The chain of command for these types of reimbursements should be clear; each person should know who approves expenses and what the anticipated turnaround time is to get the money back."

Though offering travel benefits is a relatively new frontier for companies, the payoff could be a motivated workforce and an attractive way to appeal to top talent.

"Providing this type of benefit to employees is very new and will likely require some fine-tuning as a company learns what works for its employees and what doesn't," Hammond said. "However, it's a benefit that could make a company stand out amongst its competitors and substantially increase morale."

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7 great reasons why you should work and travel.

Having just bagged our first job whilst on the great budget road trip here in Australia, we’re again feeling that rush of joy and exhilaration when travel becomes a sustainable lifestyle.

There’s nothing quite like the thrill of knowing you are able to support yourself while living your dreams – making travel not just a holiday for us, but actually a way of life.

We’ve both had experience of work and travel independently before this trip – myself in Latin America and the boy in South Africa – so we are well sold on the benefits of doing so.

Yet, even with our past successes, making the leap of faith to put ourselves out there and hunt for jobs in foreign surroundings was still daunting.

Luckily our self-belief and hard work has paid off once again and we are loving our current employed life on Magnetic Island, Queensland !

From TEFL jobs to au pair work, farming to hospitality gigs, there are so many opportunities to work and travel across the globe it’s silly.

So, if you haven’t yet tried finding a job in a different country to support your adventures and need some encouragement, here are 7 great reasons why I think you should work and travel.

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#1 It Allows You to Travel Longer

There’s no doubt that one of the best reasons why you should work and travel, especially for budget backpackers like us, is that it allows you to extend the amount of time you’re away from home!

If you’re earning money while you’re abroad, then you’re going to have more cash to spend and this is certainly going to help you travel for longer.

Every little helps, as they say, so even if you don’t earn as much as you would working at home, finding a job while you travel is still going to help you prolong your adventure.

The fact that working while travelling will help you extend your holiday is probably the most common reason travellers look to find jobs while they’re away … at least, I know it’s certainly mine!

If you’re interested in learning more about the types of jobs you can do to support your travels and where to find them, check out my Work Resources page, otherwise, this post I wrote about the top 6 travel jobs and how to find them , may prove very useful!

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#2 It Teaches You Different Skills

There’s no doubt that much of the work you’ll find while travelling is likely to be different from the type of work you do at home. That’s because the opportunities are different elsewhere in the world and so is the demand.

My advice is to embrace this difference and treat your time of work and travel as a key opportunity to learn some different skills.

See it as a chance to experience something new and you never know what you might learn or discover you enjoy.

I’ve done quite a bit of agricultural work in my time of working on the road and who would have known I’d enjoy farming and weeding so much! So don’t ever be afraid to try new things, after all, you might discover you actually like them!

#3 It Tests Your Comfort Zone

The third great reason why you should work and travel is because it will almost certainly push at the limit of your comfort zone.

Ok, this probably doesn’t sound too appealing, but trust me, you will benefit in the long run.

Travelling alone can often be a comfort zone tester in itself, so add into this mix trying to find a job in a place where the rules are different, the system is different and perhaps even the language is different and you’ve got yourself a good old challenge!

As with almost everything you face that scares you or seems daunting , work and travel does have advantages however.

When you do bite the bullet to put yourself out there, try to find a job, perhaps go and live somewhere you don’t know anyone else, you will be rewarded for your bravery, I promise!

#4 It Gives You More Confidence

Because , whether you get the job or not, the experience or pushing your limits will help you grow in confidence and experience.

That means that even if you don’t get the job, you’re likely to feel better about yourself and expand your belief of the things you can do and achieve in life.

In turn, this is more likely to make you try new experiences, such as work and travel again and, sooner or later, succeed because confidence, experience and hard work breed success.

Work and travel will develop your self-esteem and will open your eyes  as to just how much you can achieve in life if you want to.

If there ever was a definitive reason to work and travel, then surely this is it!

#5 It Leads to Great Friendships

Working while you travel is also a super way to make some great friends … believe me!

This is particularly beneficial if you are travelling solo and looking to find some fun people to hang out with or adventure with later.

Working while you’re away can immediately bring you into close contact with people that are likely to have similar interests or be on similar paths to you.

After all, there’s nothing like working a 7 hour shift behind a reception desk together when it comes to getting to know someone!

I’m delighted to say that I’ve met some of the most amazing people through work when I’ve been travelling – people that I’m still in contact with years later.

Those people are now great friends of mine in their own right and I’m so glad every minute that the combination of work and travel lead me to meet them.

#6 It Engages You With Local Communities

As well as working with people who are similar to you, working while you travel is also likely to throw into situations with people who are very different to you, people who come from a different part of the globe and people who view the world very differently.

Working alongside such people, operating as a team or perhaps teaching them a new skill, is a great way to cross cultural boundaries and learn more about the lives of everyday people in the place where you are.

The fact that working abroad can put you in touch with local people is definitely one of my favourite things about this mode of seeing the world and is a major advantage of TEFL work in particular.

Such an experience can really can open your eyes and allow you to experience different cultures in ways you never have before.

#7 It Gets You Really Knowing a Place

Working while you travel will necessarily keep you in a single destination for a longer period of time than were you just passing through as a tourist, because presumably you’re going to be keeping your job for longer than a few days!

At the most basic level therefore, this will allow you to engage more with a place, to get to know it better and to glean a deeper understanding of it than most tourists.

Add into this equation the notion that you’ll probably be making some great friendships with local people, and your sense of a destination and its culture, will certainly increase.

This is, without a doubt, one of the biggest benefits to the opportunity that work and travel presents, indeed it’s one of the greatest benefits of travelling full stop.

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Creator of Big World Small Pockets, Stephanie Parker is a travel addict! Originally from Jersey in the Channel Islands, Stephanie adventures the world collecting tips, advice and stories, to share with a smile

19 thoughts on “ 7 Great Reasons Why You Should Work And Travel ”

I couldn’t agree more Steph! 😀

Glad we concur Katie 🙂

Love these! They are all the reasons I love to work overseas as well. In fact, I’ve worked abroad far more than I have just travelled!

Awesome Sonia, it really is the way to go! 🙂

Great article – and so true!! I have loved every time I have worked abroad. It’s always been teaching though, I’d love t try my hand at some agricultural work next time – I might enjoy it just like you did!

You never know! Hey, if you do teach English abroad, check out my latest post about the best resource I’ve discovered for this line of work 🙂

Hey Steph, excellent work on that article – I really enjoyed reading through it as I have done a year of working and traveling around New Zealand in 2011/2012 and can totally relate to everything you listed! Especially Nr. 5 – the friends I made on that trip are some of the best people I ever met!

I am just starting to blog about my own experiences and journey, which led me back to now living in NZ full-time and loved your post so much that I linked it in my article. Thanks 🙂

Hi Nikita, thank you so much for your great comments and I’m delighted you loved the post. Sounds like you really love NZ (who doesn’t right?!) so I look forward to reading your posts about it! Thanks for the link 🙂

Thanks for your quick reply Steph and keep up the good work. I sure do love NZ, but like you said, it’s hard not to!

He he you know it Nikita! Safe travels 🙂

Wonderful post!!! Genuinely loved this kind of post. Although I want much more information on like precious subject matter.

So glad you enjoyed the post! What time of precise info were you looking for? Perhaps let me know and I’ll see if I can help!

Very Nice Blog. Keep it up. I have also some good blogs check it.

Thank you, that’s so kind and just the sort of encouragement I need 🙂

Hi, Thanks for this great information. The second one I liked the most because this thing I realise myself, I learn many new things just to by travelling. Travelling is not just to see others country and city but also to know their culture and aware more people about that. I am doing this for a long time of period and it really gives me a chance to learn many of the most important things… I love Travelling

So wonderful to hear this Shailesh! Travelling really is the best in some many ways and delighted you are loving your experience 🙂

Your ideas are worth sharing Steph! Thanks for these amazing tips. Keep writing more blogs like this

Thanks Maria, that’s really kind 🙂

I personally believe that all travelers must pick inspiring travel quotes in their mind. It helps to enjoy the trip. I always do the same for me. By the way, I wish you all a good holidays/travels for this 2021, if pandemics let us for sure!

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The Ultimate Guide to Employee Travel Stipends

An employee travel stipend , also called a vacation stipend or travel reimbursement, is an allotment of funds that workers can use during each calendar year at their discretion to pay for personal travel expenses.

Last updated by Sarah Bedrick

Employers are increasingly realizing that encouraging employees to take paid time off work to travel and relax is good for the bottom line .

A recent U.S. Travel Association study showed a 22 percentage point gap between mega-travelers and homebodies when it comes to happiness with physical health and well-being - a powerful finding considering the rise of employee burnout .

So, to make sure their employees aren't squandering valuable travel opportunities to enhance their life (and actually use their PTO to do it), more and more employers are offering personal travel reimbursement.

Here's what is covered in this guide:

What is an employee travel stipend.

• Benefits of offering an employee travel stipend
• What an employee travel stipend can cover
• Are travel stipends taxable?
• Example employee travel stipends

First, a definition:

Companies that offer such a stipend for employee personal travel, which is different than business-related travel, are typically at the forefront of employee benefits and employee experience because it's:

• not a commonly offered benefit and therefore feels like unchartered territory, and
• since "travel expenses" may sound expensive, many companies don't even think it's something they can reasonably afford. However, it's just as affordable and flexible as any other stipend you could offer, while offering major benefits (which we cover in the next section).

Another thing to note is that there are no federal or state laws that require employers to offer a travel stipend to their employees, so they can establish their own requirements for how their employees can use it. For example, employees may need to submit photos proving they spent time at a vacation destination before receiving reimbursement.

Benefits of offering personal travel stipends

Many employers already benefit by offering paid vacation time and encouraging employees to use it. Here are some of the specific ways that doing so can be good for business:

• Fewer sick days taken
• Fewer workers’ compensation claims filed
• More energy and motivation after their return
• Increased job satisfaction
• Increased productivity
• Reduced use of healthcare benefits

A travel stipend can help attract talent

Offering an employee a travel stipend to spend on their vacations is a hugely attractive benefit to offer for attracting talent. It's a benefit that isn't standard, would appeal strongly to individuals who already love to prioritize travel on their off-time, and most of all... who wouldn't be excited to say "my company pays for my vacations"?

A travel stipend can also help retain talent

For your employees who have benefited from and become accustomed to this unique offering, it's very likely that it'll be a reason they stay longer at your company. This is especially true if you also have a healthy company culture that supports and appreciates their experience and contributions as an individual.

If you're interested in exploring travel stipends or any other type of stipend for your company, talk to a Compt stipend expert who can help you set up and manage your ideal program.

Ready to offer your employees a travel stipend?

(Compt customers have 90% engagement rates!)

Things you can cover in a travel stipend

While each organization can determine what expenses qualify for an employee travel stipend, here are some common examples of vacation expenses to consider.

• Airplane tickets
• Bus tickets
• Dining allowance
• Fuel for road trips or a rental car
• International data plan
• Luggage and packing
• Passport fees
• Pre-paid phone card
• Travel applications
• Vacation activities

You can also offer a different stipend amount for employees with more seniority or based on excellent performance reviews, although we don't recommend that since the point of stipends is to promote equity and inclusivity.

You'll also have to think about how you'll offer the stipend and the verification requirements: will you just drop the cash into their paycheck (which has some tax pitfalls we cover in this post ) or have employees submit receipts for reimbursement when they return to work after vacation (a standard and business-friendly way to approach it).

However you do it, your people or HR team will need to get buy-in from your finance department to fund employee travel before announcing this benefit. Some companies start with a small vacation stipend to allow the opportunity to review the benefit before investing in it more heavily. Working up to a more robust benefit is generally the preferred approach rather than starting with a larger travel stipend amount and having to dial it back due to budget issues.

Learn everything you need to know about Employee Stipends

Check out our free eBook that shows exactly why employee stipends are the best way to offer inclusive benefits that fit every budget.

Are travel stipends taxable? 

Because the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) does not consider travel stipends regular income, it does not require employers to withhold tax (federal tax, social security tax, or Medicare). This rule has long applied to travel stipends for business purposes. Although personal travel stipends for employees are a newer development, the current IRS policy also applies to this benefit.

If stipend taxability is of interest to you, check out this helpful resource: Which Fringe Benefits are Taxable and Nontaxable?

Examples of travel stipends by top companies

A CNN Money report about companies who pay for vacation days highlighted several top companies that offer personal travel stipends and software company FullContact offered the most generous employee travel stipend at $7,500 per year.

• About FullContact's employee travel stipend: The "vacation stipend benefit" as they call it, is on top of FullContact offering a minimum of three weeks of paid vacation each year. FullContact insists that employees use all of their PTO and also requires employees on vacation to be fully off the clock, meaning they cannot call work, check emails, etc. Although FullContact cannot enforce it, the company encourages employees to disconnect and not use technology at all while away from work.
• Both AFAR Media and Bamboo HR each offer employees a $2,000 travel stipend to pay for plane tickets, hotel rooms, and typical vacation activities. Each of these employers recognizes that employees do not always have the funds to go on vacation even when they receive paid time off from work. They see the travel stipend as a simple way to solve that problem.
• Evernote , a company that produces computer and smartphone applications. Evernote offers employees a $1,000 annual travel stipend, but they must take five or more consecutive days off work to cash in on it.

Other examples of employee travel stipend programs:

• In addition to a typical 21 days of annual paid time off, seven days of sick/safe leave and 10 paid holidays, employees at SEO & Marketing software company Moz receive a $3,000 per year vacation expense reimbursement.
• It's probably no surprise that Expedia encourages employees to go on vacation. Employees at the major travel site get a reimbursement of $250-$750, depending on tenure, and also receive discounts on retail and travel packages purchased through the site.
• Another travel site Travelzoo offers their employees a $1,500 travel stipend and three extra days of PTO to “book a hotel stay, vacation package, cruise, or flight offer that we negotiate on behalf of our 28 million members worldwide,” according to Michael Stitt, President of Travelzoo North America.
• Time tracking and scheduling software company TSheets provides employees with a $1,500 per year travel credit. There’s just one catch — “you have to completely disconnect while you’re on vacation: No calls, no emails, no Slack,”  NBC reports .

Just getting started with stipends? Check out this detailed guide on how to set up your perk stipend .

Or, if you're more familiar with a vendor-based approach and need more information, here is a helpful Perks Vendor Cost Calculator to see what a difference going vendorless makes.

Resources on Lifestyle Benefits and Perks:

• Everything You Need to Know About Lifestyle Benefits
• The Ultimate Guide to Remote Work Stipends
• Which Fringe Benefits are Taxable and Nontaxable
• Evaluate your existing perks program with our  Perks Performance Analysis  
• Comparing Perks Software: Everything You Need to Know

Sarah Bedrick

Chief Marketing Officer

Prior to Compt, Sarah worked at HubSpot for 6+ years, where she helped to build, scale, and grow the HubSpot Academy division. She is obsessed with understanding what makes a company culture great, being a career and life coach to people in tech, and creating cherished memories with her husband and two young kids. Her favorite Compt stipend category is Health & Wellness.

Ready to see how travel stipends can boost employee satisfaction and reduce churn?

Compt can help you create a stipend program that your employees will love.

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Travel benefits can retain employees, boost wellness

To encourage employees to have a solid work-life balance, employers are beginning to add travel expenditures to benefits packages, to compete with the hot job market while attracting and retaining employees who want to prioritize their wellbeing.

Take Thomson Reuters, which recently expanded its benefits program to allow employees to work in any location — even if it’s outside of their home country — for up to four weeks, out of their allotted eight-week annual remote option.

Additionally, a new sabbatical program will go live on September 15 that provides employees who have worked there for at least three years the opportunity to take up to six months of unpaid leave every five years.

“[Employees] are looking beyond compensation to seek employers providing flexibility, prioritizing wellbeing and mental health, delivering growth and development opportunities, embracing diversity and inclusion, and creating an opportunity to work towards a higher purpose,” said Thomson Reuters’ chief people officer Mary Alice Vuicic in the announcement .

Companies across the board are more frequently considering how to offer travel benefits. At Airbnb, employees receive $2,000 in travel credit each year to book stays on the platform and at software company Calendly, employees are given an annual $1,000 travel stipend. Arrivia, a travel technology company, works with companies to design unique incentive structures like employer-sponsored travel rewards and benefits.

For its own employees, Arrivia is considering an exchange program, where employees could work in one of its four international offices for up to four weeks. Other employers are offering work-abroad perks as well, like Conductor, a marketing platform, which allows employees to work two months out of the year from any global location, as long as they maintain business hours aligned with those of the company’s New York headquarters.

These travel rewards could look anything like 50 percent off on a hotel stay or free suite upgrades that aren’t available through online travel agencies. It’s a tangible benefit that can be experienced directly by employees and their families. 

At arrivia, they offer “vacation cash,” given on milestone anniversaries, which can be used for airlines, resorts, car rentals, cruises, and more, or resort certificates, which could offer up to 7 nights free with a number of different locations to choose from across the globe, coupled with unlimited paid time off.

“For any employer that’s out there, work-life balance, mental health, total wellbeing and retention of employees is really top of mind of every HR professional that I know,” said Jennifer Strauel, chief people & diversity officer. “Travel is one of the benefits that is a differentiator right now. It makes employers stand out in a sea of different job offers.”

Travel benefits can show employees that employers care — beyond offering unlimited paid time off that some staffers could be shy about taking advantage of anyway.

“What we see is as people come back from that travel experience, it’s like they come back new,” said Strauel. “Their stress levels are down, they feel better than they have felt, they have more energy. We see a different person when they come back from a travel experience.”

Arrivia, which was first founded in 1997, has seen an uptick since the pandemic, especially now that there is a pent-up demand for travel after people stayed home (or close to home) for the last two years.

“Now that things are opening up again, people really want to get out and experience things again, or maybe for the first time,” said Strauel. “The pandemic made them realize ‘wow I need to do more, I need to see the world now since I haven’t before.’”

WTF is keystroke tech? (and how it’s used to spy on workers)

Climate-centric job ads spike across industries as businesses tighten targets, ‘huge benefits to our organization’: pepsico, ibm share why their ‘returnships’ work , an inside look at gensler’s office of the future, how companies like microsoft, ey and bank of america are hiring more neurodiverse staff, more in culture, wtf is an emotional paycheck.

Workers today want to be compensated with more intangible benefits, like flexibility and better work life balance.

‘Inclusion as a habit’: Why meeting neurodiverse staff’s needs is good for workforce productivity

Some examples include practices to ensure staff thoroughly know what's expected of them, and others to foster greater clarity and transparency in general.

Salaries for climate related roles in the U.S. range from $90,000 in professional development services to $140,000 in tech and digital platforms.

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These Are the Best Travel Companies to Work For (Video)

If you’re looking for a job with big travel bonuses, Fortune has a list of places to send your resumé .

According to Fortune ’s list of “100 Best Companies,” Hilton skyrocketed to become the best company to work for in 2019.

Last year, the company was only ranked 33rd on the list. The hotel company (which also includes Waldorf Astoria, Conrad, and Embassy Suites, among others) recently underwent sweeping changes regarding employee culture.

“We forgot that we are a business of people serving people, and the corporate environment got very disconnected from the front line,” Hilton CEO Chris Nassetta told Fortune .

According to Great Place to Work , 96 percent of Hilton employees say the company is a great place to work. Top favorite attributes include opportunities to travel, a “family” feel, and company benefits. According to Glassdoor, one of the best company perks is “being able to book rooms at any Hilton Worldwide property on staff rates.”

Also included in the top 10 best companies was Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants . Coming in at No. 5 on the list, employees of the boutique hotel and restaurant company praised its “thoughtful” culture. Those who go above and beyond the call of duty can redeem their good deeds for rewards like Apple Watches, spa gift certificates, or days off.

Although Mariott came in 31st on the overall list, on Fortune ’s list of best large companies, the hotel chain placed second. Hyatt Hotels came in the rankings at 32nd. Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts ranked 89th on the list.

Transportation based-companies appeared less frequently on the list than hospitality. The highest people-moving company on the list was Delta Air Lines, ranking at No. 97.

Complete guide to the AAdvantage Business program

American Airlines recently retired its Business Extra program and launched the new AAdvantage Business program .

This new program rewards businesses and employees when they book revenue flights through American-owned channels. In this guide, we'll discuss what you should know about the AAdvantage Business program.

What is the AAdvantage Business program?

The AAdvantage Business program is designed to encourage businesses and their travelers to book eligible flights through the American website or app. Businesses can earn American miles , and employees can earn Loyalty Points on eligible flights — both of which are on top of what the business and employee would normally earn through the American AAdvantage program.

Related: Last-minute strategies for earning American AAdvantage elite status

Who is eligible for the AAdvantage Business program?

If you own or work for a business, you may wonder whether your business is eligible for the AAdvantage Business program. In short, there are two ways a business can become eligible for the AAdvantage Business program:

• Provide a primary physical address in the U.S. or Canada and a valid verifiable federal employer identification number or business number
• Have an authorized representative who is a cardholder of an eligible AAdvantage Business card

Travel agencies, wholesalers, consolidators and other sellers or re-sellers of travel aren't eligible to participate in AAdvantage Business. Likewise, individuals cannot use AAdvantage Business when traveling for leisure.

It's beneficial to have an eligible AAdvantage Business card tied to your AAdvantage Business account. If you don't, you won't be able to use your business' miles (and business travelers won't earn Loyalty Points through AAdvantage Business) unless your business has at least five unique travelers who have taken at least one flight within the past 12 months and has spent at least $5,000 with American on eligible flights within the past 12 months.

Benefits will be added on April 14 for CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Mastercard® (see rates and fees ) cardholders who signed up for their card before Oct. 16, 2023. Until then, these cardholders won't be able to transfer miles from their Business Extra account unless their account meets the standard requirements for active travelers and travel spend.

The information for the CitiBusiness AAdvantage Platinum card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

How to enroll your business in AAdvantage Business

You can register your business for AAdvantage Business here . However, if you have an eligible AAdvantage Business card, you likely received an email entitled "Welcome to the AAdvantage Business program" and can click through the link from that email to get started.

Suppose you don't have an eligible AAdvantage Business card but are interested in getting one to avoid the business traveler and spending requirements for AAdvantage Business. In that case, I recommend getting the CitiBusiness / AAdvantage Platinum Select Mastercard.

I have a CitiBusiness / AAdvantage Platinum Select Mastercard that I signed up for before Oct. 16, 2023, but when I clicked through the link from my "Welcome to the AAdvantage Business program" email, I still needed to validate my business email and enter various company details, including my business name, previous Business Extra number, country, federal tax ID or EIN, phone number and address. I also had the opportunity to answer questions about my company size and add a website and an invite code — although these fields weren't required. On the next page, I got a message that my registration was successful.

Once you enroll your business in AAdvantage Business, you'll automatically become its travel manager. However, you can designate one or more other travel managers. The travel managers must be AAdvantage members who are at least 18 years old, reside in the U.S. or Canada and are employees of the business. Travel managers can invite business travelers to participate in your business' AAdvantage Business account, manage your business' AAdvantage miles balance and book flights on behalf of business travelers.

How to enroll business travelers in AAdvantage Business

Travel managers for a business that has enrolled in AAdvantage Business can invite employees and contractors — who must be are least 18 years old, AAdvantage members and residents of the U.S. or Canada — to become business travelers for that business' AAdvantage Business account.

If you have a lot of travelers to invite, you can upload a CSV file or share a registration link instead of manually entering each traveler's email. But if you have an eligible AAdvantage Business credit card with authorized users, you may see a pop-up message the first time you log in to your AAdvantage Business account inviting you to send an invite to these members.

The business traveler must accept the invitation and register with the AAdvantage Business program (which includes agreeing to the terms and privacy policy). Note that enrolling as a business traveler through the AAdvantage Business program won't affect your ability to earn miles and Loyalty Points through the AAdvantage program; instead, the rewards you earn through AAdvantage Business are in addition to what you'd otherwise earn.

A business traveler can only join one business account at any given time, even if they are an employee or contractor of multiple businesses.

Related: What hotel loyalty program is best for business travelers?

How does the AAdvantage Business program work?

In addition to rewarding businesses with miles, the AAdvantage Business program also rewards employees with Loyalty Points if the business is currently eligible to transfer AAdvantage miles. As a reminder, these rewards are on top of what travelers already earn from the American AAdvantage program.

For a flight to be eligible for earnings through the AAdvantage Business program, the traveler or travel manager must provide the business' account number and the traveler's AAdvantage number during booking. If the traveler logs into their AAdvantage account to book, they can select "Business travel" from the "Travel type" menu. By doing so, the traveler will only be able to book a flight for one passenger and won't be able to redeem American miles .

Now, let's look at how you can earn miles and Loyalty Points through the AAdvantage Business program.

AAdvantage miles

Within the AAdvantage Business program, individual AAdvantage members don't earn miles. Instead, AAdvantage Business accounts can earn miles from:

• Eligible business flights booked through American-owned channels and taken by enrolled travelers
• Spending on eligible AAdvantage Business credit cards

Specifically, businesses will earn 1 AAdvantage mile per dollar of flown revenue through the AAdvantage Business program when a flight is booked for business purposes through an American-owned channel. Travelers will still earn miles as they typically would through the AAdvantage program and consumer AAdvantage credit cards .

Spending on the CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Mastercard® earns miles toward an AAdvantage Business account, not a personal AAdvantage account. Whether you are a primary or authorized user of the account, miles from purchases made with your card will go into the AAdvantage Business account for your business. Existing cardholders who applied before Oct. 16, 2023, will see their account updated with this change on April 14.

AAdvantage Business accounts can earn and hold miles but cannot redeem miles. Instead, AAdvantage Business accounts can transfer miles to AAdvantage accounts of enrolled business travelers or travel managers. Miles can only be transferred if the business has an eligible AAdvantage Business credit card or meets the standard requirements for active travelers and travel spending across the last 12 months. If a business cannot transfer AAdvantage miles for 24 consecutive months, the miles within that business' AAdvantage Business account expire.

Related: Best uses of American Airlines miles

Loyalty Points

Within the AAdvantage Business program, individual members can earn Loyalty Points. These Loyalty Points are in addition to what you'd typically earn through the AAdvantage program.

Specifically, business travelers can earn 1 Loyalty Point per dollar through the AAdvantage Business program when a flight is booked for business purposes through an American-owned channel. Business travelers also earn Loyalty Points through spending on AAdvantage Business credit cards.

However, note that authorized cardholders will earn Loyalty Points toward their AAdvantage account instead of toward the primary cardholder's account (again, existing cardholders who applied before Oct. 16, 2023, will see their account updated with this change on April 14). If your business isn't currently eligible to transfer AAdvantage miles, you won't earn Loyalty Points through the AAdvantage Business program.

Related: American Airlines elite status: What it is and how to earn it

Benefits of the AAdvantage Business program

The AAdvantage Business program's primary benefit is that it lets businesses and business travelers earn more rewards on flights booked through American-owned channels. Travelers can earn more Loyalty Points, and businesses can earn more miles on these flights. Best of all, travelers aren't forfeiting any earnings they'd typically get through the AAdvantage program by participating in AAdvantage Business.

Small businesses that may have been excluded from the previous Business Extra program due to having too few travelers or too little flight revenue with American Airlines can now access the AAdvantage Business program if they have an eligible AAdvantage Business card. An eligible AAdvantage Business card is essential for participation in the AAdvantage Business program if your business doesn't have at least $5,000 in flown revenue booked through American-owned channels and five unique business travelers during every rolling 12 months.

However, some business owners with the CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Mastercard® may not appreciate the changes coming on April 14. In particular, they may not be happy that miles from their purchases will go into an AAdvantage Business account and Loyalty Points earned from purchases on authorized user cards will go to the authorized users. However, it should be easy to move miles from AAdvantage Business accounts to individual AAdvantage accounts. Additionally, these card changes will let authorized users earn American Airlines elite status via earning Loyalty Points on their purchases.

Related: How American Airlines sucked me back into AAdvantage with Loyalty Points

Bottom line

The new AAdvantage Business program is simpler but less lucrative than the previous Business Extra program. Now, businesses and business travelers earn currencies they're already familiar with — miles and Loyalty Points — that fit into the existing AAdvantage program.

However, some business travelers will find it frustrating that they can only book travel for themselves, as this means they'll need to book travel for companions separately and then call to link the reservations. Likewise, some AAdvantage Business cardholders may not appreciate that the business earns miles while credit card-authorized users earn Loyalty Points under the new program.

Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

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What Are Delta Credit Card Benefits and How Do They Work?

Learn how Delta SkyMiles ® American Express Card benefits can maximize every moment of your travel, from miles-boosting welcome offers to free checked bags and more.

At-A-Glance

Though each Delta SkyMiles ® American Express Card is different, they all offer a variety of benefits and perks that can help you maximize every moment of every trip.

Depending on the Card, you can earn benefits like thousands of bonus miles, free checked bags, priority boarding, and complimentary Companion Certificates.

To get the most out of your Delta SkyMiles Card, it’s important to not only understand how to earn and redeem miles, but how to receive all the benefits available to you.

If you’re a frequent flyer, you already know that travel has a way of helping you reconnect to the people, places, and experiences that matter to you most. And Delta – one of the largest airlines in the world – makes it easy for you to earn miles that can be redeemed towards flights and upgrades. Flyers don’t need anything more than a SkyMiles membership to start earning miles and perks, but Delta SkyMiles ® American Express Cards make it easier to earn miles faster. Plus, they provide a host of other benefits that can enhance every trip.

With four Cards to choose from, there’s a Delta SkyMiles Card designed to match the way most anyone likes to travel:

• Delta SkyMiles ® Blue American Express Card (no annual fee). 1
• Delta SkyMiles ® Gold American Express Card ($0 annual fee for first year, then $150). 2
• Delta SkyMiles ® Platinum American Express Card ($350 annual fee). 3
• Delta SkyMiles ® Reserve American Express Card ($650 annual fee). 4

But to get the most out of every trip, it’s important to understand how Delta SkyMiles Card benefits work – from earning and redeeming miles to getting free checked bags and more, depending on the Card. Terms and conditions apply to all benefits listed below.

How to Earn Miles with Your Delta SkyMiles Card

While any SkyMiles member can earn miles by flying via Delta or its partner airlines, using a Delta SkyMiles Card is a great way to get more miles in more ways. For example, with your Card you can:

Earn on Welcome Offers: Depending on the Delta SkyMiles Card, New Card Members can earn bonus miles after meeting specific spend thresholds on their Card within a certain amount of time. Miles can be redeemed towards flights by using the Pay with Miles, Miles + Cash, or Award Travel benefits when booking on delta.com. 

Earn on Everyday Spend: All Delta SkyMiles Card Members can earn anywhere from 1-3X Miles per dollar spent on eligible purchases, depending on the Card. For example, Delta SkyMiles Blue, Gold, and Platinum Card Members can all earn 2X Miles when dining at U.S. restaurants, including takeout and delivery. Plus, Delta SkyMiles Gold and Platinum Card Members can earn 2X Miles on groceries at U.S. supermarkets. You can also earn extra miles at participating online merchants through Delta’s online shopping portal, SkyMiles Shopping. And lastly, all Delta SkyMiles Card Members can earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. 

Earn on Travel Purchases: In addition to spending categories like dining or groceries, you can also earn on travel-specific purchases. For example, Delta SkyMiles Platinum Card Members can earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases made directly with Delta and 3X Miles on purchases made directly with hotels. 

For more on the different Delta SkyMiles Cards and their benefits, read “ The Different Types of Delta Credit Cards .”

How to Redeem Miles with Your Delta SkyMiles Card

Miles may never expire, but if you’ve built up a nice stash of miles you may be getting eager to use them. You can redeem miles towards vacation packages, hotel stays, gift cards, and charity donations. But the most common way Card Members redeem miles is, of course, toward flights.

As a Delta SkyMiles Card Member, you can use the Pay with Miles benefit to redeem miles at a fixed rate of 1 cent per mile on any eligible flight. All Delta Card Members can effectively reduce the cost of a ticket by $50 for 5,000 miles, $100 for 10,000 miles, and so on. To use Pay with Miles, log into your SkyMiles account at delta.com and search for Pay with Miles eligible flights. When you find the right flight, you’ll have three options: pay completely in miles if you have enough to cover the cost, pay with your Card, or a combination of both.

Better yet, Delta SkyMiles Gold, Platinum, and Reserve Card Members can save 15% when booking Award Travel with miles (discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees). Here’s how:

• Visit delta.com or the Fly Delta app and log in to your Delta SkyMiles account.
• Choose “Shop with Miles” when searching for Delta flights for your itinerary.
• The 15% miles discount will automatically be reflected.

 DELTA.COM – Example only. Actual trip prices may vary.

It’s important to note that Pay with Miles is a specific benefit to all eligible Delta SkyMiles Card Members and is different from Delta’s Miles + Cash program. Miles + Cash is available to anyone with a SkyMiles account. Unlike Pay with Miles, Miles + Cash redemption rates fluctuate.

If you’re wondering how many miles you need for a free flight, it depends. Delta uses a dynamic pricing system and flight costs can change at a moment’s notice, making it difficult to pin down an exact amount until you have a specific flight and dates in mind.

Delta SkyMiles Card: Airport and Flight Benefits

Here’s a rundown of some of the main Delta SkyMiles Card benefits, how they work, and how to get them (please note that not all benefits listed below are available on all Cards). Starting with the benefits that can help enhance your airport experience:

Global Entry or TSA PreCheck ® Fee Credits: Delta SkyMiles Platinum and Reserve Card Members can both enjoy statement credits for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck, both of which can help you get through airport security faster. How to get it: Get $100 back every 4 years after you apply for Global Entry (includes TSA PreCheck access) or up to $85 back every 4.5 years after you apply for TSA PreCheck.

First Checked Bag Free: Delta SkyMiles Gold, Platinum, and Reserve Card Members – and each passenger on their reservation, up to 8 additional travelers – can get their first checked bag fee automatically waived at check-in on Delta flights, as long as the bags aren’t overweight or oversize according to Delta’s guidelines. How to get it: Pay with your Delta SkyMiles Gold, Platinum, or Reserve Card and include your SkyMiles number in your reservation.

Airport Lounge Access: Whether you’re traveling for business or pleasure, having airport lounge access can provide a relaxing environment to unwind before or between flights. If you’re a frequent Delta traveler, you’ll want access to Delta Sky Club ® lounges. How to get it: Delta SkyMiles Reserve Card Members can enter Delta Sky Club at no cost and receive four Delta Sky Club One-Time Guest Passes each year. Once you’ve used your Guest Passes, you can bring up to two guests or immediate family at a rate of $50 per person per Visit.

• Starting February 1, 2025, Reserve Card Members will receive 15 Visits per year to the Delta Sky Club. However, you can earn an unlimited number of Visits starting February 1, 2025 if you spend at least $75,000 in eligible purchases on the Card between January 1, 2024 and December 31, 2024, and each calendar year thereafter. Once all 15 Visits have been used, Eligible Card Members may purchase additional Delta Sky Club Visits (including Grab and Go) at a per-Visit rate of $50 per person using the Card.

On top of this, Delta SkyMiles Reserve Card Members can also receive complimentary access to The Centurion ® Lounge and Escape Lounge – The Centurion ® Studio Partner when purchasing a Delta flight with their Card.

Complimentary Upgrade List: Not a Medallion Member? Delta SkyMiles Platinum and Reserve Card Members with an eligible ticket will be added to the Complimentary Upgrade List. How to get it: If you’re a Delta Reserve Card Member with an eligible ticket, you’ll be added to the list after Delta SkyMiles Medallion Members. If you’re a Delta Platinum Card Member with an eligible ticket, you’ll be added to the list after Delta SkyMiles Medallion Members and Delta Reserve Card Members. In order for Delta Platinum Card Members to be eligible to receive a complimentary upgrade, their ticket must be purchased on or after February 1, 2024.

Delta SkyMiles Card: Travel Benefits

On top of this, Delta SkyMiles Cards have valuable benefits that can elevate your travels before and after you hit the skies. For example: 

Flight Credits: Delta SkyMiles Gold Card Members can enjoy an annual $200 Delta Flight Credit toward their future travels after meeting a specific spend threshold within a year. How to get it: Earn a $200 Delta Flight Credit after spending $10,000 in purchases on the Card in a calendar year.

Companion Certificate: Take a friend or partner on your next trip with a Companion Certificate. How to get it: Delta SkyMiles Platinum Card Members can enjoy a Companion Certificate on Main Cabin domestic, Caribbean, or Central American roundtrip flights each year after renewal of your Card, while Delta SkyMiles Reserve Card Members can enjoy a Companion Certificate on First Class, Delta Comfort+ ® , or Main Cabin domestic, Caribbean, or Central American roundtrip flights each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Ticket requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of no more than $80 for roundtrip domestic flights and no more than $250 for roundtrip international flights (both for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details.

Delta Stays: Delta SkyMiles Gold, Platinum, and Reserve Card Members can now earn annual statement credits for eligible Delta Stays bookings on delta.com . How to get it: Book a prepaid hotel or vacation rental through Delta Stays on delta.com and earn annual statement credits of up to $100 for Delta SkyMiles Gold, up to $150 for Delta SkyMiles Platinum, and up to $200 for Delta SkyMiles Reserve Card Members. 

Hertz Status: Wherever you go, get there with ease. You can transform your rental car experience with complimentary Hertz Five Star ® Status with the Delta SkyMiles Platinum Card and complimentary Hertz President’s Circle ® Status with the Delta SkyMiles Reserve Card. How to get it: Enrollment in the Hertz Gold Plus Rewards ® program is required. To receive the benefit, you must add your Hertz Gold Plus Rewards Account number to your SkyMiles Account associated with your Eligible Card, register at delta.com/mypromos/eligible , and “Enroll in Promotion” at delta.com/hertz .

Delta SkyMiles Card: Get Closer to Medallion Status

Lastly, Delta SkyMiles Cards come with benefits that can help you get closer to Medallion Status:

MQD Headstart: If you’re looking to reach elevated Status faster, Delta SkyMiles Platinum and Reserve Card Members can receive $2,500 Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQDs) each Medallion Qualification Year. How to get it: Card Members will receive $2,500 MQDs deposited in their card-linked SkyMiles account during each Medallion Qualification Year. MQDs will be deposited within 6 to 8 weeks of February 1 for existing Card Members. MQDs for New Card Members and Card Members upgrading to an Eligible Card will be deposited within 6 to 8 weeks after an Eligible Card is opened, and thereafter every subsequent year within 6 to 8 weeks after February 1. 

MQD Boost: Delta SkyMiles Platinum and Reserve Card Members can also earn MQDs on purchases, helping you get closer to Status through everyday purchases. How to get it: Delta SkyMiles Platinum Card Members can earn $1 MQD for each $20 of purchases on the Card and Delta SkyMiles Reserve Card Members can earn $1 MQD for each $10 of purchases on the Card. 5,6,7,8

For more on getting closer to Medallion Status with MQD Headstart and MQD Boost, read “ MQD Headstart and MQD Boost: What You Need to Know .”

The Takeaway

The four available Delta SkyMiles American Express Cards offer a variety of different benefits that can help you make the most out of every trip. But to use each Card to its fullest, it’s important to understand how benefits work, from earning and redeeming miles to getting free checked bags and more.

Show Article Sources

1  For more on Rates and Fees for the Delta SkyMiles® American Express Blue Card, click here .

2  For more on Rates and Fees for the Delta SkyMiles® American Express Gold Card, click here .

3  For more on Rates and Fees for the Delta SkyMiles® American Express Platinum Card, click here .

4  For more on Rates and Fees for the Delta SkyMiles® American Express Reserve Card, click here .

5  For more on Benefit and Offer Terms for the Delta SkyMiles® American Express Blue Card, click here .

6  For more on Benefit and Offer Terms for the Delta SkyMiles® American Express Gold Card, click here .

7  For more on Benefit and Offer Terms for the Delta SkyMiles® American Express Platinum Card, click here .

8  For more on Benefit and Offer Terms for the Delta SkyMiles® American Express Reserve Card, click here .

Megan Doyle  is a business technology writer and researcher whose work focuses on financial services and cross-cultural diversity and inclusion.

All Credit Intel  content is written by freelance authors and commissioned and paid for by American Express. 

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‘Hush Trips’ are the latest trend for work-from-home employees

During the pandemic, many people worked from home, and discovered the many benefits of the practice: more time with family, being able to work in a more relaxed space and avoiding office mates who come to work sick. And then there’s the fact that you can work from anywhere with an internet connection.

That last bit has inspired the latest trend in travel: the “hush trip,” when you go on vacation but continue working from your hotel room, cabin or beach bungalow.

“Since they can just log on and handle their job duties from anywhere, the mindset is why even bring it up to your employer if you happen to be in the Bahamas while you’re working,” travel blogger Esther Susag . told HuffPost .

“It’s an experience woven into the fabric of the digital nomad and remote worker lifestyle since the dawn of connectivity,” Erick Prince , a travel blogger and founder of travel site Minority Nomad, told told the outlet.

“Hush trips” offer plenty of freedom but there are a few downsides. Between spotty internet connections and time zone differences, things can occasionally get tricky. And then there’s the possibility that you could be asked to come into the office for some reason by a boss who has no idea you’re out of town.

“Hush trips make that borderline impossible and open up all sorts of potential tax, privacy and legal issues depending on where folks work from unannounced,” warned Susag.

About the Author

Ebony Williams is a writer, indie producer and director, and journalist for a variety of magazine outlets. Her career has led her to create content for entertainment, sports, lifestyle, local breaking news and more.

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The Complete Guide to Veteran Travel Resources

Many or all of the products featured here are from our partners who compensate us. This influences which products we write about and where and how the product appears on a page. However, this does not influence our evaluations. Our opinions are our own. Here is a list of our partners and here's how we make money .

While there are many resources for active duty military members, it gets a little confusing when you become a veteran. Although there are several options for veterans’ vacations, airfare and even cellphone discounts, there may be additional stipulations for those looking to save.

Let’s look at some of the best travel resources for veterans, whether you’re retired, have a disability or just finished your time in the armed forces.

Flight discounts for Veterans

Even if you’re no longer active duty, there are a few special flights for veterans, including the opportunity to fly to Washington, D.C.

Space-A travel

Space-A travel is available to those who are on active duty. These flights can be limited, but they allow service members the ability to catch flights for free.

Space-A travel is also available to certain veterans. This includes retired veterans and those who are permanently 100% disabled.

Veteran airline discounts abound, but Space-A travel is among the best. Note that veterans flying Space-A are limited in their destinations and lower on the priority list than active-duty members.

Honor Flights

Honor Flight Network is a nonprofit organization that offers flights for veterans. Those who have served in the military can receive a complimentary trip to Washington, D.C., to be honored for their service.

Airline discounts

Many airlines offer discounts to veterans. Most of these are via Veterans Advantage, whose VetRewards program costs money but provides 5% discounts on airfare with many airlines.

You don’t have to be a disabled veteran to get flight discounts with Veterans Advantage. You can be active duty, a veteran or even an immediate family member of someone who’s served.

» Learn more: 0% APR and waived fees: Credit card benefits for active-duty military

Veteran discounts on hotels

It’s easy to find hotels with veteran discounts and even free vacations for disabled veterans — though that’s not usually a requirement.

American Forces Travel

American Forces Travel is a website offering comprehensive travel discounts to those who are or have been in the military. You’ll need to verify your information before accessing the website, after which you’ll be entitled to exclusive discounts on hotels, flights, rental cars, and even event tickets.

Armed Forces Vacation Club

The Armed Forces Vacation Club is available to active-duty members and veterans and can provide great discounts on vacations.

Once registered, you can book hotels and vacation rentals for cheap — and we mean really cheap. Think “seven nights in a condo near Orlando, Florida for $400” cheap. There’s a standard membership for free, but premium members are entitled to bigger discounts.

» Learn more: 3 military travel discounts you won’t want to miss

Nonprofit organizations

Many organizations in the United States enjoy recognizing veterans, which is why you’ll find many offering free retreats, resorts and hotel stays around the world.

In Honor of Our Troops (IHOOT) is just one of these; eligible service members and veterans can enjoy a free stay at participating properties.

MWR properties

Those who’ve been in the military will no doubt remember the Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) program. Whether you hung out in its rec room or rented low-cost camping equipment, stopping by the MWR office was probably a common occurrence.

Eligible veterans will be happy to know that Armed Forces Recreation Center resorts (AFRC) are bookable even after they leave the military. Popular options include the Shades of Green resort at Walt Disney World and the Hale Koa Hotel in Hawaii.

Other hotel discounts

Veterans Advantage also has a list of hotel chains available for discounts, including Wyndham, Marriott and Hilton.

» Learn more: VA disability pay rates 2023 & 2024: Charts and examples

Other travel discounts

Travel costs aren’t limited to flights and accommodations. If you’re looking to go on vacation, here are some other veteran-specific discounts to look out for.

Many cellphone providers give discounts to active-duty military and veterans. T-Mobile’s veteran discount is among the best. You’ll have access to military-specific phone plans with pricing up to 40% off standard rates.

Verizon also offers a military discount that extends to veterans, but it’s not quite as generous. Once verified, planholders can save up to $25 per month on eligible plans.

Finally, AT&T offers military members and veterans 25% off phone plans.

While most airlines are willing to offer benefits only to active-duty military personnel, Allegiant Air stands out . This is thanks to the incredible perks that veterans (and active-duty members) receive.

As a low-cost airline, Allegiant charges for overhead carry-ons and checked bags. However, veterans are entitled to two free checked bags, a free carry-on and a free pet in the cabin when flying with Allegiant.

» Learn more: The best travel credit cards right now

Tickets, tours and other attractions

American Forces Travel offers discounted tickets to all veterans, whether or not they’re disabled. The same is true of GOVX, which discounts tickets and other items, including travel purchases.

If you’re a veteran with a disability, you have access to the MWR program and its ticket office, which can provide incredible savings on tickets, tours and other activities.

Depending on your level of service connection, you can save up to half off popular attractions such as Walt Disney World and Universal Studios Orlando.

» Learn more: The best ways to buy Disney tickets

If you’re looking for veteran travel resources

We’ve broken down some of the best travel benefits available to veterans, whether you spent 20 years in the military or got out after your first enlistment.

Just because you’re no longer serving doesn’t mean that you don’t deserve recognition. There are several businesses and nonprofit organizations offering discounts, no matter how long you spent saluting officers.

How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are our picks for the best travel credit cards of 2024 , including those best for:

Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

No annual fee: Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Luxury perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express

Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

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Solar eclipse 2024: Follow the path of totality

Solar eclipse, what you need to know to watch monday's total solar eclipse.

The NPR Network

A stunning celestial event is visible across the country Monday, when the moon crosses directly in front of the sun: a total solar eclipse. For those in the path of totality, there will be a few brief moments when the moon completely covers the sun and the world becomes dark.

Traveling for totality? Skip ahead.

This will be the last chance to catch a total solar eclipse in the continental U.S. for about 20 years, so here's what you need to know to safely enjoy!

When is the eclipse?

April 8, 2024 there will be a total solar eclipse that crosses from the Pacific coast of Mexico through the United States.

What is totality and why it matters

According to NASA , totality will start around 11:07 a.m. PDT/1:07 EDT in Mexico and leave Maine at around 1:30 pm PDT/3:30 pm EDT.

Here's what time the eclipse will be visible in your region

Check out this table for when the partial eclipse and totality are visible in each region or check by zip code here.

A partial solar eclipse will be visible across the contiguous United States, so even if you're not directly in the path, you should be able to see something special, weather permitting.

Unable to get to totality? We'll be sharing highlights here from across the NPR Network throughout the day Monday if you can't see it in real time.

Where to see totality?

More than 30 million people live in the path of totality for Monday's eclipse, and many more in nearby areas.

Here's what we know about Monday's weather forecast.

Why totality matters

As NPR's Neil Greenfieldboyce explains , "During a total eclipse, the sky darkens suddenly and dramatically . The temperature drops. Stars come out. Beautiful colors appear around the horizon. And the once-familiar sun becomes a black void in the sky surrounded by the glowing corona — that's the ghostly white ring that is the sun's atmosphere."

Eclipse Science

For april's eclipse, going from 'meh' to 'omg' might mean just driving across town.

A partial eclipse, while still a fun experience, is hardly as dramatic. Those with a view of the partial eclipse will see crescent-shaped shadows like those seen here in 2017.

How to watch safely

If you plan to look directly at the eclipse (partial or totality), you're going to need eclipse glasses handy because looking directly at the sun without proper protection ( traditional sunglasses don't count! ) can be harmful to your eyes.

The perfect celestial soundtrack to the total solar eclipse

As NPR's Joe Hernandez explains, "Proper eye protection must be worn throughout a total solar eclipse — except for the roughly 3 1/2 to 4 minutes when the moon fully obscures the sun, a brief period known as 'totality.' (You will need to take your glasses off during totality to actually see it.)"

If you don't have access to eclipse glasses, you can get crafty with things you have around the house ( like some of us did back in 2017!) More on that here.

Traveling for totality?

The celestial event is driving a ton of domestic travel to the path of totality. If you're headed out of town to view the eclipse, here are some NPR Network resources for areas in the path of totality:

Texas The path of totality crosses through the Lone Star State, with some areas expecting a possible influx of visitors in the hundreds of thousands to catch prime viewing. Our member stations across the state have gathered local resources to help you navigate the region and the eclipse!

• San Antonio: Check out the latest from Texas Public Radio
• Dallas: Explore KERA's coverage for the latest
• Austin: Head to KUT for the best local resources

Arkansas The eclipse will be cutting through the state, putting Little Rock in the path of totality. Check out Little Rock Public Radio for local resources.

The southwestern edge of the state will be well-positioned to witness the total solar eclipse this year. Kentucky Public Radio is covering the eclipse throughout the region, from Kentuckiana eclipse mania to the University of Louisville's free class about the celestial event. Keep an eye on WKMS for the latest local updates.

Missouri The southeastern corner of the state will be in the path of totality, crossing across towns like Whitewater and Ste. Genevieve. Head to St. Louis Public Radio for local coverage and resources. Illinois Carbondale seems to have won the eclipse lottery, being in the path of totality both in 2017 and for this year's eclipse . For resources from across the state, check out Illinois Public Media .

Indiana A huge portion of the state will be within the path of totality, giving cities across Indiana, including Bloomington and Indianapolis, prime viewing of the eclipse.

• Bloomington: Check out Indiana Public Media
• Indianapolis: Head to WFYI for the latest
• Fort Wayne: Just north of the path of totality, WBOI has resources for the Allen County area

Ohio The Buckeye State is getting bisected by this year's path of totality, plunging a number of the state's most populous areas into darkness for a few minutes on Monday.

• Cleveland: Head to Ideastream Public Media for the latest.
• Columbus: With the capital city just south of totality, head to WOSU for regional resources.
• Cincinnati: Totality will just miss the border town. Here are some tips from WVXU on how to navigate the eclipse in the region.

Pennsylvania Only the northwestern-most corner of the state will catch totality, with views from the lakeside in Erie being particularly well-positioned for a stunning viewing experience. WESA has more from across the region.

Plan to watch the eclipse from a wild mountain summit? Be ready for harsh conditions

New York Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse and Plattsburgh will fall under the path of totality on Monday. If you're planning to travel to the region for the best views, here are some local resources to stay safe and informed:

• Buffalo: Head to WBFO for the latest
• Syracuse: WAER has more on plans in the Salt City
• North Country: NCPR has the latest from across the region, as well as information on local viewing events to check out

Vermont The Green Mountain State will see totality across its most populous region, including Burlington and Montpelier, as well as the Northeast Kingdom on the Canadian border. Vermont Public has everything you need to know to navigate your time in the region to enjoy the eclipse safely. New Hampshire The northernmost region of the Granite State will be in the path of totality, providing prime viewing to those in Coos County. NHPR has info on local events, travel updates as well as special coverage with New Hampshire Public Television. Maine The last state in the path of totality in the U.S., much of Northern Maine will be positioned for prime viewing. The rural region is preparing for an influx of visitors, and safety officials are encouraging visitors and locals alike to be prepared. Maine Public will be covering the eclipse and has everything you need to know to navigate the region safely.

How to document the eclipse safely

With the ease of cell photography , it can be tempting to reach for your phone to document the eclipse and the moments of totality, but make sure to do so safely.

As NPR's Scott Neuman explains , "For starters, you'll need to wear eclipse glasses or similar protective eye gear while aiming your camera or even just observing the eclipse."

Feeling ambitious? Here are a few more tips.

Or if you're not inclined to capture the moment visually, you lean into some other forms of creative expression. Indiana, for example, has named Linda Neal Reising the official poet in the state for this year's eclipse.

As former NPR reporter and eclipse superfan David Baron shared with Life Kit , viewing totality "[is] like you've left the solar system and are looking back from some other world."

So consider focusing on being present in the moment to enjoy the celestial spectacle.

More resources to enjoy the eclipse

• Sharing the eclipse with tiny humans? Check out these kid-friendly total solar eclipse learning guides from Vermont Public's But Why, and this great explainer from KERA Kids on the difference between a solar and a lunar eclipse.
• Want to see how a solar eclipse alters colors? Wear red and green on Monday
• Plan to wander into the wild for the best view? Here are some tips from outdoor experts.
• Tips from Bill Nye on the best ways to enjoy the eclipse.

NPR will be sharing highlights here from across the NPR Network throughout the day Monday if you're unable to get out and see it in real time. NPR's Emily Alfin Johnson compiled these resources.

• 2024 eclipse