Happy Thursday!

I'm writing to you from my hotel pool in Krabi, Thailand and wow, life is good right now. I absolutely love Thailand and I'm so lucky to be here for as long as I am exploring the beaches and the islands.

Since I've taken six flights since the beginning of the month, I wanted to talk about something that makes travel days easier for me - airport lounges.

Airport lounges can make a big difference when you’re waiting for a flight. They give you a quiet place to relax or work, plus free food and drinks that can save you money during your trip.

There are a few ways to get lounge access:

• Airline status – Frequent flyers can sometimes access lounges through their loyalty program.
• Credit cards – Many travel credit cards include access to certain lounges.
• Priority Pass – This membership lets you use over 1,300 lounges worldwide, no matter which airline you’re flying.
• One-time passes – Some airlines and lounges sell single-use passes.

I use Priority Pass myself, and it’s been one of my favorite travel perks. Even though my home airport (ORD) doesn’t have a lounge I can use, I still find it helpful in smaller airports across the U.S. and especially when I’m traveling internationally.

If you want to learn more about Priority Pass and how it works, check out my full guide here!

And, with Black Friday coming up, there is likely going to be a discount on Priority Pass coming SOON. Keep an eye on my Priority Pass Black Friday guide and your inbox for info on deals when they're announced.

As always, you can follow along with my current travels on Instagram and Facebook, or reply to this email if you want to chat!

Have a great weekend :)

Sarah

Some links in this email are affiliate links, meaning I may earn a commission if you click the link or make a purchase through the link. This is at no extra cost to you.

Travel Giveaways

Serious Eats is giving away $2,500 in their Savor Your Summer sweepstakes. Enter to win by October 31, 2025.

The Spruce is giving away $2,500 in their Summer Staycation sweepstakes. Enter to win by October 31, 2025.

Visit Detroit wants to help someone make up for a bad trip by giving them a second chance trip to Detroit, Michigan! Share your bad trip story to enter to win by October 31, 2025.

Aroma Joe’s is giving away $25,000 for their dream vacation. Residents of eligible states only - see below. Enter to win by October 31, 2025.

Enter to win a 3-night stay for two at The Buccaneer Beach & Golf Resort in St. Croix. Enter to win by October 31, 2025.

UK: Express is giving away a two night trip to Belfast. Enter to win by October 31, 2025.

Hexclad is giving away a trip to Paris. Enter to win by November 3, 2025.

Reminder: Cruise Critic is giving away 30 cruises in 30 days to celebrate their 30th anniversary. Enter to win every day for a chance at that day’s prize. The contest runs through October 30, 2025.

Reminder: Grand Colorado is giving away a stay at the luxurious resort in Breckenridge, CO, with 12 monthly winners! Enter to win by November 30, 2025.

Black Friday

Black Friday sales are already being announced - crazy I know! I'll have a lot more on the best travel sales coming in the next few weeks, but until then, I wanted to share that EF Ultimate Break - my favorite group travel company for 18-35 year olds - has early sign ups for their sale open NOW!

You'll get first dibs on the sale when it opens on November 4, limited time $49 deposits, and a special bonus discount when you use my link.

Sign up for early access now!

YouTube

My latest YouTube video is up! It's about Oktoberfest - make sure you subscribe to my channel!

Check it out here:

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Travel News

Need a beach getaway but want to stay in the US? Check out the top beaches from travel experts.

Looking for a hidden gem in the Caribbean? Consider a trip to Dominica (different from the Dominican Republic) - read more from Travel + Leisure.

Travel Resources

Travel Insurance: SafetyWing is my go-to for travel insurance because it covers so much, is easy to purchase for days or months, and is affordable. Many credit cards also include travel insurance. Personally, I get SafetyWing on top of my credit card insurance. Learn more about SafetyWing and the benefits of using them in my blog post about travel insurance.

Flytographer: Flytographer is my go-to for vacation photos. You can book a local photographer in cities around the world for quick, professional shoots that capture your trip without the stress of taking your own photos. Plus, you can save $25 on your first shoot with this link! Learn more and see examples in my blog post about Flytographer.