Posts by Brittany Jones-Cooper

Forget Airbnb, try these other popular vacation rentals

When it comes to vacation rentals, Airbnb is the first service that comes to mind. More than 50 million people use the home-sharing site, and travelers can rent homes in more than 34,000 cities around the world. With that said, it’s not a completely perfect service, and sometimes you can’t find what you want on the site.

Luckily, there are a handful of really great vacation rental services for every situation. Here’s a list of other sites popular with travelers.

If you want to swap homes…tryHome Exchange.

If you like the idea of trading homes with another traveler, then this is the service for you. For $150 a year, you gain membership into a global community with 65,000 homes in 150 countries. After posting pictures of your home, you can search the database for countries you’d like to visit. When you find a home you like, simply connect with the owner and agree on a date for the swap.

If you’re on a budget…check outHostelworld.

If you’re with a family…log ontoVRBO.

If you don’t find what you want on Airbnb…try Booking.com.

The real reason why millennials are leaving banks

Over the past year, much has been made of the fact that millennials are ditching banks in search of alternative options. The thought was that adults 18 to 36 were using high tech apps and services to avoid fees levied by traditional banks. In fact, an Accenture report reveals that of the 11% of Americans who switched banks in 2015, 19% of them were millennials who often left because they found a cheaper product or a bank in a better location.

But the relationship isn’t as simple as it sounds. According to Alex Tabb, chief operating officer of Tabb Group, a financial markets research firm, millennials are ditching banks because they don’t have a choice.  

“It turns out that millennials are not leaving the banks, but the banks are pushing out low-income members of the community, many of whom happen to be millennials,” Tabb told Yahoo Finance. “The banks are using complex and oftentimes opaque fee structures to drive poor performing customers out of the system.”

So after failing to pay fees and getting booted from their banks, millennials are then left with a handful of less-than-desirable options for stashing money and depositing checks.

Brittany is a writer at Yahoo Finance.

Hyatt revamps loyalty program. What you need to know

Hotel loyalty programs are going through a renaissance, especially after Marriott and Starwood joined forces and announced crossover perks between their rewards programs. Now, Hyatt (H) , which has 667 locations in 54 countries, is making its own news by revealing plans to overhaul the hotel chain’s Gold Passport program.

Effective March 1, 2017, Hyatt’s Gold passport loyalty program will be referred to as the World of Hyatt. The new program will consist of three elite tiers tiers: Discoverist, Explorist and Globalist. These will replace the current levels of Platinum and Diamond.

Hyatt made the announcement Thursday, and all the details are available on their website.  Here are some of the major changes likely to affect loyalty members:

1. Your current status will roll over…kind of

The standard membership tier will remain.

3. Your points hold more power

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The reasons why married men are working fewer hours than ever

Back in the day, the only job a woman could get was as a secretary. Today, women are doing more than answering phones and getting coffee — they’re running their own companies and working in record numbers. In fact, the United States Department of Labor reports that women make up 47% of the workforce, a statistic that appears to be having a huge impact on the dynamic of American households.

While women have increased their role in the labor force, a recent report from the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis found that over the past 40 years, more and more married men (age 25-54) say they are unemployed and not actively looking for a job, or are working part-time.

In 1970, 97% of married men were in the labor market. In 2011, that number dropped to 93%. Similarly, less than 1.5% of married men worked part-time in 1970. In 2009, that number has jumped up to 4%.

This leaves men with the opportunity to be choosier with the jobs they select and spend more time at home if they find themselves without work.

Brittany is a writer at Yahoo Finance.

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Airports to avoid and more tips for holiday travel survival

The holiday season is supposed to be a time for family gatherings, office parties and, of course, hellish travel. While airports and airlines struggle to keep things moving smoothly, delays and cancellations will no doubt create headaches for thousands of travelers. From picking the right day to fly to checking in online, here are tips to ensure your holiday travels go off without a hitch.

Travel tips

-Check in online 24 hours before your flight. Print your boarding pass at home or have it sent to your email or mobile phone. This way you can skip the check-in counter and kiosks and walk directly to airport security. This may sound like a no-brainer, but it’s shocking how many people still don’t do this.

– Baggage is the biggest thing that will hold you up at an airport, so avoid checking luggage if you can. If you’re worried about making room for all of your gifts, ship them ahead of time to your final destination.

-Download an app like GateGuru that provides gate information for every airport. If you have a connecting flight, this will let you see the layout of the airport and where your terminal is located.

THANKSGIVING (Thursday, Nov. 24)

Airfare

6 people you forget to tip while traveling

Every travel budget has a line for transportation, food and activities, but what about tips? It’s an additional cost that most people don’t think about until they have to. Whether you’re staying at a resort or taking a guided tour, there are a host of people you might neglect to compensate for their time and attention. The rules are a little hazy, so here’s a list of people you should tip while traveling in the US.

Curbside check-in

Some airlines offer curbside check-in for an additional $2 – but that money goes to the airline, not the guy or gal handling your bags. Giving the baggage handler an additional dollar or two PER bag is a nice way to say thank you for their assistance, especially in the cold winter months and around the holidays.

Shuttle drivers

If you’re taking a shuttle from the airport to your hotel, you shouldn’t consider this a free ride. It’s acceptable to give the driver $1 to $2 dollars per person transported, especially if they help you with your bags.

Bellman

Housekeeping

Tour guides

Cruise ships

Brittany is a writer at Yahoo Finance.

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6 traits of successful entrepreneurs

 

Airlines now have to refund fees for delayed baggage

On Tuesday, the Department of Transportation (DOT) announced a handful of new rules designed to create more transparency in the airline industry. One of the main changes will require airlines to issue refunds for delayed baggage. Currently, airlines only have to reimburse the checked baggage fee if they lose luggage. The new rule, which will be implemented sometime next year, would force airlines to return the $25 or $50 you spent to check a bag if your luggage is “substantially delayed.” The DOT has yet to define what constitutes a substantial delay. 

If you’ve flown on a plane in the last three years, then you know much has changed in the industry. Low cost airlines have risen to prominence, boasting more affordable tickets, while charging fees for everything from checked luggage, seat selection and carry-on bags. Their success has led to legacy carriers like Delta and American to follow suit, charging customers for any “extra” they can think of.

Brittany is a writer at Yahoo Finance.

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Marriott, Starwood unveil new credit card perks that could benefit you

Company mergers are often good for business and bad for consumers, so people didn’t really know what to expect when Marriott International (MAR)  and Starwood Hotels (HOT)  joined forces in September. No one can predict what will happen down the road, but so far, the new hotel duo has continued to roll out impressive benefits for members of both loyalty programs.  

On Tuesday, Marriott Rewards, Ritz-Carlton Rewards and Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG) announced that loyalty members using co-branded credit cards linked to one of the hotel chains could expect new perks the next time they swiped.

Of the two loyalty programs, Starpoints have a slightly higher value. This means that the ability to earn two points per dollar with the Starwood American Express credit card when you use it at Starwood and Marriott properties is a slightly better deal. Still, customers will benefit either way.

After joining forces with Starwood last month, Marriott International now has 30 brands in its portfolio, totaling more than 5,700 hotels in 110 countries.

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The 5 highest paying college majors

There are a lot of factors that go into picking the right major in college. Students want to choose a career they are passionate about, but still desire to make enough money to pay off those student loans.

To help students on the path to financially fulfilling careers, Glassdoor has released its report of the 50 highest paying college majors . After analyzing hundreds of thousands of resumes and salary reports, the recruiting site revealed that graduating students will have a higher earning potential if they pursue a degree in computer science. This major leads to entry-level jobs as a software engineer, systems engineer or web developer, and boasts an impressive median base salary of $70,000.

The importance of a credible education in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) can be seen throughout the top of the list, which is dominated by careers in engineering.

“STEM majors are in demand by the technology and health industries, which offer higher paying jobs that are better protected from competition or automation,” said Dr. Andrew Chamberlin, Glassdoor’s chief economist.

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Americans will spend $800 million on fireworks this Fourth of July

Drive through most US cities right now and you’ll see fireworks stands on the side of the road and people lining up, eager to show their patriotism through pyrotechnics. Fireworks are how we celebrate the Fourth of July – and they also translate into big money. 

The American Pyrotechnic Association (APA) estimates that firework revenues could exceed $800 million for the 2016 season. That’s up from last year, when Americans spent $755 million on fireworks, the APA estimates, and 180% more than the $284 million we spent in 1998.  

Part of the reason revenues have increased is because more states are doing away with restrictions that limit the sale of fireworks within their borders. Since 2011, Kentucky, Utah, New Hampshire, Michigan, New York, Georgia and West Virginia have all legalized at least some fireworks to cash in. Currently, 47 states allow the sale of some kind of consumer firework .

But regardless of how much you spend on fireworks this July 4, there are two things you need to remember. First, it’s always smarter to buy from an accredited company that sells legal fireworks.