We revisit a year of family travel to rank the hotels, flights, and upgrades that delivered real value, and we tell two travel stories that never made it to air: a runaway carry-on on an escalator and a seatmate who ate our snacks. We also reassess elite status and share where we’ll spend points next year.• best hotels across Barcelona, Cabo, Lake Tahoe, Cologne• worst stay experience at Thompson Dallas and why• top suite upgrade at the Seabird with ocean views• business class joy on the return from Europe• economy comparisons between JAL and Singapore Airlines• practical value of Hyatt Globalist for a family of five• metro over location myths in Barcelona• stressful escalator mishap and how we handled it• the strange snack incident on a short-haul flight• points strategy over pricey short cruisesHappy holidays to you, Merry Christmas, happy holidays to you, your family, and everyone you know. We will be back in two weeks with a fresh new episode.

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“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.

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