Why I’m Skeptical of Top-Tier Hotel Status (and How to Be Your Own Elite)

The chase for top-tier hotel status can feel like running on a hamster wheel—lots of effort, not a lot of payoff. For years, I played the status game. I booked inconvenient hotels, paid inflated rates, and took the long way home just to rack up elite nights. But as the years (and loyalty program “enhancements”) […]