Category: Lifestyle

Carscoops 

A Florida woman had her Dodge Charger wrapped to resemble Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) vehicles but ended up having it confiscated. She initially misled the police but later admitted her intention to mimic the police car’s appearance. Now, she’s facing a number of charges and her look-alike police car is in the impound lot.

Reports say that FHP troopers were in the middle of a completely separate traffic stop when they noticed the car. Evidently, it was eye-catching enough that they finished the stop quickly so that they could go in pursuit.

That’s not too shocking though as the car in question has an identical livery as the FHP but with the words FSO Guard on the side and a badge that doesn’t match the real FHP version. When they made contact with the driver, a 28-year-old woman, she told them that she bought the car that way.

More: Woman Allegedly Steals Kia From Dealership To Drive To Stripper Interview

That might have worked in some states but in Florida, police vehicles with this color scheme don’t get sold to the public. The woman then admitted that she had the vehicle wrapped in FHP colors because she “fell in love with the color scheme.” Notably, she owns a security company which might explain why she also had a blue and white light bar installed on the roof.

Regardless of her reasoning, these actions are first-degree misdemeanors in Florida. In addition to a charge of “imitation of a Florida Highway Patrol marked unit”, she’s facing others surrounding a lack of insurance and misuse of a dealer license plate.

Interestingly, it’s plausible that the company that applied the wrap could be in the hot seat too. One part of the law stipulates that a person can’t color or “cause to be colored any motor vehicle” the same or similar color to the ones used for FHP vehicles. Evidently, the woman was initially arrested only to be then released at the stop. Her Charger was towed to the impound lot though.

Photo Florida Highway Patrol Miami

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Well+Good 

Did I remember to unplug the flat iron? Is my boyfriend cheating on me? What if this Uber driver suddenly decides to drive off this highway á la Thelma & Louise? Having worries like these is a part of human nature; after all, the brain has evolved to predict potential forthcoming danger to keep us safe. But while some worries are fleeting or easily resolved, others have a way of latching onto the brain—which can have trouble distinguishing between real and hypothetical threats. And that’s where using a therapeutic tool called a “worry tree” can help.

Adapted from the self-help book Managing Your Mind by psychologist Gillian Butler, PhD, and psychiatrist Tony Hope, MD, a worry tree is essentially a problem-solving decision tree that poses “yes” or “no” questions to help you resolve or let go of any worry that’s gnawing at your mind or disrupting your sense of peace. And the first juncture at which the tree splits into two branches asks you to determine whether the worry at stake involves a real problem about which you can take action or a potential scenario that’s out of your control.

Being able to assess and evaluate your thoughts in this way is a key part of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which is why therapists who employ CBT may use a worry tree with their clients who deal with chronic worries. But anyone who’s facing a swirl of recurrent anxious concerns can use a worry tree diagram to help keep those thoughts at bay—which is an important thing to do for both physical and mental health.

After all, worried thoughts aren’t just annoying in the moment, and they don’t exist in a vacuum. From a mental-health perspective, research shows that perceiving a threat can trigger several harmful stimuli across the brain, disrupting our ability to pay attention, retain and recall memories, and perform executive functions like practicing self-control. And physically, excessive worrying can come with immediate symptoms like a rapid heart rate and nausea, and over time, can lead to poor sleep and up your risk for cardiovascular disease.

By employing a worry tree when you notice yourself falling into worry, therapists say you’re working to target and diminish the power those worries might otherwise hold over your mind and body.

How does a worry tree work?

As noted above, a worry tree is a diagram like this downloadable one from Psychology Tools or this one from the University of Alabama at Birmingham that guides you through a series of questions to help you pinpoint the source of a worry, and either find a solution to it or drop it. (You can also download WorryTree, a free smartphone app that allows you to digitally work through worry trees and categorize particular worries as resolved or unresolved.)

The first step of any worry tree is to figure out what, exactly, the worry is, with the following step being to sort it into the bucket of either real or hypothetical. You’re making that judgment call based on whether (or not) you can actually do something about the source of the worry, says psychologist Deborah Vinall, PsyD, LMFT, author of Gaslighting: A Step-by-Step Recovery Guide to Heal from Emotional Abuse and Build Healthy Relationships.

If the answer to that question is “no” because the worry is hypothetical, the worry tree leads you to intentionally and consciously release it, says Dr. Vinall. But if it’s “yes,” and the worry is about a concrete thing in the present, then you move to the next branch of the worry tree, which is to sort the worry as a problem requiring action now or a problem needing action later (which you can schedule for a set time in the future). “In this way, a worry tree is not just a practical tool but an empowering mindfulness process, as well,” says Dr. Vinall.

“A worry tree is not just a practical tool but an empowering mindfulness process, as well.” — Deborah Vinall, PsyD, LMFT, psychologist

The simple act of writing down your thoughts as part of completing a worry tree can also allow you to view them from a new perspective and create some psychological distance from them, largely by activating a different side of the brain. “Writing involves the frontal lobe, which is a more logical region of the brain, thus shifting blood flow and energy from being concentrated in the emotional limbic system,” says Dr. Vinall. “This shift from solely intense emotional activation to bringing online the resources of the logical mind can have a calming effect.”

Seeing your anxious thoughts in writing can then reveal to you certain errors in logic and deductive reasoning, shining a light on worries that may be unreasonable, unfounded, or just plain out of your control. “[With the act of writing], we become more aware of cognitive distortions such as catastrophizing, jumping to conclusions, personalization, or discounting the positive,” says Dr. Vinall. “This creates space for neutral or even hopeful, optimistic thoughts to enter and balance out pessimism and worry.”

How to use a worry tree to work through anxious thoughts

1. Identify the worry

This step may seem obvious, but when you’re in a heightened state of stress, identifying the source of your anxious thoughts can be difficult. Take a moment to reflect on your worry and where that worry comes from, including whether there may be a deeper worry underlying it.

If, for example, you’re worried about why a partner isn’t responding to your texts, perhaps the deeper worry is that they’re more concerned with whatever they’re doing than they are with you. Or, if you’re worried about an upcoming presentation at work, maybe the deeper worry is about how you’re perceived by your colleagues.

2. Distinguish whether this worry is real or hypothetical

Real worries

Real worries are rooted in reality and concern real-life events and situations. These worries are actionable and have a direct impact on your life. Take the example of the work presentation: If you feel worried about your ability to deliver, you can take the concrete step of setting aside more time in advance to prepare.

Hypothetical worries

Unlike real worries, hypothetical worries deal with events or situations that simply don’t exist yet or may not ever exist. These are the, “What if?” worries. Sometimes they’re the result of allowing your mind to get carried away with negative thoughts, or are the product of an overactive imagination. A few examples: “What if my plane crashes?” or “What if my child gets kidnapped on the way home?” or “What if I catch a terrible illness?”

While hypothetical worries may not be real or rooted in any kind of imminent danger, your mind and body often can’t tell the difference between these and real worries, says holistic psychologist Scott Lyons, PhD, author of Addicted to Drama: Healing Dependency on Crisis and Chaos in Yourself and Others.

“Even if it’s imagined, there’s still a residue of worry,” says Dr. Lyons. “So if we just say, ‘Oh, well, it’s not actually real, so let’s just mosey our attention over there, and ignore it’, then there’s this little puddle of worry that never gets to be addressed. And then over time, it can become a lake.”

If you realize that your worry is hypothetical, it’s important to make a conscious decision to let the worry go by readjusting your energy toward the things in your life that you *can* control (more on this below).

3. Take action

If you discover that your worry is real and actionable, then the next step of the worry tree is to figure out how you might act on it and whether that action can be taken immediately. For example, if your worry is that you left the stove on, and you’re at home in another room, then you can take immediate action by going into the kitchen to check to see if the stove is indeed on and turning it off if so. Then, if the worry returns, you can take comfort in the fact that you’ve already taken a concrete action to resolve it.

If you find that the action can’t be taken immediately, then make a specific plan for when you’ll do it in the future. Oftentimes, just putting the plan in place can ease some of the anxiety around the worry.

4. Let go of the worry

The last step involves making the conscious decision to set the worry aside and place your attention elsewhere. This may be easier to do for real worries around which you were able to either take concrete action or plan to take action; but even for hypothetical worries, the act of identifying and labeling them as such can often help soften their grip on your mind and allow you to release them with more assuredness.

“For adjunctive support, take a mindfulness meditation class, or use a meditation app to practice the art of noticing your thoughts and letting them go,” suggests Dr. Vinall. “A gentle yoga practice and daily breathwork can also support re-regulating the nervous system from an activated state to that of calm.”

Because worries are future-oriented (you’re worried about something that may or may not happen), shifting your focus toward any present activity is a deceivingly simple way to distract yourself and let go of worries in the process. That might look like taking an exercise class, reading, or seeing a movie with a friend—really anything that makes full use of your focus and attention in the present moment.

All of that said, if you’re finding it tough to detach from worries despite working through a worry tree, or your worries are interfering with your ability to do the things you need or want to do, it’s a good idea to seek outside support from a mental health professional.

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The Points Guy 

If you rely solely on airline websites and phone agents to find airline award space, you may face difficulties and not be able to find all available options. Airline websites often lack the necessary functionality, and phone agents may not have the proper training to navigate complex itineraries and partnerships.

Fortunately, there are additional tools that can make award redemptions easier. In this guide, we’ll introduce you to one such tool called ExpertFlyer (owned by TPG’s parent company, Red Ventures) that can help you find available award space and simplify booking your dream trip.

We’ll share the basics of ExpertFlyer and provide step-by-step instructions on using the tool to find award space and set alerts.

ExpertFlyer basics

KYLE OLSEN/THE POINTS GUY

ExpertFlyer currently offers three plans, including one free option. Each plan has access to different features — here’s a quick overview:

Free: Set an alert to notify you when a more desirable seat opens up on your flight. You’re limited to one free alert at a time, though you can add more for 99 cents each.
Basic ($4.99 per month): Offers additional features, such as award and upgrade inventory search and flight availability (including fare buckets). You can set four seat alerts simultaneously, but you’re limited to 250 monthly queries.
Premium ($9.99 per month or $99.99 per year): Includes flexible search options, unlimited queries, 200 seat alerts at a time, aircraft change alerts and the ability to create up to 200 flight availability alerts.

You can find almost anything you need about airline schedules, seat maps, flight statuses and award availability using ExpertFlyer. These are important tools to keep in your frequent flyer toolbox, especially if you’re booking last minute and need to find a specific flight. In this guide, we’ll cover how to search for awards and upgrade space using ExpertFlyer.

The ExpertFlyer platform currently allows you to search for this inventory on 38 airlines. Carefully review the list to see what inventory is available for your desired airline — American Airlines, for example, shows both award and upgrade space for its flights. While United Airlines and Delta Air Lines aren’t listed on ExpertFlyer, you can check award and upgrade availability on other U.S. carriers like Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines in addition to many international airlines.

Related: How ExpertFlyer helped me score a first-class experience of a lifetime

Finding award seats and setting award alerts

ExpertFlyer regularly helps me find award space on American Airlines. KYLE OLSEN/THE POINTS GUY

Let’s dive right into finding award space. Before starting, ensure you have a Basic or Premium account, as free accounts cannot run award searches. You can sign up for a free five-day Premium trial if you’re a new member.

Setting up your ExpertFlyer searches

After logging in to your account, look for the “Awards & Upgrades” tool by clicking its label on the left-hand sidebar. You’ll immediately notice several search fields. Fill in the basics, like your departure and arrival airports and departure and return dates. If you’re looking for a one-way flight, you can keep the return date empty.

The Premium subscription comes in handy here, as it offers the ability to search plus or minus three days from your desired travel date. This allows you to view a week at a time and search for multiple fare classes. I recommend using this if your dates are flexible since it will yield the most award space.

EXPERTFLYER.COM

When you select the airline you’d like to fly, you’ll see the fare classes that ExpertFlyer can search alongside a description.

EXPERTFLYER.COM

To search for nonstop flights on ExpertFlyer, select the “Direct/Non-Stop Only” option. You can exclude codeshare flights if you’re only interested in the specific airline you’re searching for. When searching across multiple dates, select the “Show all dates on 1 screen” option to view all results simultaneously, making it easier to scroll through.

EXPERTFLYER.COM

Related: The best websites for searching Oneworld award availability

Reading ExpertFlyer search results

Click the search button at the bottom of the screen, and ExpertFlyer will present you with a list of the available flights broken down by date. Each flight option will show the fare classes you searched for. Some airlines — like American — will also show the number of seats available in that class. Other airlines will show “Yes” or “No” — Yes shows if the flight has at least the number of seats you searched for available.

EXPERTFLYER.COM

The results page will also show you connecting options (if you don’t limit it to nonstop flights) available for your itinerary. That said, every leg of a connecting itinerary must have award availability in the desired class of service to book the entire trip with miles.

EXPERTFLYER.COM

Once you have the date, flight number and fare class, you can book your flight online or call an airline phone agent and give them the exact information about the flight(s) you found.

If the flight you’re looking to book doesn’t have the fare class you’d like, you can select the top square with an exclamation point to set an alert. If you set an alert, ExpertFlyer will notify you by email if a seat is released. This way, you can avoid needing to regularly run award searches.

EXPERTFLYER.COM

You’ll have to give the alert a title. In this case, I’ve named the alert based on the flight route and date. Once I click the “Verify and Create” button, ExpertFlyer will email me if business-class upgrade space becomes available on this flight.

Related: Complete guide to changing and canceling award tickets

Setting up ExpertFlyer seat alerts

With ExpertFlyer’s seat alert feature, you’ll be notified if specific seats on your flight become available after setting up an alert.

To open a seat map and create an alert, enter the flight details in the fields after selecting “Seat Map” from the homepage.

EXPERTFLYER.COM

In this case, I only selected economy class because my reservation was booked in economy. First-class seat alerts aren’t helpful here because even if a first-class seat becomes available, I wouldn’t be able to select that seat without paying for it.

EXPERTFLYER.COM

Since I want to sit in the bulkhead aisle for this flight, I set a seat alert by clicking “Create Seat Alert” and using the “Select Specific Seats” feature. Doing so allowed me to click on all the seats I’d like email alerts for if seats become available.

Another helpful option is to click “Any Aisle Seat,” which would alert me if an aisle seat in any row of economy becomes available. Doing so can be helpful if you want an aisle seat but no aisle seats are currently available.

Related: How to use ExpertFlyer alerts to snag a better seat

A real-world example of using ExpertFlyer to book an award

British Airways Executive Club is one of my favorite programs, largely due to its discounted partner award rates on short-haul flights.

If you want to book the one-way sweet spot from the West Coast to Hawaii for 13,000 Avios, you can check award space for Alaska Airlines and American Airlines on ExpertFlyer by heading to the “Awards & Upgrades” page. Once there, enter your search criteria and select “Coach – Saver Award (T)” as the class you’re interested in booking. You can also search for availability the three days before and after your specified departure date if your plans aren’t solidified. Additionally, you can specify nonstop flights only.

Here’s a sample search from Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport (SJC) to Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL) on Alaska Airlines in late October.

EXPERTFLYER.COM

While T-fare seats aren’t available every day, there are seven seats available on Oct. 28, indicated by the number “7” in the “Seats” column. At this point, you’d want to take note of the flight information and book with British Airways through your Executive Club account.

Related: Your ultimate guide to searching award availability for the major airlines

ExpertFlyer restrictions

ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY

Thankfully, most award seat availability shown on ExpertFlyer will be at the saver level for all programs. This is nice because it should be bookable using any partner program’s currency, but it won’t show you the expanded award inventory that’s sometimes available through certain programs.

Perhaps the biggest downside to ExpertFlyer is the airlines it lacks. Earlier, we mentioned the service could search for award and upgrade space for 38 airlines. A year ago, ExpertFlyer supported 87 carriers. This reduction of supported airlines is disappointing, though ExpertFlyer can still make your travel life much easier on the airlines it supports.

Related: 7 of the best airline award chart sweet spots

ExpertFlyer quick tips

LUMINA IMAGES/GETTY IMAGES

Now that you know how to use ExpertFlyer to search for award space and set up alerts, here are a few quick tips on how to get the most from the tool. Keep these in mind, and you’ll save a ton of time as you use the tool to find great award tickets:

Select the time of day you want to depart if you see the option. ExpertFlyer shows a limited number of search results, so if a popular route has multiple flights, you may think it’s unavailable just because it isn’t displayed. However, you’ll only see this option when searching for awards on select airlines.
For premium subscribers, use the “Saved Query” feature to easily return to looking for a specific flight with upgrade space or business-class availability without retyping everything.
If a fare class is unavailable on some airlines, the flight will not appear.
When switching your search dates, use the “Refine Search” button rather than the back button. This will keep all the search fields intact.
Read the ExpertFlyer EduGuide and User Guide. I’ve been using ExpertFlyer for years and still learned some new things from these sources.

Related: 6 award chart sweet spots that can save you money on domestic flights

Bottom line

Finding airline award space, especially in premium classes, can be an art form (and a challenging one at that). Nowadays, there are many partnerships within and across airline alliances, and some websites and phone agents are better at finding available seats than others. That being said, knowledge is power in the world of points and miles, and that’s what ExpertFlyer provides.

Learning how to set seat alerts through ExpertFlyer can help you escape a less-than-ideal seat or find two seats together. Despite the recent decrease in supported airlines, ExpertFlyer is still a powerful tool for travelers to use.

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Carscoops 

Genesis has been on a roll in recent years, producing a host of compelling sedans and SUVs that have really given the German automakers something to worry about. Inspired by the brand’s ongoing success, a talented automotive designer from Korea named Younghyun Jo has embarked on a personal project to envision what might just become the ultimate Genesis SUV.

The creation is known as the Genesis XV and aims to offer similar sporty performance to the Lamborghini Urus Performante but for significantly less money. While it’s unlikely that Genesis will actually build an SUV like this (at least not in the very near future), it’s nice to dream, isn’t it?

More: Genesis X Convertible Concept Is So Beautiful You May Need To Do A Double Take

Illustrations Younghyun Jo

A host of styling elements help the XV look familiar to existing Genesis models but it’s significantly sharper and more aggressive. The front end is dominated by LED headlights similar in shape to those of the X Speedium Coupe Concept and the X Convertible Concept, giving the SUV plenty of character and an extroverted personality much like the Urus. The front of the XV also features a 3D mesh pattern finished in black.

Viewed from the side, your attention will be immediately drawn to the wheel arches that have a sharp, jagged design and were inspired by the jet engine of an aircraft. The concept also sports slim cameras instead of wing mirrors and has angular lines and creases to add to the bold looks. Contributing to the SUV’s unique shape is the fact that it is a two-door and has C-pillars made up of two thick triangles that connect.

The rear of Younghyun’s creation perfectly complements the rest of the exterior thanks to the full-width LED light bars, the black accents, and the 3D mesh pattern. Perhaps our favorite part of the XV’s design is the transparent element in the center of the hood that instead of exposing an engine, showcases the SUV’s orange high-voltage cables.

Disclaimer: Genesis has no affiliation with these independent renders and doesn’t vouch for them

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Carscoops 

The word “autonomous” gets bandied around a lot in the car world, but there’s a huge difference between basic autonomous tech like adaptive cruise control, which has been around for over 20 years, and a fully self-driving car, which might not be with us for another 20.

To help us, and the car industry, navigate this minefield, the SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers) came up with six categories for autonomous systems that covers everything from 100 percent analog, aid-free cars to the kind that might not have a steering wheel at all.

Level 0: The Good Old Days Of Manual Driving

Remember the days when you had to use your hands, feet, and brain to operate a vehicle? Level 0 is just that. The car might have basic cruise control but it’s not the clever kind, and you, the human driver, are solely responsible for everything. No fancy gadgets here – just pure driving skill.

Examples of these cars are the cheapest, most basic subcompcats and city cars, extreme sports cars, like the Caterham Seven, and pretty much anything built before the millennium.

Level 1: A Helping Hand With Cruise Control

Related: Drivers Don’t Understand How Adaptive Cruise Control Works, Says Study

Welcome to Level 1, where technology takes its first baby step towards an AI future. In this stage you’ll find features like adaptive cruise control and basic lane-keeping assistance. These systems can help maintain a constant speed and keep you in your lane, but you’re still the boss, and your hands need to stay on the wheel. Think of it as having a co-pilot who occasionally nudges you in the right direction.

Level 2: The Buddy System

Level 2 is where things start to get interesting. At this stage, the car can control both steering and acceleration through a combination of lane-keeping assistance and adaptive cruise control, but you’re still required to keep your eyes on the road.

Some systems, like Ford’s Blue Cruise and GM’s Super Cruise, will let you fully remove your hands from the wheel as long as you’re watching the action unfold, and you might hear people refer to these as Level 2+, but the SAE doesn’t recognize 2+, so officially they’re still Level 2.

Level 3: Taking a Backseat, But In The Front

Now we’re talking! Or maybe even texting, or watching a movie. At Level 3, you can take your hands off the wheel, and your eyes off the road while the car handles everything – but only under certain conditions. This is often referred to as “conditional automation.” Your vehicle can manage most driving tasks, but it might still need you to intervene, so you can’t go for a snooze in the back. It’s like having a chauffeur, but one who occasionally asks you to hold the wheel while he opens a bag of chips.

This technology is still extremely rare, but one example is Mercedes’ $2,500 Drive Pilot system, which was already offered in Europe and has recently become available in the U.S. on cars like the EQS and S-Class. It will drive by itself at speeds of up to 40 mph (64 km/h) on select freeways, even steering around stranded vehicles while you work or watch Netflix.

Level 4: Hands-Free Zone

Related: Ford Is Getting Out Of The Level 4 Self-Driving Car Game

Level 4, also known as “high automation,” is where you can really relax. Your car can handle everything, from the moment you climb behind the wheel, even in challenging situations like heavy traffic or inclement weather, and on a wide variety of roads, not just freeways, without needing your input. However, there’s a catch – it only works within specific areas or under certain conditions.

Though Waymo and Cruise driverless cabs feature L4 tech, there are currently no cars on sale to the general public in Europe or North America that offer this technology on real roads. Tesla’s FSD Beta doesn’t qualify because it still needs the driver to be ready to take over during the journey (as various near-miss videos prove), meaning it’s technically L2 despite seeming more capable than other L2 systems. Mercedes Chief Technology Officer Markus Schäfer has gone on record saying that L4 could be here by 2030, but Elon Musk has suggested Tesla would have an L4 system ready by the end of 2023.

Level 5: The Full Monty – Complete Automation

This is the holy grail for autonomous engineers and zillions of people who grind through city traffic to the office twice a day. At Level 5, your car is your trusted chauffeur everywhere, all the time. There’s no steering wheel, no pedals, no need for human intervention. You can sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride while your car takes care of everything. Imagine your vehicle as your personal assistant, always ready to take you wherever you want to go. Blind, drunk, no license? No problem, in theory, though there’ll be some legal hoops to jump through first.

L5 will also change the look and layout of our cars. With no need to sit upright watching the road ahead, we’ll be able to face backwards, maybe even on a couch, or even a bed, treating our vehicles as extensions of our home living spaces. But don’t expect to see Level 5 cars on the road any time soon. Industry experts say it’ll be at least 2035 before the tech is suitable for production.

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The Points Guy 

Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers.

Shelling out hundreds of dollars in annual fees for premium credit cards is not for everyone, especially when you’re new to the points and miles world. Fortunately, plenty of travel credit cards will set you back less than $100 a year and still earn lucrative rewards to help you book that epic trip of your dreams.

Among the top cards in this category are the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card and the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card. Both come with manageable annual fees for beginners and experts, at $95 per year.

Let’s look at how these two cards stack up in a head-to-head comparison.

Capital One Venture vs. Chase Sapphire Preferred comparison

Here are the basics of each of these two cards in the major categories:

Card details
Chase Sapphire Preferred
Capital One Venture Rewards

Annual fee
$95
$95 (see rates and fees)

Sign-up bonus
Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening
Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening

Everyday spend earning rate
1 point per dollar
2 miles per dollar

Bonus categories
5 points per dollar on all travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards

5 points per dollar on Lyft rides (through March 31, 2025)

3 points per dollar on dining, select streaming services and online grocery purchases (excluding Target, Walmart and wholesale clubs)

2 points per dollar on all other travel

1 point per dollar on all other purchases

5 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel

2 miles per dollar on all other purchases

Value of points/miles
2.05 cents each
1.85 cents each

Foreign transaction fees
None
None

Travel protections
Primary auto rental coverage, trip cancellation and interruption insurance, baggage delay insurance, trip delay reimbursement, travel and emergency assistance services, lost luggage insurance
Secondary auto rental coverage, travel accident insurance, roadside assistance (fees apply), 24-hour travel assistance services*

Other benefits
$50 annual hotel credit

10% annual points bonus

Extended warranty protection and purchase protection

Two complimentary visits to Capital One or Plaza Premium lounges annually

Global Entry/TSA PreCheck application fee credit up to $100 every four years

Extended warranty protection*

* Benefits only available to accounts approved for the Visa Signature card. Terms apply.

Capital One Venture vs. Chase Sapphire Preferred welcome offer

Both cards are currently offering solid sign-up bonuses that can provide a ton of value to new cardholders.

The Venture Rewards card offers 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 on the card within the first three months of account opening. This bonus is worth $750 in travel if you redeem at a fixed value directly through Capital One or up to $1,388 if you transfer your miles to Capital One’s airline or hotel transfer partners since TPG values Capital One miles at 1.85 cents each.

The Sapphire Preferred is currently offering 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. Since points are worth 1.25 cents apiece when redeemed through the Chase Ultimate Rewards travel portal, the bonus is guaranteed to be worth at least $750 in travel (before factoring in the statement credits). However, TPG values Chase Ultimate Rewards points at 2.05 cents each, meaning this welcome offer is worth $1,230.

Winner: Venture Rewards

Related: How (and why) you should earn transferable points

Capital One Venture vs. Chase Sapphire Preferred benefits

Understandably, you don’t get as many perks with a $95-a-year card as you will with a premium card that costs hundreds of dollars each year. Still, both cards offer an array of benefits that add even more value.

The Venture Rewards’ benefits include no foreign transaction fees,(see rates and fees) extended warranty protection for the original manufacturer’s warranty on eligible purchases, purchase security for a covered loss that occurs within the first 90 days of purchase, and Visa Signature travel benefits, such as lost luggage reimbursement for common carrier tickets and secondary auto rental coverage.

You’ll also get two complimentary visits to Capital One or Plaza Premium lounges annually and an up to $100 Global Entry/TSA PreCheck application fee credit. This is a perk generally seen on cards with higher annual fees, and it can make a huge difference in speeding up your journey through the airport. (Benefits only available to accounts approved for the Visa Signature card. Terms apply.)

LIZ HAFALIA/THE SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE/GETTY IMAGES

Since the Sapphire Preferred is also a Visa Signature card, it offers practically the same benefits but kicked up a notch. Most notably, it includes primary rental car coverage rather than secondary, meaning you can submit claims directly to your card’s benefits provider without involving your personal insurance policy.

Plus, the Sapphire Preferred’s travel benefits are also superior — up to $500 in trip delay reimbursement if you’re delayed more than 12 hours or overnight, up to $10,000 in trip cancellation and interruption insurance per person ($20,000 per trip) and up to $100 per day for up to five days in baggage delay reimbursement if your bag is delayed more than six hours.

On top of that, the card offers an annual $50 statement credit on hotel stays purchased through the Chase Ultimate Rewards travel portal and a 10% anniversary points bonus.

Winner: Chase Sapphire Preferred

Earning rewards on the Capital One Venture vs. Chase Sapphire Preferred

With the Capital One Venture, you’ll earn 5 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 2 miles per dollar on all other purchases.

With the Sapphire Preferred, you’ll get 5 points per dollar on all travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards; 3 points per dollar on dining, including eligible delivery services, takeout and dining out; 3 points per dollar on select streaming services; 3 points per dollar on online grocery purchases (excluding Target, Walmart and wholesale clubs); 2 points per dollar on all other travel; and 1 point per dollar on all other purchases.

Travel is defined quite broadly with the Sapphire Preferred and includes some everyday expenses, such as tolls, parking and subway tickets. Dining includes standard restaurants, bars and coffee shops, food delivery services, and even most vending machines.

Winner: Tie. The Capital One Venture comes out ahead on everyday spending but falls behind in specific categories, where the Sapphire Preferred shines, so it depends on your spending patterns.

Related: Chase Sapphire Preferred credit card review

Redeeming rewards on the Capital One Venture vs. Chase Sapphire Preferred

Both cards allow you to redeem rewards toward many purchases — but travel redemptions always provide the best value.

If you want a simple redemption option, you can redeem your Venture Miles at a fixed value of 1 cent each toward travel bookings made through Capital One Travel or use them for statement credits to offset any travel purchase within the last 90 days (again, at a rate of 1 cent per mile).

As with the Venture card, Chase Ultimate Rewards points can be redeemed toward travel at a fixed value or transferred. As mentioned, if you book travel reservations through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal, points have a fixed value of 1.25 cents each.

Winner: Sapphire Preferred. You’ll get a more favorable 1.25 cents per point when redeeming for travel at a fixed rate, while you can also get a rate of 1 cent per point when redeeming for cash rewards or statement credits.

Related: How to use your Capital One miles for maximum value

EMILY MCNUTT/THE POINTS GUY

Transferring rewards on the Capital One Venture vs. Chase Sapphire Preferred

You can squeeze more value from your Capital One miles by transferring them to Capital One’s 18 airline and hotel transfer partners. Most transfers are at a 1:1 ratio. Since the card earns 2 Capital One miles per dollar on everyday spending, you’re earning up to 2 airline miles or hotel points per dollar spent on every purchase — depending on the specific program to which you transfer your miles.

If you’re not seeking travel rewards, you can redeem your miles for gift cards, cash back or on Amazon and PayPal purchases — but know it will be at subpar redemption rates.

Similarly, the way to get top value from your points is by transferring them to one of Chase’s 14 airline and hotel partners, all at a 1:1 ratio.

You can also redeem points for gift cards and cash back, but you’ll only get 1 cent per point in value.

Related: The best ways to use Chase Ultimate Rewards points

ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY

Winner: Chase Sapphire Preferred. Chase Ultimate Rewards gets the edge for offering more lucrative transfer options (namely United and Hyatt, which are not Capital One partners).

Related: Review of the Capital One Venture Rewards credit card

Should I get the Capital One Venture or Chase Sapphire Preferred?

While the value you can get from the cards depends heavily on your spending habits, most cardholders will be better off with the Sapphire Preferred. Chase points are more valuable than Venture Miles. And the card earns more in bonus spending categories and offers better travel protections.

Bottom line

These two cards aren’t mutually exclusive. After all, the Capital One Venture Card is one of the best Capital One credit cards, and the Chase Sapphire Preferred is one of the best Chase credit cards on the market. They actually complement each other if you have both. You can use the Venture card for everyday purchases and the Preferred for travel and dining spending. Between the two sign-up bonuses, you could get nearly $3,000 worth of travel in the first year for less than $200 in annual fees — a win-win if you sign up for both cards.

Learn More: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card with 75,000 bonus miles after meeting minimum spending requirements
Apply here: Chase Sapphire Preferred with 60,000 bonus points after meeting minimum spending requirements

For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the above benefits are provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply

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Well+Good 

You don’t need to be a sneaker-head to know that high-top sneakers are a trendy choice, so much so that they’re gracing the feet of fashionistas and celebrities like Zendaya and Bella Hadid. By design, high tops minimize the risk of ankle sprains and other injuries; however, according to podiatrists, not all of them are ideal for your feet. Some are designed just for looks.

Best high-top sneakers, at a glance:

Best overall: New Balance, Fresh Foam Hierro, $135
Best budget: Reebok, Freestyle Hi Women’s Shoes, $80
Best unisex: New Balance, 440 High, $90
Best for the gym: Nobull, High-Top Trainer, $169
Best for city dwellers: Cariuma, High Top, $129
Best for hiking: Hoka, Anacapa 2 GTX Mid, $195
Best water-repellent: Allbirds, Women’s Wool Runner-up Mizzles, $87
Best leather: Vionic, Momentum High-Top Sneakers, $45
Best vegan: Will’s Vegan Store, Chicago High-Tops, $112
Best washable: Suavs, The Legacy Sneaker, $110

What to look for in high-top shoes

To ensure that the high tops you’re purchasing are good for your feet, it should accomplish a few things. First, it should have a lace-up system, according to Nam Tran, DPM, a foot and ankle surgeon based in Dallas, Texas. By having a lace-up design, you can tighten your shoe strings for a more secure fit around the ankles. “Second, it stabilizes any weak ligamentous structures within the foot and ankle,” Dr. Tran says, by providing ample arch support and cushioning. “This will decrease foot fatigue when going on long walks,” he adds. It’ll also prevent skin abrasions from excessive friction and rubbing, according to Dr. Tran.

What should people avoid in high-top shoes

While it’s common for new shoes to require a breaking-in period, high-top shoes shouldn’t hurt when you wear them, according to Bradley Schaeffer, DPM, a board-certified foot surgeon with the American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery (ABFAS). “If you are experiencing heel pain symptoms that persist for more than a few days, it’s time to see a doctor,” says Dr. Schaeffer. “Symptoms to watch out for include swelling, bruising, numbness or weakness, a tingling sensation, limited range of motion in your foot, or the inability to walk.”

Based on Dr. Tran’s recommendations, we scoured the internet for supportive high-top shoes. Ahead, you’ll find sneakers of every style, color, budget, and size. Happy shopping!

10 best high-top sneakers

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Carscoops 

Dashcam footage captured in Korea has captured the unsettling sight of a Genesis luxury sedan losing control on the road. The vehicle collides with one car, proceeds to crash into another, and bizarrely continues its erratic path. The chaos only comes to an end when the automobile finally encounters construction debris that causes it to overturn. This accident has sparked numerous questions regarding the circumstances surrounding it.

According to reports from local news sources in Korea, the incident involved a fatigued driver operating a Genesis sedan, likely a a G80 model (though the camera angle makes it difficult to discern, and it might be a G90). Video footage of the collision depicts the car accelerating from behind and subsequently colliding with a Kia sedan in front of it.

The Kia slides left and appears to devour about 50 yards of plastic highway barrier before rolling onto its roof. The Genesis slows for only a moment before continuing its acceleration to the camera car. The two make hard contact and the Genesis is also forced to the left where it nearly flips as it hits the plastic barriers.

More: 140 MPH Chase Of Motorcyclist Questions Police Pursuit Tactics And Safety

Instead, it manages to regain a path inside of what appears to be a construction zone. The car accelerates again and this time hits construction debris in its path. It appears to flip over but there’s so much dust and debris that it’s hard to be sure. Reporting from witnesses at the scene say that the driver evidently asked “What happened?” immediately after the accident.

Truthfully, this incident seems to raise more questions than the video answers. If the person was asleep it would appear that the car must had some sort of cruise control with lane-tracing engaged. Why did that system, if engaged, not immediately turn off after the first accident?

The car also appears to steer back to the right after veering left into the roadwork area. How is that possible if the driver was asleep? And finally, how does someone sleep through any of that? Thankfully, the report from IMNews says that every person involved in these crashes escaped without major injury.

Image Credit: MBC News

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The Points Guy 

Them: “The perfect cruise ship sports bar doesn’t exi—”

Royal Caribbean: *adds Playmakers to several ships*

If you enjoy watching sports with a cold pint, playing vintage arcade games or challenging your friends to a round of foosball, you’ll feel right at home at Royal Caribbean‘s Playmakers.

Here’s a play-by-play so you can decide if it should be a regular haunt on your next sailing.

For more cruise news, reviews and tips, sign up for TPG’s cruise newsletter.

What is Royal Caribbean’s Playmakers?

A burger at Playmakers sports bar and arcade on Mariner of the Seas. TIM AYLEN/ROYAL CARIBBEAN

Playmakers is a combination sports bar and arcade. It’s found on several ships in Royal Caribbean’s fleet, including on most of the line’s new vessels and on some of its older ones where it replaced other venues. Its location varies, but it’s found along the Boardwalk on the line’s Oasis Class vessels.

In addition to reserving tables for group viewing of sports matches (subject to satellite signal and international copyright laws), you can just show up to catch whatever is on, grab a drink or a bite to eat, or play some games.

Some ships offer table bowling and foosball, while others will entice you with video games like Pac-Man and Donkey Kong.

What’s on the Royal Caribbean Playmakers menu?

A sample menu from Royal Caribbean’s Playmakers sports bar and arcade. Menu items and prices are subject to change. ROYAL CARIBBEAN

As part of Playmakers’ menu, Royal Caribbean has a sizable amount of beer and pub grub, priced a la carte. Although menu items and prices could change at any time, you’ll likely find nachos, chicken tenders, fries, onion rings and burgers.

If wings are your thing, you can enjoy those, too. Feeling like a challenge? Eat 100 of Playmakers’ spiciest wings in 45 minutes or less, and you’ll score bragging rights along with a free T-shirt.

How much do food and drinks cost at Playmakers?

Cruisers play games and enjoy drinks at Playmakers sports bar and arcade on Mariner of the Seas. TIM AYLEN/ROYAL CARIBBEAN

At the time of publication, Playmakers’ menu items ranged from $3 for an order of steak fries with garlic sauce and Parmesan cheese to $25 for 50 wings.

You can snag a flight of three draft samples for $6.99, a 12-ounce bottle of beer for $7.99, cocktails for $13 each and a 60-ounce pitcher of draft beer for $18. Wine by the bottle or glass is also available.

Which Royal Caribbean cruise ships have Playmakers?

Table games at Playmakers sports bar and arcade on Royal Caribbean’s Symphony of the Seas. SBW-PHOTO/ROYAL CARIBBEAN

You can find a Playmakers sports bar and arcade on the following ships:

Independence of the Seas
Mariner of the Seas
Navigator of the Seas
Oasis of the Seas
Odyssey of the Seas
Symphony of the Seas
Wonder of the Seas

Have cruise questions? TPG has answers:

Banned items: What not to pack for a cruise
Man overboard: Why do people fall off cruise ships?
What is baked Alaska, and why is it paraded around cruise ships?
What are the largest cruise ships in the world?
What is a gentleman host on a cruise?
What is the Jones Act, and how does it affect cruise ships?
What is a lido deck on a cruise ship?
What’s a cruise cabin guarantee, and will it save you money?
What’s the difference between a cruise concierge and a butler?

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Carscoops 

The British royal family has been driving Land Rovers for as long as there have been Land Rovers to drive. What was then Rover presented King George VI with the 100th car off the line in 1948 and successive royals have used them both on the road and around their country estates ever since.

But the UK crowned a new king this year, and while Charles III will carry on many royal family traditions, he also brings his own ideas to the (presumably large, goblet-covered) table, including his opinions on what kind of car is truly fit for a king.

The Daily Telegraph reports that the newly crowned King, his son and future king, Prince William, and Charles’ nephew, Peter Phillips, had an Aston Martin DBX 707 and Ineos Grenadier at their disposal this summer during the family’s break at Balmoral Castle in Scotland.

Related: King Charles’ Coronation Whip Looks Vintage But Has Air-Con, Electric Windows And Hydraulic Suspension

King Charles has already tested the DBX on a 2020 visit to the factory in Wales

“As neither is electric, they may not lease them out permanently, but they have all had a lot of fun with them,” a source close to the royal family told the Telegraph.

Charles is an Aston fan, having owned his classic DB6 convertible from new, and the fact that Aston is a British brand will certainly hold appeal, as will it being built in Wales, the UK country Charles was prince of for decades before finally ascending to the throne. But he is also big on green issues, even converting his DB6 to run on wine and cheese, and Aston won’t have a hybrid DBX in its catalog for a couple of years and won’t deliver its first full EV until 2026. Still, we imagine one stomp on the range-topping 697 hp (707 PS) DBX’s right pedal might be enough to bring even the most ardent greenie round.

But ifs not, maybe the Ineos Grenadier would be a better bet. The royals were huge fans of the Defender and its Land Rover Series predecessors, and the no-nonsense Grenadier, which was designed independently of JLR to plug a gap left by the Defender’s demise, would be perfect for crawling around royal estates, whatever the weather. But while the man behind the project, Sir Rim Ratcliffe, is a Brit, the industrialist opted to build the Ineos in France (this despite him supporting Brexit in the run up to the 2017 referendum). Driving an import isn’t exactly a good look for a head of state.

Maybe the royals were simply curious to see what else is available, but have no real plans to buy either car. Because as far as we can see a Land Rover still ticks every box as far as a royal ride is concerned. The current Defender and Range Rover are both built in the UK, as are their engines, and you can get both with powerful hybrid powertrains that tip a hat to green matters while offering over 500 hp in the case of the Rangie. What would buy if you were king?

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