| | We won't make these mistakes again | | by Tarah Chieffi, Senior writer |
|  | As we head into the final day of 2025, I'm taking some time to reflect on the year. I went on some amazing trips, but I also had my fair share of travel mishaps.
I'm not ashamed of them. Whenever I do something a bit foolish, I know sharing about it here can help others avoid making the same mistakes.
And I'm not the only one. Several of my TPG co-workers have learned valuable lessons about travel and credit cards this year. In the spirit of the holiday, let's take a look back at these blunders in the form of our 2026 resolutions. - We will understand and utilize credit card protections. Whether it’s the time my cellphone died a watery death in Curacao and I was able to replace it using my card's cellphone insurance or when credit card writer Augusta Stone learned a tough lesson about trip cancellation insurance after missing a trip due to illness, we now know that in order to make the most of credit card protections, you have to read the fine print and follow it carefully.
- We will not wait until the last minute to renew our passports. As I was recently entering my family's passport information into our flight booking for an upcoming trip, I realized my husband's passport expires in a few months. Luckily, I knew from my time at TPG that most countries require your passport to have at least six months of validity to visit. I put a rush on his, but I could have saved myself the stress and additional money if I had renewed sooner. Hot tip: Track your passport expiration date in your calendar and set a reminder six months prior to that date. This will ensure that you submit your application with plenty of time to spare.
- We will not miss out on exciting welcome bonuses. Like time, welcome bonuses are fleeting. We saw some doozies this year, and we hope 2026 brings some of the same. We will always share the best welcome bonuses with you when they roll around, but we never know how long they will last. Don't hesitate to apply if you see an offer that excites you.
Tonight, I'll be celebrating in the living room with family and friends (and Champagne). Whether you ring in the new year at home or out on the town, I hope you are surrounded by loved ones and confetti.
If you want to make your own resolutions, read these stories that highlight the mistakes we hope to leave behind in 2025: Have a very happy New Year!
Tarah
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