Sally French

I am a travel rewards expert at NerdWallet. I have previously written about travel and credit cards for The New York Times and its review-focused sibling site, Wirecutter. I have also worked for MarketWatch and The Orange County Register. I love fitness, and my travels have included cycling up the coastline of Vietnam and over the sea ice in the Arctic Circle. Lastly, I studied journalism at the University of Missouri.

Sally French
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How to Avoid Summer Travel Chaos (And Secrets to an Enjoyable Vacation)
Curated bySally French
If Memorial Day 2023 was any indication, travelers should brace for big crowds at airports this summer. On the Friday of Memorial Day weekend, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) screened roughly 2.7 million people at U.S. airports, the highest checkpoint volume thus far in 2023. But that holiday only marks the beginning of summer travel. Luckily, you can still travel without being a part of the chaos yourself. Here’s the secret to how.
Sally French
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The Loyalty Program Realities That No One Wants to Tell You
Curated bySally French
A lot of people lost elite status in 2023 — like, a lot. But if you’re status-less this year, don’t panic. Elite status certainly has its benefits, but often it’s not all it's cracked up to be. Points devalue over time and — unlike dollars — points are uninvestable. Some points expire, and maximizing points can turn into a part-time job. Here’s the inside scoop on hotel and airline loyalty programs.
Sally French
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Big Changes Coming to Travel in 2023 (For Better or For Worse)
Curated bySally French
The pandemic certainly disrupted travel, and as people return to travel things are only continuing to change. Everywhere from airport lounges to theme parks are searching for ways to cut down on crowds (which often means raising prices). Businesses are adopting tactics to change how costs are presented, such as Airbnb rolling out a cleaning fee toggle. Here’s what you can expect from travel in 2023 (and how you can still save money despite the ever-growing crowds).
Sally French
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Should You Book Holiday Travel Now & How Can You Handle the Chaos in Airports?
Curated bySally French
The on-time arrivals rate for the beginning of 2022 among U.S. airports hasn’t been this low since 2014. Couple that with an expected surge in winter travel plus weather delays, and you’re in for an adventure — and perhaps not the adventure you wanted.
Sally French
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Inflation is Crushing Vacation Budgets, but You Can Still Save
Curated bySally French
Inflation is crushing almost all aspects of Americans’ budgets — including their vacations. Prices rose on average 8.5% for the past 12 months ending in March 2022, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. And one major travel expense rose way more than that: March rental car prices skyrocketed 23% year over year.
Sally French
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Travel in 2022: The Biggest Changes Coming This Year
Curated bySally French
Whether COVID-related, or just tied to growth and future developments in technology, the travel industry is set to undergo major changes in 2022. Here’s what you can expect.