Denver-based brokerage franchise Motto Mortgage, owned by RE/MAX, has accused broker shop UMortgage of “tortious interference” in its contract with a former franchisee calledTRB Solutions, whose controlling member was Breon Price, the top-producing loan officer.
According to a lawsuit filed in March in a U.S district court in Colorado, UMortgage “unlawfully solicited” and “induced” Price and his team to join the company in the latter half of 2022, despite knowing the franchisee was subject to an agreement with Motto Mortgage.
The franchise agreement was not set to expire until December 1, 2025, and Motto claims Price expressed a desire in late 2022 to renew it for a new five-year term. But the team transitioned to UMortgage on December 14, 2022, and UMortgage tried to solicit other franchisees, such as one in Atlanta, per the lawsuit.
Price was one of the four original members of Motto’s advisory council, contributing to forward-planning strategies. He was set to hold the role until 2024, the lawsuit says.
TRB Solutions, which operated as Motto Mortgage Apex in Cincinnati, received Motto’s support, such as know-how, training, access to third-party resources and other trade secrets, according to the document.
But the franchise agreement prohibited franchisees from becoming officers, directors, shareholders, members, licensees, partners or managers in other mortgage companies.
Motto claims UMortgage knew about the franchise agreement, which is allegedly proven by a company check used to pay the sum of $172,800 related to the TRB termination agreement.
A spokesperson for Motto said the company is pursuing legal action against UMortgage after the company intentionally sought to impede on Motto’s franchisee contracts.
“Motto Mortgage will not allow a competitor to misrepresent the nature of their business acquisitions and induce Motto Mortgage franchisees to violate/terminate their franchise contracts,” the spokesperson wrote in an email.
Anthony Casa, UMortgage’s president and CEO, said in a statement that Price and his team joined UMortgage because of its platform.
“If having the best value proposition for loan originators is interfering with Motto Mortgage’s business model, then they are in BIG trouble,” Casa added.
That’s not the only lawsuit on hiring practices that involves UMortgage and its loan officers.
In late March, Maryland-based lender NFM, Inc. sued two former loan officers, Justin Bolden and Stephen Levitt, for violating its non-compete agreements when they left the company the month prior to join UMortgage.
According to the lawsuit filed in a district court in Maryland, the LOs agreed to sign a Code of Conduct Agreement in which the company mentioned the employees could not “compete with NFM for a period of one year after the termination of employment and not to solicit customers, employees, or anyone else that has a business relationship with NFM.”
However, according to the lawsuit, both employees serve in a “substantially similar role” at UMortgage compared to their roles at NFM and utilize “confidential, proprietary and trade secret information” to compete with the lender.
HousingWire reached out to NFM lending, Bolden and Stephen, but they did not reply to requests for comments.
Casa, who said “non-compete agreements don’t hold up in court,” mentioned mortgage companies pursue litigation to “intimidate their existing loan originators.”
“This is a bully tactic, which we will expose, and then we will take all of their loan originators.”
In today’s fast-paced world, time is a precious commodity, leading many individuals to seek out luxurious experiences that can be enjoyed without the commitment of an overnight stay. Recognizing this desire, hotels across the globe have embraced the concept of daypasses, allowing guests to indulge in their exquisite amenities for a few blissful hours.
“Daypasses allow guests to experience the property’s amenities without requiring the normal time commitment of an overnight stay,” said Brad Mills, hotel manager at The Ritz-Carlton, Denver. “As locals and travelers strive to maximize their time but still enjoy luxurious and relaxing experiences, the ‘daycation’ is a perfect alternative.”
The trend of the “daycation” has gained significant popularity, catering to locals and travelers who yearn for some relaxation, especially by a pool. This concept provides a convenient alternative for those seeking a quick getaway. It also gives hotels an opportunity to gain free publicity through social media and cultivate future business relationships.
Whether your travel plans include Miami, Dallas or Los Angeles, this list of hotels will keep you cool and content with pool passes you can use for a few hours of pure leisure.
Fontainebleau Miami Beach
Steeped in history, this iconic oceanside retreat has welcomed all kinds of illustrious guests and even made an appearance in the 1964 James Bond flick “Goldfinger.” It continues to exude timeless elegance and allure.
At this distinguished Miami-area hotel, you’ll find an impressive selection of 11 unique pools with luxurious cabanas, top-notch amenities and awe-inspiring views. From family-friendly options like small shallow pools and a pool with a waterslide to serene free-form pools and lively social spaces like the poolside Arkadia Day Club, Fontainebleau Miami Beach caters to a wide range of preferences.
Several daypass cabana options are available from $375 for two people.
Related: The best Miami Beach hotels
The William Vale
A modern retreat in Brooklyn’s cool Williamsburg neighborhood, The William Vale attracts trendsetters seeking stunning surroundings both inside and out.
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The property’s Vale Pool offers spectacular views of New York City, allowing visitors to bask in the Brooklyn sun while enjoying the city’s longest outdoor hotel pool, measuring 60 feet in length.
Various daypass options are available, such as the entry-level terrace pass for $160 and the more exclusive cabana pass for $675, which grants access to a luxurious, private poolside cabana that can accommodate up to six guests for the entire day. Alternatively, guests can opt for a comfortable reclining bed accommodating up to three guests for $475 or a poolside plush sofa for two for $325.
Related: The best hotels in New York City, from luxury stays to points properties
W Hollywood
Bask in Los Angeles’ abundant sunshine at Wet Deck, the gorgeous rooftop pool of the stylish W Hollywood. From this vantage point, you can relish expansive views of the Hollywood Hills and downtown Hollywood while unwinding by the pool.
During your visit, treat yourself to handcrafted specialty cocktails, refreshing beverages and delicious bites at the pool bar. A drink in hand is the perfect way to relax in the pool’s chic setting.
W Hollywood offers a daypass for $35 per adult. You can also reserve a daybed, fire pit table or private cabana starting at $50, should you want an extra touch of luxury and comfort.
Related: The 27 best hotels in Los Angeles for your next visit
Fairmont Scottsdale Princess
The Fairmont Scottsdale Princess is the longest-running AAA Five Diamond-awarded hotel in Scottsdale, Arizona. So, it’s no surprise that people near and far would want to take advantage of its top-notch hospitality.
You’ll find several eye-catching spots to visit here. However, the six on-site pools are particularly noteworthy, each offering a unique experience. Sonoran Splash Pool is a family-friendly oasis with a zero-entry pool deck. Princess Pool features picturesque views of the lush lagoons and TPC Stadium golf course. Sunset Beach provides open-air serenity under swaying palm trees. Sonoran Landing Pool serves as an exclusive adults-only area with oversized daybeds, floating bean bags and a lap lane.
The basic daypass starts at $70 for adults and $21 for children. For the use of a daybed or cabana during your visit, expect to pay at least $175 for two people.
Related: 9 beautiful hotel pools across the US
Mirage Las Vegas
Escape the bustling atmosphere of the Las Vegas Strip and indulge in a serene poolside retreat at the Mirage Las Vegas. You can find the perfect oasis for your relaxation needs thanks to the property’s array of options.
By the main pool, you’ll find 10 cabanas, plus six more in a secluded area surrounded by lush tropical plants. There’s also the Bare Pool if you prefer an adults-only atmosphere.
Daypass access to the Private Oasis area ranges from $25 to $60 per chair and $125 to $300 per daybed. You can also reserve one of 16 private cabanas, each of which can accommodate up to four people.
Related: The best hotel pools in Las Vegas
Hilton Anatole
Hilton Anatole’s JadeWaters pool complex is the top resort pool area in Dallas. The facility offers a range of exciting activities for the entire family, plus a beautiful pool, thrilling waterslides and a relaxing lazy river where you can unwind.
When you need some sustenance, treat yourself to delicious poolside fare at JadeWaters Bar & Grill. Or, head straight to the swim-up bar for a tropical drink.
Multiple daypass options are available, including one that also covers the use of the resort’s fitness and spa facilities. A standard daypass for two starts at $90, while upgraded options that include reserved seating like in-water lounge chairs, daybeds or cabanas start at $179 for two people.
Related: The best Hilton hotels in the US, from luxury to budget stays
Kona Kai San Diego
Experience an island getaway at Kona Kai San Diego, which conveniently sits in the heart of the city.
Relax by the pool with a stunning bay view, savor local delicacies at Vessel Restaurant + Bar or enjoy tropical cocktails at the main pool’s Tiki Bar. You’ll have two pools to choose from: the family-friendly Tiki pool by the property’s private beach and an adults-only Paloma pool with its own bar.
The basic daypass, which costs $89 for adults and $45 for kids, grants you access to the main pool and a hot tub. For an elevated experience, opt for a daypass with a private cabana at either pool. Starting at $250, the cabana daypasses, which are for use of private cabanas capable of accommodating up to eight people each, come with snack buckets filled with various nonalcoholic beverages and snacks.
Related: The best hotels in San Diego
The Perry Hotel & Marina
Upon arrival at The Perry Hotel & Marina, guests can find solace at the outdoor heated pool and sun deck, where they are welcomed with a complimentary drink. The Salty Oyster Dockside Bar & Grill provides convenient poolside food and drink service, ensuring a hassle-free relaxation session.
Unwind in a hammock, taking intermittent dips in the pool to beat the heat. The laid-back island atmosphere truly complements your desire for tranquility.
For access to the property’s pool without staying overnight, purchase a daypass for $35 per adult (kids daypasses start at $15 each). Should you seek a touch of luxury, choose a cabana daypass, which includes access to a cabana stocked with a complimentary bottle of Champagne and bottled water for $125 for two people.
Related: Battle of the Key Largo beachfront hotels: Baker’s Cay and Playa Largo
Even if trains, history and nature aren’t your cups of tea on their own, something absurdly special happens when the three combine.
The White Pass and Yukon Route Railway is a staple of any visit to Skagway, Alaska, particularly if you arrive by ship during an Alaska cruise. The town’s success is closely linked to the development of the railroad infrastructure, with the train line carrying both passengers and cargo between Alaska and Canada for more than 120 years.
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I’ve ridden the train’s Skagway-to-White Pass Summit route, and the experience was fascinating and exhilarating, offering a narrated history lesson and views that are absolutely unrivaled by any other train journey I’ve experienced.
From how it started to where the route will take you and how much you’ll pay for tickets, here’s what you can expect from a ride on the White Pass Railway, Skagway’s most scenic route to Canada.
White Pass and Yukon Route history
Construction on the White Pass train, Skagway’s easiest way in and out during the gold rush days of the early 1900s, began in 1898, with investors from the U.S., Canada and England — and more than 35,000 workers — coming together to complete the $10 million project in just two years.
Until the tracks were laid, the two main routes over the mountain were the shorter but steeper Chilkoot Trail and the longer but flatter White Pass, both of which presented rough terrain and brutal conditions for anyone who made the trek.
Each person who ventured out in search of gold via one of the two paths was required to carry 1 ton of supplies to see them through their trip, making the hike even more treacherous. After the railroad’s completion, the expedition was far less arduous, and it took much less time for stampeders to reach the Klondike region.
From 1982 to 1988 — after more than 80 continuous years in operation, including during the winter months — the railroad halted services when the cost of metal dropped and mines, which produced most of the train’s cargo, closed.
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In 1988, the route reopened as a tourist attraction and now operates from early May through late September to align with the Alaska cruise season. In 1994, the White Pass and Yukon Route was designated an International Historic Civil Engineering Landmark, among the likes of the Eiffel Tower and the Statue of Liberty.
White Pass train price
Like the mountain over which the locomotives run, the cost to ride the train along the White Pass Summit route is steep. Tickets purchased online at least 24 hours in advance are $142 per adult and $71 per child for the 2.5- to 3-hour trip, which takes passengers 20 miles from Skagway to an elevation of 3,000 feet before turning around at the Canadian border and heading back.
The White Pass and Yukon Route Railway also sells tickets to non-cruise passengers for options like one-way train rides and camping, as well as connections via Carcross and Bennett, which venture out of Alaska and into British Columbia before entering the Yukon Territory.
I bought my White Pass Summit adult ticket through Norwegian Cruise Line as a shore excursion, and it set me back $219 — a significant but not unexpected markup of $77. (On some sailings, the excursion starts at only $199 per adult and $99 per child.)
Longer and more expensive variations of the train trip, when booked as cruise shore excursions, include visits to local sights before or after the train ride, as well as hybrid train and motorcoach rides that venture as far north as Carcross in Canada’s Yukon Territory.
Prices vary by cruise line and specific tour inclusions.
How to purchase tickets for the White Pass and Yukon Route Railway
In addition to purchasing tickets yourself online on the White Pass and Yukon Route Railway website or through your cruise line’s app, website or shore excursion desk, you can buy day-of tickets at the ticket office on Second Avenue in Skagway. There, you’ll also find The Train Shoppe, which sells all sorts of memorabilia and apparel.
Whether you purchase your tickets online or in person, through your cruise line or directly from White Pass and Yukon Route, you can choose from several departure times. Select one that fits your schedule. If you book independently (not through your cruise line), double-check that the time you pick coincides with the time your ship will be in port.
Where does Skagway’s White Pass train go?
The train ride for visitors to Skagway starts at the train tracks about halfway between the cruise ship docks and the downtown area.
From there, the train will travel, without stopping, to one of several points: White Pass Summit at the U.S. border with Canada, where the train will turn around and travel back down the mountain to Skagway (most excursions); Fraser, British Columbia, where passengers can transfer to motorcoaches that travel the Klondike Highway (also an outpost for Canadian customs); and Carcross in Canada’s Yukon Territory, where passengers can explore the historic town, including a gold rush general store.
Along the way, riders can follow along with provided maps to track their route past several points of interest, including the rail line’s maintenance shops, a donated caboose now rented as an Airbnb, gravesites, waterfalls, steel bridges, two tunnels and lookout points that make for fantastic photo opportunities.
What it’s like to ride the White Pass and Yukon Route train
When you book (or receive your ticket, in the case of a cruise line booking), you will be given a meeting place and instructed to be there at a set time. If you’re coming from a cruise ship and plan to spend time in town prior to your ride, take note of your meeting place well ahead of time to be sure you know how to get there. My travel companion and I took a wrong turn on our way to the meeting spot and would have missed our excursion had it not been for a kind rail worker who saw us running with our tickets and gave us a ride.
Apart from the railroad’s six brand-new engines, its fleet is impressively vintage, consisting of two steam engines from the first half of the 20th century, 20 diesel-electric locomotives dating from the 1950s and 92 restored and replica passenger coaches, including one that’s more than 140 years old. As such, there is no air conditioning in the coaches, so passengers can expect things to feel a bit stuffy if it’s a hot day. On my journey, it was chilly, making it a pleasant ride.
Although travelers are prohibited from moving between coaches while the train is in motion, they are permitted to stand on the exterior terraces on either side of each car for fresh air and views that are unimpeded by the coaches’ glass windows. Be warned that visibility can be poor and the vibe creepy when the weather is foggy, as it was the first time I rode the train back in 2013. Ten years later, I caught a break and happened to visit on a clear, sunny day when I enjoyed phenomenal views.
Guides and eventually the conductor will come through to say hello, check tickets and sell souvenirs, such as DVDs, hats and photo books. They can also answer any questions you have. Guides narrate during the trip, providing valuable tidbits of information about each point of interest the train passes on the mountain. If you enjoy the experience, it’s appropriate to tip a few dollars to your car’s guide or to tip a larger amount to the conductor, who will divide it among all the staff.
Each passenger is provided with a free booklet about the train route’s history. It includes safety rules, a map with a blurb about each point of interest, information about the fleet, a preview of items available to purchase at The Train Shoppe in town and a couple of puzzles to pass the time. (Some passengers report being bored during their rides. If you’re worried, bring a pen for the puzzles.)
Bottom line
While I don’t recommend a ride if you’re someone who can’t sit still for long periods of time or if you’re afraid of heights, I do think it’s one of the best activities a visitor to Alaska can do.
If you’re looking for a memorable way to grasp the history and sheer vastness that is the Alaskan wilderness, a ride on the White Pass and Yukon Route train is something you don’t want to miss.
Open a BMO Harris Premier™ Account online and get a $500 cash bonus when you have a total of at least $7,500 in qualifying direct deposits within the first 90 days of account opening. Expires 9/15. Conditions Apply.
The information related to the Chase World of Hyatt Business Credit Card has been collected by Money Crashers and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card.
The World of Hyatt Business Credit Card offers hotel rewards and benefits to small-business owners who prefer to stay at Hyatt hotels and resorts. You can earn bonus rewards on many common business purchases, and receive benefits when staying at the growing list of properties that participate in the World of Hyatt program.
However, this card has a larger than average annual fee, so it’s ideally suited for those who frequently stay at Hyatt properties, rather than those who are just willing to collect rewards for occasional stays.
What Is the World of Hyatt Business Credit Card?
The World of Hyatt Business Credit Card is a solid credit card for small-business owners who book Hyatt stays frequently and want to capitalize on that spend.
New applicants can take advantage of an attractive sign-up bonus offer: Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Note that this offer is only available if you have not received a new cardmember bonus for this card within the last 24 months.
This card earns 9 points per $1 spent for Hyatt stays and experiences, including restaurants and spas. That’s the headline.
It also earns:
2 bonus points per $1 spent on fitness club and gym memberships
2 bonus points per $1 spent in your top three eligible spend categories each quarter through December 31, 2023, then 2 bonus points per $1 spent in your top two eligible spend categories each quarter
1 bonus point per $1 spent on all other purchases
Eligible bonus spending categories include:
Dining
Airline tickets purchased directly with the airline
Car rental agencies
Local transit and commuting
Gas stations
Internet, cable, and phone services
Social media and search engine advertising
Shipping
The World of Hyatt Business Card can be extremely helpful if you’re looking to earn elite status within the Hyatt ecosystem. You get automatic World of Hyatt Discoverist status for you and up to five employees just for owning the card. Plus, you earn five annual Qualifying Night credits for every $10,000 spent in a calendar year to use toward reaching top-tier elite status and Milestone Rewards faster.
This card is also especially beneficial to businesses with large spending requirements. When you spend $50,000 in a calendar year on your card, you get 10% of your redeemed points back for the rest of the year on up to 200,000 points redeemed.
This card also features an annual Hyatt statement credit worth up to $100. After spending $50 or more at any Hyatt property, you can get a $50 statement credit, up to two times each anniversary year (for a total of $100).
Other benefits include an auto rental collision damage waiver policy and trip cancellation and interruption coverage. Your business purchases are also covered by a purchase protection policy of up to $10,000 per claim and extended warranty coverage that adds a year to your manufacturer’s warranty.
There’s a $199 annual fee for this card but no foreign transaction fees.
What Sets the World of Hyatt Business Credit Card Apart?
This card has several features that distinguish it from other hotel credit cards for small businesses.
Up to $100 in Hyatt statement credits each year. After you spend $50 or more at any eligible Hyatt property, you can get a $50 statement credit. You can get this benefit up to two times each anniversary year, for a total of $100.
10% points back. If you spend $50,000 in a calendar year on your card, you get 10% of your redeemed points back for the rest of the year on up to 200,000 points redeemed. This is a good perk — potentially worth thousands in free travel — for high-spending business owners.
Earn up to 9x points on eligible purchases. This card earns 9 points per dollar spent for Hyatt stays and experiences, including restaurants and spas. Not many other cards earn at this rate. The card also earns 2 bonus points per $1 spent on fitness club and gym memberships, a category not typically covered by business travel cards.
Receive Discoverist status. You get automatic World of Hyatt Discoverist status for you and up to five employees just for owning the card. Plus, you earn five annual Qualifying Night credits for every $10,000 spent in a calendar year to use toward reaching top-tier elite status and Milestone Rewards faster. Discoverist status can get you benefits like preferred room upgrades and late checkouts.
Key Features of the World of Hyatt Business Credit Card
The World of Hyatt Business Credit Card has a strong sign-up bonus, a generous rewards program, and additional benefits for Hyatt loyalists.
Sign-Up Bonus
Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Earning Rewards
This card earns 9x points on Hyatt stays and experiences, including restaurants and spas. This is broken down into 4 bonus points per dollar spent on the card plus 5 base points per dollar you can earn as a World of Hyatt member (points you’d earn with or without the card).
This card also earns 2x points on fitness club and gym memberships, 2x points in your top three eligible quarterly spending categories (top two from January 1, 2024), and 1x point on all other eligible purchases. Eligible bonus categories include:
Dining
Airline tickets purchased directly with the airline
Car rental agencies
Local transit and commuting
Gas stations
Internet, cable, and phone services
Social media and search engine advertising
Shipping
Redeeming Rewards
You can redeem World of Hyatt Points at eligible World of Hyatt hotels. Hyatt points are generally worth more than points from other hotel programs because you can redeem them for free nights starting at 5,000 points per night. Realistically, expect to pay 8,000 to 15,000 points per night for a mid-range property in a mid-sized city, which is an excellent return on spending.
Important Fees
This card charges a balance transfer fee of $5 or 5% of the amount of each transaction and a cash advance fee of $15 or 5% of the amount of each transaction. There is a $40 late payment fee and a $40 returned payment fee.
This card has an annual fee of $199 that’s not waived for the first year. There is no foreign transaction fee.
Credit Required
This card requires good or better credit to qualify. If your FICO score is much below 700, or your personal credit history is limited, then you’ll likely have trouble being approved. However, this is pretty standard for a premium business travel credit card.
Pros & Cons
The World of Hyatt Business Credit Card from Chase is a very rewarding card for small business owners, but it does have a few drawbacks.
Generous sign-up bonus
Accelerates progress toward elite status
Up to $100 in annual on-property credits
Discoverist status for up to five employees
High annual fee
No annual free night certificates
Pros
The strengths of this card are its rewards program and potentially valuable benefits.
Generous new account bonus. This card has an excellent sign-up bonus. Though the total point value isn’t as high as some competing cards, Hyatt points are worth much more, so this bonus could be worth five or more free nights.
Great way to earn elite status. This card offers five night-stay credits towards elite status for every $10,000 spent. This contrasts positively with the World of Hyatt consumer card, which offers two night-stay credits for every $5,000 spent (or four per $10,000 spent). In theory, you could earn Hyatt’s extremely valuable top-tier Globalist status from spending alone, but in practice this card offers an easy way to top off your night-stay credits if you won’t earn the status you want solely through actual hotel stays.
On-property credits. You can receive a $50 credit for spending on properties twice each cardmember year, effectively cutting the net cost of the card ($199) in half.
Discoverist status for you five employees. You’ll always have a better stay at a hotel when you have elite status, even if it’s the basic tier. This is the only hotel card that offers elite status not only to the cardholder, but also to authorized users. That means a better experience for your employees on the road.
Cons
The weaknesses of this card are its high annual fee, as well as the lack of some key features offered by the consumer card.
$199 annual fee. This is more than most cards in its class, but it’s potentially more than 50% offset by the two $50 hotel fee credits.
No annual free night certificates. The World of Hyatt consumer card offers a free Category 1-4 certificate each year, and another when you use your card to spend $15,000. Strangely, the business version doesn’t offer any free night stay certificates.
How the World of Hyatt Business Credit Card Stacks Up
This card’s closest competitor is probably the Marriott Bonvoy Business Credit Card from American Express. Here’s how the two cards compare.
World of Hyatt Business Credit Card
Marriott Bonvoy Business Credit Card
Annual Fee
$199
$125
Sign-Up Bonus
Very good
Good
Rewards Rate
Up to 9x points
Up to 6x
Foreign Transaction Fee
None
None
Credit Needed
Good or better
Good or better
The World of Hyatt Business card has a better return on spending than the Marriott Bonvoy Business Credit Card, and its sign-up bonus is more generous because Hyatt points are worth more than Marriott points (usually). However, it has a higher annual fee, so the Marriott card could be a better fit for users who can’t reliably offset that expense.
Final Word
Fans of the World of Hyatt program are always looking for ways to earn more points and reach the highest levels of elite status. If this sounds like you, and you’re a small business owner, then the World of Hyatt Business Credit Card needs a spot in your business spending arsenal. With lots of opportunities to earn bonus points plus valuable on-property benefits, it could be your key to great hotel stays and lots of free nights.
The Verdict
Our rating
Chase World of Hyatt Business Credit Card
The World of Hyatt Business Credit Card is a very strong card for small business owners who want to earn Hyatt points and receive valuable benefits at Hyatt. Its strengths are the 60,000 point new account bonus, bonus points for common business purchases, and the ability to earn night-stay credits towards elite status. If you are a small-business owner who frequently stays at Hyatt properties, you should definitely consider this card.
Editorial Note:
The editorial content on this page is not provided by any bank, credit card issuer, airline, or hotel chain, and has not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of the bank, credit card issuer, airline, or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
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Jason Steele is one of the nation’s leading experts in credit cards and travel rewards since 2008. Jason is also the founder and producer of CardCon, which is The Conference for Credit Card Media. Jason lives in Denver, Colorado where he enjoys bicycling, snowboarding and piloting small airplanes.
Open a BMO Harris Premier™ Account online and get a $500 cash bonus when you have a total of at least $7,500 in qualifying direct deposits within the first 90 days of account opening. Expires 9/15. Conditions Apply.
The content related to the IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card has been collected by Money Crashers and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card.
If your business activities regularly take you on the road, it makes sense to use a credit card that offers the most possible rewards towards a free night’s stay.
The IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card does just that — earning as much as 26 points per $1 spent at IHG hotels across 18 brands, including Intercontinental, Crowne Plaza, and Holiday Inn. It also packs valuable non-rewards benefits that help you make the most of your hotel stays.
Intrigued? See what you can expect from the IHG One Rewards Premier Business card, and where it falls short.
What Is the IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card?
Chase’s IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card from Chase is a hotel credit card for small-business owners who frequently stay at IHG hotels and resorts.
The fun begins with an excellent sign-up bonus: Earn 140,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months of account opening.
Moving forward, the IHG One Rewards Premier Business card earns a whopping 26 points per $1 spent on IHG hotels and resorts. This is broken down as follows:
10x points on eligible card spending
10x points for being an IHG One Rewards Member
6x points from your status as a Platinum Elite member — a key benefit of this card
The card also offers 5x points on eligible spending in several broad spending categories:
Travel
Dining, including eligible takeout and delivery
Gas stations
Social media advertising
Search engine advertising
Office supply stores
On all other purchases, you earn 3 points per $1 spent. You can redeem your points at eligible IHG hotels and resorts.
This card is quite helpful if you value elite status and free night stays. The card comes with automatic Platinum Elite status as long as you remain an IHG One Rewards Premier Business Cardmember. Platinum Elite benefits include promotional discounts on reward nights, guaranteed room availability with adequate advance booking, complimentary room upgrades where available, and early check-in where available.
There’s a $99 annual fee for this card but no foreign transaction fees.
What Sets the IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card Apart?
This card has several features that set it apart from other hotel business credit cards.
Up to 26x points on eligible purchases. The IHG One Rewards Premier Business card earns a whopping 26 points per $1 spent on eligible purchases at IHG hotels and resorts. This is one of the highest rewards rates of any hotel credit card.
Excellent sign-up bonus. This card has one of the best sign-up bonuses in its category, even accounting for IHG One points’ lower redemption values.
Fourth night free on award redemptions. When you redeem your IHG One points for three consecutive award nights and book an extra night, you get that fourth night free. This can be used an unlimited number of times, which makes this benefit very valuable if you frequently stay four nights or longer at IHG properties.
IHG One Rewards Platinum Status. The card comes with complimentary Platinum Elite status in the IHG One Rewards program. Notable benefits include priority check-in, complimentary room upgrades (subject to availability), late check-out (also subject to availability), and 60% bonus points on eligible hotel and resort bookings.
Key Features of the IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card
The IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card has a high sign-up bonus, a very generous rewards program, and some clutch additional benefits for frequent business travelers.
Sign-Up Bonus
Earn 140,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months of account opening.
Earning Rewards
This card earns a whopping 26x points on eligible spending at IHG hotels and resorts. That’s 10x points earned from the card itself, 10x earned as an IHG One Rewards member, and 6x points earned as a Platinum Elite statusholder.
The card also earns 5x points on travel, gas stations, social media and search engine advertising, office supply stores, and dining (including takeout and eligible delivery). On all other eligible purchases, it earns 3x points.
Redeeming Rewards
You can redeem your points at eligible IHG hotels and resorts, including Regent, Intercontinental, Kimpton, Even, Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express, Six Senses, Vignette, Hotel Indigo, Voco, Hualuxe, Crowne Plaza, Iberostar, Avid, Atwell Suites, Staybridge Suites, Holiday Inn Club Vacations and Candlewood Suites.
Anniversary Free Night & Fourth Night Free
Each account anniversary year, you earn one anniversary free night, with a current point redemption cap of 40,000 points. You can also use existing points from your IHG One Rewards account to redeem your anniversary night at hotels above the 40,000 point redemption level.
Separately but relatedly, you get the fourth night free when you redeem your points for three consecutive award nights and stay an additional night at the same property.
Spending Benefits
The IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card is quite beneficial for businesses with higher spending requirements. There are three spending thresholds worth noting:
If you spend $20,000 in a calendar year, you earn a $100 statement credit and 10,000 bonus points.
If you spend $40,000 in a calendar year, you qualify for Diamond Elite Status, which includes free breakfast, through December 31st of the following year.
If you spend $60,000 in a calendar year, you earn an additional free night with a current point redemption cap of 40,000 points.
Important Fees
This card charges a balance transfer fee of $5 or 5% of the amount of each transaction, a cash advance fee of $15 or 5% of the amount of each transaction. There is a $40 late payment fee and a $40 return payment fee.
This $99 annual fee is not waived for the first year. There is no foreign transaction fee.
Additional Benefits
This card’s additional benefits include:
20% off when you purchase IHG One points with your card
Purchase protection on eligible items up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per account
Up to $50 in United TravelBank Cash each calendar year
Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS statement credit up to $100 every four years
Trip cancellation and interruption insurance, with reimbursement up to $1,500 per person and $6,000 per trip for prepaid, nonrefundable passenger fares on trips canceled or cut short due to sickness, severe weather, and other covered situations
Credit Required
This card requires good or better credit to qualify. If your FICO score is much below 700, or your personal credit history is limited, then you’ll likely have trouble being approved. However, this is pretty standard for a premium business travel credit card.
Pros & Cons
As with any rewards card, the IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card has plenty of advantages and a few drawbacks.
Pros
This card is the complete package. It has a generous rewards program and plenty of benefits for stays at IHG hotels and resorts.
Earn 26x points on IHG hotel stays. Because this card comes with complimentary Platinum Elite status, it really pays to use it at IHG properties. It offers an extremely high rate of return that’s not matched by other hotel credit cards.
Receive a free night stay certificate each year. This card offers you a free night stay certificate each year on stays up to 40,000 points. In almost all instances, this certificate is worth much more than the card’s annual fee of $99.
Get instant Platinum Elite Status. Many hotel credit cards offer basic loyalty status with only a chance to earn higher levels after reaching a certain spending threshold. In contrast, the IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card comes with Platinum Elite status as long as your account remains open and in good standing. That’s just below IHG’s top-tier Diamond Elite status.
Cons
The drawbacks of this card are really just things that you might find in other cards that this one lacks. It’s up to you to decide whether they’re deal-breakers.
No promotional financing offer. Some travel cards have 0% APR financing on new purchases, balance transfers, or both. This one doesn’t. This won’t be an issue for everyone, but it’s worth noting if you have high-interest business credit card debt already.
Cap on the value of the anniversary free night award. This card offers you a free night certificate each year, but caps its value at 40,000 points. That’s about enough for a mid-tier hotel in a mid-sized city, but excludes their most expensive properties. Thankfully, you can still apply this certificate to properties that require more points, and just redeem additional points to pay the difference.
IHG points aren’t worth as much as some other points. Just like visiting a country with a less valuable currency, it’s easy to misjudge the value of IHG points. These points are worth about a half a cent each, which is far below the value of World of Hyatt points or most airline miles. It’s not a big problem, but you shouldn’t get too excited to earn a lot of these points.
How the IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card Stacks Up
This card’s closest competitor is probably the Marriott Bonvoy Business Card from American Express. Here’s how the two cards compare.
IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card
Amex Marriott Bonvoy Business Card
Annual Fee
$99
$125
Sign-Up Bonus
Excellent
Very good
Rewards Rate
Up to 26x points
Up to 6x points
Foreign Transaction Fee
None
None
Credit Needed
Good or better
Good or better
Final Word
As with many hotel rewards cards, the IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card is a great choice for small business owners who plan to stay at IHG properties. More so than most cards, this card treats you to a barrage of bonus points and plenty of nonrewards perks when you stay at IHG properties. And when you consider the free night certificate that you receive each year on your account anniversary, it’s clear this card’s benefits easily exceed its nominal cost.
The Verdict
Our rating
IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card
The IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card has a generous rewards program and boasts complimentary Platinum Elite status, which includes room upgrades, award night discounts and early check-ins. It’s a must for business travelers who regularly stay at IHG properties, and the $99 annual fee is more than fair in light of what you get.
Editorial Note:
The editorial content on this page is not provided by any bank, credit card issuer, airline, or hotel chain, and has not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of the bank, credit card issuer, airline, or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
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Jason Steele is one of the nation’s leading experts in credit cards and travel rewards since 2008. Jason is also the founder and producer of CardCon, which is The Conference for Credit Card Media. Jason lives in Denver, Colorado where he enjoys bicycling, snowboarding and piloting small airplanes.
With today’s mortgage rates averaging between 6% and 7% APR as of July 2023, potential homebuyers are paying much more over the lifetime of their loans than borrowers just a few years ago. In fact, high interest rates coupled with low housing inventory can make buying a home in 2023 an uphill battle.
But if you’re on the hunt for a new home today, you can help yourself out by becoming familiar with market conditions and what you can do to ensure you score the best possible mortgage rate available. Knowing what to expect from rate fluctuations over the next few months, as well as how you can improve your individual loan application, can help you save money in the long run.
Get started by comparing today’s top mortgage rates here.
What to expect from mortgage rates in 2023
It’s difficult to make any predictions for how mortgage rates will move, says Deviree Vallejo, a Denver-based real estate expert, “as there are so many economic, political and social factors contributing.
While predicting the future is impossible, buyers looking to lock in a rate in 2023 may benefit from knowing what those factors are that can influence rates over the next several months.
The latest market survey report from Freddie Mac attributes rising mortgage rates to a number of factors. “This upward trend is being driven by a resilient economy, persistent inflation and a more hawkish tone from the Federal Reserve,” the report says.
While the Fed has currently paused interest rate hikes, it’s also signaled that rates could go up again before the end of the year, which could also factor into rising mortgage interest rates. But there may be some relief for borrowers if inflation continues to trend downward. Reaching a lower level of inflation could bring an end to rising rates — even if they remain elevated for a while.
And experts we’ve spoken to recently say the Fed’s moves, and the way markets react to them, could influence mortgage rates to start going down by early next year if not this year. “I personally expect them to remain stable or drop a little through the end of the year,” Vallejo says.
Explore the top mortgage rates you can qualify for today now!
How to get a good mortgage rate today
When it comes to financing a mortgage this year, Vallejo says potential buyers should “perform due diligence and find the best rate.”
First, focus on the factors you can control. Typically, applicants with the best credit qualify for the best interest rates. Before you apply for a mortgage, check your credit score and credit report. Then, start building habits that can help improve your credit history: pay your bills on time and in full, reduce the amount of debt you owe and don’t apply for new loans or lines of credit too close to your mortgage application.
It also pays to compare multiple lenders before you decide on a rate. Using the same loan details and application information, compare pre-approval offers from multiple lenders to narrow down the best rates you can qualify for.
Don’t forget that your mortgage loan rate isn’t the only determining factor of your home buying journey. While it can pay to get the best possible rate, there are plenty of other things to consider before you lock in your loan. Plus, there’s always the potential to refinance once rates are lower in the future.
“I can’t reiterate enough that someone should only buy a house based on their personal financial readiness and not based on where economists are predicting interest rates to go,” says Colin Zizzi, CFP, founder of Zizzi Investments. “Yes, financing a home is much more expensive today than a year ago, but that’s only one factor to consider in the home buying process.”
The bottom line
If you’re in the market to buy a home in 2023, be prepared to do some research and have patience throughout your search. While mortgage rates may continue to rise for a bit, they could subside in coming months if, among other factors, the Fed ends its rate hike cycle. But you can also make moves to ensure you get the best possible rate in any market by improving your credit and overall application, preparing yourself with market knowledge and comparing different offers from lenders before you lock in a rate.
Get started today by comparing the best mortgage rates available now.
A newly named company called Noah (formerly Patch Homes) lets you access up to $300,000 of your home equity in exchange for future home price appreciation.
The arrangement requires no monthly payments or interest, and all they ask is that you pay them back in 10 years.
They refer to it as a “home equity sharing product,” which actually could make a lot of sense during a crisis such as the coronavirus (COVID-19) epidemic currently ravaging the world.
It allows homeowners to access cash without being burdened with payments, something that may come in handy if a borrower were temporarily laid off or experienced a similar loss of income.
How Noah Works
Noah’s home equity sharing product allows homeowners to tap into their equity without having to execute a cash out refinance or apply for a HELOC or home equity loan.
In doing so, no monthly payments or interest are due. However, in exchange for access to that cash, you must part with a percentage of your home price appreciation, which can range between 15% and 40%.
So while you get the money today, you get less in the future when you sell your home, similar to how a reverse mortgage works.
If the property happens to decrease in value during the 10-year term, Noah will also share in the losses, assuming you don’t exit the contract within the first three years.
In the example on their website (pictured above), a property with an adjusted price of $900,000 rises to $1,343,916 after a decade.
Noah would get $233,175 in this scenario, with $100,000 being their initial investment, and $133,175 being their profit via appreciation. It appears to be a 15% share in this example.
If the home falls in value, Noah would only receive $51,227 of its original $100,000 investment back.
Both these scenarios assume the homeowner exits the contract on the expiration date of a 10-year term.
Their business model is similar to EquityKey, Point, and Unison Home, all of which give homeowners access to funds without payments in exchange for future profits.
How You Pay Noah Back
You can use proceeds from a cash out refinance
You can sell your home
You can pay it off with a home equity loan, HELOC, or reverse mortgage
Or simply pay them back with your own funds on hand
As noted, Noah makes money by receiving a portion of your home price appreciation.
This is based on either the sales price if you sell, or the appraised value when you choose to buy them out.
They say the majority of their homeowner partners share between 15% to 40% of future appreciation, with no cap or floor amount.
My assumption is the more you borrow, the more appreciation you must share.
You’ll need to pay that percentage plus the original amount borrowed to satisfy your exit.
In order to pay Noah back, you’ve got four main options.
You can refinance your mortgage with a traditional lender and use the proceeds to pay it off.
You can take out a home-equity loan, HELOC, or a reverse mortgage, and use the funds to pay Noah.
You can sell your home, and have Noah paid directly via escrow with the proceeds.
Or, you can simply use your cash savings on hand to pay them back.
It’s also possible to refinance your Noah agreement into a new Noah agreement.
Applying with Noah
Get an estimate by entering your home address and some basic details
Complete an online application and get your credit pulled
Schedule a home appraisal to determine value
Sign your documents and receive your funds
First, you request an estimate by entering your property address into their online form.
It will pull your home value automatically and ask you some basic questions, such as what you currently owe, along with your credit score.
Assuming you want to proceed, you enter basic contact information and then submit a full application online.
This process will be similar to applying for a mortgage, requiring a credit check and the uploading of relevant income/asset documentation.
Next, an appraiser will visit your home to provide an independent assessment of its value.
However, Noah only uses that valuation as a baseline – they then adjust for “appraisal variance, lack of liquidity, and market risk.”
In other words, the appraiser may say the home is worth $500,000, but Noah could adjust it down to $450,000 when all is said is done.
They will then make a final funding offer that outlines how much you’ll receive and the percentage of future appreciation you’ll share with Noah.
Once you sign closing documents with a notary, they’ll transfer the funds within a few days. Noah estimates that the process can take as little as 15 days.
Noah Fees
It’s important to note that Noah does charge fees, despite not charging interest or requiring monthly payments.
Their servicing fee, which is basically a loan origination fee, is $2,000 or 3% of the financing amount, whichever is higher. It covers the processing and underwriting of the loan.
Additionally, third-party fees also apply, including the following:
• Title and escrow: ranges between $520 and $750 • Title insurance: $400 • Home appraisal: $299 • Affordable housing fees: between $150 and $225 • Notary fee: $100
Note: For a limited time (now until May 1st, 2020), they are offering all new customers a $1,000 discount on fees at closing.
Who Is Eligible for Noah?
Most property types including single-family homes, condos, and townhouses
Primary, second homes, and investment properties
Must have a minimum 600 FICO score and clean credit history
Property must be valued between $300,000 and $3 million in an eligible area
Homeowners typically take out 5% to 20% of their property value
Financing amount is capped at a maximum of 80% LTV
Not everyone is eligible for Noah, just like not everyone qualifies for a mortgage. There are many different requirements that you must meet, including property and borrower-specific items.
First off, you need a minimum FICO score of 600, which is below subprime. They use the average of the three credit bureaus, just like traditional mortgage lenders do.
Next, you can’t have multiple 60-day or 90-day delinquencies on your credit report, nor can you be in active bankruptcy or foreclosure proceedings.
You’ll also need sufficient income/savings to cover current debt obligations.
They allow a very flexible 60% max DTI, but anything above that will require that you use Noah proceeds to pay down debt.
With regard to the property itself, it must be valued between $300,000 and $3 million, and you must have at least 25% equity at the time of application.
It can be a single-family home or a condo/townhouse. They also consider tenancy in common (TICs) units and co-ops on a case-by-case basis.
Noah is available on primary residences, second homes, and investment properties.
You cannot have more than three liens on the property, but if you do, Noah proceeds can be used to pay them down/off.
Any private mortgages or loans from private money lenders must be paid off if you partner with Noah.
Lastly, your property should not be involved in any sort of major construction beyond minor home repairs or renovations, and it must be located in one of their service areas.
Where Is Noah Available?
At the moment, Noah isn’t available nationwide, but there are plans to expand across the country later this year, including major East Coast cities.
Currently, Noah is available in 20 metro areas across five states, including:
– Boulder – Colorado Springs – Denver – Fort Collins – Los Angeles – Ogden – Portland – Provo – Salt Lake City – San Diego – San Francisco – San Luis Obispo – San Jose – Santa Barbara – Santa Cruz – Santa Rosa – Seattle – Tacoma – Vancouver (WA) – West Riverside
Noah’s Homeowner Protection Program
As a Noah homeowner partner, you also have access to “protective advances” via their Homeowner Protection Program.
If you run into financial difficulty, they are able to provide additional funds for things like emergency repairs, or simply to make mortgage and/or property tax payments.
They can provide up to $10,000 based on your property profile, and the term matches your Noah contract. It takes 3-5 days to receive your funds.
The difference here is interest does accrue on the amount borrowed (unclear on APR, it may vary), and there is a processing fee of $500.
While you can pay it back at any time to limit interest charges, you must pay it off in full, no partial payments are accepted.
Note: Noah is waiving all administrative/processing fees for the HPP until May 1st, 2020, and all protective advances offered via the program until May 1st will be interest-free for the first 90 days.
Is Noah a Good Option for Homeowners?
May be a good alternative to a home equity line/loan or reverse mortgage
Or for someone who has trouble qualifying for a traditional mortgage
Just be sure to consider the upfront fees and how much appreciation they ask for in exchange
Other companies offer similar arrangements so still comparison shop!
Like anything else, it really depends on your unique financial situation and your needs.
Those with limited assets in need of cash, or those who have trouble qualifying for a traditional mortgage or home equity product might be a good fit.
The same goes for those on a fixed income who want to tap into their equity, but don’t want a reverse mortgage.
While you could part with quite a bit of your home price appreciation in the future, you aren’t on the hook for monthly payments. And the cash could come in handy if you’re in a pinch.
The current coronavirus outbreak and related economic disruption is a perfect example of how this type of arrangement could benefit homeowners in need of money when an unexpected emergency strikes.
Noah also shares in some of the downside risk, assuming home prices fall during the 10-year term (and you buy them out after the first 3 years).
Tip: There are now several companies offering these types of partnerships, so if you do go down this road, be sure to compare costs and offers to determine who has the best deal.
Soak up the sun in The Mile High City by finding an apartment with ample outdoor space.
There’s no shortage of reasons to make Denver your home, but once you decide to live there, you’ve got to find the right apartment. From the location to the amenities, the best places to live are subjective to your own wants and needs.
Whether a sparkling pool tops your list or you’re seeking a stunning rooftop, don’t forget to look out for a serene outdoor garden as part of your Denver apartment. This is where you’ll congregate with friends, or even hang out on your own, all without having to leave home.
To make it easier to begin your search, check out these 10 excellent apartments with fantastic courtyards and gardens in Denver.
Source Rent. / TriVista on Speer
Giving you a fully stocked courtyard, TriVista on Speer knows how to pack a lot of amenities into a single space. Here, you’ll find a great dining area with multiple four-top tables, a cool lounge with outdoor carpet to add a homey feel and even a bocce ball court. A mixture of hardscape and oversized planters surround the space, while string lights crisscross above for some added ambiance.
When you’re looking to live in the “coolest” corner of the city center, you want to head to Central Denver. This neighborhood is a combination of downtown and a few suburban areas full of tree-lined streets, parks and lakes. Living here gives you a wide sample of what makes Denver such a great place to call home.
Source: Rent. / Whisper Sky
In a city like Denver, having an on-site garden is ideal. At Whisper Sky, this tranquil space includes a combination of taller trees, low bushes and grassy spots to enjoy. There are two benches so it’s easy to sit and soak in the nice day. For those who want to stay out once the sun goes down, the garden area extends into a nearby outdoor lounge, complete with a fire pit.
Within one of Denver’s many lush suburbs, this Dayton Triangle community sits in a quiet, smaller neighborhood popular with locals. A good restaurant scene and plenty of shopping make this area fun enough that you don’t need to head into Denver proper to have a good time.
Source: Rent. / The Quincy
To fully enjoy any outdoor dining experience at home, head to The Quincy. Here, the courtyard is the best place to grab a meal whether you’re sitting at the long bar-height table, grabbing a seat at a circular four-top or going casual in the patio chairs. Some of the area is covered, making it convenient regardless of weather. The space also has great raised beds of greenery and tall planters to enhance the natural beauty in this urban area.
Another action-filled spot, the Denver Central Business District is a lively place to call home. The financial center of the city, it’s also a cultural hub. The Denver Performing Arts Complex has 10 different venues for plays, dance and music. There are also a variety of museums. When it’s time to stroll through the neighborhood, head to the 16th Street Mall, a pedestrian strip full of restaurants and shops.
Source: Rent. / Mile 44
Combining all the best amenities into one central spot, Mile 44 does its courtyard space right. Pictured above is only one section of the expansive space, but here you’ll find two large gas grills, an umbrella-covered table for eating and a cute lounge space under a pergola, with another under the open sky. This is also where the hot tub is located. There are a few extra chairs for sunbathing and plenty of potted plants and mature trees as well.
To the southeast of the city center, in Hunter’s Run, the big attractions here are the Denver Tech Center and Cherry Creek State Park. You may head to the DTC by day for work, then visit the park and reservoir on the weekends. Cherry Creek State Park has different natural environments to explore as well as an 880-acre reservoir where boating and fishing are always an option.
Source: Rent. / Camber
Being able to grow your own herbs when you rent is a definite bonus. There’s often not enough space, but Camber takes special care of its green thumbed residents. Providing a little plot all your own to plant, the community garden lets you have the freshest ingredients possible for the nights you cook at home.
Close to the airport and plenty of open green spaces, living in Northeast Denver is great for those who travel a lot and those who love the outdoors. While there are plenty of shops and places to eat, it’s the variety of natural resources that really stand out in this neighborhood. Start at Central Park, where you can play sports in the summer and sled in the winter. Then, check out Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge and see bison out in the wild.
Source: Rent. / Veranda Highpointe
The courtyard at Veranda Highpointe has a very special feature, a heated lazy river. Among all the nicely designed spaces, you can hop in an inner tube and slowly float through until your heart’s content.
Parks, parks and more parks surround you when you call Hampden home. For walking and biking, hit the trails at Babi Yar Memorial Park, where the paths create the Star of David. These two parks are only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to green space in this laid-back neighborhood. You’ll also find decent shopping and a variety of places to eat.
Source: Rent. / The Den
The layout of the courtyard at The Den really does impress. Two large, rectangular green spaces make up a pair of lawns perfect for entertaining. One swath of grass has two cornhole setups, with bar seating at both ends. Two tall trees in planters separate the lawns, while the other is open for whatever use comes to mind.
Occupying Denver’s southeastern border, the Southmoor Park neighborhood is on the rise. Top restaurants and high-end shopping are nearby. The area also shares green space with other area neighborhoods including Cherry Creek Reservoir. It’s an all-in-one place to call home for sure.
Source: Rent. / Camden RiNo
You’ll find multiple courtyards at Camden RiNo. One sits poolside, where you can hang out and relax after swimming laps or wading in the water. There’s a variety of seating and TVs for taking in an outside movie or show. The other is a sculpture courtyard with pockets of comfy chairs, nice landscaping patches and a giant rhino sculpture to draw the eye.
While the central piece to the city’s Ballpark neighborhood is Coors Field, there’s more to this area than baseball. It’s full of fun and lively places to eat, great rooftop bars and chill clubs. Views are amazing from just about anywhere, and green space is in solid supply. There’s even a skate park nearby for those that prefer a concrete jungle to a mountain forest.
Source: Rent. / Ava RiNo
There’s a lot to see in the courtyard at Ava RiNo. From the tiles on the eat-in bar by the grills to the bright yellow chairs and funky string lights, each piece of furniture and decor was hand selected for this sweet hangout spot. Even the hammocks look a little more funky than usual in black and red. Ceramic planters hang overhead and the rest of the landscaping is thoughtfully done as well.
One of Denver’s oldest neighborhoods, Five Points is a cultural gold mine. It’s home to relaxed cafes, great pubs and a variety of clubs and theaters. You’ll find the Black American West Museum here as well as Mestizo-Curtis Park.
Source: Rent. / Mosaic Apartments
The garden path through the on-site park at Mosaic Apartments is a great place to catch your breath and clear your head. Whether walking to or from your apartment, the close-clipped grass, tall trees and line of planters on the path create a serene atmosphere. It’s just the right amount of greenery to help you find your center.
Quiet and full of tree-lined streets, Goldsmith is another excellent suburban neighborhood in Denver that delivers everything and anything you could want. You’re not far from the DTC and the downtown area for work, green spaces like High Line Canal for outdoor recreation and Tiffany Plaza and University Hills for shopping, dining and entertainment. You can easily plan out an entire day and do a little of everything, Denver has to offer from this central location.
Enjoy an apartment with one of the best gardens in Denver
It’s no secret that Denver is a great place to live. To really enjoy the best the city has to offer, you need the right apartment. Whether it’s a lot of square footage, the perfect location or the proper collection of amenities, don’t forget that courtyards and gardens in Denver add something special. They’ll help transform your Denver apartment from a place to live into a fun and lively home.
Featured Image Source: Rent. / Whisper Sky
Lesly Gregory has over 15 years of marketing experience, ranging from community management to blogging to creating marketing collateral for a variety of industries. A graduate of Boston University, Lesly holds a B.S. in Journalism. She currently lives in Atlanta with her husband, two young children, three cats and assorted fish.
“Where are you from?” It’s a common question when you meet someone new while traveling. And it’s an easy question for most people. But for me, it’s complicated if I want to give more details than “the United States.”
After all, my husband and I gave up our Austin, Texas, apartment in June 2017, sold or donated most of our belongings and then set out as digital nomads on July 2, 2017. So, excluding some extended time living with family early in the coronavirus pandemic, we’ve traveled full time while working remotely for the last six years.
In 2020, I wrote about my first three years as a digital nomad. But in this story, I’ll look back at the past six years. In doing so, I’ll discuss how I became a digital nomad, some of my travel statistics and how travel has changed for me during the past six years.
How I became a digital nomad
On a bus from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu in Peru in 2013, I first heard of a gap year or sabbatical year. I hadn’t gotten into points and miles yet, but my husband and I loved the idea of taking a year off to travel after I finished graduate school. Well, fast forward four years to 2017, when it was time to leave on our “gap year.” By this time, we were already working as writers in the award travel space.
So, we hit the road as digital nomads instead of taking a gap year. And we quickly fell in love with the freedom and flexibility of the lifestyle. I appreciate experiencing different cultures, landscapes, experiences and cuisines daily. And I’ve found that frequently visiting new destinations inspires me.
I also enjoy using the topics I write about — points, miles, credit cards and elite status — on a daily basis. We make award redemptions most weeks (and often multiple times a week), and we’re constantly traveling. So, I know many of the airline, hotel and credit card programs I write about from personal experience. And I’m personally invested when these programs change or devalue their rewards.
Points and miles certainly fuel some of our travel. But we also book paid flights and nights when it makes sense. After all, we only have a finite amount of points and miles, and we’ve found that paid partner-operated premium-cabin flights are often the best way to earn airline elite status.
Related: 6 ways award travel and elite status pair well with my digital nomad life
1,121,959 miles on 575 flights
Over the last six years, I’ve taken 575 flights on 62 airlines to 180 airports in 58 countries. I’ve taken so many flights in the last six years that my flight map is difficult to read.
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I flew 1,121,959 direct flight miles in the last six years, with an average flight distance of 1,951 miles (about the distance from Atlanta to Los Angeles). My longest flight was 9,532 miles, from New York to Singapore. And my shortest flight was just 11 miles from Tahiti to Moorea in French Polynesia.
But my most memorable flight was on Sri Lanka’s Cinnamon Air from Polgolla Reservoir Aerodrome (KDZ) to Koggala Airport (KCT) on a Cessna 208 amphibious caravan.
I frequently fly American Airlines and often use Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) when visiting family. So, it’s not surprising that my three most frequent routes by flight segments are between American Airlines’ hubs and Atlanta. Here’s a look at my top 10 most frequent flight segments over the last six years:
New York’s LaGuardia Airport (LGA) to/from ATL: 15 flights
Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) to/from ATL: 11 flights
Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) to/from ATL: 10 flights
Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL) to/from Kualanamu International Airport (KNO): 10 flights while I earned Malaysia Airlines Enrich Gold status in 2019
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to/from ATL: Nine flights
Las Vegas’ Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) to/from LAX: Eight flights
DFW to/from LGA: Six flights
London’s Heathrow Airport (LHR) to/from LAX: Six flights
Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) to/from Da Nang International Airport (DAD): Six flights booked during Cathay Pacific’s New Year’s deal in 2019
DFW to/from LAS: Five flights
And my loyalty to American Airlines AAdvantage and its Oneworld partners shows when you look at the airlines I flew most by flight segments:
American Airlines: 224 flights, including reviews of American’s A321T business class, 787-9 business class, 777-200 business class with B/E Aerospace Super Diamond seats, 787-8 Main Cabin Extra, 757-200 Main Cabin Extra and 757-200 business class
United Airlines: 31 flights, including reviews of United’s 787-8 economy class and 757-200 economy class
Southwest Airlines: 29 flights, including a review of Southwest’s 737-800 from Oakland, California, to Newark
Malaysia Airlines: 26 flights
Qatar Airways: 23 flights, including reviews of Qatar Qsuite on a 777-300ER and Qatar Qsuite on an A350-1000
Delta Air Lines: 22 flights, including when I was one of the first American tourists to fly to Italy on a COVID-19-tested flight
British Airways: 20 flights, including a review of British Airways’ A380 economy class
Cathay Pacific: 17 flights
Japan Airlines: 14 flights, including a review of Japan Airlines’ 777-300ER premium economy
Qantas: 12 flights
However, if you look at the airlines on which I flew the most mileage, the ranking is a bit different due to some mileage runs:
American Airlines: 404,296 miles
Cathay Pacific: 104,481 miles
Qatar Airways: 89,630 miles
British Airways: 53,357 miles
Delta Air Lines: 49,603 miles
United Airlines: 42,237 miles
Singapore Airlines: 36,176 miles, including a review of Singapore Airlines’ A350-900ULR premium economy
Japan Airlines: 33,756 miles
Air Canada: 30,792 miles
All Nippon Airways: 28,938 miles
I track all my flights in OpenFlights. So, although it’s relatively easy for me to gather statistics on my flights, I don’t have a simple way to determine the amount I paid in points and cash for my 575 flights during the last six years.
Related: The best credit cards for booking flights
1,103 nights in hotels
I’ve spent over half of the last six years living out of hotel rooms. In particular, I’ve spent 894 nights at 75 major hotel brands within the last six years. And I’ve spent 209 nights at other brands and independent hotels.
Here’s the breakdown of my stays by loyalty program and brand over the last six years, including notes about my favorite programs.
390 nights at 15 IHG brands
Holiday Inn Express: 120 nights
Holiday Inn: 66 nights
InterContinental Hotels & Resorts: 51 nights, including five nights at the InterContinental Hayman Island Resort in Australia, four nights at the InterContinental Phuket Resort in Thailand, four nights at the InterContinental Phu Quoc Long Beach Resort in Vietnam, three nights at the InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort in Vietnam, three nights at the InterContinental New York Times Square in New York and two nights at the InterContinental Fiji Golf Resort & Spa in Fiji
Candlewood Suites: 28 nights
Hotel Indigo: 26 nights, including five nights at the Hotel Indigo Austin Downtown-University in Texas and four nights at the Hotel Indigo Birmingham Five Points South – UAB in Alabama
Staybridge Suites: 22 nights
Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts: 19 nights, including three nights at the Crowne Plaza Beijing Wangfujing in China and three nights at the Crowne Plaza Times Square in New York
Holiday Inn Resort: 19 nights, including 10 nights at the Holiday Inn Resort Kandooma Maldives in the Maldives
Voco: 11 nights, including six nights at Voco Gold Coast in Australia
Regent: Nine nights
Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants: Eight nights
Six Senses: Six nights, including four nights at Six Senses Laamu in the Maldives and two nights at Six Senses Yao Noi in Thailand
Atwell Suites: Two nights at Atwell Suites Miami Brickell in Florida
Avid: Two nights at Avid hotel Oklahoma City — Quail Springs in Oklahoma
Even: One night
Over the last six years, I’ve stayed 161 paid nights at IHG properties for an average of $152 per night. The least I paid was $48 per night at the Holiday Inn Express Berlin — Alexanderplatz in Germany. And the most I paid was $1,564 per night during a review of the InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau Resort in the Maldives.
Meanwhile, we redeemed IHG points for 209 nights over the last six years, including 36 fourth-night-free rewards. On average, we redeemed 15,591 IHG points per night. We also redeemed 20 anniversary nights over the last six years, including at the InterContinental Bora Bora Resort & Thalasso Spa in French Polynesia and the Kimpton De Witt Amsterdam in the Netherlands.
You might wonder how we earned so many IHG points and anniversary nights. We maximize IHG promotions to earn points on stays. And we often buy points during IHG points sales with a 100% bonus when we can do so for 0.5 cents per point. As for the anniversary night certificates, we both have multiple IHG credit cards, so we’ve each earned two anniversary nights for most of the last six years.
We frequently stay at IHG One Rewards hotels and resorts due to the high value we often get when redeeming IHG points. But, with the launch of the new IHG One Rewards program last year, we are also getting good value from the annual lounge membership you can select through IHG’s Milestone Rewards program after staying 40 nights in a year.
Related: 9 budget strategies for getting the most out of your points and miles
209 nights at other brands and independent hotels
These days, we usually stay at major hotel brands to earn and use elite status perks and benefit from the consistency provided by these brands. But we often stayed at independent hotels when we first hit the road as digital nomads in 2017. And even now, we sometimes find ourselves in a destination without major hotel brands or where staying at a property outside our brand loyalties makes the most sense.
For example, we couldn’t pass up staying in a twin cell at YHA Fremantle Prison in Australia and a robot hotel in Japan. Likewise, staying within Addo Elephant and Kruger national parks in South Africa let us maximize our time seeing wildlife in these parks.
We often book these stays through online travel agencies since we don’t have to worry about missing out on elite status benefits and earnings while staying at properties outside our primary brands. For example, we’ll sometimes book through credit card portals to use credits, like the $50 hotel credit each account anniversary year on the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card. And we’ll occasionally book through American Express Fine Hotels + Resorts to snag extra perks and use the prepaid hotel credit we get each calendar year as a perk of The Platinum Card® from American Express. We’ll also sometimes use Rocketmiles to earn American Airlines miles and Loyalty Points on our stays.
On average, I paid $83 per night on these stays. But, my least expensive night was $18 per night for a private room with a shared bathroom at Stella Di Notte in Belgrade, Serbia. And my most expensive night was $235 per night at the RLJ Kendeja Resort & Villas in Liberia during PeaceJam.
203 nights at 21 Marriott brands
Over the last six years, I’ve stayed 140 paid nights at Marriott properties for an average of $121 per night. The least I paid was $44 per night at the Four Points by Sheraton Bogota in Colombia. And the most I paid was $350 per night during a review of the Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort & Spa in Hawaii.
Meanwhile, we redeemed Marriott points for 49 nights over the last six years, including six fifth-night-free benefits. On average, we redeemed 16,167 points per night on Marriott award stays. We also redeemed 14 free night awards we earned through Marriott credit cards and promotions over the last six years.
Related: Here’s why you need both a personal and business Marriott Bonvoy credit card
115 nights at 6 Choice brands
Ascend Hotel Collection: 54 nights, including 28 nights at Emotions All Inclusive Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic, nine nights at Gowanus Inn & Yard in New York (no longer bookable through Choice Hotels) and three nights at Bluegreen Vacations Fountains in Florida
Comfort: 37 nights, including 19 nights in Japan
Quality Inn: 13 nights
Cambria Hotels: Four nights
Rodeway Inn: Four nights
Clarion: Three nights
Over the last six years, I’ve stayed 34 paid nights at Choice Privileges properties for an average of $93 per night. The least I paid was $54 per night at the Comfort Hotel Airport CDG in France. And the most I paid was $239 per night at Cambria Hotel New York — Times Square in New York.
Meanwhile, we redeemed Choice points for 81 nights over the last six years. On average, we redeemed 9,531 Choice points per night. I’ve found I can get excellent value when redeeming Choice points for unique redemptions and for stays in Japan, Europe and destinations that typically feature high paid hotel rates. So, as with IHG, we often buy Choice points during sales or through Daily Getaways promotions.
87 nights at 11 Hyatt brands and partners
I didn’t stay much with World of Hyatt until the program offered reduced qualification requirements and double elite night credits in early 2021. I earned Globalist status in 2021 for far fewer nights than is usually required, but I’ve prioritized maintaining it due to the on-site perks it provides.
I’ve stayed 53 paid nights at Hyatt properties for an average of $139 per night over the last six years. The least I paid was $24 per night at the Excalibur Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. And the most I paid was $353 per night at Hyatt House New York/Chelsea in New York.
Meanwhile, I redeemed Hyatt points for 27 free nights over the last six years. I’ve found some excellent Category 1 Hyatt hotels that provide wonderful value on award stays. So, it isn’t surprising that I’ve redeemed 5,563 points per night on average and just 3,500 points per night for nine nights. Additionally, I redeemed seven free night certificates that I earned through Hyatt credit cards, Hyatt Milestone Rewards and the Hyatt Brand Explorer promotion over the last six years.
40 nights at 10 Wyndham brands
Days Inn: 10 nights
Ramada: Nine nights
Ramada Encore: Five nights
Microtel: Five nights
Club Wyndham: Three nights
Super 8: Three nights
Viva Wyndham: Two nights at Viva Wyndham Azteca — All-Inclusive Resort in Mexico
Baymont: One night
Howard Johnson: One night
Travelodge: One night
Over the last six years, I’ve stayed 29 paid nights at Wyndham properties for an average of $103 per night. The least I paid was $48 per night at the Days Inn Guam-Tamuning in Guam. And the most I paid was $200 per night during a review of the Viva Wyndham Azteca — All-Inclusive Resort in Mexico.
Meanwhile, we redeemed Wyndham points for 11 nights over the last six years. On average, we redeemed 9,068 points per night on Wyndham award stays. And we love getting a 10% redemption discount when we redeem Wyndham points as a benefit of our Wyndham Rewards credit card, as this brings an award night that would typically cost 7,500 points down to just 6,750 points.
32 nights at 6 Hilton brands
Over the last six years, I’ve stayed 18 paid nights at Hilton properties for an average of $130 per night. The least I’ve paid was $58 per night at the Hilton Jaipur in India. And the most I paid was $168 per night at the Hilton Niseko Village in Japan.
Meanwhile, we redeemed Hilton points for eight nights over the last six years, including one fifth-night-free benefit. On average, we redeemed 46,250 points per night on Hilton award stays. We also redeemed six Hilton free night certificates that we earned through Hilton credit cards over the last six years for excellent value at the Conrad New York Midtown, the Conrad Maldives Rangali Island and the Hilton Maldives Amingiri Resort & Spa.
The average amount we redeemed per night with Hilton Honors is significantly higher than with other hotel loyalty programs. This, combined with my struggle to get more than TPG’s valuation (0.6 cents per point) when redeeming Hilton points, is why I don’t frequently stay at Hilton brands despite having Hilton Diamond status through a Hilton credit card.
19 nights at 4 Accor brands
Ibis: 12 nights
Mercure: Four nights
Grand Mercure: Two nights
Ibis Budget: One night
Over the last six years, I’ve stayed 19 nights at Accor properties for an average of $56 per night. The least I paid was $36 per night at the Ibis Muenchen City Nord in Germany. And the most I paid was $84 per night at the Ibis Madrid Alcobendas in Spain.
8 nights at 2 Best Western brands
Best Western: Six nights
Best Western Plus: Two nights
Over the last six years, I’ve stayed eight nights at Best Western properties for an average of $78 per night. The least I paid was $57 per night at the Best Western Amsterdam Airport Hotel in the Netherlands. And the most I paid was $147 per night at the Best Western Plus Mountain View Auburn Inn in Washington.
452 nights camping
When I became a digital nomad in 2017, I didn’t think there was any chance I’d camp 452 nights in the next six years. And even three years ago, I’d only spent three nights tent camping for a concert at The Gorge in Washington state and three nights in a rental RV doing a relocation from Las Vegas to Denver.
But, as it became apparent the coronavirus pandemic would affect international travel for more than just a few months, my husband and I tried out a six-night RV relocation rental in July 2020. Then in August 2020, we decided to buy the same RV model we’d relocated.
When we bought our Class C RV, we expected we’d sell it as soon as international travel to most destinations became relatively simple again. But, we discovered we enjoy working remotely from our RV while in the U.S. We’ve now spent 440 nights camping in our RV since buying it — 97 nights in 2020, 234 nights in 2021, 80 nights in 2022 and 29 nights so far in 2023.
Nineteen nights in our RV have been free at locations (like select Walmarts, select Cracker Barrels and businesses that participate in Harvest Hosts) that allow RVers to stay overnight upon asking permission. We’ve also spent 37 nights sleeping in the driveways of friends and family while visiting them.
But we usually find paid RV campsites with power and water. We’ve paid for campsites on 393 nights as follows:
171 nights at city and county campgrounds ($32 per night on average)
133 nights at U.S. Army Corps of Engineers campgrounds ($27 per night on average)
66 nights at state park campgrounds ($34 per night on average)
37 nights at private campgrounds ($52 per night on average)
Four nights at national park campgrounds ($48 per night on average)
On average, we’ve paid $33 per night for our RV campsites. The highest we paid was $104 per night at Orlando / Kissimmee KOA Holiday in Florida. And the least we paid was $17 per night at Shady Grove Campground in Cumming, Georgia, during a half-off promotion.
Related: The cheapest place to stay at Disney World is a tent — so I tried it
443 nights with family and friends
One aspect my husband and I appreciate about being digital nomads is seeing our family more than when we lived in one place. Here’s a breakdown of our nights with friends and family over the last six years:
July 2 to the end of 2017: 32 nights
2018: 90 nights
2019: 83 nights
2020: 167 nights
2021: 29 nights
2022: 27 nights
So far in 2023: 15 nights
We spent significant time with each of our parents in March through August of 2020 as much of the world locked down. However, the nights since August 2020 are lower than pre-pandemic since we now stay in our RV (either in the driveway or a nearby campground) while visiting most friends and family members.
Related: 43 real-world family travel tips that actually work
104 nights in transit
Over the past six years, I’ve spent 101 nights in flight or sleeping in airports. I typically avoid overnight flights, but sometimes overnight flights are unavoidable (and they’re enjoyable if I book a lie-flat seat or luck into a row to myself in economy).
If I have an overnight layover at an airport, I’ll book a hotel if the layover is long enough and I can find a modestly priced hotel on-site or with a free shuttle. But sometimes the layover is too short, or it just doesn’t make sense to get a hotel. In these cases, I’ll usually sleep in a lounge — ideally one with a sleeping area or at least lounge chairs — or in a Minute Suites (or a similar type of space) that participates in Priority Pass.
I’ve also spent three nights on trains, including two on the Amtrak Empire Builder from Portland, Oregon, to Chicago and one on a Trans-Mongolian train from Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, to Hohhot, China. I thoroughly enjoyed both experiences, so it’s surprising that I haven’t taken any other overnight trains in the last six years. However, low-cost flights on many routes served by overnight trains often make flying a more convenient and less expensive alternative.
Related: 11 of the most scenic train rides on Earth
90 nights in vacation rentals
Vacation rentals are the accommodation of choice for many digital nomads, especially those who stay in each location for at least a month and appreciate having their own kitchen. And I spent 39 nights in vacation rentals in 2017 after becoming nomadic July 2.
However, one particularly bad Airbnb experience in 2018 and an increasing interest in hotel elite status caused me to switch most of my nights to hotels instead of vacation rentals. I stayed in vacation rentals for 17 nights in 2018 and 20 nights in 2019. I only stayed in one vacation rental each in 2020 (for three nights), 2021 (for two nights) and 2022 (for two nights). And so far, I’ve only stayed in one vacation rental (for seven nights) in 2023.
On average, I paid $53 per night for vacation rentals across my six years as a digital nomad. My least expensive vacation rental was $17 per night for a private studio apartment in Da Nang, Vietnam, that I booked through Airbnb. And my most expensive vacation rental was $129 per night for a waterfront apartment in Auckland, New Zealand, through Hotels.com.
I’ll still stay in vacation rentals when they’re my best option. But I generally prefer to stay at hotels for consistency and to earn and use my elite status perks.
Related: When a vacation rental makes more sense than a hotel
259 cities in 52 countries and territories
Finally, let’s talk about destinations. Over the last six years, I’ve visited 259 cities in 52 countries and territories. Here’s a look at the number of nights I stayed in each:
1,253 nights: United States of America (including 318 nights in hotels or vacation rentals)
88 nights: Germany
69 nights: Japan
56 nights: Australia
54 nights: South Africa (including 32 nights in or near South African national parks)
36 nights: Dominican Republic
27 nights: Maldives, Thailand
24 nights: Spain
22 nights: Hong Kong, Malaysia
21 nights: New Zealand, Serbia, Vietnam
20 nights: Canada, Colombia, Italy
19 nights: India
18 nights: Netherlands, United Arab Emirates
16 nights: Singapore
14 nights: Bahamas, French Polynesia, Indonesia
13 nights: Fiji, South Korea
11 nights: Brazil, Mongolia
10 nights: China
Nine nights: Bulgaria, England, France, Pakistan
Eight nights: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Latvia, Liberia, Mexico, Sri Lanka
Seven nights: Greece, Guam
Six nights: Turkey
Five nights: Belgium, Marshall Islands
Four nights: Sweden
Three nights: Argentina, Chile
Two nights: Panama
One night: Ethiopia, Finland, Ireland, Northern Mariana Islands, Taiwan
As you can see, I would have spent the most time in the U.S. even if the coronavirus pandemic hadn’t kept me in the country for much of 2020 and 2021. And interestingly, even my most visited country outside the U.S. (Germany) accounted for just 88 nights across the last six years.
I also visited 14 other countries and territories before becoming a digital nomad. So, although I’m not striving to visit every country in the world, I’ve visited 66 different countries and territories so far. My husband and I are trying to visit a few new-to-us countries each year while also returning to some of our favorite destinations like Germany, Japan, South Africa, Australia and Hong Kong.
Related: The 18 best places to travel in 2023
Bottom line
I feel incredibly thankful for the last six years I’ve spent as a digital nomad. I’ve grown significantly as a person and content creator while traveling full-time.
And I’ve had some amazing experiences, including swimming with manta rays in French Polynesia and the Maldives, watching a sea turtle dig a nest and lay her eggs on a Florida beach, staying at some awesome resorts (Six Senses Laamu, Six Senses Yao Noi and Alila Fort Bishangarh immediately come to mind), and overnighting in second-class hard bunks on a Trans-Mongolian train.
But it’s not these epic experiences that keep me on the road. After all, I could enjoy many of these experiences on vacation. Instead, the daily things like being surrounded by languages I don’t know, enjoying delicious local foods and exploring new cities and neighborhoods on foot keep me attached to the digital nomad lifestyle.
For anyone who can appreciate Colorado already, Denver is an ideal home base. You get all the amenities from living in a city with plenty of snow-capped peaks to ski down just up the road. A veritable paradise for those who cherish the outdoors, this stunning city is quite a looker thanks to its surroundings. More than its natural beauty, though, Denver is a place where things happen.
As it continues to grow, Denver attracts all kinds of people ready to delve into the area’s strong economy. Is it the right place for you? Here are a few reasons to move to Denver.
1. The cost of living isn’t all bad
As the area continues to grow and develop, putting it in high demand, the cost of living in Denver has risen. It’s an expensive city by some standards, but you’ll also still find certain things that are more budget-friendly. And, although the overall cost of living is high, both food and utility prices hit below the national average. Not only that, but rent prices are actually decreasing when it comes to an average two-bedroom apartment.
What this means is that, even though you may end up paying a little more in rent than you’re used to, there are ways to cut costs and save money to level out your budget and live comfortably in Denver. A definite reason to move to Denver.
2. Every community has character
Overall, Denver is a young and hip place, and once you drill down to the neighborhood level, you’ll discover a varied group of unique communities. From the landscape to the people, every spot in Denver brings something special to the mix, making it hard to narrow down which neighborhoods are actually the best.
A few neighborhoods to consider are:
Capitol Hill — this densely-packed community is a favorite for Denver newbies and has an eclectic mix of residents. It’s also cool to live in the center of Colorado’s capital city.
Sloan Lake — a perfect community for nature lovers, the city’s largest lake makes up a portion of this neighborhood.
Five Points — a historic neighborhood, that’s also close to the city center. Here you’ll find great breweries and a thriving arts scene. The community also housed the city’s jazz scene for most of the 20th century.
University — if you want to live close to the University of Denver, here’s where you should go. Whether studying or working nearby, this area is full of shops, restaurants and bars.
There’s also Downtown Denver to consider, which itself is one large community that’s sometimes broken up into smaller sections. You may gravitate toward the Central Business District with its high-rise apartments, or lean into Lower Downtown, affectionally called LoDo, where you’ll find all the business folk after hours out for a good time.
3. The job market is growing
As the city grows, so does the job market in Denver. Opportunities are branching out into new industries, while established companies like Google and HomeAdvisor provide consistent jobs.
Denver is a popular spot for tech startups, wine and craft beer businesses and even the aerospace industry. You can also find a thriving hospitality industry here along with businesses focused on food and agriculture.
The median household income in Denver is $72,661, which is nice to see, given the higher rents and the cost of an annual ski lift pass. Income like this also demonstrates the health of the job market and the potential for job stability.
4. You can ski whenever you want
Calling all ski bums! There’s something special about living in a city where a perfect mountain is less than two hours away. A big reason to move to Denver is that it gives you snow-capped mountains you can see from your apartment window.
Fabulous ski resorts are so close you could hit the slopes every weekend, living out your skier fantasy every Saturday and Sunday.
Some popular, nearby resorts include Echo Mountain Resort, south of Idaho Springs, and the more extreme Arapahoe Basin Ski Area, which is perfect for more experienced skiers.
Further out, you’ll find the popular towns/ski resorts of Breckenridge and Vail. Each is less than two hours from Denver.
5. Water sports are popular here, too
Denver may have plenty of mountains to provide hours of outdoor activity, but it’s not your only option. White water rafting is pretty popular throughout the area in the warmer months, and there are some serious rivers to go down.
Fly fishing is also popular throughout Denver and nearby cities. Within the city limits, you have access to the Dream Stream, a stretch of the South Platte River that’s known for epic fishing.
White water rafting locations close to Denver include Clear Creek, Fraser River and Blue River, all less than two hours away.
6. There’s more than the run-of-the-mill museums
For those who want a hefty dose of culture in their home city, Denver does it up a little differently. Yes, you’ll find a fantastic collection of modern and contemporary art at the Denver Art Museum, and a family-friendly experience waiting at the Denver Nature and Science Museum, but there’s more.
If you want to immerse yourself in modern culture, and have an experience like no other, get tickets for Meow Wolf Denver. Also known as Convergence Station, this art museum is one of three unique experiences you can have in the U.S. The other two Meow Wolf museums, in Santa Fe and Las Vegas, combine with the Denver installation to tell a creative story through art about the merging of our world with another. You can see the museums in order — Santa Fe first, then Las Vegas and Denver — to get a complete story, but the Denver Meow Wolf definitely stands alone.
7. There’s a legendary music venue in your backyard
A geological phenomenon in its own right, Red Rocks Amphitheater is a music venue unlike any other. Set in Red Rocks Park, you’re surrounded by some 738 acres of deer, pines and prairie. The views are spectacular, and the music is even better.
Red Rocks is the only naturally occurring, acoustically perfect amphitheater in the world. It has played host to thousands of concerts and events in the more than 80 years of its existence. Musical icons like The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, Bruce Springsteen and Dave Matthews Band have performed in this rocky location, and the annual concert lineup each year is worth checking out.
8. Sun even when it snows
What often surprises those new to Denver the most is the weather. It then quickly becomes one of the many reasons to move to Denver. Denver sees over 300 days of sunshine per year, and the city itself gets only 8-15 inches of annual precipitation. Low humidity makes the warm temperatures more bearable, and winters don’t often reach freezing temperatures.
Even when snow does fall, it doesn’t stay on the ground long, thanks to that powerful sun.
9. A night sky you can’t look away from
Nighttime in Denver is a sight to behold. The sky is crystal clear, especially if you drive a little way out of the city, and stargazing is intense. You can see the whole arc of the Milky Way in the right spot, in addition to shooting stars, meteor showers and maybe even a UFO.
Gazing up into the night sky is just one way you can connect with nature here, and it’s pretty amazing.
10. Bike your way around town
Although you’ll want a car to explore the areas around Denver, while you’re in the city, take advantage of the fact that it’s a highly walkable and bike-friendly place. Denver has a walk score of 71 and a bike score of 78.
The downtown area is especially friendly to pedestrians, and the city boasts a wide variety of bike paths. There are also 196 miles of on-street bike lanes.
The most popular bike trails are in Cherry Creek and along the South Platte River. These two bike arteries follow Denver’s major waterways and connect right downtown. You also never have to fight for road space with cars.
Not having to drive everywhere can help you save some money, and keep you in great shape — a win-win.
11. Cannabis isn’t a crime
Cannabis in Colorado is more than just a legal recreational activity. In Denver, it’s also a great business venture. Recreational use became legal in 2012, and since then, green medical crosses light up city streets, pointing you to available dispensaries.
If you’re interested in getting into the marijuana business, watch out for some competition. There are already some 200 dispensaries in Denver. Even if you can’t start from scratch, though, there’s plenty of opportunity to get involved in the industry.
As a consumer, legally, you’re able to have one ounce of marijuana at a time, and kept within a sealed container when in your car.
12. Sports to cater to any fan
Being such a big city, Denver is also home to plenty of professional sports teams. No matter what’s your favorite, you can most likely find a home team to cheer on.
For football lovers, there’s the Denver Broncos
Basketball fans have the Denver Nuggets
The Colorado Rockies play baseball right in Downtown Denver
You can also cheer on three-time Stanley Cup winners, the Colorado Avalanche, the local NHL team.
13. Craft beer is everywhere
Beer is big in Denver and the city has one of the largest craft beer scenes in the country. So, if you like to try a new tap every night, it’s possible. There are some 150 craft breweries within Denver’s city limits, and just about every type of beer has a local brand.
To expose yourself to the local beer scene, though, you can take a beer tour to go to a tasting as you acclimate to living in Denver. Find your favorites and always know where you want to go for a cold one.
14. Food represents
There’s a lot of food synonymous with Denver, and a lot of it plays into the fact that the city is a cultural melting pot when it comes to cuisine. Some local favorites include anything with green chilies, as well as smothered burritos, bison and elk and the Denver omelet. You may be tempted to try Rocky Mountain Oysters, but make sure you know what you’re eating before you dig in (it’s not oysters!)
Overall, the city is full of food from barbecue to Mexican, Asian to seafood and steakhouses to Ethiopian. You can easily satisfy any craving.
15. It’s a beautiful place to live
With the Rocky Mountains as your backdrop, all the positives of living in Denver are even better with the surrounding natural beauty. Among all the reasons to move to Denver, getting to live somewhere that every day shows you the majesty of nature is pretty fantastic.
Living here gives you more than 200 mountain peaks within range without binoculars and more than 100 panoramic miles of natural excellence. Not only can you easily get out in nature when living in Denver, but you’ll find plenty of nature in the background of your everyday errands and daily commute.
Making the Mile High City home
Locals already have a ton of reasons to move to Denver they’re willing to share with outsiders, but what’s going to convince you? Once you know all the insider secrets, and make your own list of positives, will it be the weather, the city, the skiing or something else that drives you to call Denver home? You’ll have a hard time narrowing down your list. This city truly has so much going for it.