Hey, I’m Marina!
Your Canadian travel points enthusiast with a love for elevated and quiet stays who also has an obsession with cruising. I share real-world tips, honest and experience-based travel reviews, strategies, and lessons from my own travels to help you unlock free travel stays.
I’ll be honest, I don’t always travel completely free. But I’ve dramatically cut what I spend on every trip. Through my loyalty free night awards, and earning enough points, I was to even able to get a free 1 week all inclusive for my family of 4 in Montego Bay, Jamaica, I’ve scored tons of stays that I’ve never had to pay for.
If you are new to collecting points through credit cards, keep reading and be sure to download my free guide. I also share travel logs, cruise tips, best excursions and best hotels places to stay at.
And why Gen X? Well, if you’re like me, then you’ve survived the questionable motels, mystery stains, red-eyes, and Greyhound adventures. We have paid those well with our youth. I think it’s safe to say that I now crave a bit more luxury, comfier sheets, and a firm commitment to never rough it!
From the Blog
How to Earn Marriott Bonvoy Points & American Express Platinum Points
THE GEN X WANDERER / How to Earn Marriott Bonvoy Points & American Express Platinum Points TABLE OF CONTENTS How to Earn Marriott Bonvoy [...]
Day 6: MSC World America Sea Day: What 8900 People Look Like Aboard a Cruise Ship
THE GEN X WANDERER / 7 Days Aboard the MSC World America Sea Day Western Caribbean / What 8900 People Look Like Aboard a Cruise Ship Day 1: Embarkation Day 2: At Sea Day 3: Roatan | Honduras Day 4: Costa Maya | Mexico [...]
Day 5: MSC World America: Cozumel Cruise Port and why I wasn’t a Fan!
THE GEN X WANDERER / 7 Days Aboard the MSC World America Western Caribbean / Cozumel Cruise Port and why I wasn't a Fan! Day 1: Embarkation Day 2: At Sea Day 3: Roatan | Honduras Day 4: Costa Maya | Mexico Day 5: [...]
Day 4: MSC World America: Costa Maya Cruise Port
THE GEN X WANDERER / 7 Days Aboard the MSC World America Western Caribbean / Costa Maya Cruise Port Day 1: Embarkation Day 2: At Sea Day 3: Roatan | Honduras Day 4: Costa Maya | Mexico Day 5: Cozumel | Mexico Day 6: [...]
Day 3: MSC World America: What to do in Roatan Honduras
THE GEN X WANDERER / 7 Days Aboard the MSC World America Western Caribbean / What to do in Roatan Honduras Day 1: Embarkation Day 2: At Sea Day 3: Roatan | Honduras Day 4: Costa Maya | Mexico Day 5: Cozumel | Mexico [...]
Day 2: MSC World America Sea Day: What to do?
THE GEN X WANDERER / 7 Days Aboard the MSC World America Sea Day Western Caribbean Day 1: Embarkation Day 2: At Sea Day 3: Roatan | Honduras Day 4: Costa Maya | Mexico Day 5: Cozumel | Mexico Day 6: At Sea Day [...]
Day 1: MSC World America Embarkation (Western Caribbean)
THE GEN X WANDERER / 7 Days Aboard the MSC World America Embarkation Western Caribbean Day 1: Embarkation Day 2: At Sea Day 3: Roatan | Honduras Day 4: Costa Maya | Mexico Day 5: Cozumel | Mexico Day 6: At Sea Day 7: [...]
Royalton Blue Waters Jamaica Review: Booked Free with Marriott Bonvoy Points
THE GEN X WANDERER / Royalton Blue Waters Jamaica Review: Booked Free with Bonvoy Points TABLE OF CONTENTS Book Your Stay at Royalton Blue Waters Jamaica BOOK ROYALTON BLUE WATERS JAMAICA NOW! If you [...]
Big Bus Miami Hop On Hop Off Tour: 9 Stop Full Route Guide (Bayside to Little Havana)
THE GEN X WANDERER / Big Bus Miami Hop On Hop Off Tour: Full Route Guide (Bayside to Little Havana) TABLE OF CONTENTS DAY TOUR: BOOK BIG BUS MIAMI! NIGHT TOUR: BOOK BIG BUS [...]
Courtyard by Marriott Oceanside Fort Lauderdale: Free Stay and My Full Review
THE GEN X WANDERER / Courtyard by Marriott Oceanside Fort Lauderdale: Free Stay and My Full Review Featured Image Courtesy of Courtyard by Marriott TABLE OF CONTENTS Book Marriott Courtyard Oceanside Fort Lauderdale Beach BOOK [...]
Cruise Disembarkation Guide: 7 Must Knows to Get Off Your Ship Fast and Avoid Stress
THE GEN X WANDERER / Cruise Disembarkation Guide: 7 Must Knows to Get Off Your Ship Fast and Avoid Stress TABLE OF CONTENTS The Complete Guide to Cruise Disembarkation (From Someone Who Has Done It [...]
Courtyard by Marriott Miami Downtown Brickell: Best Stay Pre Cruise Stay
THE GEN X WANDERER / Courtyard by Marriott Miami Downtown Brickell: A Pre Cruise Stay Guide Featured Image Courtesy of Courtyard by Marriott TABLE OF CONTENTS Book Courtyard by Marriott Miami Downtown Brickell BOOK Courtyard [...]
Serenade Punta Cana Review: Honest Family Trip Review
THE GEN X WANDERER / Serenade Punta Cana Review: Honest Family Trip TABLE OF CONTENTS Book Your Stay at Serenade Punta Cana BOOK SERENADE PUNTA CANA NOW! If you are planning to stay at [...]
Catalonia Grand Costa Mujeres: An Honest Family Trip Review
THE GEN X WANDERER / Catalonia Costa Mujeres Review: An Honest Canadian Family Trip Report TABLE OF CONTENTS Book Catalonia Grand Costa Mujeres BOOK CATALONIA GRAND COSTA MUJERES NOW! If you are planning to [...]
Best Seasickness Medication: A Complete Guide for Cruisers
THE GEN X WANDERER / Best Seasickness Medication: A Complete Guide for Cruisers TABLE OF CONTENTS Best Seasickness Medication: A Complete Guide for Cruisers If you have ever cancelled a cruise booking, or [...]
Toronto Film Festival Hotels TIFF: Best Places to Stay and Where to See Stars 2026
THE GEN X WANDERER / Planning your trip to TIFF? Here is a full guide to the best Toronto Film Festival hotels, nearby eateries, celebrity hot spots, and everything else you need to know about the festival. TABLE OF CONTENTS [...]
Conrad Fort Lauderdale Review: Our Free Post Cruise Stay with Amex Points
THE GEN X WANDERER / Conrad Fort Lauderdale Review: Our Free Post Cruise Stay with Amex Points TABLE OF CONTENTS Book the Conrad Fort Lauderdale BOOK THE CONRAD FORT LAUDERDALE BEACH NOW! If you [...]
JW Marriott Miami Marquis Review: A Free Bonvoy Points Pre Cruise Stay
THE GEN X WANDERER / JW Marriott Miami Marquis Review: A Free Bonvoy Points Pre Cruise Stay TABLE OF CONTENTS Book the JW Marriott Miami Marquis BOOK JW MARRIOTT MARQUIS MIAMI NOW! If you [...]
Celebrating My 50th Birthday at the Royalton Bavaro Punta Cana with 28 People
THE GEN X WANDERER / Celebrating my 50th Birthday at the Royalton Bavaro Punta Cana, Dominican Republic with 28 People TABLE OF CONTENTS Book the Royalton Bavaro Punta Cana BOOK THE ROYALTON BAVARO PUNTA CANA [...]
Toronto in 5 Days: The Ultimate Summer Itinerary (2026)
THE GEN X WANDERER / Toronto in 5 Days: The Ultimate Summer Itinerary TABLE OF CONTENTS Toronto in 5 Days I've been a Toronto resident for over 46 years so I can confidently say that [...]
Toronto Harbourfront Guide: Discover the 10 Best Stays & Things to Do Along Toronto’s Waterfront
THE GEN X WANDERER / Toronto Harbourfront Guide: The Complete Visitor Guide for Your Summer Vacation TABLE OF CONTENTS Toronto Harbourfront Guide: The Complete Visitor Guide for Your Summer Vacation I've been a Toronto native [...]
The Best Boutique Hotels in Toronto Downtown: 6 Main Neighbourhoods Guide
THE GEN X WANDERER / The Best Boutique Hotels in Toronto Downtown / Image Source: The Broadview Hotel TABLE OF CONTENTS Book Your Stay at any of these Toronto Boutique Hotels! *My logo in this [...]
Where to Stay in Toronto: The Ultimate City Guide (2026)
THE GEN X WANDERER / Where to Stay in Toronto: This complete Guide Breaks Down Every Neighbourhood - from King West to Yorkville TABLE OF CONTENTS https://www.youtube.com/shorts/EF3oAMJOc5A My 46 Year History with [...]
MSC vs Celebrity for your First Cruise?
THE GEN X WANDERER / MSC vs Celebrity for your First Cruise? TABLE OF CONTENTS Which on is better? MSC or Celebrity? If you've been down the cruise-research rabbit hole for more than thirty minutes, [...]
Is Monos Luggage Good? A Minimalist’s Honest Review
THE GEN X WANDERER / Is Monos Luggage Good? A Minimalist's Honest Review TABLE OF CONTENTS Why Monos Became My Go-To Gear for Minimalist Travel Let me be clear and transparent upfront, this is not [...]
The Old Mill Toronto Haunted: History & Scary Ghost Stories
THE GEN X WANDERER / The Old Mill Toronto Haunted: History & Ghost Stories / Image Source: Tripadvisor TABLE OF CONTENTS Don't forget to check out my Toronto Series! • Coming to Toronto? The Ultimate [...]
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