u/MorganAtSuper

It may sound a little bananas, but I typically go to 3 different stores every Sunday for my grocery run. Don't get me wrong, this is very annoying, but no single place has everything I need at the best price. One has the bulk stuff cheap, so I stock up on essentials there. One carries the name-brand gluten free things I can't find anywhere else, which if you're also GF you know the struggle. And the last one just has good general pricing for all the random odds and ends. So I do the loop and it's kind of become my whole Sunday. But between the bulk deals and not overpaying for the GF stuff, it genuinely adds up.

Maybe I could be doing something different, what's the grocery habit that actually cut your bill? (And please don't tell me to go to 4 different stores lol)

My boyfriend and I drove the Cherohala Skyway last summer kind of by accident, and it really stuck with me. It runs through the mountains between Tennessee and North Carolina, right next to the Tail of the Dragon, which is the one everybody typically show up for. Ironically, the Cherohala is the easier one to trek. The Dragon is 11 miles of tight curves where you're fighting for road space, and that just makes me too anxious. The Cherohala is a wide, well-paved two-lane, so it's totally relaxed, and it climbs past 5,000 feet, so it's overlook after overlook of stunning ridgelines.

Road trips always have to have a solid playlist. My boyfriend handles the music since he's got great taste, and this drive started out with Orpheus by The Beaches, one of my favorites and a song that just makes me think of summer.

To find it, it's TN-165 east out of Tellico Plains, Tennessee, or NC-143 out of Robbinsville, North Carolina. Just search Cherohala Skyway and it'll route you to either end. Fill up and grab food in one of those towns first, because there's nothing the whole way (and I mean nothing), and your signal dies near the top.

I'm not knocking the Blue Ridge or the Smokies, they earn the crowds. I just think this one was something different.

What's your favorite underrated drive, and what's on the playlist for it?

Every time a friend says they're headed to Austin I give them the same answer without even thinking about it. I've been a few times, so I have what I thought were solid opinions, but now I'm second-guessing myself, because last time I said it someone completely disagreed. I always send people to Barton Springs. I have loved it each time I've gone, since I get hot pretty easily so it feels great, and I think the location and scenery is just lovely.

The person who disagreed basically said it's not worth it anymore, too crowded, too expensive to get in, freezing, and a pain to find parking. And honestly I can't FULLY disagree, I've definitely seen it packed.

What's the thing you tell everyone who's visiting Austin to do? My friends are actually heading there next month, so I want to be sure I give them a solid option.

Every time a friend says they're headed to Austin I give them the same answer without even thinking about it. I've been a few times, so I have what I thought were solid opinions, but now I'm second-guessing myself, because last time I said it someone completely disagreed. I always send people to Barton Springs. I have loved it each time I've gone, since I get hot pretty easily so it feels great, and I think the location and scenery is just lovely.

The person who disagreed basically said it's not worth it anymore, too crowded, too expensive to get in, freezing, and a pain to find parking. And honestly I can't fully disagree, I've definitely seen it packed.

What's the thing you tell everyone who's visiting Austin to do? My friends are actually heading there next month, so I want to be sure I give them a solid option.

With how much time I spend on Reddit now, the thing I see people worry about the most when it comes to booking travel is showing up and the front desk not having their reservation in the system. I've even felt that way myself. So when it comes to us, let me explain what's actually happening.

When you book a hotel through Super.com, it goes to the hotel through our travel partners that hold the room. Hotels just update their own systems on their own schedule. Usually your booking shows up within 2 to 3 business days, sometimes longer if you booked way ahead, and honestly a lot of hotels don't load it until the day you check in. That's normal! (I know it sounds scary, trust me, but it's normal.)

And if the front desk can't pull it up right away, it's usually because the room is booked under a travel partner's name, not Super.com's, so it can show up under that partner instead. Give it 15 to 20 minutes and have them look again, it usually just needs to sync. If it's still not there, message us and we'll work it out with the hotel directly, that's what we're here for! There's a 24/7 line too, 1-844-461-2577, and we've got you on live chat and social messages as well.

I know booking with a company you haven't used before takes a leap of faith, so hopefully this makes it feel a little less like one 🙂

I'm done with connecting flights. Flying this summer has been such a mess. On my latest trip to Canada, my connecting flight home got delayed 20 minutes, then an hour, then three. Once we're finally on the plane, the pilot gets on the radio and says we have to wait for the tower to clear us, which takes another hour of just sitting. Then we land, and more sitting. A four hour travel day turned into eight, and wow, I have never wanted to be horizontal so badly in my life.

So I'm booking nonstop from now on. I used to take the layover to save a hundred bucks, no problem, but the connection is where everything goes wrong. Your first flight runs late and you're just standing at the gate watching the next one leave without you. The nonstop costs more, but I'll pay it to not lose a whole day to one delay.

Do you pay up for the nonstop and the buffer, or are you still rolling the dice with booking connections?

My sisters are finally doing New Orleans, they've been talking about it forever and just booked a place. I offered to plan out the itinerary because they want to show up and not think about what's next (and I happen to think I'm a pretty great planner). Only thing is I've been to New Orleans exactly once, so I'd love some recommendations before I lock it in.

So far I was thinking a lap down Bourbon Street for the chaos, then get out of it and check out the area around it if they're feeling overwhelmed. Frenchmen Street for the music. The French Quarter past Bourbon for the architecture. And some kind of cemetery or history tour, but I have no idea which ones are actually worth the time (and the money).

Also, is a swamp tour worth it or is it a gimmick? And is the streetcar a real way to get around or just cute for photos? They're not really itinerary people, so I want to give them a few solid anchors and then let them roam.

What's the one place you'd send them that they'd never find on their own, and the one thing everyone does that they can skip?

I've been listening to one too many Reddit story podcasts, so now every time something happens in my life I think "how would Reddit react to this," which is probably not healthy. But, I’ve always been curious to hear what other people think, just been too afraid to ask.

I'm the one who wants to my full agenda for out trip fully booked, like a year out. We always go to busy, popular places, so with something like New York over the holidays or Florida during peak season. The hotels right by the best view, or right in the middle of everything, are gone first. And booking that early, the prices are usually better too.

My friends are the literal opposite. They won't commit until it's basically a month out. Always some version of "what if something else comes up". So by the time they're finally ready, which is somehow always about two months before the dates we agreed on so we can get the time off work, all the best places are already gone. Every time.

To be fair to them, I get it. Life happens, plans change, but this is just too much, and I've brought it up before and it's not clicking. I love traveling with them, we always have a great time once we’re actually on the trip, so I don't want to make it a whole thing. Am I wrong for wanting this stuff booked in advance?

We've got one coming up and it's already three months out, so I'm not sure how to tell them this has been bothering me again.

Figured I'd put this out there, because a lot of people flying in don't realize the matches aren't actually in Dallas. They're at the stadium in Arlington, which is its own little world between Dallas and Fort Worth. So if you're coming for a game and wondering how to fill the hours, I got you.

Right by the stadium, the Entertainment District is where everyone ends up. Texas Live is the big one, a huge complex with bars, food, and a hundred-foot screen, so it's the easy pre-game and post-game spot if you want the loud fan energy. If you want more character, Arlington's got real local stuff too. Hurtado Barbecue for Central Texas brisket, expect a line but it moves. Prince Lebanese Grill, which is in an old converted Sonic and somehow landed on Diners Drive-Ins and Dives, and it earns it. And Mariano's Hacienda, a Tex-Mex spot (obsessed) connected to the guy who literally invented the frozen margarita machine. Cidercade is also pretty fun! 275 arcade games and delicious cider to kill a few hours and get out of the sun.

Side note, one of my favorite things every World Cup is watching visitors try Texas barbecue for the first time. Those videos of someone from across the world biting into brisket and just going quiet kill me, very wholesome. That plus everyone discovering ranch dressing lol

For anyone who's been to a game out there, what's best to do around the stadium that isn't the obvious Texas Live, or just staying put in Arlington?

I spend extended time in Spain every year and my base is always Valencia.

It has everything the other cities have without the crowds and without the prices... (At least ... not yet) The beach is 15 minutes from the old city by bus. The food is arguably the best in Spain, this is where paella was invented and they take it very seriously. (Rice is being cultivated in Valencia) The weather is perfect almost year-round. And the city is big enough to have everything you need but small enough that you can walk most of it.

The Central Market is one of the most beautiful food markets in Europe. Modernist ironwork and stained glass from the early 1900s, and inside you have every kind of produce, meat, fish, and cheese you can imagine. You will usually find me in the artesian cheese kiosk right in the center for the best home-made Greek Yoghurt. Jamón ibérico sliced fresh, a bag of Valencian oranges, olives by the kilo.

Favorite restaurants: Living Bakkali (best cheesecake!!), Begin for its beauty and creative healthy food, Dulce de Leche Boutique for all desserts you heart might desire.... and an insighter tip: Masa Madre Pizzeria in el Carmen. Best Pizza in town, hands down! And during Fallas you just get a Paella on the street... (see pic)

Special Tip: Sunset boat tour on the Albufera lake....! Dreamy!

The City of Arts and Sciences is this insane futuristic complex designed by Santiago Calatrava. It looks like it belongs on another planet. Fun fact: Tomorrowland and some Star wars episodes were filmed here. The aquarium, the science museum, the opera house, all connected by reflecting pools. Even if you do not go inside anything, just walking through it at sunset is just amazing.

Now who has been and has tips for me for my next trip: Your favorite restaurant, best cheesecake?

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My pre-trip trick is stupid, and it works. I covered every happy hour on my last trip with money I made right from my patio. Most evenings you'll find me out there, podcast on (shout out RedditOnWiki), playing silly little games on my phone to decompress from the day.

The games are through Super.com's earning side, and the credits land in my wallet. There's also surveys and receipt scanning if you'd rather, but the games are the part I actually keep up with. It's tied to Super+, so it's really only worth it if you already have the membership for the travel side. A few weeks of this before a trip covers a few rounds or the airport parking, nothing life-changing, just enough that the little stuff doesn't nickel and dime me.

Be honest, does anyone actually save up for trip spending money, or do you just wing it and deal with the bill later?

I've done the 4th in Boston a few times, and with it being the 250th this year the city's going to be absolute mayhem, in a good way, but if your whole plan is "go to the Esplanade for the Pops and the fireworks," I'd rethink it. That's the famous spot, and it's also the one where people stake out lawn space at 9am, sit through bag checks, and then get funneled out with a hundred thousand other people when it ends. You can lose a whole day holding a patch of grass.
Here's where I'd actually watch instead.

The Cambridge side along Memorial Drive gets you the same fireworks over the Charles with a fraction of the crowd, and you can leave when it's over instead of being stuck in the crush. The BU Bridge and the stretch by BU Beach is another good one, a little higher up so you catch more of the skyline. And if you want the real flex, Paddle Boston rents kayaks and canoes and you can watch from the water, just know there are rules about where you're allowed to sit on the river and a hard cutoff time, so read that before you commit. They run a concert, then a drone show, then the fireworks a bit after, so you don't need to camp out all afternoon, you just need to be in a good spot by mid-evening.

For the rest of the weekend, the Freedom Trail is worth it even though it sounds like a school field trip, just do it early before the heat. Skip the seafood on the tourist drag by Faneuil Hall and walk into the North End for the actual Italian food, then get cannoli and pick a bakery, it's a whole rivalry here. Heads up that the World Cup matches and the Tall Ships are both happening around this same window, so the city is extra slammed and hotels right downtown are rough. If you haven't booked, look just over the river or a T stop or two out and take the train in.

One thing that changes every year is street closures and which spots get fenced off, so double-check the current map before you lock anything in.

Where do you post up for the fireworks if you've given up on the Esplanade?

I have tickets to see DJO at the Allianz Amphitheater in Richmond on July 31st (I am literally SO excited) and I'm making a full trip out of it. I have never been to Richmond before and honestly had no idea what was even there until I started looking into it.

My dad is already lobbying for the trolley tour, which, knowing him, means we are absolutely doing the trolley tour. But outside of that I have no idea where to start.

Here is what has caught my eye so far:

-Carytown looks like exactly my kind of neighborhood. Independent boutiques, restaurants, murals, a historic movie theater called the Byrd. Could easily spend a whole afternoon there.

-Belle Isle is an island in the James River right in the middle of the city. Free to get to, hiking trails, rock climbing, scenic views. That one is going on the list.

-The Edgar Allan Poe Museum is in Richmond because this is apparently his hometown. I had no idea. After loving the tunnel history at Niagara Falls more than I expected, I feel like this is my kind of stop.

Would love someone local to tell me what am I missing! I want to build out the full itinerary and I clearly have a lot to learn about this city.

I feel like everyone goes to Chicago and eats at the same tourist spots on Michigan Avenue without realizing the best stuff is one or two blocks off it. I only know this because my friends had been a lot before me and basically gave me a full itinerary.

First thing they sent me to: Three Dots and a Dash in River North. You enter through a back alley, go underground, and end up in a full tiki bar that has no business being in Chicago. The drinks were incredible, the vibe was unlike anything I’ve been to, and I almost walked right past the entrance. Named one of the best bars in America and I never would have found it on my own.

And okay, hear me out on this one. Day drinking at Nordstrom. I know. When my friends suggested it I thought they had the wrong place. But they have a bar inside and it is everything you are hoping for and more.

Avec on West Randolph for dinner if you want shared plates that are genuinely worth it. Cafecito near Millennium Park for a Cuban sandwich that costs nothing. Eataly instead of anything near Navy Pier.

I plan on going back soon! What are some other places hidden away I should check out?

My rent is finally doing something other than leaving my bank account every month!

Payment history is the biggest factor in your credit score. Like 35% of it. And rent is probably the biggest payment most of us make every month. So the fact that it just disappears every month without counting toward anything always felt like a design flaw to me.

If your rent is $1,600 a month, that’s $19,200 a year of on-time payments that your credit score currently has no idea about. With rent reporting turned on, every single one of those payments starts counting.

What rent reporting does is make those payments visible. Every month you pay on time, it shows up as a positive mark. Over time that builds payment history, which is exactly what your score is looking at. If you have a thin credit file it can move things faster. If you already have a lot of history it still adds to it.

Setting it up took about five minutes. Your landlord doesn't have to do anything. You can find it in the Credit Hub in the app and set it up all on your own.

It’s not going to transform your score overnight. But if you’re renting and not already doing this, you’re leaving credit history on the table every single month.

Every year the internet fills up with the same Father's Day ideas. Golf packages, fancy steakhouses, weekend resort deals that somehow cost more than a flight.

Some of my best memories with my dad involve none of that. A random road trip, a cheap motel somewhere we'd never been. My dad always makes the itinerary, he loves planning trips, and honestly those are the ones I remember most.

If you're doing something for Father's Day this year and trying to keep it budget-friendly, where are you headed? I'm actively looking for ideas and could use the inspiration.

Every year the internet fills up with the same Father's Day ideas. Golf packages, fancy steakhouses, weekend resort deals that somehow cost more than a flight.

Some of my best memories with my dad involve none of that. A random road trip, a cheap motel somewhere we'd never been. My dad always makes the itinerary, he loves planning trips, and honestly those are the ones I remember most.

If you're doing something for Father's Day this year and trying to keep it budget-friendly, where are you headed? I'm actively looking for ideas and could use the inspiration.

I’ve been eleven times and I still find something new every trip. If you haven’t been much, just go. You won’t run out of things to do.

Hotel first because it’s the most important decision you’ll make. My last stay was at the Dream Midtown by Hyatt on West 55th Street and it was so cool. Rooftop bar with insane views of the city, a little speakeasy-style bar near the entrance with great cocktails, and a taco place right next door that was so delicious (plus affordable).

Found the hotel through Super.com for $197/night while Expedia had it at $272. That’s over $70 saved per night before the 10% cashback through my Super+ membership even applies. I never miss a chance to stack savings, lol. I also put everything on the Super.com Card while I’m there for the 1% back on all purchases.

The Dream Midtown was great because you’re near Times Square but not fully in it. One or two blocks makes a real difference on both price and noise.

For free things I genuinely cannot recommend the Brooklyn Bridge walk enough. The views are insane and it costs nothing. If you’re able to go during golden hour it will make all the difference. I could also sit in Times Square with a coffee and people watch for hours and hours. Central Park is an easy full afternoon. The museums are so cool I could spend days in them, the Metropolitan could end up taking you a few days to fully get through alone.

One of the times I went, we somehow ended up in this tiny Italian dessert place. It seemed so out of place, it didn't even seem like the entrance was an entrance. I genuinely don’t remember the name or where it was sadly. But I feel like sometimes that’s how you find the best stuff! Definitely skip the chains. You can get those anywhere. Eat local, support those ma and pop shops, and enjoy the communities that make up NYC.

TLDR: Dream Midtown by Hyatt, $197/night through Super.com vs $272+ everywhere else. Stay near Times Square not in it. Walk the Brooklyn Bridge during golden hour. Eat local.

Even I had the same questions when I first started learning everything Super.com offers. The $5,000 number trips everyone up. It sounds like you need to deposit $5,000 upfront, but you don't. Even $20 works. The credit bureaus still see a $5,000 credit line in your name either way.

Say you have $10,000 in credit across your cards. You have used $7,000 of it. That is 70% utilization, which is considered high. Add in the Super.com Card and suddenly you have $15,000 in total credit. You still only owe that same $7,000. But now your utilization is under 47%. Same debt, lower percentage, just because you added a $5,000 credit line. That is the boost.

The card is available with a Super+ membership and there is no credit check to apply. Once you enroll in credit reporting your activity gets reported to all three bureaus every month, TransUnion, Experian, and Equifax. No interest, no card fees.

This is the part of the Super.com Card nobody talks about enough!

Try it: (your total balance divided by your total credit limit) x 100. Now add $5,000 to your credit limit and run it again. What did your utilization drop to?

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My first mistake, I thought tennis shoes would be enough traction with basically a sheet of ice and snow on the ground while going down an actual cliffside. It was the beginning of February and I did not think to bring ice resistant boots, or even boots in general for that matter (I don’t own any). I also did not account for the fact that there had just been a massive blizzard, like actually was in a level 2 snow emergency the week before. So the hiking situation was not exactly what I hoped for, entirely my fault. I still got some great shots on my film camera though. The landscape was stunning with the frozen waterfalls.

I have been getting a lot of outdoor content recommended to me lately on TikTok and somehow ended up down a rabbit hole that led me to Wendy Eden, who has a YouTube channel called Wendy Outdoors. She is 77 years old and solo camps, hikes, and road trips through British Columbia and the Yukon all alone. Her whole thing is "just go." I watched her videos straight for four days and immediately started thinking this sounds so cozy and fun, I wanted to try it.

I get bored easily which is something I was always worried about with solo travel. What if I run out of things to do? What if it’s just me sitting there with my thoughts and I hate it? I had been telling my boyfriend about Wendy and that I think it would be so fun to try traveling solo. (I wasn’t entirely ready to camp, since I don’t have the gear, but figured this is a good first step with just going somewhere totally on my own) So he gifted me the stay for my birthday at the Hocking Hills Inn in Logan, Ohio, which he booked through Super.com for $100 a night (I get cashback, plus I work there so you know, gotta use the perks 😂)

I needed to hear my own thoughts for a few days and driving out into the woods sounded like the move.

Now, did I let my not being able to really explore the woods and see the sights ruin my trip? Absolutely not. I will admit I may have basically skated down a few hills in my tennis shoes, but I still got some hiking in. Since I wanted to keep busy with exploring and I love going to second hand stores, I found Logan Community Thrift and Consignment right in the middle of Hocking Hills and it was enormous. Set prices on everything, all shirts $2, jeans $5. (Don’t quote me, but I remember being shocked by the deals) I left with way more than I planned to. The antique stores nearby are massive and worth the detour.

And honestly? A lot of people told me I would get lonely and that I needed to ditch my phone to fully immerse myself. But I never once felt lonely and the only person I had to think about was me. Where I wanted to go, when I wanted to eat. Nobody to compromise with. And when it came to phone time, I let myself scroll when I wanted to, didn’t guilt trip myself about it, just stayed mindful of my time. Turns out when you’re not forcing yourself to disconnect you naturally just don’t feel like being on your phone that much anyway. Instead, I spent most of my time reading my cozy mystery.

Came home feeling like a person again.

TLDR: Went to Hocking Hills alone for my birthday in February with tennis shoes and no plan for a blizzard. (Not my smartest move.) Still had the best time. If you have been on the fence about solo travel, just go. You’ll figure it out.