Toni Perkins-Southam's Image

Toni Perkins-Southam

Lead Editor

About

Toni is a points and miles enthusiast who has been leveraging loyalty programs to travel around the world (for nearly free) with her husband and their four young children. She’s passionate about sharing travel tips so that others can not only feel inspired but also confident in planning their own travel.

Toni Perkins-Southam is a lead editor for credit cards and travel rewards at Forbes Advisor. Her fascination with points and miles began when she and her husband realized that, following a trip to Europe, family travel would be a financial challenge. She was introduced to points and miles and delved into loyalty programs. Over the past 12 years, she has taken her family of six to over 20 countries for various vacations and extended summer stays worldwide.

Toni has also adventured as a solo parent, exploring the world with just her kids. Her mission is to inspire other parents to pursue their family travel dreams with confidence.

Expertise

  • Adventure seeker
  • Credit building and repair
  • Everything points and miles
  • Long-term family travel
  • Maximizing credit card rewards
  • Solo parent travel/traveling with kids

Achievements

  • Over 12 years of using points and miles to travel around the world with my family
  • For nearly five years, managed an online community dedicated to educating individuals on optimizing travel through points and miles
  • Backpacked through the Andes mountains of Peru at seven months pregnant
  • Overcame a lifelong fear of flying and is eager to help others conquer their fear
  • Spoke at various points and miles conferences and special events

Other Publications

Education

Arizona State University, Bachelor of Arts in History

  • New Qatar Airways Privilege Club Credit Cards Coming In May For U.S. Applicants

    Qatar Airways, headquartered in Doha, Qatar, flies to nearly 170 destinations worldwide and is known for being one of the most luxurious airlines in the world. Whether flying from San Francisco to the Maldives or Miami to Dubai, the onboard...
    New Qatar Airways Privilege Club Credit Cards Coming In May For U.S. Applicants
  • Best Crypto Rewards Cards Of May 2024

    Unless you have been living under a rock—and we wouldn’t blame you for doing so—you know about cryptocurrencies, and that these currencies are volatile, to say the least. Fortunately, there are ways to get into crypto at a relatively low...
    Best Crypto Rewards Cards Of May 2024
  • Best Hyatt Credit Cards Of May 2024

    If you’re a Hyatt loyalist, you may benefit from a Hyatt credit card. Hyatt co-branded cards aren’t as complicated as many co-branded cards from other hotel programs because you’ll find only one personal and one business card to choose from....
    Best Hyatt Credit Cards Of May 2024
  • Best Capital One Credit Cards Of May 2024

    Capital One credit cards remain popular for good reason: Its offerings run the gamut from cash back to travel rewards to cards aimed at small businesses. A common thread among all Capital One cards is no foreign transaction fees, making...
    Best Capital One Credit Cards Of May 2024
  • Best Instant Approval Cards Of May 2024

    Sometimes you want to use a new credit card as soon as possible. Maybe you’re looking to get access to a credit line to take advantage of a 0% intro APR offer, or you have an urgent purchase you want...
    Best Instant Approval Cards Of May 2024
  • Best Green Credit Cards Of May 2024

    Although a physical credit card isn’t exactly environmentally friendly by nature, there are limited payment options available that offer both security and convenience. To help you grapple with the climate impact of your everyday purchasing, we’ve compiled a guide to...
    Best Green Credit Cards Of May 2024
  • Best Mastercard Credit Cards Of May 2024

    Mastercard began more than 50 years ago as an interbank payment network. Today, it is a technology company in the global payments industry that serves businesses and consumers in more than 210 countries and territories around the world. The Mastercard...
    Best Mastercard Credit Cards Of May 2024
  • The Easiest Credit Cards To Get Of May 2024

    While there are hundreds of different credit cards to choose from, they aren’t all easy to get. Many require excellent credit scores, strong finances or years of credit history. If you haven't built up a credit history yet, or if...
    The Easiest Credit Cards To Get Of May 2024
  • Best Credit Cards Without A Social Security Number Requirement Of May 2024

    Most card issuers in the U.S. will request credit card applicants to provide a Social Security number (SSN). This helps credit card companies prevent fraud and protects the general public from identity theft. This requirement is not universal for all...
    Best Credit Cards Without A Social Security Number Requirement Of May 2024
  • Best Discover Credit Cards Of May 2024

    Like American Express, Discover is both a payment network and a card issuer. While it’s the youngest payment network, it’s also known for having exceptional customer service. In fact, 2023 saw Discover tie with Bank of America on J.D. Power’s...
    Best Discover Credit Cards Of May 2024
  • Best Credit Cards For Furniture Of May 2024

    Whether you're moving into a new place or looking to spruce up your existing space, picking the right furniture is crucial. The best credit cards for furniture offer excellent bonus rates on your purchases, and some also offer 0% APR...
    Best Credit Cards For Furniture Of May 2024
  • Best Credit Cards For Costco May 2024

    Wholesale clubs like Costco have grown in popularity because of the high-quality products offered and opportunities to save on necessities and indulgences alike. Paying with a credit card can unlock valuable rewards and benefits like cash back and flexible travel...
    Best Credit Cards For Costco May 2024
  • Best Chase Business Credit Cards Of May 2024

    With Chase’s business credit card lineup, small business owners can streamline expenses while enjoying excellent rewards and benefits. Whether you’re spending on office supplies, client dinners or travel accommodations, Chase has a business card that will fit your needs.
    Best Chase Business Credit Cards Of May 2024
  • The Best Chase Credit Cards Of May 2024

    Chase has among the largest portfolios of credit cards in the market and many Chase credit cards are at the top of the pack, so choosing among them can be a challenging task. Whether you want to climb Kilimanjaro or...
    The Best Chase Credit Cards Of May 2024
  • Robinhood Gold Card Review 2024

    The is an excellent cash-back card designed for Robinhood Gold members. With an impressive earning potential and a suite of benefits, this card is one of the best new arrivals of the year for Robinhood enthusiasts.
    Robinhood Gold Card Review 2024
  • Amex Retention Offers: How To Get Them

    It’s no secret that some of the best credit card perks are offered on cards with often high annual fees. And while something like an initial welcome bonus can offset the cost of an annual fee, it’s worth evaluating whether...
    Amex Retention Offers: How To Get Them
  • Chase Partners With Make-A-Wish To Make Dreams Come True For Critically Ill Children

    “More than 75% of wishes waiting to be granted involve travel,” said Leslie Motter, president and CEO of Make-A-Wish America. Chase is answering the call and partnering with Make-A-Wish, donating $1.5 million worth of Ultimate Rewards® points and $500,000 to...
    Chase Partners With Make-A-Wish To Make Dreams Come True For Critically Ill Children
  • Credit Card Giants Reach $30 Billion Settlement, Agree To Temporarily Lower Fees

    Visa and Mastercard are the world’s leading payment processing networks, and the numbers are not even close. Between the two giants, shares sit at 77.3% of the total market value, dwarfing American Express and Discover, which account for 12.7% and...
    Credit Card Giants Reach $30 Billion Settlement, Agree To Temporarily Lower Fees
  • Best Credit Cards That Offer Preapproval Or Pre-Qualification In May 2024

    Applying for a new credit card can come with concerns. Will you receive an approval? Will the APR be low enough? What will your credit limit be? Besides the unknowns, issuers make hard inquiries against your credit report(s) when evaluating...
    Best Credit Cards That Offer Preapproval Or Pre-Qualification In May 2024
  • Chase Ink Business Cash Credit Card Enhances Offerings: Tiered Welcome Bonus And Bonus Cash Back

    Chase’s annual fee is getting enhancements that further solidify it as an ideal choice for small business owners. Among the changes are a new tiered welcome offer, providing cardholders more time to hit the necessary spending threshold to earn bonus...
    Chase Ink Business Cash Credit Card Enhances Offerings: Tiered Welcome Bonus And Bonus Cash Back
  • Point.me And American Express Introduce Convenient Award Search Tool

    It’s an exciting day for travel enthusiasts; Point.me and American Express have teamed up to introduce a refined search experience for navigating the travel side of the Membership Rewards program. Coined “Point.me for Membership Rewards points,” the collaboration is aimed...
    Point.me And American Express Introduce Convenient Award Search Tool
  • New Regulation Caps Credit Card Late Fees At $8

    In a move that’s expected to save Americans $10 billion annually, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is capping credit card late fees at $8 per occurrence. This represents approximately a 75% reduction from the current average fee of $32...
    New Regulation Caps Credit Card Late Fees At $8
  • Earn Up To 185,000 Points With Limited-Time Marriott American Express Credit Card Welcome Bonuses

    When it comes to vacations, it’s never too early to start planning, right? If you want more Marriott Bonvoy points to book a getaway, American Express and Marriott are helping you build your stash. Through May 1, 2024, new cardholders...
    Earn Up To 185,000 Points With Limited-Time Marriott American Express Credit Card Welcome Bonuses
  • Best Car Rental Websites To Find Cheap Deals In 2024

    Renting a car can be one of the most frustrating parts of planning a trip. Rates are rarely standardized, meaning one company could offer a significantly different price than the brand down the street. Luckily, there are several car rental...
    Best Car Rental Websites To Find Cheap Deals In 2024
  • Best Card To Pair With The Amex Gold

    A rewards credit card can be a powerful tool to help you rack up points, take advantage of travel perks or even just earn a bit of cash back on your spending. And sometimes you can maximize your card benefits...
    Best Card To Pair With The Amex Gold
  • SKYPASS Visa Signature Card Review 2024

    The is a solid midtier choice for frequent Korean Air travelers who’d like to earn SKYPASS miles more quickly. With a 40,000-mile welcome bonus, 2 miles per dollar spent on Korean Air tickets, a 5% off coupon and a pair...
    SKYPASS Visa Signature Card Review 2024
  • Capital One Intends To Acquire Discover. For Now, It’s Business As Usual

    Capital One has announced plans to acquire rival credit card issuer Discover in an all-stock deal worth more than $35 billion. Though both companies have agreed to the terms of the transaction, shareholder and regulatory approval is required. Under the...
    Capital One Intends To Acquire Discover. For Now, It’s Business As Usual
  • 4 Ways To Start Loud Budgeting With Credit Cards

    We’ve left “quiet luxury” behind in 2023. But do you know what’s in for 2024? “Loud budgeting.” Loud budgeting is the latest TikTok trend, popularized by creator Lukas Battle. The concept takes quiet luxury—the lifestyle popularized by celebrities in which...
    4 Ways To Start Loud Budgeting With Credit Cards
  • 1.1 Million Miles Taken Because Of Too Many Welcome Bonuses, New Lawsuit Against American Airlines Alleges

    Ari and Shanna Nachison have filed a proposed class-action lawsuit against American Airlines for closing their accounts which contained a combined 1.1 million American Airlines miles. The reason those miles were taken? According to emails the plaintiffs received from American...
    1.1 Million Miles Taken Because Of Too Many Welcome Bonuses, New Lawsuit Against American Airlines Alleges
  • Why I Love My World Of Hyatt Credit Card Even Though It’s Not My Daily Driver

    It might surprise some to learn that one of my favorite credit cards, , is one that I only use sporadically. Outside of what the card earns on Hyatt paid stays or during special promotions, I don’t personally find its...
    Why I Love My World Of Hyatt Credit Card Even Though It’s Not My Daily Driver
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About

Toni is a points and miles enthusiast who has been leveraging loyalty programs to travel around the world (for nearly free) with her husband and their four young children. She’s passionate about sharing travel tips so that others can not only feel inspired but also confident in planning their own travel.