Category: Travel

If you are craving the outdoors but do not want to forgo the luxuries of modern living, Florida offers a range of stylish glamping retreats that combine adventure with comfort. These unique destinations let you enjoy nature without sacrificing comfort, providing a perfect blend of the great outdoors with upscale amenities.

1. The Standard Hotel – Miami Beach

While it is not traditional glamping in the wilderness, The Standard offers a high-end, nature-inspired glamping experience by the beach. The property features luxurious airstreams set on a private waterfront that come equipped with plush bedding, outdoor showers, and private decks with stunning views of Biscayne Bay. Guests can indulge in outdoor yoga, paddleboarding, or enjoy gourmet farm-to-table meals under the stars.

2. Canopy Oaks Retreat – Gainesville

Situated just outside Gainesville, Canopy Oaks Retreat offers a serene escape among oak trees, with glamping tents that are anything but ordinary. These spacious safari-style tents feature queen-sized beds, chic décor, air conditioning, and private bathrooms. Guests can explore the nearby trails, take part in meditation and wellness programs, or simply relax in the hammock while surrounded by nature.

3. Tropical Glamping at Cayo Costa State Park

For those looking to be immersed in Florida’s natural beauty, Cayo Costa State Park offers an unforgettable glamping experience. Accessible only by boat, this island paradise provides cozy canvas tents set against miles of untouched beaches. With the sound of the surf as your soundtrack, you can kayak, fish, or hike through mangrove forests. At night, enjoy a campfire under the stars before retreating to your fully furnished tent for a restful night’s sleep.

4. Riverside Retreat – DeLand

Nestled along the St. Johns River, Riverside Retreat in DeLand provides a unique glamping experience with all the comforts of home. The tents come with king-size beds, vintage furniture, and even a mini-fridge stocked with local delicacies. With activities like kayaking, paddleboarding, and birdwatching right at your doorstep, you will find plenty to do. A highlight is the riverside fire pit, where guests can relax, toast marshmallows, and enjoy the tranquility of the river.

5. Everglades Glamping – Everglades National Park

For a true wilderness experience with a touch of luxury, Everglades Glamping is hard to beat. Set within the Everglades National Park, guests stay in beautifully designed tents equipped with comfortable beds, private bathrooms, and air conditioning. You will explore the vast wetlands on guided boat tours or go on nature hikes to see native wildlife. After a day of adventure, return to your tent for a restful night in this unique and remote setting. Whether you are seeking relaxation or adventure, Florida’s glamping options offer the perfect combination of comfort, style, and glamping in Florida outdoor exploration. These retreats cater to every taste, giving you the chance to experience nature like never before without sacrificing luxury.

When you are a frequent traveler with an airline loyalty program like Delta’s SkyMiles, the question of whether to use your miles for flights or convert them into cash or cash equivalents often arises. At first glance, turning SkyMiles into cash may seem like a quick way to unlock value, but is it really worth it?

Valuation of SkyMiles

SkyMiles are generally valued between 1.1 and 1.5 cents per mile, depending on how you use them. This can vary greatly, especially when redeeming miles for premium flights, upgrades, or during sales or promotions. On the other hand, when converting miles to cash or gift cards, the value often drops significantly sometimes as low as 0.5 to 0.75 cents per mile. This means that a substantial portion of the value that you could get when booking flights is lost in the conversion process. For example, 10,000 SkyMiles, worth around 150 when booking flights, might only yield 50–75 when converted to cash. While cash is always flexible, the diminished value means you are potentially giving up a lot more purchasing power by opting for cash.

Flexibility vs. Maximizing Value

One of the reasons travelers consider converting miles into cash is the flexibility it offers. You can spend the cash anywhere, while miles are restricted to certain flights, upgrades, or Delta-related purchases. However, if you are looking to maximize value, using miles for flights particularly international or premium travel is usually a better option. Some travelers manage to get over 2 cents per mile when booking business class or first-class tickets, making miles much more valuable in those situations. For occasional travelers who do not fly often enough to accumulate a significant number of SkyMiles, converting miles to cash could make sense. This ensures the miles do not expire or become devalued by inflation or changes in the rewards program. However, if you frequently fly with Delta, it is almost always worth saving your miles for travel-related redemptions.

Other Redemption Options

Delta also allows you to use SkyMiles for vacation packages, gift cards, and merchandise through its online store. These options can offer better value than converting miles into straight cash, but still rarely match the value of using miles for flights. In many cases, the Sell Delta SkyMiles cost per mile for non-flight redemptions is less than one cent. Unless you have a pressing need for cash or are not planning to fly in the near future, converting your SkyMiles into cash typically is not worth it. To get the most out of your miles, it is better to use them for flights, where you can extract far more value per mile.