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John Progar

§Staff Writer

John Progar

Car enthusiast and motorsport addict who has been building, breaking, and writing about cars for over a decade. Former track day instructor with a background in automotive engineering. When he is not reviewing sports cars or writing buyer's guides, he covers travel destinations and home improvement projects from firsthand experience.

20

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§Written by John Progar

A hotel reception desk with a brass service bell and two blank white keycards on a polished stone counter, a warmly lit lobby blurred behind it, evoking the book-direct front desk move that beats the cheapest hotel booking site

HOTELS & RESORTS · KINJA

Hotels & Resorts· Feature№ 287

The Cheapest Hotel Booking Site in 2026 Isn't a Booking Site

Most of the familiar names belong to just two companies. The real savings come from a metasearch, a quick call to the front desk, and a federal rule that killed the worst pricing trick in May 2025.

John Progar·9 min

An airport departures board listing rows of flights with several estimated times highlighted in yellow against the scheduled times, the kind of schedule change that can trigger a cash refund for a canceled flight

FLIGHTS & AIRLINES · KINJA

Flights & Airlines№ 284

Your Refund for a Canceled Flight in 2026 Is Cash, Not the Voucher They Offer First

John Progar·9 min

A densely packed Boeing 737 economy cabin photographed from the rear aisle, every row of forward-facing seats occupied and screens glowing on the seatbacks, the cramped configuration at the center of the airplane reclining etiquette debate

FLIGHTS & AIRLINES · KINJA

Flights & Airlines№ 279

Airplane Seat Reclining Etiquette: Stop Apologizing for the Button

John Progar·10 min

Dramatic multi-bolt lightning storm over a silhouetted treeline at night with glowing orange and purple cloud cover, the visual that powers most of the standby-generator marketing pitch in suburban America

RENOVATION & HOME REPAIR · KINJA

Renovation & Home Repair№ 276

Is a Whole House Generator Worth It in 2026? The EIA Outage Data Says Probably Not

John Progar·12 min

Cruise ship pool deck with colorful umbrella sculptures and lounge chairs around a turquoise pool with multiple decks visible above, the on-ship leisure setting where the Deluxe Beverage Package math gets decided every morning

TRAVEL · KINJA

Travel№ 274

Is the Royal Caribbean Drink Package Worth It in 2026? The Math Aggregators Won't Run

John Progar·12 min

Close-up of a generic green and white FOR SALE sign mounted on a wooden post in front of a residential property, the single listing page data point that anchors any decision about how far below asking a buyer can credibly negotiate

REAL ESTATE · KINJA

Real Estate№ 273

The 60-Day Rule for How Much to Offer Below Asking Price in 2026

John Progar·12 min

Pineapple Fountain at Waterfront Park in Charleston, South Carolina, one of the named attractions inside the 20-block walkable grid south of Calhoun and east of King that this article argues is the only area worth staying in for a Charleston trip

TRAVEL · KINJA

Travel№ 263

The Best Area to Stay in Charleston, SC, in 2026 Is a 20-Block Grid

John Progar·12 min

Modern hotel lobby with a reception desk, the check-in environment where Marriott pre-authorizes room rate, taxes, and a per-day incidental amount for the entire stay against the card on file

TRAVEL · KINJA

Travel№ 254

Marriott Pre Authorization Hold How Long? Five Business Days. (The Famous 24-Hour Answer Is From 2014.)

John Progar·9 min

Bellagio Hotel and the Fountains of Bellagio illuminated at night on the Las Vegas Strip, one of the marquee MGM Rewards casino floors where front-desk upgrade authority is capped by the casino marketing system

TRAVEL · KINJA

Travel№ 253

The Real Way to Get Free Hotel Upgrades in Las Vegas

John Progar·10 min

Two mud-caked Jeep Wrangler JL hardtops with knobby off-road tires descending a rutted trail at golden hour, the wet-and-dirty use case the Mopar all-weather mats and Wrangler factory floor drains are designed around

AUTOMOTIVE · KINJA

Automotive№ 244

Mopar All-Weather Floor Mats for the Jeep Wrangler: Why the $223 OEM Mats Are Only Worth It If You Use the Floor Drains

John Progar·6 min

A wide empty airport terminal with a long row of unstaffed check-in counters under cool overhead lighting, the kind of post-shutdown scene that played out at Spirit Airlines stations on May 2, 2026, after a $500 million federal bailout collapsed and the carrier wound down operations at 3 a.m. ET

FLIGHTS & AIRLINES · KINJA

Flights & Airlines№ 243

Cheapest Airlines After Spirit's Shutdown: Zip Code Matters

John Progar·11 min

A modern hotel building at dusk with rows of illuminated guest-room windows glowing against a deepening blue sky, the kind of late-day inventory the article argues a traveler can usually book at a 26 percent discount inside the final week of stay because revenue management systems are pricing to fill the room rather than wait for a higher offer

TRAVEL · KINJA

Travel№ 240

The Best Time to Book Hotels: Book Late, Not Early

John Progar·10 min

A black top-freezer refrigerator with the lower fresh-food compartment door open, showing two soda bottles on an empty shelf and the brightly lit interior, the exact form factor and second-fridge use case Garage-Ready models are sold for

APPLIANCES · KINJA

Appliances№ 233

The Best Refrigerator for an Unheated Garage in 2026

John Progar·11 min

A pink cherry blossom tree in full bloom against a soft daytime sky in Japan, the centerpiece of a spring trip whose timing window only firms up weeks ahead

DESTINATIONS · KINJA

Destinations№ 226

When to Book a Japan Cherry Blossom Trip: A Moving Target

John Progar·12 min

Modern living room with a white sofa, brown wooden coffee table, and warm-neutral walls in soft natural light

INTERIOR DESIGN · KINJA

Interior Design№ 218

Is Millennial Gray Out of Style in 2026? Yes. Don't Repaint Yet.

John Progar·9 min

Wall-mounted white electronic doorbell device with a button and speaker grille beside an entry door

SMART HOME · KINJA

Smart Home№ 217

The Best Video Doorbell Without WiFi in 2026 Doesn't Even Have an App

John Progar·9 min

Roofer working on a residential roof, fastening shingles on a sunny day during a retrofit project

RENOVATION & HOME REPAIR · KINJA

Renovation & Home Repair№ 216

Is the SC Safe Home Grant Worth It in 2026?

John Progar·9 min

Crusty sourdough loaf with deeply scored ear sitting on a wooden cutting board after baking

APPLIANCES · KINJA

Appliances№ 215

The Best Stand Mixer for Sourdough Bread Isn't a KitchenAid

John Progar·9 min

Black and silver home espresso machine on a kitchen counter with a portafilter handle and steam wand

APPLIANCES · KINJA

Appliances№ 214

Is the Breville Barista Express Worth It in 2026? Not Anymore.

John Progar·8 min

Free-standing range and oven installed in a modern kitchen, set into the cabinetry between counters

RENOVATION & HOME REPAIR · KINJA

Renovation & Home Repair№ 213

The Cost to Convert Gas Stove to Induction in Florida in 2026 Is Lower Than You Think, Minus the Rebate That Doesn't Exist

John Progar·8 min

§Categories covered

Travel(5)Flights & Airlines(3)Renovation & Home Repair(3)Appliances(3)Hotels & Resorts(1)Real Estate(1)Automotive(1)Destinations(1)Interior Design(1)Smart Home(1)