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CategoryAllow Myself To Introduce….Myself?
The biggest change around here (Next to Robert’s arrival of course) is that my travel needs and wants have changed an awful lot from the last time I checked in
My 10 Favorite Low Category Hilton Redemptions
My favorite use of hotel points is for low category, high value redemptions. You tend to get close to 1 cent per point or better value – even for Hilton points. Many are in Asi..
Podcast recommendations for January, 2018
I spend a lot of time listening to podcasts, and when I mention this, people often ask me for recommendations. In general, I don’t think I’m a great source of
Assorted 2018 hotel news and program updates
Quite a few changes have been reported to hotel loyalty programs in 2018, so here are a few brief thoughts in case you’re wondering what to make of them.70,000-point IHG
Beware of Portal Cancellation Fees on Altitude Reserve Bookings
US Bank Altitude Reserve card is a “super premium” card released this year. The high-level benefits are known; for example, see this review by Frequent Miler. However, when it ..
App-O-Rama May Increase Likelihood of Account Review / Shutdown
Please note the “may” in the title. I don’t know for sure whether it does or not, but I present a case for why it could, which I think is worth considering for yourself.
Travelin..
3 IHG Hotels To Book Before Devaluation
IHG is having a significant devaluation. The Gate has a color-coded list of the changes. In this post I want to highlight 3 great values that will be lost with the changes. Bo..
2018 New Year roundup
Well, we made it. It’s 2018, so here’s a roundup of thoughts, ideas, and observations that I haven’t got around to posting yet.US Bank Flexperks Travel Rewards changes are in
2017 Travel Highlights – Part 2 (Banff, Qatar, Sri Lanka)
Welcome to the last day of 2017. Picking up where Part 1 left off, here’s part 2 of this year’s travel highlights. What fun to reflect! Enjoy, and I hope you likewise had a fu..
A Trick to Cancel Southwest Flights Booked with Voucher (Unmix New Funds)
One of the annoying things about Southwest is that if you book with a voucher and supplement it with another form of payment (credit card, another voucher, etc), if you cancel th..
Barclay Application Results
I and another family member each applied for a Barclay card this week, both instantly approved. I thought I’d share our data points because they are at odds with conventional wi..
2017 Travel Highlights – Part 1
Merry Christmas and happy holidays. With 2017 almost over, I am reflecting on my year of travel. It was another exciting year, although total distance flown is down (not a bad ..
Guest post: Triggering MERRILL+ Delta SkyClub membership
Today’s post was written by friend and longtime reader of the blog Robert Dwyer, about his experience with the no-annual-fee Merrill Lynch MERRILL+ Visa Signature card, which man..
Ongoing Simon Mall discount and newish Walmart money order protocol
Just a couple quick notes today as we head into the holidays.Two more days of discounted Simon Malls Visa gift cardsThrough December 24, 2017, (some?) Simon Malls are selling their
The only investment you’ll ever make that matters
I was having a conversation with a young investor yesterday when I mentioned in passing my view that the latest clue that the market cycle is ending is when an
Congress wants you to sell stocks to pay your taxes
The tax bill Republicans are planning to pass in the next day or two is not a good bill, and hopefully it will not pass. The fact that people have
Which earning opportunities interfere with each other?
Today’s post is more of a reference for myself because I am terrible at keeping track of all the different rewards programs out there, and which ones interfere with which,
RIP: JAL Eliminates Discounted Bangkok Airways Award
The elimination actually happened on Oct 1, 2017, when JAL chose to not renew the generous discount that had been going on for several years. It was a great option for getting a..
Reminder: LifeMiles Reduced Rate for some Intra-USA Flights
Many of you will have read about this a few months ago, when the rate reduction took place. I did, and I even noted it in my list of redemption sweet spots, but still I complete..
Do this now: register for 2018 1st quarter bonus categories
It’s that time again, your quarterly reminder to activate next quarter’s bonus earning on all your credit cards offering rotating quarterly rewards.Chase FreedomIn the first quar..
Amex Hilton Surpass 75k Upgrade Offer – No Lifetime Clause
I just upgraded my no-fee Amex Hilton card to a Surpass, with 75,000 bonus Hilton points after spending $3,000 in 3 months. Annual fee is $75. My offer did not have a “once in ..
It’s not too late to enroll in health insurance
As an independent businessperson, I’ve been enrolled in health insurance through the Affordable Care Act practically since it went into effect. Due to an unprecedented buildup of..
Best Western: Crappy Website, Good Customer Service
Thanks to the current promotion, I had the chance to dip my toe into the world of Best Western – my first post-hobby experience with them. I just want to report my experience, s..