Have you ever wondered what it would be like to just sell everything and travel the world? I know I have. It tends to be something you do when you’re either young or old because in between people have too many expectations of you. I don’t think it’s something I want to do while I’m still young, but I definitely look forward to the opportunity when I retire. There was an exciting article in the Wall Street Journal on Tuesday describing one such retired couple who realized that they could sell their home in California and use the proceeds, plus their regular fixed income distributions, to pay for a permanent vacation. It really isn’t as wild as it sounds. Consider: You probably already pay a couple grand a month for an … [Continue reading]
Asia Trip Report: Historical Sights, Ethnic Neighborhoods, and Raffles Hotel
October 24, 2012 By 7 Comments
After dropping off our bags we headed out to explore Asia for the first time. We chose Singapore on purpose so as to avoid a huge culture shock, but perhaps we weren't expecting it to be quite so familiar. I wouldn't say it reminds me of the United States (very few places do, except for Canada), but Singapore did remind me a lot of a major European city. The only real difference was that cars drove on the left side of the road, and the signs, instead of being a mix of English and French, or English and Spanish, were instead a mix of English and several other languages, usually some dialect of Chinese. English is the official language and used for all street signs. Other posts in this series: Introduction Hyatt Regency San … [Continue reading]
Comparing Low-Level Elite Tiers
October 24, 2012 By 20 Comments
This week I'm comparing the different elite status tiers at major U.S. airlines so you can consider which might suit your own needs as you beging planning travel for 2013. I laid out on Tuesday how, if a few mileage runs will be needed, you should try to get those out of the way at the beginning of the year rather than the end. Even if you won't be doing any mileage runs, spending a few moments to think about where you'll be going and how you'll get there might help you realize that perhaps a different airline deserves your business. I'll mention a few things up front just to save space later on. Miles are generally divided into redeemable miles (RDM) that are exchanged for free travel or upgrades, as well as elite qualifying miles (EQM) … [Continue reading]
PNW Mileage Runs: PDX-IAH-BOS
October 23, 2012 By 6 Comments
Credit goes to TheBOSman for this excellent run between Boston and Portland. Very few same-day turns were available when I checked, but here's one I found out in February 2013. Remember what I said this morning? Now is the time to start booking any mileage runs you might need for next year's status. However, one-night stays can be found more frequently, including in January and December. I found the most availability for transit through Houston, which I prefer because there are no regional jets and my upgrade chances tend to be better. But LAX will get you more miles. Still, at just under $240 for 6,832 miles, that comes out to 3.5 CPM, a very nice price these days. I say stay overnight and enjoy the city. Boston has always been one of … [Continue reading]
Rewarding Recap: Airline Enrollment Bonuses and $50 off Travelocity
October 23, 2012 By Leave a Comment
I'm off on another mileage run tonight, and I also booked the last of my travel for the year, just pushing me over the threshold for Premier 1K status. It's a nice feeling to have it all booked. And you know what? It pays to keep track of your travel, as I realized I would still be just a few miles short. I ended up switching the card I booked it with, using my MileagePlus Select Visa just to get those last EQMs for travel booked on United.com. So while some of my earlier posts may have been critical of being too obsessive about getting every last mile, it always pays to keep the details in the back of your mind. Last Chance for American Miles with Netflix - View from the Wing Gary shares that the opportunity to get 2,500 AAdvantage miles … [Continue reading]
