Christmas Markets Episode 05: Show Notes Nothing quite rivals the European Christmas markets during the festive season. Trevor recently went on a multi-city Christmas trip with his family, spanning three generations. In this episode, we hear about his travels from Paris to Berlin and on to Vienna and Prague. Trevor shares his observations of the Christmas markets in each city, as well as his accommodation and culinary experiences in each destination. This is timely as it’s a great time to start planning for a 2023 Christmas market trip, as reward availability is just opening up. Tune in to learn about the point redemption opportunities involved in Trevor’s recent trip and how to do Christmas markets in style! Key Points From This Episode: [00:18] Introducing today’s topic: Christmas markets. [00:38] Why now is a good time to plan for a Christmas market trip. [01:08] Trevor’s past European Christmas market experiences. [02:07] How many times he traveled to Europe in 2022! [02:44] The point redemption opportunities involved in his recent Christmas market trip. [07:54] Trevor’s Christmas market food experience in France. [11:05] His Parisian hotel experience. [12:58] Trevor’s German Christmas market and hotel experience in Berlin. [17:14] The pros and cons of the hop-on-hop-off bus in Berlin. [19:28] Trevor shares his observations of each market he visited in Berlin. [25:00] A recount of his stay in Vienna.  [33:21] The benefits of staying 60 nights in the higher program. [35:05] The connectability of Vienna. [35:34] The multiple Christmas markets in Vienna and their unique features. [37:18] The Viennese food that stood out to Trevor and his family. [37:57] How he traveled to Prague. [39:34] Why he chose to stay in the Hilton Old City. [43:38] Trevor’s overall feeling about his recent multi-generational, multi-city trip. Correction: When discussing the Andaz Vienna am Belvedere’s Executive Suite, Trevor stated it may have been 1,100 square meters; it was actually 108 square meters, which translates to 1,162.5 square feet. Tweetables: “Hotels can be a dime a dozen, but if you want a specific hotel, when you’re talking about the holiday season, you need to start really early.” —@tmount [0:00:53] “German Christmas markets are really the Christmas markets in Europe.” — @tmount [0:13:28] “Not every market is open every day, at least in Berlin.” — @tmount [0:23:53] “The Christmas markets in Europe are so beautiful and they’re so doable with a little bit of planning ahead.” — @tmount [0:44:34]

Editor's Note: Episode 3 of Travelstores only appeared on the Milenomics Patreon Feed. How To Get the Most Out of Your Cruise Key Points From This Episode: Today’s topic: How to get the most out of your cruise. The COVID-19 pandemic and how it affected the cruise industry. How the state of the cruise industry has changed over the past year. The most popular time to go out to sea. Why cruises can be seen as an economical travel alternative. Where most people are going on cruises right now. How the pandemic offered a unique opportunity to enjoy emptier cruise ships. The mindset shift you should make if you want to adopt cruising. Some of the most convenient benefits of cruises. The type of high-quality entertainment you can experience on cruise ships. The less enjoyable aspects of going on a full-capacity cruise. Tom and Trevor reflect on their Baltic cruise and what they appreciated about it. Why European cruises allow for a more authentic experience. Tom’s experience on his first Norwegian Cruise Line cruise and how it compares to Royal Caribbean. The differences between reserved and freestyle dining. Learn about the manufactured spending opportunities that you’ll find on a cruise ship. An overview of the variations in casino experiences on different cruise lines. The exciting benefits that you receive from casino loyalty reward programs. The opportunities for free and substantially discounted cruises if you don’t like gambling. Episode 04: Show Notes. When the COVID-19 pandemic first caused global lockdowns in early 2020, cruise lines were one of the many hard-hit industries that had to close down virtually overnight. Now, in 2022, the world has opened up considerably, and many industries have returned to pre-pandemic levels of operation (or close to it). Today on the show we discuss some of our most memorable cruise experiences and how cruise lines have recovered over the past year. Listening in, you'll hear Tom give a detailed breakdown of the loyalty programs that gave him access to free and discounted cruises and how that allowed him to spend over two months at sea in 2022. We reflect on how the pandemic created a unique opportunity to experience much emptier cruises, and what we’ll be missing now that they are back in full swing. Our conversation also covers the types of entertainment you can expect, the best ways to dine, and how to shift your mindset for the best cruise experience. If you’re curious about the world of cruises and how to make the most of your next trip, then be sure to stick around for this illuminating conversation!  Tweetables: “Cruising is almost unrecognizable from the state that it was in, in December of 2021.” — Tom Kim [0:01:06] “You have to make a mindset shift when you adopt cruising as something that you want to do.” — Tom Kim [0:05:54] “I've gotten dozens of free cruise offers from the casino loyalty program. And you don't have to gamble that much for them to start offering you stuff.” — Tom Kim [0:35:43] “Now that the ships are back to 100% capacity I think the casino offers are getting a little less generous.” — Tom Kim [0:45:31] Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Royal Caribbean Norwegian Cruise Line Carnival

Although we're up to Episode 180 on Patreon feed it's been a while since we've done a No Annual Fee show. We're back today discussing things we're doing as 2022 comes to a close: 1:08 Credit card double and triple dip opportunities 3:30 Wrapping up credit card incidental usage 11:30 Credit card Q4 5x categories 14:10 Credit card milestone bonuses 16:35 Status top-off 19:40 Hotel certificate usage (lots of Hiltons seem to expire) 23:20 Buy miles in programs where yearly caps make sense 25:10 Book Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts for $200 Personal Platinum Credit We hope this has been a great year for you in points & miles. Happy Holidays!

Editor's Note: Please welcome Travelstories with Tom (@tktweetskim) and Trevor (@tmount) who many of you already know. They'll share episodes here from time to time. Enjoy! Episode 02: Show Notes. In today’s episode, Trevor and Tom broach the topic of the International Gateway that everyone loves to hate. We’re referring, of course, to JFK International Airport in New York City. From its unique features and plane-spotting opportunities to the logistical challenges it presents, this episode covers it all. Tune in to hear Trevor and Tom’s review of the airport's various lounges and nearby hotels, find out about the upcoming changes to this international gateway, and discover why everyone keeps finding themselves at JFK, despite its flaws. Key Points From This Episode: Today’s topic: JFK International Airport. The unique features of JFK. Who each terminal is owned by. The limited airside connectivity between terminals. The transport challenges and costs of getting in and out of JFK. A review of JFK’s lounges. The Virgin Clubhouses you can access with a platinum American Express card. Notable upcoming changes for Terminal 7 and Terminal 2. The hotel choices around JFK. JFK’s flaws. The plane spotting opportunity at JFK. Why people find themselves at JFK despite the fact that they love to hate it. Strategies for positioning, with regards to connecting flights through JFK. The logistical challenges JFK presents. The pros of flying to and from JFK. Tweetables: “[At] JFK there’s very limited, if not non-existent, airside connectivity between terminals.” — Tom Kim [0:03:05] “The Virgin Clubhouse is probably one of the most notable [lounges] and is definitely one to go visit if you have the opportunity.” — Tom Kim [0:09:21] “[There are] a lot of flaws in this major New York gateway to the world.” — Tom Kim [0:26:59] “[JFK] is probably the best plane spotting location on the East Coast.” — Tom Kim [0:27:14] “One of the reasons people love to hate JFK, yet still find themselves in JFK, is [that] you still find that award space.” — @tmount [0:29:32] “The incredible connectivity that you have from JFK is really where it shines.”— @tmount [0:34:23] Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Trevor on Twitter JFK International Airport New York JFK Virgin Clubhouse

Editor's Note: Today we host a new show on the network. Please welcome Travelstories with Tom (@tktweetskim) and Trevor (@tmount) who many of you already know. They'll share episodes here from time to time. Enjoy! Welcome to Travelstories, where we get into the details of traveling, flight planning, and collecting miles and points! Flying with Japan Airlines (JAL) is always a treat. And although we didn’t enter Japan, we have flown through it with JAL en route to Manila. In today’s episode, we’ll unpack our trip to Manila, what it was like traveling with JAL, and whether it lived up to our expectations. We take some time to reflect on the challenges we faced in booking our flights and how we decided to optimally spend our points, as well as why we chose JAL for our premium flight experience. Listeners will hear our thoughts on how the airports and lounges we visited have changed since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic and the special insight we got into Japanese culture during our trip. We also share a breakdown of our in-flight experience, the food and beverages we were most impressed by, and why staying at The Grand Hyatt in Manila was undoubtedly the best choice. Our primary goal with this trip was to have a premium flight experience, and while we faced some puzzling challenges along the way, we feel that it was well worth the stress and planning it took to get it done. To hear all the nerdy details of our trip, plus some smart saving tips, be sure to tune in today! Key Points From This Episode: The exciting news of Japan opening up on 11 October 2022. Why we chose to travel to Manila with Japan Airlines (JAL) for a premium flight experience. The challenges we faced when booking flights and organizing our trip to Manila. Our experience of the JAL check-in process. The special insight we got into Japanese culture when we arrived before check-in was officially open. A breakdown of our in-flight experience. Learn about JAL’s expansive menu options. Our thoughts on both the Western and Japanese menus. An overview of the drinks that were served and the exceptional whiskey we tried. A rundown of the special juices that are produced by JAL. How the Haneda JAL first class lounge has changed since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. The incredible aviation decorations in the Red Room of the JAL lounge. The economy flight that we took and why we were pleasantly surprised. How our experience of flying out differed from flying in. Our exceptional stay at the Grand Hyatt in Manila. How Manila exceeded our expectations. The last leg of our trip home and why we chose to rent a car. Tweetables: “I'm not a seafood fan. So the Japanese menu didn't really do too much for me. I had a couple of different items over the course of the two flights from that Japanese menu, but largely, it really was very heavy on the seafood.” — Trevor [0:15:05] “The last time I had been to this lounge was well pre-pandemic. They had a nice layout, a little bit of buffet, and a little bit of a la carte that you could order. This time they seemed to have adapted to the pandemic a little bit more.” — Trevor  [0:21:57] “The Red Room is still pretty cool. There are a lot of interesting artifacts there. They had lots of interesting aviation decorations and things like that. It still has a lot of charm.” — Tom [0:23:06] “I think it was worth it. [Even] with all the stress. That's why we're in this hobby. We love this stuff. We love travel planning. W

We're back today with a discussion about finding award travel to Japan for a family from both the west coast and the east coast of the US, now that Japan is finally set to reopen for tourism. Info from US Embassy in JapanSet to reopen October 11, 2022Finally! Let the planning begin.JAL award availability patterns far out seem mostly the same with a few notable exceptionsFirst, I don’t see JAL reliably opening 2 in First/2 in Business at schedule open any more (as was the case before the pandemic - see this post). Now only releasing 1 seat in First, and 2 in Business on the JFK-TYO route.Second, fuel surcharges are way up when using partner miles from non-US programs -or- JAL miles head-on. Alaska and AA have no fuel surcharges but their booking window opens far later than foreign carriers.Third, weekend departures/returns seem to have less availability than weekdays. Sweep for trends w/AA calendar search. Fourth, close-in award availability release patterns are not as good than they were before the pandemicFifth, Cathay Pacific Asia Miles have lost their appeal for this redemption even though they do see further out than British Airways. British Airways tends to have higher bank point transfer bonuses.Discuss: “Would you rather” award travel puzzlersHow do you feel about splitting your family up between cabins? First/Business. Business/Premium Economy. Does 2 and 2 make a difference vs 3 and 1?How about splitting flights? 2 go through one city, 2 go through another.Favorable exchange rate (link for 5 year chart) - check cash hotel bookings now to lock in rates, and compare to hotel points We'll follow up soon with a blog post summarizing changes in award travel trends to Japan, but for now we hope this discussion is helpful. This week on Episode 173 of the paid show we'll be discussing new Amex opportunities and more. We'd love it if you joined us on Patreon to listen to those shows and gain access to our Slack community.

It's been too long since we've released a No Annual Fee epsiode. This week we take stock of the many Amex offers currently available, many of which can earn welcome bonuses even if you've had - or still have - the card. There's some nuance to it through, which we cover in detail. Enjoy! 0:25 Amex Opportunity Roundup NLL 250,000 Business Platinum (link to check, may still get pop-up)$30,000 in 6 monthsAdditional 10,000 for adding employee at time of application and spending $1,000 on the cardTargeted NLL Bundles150,000 Business Platinum (link to check)100,000 Business Gold (link to check)Additional 10,000 for adding employee at time of application and spending $1,000 on the cardIf card goes to recon, it seems the ability to earn 10,000 for additional employee is lostCall-in offers 855-531-3491 (DoC, FM)250,000 Business Platinum180,000 Business GoldAdditional 10,000 for adding employee at time of application and spending $1,000 on the cardTargeted Upgrade Business Platinum 140,000 (link to check)Online business employee 20,000 for $4,000 up to 5Business Green Business GoldBusiness PlatinumSaid to expire 3/31/2022, seems to still be working 20:25 Amex Reconsideration Calls Amex has rather lax approval standards compared to other banksThere are many ways to get denied temporarily - for exceeding some limit on the total number of Amex cards you have, how recently you’ve been approved for the same cardWhen this happens you have some time (usually around 90 days) to call Amex and ask them for clarity on why you weren’t approved, and to ask them to reconsider the application if the disqualifying disposition has been resolvedThis can be a very effective technique if a limited time opportunity presents itself, and you’re not eligible to be approved until some time has passedCheck application status onlineCall them at 1-866-314-0237 (Mon-Fri 6am-8pm MST).Tell them your application number in the email they send you with their decision (or they can look it up with SSN, sometimes takes a while for them to find it if you’ve applied for a lot of cards over the years)Ask them why you were denied and if the condition has been resolved to have it put through for reconsiderationIf they agree you’ve resolved the condition you’ll usually get an email with approval within 24 hours 26:40 JetBlue Acquires Spirit Seems like for real this timeFeels like this is going to be a mess

Robin Hutson from Luxe Recess comes back to chat with Robert about... 0:45 Travel Trends Prices on airfare and lodging as travel comes back big timeSeeing this domestically and internationally? 11:05 The Sad State of Amex Platinum Travel (Loyalty Lobby) 19:15 The Bahamas Baha MarAtlantis 33:25 Italy Hotels mentioned:Laconda RossaPalazzo Margherita 49:15 Disney Star Wars Galactic StarcruiserNew Wish Ship 54:15 Luxe Recess Parenting Disney Weekend Finding Joy Inside & Out Thanks to Robin for coming on the show!

Milenomics community member Lillian joins me to talk about her trip to Uruguay, Argentina, Tahiti and beyond. I'd recommend taking a look at Google Maps while listening to follow along. Enjoy! 0:30 Premise and Parameters 4:50 AA Business Class 115k pp round tripAUS-MIA-MVDAccessed the Centurion lounge and AA Flagship Admirals Club in MIA 11:00 Montevideo, Uruguay SORO Montevideo, Curio Collection by Hilton for 18k a nightThe location is perfect for biking on La Rambla and for good dining within walking distance. Rooms were perfectly fine, modern decor. Diamond status recognition: They delivered a delicious tray of sweets. Car rental: Marino Sport, delivered car to hotel. Three hour drive to the beaches. 16:30 Punta del Este, Uruguay Casa Flor Boutique Hotel in the town of La BarraOriginally booked with Chase 28k a night for 5 nights. Due to covid and rebooking, I ended up paying a cash rate at the hotel with my credit card $250/night.Amazing hotel, please stay here. 23:00 Salta, Argentina Legado Mitico Salta Boutique Hotel One night booked on Chase portal: $22k points. This is the best hotel in the city. It oozes old world charm and it’s like staying at a European guest house. Location is great, lots to see. Great breakfast. Still dreaming of the mini pear tart I had.Car rental: Hertz/ Salta downtown. We walked to the Hertz from the hotel and got to see the main square, picturesque town. Get a 4-wheel drive because it’s a  grueling drive down ruta 40 not for the faint at heart but incredibly scenic.  29:50 Cafayate, Argentina Patios De Cafayate Wine HotelThree nights for 18k points/night booked on the Chase portal It’s on the grounds of the famous Bodega El Esteco winery.  We had a great stay here. I had some misgivings on the mixed reviews because this place was a bit more expensive that the second best hotel in Cafayate but if you dug deep, I felt like the bad reviews were basically misunderstandings which most definitely could occur if you come from the US and expect things to go the way they do in the US. As a guest, you get a free wine tasting at the store which is literally just a taste of three wines without explanations, not the official tasting tour which you need to book.Basic King room is beautiful and gigantic. The view was of the vineyard and the mountains in the background. Informal horseback rides availableVisited Botega Yocochuga, up a crazy dirt road. Get the rose!Piatelli winery: excellent wine tasting, restaurant overlooking the valley, incredible atmosphere and food, gift shop with indigenous art to purchase. Make sure to reserve in advance.  33:45 Buenos Aires, Argentina Airbnb Palermo district. We rented a two-story loft in the Palermo Soho district. https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/plus/31556390?source_impression_id=p3_1648659139_ughGq4ac3lauBYSv. Excellent location to feel like you are part of the city. It is not for smal

Too much news for our Patreon Podcast this week, so we broke the following out into this No Annual Fee Episode. Enjoy! 0:26 JetBlue News Roundup Boston to London service begins this summer (Link)Bids for Spirit (Link)Has service recovery issues (Link) 04:11 Marriott Bonvoy Dynamic Pricing Goes Live Seems to be a mixed bagBooked Ritz-Carlton Maldives for 335,000 now 385,000 (not bad)JW Marriott Bonnet Creek was 60k weekends, 50k weekdays, now < 50k each night which makes it a target for 50k certsAnd will be a target for up to 15k cert top-off when that starts “some time in April” 09:54 Bilt Rewards Mastercard Widely Available, Issued By Wells Fargo Now issued by Wells Fargo and open to all (no waitlist)3x on dining, transfers to AA, Hyatt and othersNo AF, but no welcome bonus yetReferrals are 25,000 per 5 referrals, can refer even if you just have a Bilt Rewards account without a card (I’d wonder if you could sign up for Bilt Rewards account, refer P2 for Mastercard, and then refer back if you wanted two of the cards, but that seems like overkill for the overall value)I hear there are no such things as AUs with this card, so if you’re getting this for P2 when you’ve been shutdown by AA they’ll need to get their own in order to transfer to AADiscuss: Pretty wild to see this right on the Wells Fargo site. What’s stopping Wells Fargo from taking the Bilt Rewards relationships and rolling out a very compelling bank point card/program? 15:15 Targeted Chase 5x Promos Link to check: https://chase.com/mybonus/Ex: 5x Travel, Gas, Grocery on United card (capped at $1,500 spend in Q2)Reminder: Other Q2 2022 5x categoriesChase Freedom: Amazon.com and Streaming ServiceDiscover: Gas Stations and TargetCiti Dividend: Drugstores and Grocery 16:57 [Targeted?] Bank Point Transfer Bonuses Amex Avios 40% Amex Marriott Bonvoy 25%Chase Air France 25%Citi Avianca 25% 19:55 AA Expiring Miles Again (TPG) Louses–they’re not even giving you 18 months from the announcement–they seem to be backdating to the last activity which means miles could expire SOON. Miles for minors do not expire, thankfully. Book and cancel (can do the whole thing online). I found  a 7,500 Mile Main cabin LAX-SJC and booked–canceled right after ticketing and miles and money came back without needing to do anything (took about 2 days).Write-up from 2018 on this process.(link)  21:55 Alila Maldives Open for Booking (OMAAT)