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| Guoliang Tunnel Road, China (see link below) |
ON MY MIND
I think this would be my shortest blog post. Eclectic journey indeed! Maybe VERY eclectic. Or is it because of…?
Holy crap, so many credit card pushing blog posts lately. It is the beginning of the month, time to pay bills perhaps? If I was still doing the “Not So Best Of” section I would have to hire an assistant to update the links to so many blog posts that would qualify!
Wow, more Frequent Flyer University meetings out, now in Tampa September 27 -29 in Tampa. Right before The Chicago Seminar October 11 -13 in Chicago. And of course another FTU in April in the heels of the FTU event in Los Angeles, which I attended and really enjoyed for the social aspect. Guys, am I the only one thinking this quirky hobby is getting a bit too popular? Do we really need all these events with the same speakers? Just thinking out loud. I find it hilarious that the CS is billed as “the ONLY not for profit event of its kind” when FTU also stresses that “the event is priced to cover event costs, though if we’ve figured it right there will be some leftover funds which wind up donated to charity.” I am just pointing to the contradiction of these two statements, nothing else!
No time to apply for wife again…Story of my after blog life…And no bookings either.
Any readers with recommendations for a hotel to crash at Heathrow on April 21? Don’t need the luxury, just clean and quick shuttle and real deal in $$ or (preferable) points!
MILES/POINTS
“Marriott Is Bringing Some Moxy to the Brand“. This is getting some play online…how Marriott is teaming up with IKEA. These hotels will NOT have IKEA brand furniture (Thank you Jesus!). Instead “many rooms will be prefabricated offsite and assembled like IKEA furniture.” Huh, whatever.
TRAVEL
“The World’s Best Rooftop Bars“. From Must Look. Wow!
“21 Roads to Drive Before you Die“. Yes baby, this one went into my Evernote for future reference! From Twisted Sifter.
ODDZ & ENDZ
Hugo Chavez died. Venezuelans, get ready for Marudo time.
How long do you have at Heathrow? Is it enough to jaunt into the city? Choice points via Amex for the Quality Crown Hyde Park is a great value (if you don’t care for brand … it’s a large enough room for London).
I get in close to 10 pm. Not going into town even though I have time the next day. I plan to spend it in the Virgin Atlantic clubhouse!
Yes! Way too many of these “seminars.” The marketing machine continues for these same 4 or 5 bloggers. Yuck.
Advanced readers won’t learn anything new if they read their blogs. At least I didn’t at LAX FTU. But the social aspect is indeed very tempting. Once a year is plenty I think. Doing more than one is overkill! Bloggers love these as they can start cultivating relationships with newbies!!
Priority Club Friends and Family rate http://www.tinyurl.com/ihgjenni may get you a deal on one of the 2 HI’s or the CP. No points on this rate.
Great, will check it out! Maybe I can get a suite with my PC Platinum status….cough:-)
Has FTG every disclosed where the charity funds (the extra money from the seminar — not the raffle ticket proceeds) have ever gone? The Milepoint folks are sort of cheesy, taking photos of themselves handing out life-sized checks. But at least we know where the money goes.
Yes, he posted about the money going to The Wounded Warriors Project
http://www.frugaltravelguy.com/2013/02/thanks-ftg-readers-from-the-wounded-warriors-project.html
Regarding charity…I feel as strongly about it as I do about pushing credit cards! I think it should be a private matter. I know I am very unique in both views. This is how I personally feel about the two issues. I am NOT saying I am right or wrong.
On another matter I would love both meeting organizers to fully disclose what they earn from sponsors, hotels, etc..INCLUDING miles/points & statuses…if anything!
Oh, I feel very strongly about fully disclosure too…And I am not angry.
And never ever underestimate the importance of having Nightline filming all about it too!
I also find both events being close to each other is a bit much…The clear winners are the blogger presenters haivng adoring audicences in both:-)
Someone pointed out earlier that the link above wasn’t about Chicago Seminars charity, it was about charity and his e-book. That comment seems to have disappeared.
Sorry I never saw such a post and have not deleted any stops either!
Today’s worst-of, because it’s been on my mind:
Every time AMEX business gold pops up with a new offer, the clowns all tumble out of the clown car to blog about it. It shows that they care about more than affiliate links, don’tyaknow? Then every time the kitty runs dry, lazy bloggers go to the standby “You should really get the Ink Bold!/You should switch to the Ink Plus!” (“Best sign-up bonus out there!”)
I wonder how many fictitious sole proprietorship companies are suddenly created and explained over reconsideration lines to bored CSRs. And I wonder what bloggers would say if suddenly Chase or AMEX started looking into how many of these companies have any revenue, and came across what is really (honestly not-very-often-prosecuted) wire fraud.
For that reason, posting about business cards without much more active warnings along the lines of “if you do not have a business, DON’T,” I now think, borders on unethical.
Or maybe the credit card companies just don’t care. I don’t know.
harvson3
I agree in all your points…again!
I think a lot of it is because banks don’t care as long as the volumes are at such a level to ensure some idiots will get way under their heads to start paying ridiculous interest charges to…subdizize all the rest of us:-)
“Apply for wife again”
What’s wrong with the current one? Bonus expired? LOL Kidding George. Get some good rest 🙂
I must do it today…I must do it today:-)
We stayed at the Heathrow Marriott on a Look No Further rate (a little less than $100) and it was a pretty good airport hotel. The breakfast food in the club lounge was really good actually.
I am eating breakfast (and lunch and dinner) at the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse the next day:-) Goodd to know, thanks for taking the time to comment!
I hope these new IKEA/Marriott co-branded hotels refrain from serving horse meat in the restaurants.
Lol…I wonder if I had any myself in them swedish meatballs I had a few times, lol.
Stayed at the Radisson by Heathrow back during the 50L promo
Got a cheap rate for under $100
If you have the Carlson credit card, you get 60 points per $$$ with the 3X promo + status bonus + credit card bonus category spend + online booking bonus + 10% on TopCashback or wherever….. you can practically make the rate back in points
(plus it was a pretty good hotel)
My stay is in mid April, I think the 3x promo ends this month. Plus, I am still waiting for my CC card to get to me so I can renew the Gold status! I will keep this hotel in mind, should be finalizing this stay in a week or two now, thanks!
Hopefully by then a certain promo popular among the travel hacking crowd will have returned, and you can get 50K for your 90 dollars
The poster check guys ‘donate’ whats leftover after they deduct their expenses… The hotels comp the meeting room(s) and board for the organisers because they guarantee sales for a block of rooms at the group rates. 😉
That goes without saying of course. I still remember that Asian “organizer” guy in Seminar #1 who was pushing his services so much, glad he is out of the picture.
Have stayed at the Sheraton Skyline Hotel at London Heathrow. Perfectly nice, super close to airport and not a million bucks! Good luck! http://www.starwoodhotels.com/sheraton/property/overview/index.html?propertyID=268
I have a feeling that we’re currently at “maximum impact” for the bloggers in the frequent flyer world. It’s all credit cards, all the time. I suspect that can’t last. And that their readers will grow tired of the pitch.
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Lucky has officially jumped the shark with affiliate links
Now even his trip reports have them