We bring you the latest Hilton Honors changes, swim in the top infinity pools, show you how to earn Rapid Rewards points, visit the Soledar Salt Mines, apply for an FA job with Janet, try to help a sad troll, learn of the 20 most expensive photos sold at auction and lots of stuff in the Buzz section.
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Hilton Honors announced many changes to their program. Of course they are picking up Delta’s style in communicating them by insisting they are all for our benefit lol. No doubt you have seen many anal-yses by bloggers. I just want to mention a few things that stood out to me. One, which I applaud, is that they continue to make the program simpler, which I think is an excellent idea and hope the trend carries over to other programs. Also, it is very interesting how they will now have elite rollover nights when Marriott Rewards killed them. Other than that, no big deal, especially the “new” earning rates, zzzzzz. Here is an FAQ about the changes.
If you are into that elite sort of thing, this is a really good challenge for SPG (and Marriott) status!
Second part of the Southwest guide: Earning and Burning Rapid Rewards points.
I am not a fan of TripAdvisor, which I occasionally look at the overall review scores on a specific property to just get an idea. But the recent Traveler’s Choice awards for “Destinations on the rise” had this island in Japan I was not aware of: Ishigaki. Anyone been there? Any Hyatts on it? 🙂
World’s Top Infinity Pools. So cool, so refreshing! The one in Santorini looks amazing!
Janet Airlines is looking for Flight Attendants. Free trips to CIA secret jails abroad!
Sexist troll attacks Sarah Silverman…and you won’t believe what happened next! Be nice to trolls troll Ingy.
Your personal finance fix of the day: 10 Things Investors Can Expect in 2018. I agree with most, especially #6 and #10. I will add one more… #11. Be Surprised.
These look awesome: The Soledar Salt Mines.
The 20 most expensive photos sold at auction. The one below “Andreas Gursky, Rhein II 1999″ topped the list with $4,338,500 USD!
BLOG BUZZ
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Sorry for the whiny support the blog post yesterday. I knew it would bring out the resident blog troll. I am going to spend less time here…
Mile Nerd‘s experience attending a timeshare presentation closely resembles my last one, sad!
Milenomics used to be in the TBB Blogs I Like list. At this rate after his return, it may even return on the list, another good post.
Interesting content at the PointsAdventure blog, part of Saverocity network.
Windbag Miles has some funny lines about that Hilton Diamond status…especially this one:
There’s a guy who comments on various blogs (DCG or DCS or something) who insists that Hilton will washcloth your balls upon check-in if you have Diamond status, although it kinda seems like he might be exaggerating.
Hey Windbag, let me assure you…that this will not happen all right? Having said that, I am now convinced that Hilton will create an ultra Diamond elite level that will guarantee them suite upgrades. I could be wrong. Or right. Either way, I am no travel thought leader you guys!
I was keeping track of all the hideous credit card pumping and clickbait Kardashian incident posts…Never mind, project #spendlesstimeTBBing underway already.
And I leave you with this…This is just super hilarious (HT: Anonymous commenter person in my blog!)
Check out my updated blog lists: Blogs I Love, Blogs I Like, Blogs To Ignore
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Opinions expressed here are author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
Reading Mile Nerd’s tale about the timeshare presentation I kept thinking “When you go waste a commissioned salesman’s time, and tell him that you are doing exactly that, don’t be surprised when he treats you like a dipshit.”
As I recall, Ingy used to do the timeshare pitch for miles circuit too. But I think he wound-up with a better experience.
Something must have changed in the industry in the past few years. I used to do them, always nice…and then five or so minutes into it I tell the guy “hey, I don’t want to waste your time, I am only doing this for the miles/points, I would not rather waste your time, I know your time is precious with these presentations” or something to that effect. I never got pushback. Instead, I was thanked for being honest and we wrapped it all up shortly thereafter and we both went our separate ways…But the last time the guy insisted to do his whole hour (and more) and was just plain rude (Hilton) and then the manager came AND she did her whole ridiculous parade thingie…Mrs. TBB was furious and so was I. That was the end of our timeshare presentations miles/point collection career. Or maybe that was the point they are doing…to traumatize us addicts so we stop doing this. Could be true…
I think I am going to get to finally cancel my Amex Hilton Surpass today…
I don’t see it as wasting their time. Any sales job entails a lot of dead leads and misses along with the successful sales. And for one thing, those timeshare salesmen in particular know that the success rate is going to be very low. And for another, it’s their employer that entices people to come just for the freebies – the company knows very well that a lot of folks have no interest in buying but presumably has run the numbers to figure out what’s a good return for the sales that they do make in light of the freebies offered.
I haven’t done a ton, but most actually ask me in the beginning if I’m really interested or just doing it for the free stuff and I answer honestly and they just tell me fine and that they just have to spend X amount of time with me and that’s that. However that’s been quite a few years now so maybe the atmosphere has changed. I wonder if sales are down at these timeshares so they’re using more draconian tactics?
Still, just human nature tells you that the kind of antics used by the MN guy will never work!
I am guessing (hey, I am no thought leader lol)…maybe, just maybe, these staffers are now compensated by salary instead of commissions and they just need to make people coming to stick to the end? Doubt it but…who knows?
All I know is I am not doing another one!
As a formerly commissioned salesperson of 9 years, a looky lew, window shopper, or dude there for the bonus is all part of the game. Their reason for attending gives the salesperson no right to be an ass.
Would you accept this from a banker, who was rude to you while applying for a Sapphire Extreme card, because you told them all you want is your 1 million sign up bonus points and not a checking account as well? I doubt it… plus you should use TBB links anyways to avoid wasting anyone’s time!
Broke my fingers hitting refresh to see if that Sapphire Extreme card will show up in my links. Sadly, nope 🙂
This is one way to deal with a broken system. The compensation system is fcuk up.
Marketing is paid to bring in leads. Marketing spends time cold calling starwood members hoping for the best. A few deadbeats like Milenerd and TBB used to show up. But now their groupies and friends start showing up. And your conversion rate goes down. But the marketing manager won’t address the situation and generate better leads because the folks in that unit gets a commission when a person shows up. Not when you close.
You can’t close because the leads are weak (Glengarry Glen Ross, “The leads aren’t weak. No, you’re weak”).
And you probably spend most of your time looking for a new gig because this one isn’t paying your bills.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v9XW6P0tiVc
we are really debating this? if they don’t want people showing up they should stop sending out the deals instead of being a-holes. we are not going to turn down deals when they are offered.
Once everyone knows how to get points with minimal cost, the providers adapt. MS shut down. Time share presentations painful. Behold the new equilibrium.
Just looked at another Emily photo (on Twitter) at Costco buying toys with travel rewards credit cards so……I think you are right 🙂
Buzz-
I checked out that Costco post on MMS. Emily wasn’t buying toys, just things kids play with.
Breaking news required reading for miles, points and frequent business travelers you guys at View From The Wing just out!
Rapper’s Manager Charged for Threatening to Off Flight Attendant’s Head, Claims Racism
waiting for Doctor of Credit to link to it any minute now…
WTF!
Wonder if the troll will poke his head above the bridge today? George you could solve world hunger and bring peace to the Middle East, and Ingy would still curse your name!
True, true. Never even got a thank you for keeping his legacy and name alive, sad!
NFL superstar Richard Sherman lays out 3 issues with crypto trading
http://www.businessinsider.com/cryptocurrencies-nfl-superstar-richard-sherman-lays-out-issues-trading-2018-1
“Richard Sherman is an official spokesperson for COBINHOOD”. Creative name….
I’m making the call right here right now, we are close to Peak Cryptomania.
“Kodak Stock Shoots Up 300%+”
https://petapixel.com/2018/01/10/kodak-stock-shoots-300-thanks-cryptomania/
No way, this train’s not stopping any time soon! My blog value has quintupled since the name change!
Word
You Can Now Book Kimpton Hotels with IHG Points. Looks expensive/poor use of points.
I’ll stick to the Holiday Inn in Manchester, New Hampshire.
https://www.reddit.com/r/churning/comments/7phn33/you_can_now_book_kimpton_hotels_with_ihg_points/
Slowest program integration ever!
I used to sell timeshares in the 90s (not something I’m proud of but made a decent living actually). There are 2 different marketing parties to the sale of timeshares that are completely independent from one another. The front-line people must get you into the room at any cost (that often includes outright lying). They don’t care what you tell them, and they don’t give a shit whether you buy it or not. The sales people must convince you to buy, and they absolutely hate having to deal with folks like us who have no intent to be convinced or explained the “benefits” of timeshare ownership.
I haven’t been to a timeshare presentation for ages, but the last time I went (with wife who later on gave me a harder time than a salesman) the guy began by asking my Social. When I refused, he called the supervisor, who got extremely pushy. I told him that he was being too pushy for his own good, to which he replied that I shouldn’t go to timeshare presentations if I don’t like “pushy.” I said — matching his tone of voice — that it was time to say our goodbyes. Took less than 20 minutes total, but was not a pleasant experience. 🙂
My method worked great for several years…Something must have changed in the past few years I think…Yeah, these have always had this reputation but I think it is getting out of hand. My massage person today also talked about how she had an anxiety attack after the sales guy drove her to about lose it!
In the meantime, all the work that wen into this blog post…managed to get me another big fat zero in support…it’s getting old…wondering if you are all in your basements like Ingy says lol.
That chart made the rounds thru FB last week but I just noticed the San Diego code is correct! LOLOLOL
My fav is SEA
TPG is hiring talented writers and editors who love travel/personal finance
“editing and writing 5-7 stories a day”
“…. a hungry news junkie who hates getting scooped…”
http://jobs.jobvite.com/careers/tpg/job/oEiE6fwq?__jvst=Employee&__jvs1d=s1CSjhwA&__jvsc=Twitter&bid=n5vwRCw4
Expect more…weather updates 🙂
Should have called the blog The Points Guys to scale it properly