We bring you the sad new of the IHG Rewards Pointbreaks devaluation, learn about Dining Rewards, play financial self-defense, the 14th annual Ann Arbor Art Fair DO, talk about success, getting the same cards again, more Hilton cards available here, we review blogs here deal with it, learn about loyalty fraud and more for you for freeeeeee.
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The best hotel deal in this hobby, IHG Rewards Pointbreaks hotels for just 5,000 IHG Rewards points per night, is no more. When it rains it pours. Looks like the better properties will now be 10,000 and 15,000 points per night. So, to recap, staying at an Intercontinental for just 5,000 points is not in your future okay? Sad!
I have now added the Amex Hilton Honors Ascend card for 100k HH points in the list of cards available with my links. It joins the lukewarm Amex Hilton Honors Business card for 100k points. Still no signs of the Aspire card and the no annual fee card, hang in there you guys! I also added the Citi ThankYou Premier card for 30k points. The latest BestOffers are listed HERE. You know what to do, no pics and arrows are necessary. Thank you for the support. Never.Pay.Interest.To.Banks!
This is a good reference up to date post: Can you get the same credit card again? It is mind boggling how more difficult this has become, we are becoming like Europe đ
Three passive dining rewards programs. I only use Rewards Network…mostly to dine once somewhere where I need to have an activity so my miles/points do not expire.
Legendary ski film pioneer Warren Miller has passed away, RIP!
Good info here on Financial Self-Defense: Preventing Fraud and Mischief.
Quantifying what success means. Very interesting. Maybe someone does one for bloggers? đ
Best obituary ever?
Terry Ward
December 31, 1946 – January 23, 2018
Terry Wayne Ward, age 71, of DeMotte, IN, escaped this mortal realm on Tuesday, January 23rd, 2018, leaving behind 32 jars of Miracle Whip, 17 boxes of Hamburger Helper and multitudes of other random items that would prove helpful in the event of a zombie apocalypse.
Terry is survived by his overly-patient and accepting wife Kathy, who was the love of his life (a fact she gladly accepted sympathy for during their 48 years of marriage). He is also survived by daughters Rebecca (William) and Jean (Jeff); sister Linda; brother Phil; grandchildren: Alexander and Hannah Hines (The Mesopotamians), Daphne and Erin Pistello (The Daffer and Peanut), Brendan and Owen Lahm (Phineas and Ferb) and Tessa McMurry (Smiley).
He is preceded in death by his parents Paul and Bernice Ward, daughter Laura Pistello, grandson Vincent Pistello, a 1972 Rambler and a hip.
Terry graduated from Thornridge High School in South Holland, IL, where only three of his teachers took an early retirement after having had him as a student. He met the love of his life, Kathy, by telling her he was a lineman â he didnât specify early on that he was a lineman for the phone company, not the NFL. Still, Kathy and Terry wed in the fall of 1969, perfectly between the Summer of Love and the Winter of Regret.
Terry volunteered his service in the United States Army and was an active combat Veteran in the Viet Nam War.
He retired from AT&T (formerly Ameritech, formerly formerly Indiana Bell) after 39 years of begrudging service, where he accumulated roughly 3,000 rolls of black electrical tape during the course of his career (which he used for everything from open wounds to âDonât use this buttonâ covers).
He enjoyed many, many things. Among those things were hunting, fishing, golfing, snorkeling, ABBA, hiking Turkey Run, chopping wood, shooting guns, Bed Bath & Beyond, starlight mints, cold beer, free beer, The History Channel, CCR, war movies, discussing who makes the best pizza, The Chicago White Sox, old Buicks, and above all, his family.
He was a renowned distributor of popsicles and ice cream sandwiches to his grandchildren. He also turned on programs such as âPhineas and Ferbâ for his grand-youngins, usually when they were actually there.
He despised âuppity foodsâ like hummus, which his family lovingly called âbean dipâ for his benefit, which he loved consequently. He couldnât give a damn about most material things, and automobiles were never to be purchased new. He never owned a personal cell phone and he had zero working knowledge of the Kardashians.
Terry died knowing that The Blues Brothers was the best movie ever, (young) Clint Eastwood was the baddest-ass man on the planet, and hot sauce can be added to absolutely any food.
Tremendous and heartfelt thanks go to the truly exceptional nurses at Southlake Methodist Hospital Neuro-Intensive Care Unit, who provided much more than nursing care for Terry, but also provided a peaceful and compassionate environment during his transition from this life to the next.
Friends can visit with the family on Saturday, January 27, from Noon until the time of the Funeral Service at 4:00 PM, with Pastor Mark Wilkins officiating, at Geisen Funeral, Cremation & Receptions Centre, 606 E. 113th Ave., Crown Point, IN. Services will conclude at the funeral home.
Memorial donations in Terryâs name can be made to your favorite charity or your favorite watering hole, where you are instructed to tie a few on and tell a few stories of the great Terry Ward.
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This section is for advanced level hobbyists and veteran blog readers & personal rants & stuff.
For Best Offers credit cards, click HERE
My friend Dave organizes the famous Ann Arbor Art Fair DO every summer in Ann Arbor. It is now the 14th annual, wow! See post #1 for details. It has become a tradition. Oh, and it is free! Many Titan bloggers got their first speaking engagement in this DO. I should be there…as long as nothing comes up in Greece with my mother.
Interesting stuff in this post: Understanding Loyalty Fraud in 2018.
Any data points on former Amex Hilton Surpass cardholders who canceled, got the Ascend card and got 100k signup bonus yet? Please let me know in the comments.
Resident troll Ingy again, what is wrong?
This is why I will never be successful (strictly commercially speaking) as a credit card sales blogger. WTF is wrong with these people, just when I thought I had seen it all #maxcheesy.
I think I have a problem with plastic salesmen you guys. Oh, hi pakalu papito!
This is some major league credit card pumping going on, just part of a single day, WTF! Excuse me, I just threw up…in my basement đ
And I leave you with this…Oh the good old days of the hobby before the credit card pumpers took over!
TBB
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You are all first!
Terry made it.
Terry had a Chase Sapphire Preferred card and wants you to get one with ———>insert imaginary direct affiliate link
Going back to my basement, RIP Terry! đ
If you want to learn even more about fraud in the points world, sign-up for an IHG account. With its 4 digit pin passwords, it wonât take long for you too to see how fraud works in the real world.
Youâd think IHG would compare the costs they are incurring to deal with the (it seems daily) hacked accounts against the cost of changing to real 2018 passwords.
It is very shocking that IHG still has not fixed that. Unbelievable!
WHICH BLOG HAS THE CATCHIEST/BEST NAME?
WHICH BLOG NAME MAKES YOU THINK, WTF?
note: we are not talking content, just the name
thank you in advance for your participation in this important survey
The points guy and view from the wing are pretty solid blog names.
Frugal travel guy makes me think of some crotchety old man who just complains on the internet all day.
Million mile secrets seems like someone that’s married is doing everything possible to hide his Ashley Madison account…
Best name Points Guy
Worst name Wandering Armenian
First, Travel Blogger Buzz is the best. By miles and miles đ It’s the only one that actually makes you think. Ok stop laughing, I meant laugh woohoo!
Some blog names that are…unique:
Windbag Miles (anything with the word Windbag in it…is a winner!)
Head for Points (think about it!)
Mile Nerd (so….nerdy I like it!)
Doctor of Credit (smh, really?)
God Save The Points (wtf? oh, is it “God Save The Queen” parody then…oh ok)
Miles Per Day (so misleading, should be Shutdowns Per Day)
Upon Arriving (wtf really?)
Live and Let’s Fly (what? how about Let’s Fly to Live? Or something)
Travel with Grant (should be Travel With Grant and Shelli)
Chasing The Points (one of the best names!)
Miles for Family (I am so excited #notreally #yawn)
Pizza In Motion (WTF name is that from a guy addicted to donuts!)
The Gate (so mysterious)
Heels First Travel (but are they high heels?)
Monkey Miles (don’t.even.ask.)
The Reward Boss (I only post shit that rewards me)
Seat 31B (BEST logo ever)
LaptopTravel (I just threw up in the bucket I bought at Amazon with my links)
Grab a Mile (Dude, we like to grab them by the thousands, pffft)
Points, Miles & Martinis (no Martinis here, just loads of targeted affiliate links!)
TravelZork (no idea wtf Zork is!)
RenesPoints (soooooo glad it only posts on weekends now!)
The Cranky Flier (implies such negativity)
Frugal Travel Guy (Sold way too early, sad!)
I may add more later
Parody…Relax!
Windbag Miles……love his writing style!
Flavor Flav beaten up in Las Vegas casino
https://pagesix.com/2018/01/25/flavor-flav-beaten-up-in-las-vegas-casino/
wow what a great video. someone was too busy using their camera to film it for the internet, rather than help Flavor Flav from get punched silly.
View From The Wing posted it yet?
Hit Me!! 911 is a joke in your town
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CPNK0VspQ0M
Sucks about the PointsBreaks. Although I never actually happened to find one I could use, others did so it’s too bad they devalued it. Though I guess not unexpected in today’s environment of constant devals.
I think I used it twice, both times for a friend at the holiday inn express Bismarck. It’s not like they had a ton of high end properties, so if they do end up getting intercontinentals at 15k, I’d say that’s an improvement overall.
I used it for a few times too, one was at my awesome vacay at Canada doing them Fairmont properties…I mean 5k was a ridiculous bargain. Sad to see it go but totally not surprised. It did not hep that bloggers kept screaming about it (and selling the IHG Visa).
I am so sick of Companion Pass posts, I swear MMS has written about it over a million times,
Having seen the preview, the new PB list is substantially better than the old one. 15k for CP Abu Dhabi is better than 5k for HI Smellville, KA (last renovated 1982).
substantially = 3x đ
âFrugal Travel Guyâ sold for millions
âTBBâ barely minimum wage
Now thatâs funny Mr 2 apps this month!!!!
3 and more in the pipeline! But who is counting?
If my tiny site can get all all these apps…just imagine how many conversions others are doing and how many zeroes were left on the table, sad!
Thank you for being such a loyal reader.
And thanks George for trying to sell your convoluted point of view where taking a profit is less desirable than never making a profit at all.
So sad you were too late for the party!
âFrugal Travel Guyâ sold for millions
Rick, I think you pressed the ‘s’ by accident
The obituary was great, you post unique stuff, hope you can keep it up, thanks.
Nope
âFrugal Travel Guyâ sold for millions
Ingy-
You were schrewd enough to get paid in pesos?
Vaya con dios, muchacho.
1.x is more than one so we say millions, how conveeeeeeenient!
Why is it ALWAYS about money with this guy, sad!
Not always about money but I did the blog for an income. I’d call the income stream successful.
How about you George? Is your income stream successful? Why did you add links and referrals if you weren’t looking for income?
If you had only acted when the two of you had originally talked about it? With your presumed ultra high moral authority and belief you are so much better than others (yea right), you could have schooled the world in the right way to promote miles that would perfectly look after your readers.
But your elitist lefty snobitude (like the new word?) held you back and you waited until it was oh so too late to teach us all the ways of George. And what did you get for it? Less than minimum wage, a readership that has left in droves and now you are contemplating down to three days a week. Why? Because you can’t get enough clicks to justify the work involved. Seems like it gonna end for you because its always about money. Huh Hahahahahaha! Hypocrite
Following you reminds me of listening to your girl Nancy P. She can talk trash, because in reality, that’s all she’s got. And that’s all you’re left with.
Until the next time. I can go on like this for years dropping in to watch you play the high and mighty. Because I know and all your readers that left know, what is really going on here.
>>>>>>Not always about money
Lol.
>>>>>>>If you had only acted when the two of you had originally talked about it?
“The two of you” – Is this the time of the day we start seeing shadows?
>>>>>>>But your elitist lefty snobitude (like the new word?) held you back.
Lol…I was held back….Can’t stop laughing…Please call 911 “I am having a laugh attack!”
>>>>>>>a readership that has left in droves
Wait, are you saying I had droves in the first place? This is from the only guy who is checking the metrics of a blog he hates…That is messed up. .. “a little”. “Alexa, bite me!”
>>>>>>>>Why?
Why ask why, Bud Dry!
>>>>>>>>Seems like it gonna end for you because its always about money.
Does this guy stop thinking about money, WTF!
>>>>>>>> your girl Nancy P
Please call 911 NOW…Help! I can’t take it anymore….’my girl Nancy P.” Hurrrryyyyyyyyy!
>>>>>>>>She can talk trash, because in reality, thatâs all sheâs got. And thatâs all youâre left with.
If you say so. Hey, why don’t you write a book and donate the proceeds to the Wounded Warriors again, that trick has worked for you in the past.
>>>>>>>>>Until the next time.
Yep. I lost droves of readers (apparently) but I will never lose you, thanks for the support!
>>>>>>>>>Because I know and all your readers that left know, what is really going on here.
I am sure you know and they know too what is really going on here. Woooohoooo!
Hey I hope you keep going 5 days a week at less than minimum wage. Gives me a few extra days to laugh at your predicament.
Love blogging, but the ONLY guy not getting paid!!!!!!
Now that’s funny
Bringing this one over from a few days ago:
http://travelbloggerbuzz.com/new-hilton-100k-offers-last-minute-award-tickets-compounding-jizzcoins-ico-blogger-wants-your-money/#comment-407159
I was thinking the same…WTF is she doing to him? đ
“TravelZork (no idea wtf Zork is!)” <== are you certain you REALLY want to know? đ
Love the ZORKCAST BTW. Will you address the Wynnster porking masseuses and its affect on the future building plans of L.V.
A guess a $1000 tip isn’t what it was like in the old days of Sammy, Frank and Dino. Now those are the days I miss. Elvis headlining over at The International or The Hilton, talking business with the Boys at Piero’s, Now those were the days1
@ramsey thank you SO MUCH. Like most of TravelZork, ZorkCast is another of my labour of love passion projects. I have a number of Wynn items to discuss. I’ve been waiting for some of this to “break” in the mainstream media. Surprised it took so long. Adding some pitch to for my upcoming episodes.
@ baccarat_guy: Hmmm, the way you put it, I am a little scared now đ
@ Ramsey: Wynn resigned as RNC chair, so sad! #notreally One day I will give my blog a $1,000 tip so Ingy will call me a hypocrite again for some bizarre reason hehe. So many conversions left behind by that guy, I would lose it too đ
@TravelBloggerBuzz scared is good? right? đ