We bring you an awesome Mile Nerd must read rant, time to get scared about the Marriott Rewards new phase starting August 18, visit the best Route 66 stops, The Points Guy buys Mommy Points who ditched Boarding Area, identify cheap Marriott/SPG properties in South America, see the most expensive homes in America, learn about office chairs, check out a cool building in China with a waterfall, see the largest importers around the world, running in Death Valley is insane, how life has changed for 30 year olds and the latest blog action from this insane world of so many helpful bloggers helping clueless readers travel for “free” getting rich in the process by promoting plastic merchandise…you know. You may say and rightly so, you do the same here TBB. I do! And I suck in it, can barely hit ten conversion per month and I still would not make minimum wage per hour okay? So…there! Ingy, come back man, we miss you #notreally.
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My daughter, TBB Social Media Instagram Manager, is picking the pics in the TBB Instagram page. Here is me in Maligne Lake and here is my back in Abyaneh, Iran. Here is a beautiful shot of the NYC skyline too!
I have added the 10,000 Amex Membership Rewards signup bonus for the Amex Business Plus no annual fee 2x card in the list of best offers with my credit card links.
Beware of the many too ridiculous restrictions coming on August 26 on all the Marriott and SPG credit cards. If you can get the 75k Marriott Premier Plus card, get it now. Unless you can qualify for the SPG Luxury card coming soon! Oh man, I miss the old churning days so much!
Stop. READ THIS by Mile Nerd. If you are new to this “hobby”. What I have been saying for years!
And the date beloved SPG is one step closer to join the trash bin of history is…
On August 18, we’ll become one powerful program. We’re working hard toward a smooth transition and we’ll be with you every step of the way. Here’s everything you need to know about our new program.
Marriott being with me every step of the way scares the crap out of me, so creepy, no thanks! Here are some critical dates to know about this. I am outta here…I am impressed so far by what Marriott has done with the SPG transition. But I can see this happening on August 18 and then this soon afterwards. Lol, no wine and dine invitations to me by this company, sad!
So Air Canada spins off Aeroplan. And then leaves it to start its own program. And then offers to buy it. Lol.
These are pretty quirky all right: My Favorite Quirky Stops on Route 66.
I have recently started running and I am starting to enjoy the pain. But I would NEVER run in Death Valley, this is just nuts! What Is It Like in Death Valley in the Summer?
If you are interested to learn about office chairs, this article is da bomb! Everything you need to know, amazing stats and fascinating history of them, wow!
Well, we will all be dead by that year…This is what work will look like in 2100. Some fascinating scenarios that make you wonder…Actually, I don’t think much of futurist predictions in general but I do like these!
If you are 30 (or between the ages of 25 and 34 actually) this is a must read: How life has changed for 30-year olds. And the graph rocks! Makes you think huh?
Well, this looks very cool! Chinese Build Unbelievable 350ft Waterfall On A Skyscraper.
I did not win the $500 million something lottery to consider buying one of these babies, sad! 15 of the Most Expensive Homes in the World. This baby below is only $188 Million, wonder if they can take my Amex Business Platinum card you guys 🙂 Oh wait, I don’t waste money on lottery tickets!
World’s Largest Importers (HT: The Big Picture)
Just love this, a 96 year old Holocaust survivor is now a singer for a death metal band. You can age rocking in your chair or create phenomenal art like her with young men. Go granny! And the short documentary on the link below is so inspiring!
Inge & the TritoneKings “Totenköpfchen”
If you ever wanted to burn miles to Fiji, this is the blog post to read!
The Lazy Traveler series continues: Part 5: Marriott Cheap Category Hotels in South America — Wait Until August 18 or Book Now?. This is potentially and actually useful info. Unlike the sea of crap imho starting…next!
I went for the Citi AAdvantage Business Platinum card myself too, another 74k miles coming. So, it is a triple TBB familia score, all in all about 225k AA miles or so. We are our own best customer of our links lol. It should be conversion #6 this month. Taking away dollars from the Titans, they must be shaking because of it. Bwahahahaha.
The big news in the blogosphere is that The Points Guy ( a division of Bankrate, now owned by Red Ventures) bought Mommy Points. Her family travel content has already been ported over to the TPG site! Congrats to Mommy Points. I guess I can be as gracious as Randy Petersen. Whatever. Rumors abound that the reason she said yes was because she did not want to be listed in the TBB Blogs To Ignore list anymore 🙂 I had some questions. If I was blogging about this some years ago I would not hold back what I really feel but those days are gone. Until they can my links lol. Then…watch out #hint.
I am in Feedly all day long. And I notice things. Check out the image below. Three stories in two blogs. Each story appeared in both blogs mere MINUTES apart. Coincidence? Or same ghost writer? YOU be the judge!
Ouch: Stupid or liar: why does Ben Schlappig keep telling his readers things that aren’t true?
No doubt, NO DOUBT. Ingy sold too early, sad!
Some excerpts from the latest Mile Nerd rant this blog post lead with. Which I agree 100% with:
…here are some of the simple truths about miles and points blogs…
Many of those “blogs” aren’t what they pretend to be. It’s part of the act to seem like a down-to-earth blogger typing away at home. But, in reality, even the word “blog” is a misnomer. Websites like that should actually be called “online sales flyers for credit card companies.”
Did you know some of them are even owned by banks? It’s a fact that certainly isn’t advertised to newbies.
The daily goal is to maximize “conversions.” Whether the frontman is a shrewd salesman disguised as a dork…or a used car lot shark playing the part of a goofy mom…that’s what you are to those websites – a conversion.
They want you to apply for cards through their links so they can make big commissions. That’s their interest in you. And it’s why those websites depend on newbies. Your ignorance is money in the bank for them. Readers eventually figure out what’s happening and move on. So the websites need to replenish with new crops of ignorant readers.
How much money are we talking?
For some websites, you (the conversions) add up to millions of dollars each year. This is very big business. And everything they do is for the same reason – to keep you engaged enough to click links. To gain your loyalty and convert you into money.
There’s nothing wrong with making a profit. But there is absolutely something wrong (to me and my readers) in doing it dishonestly. When the entire purpose is to pack credit card links into as many places as possible…how honest do you think that website will be? How trustworthy do you think the information is? And what happens when a bank has input on the content?
But, believe it or not, thousands of people will actually see a post saying “THE CREDIT CARD TO GET RIGHT NOW” and think of that as a news article.
They’ll literally watch a commercial and think of it as a show.
That’s strange, right?
Yes and no. In fairness, the goal of advertising is to manipulate thoughts. So the website-disguised-as-a-blog just accomplished what they wanted – getting people to see ads and think of them as articles.
If you care, it’s easy to make a positive impact in a smaller way…
Refuse to give your clicks to those types of websites.
Pretty simple…don’t go there
And for bloggers who claim to be honest…don’t link to those pages. [Looking at you Doctor of Credit! And many others, sad!]
Otherwise, you’re part of the problem.
And I leave you with this…Don’t ask!
TBB
travelbloggerbuzz@gmail.com
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First. Really enjoying your content lately 🙂
Thank you. Enjoy it while it lasts…It feels like I am going out with a bang!
Like MoviePass. How could that company possibly run out of money?
Unbelievable it lasted so long! Run out of private equity money. Could happen again 😉
Mile Nerd really nailed it. Maybe TBB could add him as a writer.
A few years ago, Mommy Points lost her links with one of the big banks. I think Brian may be better able to protect his flock than whoever runs BA day today. Also, it seems to me the biggest nets for newbies today are the social media-Facebook, Instagram, Slack. While everyone plays with that stuff, only a few have really hit big using those tools (see Richard Kerr). Mommy Points may have felt she had more to learn/gain with Brian’s outfit.
But there’s good news today indeed. I spent time yesterday looking for a link for an Amex Business Blue Plus, and TBB just happens to a have a brand new one. Wow-if this keeps up, I bet the Buzzer will get a buyout offer. Could be high three digits on this one.
Hmm, great idea. It does not hurt to ask! Lets see what happens by the end of the month…
You may be right about MP, TPG and BA. I hope BA got something out of it. If not, ditching them with nada is like a slap in the face. Loyalty is dead 🙂
It is July 27th, will you be conversion #7? If we hit #10 around here for the month, I am definitely holding out for 4 digits buyout offer #thinkbig #gobigorgohome
When you said “Brian’s outfit” I immediately thought of his ridiculous snake shirt from a few years ago…
Brian’s outfit is awash with private equity money. Bubble like territory. MP likely made the move because cc conversions were way down and got tired of running her own ship for dwindling revenues. But private equity can change direction faster than you can snap your fingers and one day all these paid staff members can be gone in a flash. So, I guess, I hope to be around to see the end of that story but I would not bet on this happening 🙂
BA is such a mish-mash of blogs that I don’t see what bloggers get out of it. (Where is Seth Miller to jump in and lecture me that I don’t understand how BA works!) The same blogs usually show up on the front page…no idea how a newbie gets any traction there.
I about puked at Randy’s bizarrely worded attempt at deflecting…”she didn’t jump ship or make a leap” then goes on to say what an amazing deal and opportunity it is for her…ok so she’s left BA but isn’t jumping ship…got it! Lol
I hope summer has a backup plan
The back up plan is quit and enjoy the money, as always with such deals.
Effective VERY recently, all the Prior2Boarding blogs now all appear in Boarding Area. Separating them never made any sense to me. Or maybe Randy is trying to stop others from jumping ship 🙂
That backup plan assumes the money is well taken care of so they can do that. But, you know, pretty soon doing that will get old and they will be back in it. Something about challenged or something…
I expect Ingy to come out any day and try to do more conversions. Let go of so many THOUSANDS of them, sad!
Any idea what a blog like MP can earn by selling to TPG? I know you said Ingy sold too soon because the money is better now, but if he made 5 million, that’s still very nice.
I did not get the impression Daraius was enjoying the money. He’s been trying to fill a void.
Depends how much money it is and how well she manages it! She’s relatively young with 2 young kids, both of whom will need college money, etc. , etc.
Plenty of PowerBall and MegaMillions winners have ended up broke just a few years later.
Am I late to this party! West coast time.
Hyatt points save s fortune.
It is never too late. And it is never Last as that guy from Brooklyn likes to type 🙂
Burning points, on the lower category Hyatts especially, can sure save a lot!
This is the most trusted resource you guys…
Strange ‘Smelly Socks’ Odor Leads to Spirit Diversion, Aircraft Met by Hazmat Team – The Points Guy
On the internet, you can be whatever you want to be…
I think you are better off using your LLC to pay off bunnies.
I think you are right 🙂
what more can be said about mile nerd? the best writer in the hobby is the most trusted and funniest too. going to be missed big time.
I agree. 100%.
Buzz-
Our app for the Amex Business Blue was approved. Has the cash hit the TBB bank account yet?
This is a great card-2xMRs on everything up to $50k of charges per year. Then get a Schwab Platinum and you have an option with those MRs:
1. Keep the MRs
2. Cash out at 1.25 cents per MR.
Link. Link. Link.
How am I doing? Think BA will hire me to replace Mommy Points? Know any two year olds I can take to overseas 5 star resorts?
Switching topics, are there any points and miles blogs for divorcées just looking to have a good time (for Freeee)?
Thanks Sam, it should come through. #7. I wonder if they can my links on Aug 1st or wait a few days or maybe give me a break for the slow summer days…
We all have this card. Most of unbonused spend goes on it. I think it is great. Maybe I should do a “69 reasons I love the Amex Business Plus card” and link the crap out of it. Gotta admit, I have potential hey?
Have not seen a blog targeting divorcees yet. Don’t give Daraius any ideas!
I bet you BK buys Kerr’s Facebook group and convert it all to industry leader Family MP FB group.
Isn’t it weird to have a Mommy and a Guy (tall one) be together? Ever her Twitter profile now says “TPG”…So, if TPG goes down and not enough set aside (college is expensive!!!!) does she go back to Boarding Area and start to reclaim the former decent MP brand? Hmmm….
I bought a second pair of running shoes today and will use them in my long run tomorrow. Not sure I can run 15 miles again but will give it a shot.
Have a great weekend Sam and everyone!
I have lots to pick for Sunday…always tough deciding the top 5 to make the cut in the TBB Best of Web.
Happy Saturday to all!
I got excited today when I checked my Amazon affiliate link haul and I saw it was $1.06. But then I checked closer and it was a loss of $1.06 because one of you had a return. That just blows. How am I ever going to be a threat to TPG converting like this, come on now! 🙂
Big day for me today. I went on a long run again very early. Last Saturday I did my longest run 15 miles. This morning I did another 15. And I shaved 6.5 minutes from it. Now under 10 min/mile pace. After that…I managed to drive myself to the gym, got on the weight scale (after going to the bathroom first), hopped on and I couldn’t believe what my eyes saw next! Down 34.6 lbs since March 21, that fateful day of my annual physical with a shocking weight number that stared back at me. I have not been this low since my 20s. Needless to say, it is a great feeling. But no celebrations going out to binge eat anymore…Take it one day at a time.
Total miles run this week: 38
Three weeks prior: 35,30,26.
Muy bueno. I guess another blog benefit is keeping myself accountable with you guys so I do not slip in to old destructive eating/getting fat habits 🙂
Taking my girls to see the Tom Cruise movie tonight…
We have Liverpool vs Manchester in Ann Arbor’s Big House today. At 5 pm. I am not going. Too much to pay for the B teams playing a game that does not matter 🙂
CC paid conversions stuck at 6. I think I am toast. TPG will lose a competitor. Bwahahaha
Does anyone know what happens to expiration dates once the big SPG/Marriott merger happens? Will my soon-to-expire SPG points get refreshed with a later expiration date by my not-soon-to-expire Marriott points? Thanks!