Another TBB post featuring the most eclectic links around the web such as Americans’ net worth, AI killing us all, extreme stays, my Thailand & Vietnam trip, estate planning mistakes, Hunter Biden’s laptop, record high scams, live nuclear power plants, most unique camping spots, countries with the most lakes, only the best photography and Thailand links and of course always all of the most important developments in the crazy world of frequent flyer miles and points at the lower half of the post. And much more. Enjoy the weekend.
Blog Mission: To Educate. Entertain. Inspire. In That Order!
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This blog started way back in 2012 focusing on my crazy hobby addiction of traveling with frequent flyer miles, hotel and bank points. It has since evolved to curated posts featuring the best web content along with my commentary.
BLOG HOUSEKEEPING
This is truly a one man labor of love operation, enjoy it while it lasts.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
“Criticism is something we can avoid easily by saying nothing, doing nothing, and being nothing” – Aristotle
MUST READ GEMS
Best read this week, by far. Yes, another one on that Leo dude:
The 24 Year-Old Who Lost Billions
PERSONAL FINANCE
Author makes some great points, I don’t get all the pessimism really: Reflections on Americans’ Net Worth.
I knew that claims that “58% of Americans can’t afford a $1,000 car repair” were laughable clickbait. I knew that — measured by income — the middle class is disappearing… by becoming upper-middle class. But only recently did I start to fully appreciate the chasm between populist pessimism and actual data on Americans’ net worth. From the 2022 Survey of Consumer Finances:
This is great aging advice: The Old Man at the Door.
If you have no estate plan, stop right now. And take action! 5 Estate-Planning Mistakes That Could Cost Your Family.
AI/TECH
So much happening out there. With more people coming out wondering if AI will kill us all and stuff like that. This article puts all our fears together: How Would AI Actually Kill Us All? What to Know About the AI Doomsday Debate. A growing chorus of AI researchers say the technology could wipe out humans—even if all the bots want to do is make paper clips.
So we may be using AI a lot it appears here in the US but is it really making us all truly more productive? The Countries Using AI Tools the Most.
SCAMS/CRYPTO
And just when I thought that Biden was about to redeem himself. Unless this is a joke: Hunter Biden (and his laptop) Enter the Cryptosphere With New Meme Coin. Come on man.
The pain is real, be careful out there! Scams in the US are at a record high. Yet most victims get no help and some end up losing even more.
Latest mega hack: FBI Probes Service Selling 153M+ Drivers Licenses. Could it be from marijuana dispensaries? If true, holy smokes (pun intended), half of the US buys weed?
ODDZ & ENDZ
Oh oh, nukes near you? Live nuclear power plant map of the world.
This solar eclipse shot is phucking amazing wow.
Amazing photography: The 2026 Audubon Photography Awards: Winners.
TRAVEL
Interesting list: The Most Unique Camping Spots Across the US.
Listen to devoted art lover and blog reader Sam who is in his mid 50’s at heart 😉 Could That Museum Visit Help You Live Longer?
Amazing stats: Ranked Countries With the Most Lakes.
Key Takeaways
- Canada has nearly 880,000 lakes, accounting for 62% of the 1.42 million lakes in this dataset.
- Canada alone has more lakes than the rest of the world combined, followed by Russia with 201,240 and the U.S. with 102,519.
- Canada has 4.4 times as many lakes as Russia, but only about 1.3 times as much total lake area.
These are the world’s most extreme stays, I think I’ll pass as I am no longer as adventurous I was when I was much younger lol. If you stayed in any of these please comment.
THAILAND
Hello from Bangkok, I have more on my trip in the MY ACTION AND BLOG BUZZING section below.
This short video explains the latest changes traveling to the kingdom: Thailand Cuts Visa-FREE Stay | Who Lost Access? NEW ENTRY RULES 2026.
This blog started with a focus on miles and points and travel. It has evolved since then. Everything below deals with the hobby of collecting frequent flyer miles and points and maximizing your travel experiences. If you are not interested, you can stop here, thank you.
MILES & POINTS
So, here we go again…
Well, this came out of nowhere really: Hyatt Ends Partnership With American Airlines, Announces New Partnership With Delta Airlines. The initial tie up between AA and Hyatt was great but it had deteriorated to a degree that almost no one noticed any longer. And I expect the same with Delta, which is notorious for suppressing any real value out of its frequent flyer loyalty spender program. Also, what the hell are all the AA executives doing these days? Or, more specifically, what the hell is the AA Board of Directors doing? It is clear the airline is lacking any clear direction right now and it is just…sinking. Maybe in a few years United’s Kirby will pick it up for a few peanuts if the current trends continue lol.
You know I am not a fan of Marriott Bonvoy. And its latest promotion must be one of the absolute worst in the history of the program smh: Earn up to 4,500 Bonus Points on Stays of 2+ Nights — We’ll See You There [No, you won’t lol].
Bad promo from World of Hyatt but infinitely better than every Bonvoy promo out there: 2x on Thompson stays.
TRAVEL REWARDS CREDIT CARDS
For ANY questions on travel rewards credit cards, contact me anytime at travelbloggerbuzz@gmail.com
NEW OFFER: Capital One Venture Rewards: 75,000 Points PLUS $300 Travel Credit
The $300 Travel Credit is for hotel stays and vacations. Plus 75,000 points worth at a MINIMUM $750, so we are up to $1,050 at least. For an annual fee of $95 for a minimum spend of $4,000 in three months. I mean, come on, do the math! Wait, there is more:
- Card earns 2x points everywhere (the equivalent of 2% everywhere)
- Card earns 5x points on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- No foreign transaction fees
- Visa Signature benefits
- Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck
NEW OFFER: 115K CHASE AirCanada Aeroplan
Note that you get 75k miles after $4k minimum spend in the first three months. And then additional 40k miles after a total of $20k spend in the first six months. Annual fee goes from $95 to $195. Here again we have another discount on awards simply for being a cardholder, at 15%. And card adds an easy $100 statement credit, if you fly on Air Canada. You also get 25k elite status simply for being a cardholder which has a few small benefits flying on Star Alliance (United Airlines, etc.). The Pay Yourself Back benefit remained. The 3x on groceries and dining will now go to 2x. So a mixed bag I guess. Almost every credit card is great for the first year SUB. Keeper? Hmm, that’s debatable. As always, it depends. Learn more about the new offer here.
NEW: American Express Hilton Increased Credit Card Signup Bonuses (Up To 200,000 Points).
All four of them now come with a FREE Night Cert. As of now, I don’t get a credit for using all my Amex credit card links so please email me for a personal referral link instead.
LATEST OFFERS:
American Express throws some higher signup bonus features for Amex Delta cards.
- Personal offers:
- ($0 intro fee, then $150) Gold Delta SkyMiles Credit Card: as high as 80K bonus miles + $250 statement credit after $3K spend over six months. (YMMV)
- ($350 fee) Platinum Delta SkyMiles Credit Card: as high as 90K bonus miles + $300 statement credit after $4K of spend.
- ($650 fee) Delta Reserve SkyMiles Credit Card: two round-trip Delta Comfort Flights + 50K Bonus miles after $10K of spend. Flight certificates good for Lower 48, Puerto Rico or U.S. Virgin Islands, 21+ day advance purchase required.
- Business offers:
- ($0 intro fee, then $150) Gold Delta SkyMiles Business Credit Card 90,000 miles after $6,000 in spend within the first six months
- ($350 fee)Platinum Delta SkyMiles Business Credit Card 100,000 miles after $8,000 in spend within the first six months
- ($650 fee) Delta Reserve Credit Card for Business 200,000 miles after $20,000 in spend within the first six months
AMERICAN EXPRESS Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant: 150,000 points AND $250 Credit after $6k spend in six months (ENDING 9/30)
AMERICAN EXPRESS Marriott Benvy: 125,000 points and $150 Credit after $5k spend in six months (ENDING 9/30)
CHASE Sapphire Reserve for Business: 200,000 Points Sign Up Bonus
CHASE INK Cash & INK Unlimited 100,000 Points Signup Bonus (ENDING 9/17)
100,000 CHASE Sapphire Reserve: $795 Annual Fee. Minimum spend $6,000 in three months
As High As 200,000 Points on the AMEX Business Gold after spending $15k in the first three months
80,000 CITI AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard
175,000 AMEX Platinum & 300k AMEX Business Platinum
75,000 CITI Strata Elite card
Due to credit card vendor restrictions, the only affiliate links I can place in the body of my posts are for Capital One cards. You can always email me at travelbloggerbuzz@gmail.com with ANY questions.
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BONUS OFFERS NOTIFICATIONS
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Elevated Card Offer Notifications
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MY ACTION AND BLOG BUZZING
This section will start with some content geared to more advanced points and miles hobbyists. And then continue on with some items pertaining to my actions in this space and then end with some personal news. So, here we go…
Really excellent analysis over at Flyer Talk on One Mile at a Time‘s latest way to monetize his readers. Clearly I have a lot to learn as I keep trying to focus on content only and not on how to take money from you guys smh.
No time for more, just traveling so see below. Ok, let’s get back on track here…
Our SE Asia trip is coming together on, business class flights and 31 hotel nights booked, see below.
New additions in bold font below. I am adding Instagram links as they happen during my trip (no YouTube video links yet, I guess I am just not much of YouTube material). Including travel related pics from the different locations:
110,000 American Airlines miles for one way First Class from Detroit to Bangkok (via Dallas and Tokyo Haneda) flying AA and JAL Business Class
Sakura Lounge at Tokyo Haneda Airport HND
AMEX Centurion Lounge at Tokyo Haneda Airport HND
JAL Business Class flight from Tokyo Haneda HND to Bangkok BKK
For a trip report on the flights getting me to Bangkok please see the first comment in this post.
OR
118,500 Air Canada Aeroplan miles for one way Business Class from Detroit to Frankfurt to Munich on Lufthansa and to Bangkok on Thai Airways [Canceled, went with AA above]
1 night at the StandardX Bangkok for 7,500 World of Hyatt points
10 nights at the Bangkok Hyatt Place Soi 1 for 45,000 World of Hyatt points
Bangkok Hyatt Place Soi 1 Review
9 nights at the Bangkok Hyatt Place Soi 24 for 40,500 World of Hyatt points
Bangkok Hyatt Place Soi 24 Review
At TRIBE Sky Beach Bar in Bangkok
Final post from Bangkok until the return from Saigon
4 nights in a suite at the Saigon Park Hyatt for 80,000 World of Hyatt points
Loving the Park Hyatt Saigon. The service is absolutely the best and restored my faith on this brand. The art around the property is phucking amazing. Sadly, the gym and swimming pool are closed due to renovation. Actually there is a temporary gym but I have not been there yet because I have been distracted by the breakfast again, which is lovely. Great suite even though we like more of a modern vibe. But the service from everyone here is what clearly makes this a special stay. Perfect location. We did a great food tour on motorbikes and we survived it lol.
Saigon Food Tour on Motorbikes
Roaming the Streets of Saigon, Part I
2 nights at the KROMO Bangkok, a Curio Collection by Hilton property, on AMEX The Hotel Collection booking fully utilizing Amex Business Platinum $300 credit
1 night at the brand new Fairmont Bangkok in a suite using my lifetime Platinum annual complimentary night cert
1 night at the Hilton Pattaya for 60,000 Hilton Honors points
2 nights at the Andaz Pattaya Jomtien Beach for 30,000 World of Hyatt points in a confirmed Garden View Suite
1 night at the Singapore Conrad Marina Bay on an Amex FHR booking mostly covered by the $300 credit Schwab Amex Platinum $300 credit
90,000 United miles for one way Business Class Singapore to Chicago O’Hare (via San Fransisco) flying United
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HOT CREDIT CARD OFFERS:
75k CHASE Sapphire Preferred,100k CHASE Ink Cash (ENDING 9/17), 100k CHASE Ink Unlimited (ENDING 9/17), 200k CHASE Sapphire Reserve Business, 100k CHASE Sapphire Reserve, 80k CITI AAdvantage Platinum Select, 75k CITI Strata Elite, 100k CAPITAL ONE Venture Rewards (AND $300 CREDIT), 100k CHASE Ink Business Preferred, 175k AMEX Platinum, 75k CAPITAL ONE Venture X, 115K CHASE AirCanada Aeroplan, 300k AMEX Business Platinum, 200k AMEX Business Gold, 30k CHASE United Gateway, 100k AMEX Gold, 15k AMEX Blue Business Plus and many more!
As of today, I have burned 887,015 miles/points year to date (after burning 1,893,248 miles/points in 2025 and 2,027,816 in 2024) and have 4,094,893 miles/points in the bank.
Let me leave you with this:
Some of the links are behind a paywall. You can try to read them using Archive.is.
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What? First? Wow! Gold! For the PNW! Ha!
Lots of good stuff to carry me through the weekend. Thanks, George! Glad you are digging Saigon. I loved my one time there. Over two weeks then some days in Hanoi which was also cool.
The scam info is always good to read about. The older I get the more I worry about slipping up and falling for some kinda rip-off. A person just has to be extra careful nowadays!
Thanks for posting while traveling! Have fun and eat lots of good food!
Good for Carl!
What great links today! I couldn’t wait until the weekend to read them.
Delta / Hyatt! Wow. Be still my beating heart.
Glad to hear that PH Saigon and the country itself has been a positive experience for you. Reminds me that we need to get back there sooner rather than later. Like Carl, we have great concerns about the scams, especially as we age. Hard to know who or what we can trust these days.
That’s a lovely photo of you and your wife!
Hey Buzz,
Great to hear you’re enjoying your trip, and the glowing review of PH Saigon as we’ll be there for the 1st time in January. And thanks for the Krebs article as well.
I too must say worrying about identity theft takes up too much of my time.
Congrats to Carl for the win yesterday.
Thanks for the great post, and keep having fun!
AA did make a good decision, putting IFE back on board. They did commit so far into the future that they can change their minds.
The 4500pt Marriott promo, you are so generous. It’s 1500pts on 2 nights unless it is a resort. 20 nights over 10 stays and you could top up a cert with 15k pts…
Good content as always. Liked the Milesfeed update, where I can now sort the sites by my preference. Put you at the top #doingmypart. It was also enjoyable to vanish OMAAT, The Points Guy and other shills.
Hi everyone, sorry no time to respond to each comment, we are in Bangkok and just left the KROMO and checked into the Fairmont.
Managed to use up all of the $100 credit from the AMEX Platinum The Hotel Collection booking for 2 nights at the KROMO, part of Curio Hilton. 2 nights after credits $6.94 usd. And treated two friends to breakfast and another one to a great hamburger and wine (for him) and cheese platter (for us) for freeeee. What a deal. Great hotel for such value, amazing pool. Rest is fine too. Now on to the Fairmont which opened August 19. Last night in Bangkok…
Sorry, life has been hectic lately and I’m just catching up with things but… BEN POINTS?!?!
Greetings from ‘first class’ of the KTX fast train from Seoul to Busan. First time in Korea, starting to get the hang of it. Leaves are just about starting to change, and the temps are starting to come down from it being really hot in Tokyo and the first couple of days in Seoul. Enjoy Saigon. First time I ever visited ‘Nam was in September and I nearly melted the first time with how insanely humid it was. Starting to look towards planning for next year. I think probably a tourist visa is in the cards for Thailand in January, then bailing before the super el nino burning season kicks off. Longer stay in ‘Nam, then probably to the greek isles before tourist season kicks off. Then trying to escape the heat to either Mauritius or Finland, before returning to Japan in the fall and hopefully cooler temps than I experience this summer.
Check my IG for trip pics and updates:
https://www.instagram.com/travelbloggerbuzz/
KROMO: 2 nights for $306.94 before $300 Amex Platinum ‘The Hotel Collection’. With the $100 Amex credit you can buy a lot of food, we treated a couple for breakfast AND a friend to a great waygu burger and wine and cheese (I had the cheese lol). Great rooftop pool, great location. Frustrating automated A/C. Best value overall with Amex Platinums!
Fairmont: Basically across the street. Even basic rooms are great. Stunning glass thing in the entrance. Still working out the opening issues (opened August 19) so it has some ways to go imho. Main restaurant is of course overpriced but…2 out of 4 things we ordered we did not like, the other 2 were great. Thank the Lord we managed to fully use my $100 Platinum Fairmont dining certs. And of course our night was free, same Lifetime Platinum deal I got back in 2011 #winning.
Hilton Pattaya: Ok, I had low expectations. But this property is indeed a gem. Stunning, awesome pool, awesome rooftop bar, amazingly huge breakfast spread, very good lounge (not excellent), rooms have balconies, BEST location right in front of infamous Beach Road…and the views are phucking amazing. After walking around Pattaya I must say that the Hilton is the best part of this hole lol. I knew what to expect and confirmed there is no way in hell I would ever ever move here for retirement but I had to just cross it off the list officially after seeing it in person. Some really sad scenes with the business of sex everywhere. BUT this Hilton is like an oasis here. Again, I am still shocked by this.
Andaz Jomtien Beach: WOW, absolutely gorgeous resort. Great place to unwind a little bit and just cruise into the return trip back home with a stop in Singapore first. Absolutely great suite. The grounds are meticulous, the beach looks nice but the water not so much I think, it got dark quickly so I will confirm tomorrow. Oh, the water in Pattaya is awful, yikes. Lovely pools here and the restaurants look nice. I promise I will make it to the gym tomorrow lol. And lovely balcony in our suite wow. I was no fan of Andaz but this one is different.