Thanks for the reader who got a United card.

Today was 80+ degrees here in Ann Arbor, I had morning coffee and lunch and dinner on the back deck and it was great. Plus 5 miles walking…still recovering from the half marathon on sunday.

I have this amazing photo of me finishing the race in pain and this amazingly looking lady behind trying to…catch me. I may post it here for the Lol’s…soon.

Funny you bring this up as I just bookmarked to read:

“U.S. Home Sales Are Surging. When Does the Music Stop?”

It is totally nuts. Friend of a client bought cottage near Traverse City, Michigan for $450k in 2017. Spent about $100k on it. Just listed it for $875k. Competing offers starting the first day. Sold to a tech bro (working from home, obviously) moving away from San Francisco. ALL CASH!

Yeah…supply is the primary driver.

I wonder when it will hit politicians that’ decrease immigration and paying $70-$100k in daycare costs/child has consequences. Birth rate is down 500k/year over the last 12 years.
https://www.calculatedriskblog.com/2021/03/lawler-update-on-dismal-demographics-of.html?m=1

And we are in the middle of a housing shortage…

@ DML: Thanks. That was also in the queue for a long time and I had to reach deep 🙂

@ David: Thanks a lot, appreciate it.

@ Peteco: I think they will all imitate Delta quickly. But with no kids…I think it is going to be okay. Add the India and the mutant mayhem there and…I am not booking anything. I may head up North again.

@ Carl: See prior comment about Covid and Europe, etc. Good luck on your road trip, baby steps.

@ ABC: You are probably right…

@ GringoLoco: Looks like Hyatt Centric had no “standard” rooms for awards. I missed it because I swear I saw almost a dozen different type rooms and I thought…plenty of availability so no sweat. Then learned on Twitter that that specific property blocks rooms for awards that are less than 5 night stays, WTF! So, son will stay at the Hyatt Place as Guest of Honor. One night at 12k and the other burned my earliest (July) Visa night. All is good. He’s been living there since November, I think he has been to that BBQ place. And many more lol. Yeah…they should have done more I agree. Looked like a nice sweet property too, it was incredibly sad reading it. I am actually walking fine today, thanks.

@ Mark: I agree with you 🙂 The North Koreans are bad news…a criminal state basically. If this Kim dude croaks from too many Doritos…just don’t see another one coming up…and they won’t go for the sister I think…I am scared of her more than the Dorito guy 🙂

In re: HNL. There’s really no Globalist benefits at the Hyatt Place other than late check-out and maybe a view of Diamond Head. There may not be much on offer at the Centric either — Hawai’i properties all seem to be into cost-savings. The Centric is, um, more centric-ally located.

Great cheap eats (and really nice people) at Me Korean BBQ in Waikiki. Kelley O’Neils on Lewers is the BEST dive bar in ALL of Hawai’i.

I read the hotel scammer article yesterday. Effing US gov’t owes those people their retirement!

#TBBon

Greece and most of southern Europe will be like last summer. Face mask/covers etc in hotels. Museums/churches will be open (limited capacity). Maybe the beaches will only be half full! Apparently the European championship in June will be played in front of a live audience (half full).
Most of Europe received AZ’s vaccine. The second dose is ~3 months later. Most will have received a dose by end of July but won’t be fully vaccinated until the fall.

OFF ON MY FIRST POST-COVID TRIP! Hitting the road for a road trip later this morning. I haven’t been more than 40~ miles since Jan 15 of last year so this will be fun! Fully vaccinated and I have masks with me too!

Europe will be allowing tourists, but the bigger question is will there be anything to tourist AT? Or places to eat and drink as things keep changing in various places. Much as I wish to return to Italy for another extended stay, I think likely it will be late this year or next year before I do so.

Best of luck at the Dr office!

Question: Son needs two night in Honolulu. Of course no Radisson Rewards properties again, will I ever burn these points? IHG and Hilton properties, not worth the points per night sooooo Hyatt. I see two doable ones at Waikiki Beach: Hyatt Centric 15k pts per night vs Hyatt Place 12k per night…For a young 23 year old with Globalist Guest of Honor booking. Which would you choose? And I do have a Hyatt Visa night expiring in July…could I apply to one night as Guest of Honor booking? May get a bit complicated for the Hyatt Concierge folks on Twitter 🙂