Another TBB post featuring the most eclectic links around the web such as idiots and market bubbles, the history of superyachts, the chronic pain revolution, the 10 scariest airports, the great crypto crash, historical asset class returns for a perspective, estate planning advice from Warren Buffett, crypto pastor and MoviePass CEO go to prison, travel to the UK gets more complicated, a lot more and of course always all of the most important developments in the crazy world of miles and points at the lower half of the post. Enjoy the weekend and go Detroit Lions!
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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.
This is a one man labor of love operation, enjoy it while it lasts.
BLOG HOUSEKEEPING
At some point next week I will try to do my annual “How I Burned X,XXX,XXX miles/points in 2024”. The actual number came out to 2,027,816, almost double the amount burned in 2023, wow!
Friday posts stay until further notice.
If you are a World of Hyatt member with a stay before February 28, 2025: A blog reader has offered some World of Hyatt Globalist Guest of Honor certificates so please contact me for details. If there is more demand than supply I will prioritize to readers who have supported this blog in the past.
PERSONAL FINANCE
I really enjoyed this post: THERE ARE IDIOTS: Seven pillars of market bubbles. It primarily refers to bitcoin and really belongs in the next blog section. But since I believe that there is a real risk in bitcoin eventually crashing and taking bodies with it, I post it here first. Diversify!
- THERE ARE IDIOTS. Look around.
- Everybody ought to be rich.
- Nobody knows anything.
- A fanatic is someone who can’t change his mind and won’t change the subject.
- The more confusion, the better.
- Number go up.
- This time is different.
You should probably consider doing this: Warren Buffett suggests all parents do one thing before they die, whether they have ‘modest or staggering wealth’. That is to “let your adult children read your will before you sign it.“. Or after signing it and tell them this is what you should expect and “be sure each child understands both the logic for your decisions and the responsibilities they will encounter upon your death“.
Let’s get some perspective on Historical Returns For Stocks, Bonds, Cash, Real Estate and Gold.
These are the long-term returns for each asset class from 1928-2024:
- Stocks +9.94%
- Small caps +11.74%
- Bonds +4.50%
- Cash +3.31%
- Real estate +4.23%
- Gold +5.12%
Things can change in the future. Never forget that…
This entire dataset is a billboard for diversification. The leaders and laggards change from decade to decade. There are no constants from one period to the next. These cycles never look the same because markets are unpredictable.
SCAMS/CRYPTO/AI/TECH
I think this is going to happen one day. Of course, I was saying the same things years ago and if you had listened to me you would be looking at some crypto bros making fun of us. It is what it is you guys. Anyway, really good article in my humbly biased opinion: The Great Crypto Crash. Trump will usher in a speculative frenzy. And of course Wall Street joins in as it always does smh. And when things blow up these assholes will be first screaming for a bail out again…
Where Wall Street once saw fool’s gold, it now sees a gold mine. Ray Dalio of Bridgewater called crypto a “bubble” a decade ago; now he thinks it is “one hell of an invention.” Larry Fink of BlackRock previously referred to bitcoin as an “index of money laundering”; today he sees it as a “legitimate financial instrument”—one his firm has already begun offering to clients, if indirectly.
Remember that pastor who God told him to go all in on bitcoin? Pastor who saw crypto project in his “dream” indicted for fraud. I wonder what took so long to indict him. I guess it takes time to prepare the legal cases, it should be a slam dunk, lock him up!
The indictment alleged that Pinillo promised investors they would receive guaranteed monthly investment returns of 34.9% at no risk whatsoever. The indictment further claims he directed the victims to make cryptocurrency transfers to wallets under his control, and instead of investing the funds, he diverted them for personal use. Investors were provided access to a Solano Fi web app where they could manage their funds; however, the app showed fake balances and investment returns. The DOJ claims he even extorted victims to send him more money to “repair” the broken Solano Fi system so they could get their funds, or straight out offered them a “buy out” option where they could exit the scam without loss by replacing their account with another person.
Well, the MoviePass CEO is going to jail. Just s sad expected ending from this company with probably one of the most horrific business strategies ever, I mean, unlimited money losing plan or what? Former MoviePass Executive Pleads Guilty to Fraud Over ‘Unlimited’ Plan.
This blog is not going to blog itself. I rely on my readers helping it grow as I don’t have time to do any promotion/marketing. Which leaves the content clean of intrusive sponsoring posts and stupid ads and stuff like that.
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ODDZ & ENDZ
I used to think people who always complained of being in pain just wanted attention. Not anymore. Chronic Pain Is a Hidden Epidemic. It’s Time for a Revolution. I read this totally focused on every word as I have been dealing with some low level pain (discomfort is more appropriate) in my feet for over a year and doctors not really determining what is the true cause. It is kind of bizarre and I guess I was happy to find out I am not the only one out there. On the contrary. Anyway, this is a highly recommended read and so glad to hear that the medical community is really paying attention to it finally.
This is a fascinating brief History of Superyachts. Also, future buyers will need a bigger boat lol.
Very cool link: The Relative Size of Particles.
TRAVEL
These things are getting more prevalent all around the world. And they are annoying. But I get it. They are still annoying though: Traveling to the U.K.? You Might Need to Apply and Pay a Fee First.
Congrats! Trailblazing Filipino: First and Youngest to Visit All UN-Recognised Countries.
Very interesting link for my aviation geek blog readers: 10 Scariest Airports in the World. I always wanted to fly into Paro, Bhutan, maybe one day. And Barra, Scotland looks so cool to land on an actual beach. And yes every time I land in NYC’s LaGuardia airport I get this “oh oh” feeling, I should be used to it by now but nope.
I wonder if the host provides cocaine to each guest lol. You Can Now Airbnb Pablo Escobar’s Private Jet.The wingless 727, with original leather seats and gold toilet, is grounded in the U.K. But for drug lords on a budget, you and three associates can stay overnight for about $100 each. Treat your friends for free…after you get the Capital One Venture X card you guys!
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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
Here we go again…
Finally, a decent article for newbies about travel hacking stuff from a mainstream publication: These Travel Hacks Are Everywhere. That Doesn’t Mean They Work.
At last, a decent World of Hyatt promotion, Bonus Journeys. Register HERE to earn 2x points on stays (and 3x on stays at Hyatt Place and Hyatt House) for stays between January 27 and March 28, 2025. When I say half decent, I mean, kind of equivalent to the ongoing double points promotions from Hilton. I guess them double elite night credit or similar juicy Hyatt promos are in the past, so sad.
If you work for one of these companies, check it out: Hyatt Explorist Status For Corporate Travelers (90 Days Free, Through Feb 2027 With 10 Nights).
Blog readers have asked about the Park Hyatt St. Kits so here we go with a recent review: A Perfect (But Pricey) Caribbean Stay: A Review of the Park Hyatt St. Kitts. Looks impressive but maybe a little too impressive? Or is it the fact that I am just a guy who loves deals and this is probably not it?
To all who have been using these miles to fly to Paris/Europe, my condolences: Overnight No Notice Flying Blue Devaluation, Up To 25% Worse.
We are all annoyed how airlines keep track of these things so differently, this post will help: How to Find & Use Your Airline Vouchers and Travel Credits Wisely.
Speaking of kicking the World of Hyatt Globalist elite status crack habit down to the curb this year (yes, I am thinking about it because I eat too much in their lounges and at breakfasts!), maybe it is time to start thinking about kicking that airline lounge crack habit to the curb too? Access to Your Airport Lounge is Getting Even Harder. Travelers trying to get into an airport lounge today are often greeted with a buffet of restrictions. Article deals mostly with access to Delta Skyclubs but it also pertains to all the other airport lounges as well.
I read the Greek press and I saw some Hilton related news. The Hilton Garden Inn in Athens located in Syggrou Avenue is now open. Looks pretty nice but note it is about 2.5 miles away from Syntagma Square. In 2026 there will be a Hilton Mykonos Beach Resort & Spa in Paradise Beach. The resort will have only 75 rooms and suites, all with private balconies. 34 units will have a private swimming pool. And this spring there will be a new Sound of the Sea Karpathos, Tapestry Collection by Hilton property opening in the not that touristy island of Karpathos. It will have 42 rooms and one cottage. 14 units will have a private pool and 6 units will have a private spa. If I get 10 credit card sales this month in my blog I can go review them for you lol.
TRAVEL REWARDS CREDIT CARDS
We start off with two bank “achievements”:
CFPB Sues Capital One Over Maintaining Two ‘360 High Yield Savings Accounts’ With Differing Rates
American Express to Pay $230 Million in Fines for Aggressive Sales Practices
Both of these go way back, it takes a long time for the wheels of justice to turn. We were talking about those Amex salesmen here in my blog a very long time ago, I had even forgotten about it. I must admit I was caught in that Capital One egregious practice as it took me a little while to figure out what the bank did. And when I found out I just moved my money elsewhere. So, read your statements!
Also, watch out for Bank of America! Infuriating: Bank of America Closed My Checking Account and Is Refusing to Release the Funds.
Be careful out there. Don’t feel sorry for these big institutions, take from them, don’t be shy. Because they just take and take from their own customers (not us!) every change they get. I must admit a part of this hobby’s addiction is coming up with ways to beat them, win baby!
Finally, it has been awfully quiet with the developments in the Apple credit card. Goldman Sachs is dumping it and I wonder which bank will end up with it. We learned recently that Chase had been negotiating for it but no updates on that front. Chase can drive a hard bargain so I don’t think they will win at the end. It will be funny if Synchrony gets it lol. Maybe Barclays makes a move for it as they are known for not such bright moves in the banking industry, stay tuned.
CHASE World of Hyatt Personal and Business Cards Elevated Offers
New World of Hyatt Credit Card cardmembers can earn a welcome bonus of up to 65,000 World of Hyatt Bonus Points. That means, 35,000 Bonus Points after spending $3,000 within the first three months from account opening. Plus, you can earn up to 30,000 more Bonus Points by earning 2 Bonus Points total per $1 spent on purchases that normally earn 1 Bonus Point for the first 6 months from account opening, on up to $15,000 spent.
New World of Hyatt Business Credit Card cardmembers can earn a welcome bonus of 60,000 World of Hyatt Bonus Points after spending $5,000 within the first three months from account opening. Plus, you can earn 1 free night after spending $15,000 within the first six months from account opening.
The earning structure for the cards are:
World of Hyatt Credit Card & Business Card:
- 9 total points per $1 spent at Hyatt hotels (4 Bonus Points per $1 spent on qualifying purchases, plus 5 Base Points per $1 spent for being a World of Hyatt member)
- 2 Bonus Points per $1 spent on fitness club and gym memberships
- 1 Bonus Point per $1 spent on all other purchases
- Complimentary World of Hyatt Discoverist status
World of Hyatt Credit Card:
- 2 Bonus Points per $1 spent on local transit and commuting, dining, airline tickets purchased directly from the airlines and fitness clubs and gym memberships
- 1 free night award each year after your cardmember anniversary at any Category 1-4 Hyatt hotel worldwide and a second free night after $15,000 in spend in a calendar
World of Hyatt Business Card:
- 2 Bonus Points per $1 spent in your top three categories each quarter. Eligible categories are dining, shipping, airline tickets when purchased directly with the airline, local transit & commuting, social media & search engine advertising, car rental agencies, gas stations, internet, cable & phone services
- Earn up to $100 in Hyatt credits each anniversary year. Spend $50 or more at any Hyatt property and earn $50 statement credits up to two times each anniversary year
A few more things about the cards:
World of Hyatt Card: Annual fee is $95. You earn one complimentary free night at any category 1-4 Hyatt property every year after your card member anniversary. And an additional free night at any category 1-4 Hyatt property if you spend $15,000 during your card member anniversary year. World of Hyatt Discoverist status for as long as the card is open. 5 qualifying night credits towards your next tier status every year. An additional 2 qualifying night credits towards your next tier every time you spend $5,000 on the card (no limit).
World of Hyatt Business Card: Annual Fee is $199. Can get $50 statement credits on Hyatt stays twice a year, which essentially turns this card into a $99 annual fee card. Discoverist status for as long as the card is open. 5 Tier-qualifying night credits with each $10,000 in spend on the card in a calendar year. Gift up to 5 Discoverist statuses to company employees. Spend $50,000 or more on the card in a calendar year and receive 10% of redeemed points back as Bonus Points for the remainder of the calendar year (maximum of 20,000 Bonus Points per calendar year). Primary rental car collision damage waiver. No foreign transaction fees.
If you want to help the blog check these offers out from my favorite bank HERE.
I get into my action items below after this from your sponsor, just kidding! Don’t give up reading now, there is more below.
Please help the small independent blogs like mine continue to exist by supporting them with your CREDIT CARD clicks, thank you!
The 75K CAPITAL ONE Venture X card has a minimum spend of $4k in the first three months. If you like simplicity and looking for one (premium) card, I highly recommend this card (and yes, I have it myself!). It has an annual fee of $395 but it comes with an easy $300 statement credit for travel booked on its own travel portal, essentially turning it into a $95 annual fee card. But wait, there is more! On each card anniversary you earn 10,000 points essentially making it FREE! Every dollar of spend earns 2 points and flights booked on the travel portal earn 5 points per dollar. You get access to Capital One and Plaza Premium airport lounges and a Priority Pass Select lounge membership and, this is important, you can add FOUR authorized users FOR FREE who can also have their own Priority Pass Select airline lounge membership and, this is BIG, they can bring in unlimited guests with their FREE Priority Pass card! You can transfer your Capital One points to up to 18 Transfer Partners. No foreign transaction fees. Free Hertz President’s Circle rental car top elite status. Cell phone protection and PRIMARY rental car coverage. Awesome seats at baseball stadiums for just 5k points each. And lots more. If you prefer, this is my personal referral link.
Click on my TOP CREDIT CARD OFFERS to see a DETAILED explanation of the features of these cards.
Here are my three TOP CREDIT CARD OFFERS as of today:
The #1 Top Offer is the 75k Capital One Venture X card. It is amazing what you get for FREE with this card!
The #2 Top Offer right now is the 75k Chase Ink Business Unlimited card.
The #3 Top Offer right now is 75k CHASE Ink Business Cash card.
Learn more about these offers HERE.
BONUS OFFERS NOTIFICATIONS
Would you like to be automatically notified every time a card comes out with (or is about to remove) an elevated welcome offer? If yes, I highly encourage you to sign up if you haven’t yet. And when you apply for a credit card from a link in these emails you help support the blog (and you don’t have to hunt down the link in my Credit Cards page!)
Elevated Card Offer Notifications
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MY ACTION AND WHATEVER
I need your help: I am thinking to travel to Boston and burn three free night certs I have that are expiring soon. One will be at the Fairmont Copley Plaza. Which Hilton property is the best? And which Hyatt? I do have both Cat 4 and 7 Hyatt certs, fyi. Please let me know in the comments or email me, thank you.
My own 70,000 Hawaiian Airlines miles have landed in my account after getting the Barclay HA card and doing just one purchase. Any day now my wife will get her own 70,000 miles. Will be transferring over to Alaska Airlines miles shortly, hopefully with no issues as it appears the transfer tool works fine.
This past week life got busy so no time to engage in any meaningful miles earning and absolutely no miles burning activities. And no travel plans at all as so much is up in the air with this kitchen remodeling project that it is just not moving and I may dump it so I can focus on some travel plans. And tax season is coming…
Interesting interview. I expect Alaska Airlines will go fully dynamic in its frequent flyer program starting January 2026. The announcements will come with the introduction of the new premium credit card. Alaska Airlines Exec on Competition with Delta, Possibility of Mileage Plan Change, and More. Then again, I could be wrong like all the other bloggers lol.
Found a short video from our trip to the Michigan Upper Peninsula and posted it as a reel in Instagram. Click Like and Subscribe, thanks.
Rest in Peace David Lynch: Visionary Director of ‘Twin Peaks’ and ‘Blue Velvet,’ Dies at 78 …who radicalized American film with with a dark, surrealistic artistic vision. I don’t watch much TV. But I did watch Twin Peaks back then and loved it. After that I used to watch X-Files. And that’s just about it. Also, don’t smoke! ...revealed in 2024 that he had been diagnosed with emphysema after a lifetime of smoking, and would likely not be able to leave his house to direct any longer. And some of his memorable quotes:
Keep your eye on the donut and not on the hole
We Think We Understand The Rules When We Become Adults But What We Really Experience Is A Narrowing Of The Imagination
Dreams And Reality Are Interconnected, And It’s Through Exploring Both That We Can Find Meaning
There’s Beauty In Darkness, If You Know How To Look For It
HOT CREDIT CARD OFFERS:
75k CHASE Ink Business Cash, 75k CAPITAL ONE Venture X, 75k CHASE Ink Business Unlimited, 75k CHASE United Business, 150k AMEX Business Platinum, 200k CAPITAL ONE Spark Cash Plus, 150k CAPITAL ONE Venture X Business, $1,000 Cash Back CHASE Ink Business Premier, 75k CAPITAL ONE Venture Rewards, 90k CHASE Ink Business Preferred, 60k Chase Sapphire Preferred, 80k CHASE Southwest Performance Business, 15k AMEX Blue Business Plus and many more!
Learn How To Apply HERE to support the blog. Or email me if you have any questions about any cards, I’m happy to help, thank you!
As of today, I burned 2,027,816 miles/points in 2024 (1,148,286 in 2023) and have 4,383,916 miles/points in the bank.
Remember, you are NOT allowed to ever carry a credit card balance!
Let me leave you with this:
Some of the links are behind a paywall. You can try to read them using Archive.is.
Thank you for reading my blog. If you enjoy it please forward it to a family member or friend. Or Buy Me a Coffee, thank you!
Feel free to contact me anytime at travelbloggerbuzz@gmail.com, all feedback is very appreciated.
George
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First.
This work of art takes so much time is ridiculous. Or maybe my blog just sucks.
I am shocked I am still doing this and I have not joined the thousands of bloggers who moved on. Enjoy it while it lasts. Support things you want to keep alive. Think Before You Click.
Enjoy the weekend.
Hey Buzz-
Happy 2025! (I hope).
So Synchrony might get the Apple credit card to offer. I used to do CDs with them. Then they screwed up 4 consecutive fund transfers. No one to call. You can’t reach corporate. They never call you back. No one to help fix bungling incompetence.
So I left them as quick as we could and now we have 2 accounts there with a combined balance of under $5. I guess their lawyers were too dumb to include clean-up clauses because they write us every so often asking about those tiny accounts. And we just let them stay, get 1099s every year and Synchrony keeps paying those costs, on and on.
And as Warren advises, I told my kids about this. Talk to the hand.
I don’t think Apple will get in bed with Synchrony at the end, too many stories like yours out there.
Good morning!
I’ve actually flown in and out of two the “scary” airports: La Guardia and John Wayne. Piffle! When the kid and I went to Australia, we flew in and out of really “interesting” airports. Yipes.
I’m remembering your blast at credit card “influencers” (maybe that label came after you read the riot act) and starting to think there is a ponzi going on. The gains made by those early in the scheme are paid for by those who are lured in. And it is all legal!
Thanks for the terrific links!
Count me down too on them same two airports 🙂
There are a lot of ponzis going on in this space. But kind of like on a different spectrum. Or something like that. David Lynch could put that down on film well though.
For Boston, do you want city, seaport, or close to something else (Cambridge?)?
I see Fairmont is in Back Bay….was thinking city to see the historic sights, maybe walking and/or subway. Have always passed through here, never stayed so very open to suggestions! Thank you.
Lots of good reading here! Thanks! Been studying my Italian workbooks and flash cards more, getting ready to go at the beginning of March. No return flights reserved so far, either! I think my last big adventure trip though. Maybe.
3 more days until the event in DC. Not looking forward to it but that’s me. Thanks, George, for all the work you do putting this blog together over and over. I enjoy the hell out of it.
Carl
What event in DC again? Reunion or something?
Last trip in Italy? Come on man, go to Thailand and die there from the massages 🙂
Weather is warming up here big time, we are up to 35 F degrees. I better take a nap to stay up for the Lions playoff game, it starts at 8 pm!