We bring you the news how Marriott deals another blow to Bonvoy members, how to score mega Hyatt suite upgrades, visit weed resorts, an amazing student debt map by each US state, how to transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points to airlines guide, bad changes to the Hilton Honors status elite match and challenge programs, visit Bryce Canyon Park and Palawan in Philippines, get some unique drive-ins at the old Berlin airport, warn you how the IRS may take away your passport if you owe taxes and lots more you guys, this is a long one because, you know, I like to blog for the imaginary conversions, sad lol #facepalm
TBB Blog Mission: To Educate. Entertain. Inspire. In That Order!
Support TBB by applying for CREDIT CARDS & clicking our REFERRAL LINKS
You like my blog? Send a link to someone please!
In case you missed Andy’s post here about stopovers, here it is again: 3 Most Generous Stopover Airlines in the World.
Chase Ultimate Rewards points remain the most valuable points currency, so here is How to Transfer Ultimate Rewards Points to Airline Miles.
Yesterday morning I saw many blogs posted the same exact news about the Marriott off-peak award pricing and other changes. It looks like they were all told to wait until they received the green light to post the news from Marriott. And they pretty much all had the same info on the news release, yawn. And then DansDeals posted what you should really know about yet another devaluation: Marriott Dynamic Peak Award Pricing Coming Next Month, Points Advance And 5th Night Free Awards Will Also Be Devalued.
…peak pricing will now be dynamic and peak dates won’t be published. You’ll have to search for dates to see which dates are peak, off-peak, or standard.
…the ability for peak dates to change dynamically is not a good thing for the value of a program’s points
In the award chart [see link] that will be effective 9/14, I combine the new pricing together with cash+points pricing and PointSavers pricing with discounts on rotating hotels.
Marriott’s Points Advance feature will be #Bonvoyed.
5th night free awards will also be #Bonvoyed on 9/14 as their name changes to “Stay for 5, pay for 4.”
With these changes, you may find the most value in the program in the ability to transfer 60K points into 25K-27K miles with dozens of airlines [Can’t believe this is still alive actually!]
Bad changes in the Hilton Honors Gold & Diamond Status Elite Match & Fast track program effective immediately. Thank the bloggers who were screaming how you can get a free match by doing things you should not do (using Photoshop and opening new account)…I am sure they sold lots of Hilton credit cards in the process though, sad!
Here is more on the exciting AA additions: American Airlines New and Interesting Routes for 2020 – Here are the Schedules.
And more info as well on the exciting Lufthansa addition in Detroit now flying direct to Munich!
Do you have a one-night stay at a Hyatt and want to impress the hell out of your special guest? How 9K Hyatt Points Can Give You a VERY Nice Suite on Your Cash Stays.
Just in case this national park was on your list: Bryce Canyon National Park: What to Know & Why Everyone Should Visit.
Wow, I think I am in love with Palawan, Philippines!
Some interesting entries in this one: The 50 Dishes That Best Represent Every State in America. For Michigan it is pastries and coney dogs…hmmm.
I have been saving this one for a while, never made it into a Best of Web post, so here it is: Mike Tyson’s Weed Resort: The Former Champ Smokes the Toad. Oh man…what can you say about this guy smh. 420 acres you guys lol.
Since we touched on weed…lets now educate you about drive-in sex booths at airports! Sorry, no shocking video lol. Actually, this was proposed for the old Berlin airport. I just can not imagine this proposed by a mayor in the US you guys 🙂
The mayor of Berlin’s central Mitte district has proposed installing “Verichtungsboxen” — booths where prostitutes can meet clients — in the airport site, a bid to improve the safety of the city’s sex workers. These include drive-in booths, where customers can meet sex workers in their own vehicles.
One of those feel good stories on Twitter that went viral. Woman Asks For Help Finding The Man Who Once Bought Her A Bike, And The Internet Delivers. You know, maybe we should not put kids in cages and instead buy them bikes huh?
Heads up, if you have a tax debt to the IRS, they may take away your passport, you have been warned! Individuals who need passports for imminent travel should contact IRS promptly to resolve tax debt.
Ever wondered how much student debt does each US state hold? Well, here is your answer, you are welcome!
Amazing drone shots! These Aerial Views of a Lavender Field in Valensole, France are Incredible.
Some really good thoughts in this article: The New Servant Class. I mean, I look around and I see plenty of these gyms, hipster coffee and juice places, spas etc.
Perhaps the ultimate price of wealth work, for all of the opportunities for the low-skilled, is not only the threat of exploitation, but broader alienation. In a digital marketplace of maximal convenience, there is no room for the friction of intimacy.
We are now entering BLOG BUZZ, a section for advanced hobbyists and veterans of this fast imploding hobby and also a section where I go on and on about some stuff that happens in my life because it helps me feel better about myself.
Looks like the era of gift card reselling may be coming to an end: Gift Card Mart Suspends Gift Card Buying/Selling Operations Temporarily: What Is Going On?!? From the blog that pioneered the !!!! we now get the ?!? 🙂
Just in case you wanted to find out how it is applying for the CNB Crystal Visa Infinite credit card and what to expect.
With yet more hits coming at us from Marriott Bonvoy outlined at the top of the post, I can not wait to see The Points Guy lower the valuation of the Bonvoy points in its “prestigious” Points Valuation Guide. And that was a joke bwahahahaha!
My knee is full healed and I am slowly getting up the mileage…all for the ultimate life goal to start AND finish my first full marathon in Detroit.
August has been pretty much dead for conversions around here, just three month to date. I am okay not being compensated for my time, I get psychic rewards blogging really. But I really do not like going to the hole you guys! You missed my whining, been a while 🙂
Son is back home now for the next 8 days before he heads out to NYC to start his career. I explained to him all about his tax brackets lol. He is on with the plan: Maximize 401k contribution, put away $1k per month and 50% of his one time income items. Actually, he really wants Trump to blow up the market as he will be buying for…decades! And he is also scoring some Delta miles and Hilton Honors points for business travel and of course his dad tries to maximize the haul as usual!
If you help me with some conversions…maybe we can buy Greenland? Or maybe it is better to buy it cheaper when it melts hey lol!
Welcome Pointchaser to the Blogs To Ignore list. Don’t go there, old sales man Rick/Ingy is back to blogging spreading shitty affiliate links as usual.
And I leave you with this…Rock me baby lol #bestdogever
TBB
travelbloggerbuzz@gmail.com
Follow TBB on Twitter @FlyerTalkerinA2.
You can subscribe to TBB below, winners only!
Opinions expressed here are author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
Good morning, Buzz. With only 3 posts a week, I treasure TBB news even more these days.
Looks like Gift Card Mart customers may have some of that friction of intimacy too.
Good morning!
It is fortunate that Hyatt is getting easier to find.
Bronze! For the Pacific North West!
Likely the reason for the big student debt load in DC is because so many of those folks are lawyers and went to a lot of school. Certainly includes my daughter!
I guess Ingy isn’t as comfortable in retirement as he likes to claim since he needs to write more drivel for another blog. Poor thing sold too early!
And he is lying when he claims he doesn’t. And then you get morons clicking on his links, like Mileage Update!
https://travelbloggerbuzz.com/3-most-generous-stopover-airlines-in-the-world/#comment-415157
Biggest fraud in miles & points land…and biggest loser as well as he sold way too early and now wants to get back in because money did not last, no wonder!
Money lasting just fine and growing nicely thank you. You clowns will and do say just about anything to express your anger and frustration for not “starting” early enough or at all. PS Hilary is still not your President
Money lasting just fine and growing nicely thank you. You clowns will and do say just about anything to express your anger and frustration for not “starting” early enough or at all. PS Hilary is still not your President
PS Hilary is still not your President and Your Network CNN is still the Clown News Network
PS Hilary is still not your President and Your Network CNN is still the Clown News Network
PS Hilary is still not your President And Your Network CNN is still the Clown News Network
You get it yet or do I need to repeat it again?
Ingy was not a fraud, rather he was very, very genuine. He came up with deal after deal, not by reading other blogs, but by getting up every day and asking himself ‘How Can I Make Buck’. A classic entrepreneur. He did that well and his Frugal Travel Guy blog was daily appointment reading, and the blog flourished.
Sadly, poor judgement led him to dark waters, like broadcasting credit card churning on national television, excusing that by saying he wanted to help the little guy.
After he sold his blog, he became bitter and thin-skinned. He started posting on TBB and attacked Buzz-our wonderful Buzz who only has kind words for everyone, Well, sometimes anyway.
Now Ingy writes for Arianna’s blog, which is a long story for another day. Seems Arianna wants to go to law school. Well, a man-or a woman-is known by the company they keep, Via con Dios my darling.
Of course, that’s just my opinion. And I could be wrong,
Hi Sam,
I am going to take a nap now after running 9 miles.
I agree with you. But I could expand with “Wounded Warriors”, “credit is your most important asset (remember that? lol), oh yeah the Nightline TV crew catering smh, the awful writing repeating the same old crap always asking first “how can I maximize my $ first before asking how can I help my readers”. But I will stick to the borderline lying and pathetic pumping of anything that will convert these days…If he had not sold so soon maybe he wouldn’t have to get sooo low, so sad!
Thanks for the kind words for me…you are way too kind.
Don’t get me started about her next…She just won’t listen to ANYONE, even more stubborn than me…which is lol level! Pretty tough to keep a job if you spend so much time WalMarting and writing detailed play by play structured blog posts about it, smh.
Just amazes me that you can continue with your hypocritical drivel. Maybe you should rename blog Travel Begging Blog always begging for clicks. And how selfish to want to keep the opportunities to yourself. But then again, you’ve always been a Negative Nellie. No wonder your own readers don’t support you. HaHa Yawn. 3 conversions this month? That lack of support is the biggest embarrassment of all
https://abcnews.go.com/Travel/frequent-flyer-secrets-tips-racking-travel-points/story?id=15001634
How sad to post here on Friday and Saturday nights being so negative while accusing George being negative. I mean, what is wrong with this guy, off his meds again?
How awfully sad to not being offered a deal to write again at the blog he founded! And the only blog to allow him to get back in and pump shitty affililate links like bumped.com is Pointchaser…who is again looking for a job. Maybe, just maybe, she spends a little too much time writing about her escapades in WalMarts and advising readers how to structure trips there?
Rick could not even get a writing gig at his buddy Brian Kelly’s mega operation at The Points Guy. Imagine not to be welcome even at TPG!
Again…bumpeddotcom referral links…this is an operation with serious issues but of course Rick will be helpful trying to get some benefit off of yet another shitty operation that will likely get back to bite gullible readers who fall for it. Same as that gift card referral link PC was pumping…even after numerous serious hacking allegations against them.
Some people will drown their babies for an affiliate link click. What do you expect from the guy who coined “It’s all about conversions”.
In for an IHG card for wifey, thanks TBB. Another conversion Rick missed on, so many thousands since the day he sold…and now falls down to pumping bumped.com referral links. As TBB used to say, bwahahahahahaha.
To Ramsey: This is not your buddy John. Get back with your avatars!
What ever happened to the other John, Ramsey is missing him a lot 🙂
“Pointchaser…who is again looking for a job.” No she’s not, but thank you for your concern.
@George you might want to read up on the definition of “Ignore” – it doesn’t mean what you think it does.
Also, I don’t have giftcardmall/gc.com referral links. Never have. I wrote about the GCM hacking so people knew the risk. You might want to get several facts straight before making these baseless, easily refutable claims.
I was offered a job at the blog I founded and said no thanks. Never asked Brian. Not that those answers mean anything as you guys make it up as your anger surfaces.
“How can I maximize my $ first before actual helping my client?”
So George 3 Click: as you are an index fund proponent, are you charging fees comparable to Vanguard financial services advisors? We’ve never heard about your fee schedule in comparison to others in the most overpriced racket of all. How do your fees compare to the .3% fee charged by Vanguard advisors? And while we’re at it, what are the expense ratios the index funds you recommend charging? .04% maybe .08?
>>>>>>>We’ve never heard about your fee schedule in comparison to others in the most overpriced racket of all.
Rick, you made an ass of yourself again here so maybe, just maybe, it is time for you to walk away, you were doing so well buddy, I was actually proud of you…You know it I missed you 🙂
As far as fees go, maybe you should not go there as you are just clueless while thinking you know it all. Just like our phucking moron President. Who is now doubling down on buying Greenland!!!!
Some education for you mostly for others readers as nothing will get through your thick head as usual.
There is WIDE disparity in fees charged from financial advisors in my industry. The ones to be avoided are the ones charging commissions only. The ones charging fees and commissions must be watched closely as the lure of selling shit to score the commissions is just too high. Best ones (as in less conflicts of interest) are the ones who charge fees ONLY paid by clients directly! Ok, clear until now.
For the ones charging fees ONLY, again there is wide disparity. There are many clowns out there charging minimum 1% for investment management and they even do a horrible job at it. They are the ones who will be decimated by the robo advisors and Vanguard types charging 0.30%. Nothing wrong with Vanguard of course as I use their ETFs exclusively. But letting them manage your money is fine as long as you know that you will never have a personal meeting with them and will only deal with your advisor on the phone. And next time you call in, he/she may not be there and you get another one. And you really don’t get much other help other than investment management…and yes, they will never suggest any other company’s products…so it is okay for them to charge so little, catch my drift? I have sent prospects to them with these warnings. As long as they know what they sign up for, it can be a good fit for some people.
Every time a study on fees charged by financial advisors comes out I shake my head that my fees are vastly LOWER than what they should be. I guess I could raise them to make more money or even open the doors to new clients. But then I won’t have time to TBB and educate/entertain/inspire so many readers! And it will take time away from my health fit craze I am on right now. You know, sometimes it is NOT about running to the bank and counting conversions dude!
Since you asked, the expense ratios of the ETFs I recommend are way lower than 0.10%. Clients get ME for fees way under 1% in total and they don’t worry about getting screwed by some salesman, get expert tax planning advice and personal service, not a green guy out of school manning the Vanguard phone line.
I am not accepting new clients.
I should probably write another article for the Wall Street Journal but after writing 103 articles for them…I am bored and need a topic that will challenge me and be original.
I see now why you and Ariana got along so well 🙂
BeBest
When are you joining Riholtz Management? They seem to gobble up any cool dude with a twitter profile. I find Josh Brown to be counterproductive in that he spends a lot of time recommending this and that stock (and lithium and cryoptocurrency) when “watching paint dry” should be their motto.
Well looks like discussing your fee schedule touched a bit of a nerve so my purpose has been served. Btw just to keep your facts in line, I was invited to meet face to face with a dedicated advisor with vanguard in Charlotte. Get off your high horse Georgie Boy. Nobody cares that you wrote for WSJ. I agree your fees are better than some and it’s encouraging to see you use Vanguard funds exclusively, but to me, you aren’t worth the extra fees year after year after year after year.
Glad your on a health kick. I am as well
Repeating himself over and over. Just like the good old days.
Mumble, mumble, mumble.
None of the above is by me…..an Imposter!
Ramsey, where are your icon/pictures/images? You are famous for that. It’s like an electronic signature for you.
Off to the gym. <–Thanks, George, for the motivation. If a guy with a (ex-) bad knee can hit the pavement, no reason for me not to!
The bruised knee is healed. Some PT and lots of icing finally healed it. It was a small bruise, never in a million years I thought it will take three weeks, almost a month to heal! No soccer for me until October 20, the day of the marathon. Clocked 15 miles this weekend…but doing 26.2 in one run still appears to be a fantasy to me!
@Sam……….Sam I am trying to retire from posting here at TBB, but everyday I try, somebody sucks me back in by using my name and now trying to sadly imitate me…………Sam, I like you, forgive me if I ever offended you in the past…….just please stop with the grammar corrections ( I know I ain’t got good English)……………………gotta run a super hot young dog walker outside.
Ramsey, today is UberEats day, the Friday in August where you can apply a free deliver coupon and you realize you dont have any need for an uber this month and you have a bunch of Plat Amex credits that will expire if you dont use them up so, what’ll it be…8Noodles? Guidance needed, (I can wait you to finish following the dog walker around.)
For all:
Rick/Ingy is back!
Ramsey is Ramsey here and has nothing to do with the comments in the handles above.
Thanks for the entertainment you guys.
Ingy trying to divert attention by always having something nice to say because if he didn’t..why not comment it here on TBB hey? 🙂 Like calling us clowns and bringing up Hillary who is now trying to cover up her dirty hands from sliding into Epstein’s cell…you know she did it, Fox News said so!
Sure Jan.
Sam: Yep, all the same BS…hawking Bumped referral links is beyond pathetically desperate. But hey, “it’s all about conversions”. Maybe if he had not sold so early he would not have to come out and blog so sadly!
Bluecat: Today is rest day. Tomorrow my plan says 9 miles. Sunday is 6 miles. I need to get serious, just 9 weeks left! Remember, back in March 2018 I had trouble finishing 1 mile, 1/5 miles max. Been a long ride and I am going for it. Oh, and today I took my kids for some fine Italian pasta for lunch. Tomorrow night it is at a BBQ joint we have not been together for years. Trying to maximize familia time until son takes off to NYC 8 days from now.
Oh George. The most pathetic thing is whining about Not getting any conversions and begging your readers. If you hadn’t started too late you would need to resort to such pathetic behavior
YawnOnRepeat
George, I agree 110% with maximizing your time with the kids.
And you keep doing what your doing. I tune out the whining but that’s still better to read than the negative dreck I see in the comments today.
I’m cheering for you in your marathon training. You can do it!
For the record, that was the first whining since…May!
Just imagine the yelling I would get if I was pumping bumped.com referral links in “helpful” posts hey?
So what is it George 3 Click that you know and have against Bumped.com?
Is it anything more than Ingy mentioned it?
Business model is shit. Reeks mlm, thanks for spreading shit. No doubt in the far chance that somethig comes off it, you will post how much you actually made with…shit.
I turn away offers like this shit every day. I guess I care about my readers more than my pocket.
We are all different.
I knew “pastries” didn’t seem right for Michigan.
I think they ran out of ideas on that one 😉
These comments are wild. Not much to add, but wish there was less toxicity all around.
TBB, how have you approached training for your marathon? Following a particular plan?
Sorry for the toxicity but maybe a certain commenter should not spend all weekend posting comments in a blog he despises?
Marathon:
I started running on March 23, 2018. I have come a LONG way on my own. I have learned a lot on my own but still really winging it BIG time. I read Running for Dummies which was good. But there is SO much info out there, I was lost. And then I decided to go for the marathon and realized I need REAL help because I just did not want to follow some plan I found for free online. So I asked for help to find a running coach in the rookie Detroit Marathon Facebook group. Got several recommendations, I checked them out online and decided to meet with one locally. I liked her a lot, she plans my runs and always responds to my questions (and I have lots!). I am a lot more knowledgeable now and more confident that with her help I have a shot at this.
She is NOT cheap! I pay $125 for 4 weeks. I can afford it and when it comes to health I am not stingy. I love having her at my side…some training runs I have already started doing I was clueless about (paces, speed, hills, ladders, etc). Lets see what happens if I can finish the marathon, life long dream of mine.
Hope this helps.
Response to Barry R.
Lol. Actually, you are not the first one who mentioned that. I am seeing them in early September. They are cool guys and what they managed to do and continue to do is amazing. But I am not sure these guys have face time with clients, just too much PR and blogging. I like the client face time. Which limits my potential client base and I am perfectly fine with it 🙂
I wonder all these people who throw money at Ritholtz if they expect to work with the actual bloggers? Do they? I don’t know.
Maybe I will fit there as long as they live me alone and back link TBB? Maybe with their help I can defeat The Points Guy. Just joking around…
I can not have a boss at this stage of my life. And I am not selling too early like other bloggers 😉
Response to the Monday am comment by Ingy:
>>>>>>>Well looks like discussing your fee schedule touched a bit of a nerve so my purpose has been served.
Thank you for allowing me to educate readers.
>>>>>>>>I was invited to meet face to face with a dedicated advisor with vanguard in Charlotte.
Invited to meet perhaps but most likely not to meet in person again. They can NOT do that at just 0.30% per year. We know how this works dude. Having said that, this Vanguard way can be a good fit for some consumers!
>>>>>>>>Nobody cares that you wrote for WSJ.
Really? Remember when you threatened to out me to them? Sad lol.
>>>>>>>>but to me, you aren’t worth the extra fees year after year after year after year.
Good. I feel likewise. I would have never advised you to sell so low!
>>>>>>>>Glad your on a health kick. I am as well.
Glad to hear that. Keep moving!
Sell so low was three times the net worth you disclosed to me in a private email. With all the competition entering the cc market and my limited tech skills, I made the right choice for ME with no regrets. Maybe your clientele has a smaller net worth but be advised you can get a “dedicated advisor” not at .3%
All I’m gonna suggest to you George and it’s the same since day one. You are just another Bozo on the Bus and it’s really amazing that you hold yourself in such high esteem to be critiquing others in the hobby. Especially for a guy that got in “too late” and was left with crumbs and has to beg for clicks. Believe me you are not worth an extra $15k per year, year after year after year particularly if you are just pushing index funds. Keep running and I’ll keep biking my friend
Everyone knows you sold way too early. Missed out on THOUSANDS of conversions since then and you now have to come back and pump Bumped.com referral links in a blog that does not have much to offer other than Wal Mart MS trip reports because the people running the blog you sold made you an offer to continue to write for them that was way too low so you “quit”. SAD lol.
I never expected to make more than crumbs in my blog here. You keep valuing everything in conversions. Read the paragraph above, you missed out on SO many of them because you sold way too low, so many newbies gullible enough to fall for your self serving advice.
>>>>>>>Believe me you are not worth an extra $15k per year, year after year after year particularly if you are just pushing index funds.
“Believe me”…LOL. I do not have any client turnover by the way. I am not pushing anything, that salesman shill talk. I provide individualized comprehensive financial planning services to a select number of clients who are a great fit. I have turned away MILLIONS and continue to do so.
Net worth is doing fine by the way, thanks for your concern. I have no doubt it is way higher than yours…and you have 20 years on me at least.
Come on, buy Ariana’s blog and let her focus on law school for a change so she can stick with something!
I’ll keep running. You keep biking.
This ends the comments in this post. If you want to continue please comment in today’s blog post.
Regarding bumped.com….You know you can do some research on your own since you have so much time on your hands. Like you did on “Wounded Warriors”. Another sad lol.
Closing down the comments? I bet most liberals would call that censoring, but you can’t talk with liberals. They’ll say anything
He didn’t say that ignorant deplorable fool, learn how to read! So, you got shot down in every aspect again by George and you now retreat to more stupid arguments like…censoring as your buddy Rene used to? You guys should have stayed retired!