Another TBB post featuring the most eclectic links around the web such as how tariffs suck, stock markets mayhem, deadly AI chatbot love, ten best dayhikes, digital media trends, the story of fascism, today in history, most scenic byways, latest updates on Thailand, the best photography 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. Enjoy the weekend and file your tax returns asap, this is your final notice.
TBB Blog Mission: To Educate. Entertain. Inspire. In That Order!
Support TBB by applying for CREDIT CARDS or Buy Me a Coffee or click on LINKS
You like my blog? Send a link to someone please!
No clickbait. No sponsors. No AI,
Follow me on Instagram and Subscribe to my YouTube channel
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
Blogging is not easy. Especially with all the insanity going on around us. This “venture” employs no algorithms, no AI, no clickbait, no sponsors, no ads. And now no tariffs ever. This is George curating for you the best of the web trying to make the world a better place. By educating, entertaining and sometimes inspiring, great to have you here.
Support what you value. Without such support it is not possible to continue to exist. Prevent enshittification and resist!
NEW: Huge 100,000 point offer on the card all four of us in my household have and keep from my favorite bank – literally the offer of the year in my opinion, even better than the 75k Capital One Venture X!
TAKE ME TO THIS OFFER
LIBERATION DAY/TARIFFS
Feeling liberated yet? I long for the days when I didn’t check the market futures on a Sunday night. Which I did for the first time in a very long time last Sunday…This week felt like it lasted years.
It is Friday, do you know what tariff rate other countries US importers you are paying today? Me neither.
Let’s be clear: Tariffs Are Bad.
Best post on the subject: Tariff Q&A: Welcome to the Actual Inbox.
I am sorry, it is hard, well, impossible to avoid politics. And since my blog has been turned into a PSA type outlet as it does not cover its costs, here you go: There is no Plan. They’re Just Morons. In full agreement by the way. Just can’t get over the stupidity of it all.
When you get Morgan Housel talk about tariffs and how stupid they are being applied this way, you should know. Also, sensible advice on how not to react to the current market mayhem.
PERSONAL FINANCE
We don’t know what will happen. Run away from anyone who tells you they know with certainty what comes next. Because uncertainty rules these days. Stay humble and diversify! You Know Nothing – Embrace That and You’ll Earn a Decent Return. This happens more often than we think. What makes this one so disappointing was that it is self inflicted based on moronic/deranged logic smh.
Vanguard sent me some nice material to help with clients. Be nice to CPAs and financial planners these days you guys, we are exhausted too. Market volatility is inevitable – Advisors Alpha is enduring.
Some interesting stats I came across this week in a TKer newsletter:
- The average bull market lasted 4.3 years with an average cumulative total return of 150%.
- The average bear market lasted 11.1 months with an average cumulative loss of 31.7%.
And one more graph: How State Income Taxes Have Changed Since 2000.
SCAMS/CRYPTO/AI/TECH
Scams are a growth industry lately and this is the first time I hear of whiskey scams: ‘I have terminal cancer and lost my life savings to whisky barrel scammers’.
One of the saddest stories I read recently: A Deadly Love Affair with a Chatbot. Sewell Setzer was a happy child – before he fell in love with a chatbot and took his own life at 14. His mother has now filed a lawsuit against the most powerful company in the world.
These findings are very important overall: Deloitte’s 2025 Digital Media Trends Report. Social platforms are becoming a dominant force in media and entertainment. While studios and streaming providers are busy competing with each other, tougher competition is coming from social video platforms that are hyperscale and hyper-capitalized.
You like my blog? Send a link to someone please!
ODDZ & ENDZ
When it comes to Europe, Rick Steves is the man. And he put this wonderful video together some years ago to warn us all. The Story of Fascism. Watch and don’t sit on your ass ok?
When I first saw the headline of this article I did not bother. I thought it was about yet another crazy terrorist. And then I realized there is a connection between him and one of my favorite bands, Tinariwen from Mali. Whiskey-Drinking Rocker Transforms Into West Africa’s Most Dangerous al Qaeda Leader. A militant leader from Mali championed a rock band and helped write a hit song before leading an Islamist army that killed tens of thousands.
Cool reference site: Today in History. Events/Birthdays/Deaths, enjoy.
Headline for the ages lol: The anus may have evolved from a hole originally used to release sperm.
This bird looks like just got tariffed lol: Photographer Captures Snowy Owl with Orange Plumage That Has Confused Scientists.
Here is a link to all the 2025 Worldpress Photo winners in each world region, it is amazing. Here is a small collection of the winning images, enjoy!
TRAVEL
This is very cool: Global Glacier Casualty List. Give it a click, you are welcome.
Maybe some of us aging geezers should do these sooner rather than later: The Ten Hardest Dayhikes in America.
Love this too: Most beautiful scenic byway in every state, ranked. I always wanted to drive all of Route 66 one day. I did drive the Copper County Trail in Michigan a few years ago, first Covid trip.
And you thought I was done? Nope. How about this wonderful link next: 6 Spectacular North American Train Trips. Wow, every single one looks amazing. Anyone done any of them?
Updates from Thailand: The new digital card system TDAC will finally start as of May 1. I like it, the interface looks very clean and simple enough. Love this video: Best of Bangkok by Drone. Another amazing Thairish Times video from a drug addict who robbed 7 banks in the US (his father was an FBI agent!) and then turned around his life in Thailand rescuing dogs. I love redemption stories, it is never too late.
Follow me on Instagram please. Subscribe to my YouTube channel.
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.
Well, if you use Uber and like your Marriott Bonvoy points, I guess you can do this: Marriott: Earn 1,500 Bonus Points When You Link With Uber.
I did not regret dropping this program from my hotel bank points collection. Because, boom, they did it again: IHG increases top award rates at Intercontinental hotels to 200K+ per night.
Very interesting offer indeed: Earn Alaska Mileage Plan MVP Status With One Flight to Australia.
Easy pickings to distract ourselves from what is going on all around us these days: Airline Shopping Portals: Earn Bonus Miles with United, American and Alaska Airlines.
Ouch: ANA award chart changes get an A…and an F (One way award flights bookable, round trip increases & no more Round The World). I always wanted to do that ANA Round The World award; I guess I am not going to. With so many devaluation beatings you would believe that miles and points bloggers were not so enthusiastic selling plastic cards from the banks. Yeah, sure, like that would ever happen.
You know this hobby has gone all wrong mainstream…when they write about doing timeshares presentations for the hotel points in the Wall Street Journal smh: I Won Big in Las Vegas by Sitting Through a Timeshare Presentation.
TRAVEL REWARDS CREDIT CARDS
These changes suck: American Express Business Platinum Dell Credit Going Down From $400 To $150 (and more). I may reevaluate holding this card. Not that I was so excited to buy $400 of Dell crap anyway. But only $150 now, come on. When Amex raises the annual fee that may move up the time I break up with Amex, maybe in 2026.
One day when a historian of this space writes a tell all book, we would read to our grandkids that US Bank came up with a 4% cash back card and lost so much money they killed it shortly thereafter smh: Big Changes Coming For New U.S. Bank Smartly Credit Card Approvals; No Changes Now For Existing Customers (April 14th Cutoff). You were warned this will happen, no surprises.
This card will not be missed as it was the poster child card for your sock drawer. Just languishing in there for the 10% points back on up to 100,000 redeemed points per year, zzzzzz: Citi Rewards+ No Longer Available for Applications or Product Changes.
NEW: Huge 100,000 point offer on the card all four of us in my household have and keep from my favorite bank – literally the offer of the year in my opinion, even better than the 75k Capital One Venture X!
TAKE ME TO THIS OFFER
More elevated offers finally from my favorite bank:
What stands out from the massive changes in all United credit cards is the 80k United Explorer card and the 125k United Business card, learn and apply with the links in the link below, thank you!
United Revamps Credit Card Lineup in a Big Way – Here’s What’s New
We have two NEW great Amex Hilton cards elevated welcome offers below (learn more about them HERE):
70k AND Free Night Hilton Honors American Express Card
130k AND Free Night Hilton Honors Surpass American Express Card
Another elevated offer from Capital One:
75k CAPITAL ONE Venture Rewards PLUS $250 Travel Credit
and the best offer still remains:
75k CAPITAL ONE Venture X
Please help the small independent blogs like mine continue to exist by supporting them with your CREDIT CARD clicks, thank you!
TOP TRAVEL REWARDS CREDIT CARD OFFERS RIGHT NOW:
NEW: Huge 100,000 point offer on the card all four of us in my household have and keep from my favorite bank – literally the offer of the year in my opinion, even better than the 75k Capital One Venture X!
TAKE ME TO THIS OFFER
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 75k Capital One Venture X card. It is amazing what you get for FREE with this card!
The 75k Chase Ink Business Unlimited card.
The 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
All you have to do to receive these free notifications is:
1. Click on the link above
2. Create an account
3. Subscribe
MY ACTION AND BLOG BUZZING
I woke up at 3 am today to put the final pieces of this post together before publishing it. Since March 19 this blog has earned $4.30 (one coffee after fees). I don’t know why I am still doing this smh.
Not much action here. I did manage to burn 37,500 American miles to bring son back to Honolulu from Bali next month. So, without even trying I am up to 266, 500 miles/points burned year to date.
The 100,000 United miles landed in my United account from the United Business card I got me last month #winning. Still pissed off that the signing bonus went up to 125,000 United miles shortly thereafter. And yes I did try to get Chase to match me to 125k but I was denied…twice. Sometimes you need to fold, which is not in my DNA at all.
Wife applied on April 1 for the 80k United Explorer card (no annual fee for the first year, come on!). Not instant approval which is not unusual. What was unusual was that we waited…and waited. And then I noticed the voice mail in the landline phone we barely use. Yep, it was a Chase Fraud Detection team rep wanting to verify that it was indeed my wife who applied for the card. We called back on April 6 and of course she was approved. Waiting for the card to arrive in the mail to do the deed to earn another 80k United miles.
I am supposed to run/fast walk/crawl the annual University of Michigan Big House 5k run tomorrow morning. I continued to walk and reduced the light jogging over the past two weeks. Because the issues kind of came back after one day I walked 10 miles. Darn nerves in my feet. Maybe this is stress related. Because, you know, tariffs and all has everyone’s stress levels elevated lately. And so it goes, it is obvious that my marathon days are behind me at this point. Which sucks. It is what it is.
I can’t believe so many voted for this guy a second time. At least he liberated us from paper straws. And now he is about to make showers great again phuckme lol.
Aging sucks you guys. Unless you are Martha Stewart wow. I don’t know about you but that is inspiring indeed. And inspiring you is included in this blog’s mission. You know what else is inspiring? When I see a credit card sale with my blog’s links that is not our own lol.
On much happier news, my Larissa hometown AEL FC soccer team made official its return back to the Greek First Division last week. There are two meaningless games left in the season and the only thing worth playing for is not losing them to keep its undefeated season streak alive. Which has never been done in a notoriously tough division. Fiesta is coming after the home game tomorrow and I wish I was there. It has been a magical run all season long and the fans are again behind the team united and looking to reclaim former glories once again. Because it is our destiny. Maybe one day I do a post here about this special connection this team has to us. Excuse me, I need to share my happiness with ya all. And wrap up this post keeping my blog posting streak alive someway somehow…
HOT CREDIT CARD OFFERS:
100k CHASE Sapphire Preferred, 75k CHASE Ink Business Cash, 75k CAPITAL ONE Venture X, 200k CHASE IHG Business Premier, 75k CHASE Ink Business Unlimited, 125k CHASE United Business, 80k CHASE United Explorer, 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 AND $250 Travel Credit, 90k CHASE Ink Business 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 have burned 266,500 miles/points year to date (2,027,816 in 2024) and have 4,452,038 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
You can receive each blog post by entering your email address below and then clicking on SUBSCRIBE below, no spam ever!:
This site may receive compensation for sending traffic to partner sites. Travel Blogger Buzz and Your Best Credit Cards may receive a commission from card issuers. This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. This site does not necessarily include all financial companies or all available financial offers. The editorial content on this page is not provided by any of the companies mentioned, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone.
I had no idea that IHG had increased rates, it’s what happens when points become less important. I still hold the original IHG cc because for that $95 fee I can usually get $200+ value for that free night. Otherwise I rarely stay at their properties.
So back to our happy place, Thailand, I watched the clip on the digital entry card and if I heard right will have to present the result to the immigration officer so I take it no electronic entry gate to ease our path as there is in Singapore which will be a great pity.
Listen to your body, your feet are telling you to stop the running so do so before you do permanent damage. There is a season for everything in life and it sounds as if your marathon season is over, time for reinvention.
Great links today! I’ve already shared one
Yes, we live in interesting times!
Regarding the scenic byways: I’ve done #1,3,4, and will hopefully do #2 this summer. #8 would also be within striking distance, so thanks for putting that on my radar. I might need to stay in a non-chain hotel for a night or two… which CC bonus would be best for eliminating a few hundred dollars in travel expenses?
Guys, I can’t.get.even.paid.for.my.own.credit.card.apps.wtf!
I started a draft “My last post”. Only the headline so far but it is a start.
Will reply over the weekend, just not feeling it pouring more hours into this blog. Glad you guys liked it. I am tired.
Anyway, stoked to see the Larissa celebrations tomorrow. They are doing a parade US style. With a bus rolling from the stadium to downtown. And it will pass in front of my family home…very emotional.
Enjoy as always George. Can we get some love for my Western Michigan Bronos repping the state & making it to the Frozen 4 championship tomorrow! Go Broncos!
As always, lots of good stuff. I will try and get through it over the next few days. I am a bit late today as it was the busiest traveling day yet. 3 Taxi rides, two train rides and a long walk or two. But a lovely meal in a gorgeous restaurant and with a commemorative plate to show for it! Anybody else out there been to Bari, Italy? This was my first time there and I am kicking myself for not going years ago! I thought it was absolutely delightful and what with the bad feet I have nowadays, I *really* liked that it is basically flat!
George, try not to get down about the blog. I am sure a lot of readers that do not post comment like it but just are not the kind of folks that comment on stuff. Me, I am too obnoxious NOT to comment though!
Staying one night in a “resort/spa/hotel right by the beach in Silvi, Italy, in the province of Abruzzo. Lovely countryside nearby but for a resort, well, it ain’t what I would call spiffy. Not bad, just kind of meh.
Tomorrow though, off to one of my favorite cities, Bologna and then Monday start a week of school! Yay!
Thanks as always for all the good stuff! Keep walking and skip that running stuff like Vicky says. There’s a time and place for everything!
Good stuff if a little frightening but I suppose that’s the country we live in right now.
Is your son already in Bali? I’m not an expert but my wife and I visit for a few weeks pretty much every year if he has any questions. We also have a pretty exceptional driver/guide that we’ve used for a number of years now if that might come in handy.
At long last my wife’s IHG business card from your links was approved today. I hope it shows on your referrals.
Will respond to the comments later…
Watching my hometown soccer team AEL FC home game here, 8 am to 10.00 am EST:
https://www.skai.gr/tv/live
Right after that, the fiesta starts, including a bus parade to downtown that will pass in front of my family home, told my cousin to wave hi lol, to be shown here:
https://monobala.gr/
Good morning Buzz,
Yes I’m feeling liberated, perhaps that is because I’m out of the country. Finally made it to the Park Hyatt in St Kitts after having to cancel the trip two times due to Covid. This is a great place to visit if you sincerely wish to relax. The view to Nevis is beautiful, the vibe here is extreme chill and they have some very good seafood. There is sargassum on the Hyatt beach, but not severe like the Yucatan or Miami can get. They manually rake the beach every morning. The next beach over is a 5 minute walk and the water is divine.
Congrats on your team’s promotion to the 1st division, looking forward to seeing the video of the parade.
Sounds like you are actually close to realizing you only get one pair of feet in this life, great to hear Buzz and here’s to your health.
Enjoy the rest of your weekend Buzz and thank you again!
Any idea who vftw’s ghost writer is? Singing the praises of all the united cards with their coupon books. Like travel credits that expire after a year??? What crap.
@ Vicky: Enjoy Thailand. Give us an update on any new/old hotels you try, etc. Yeah, trying to listen to my body as I am getting ready for the UofM Big House 5k Sunday morning.
@ DML: Oh yeah, not only interesting times but scary indeed with the dotard now defying Supreme Court order to return that poor guy who was sent to El Salvador…#developing.
@ Nick PFD: You are welcome. Oh, which card? Let me consult which cc pays the most…#notthisblog
@ Mike P: CONGRATS on winning it all, wow! Western Michigan is MAC conference brothers, I went to EMU. Used to follow the EMU Men’s Basketball team very closely back in the day. Epic battles with Dan Majerle waaaay back.
@ Carl: I have been to Bari, Italy. 1987 took the ferry to Greece, oh man that was a very long ride, no lounges or cabins, on the deck overnight, yikes! Bologna on the same trip, I do remember going to the university there in a lecture hall that was so old, creaking floors and all, very epic European architecture. Definitely not doing 10 mile walks anymore. I am starting to think the feet issues may have something to do with stress levels. As stress with the ridiculous Trump moves last week has been elevated.Enjoy Italy and thanks for the updates.
@ Christian: Son is going to Bali in about a week, I will let him know, thanks. This morning I see the IHG Business card sale come through, first cc sale since March 19, one of the lamest streaks alive in the history of this blog, thank you for breaking it! When my blog gets bought for gazillions I will take care of each and every blog supporter who took the time to show it, instead of just reading and moving on. Still waiting for my wife’s Chase United Business cc sale to come through smh.
@ David: It was a historic day yesterday in Larissa, so many pics/videos online, here is one:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8gEV_bJReCs
I wish I was in a PH anywhere these days to escape the Trump menace. We need to find a way to survive this guy individually and as a nation.
Yeah, going to walk 5k this morning ending in the UofM stadium, just wish it was not so phucking cold, brrrrr.
@ JohnnieD: The ghost writers over at Boarding Area are, well, ghosts. I am sure they use more than one over there, we may never know. If anyone reads this and wants to let me know, you know where to find me, and thank you in advance. Regarding the UA card sales posts, remember, this industry exists to sell plastic. If that revenue was cut, all these bloggers/vloggers would leave and go find something else to sell. I am probably still going to be here, heck, been here for 12.5 years trying to blog responsibly…and just sold the first cc since March 19, lol at me. Anyway, there is so much crap over at BA and the asskissery going on overthere is beyond belief. It is what it is.