We bring you the The Points Guy summer mansion at the Hamptons, a guy stealing miles & points, travel to the world’s hidden beaches and more!
TBB Blog Mission: To Entertain. Educate. Inspire. In That Order!
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Hope you like the newer look of my blog. New WordPress theme and new web host provider. Pretty much cleaned out the Amazon revenue for the year. Please help 🙂
I am going to try to limit myself to ten entries per post. I tried to do that before but did not work out. We shall see. To limit time and keep your full attention as well. I have resigned that I will never be a Titan because I just can’t pump credit cards like the Titans. Which leads nicely to…
Who said selling travel rewards credit cards does not pay well? This is the summer home cached here of The Points Guy. Renting for only $40k per month. I wonder if he will have a meeting there for us hobby enthusiasts to discuss how to get 5x MSing or something. Bwahahaha. I said it multiple times…help the little bloggers, thanks!
Which leads nicely to an observation: If you bitch about the state of the dismal state of the hobby and then you socialize and invite these (credit card sales machines) bloggers to speak at your conferences, or even worse, you pay money to go hear them speak at conferences, perhaps YOU are part of the problem.
Reader Paul sums up the current state of The Hobby well imho.
Student accused of flying high on $260,000 worth of stolen miles. Wow. I think this guy is not full there. Mentally I mean. (HT: Alan H. Jamison) I had this one slotted way before the Travel Thought leader did make a separate post about it. For the record 🙂
Reminder: IHG Rewards points now expire. Hope this is not too late for some of you, keep them alive!
United’s former CEO Smisek really cleaned up when he was ousted, wow! To the tune of $38.6 million!
Disturbing things flight attendants have seen in their line of duty. Waiting for former FA reader Ramsey to pitch in on this one #hint
Another set of 10 most inspiring travel photos with Matador Network. I like to look at these and imagine myself I am The Points Guy with my camera man, woohoo! #notreally
Best restaurants in America. Lots of them in New York City!
Bloomberg spoke to University of Michigan graduates last week. “Here’s Your Degree. Now Go Defeat Demagogues“. Must read!
Hidden beaches for escaping the crowds.
And I leave you with this…
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I didn’t think there was anything that could make me think less of tpg, but that house definitely did it. First.
I wonder if you can use UR points to rent it….
So got into the travel game a little over 2 years ago. I have fun doing it and have had some great experiences but obviously I see the handwriting on the wall moving forward.
Being relatively new in the hobby, does anyone think a turnaround is possible? I’m sure it will take an economic downturn, but I just can’t see these banks/programs cutting into their own profits. I suppose I will continue to hopelessly hope and thanks for all the work.
Don’t know if I like the new theme yet…
OK on mobile, less convinced about desktop.
PS. George, HFP runs Genesis so let me know if you have any queries.
Thanks for the offer. At this time, I am trying to get through this Monday 🙂
Wife’s car engine light and oil change light went bananas this morning. So, since I have no driver like The Points Guy, had to drive the car to the dealer and then get a ride back home. This kept me from my usual Panera hazelnut coffee induced work rituals this morning. Darn Mondays…
@Brenton: $40k a month….let that sink in for a while. So many clueless TPG readers have no, well, clue how this guy makes so much off of them! Which is fine if it was all transparent. Yeah, right…
@Chris: Hope never dies in this hobby. The writing is on the wall and I am very afraid we are not going to see it come off of it anytime in the near future. But, the degree of addiction of many of us, will keep us hoping. And it will still attract blogger wanna bees who will try to “help” their friends and family travel for free hoping that they too will become the next Titan (TPG, MMS, etc). They would probably be better served if they devoted their time to a real career instead imho.
Never underestimate the stupidity of the US banks though…
@Oliver2002: So far I have two positive comments and one neutral (yours). One thing for certain, it will help older readers to read it easier with the bigger font 🙂
NOT seeing the new design, fonts, etc in the email version, NOR when clicking to go to view in the browser. BUT…. when I click on to see comments, THEN I see it.
Using Firefox latest, by the way.
Hope this fixes as I much like the new version!
Thanks. I forwarded your comment to the web design guy.
Probably cached. If reader turns off his wifi router it may clear it – not sure why but when I switched their router was an issue for a few people.
Buzz I found an old safety video I made for TWA circa 1985 for the 727 on youtube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kH6QJzmLYtw
Saw that before, classic!
buzz the guy who plays the F/A is brilliant!!! The way he stares him down with that look kills me. Seen it hundreds of times from coworkers towards pax.
Remember, TPG is an employee of Bankrate dot com!
Correct.
That was disclosed to the readers…Cough! #notreally
TPG is the Martha Stewart of The Hobby.
Don’t like the serif fonts everywhere. Also, the mix of regular font sizes iin the banner and LARGE fonts elsewhere
Thanks for the feedback. I think it may have to do with not being used to it yet. Give it a few days….I think it makes for easier reading.
No, it’s not that I’m not used to it. Maybe I’m too “close” to it, after years of web marketing….it’s a pet peeve when I see the sans serif titles (clean and sleek) mixing with the serif body text (old school).
Am I nerding out on you yet?
Pimpin’ ain’t easy but it’s necessary
So I’m chasin’ affiliate revenue like Tom chased Jerry
Ice Cube….best rapper ever, busting some rhymes!
Yo!
Like the new design.
And hello from rainy New Orleans. Jazz Fest was a soggy, half cancelled mess this weekend. Even with optimized flights/hotels can’t control Mother Nature!
Hate when that happens….Weather here in Ann Arbor has been crappy as well, resembles Fall than Spring!
And thanks for the feedback!
Who’s up for a get-together at the TBB beach house? Here’s a pic of the luxurious accomodations:
http://www.newsobserver.com/latest-news/2k4sxh/picture6994046/ALTERNATES/FREE_640/GvXKD.So.156.jpeg
TPG’s Hampton place doesn’t have a great beach view like Buzz’s beach house. What is the sense of living in the Hamptons if you don’t have a water view?
I am busted!
Rest assured mine is debt-freeeeeeeeeeeee 🙂
Only if there are glass floors everywhere.
I like this new design. Nice and clean. Maybe not the fonts, though.
The new format is very attractive. I’ll make sure to use your Amazon link when I order cat food and other high dollar items.
Thanks.
I like that “high dollar” reference! TPG is so jealous I am sure lol.
its really a sad day in the hobby when mad fientist got in to selling cards
Yes…it is!
Like the new design.
Thank you Bloggy mcblogface 🙂
According to the price history, TPGs mansion was “sold” for $282k last year. Maybe a rich family house?
07/20/15 Sold $282,000
Not sure where I saw it but…I thought it was $2.8 million. Maybe you are missing a zero?
Or maybe this was for the shed at the back for the servants?
Hehe
To be clear about the Hamptons place…
He sold his Manhattan West Village condo for a big profit (originally bought in 2012) to buy this. You get a lot more ‘shock’ value out in the Hamptons than in Manhattan for the same price – Hamptons values have been challenging the last few years as Wall Street has stagnated so he got a deal he can rent out.
So about half that value is from investing, rather than just pure upside.
Same for Miami. His condo had nice appreciation, and he parlayed that into a nicer place.
He now rents in an all-rental building in Manhattan.
Thanks for the comment.
I really don’t care. I just wanted readers to see what selling the CSP can buy 🙂
Most of TPG readers are in the dark about how the blog is compensated and that it was sold to Bankrate years ago. I think they should have a right to know. Of course that would hurt conversions 🙂
I’m no expert on the money side of travel blogging, but I do find it hard to believe The Points Guy can make a fortune from this. What’s the going commission on a credit card app these days? I still think The Hobby is a pretty small travel niche, and you’d be hard pressed to find many participants who see The Points Guy as a must read (maybe I look at his blog every 2 weeks). Are there still newbies flooding the game and signing up for credit cards on his blog? Otherwise, I don’t see a huge audience.
Believe it!
If I answered the question “how much” my haters will report me IMMEDIATELY and my crappy non direct cc links will be taken away pronto. #truth
>>>>>>Are there still newbies flooding the game and signing up for credit cards on his blog?
Apparently, YES! I expect to see TPG smash into the prisoners market looking for a travel rewards credit card. ANYWHERE for noobs to get them a CSP card!
It’s A LOT more lucrative than you think. The Hamptons summer home gave you a small taste.
Well, that house didn’t buy itself, so he’s obviously making big dinero somehow.
I do find it bizarre that the credit card companies would pay commissions to guys who are basically teaching you how to scam them. I mean, if they put you in charge of the commission program, would you do that? I doubt those are lucrative customers.
new look and font are harder to read
Thanks for the feedback.
So far the positives are outgaining the negatives so I intend to stick with it…Plus, I don’t want to pay more the web design guy 🙂
Another vote for the old font.
Ok, thanks.
The thing I hate about TPG pumping credit cards is that none of the TPG staff admits to it even when asked flat out by readers (disclaimers do not count as they don’t give accountability). Of course, their readers think and hope they can also live the lifestyle of first class flights and 5-star hotels so they support them. Dream on!
Then that pointchaser site. I totally lost respect for that blogger when she talked about credit card pumping as wholly the readers’ responsibility. I used to read that blog for fun.
They don’t because it does not help conversions. Because…”It’s all about conversions” – Famous quote of a blogger who sold waaaay too soon 🙂
Oh yeah, the responsibility card. Probably one of the lamest excuses out there. I better stop because I feel my blood pressure rising…
Thanks for taking the time to comment.
It’s an interesting space, that’s for sure…
My conversions are my responsibility. That’s why I give mine to writers whose work offers me unbiased information with a primary purpose of helping the readers.
Over the past couple of years, that has resulted in my using Travel Blogger Buzz links or non-affiliated ones.
Gracias!
Well, the new look doesn’t snap my buttons, Buzzer. Seems like big letters and more of a ‘design’ look, rather than the old intellectual concept. I was kind of taken with the old ‘thinking man and woman’ look before.
Plus, we missed a Sunday post.
I’m not angry, mind you. Just not elated.
The old theme was not being updated and it was just old…It had to go. Designer guy told me to look around and I liked the look of the Travel Codex website. So he went with that theme…
As all new things, it will get some getting used to it…
Thanks.
I like the design, but the fonts are enormous. It hurts a lot to read such large fonts and you constantly have to scroll since you can’t information on a screen as before. You don’t need to pay anyone, just change the font size in the HTML. It’s a 1-minute task!
Hmmm, okay. Thanks for the feedback.
To me it does not appear too large actually. I am wondering if it is the way each reader’s screen is set/defaulted perhaps?
Yup, it does depend on each person’s settings, but I just use the browser default, which renders all the other pages in a normal sized, readable font. Your previous site’s fonts were fine to me. These are gargantuan! I can’t even fit the comment section in the screen. I have to scroll to add my name and email.
Here’s Ted Cruz Pretending He Doesn’t See Carly Fiorina Fall Off a Stage
http://theslot.jezebel.com/heres-ted-cruz-pretending-he-doesnt-see-carly-fiorina-f-1774249739
make that Mohel instead of Moyle……………………who knew?
That is getting surreal now…
Nice pick Ted!
I have two clients, former HPers. They get visibly very upset when her name comes up, wow!
Funny FA article and funnier video, thank you Buzz and Ramsey. I am turning the size down on my screen as the font is also a bit large for me.
Hey Ramsey, I figure those female FAs get hit on so much that they are immune, but sometimes they do seem quite friendly. So as an insider, well it is a dumb question, but I have just always taken it as their job. Are there any company prohibitions against meeting up with customers after hours, and how common is it ? Sorry for asking, just wondering though. Thanks.
PS yes, let’s meet up at Buzz’s beach house.
Funny FA article and funnier video, thank you Buzz and Ramsey. I am turning the size down on my screen as the font is also a bit large for me.
Hey Ramsey, I figure those female FAs get hit on so much that they are immune, but sometimes they do seem quite friendly. So as an insider, well it is a dumb question, but I have just always taken it as their job. Are there any company prohibitions against meeting up with customers after hours, and how common is it ? Sorry for asking, just wondering though. Thanks.
PS yes, let’s meet up at Buzz’s beach house.
PointlessMcPointsGuy