We’re back with a Brandon asks post today on a topic that I’m sure many of you can relate to. Today’s Brandon Asks question comes from reader Phil, who writes: Hi, I’m new to points and miles, and I wanted help earning miles by paying bills that don’t take credit cards. The $250 Plastiq Masterpass […]
New Chase 48 Month Sapphire Rule: What to do now and going forward
Welcome to another edition of Shop Talk where we discuss what’s going on in our personal points & miles space and highlight what we think is interesting in the broader space as well. This is the kind of “Shop Talk” many of you are engaged in on a daily basis, so feel free to discuss […]
PSA: Avoid the Four Seasons Nevis until futher notice
So we’re enjoying the pool at the Park Hyatt St. Kitts, chatting with a couple that checked in the same time as us. We ask them where they went for dinner the night before and they say: “We went over to the Four Seasons Nevis: DON’T GO.” Don’t go? We were scheduled to spend four […]
How was the Park Hyatt St Kitts?
Quick Summary: We just got back from the Park Hyatt St. Kitts as part of a deal that included a generous property credit and 4th night free. The property is outstanding and I highly recommend visiting. The Feel St. Kitts is an island in the eastern Caribbean. It’s part of the same country as the […]
This Week in Bank Points: Chase Ultimate Rewards + Expedia = Goodness?
Chase recently announced they’re partnering with Expedia as the online travel agent for Ultimate Rewards redemptions. This change occurred with the Chase Freedom card on August 12th and they’re planning to roll it out to other Chase cards in coming months. You’ll know you’re seeing the Expedia version of the portal when you see “Powered […]
Shop Talk: Is hotel elite status a trap?
Welcome to another edition of Shop Talk, our podcast on paper. This week we’re going to discuss hotel elite status. A big part of the Milenomics mindset is to Be Your Own Elite. We’ve talked about that mostly in the context of air travel, but the concept applies equally to lodging. The question I’d like […]
Review: SPG Platinum Treatment at the St Regis Washington DC
Quick Summary: We just completed a stay at the St Regis Washington DC. Although it’s a very nice property, don’t expect a lot of leverage out of SPG Platinum status. We chose the hotel because we thoroughly enjoyed a stay at the St Regis New York last year (Instagram review). Every room there comes with […]
This Week in Bank Points: Booking AA Flights on Short Notice
We decided a week ago to take a short-notice trip from Boston to Washington DC this weekend. Since AA and JetBlue serve the BOS-DCA direct route, the conventional wisdom is that this would be a great use of British Airways Avios. Well, AA award availability being what it is I’ve rarely found Avios useful for […]
Business Class for Four to Italy Using Delta SkyMiles
A trip to Europe in April is on our Family Demand Schedule for 2019. I haven’t been able to find award availability until just recently. Here’s how I booked it, using Delta SkyMiles to Italy. Parameters Departing out of Boston Fly into/out of “somewhere” in Italy (Rome, Florence, Venice, Milan, Bologna) Want to go during April […]