Trip Summary: In January, 2013 Delta was offering very reasonable fairs from Minneapolis to Istanbul. My dad, brother and I decided to go to Istanbul when tickets were available under $800. Part mileage run, part tourism, part amateur archaeologist and part bonding experience, this trip involves 3 nights in Istanbul and 2 nights in Athens. Stay tuned as I review … [Read more...] about Family Voyage to Istanbul and Athens: An Introduction
Archives for 2013
Using Macy’s Gift Cards to Earn Bonus Delta Skymiles
After a recent reader question about earning bonus points from the Ultimate Rewards Mall using gift cards, I thought I would share another experiences earning points while using gift cards at a points mall. This time I was able to earn bonus Delta Skymiles while using Macy's Gift Cards to make an online purchase. Macy's Gift cards were burning a hole in my pocket when I … [Read more...] about Using Macy’s Gift Cards to Earn Bonus Delta Skymiles
Reader Question: Using Gift Cards at Ultimate Rewards Mall?
Today's reader question comes from Sara in Chicago, IL. Sara writes: Can you shop through the Chase Ultimate Rewards Mall, use gift cards, and still receive Ultimate Rewards Points? What about other portals? This is a great question with many potential answers, depending on where you shop and how you shop. The simple answer is that it depends on both the portal you use, the … [Read more...] about Reader Question: Using Gift Cards at Ultimate Rewards Mall?
Jeffsetter is Among TripAdvisor Top Reviewers, but How?
Last week I received an intriguing email from Trip Advisor saying that I am among the 8% most-read TripAdvisor top reviewers of all time. I was equal parts honored, intrigued and skeptical at the same time for several reasons, which I'll go into detail in the rest of this post. Trip Advisor is Taking a Page from LinkedIn I am a very heavy networker on LinkedIn, and on that … [Read more...] about Jeffsetter is Among TripAdvisor Top Reviewers, but How?
5 Steps for Starwood Points Transfer Between Accounts
Kevin Dooley My wife and I are both fans of the Starwood Preferred Guest program and over the years have amassed a healthy balance between the two of us. The good news is that we can freely transfer points between our accounts, so long as we have the same address listed on our profile. I needed to give her 1,500 points in order to meet the right balance for a cash and … [Read more...] about 5 Steps for Starwood Points Transfer Between Accounts
Signup Bonuses in the Mainstream
When you receive all of your travel news from travel bloggers, forums and emails from airlines and hotel chains, you tend to have blinders on to outside opinion of using points for award travel. I know that this is often a topic of articles in mainstream newspapers and online articles, but I never expected to start seeing articles about collecting points from an investor … [Read more...] about Signup Bonuses in the Mainstream
Chase Really Wants me to Burn Ultimate Rewards Points
Once is fluke, twice is a coincidence and three times is a trend. That's the thought that went through my head when I received my third message from Chase in 3 weeks, each time asking me to transfer my excess Ultimate Rewards points to one of their partners. Coincidentally, it all appears to have started the moment my Ultimate Rewards balance topped 200,000 points for the … [Read more...] about Chase Really Wants me to Burn Ultimate Rewards Points
Chase United Explorer Visa Reconsideration Request Granted
2013 will surely be a year of firsts for Jeffsetter. While many of my blogger idols talk about credit card applications and reconsideration requests as everyday occurrences, some of these terms and actions are things that I have yet to experience. During my Q1 Credit Card application signup bonus bonanza, I was immediately approved for just one of the three cards I was … [Read more...] about Chase United Explorer Visa Reconsideration Request Granted
A More Realistic Message from Hilton Honors
Several days after I declared my departure from the Hilton Honors program, I received an email from Hilton. They obviously must have read my break up post and wanted to make it up to me by setting the record straight about their proposed changes, right? Obviously, the important message they wanted to send was that the 2013 Hilton Honors Devaluation was just an April fools … [Read more...] about A More Realistic Message from Hilton Honors
Hitler’s Eagles Nest, the Kehlsteinhaus in Obersalzberg, Germany
Mauritius, Munich, Oktoberfest, Berchtesgaden and Paris: Hotel Review - Intercontinental Berchtesgaden Resort Trip Summary: Back in January of 2012 I decided to put my frequent flyer mileage knowledge, skills and learnings to the test and book the honeymoon of our dreams for my wife and me. While it took several months for the plans to fully materialize, the result was an … [Read more...] about Hitler’s Eagles Nest, the Kehlsteinhaus in Obersalzberg, Germany