Good morning everyone, happy Friday! I don’t have anything important to share today, so if you are looking for useful information, please feel free to skip this post. Yesterday as I was walking to work, I was listening to one of my favorite podcasts, The Abroaders Postcast, because they speak to “thousands of digital nomads, entrepreneurs, hustlers, globetrotters and world changers in the pursuit of a life without borders.” It is basically my go-to travel hacking podcast. I started thinking about all the cool travel hacking stuff I have done over the years, along with all the “cool” travel hacking stuff I haven’t done. In comes the childish “Never Have I Ever” game I played in middle school and high school. Without further ado, here is my “Never Have I Ever” travel hacker list along with a brief description of why I haven’t done the things on this list…
- Transferred 20,000 SPG Points to an Airline
- Flown Emirates or Etihad
- Flown International First Class
- Bought or Used Avianca LifeMiles
- Flown to Asia, Africa or Australia
- Been a Hyatt Diamond Elite Member
- Flown Spirit, Frontier or Allegiant
- Stayed at an Overwater Bungalow
- Flown on a Private Plane
- Living in Hotels Full Time (Sorry Lucky, I couldn’t think of anything else)
Transferred 20,000 SPG Points to an Airline – I love SPG Points so much, that I try to only redeem them for category 1-3 hotels, preferably for short weekend stays. If I can stay at a convenient airport hotel for 1,000 or 2,000 SPG Points per night, that is a great value for SPG Points. I don’t think transferring SPG Points to airlines is a bad deal, it just never interested me.
Flown Emirates or Etihad & Flown International First Class – Number 2 and 3 can easily be combined into the same point, but it goes without saying that I have never showered on a plane (land-based showers are perfectly adequate, in my opinion). I do not have a strong urge to fly to or through the Middle East, but I know everyone loves Emirates and Etihad, so more power to you.
Bought or Used Avianca LifeMiles – Avianca LifeMiles are great, if you can buy them cheaply and use them efficiently, but I have heard a few horror stories that contradict those assumptions. I flew Avianca a few weeks ago from Cusco to Lima, but other than that, I have no interest in earning or using LifeMiles.
Flown to Asia, Africa or Australia – Number 5 is kind of embarrassing for a travel blogger, but I have never flown to Asia, Africa, or Australia. Hopefully that changes in the next few years, since I have Australia, New Zealand, Iceland, South Africa, and Thailand in my top 5 travel destinations to visit.
Been a Hyatt Diamond Elite Member – I’m not sure what happened to number 6. I submitted a status match last November at the same time everyone else did and was only give Hyatt Platinum, even though I was already Hyatt Platinum from having the Chase Hyatt Credit Card. I did get matched to Hilton Diamond, which I do love, but I hear Hyatt Diamond is the best elite status available for hotels.
Flown Spirit, Frontier or Allegiant – Number 7 will probably happen soon, since I am the proud owner of a Bank of America Spirit Airlines Credit Card with 25,000+ Spirit Airlines miles. I wrote Spirit Airlines Credit Card Holders: Find Off-Peak Award Tickets & Avoid Award Booking Fees to show how to find and book Spirit Airlines award tickets without paying any fees, so I just need to sit down and plan a trip somewhere, definitely before my Spirit Airlines credit card annual fee comes due, since I will NEVER pay the annual fee on this card.
Mustard and Ketchup colors
Stayed at an Overwater Bungalow – While at FTU Signature Las Vegas, I attending the Million Mile Secrets presentation where they talked about their stays in Bora Bora and Maldives. The photos looked amazing, but I don’t think I have enough money to visit those tropical island destinations. Everything costs hundreds of dollars. 30 minute seaplane flight to the resort – $500 per person. Overwater bungalow – extra $200 a night. Underwater restaurant – $250 per person. Yikes, so much for a “free” trip.
Flown on a Private Plane – I am just waiting for Tahsir to invite me on a flight from SFO to SNA so I don’t have to fly United or Southwest home for the weekend. Tahsir, call me!
I live for the days that I can’t tell a difference between work and vacation. LA-NYC ✈🗽🍎 pic.twitter.com/cIQ8NI3oQo
— BengaliMilesGuru (@TahsirAhsan) January 29, 2016
Living in Hotels Full Time – I like hotels as much as the next guy, but I also like my bed at home. No matter how luxurious the hotel bed is, my bed back home just feels nicer. I could get used to the free complimentary breakfast though :)
Thank you for reading my “Never Have I Ever” travel hacker list. If you have anything you want to admit to the travel hacking community, feel free to leave a comment below. Have a great weekend everyone!
P.S. I am going to visit John Muir Woods National Monument tomorrow afternoon and stop in Sausalito on the way back for a later lunch / early dinner. Does anyone have any Muir Woods tips/advice for a first timer? By the way, I am taking the bus from SF to and from Muir Woods.
Image Source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/liquidmoonlightcom/2571622655
Muir Woods gets crowded on weekends. Take the earliest bus in the morning to escape the crowds.
Muir Woods: This is a bunch of moot points for you since you won’t have much control over your travel (bus) but for the other’s listening:
1. On the weekends, get to Muir Woods EARLY. Many reasons:
a. Parking is very limited and sometimes difficult or prohibitive
b. Many people visit on the weekends and the more people the less enjoyable the trip (it’s the woods)
c. If you enter the park before they officially open (yes you can do that) you don’t have to pay; and of course there are a lot less people
2. If it looks too crowded and you still can’t find a parking space along the road after a mile or so, just keep driving down Muir Woods until it ends and take a left onto Hwy 1. The entrance to Muir Beach is .2 mile down the road on the right. It’s a great little beach.
Great advice, we won’t get there very early, probably around noon, based on the bus schedule.
Hahaha, mine are almost exactly like yours except the Hyatt Diamond thing. They’ve status matched me twice. Have no idea why except I guess my IHG silly “Platinum Elite”(from simply having the co-branded card) status works.
Does Delta One to Europe count as International First? I’m guessing no.
Totally agree about Starwood transfers. The hotel value prop seems much higher than transferring to an airline. Last resort? Maybe, but not as a matter of routine.
The overwater bugalow things seems excessive and a giant PITA to reach.
Interesting list
Thanks Geoff, I am glad I am not alone with my list. Have a great weekend :)
Yes. Watch where you walk.
I was wondering why my hike took up most of my day — not that I minded it at all — not realizing that I wandered into Mount Tamalpais State Park right next door.
Gotcha, I will make sure to stay in Muir Woods the entire time :)
We have eaten at Fred’s Coffee shop in Sausalito. Interesting place locals love it. And you can share a table with strangers. https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g33062-d673173-Reviews-Fred_s_Coffee_Shop-Sausalito_Marin_County_California.html
Scoma is suppose to be delicious as well.
Thanks for the restaurant recommendations. I ate a Napa Burger last time and it was very good.
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