Category Archives: Trip Reports

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It’s Not Me, It’s You – My Breakup Story with Hertz

I see myself as a glass half full kinda girl. I don’t enjoy ranting, but today I just have to rant. So be forewarned, I’m DONE with Hertz. I am so done and fed up, and breaking up ain’t hard to do.

Here’s the story. I rent cars A LOT. Back in 2013, a Hertz satellite office opened up in a Chevrolet dealership in my neighborhood. Sweet! And for a while, it indeed was sweet. The two guys who worked there, Travis and Chris, were great. Good with customers, fun senses of humor, they knew never to give me a Nissan Versa (the seats are hard as rocks), and it was actually a pleasure to rent from them. So Hertz got all my business.

Hertz let Travis go, I think because he was the manager and the more expensive employee. For a while, Chris held down the fort by himself. But the car dealership hired Chris away from Hertz. I still see him, and he’s treated better and making way more money than when he was with Hertz.

That’s when the troubles started. Continue reading

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Chasing American Airlines Elite Status and Knowing When to Stop

Buenos dias everyone. Last weekend, I was doing some trip planning for May, based on the following parameters:

  • I’ll be in Washington DC for work from April 29–May 5
  • My partner and I want to go to Japan in early May to see the wisteria at Ashikaga Flower Park and the Ghibli Museum (we have tickets for May 13). Dates are still up in the air because we’re waiting for him to get his university class schedule
  • I have a meeting in New York City on May 20th
  • I have a Qatar business class mistake fare booked from Denpasar to Los Angeles on May 26 that earns nearly 20,000 Elite Qualifying Miles and 2,600 Elite Qualifying Dollars each way towards AAdvantage status
  • I need to be in Providence for the graduation of one of my best friends on May 28, and then have a work meeting in Boston for several days afterward
  • I’ll be away from home for a month from mid-June to mid-July

I was racking my brain trying to figure out a way to make this all work, and came up with the following options, which I sent to my friend Jon, a fellow travel hacker and food blogger:

A flight map illustrating the following routing: MEX-SFO-TPE-NRT-HKG-NRT-JFK-NRT-HKG-DPS-LAX-BOS-EWR-MEX

Option 1: stay in Asia after my partner leaves, fly to NYC for meeting, fly back to Asia, return to US on QR mistake fare then go straight to Providence/Boston, return home June 1 or 2. Over 44,000 miles in less than a month

Continue reading

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Happy Chilean Census Day! My Thoughts on Quirky, International Holidays

I don’t know about you but I enjoy learning about holidays in foreign countries. Especially if they seem quirky, strange, funny, or even just so different from what we have here in the states.

My cousin married a Chilean woman and for years he has lived in Chile. Today I got an email from him and it said, “Today is Census day. Everyone has to stay home and wait for them to come. A forced holiday. If not – you get a big fine.”

It gave me a good laugh. I can’t comprehend how this would work, but sure wish I was there to observe how it happens, and what the census people ask. And then what happens as the day goes on, that would be interesting too. Surely no one wants to be the last house to be visited.

Chile Flag

Continue reading

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Award Booking Services are like 21st Century Travel Agents

Do you ever use a travel agent? Maybe that’s a silly question to ask miles and points people, but maybe not! I came across a blog piece written by Christine over at Frugal Travel Guy. She points out that there are several situations where it’s “prudent and even beneficial” to use a professional. And I agree. I have two cousins who are long-time travel agents and are dedicated to their clients, but you know what I found out? Neither of them knew much at all about miles and points.

Christine’s reasoning for using travel agents got me thinking, and so much of what she said also pertained to using a miles and points award booking service like Juicy Miles. So let’s take a closer look at 4 reasons and see if you should EVER use an award booking service.

1. An event that’s too important to leave to chance is a good reason to use an award booking service. Special occasions are, after all, special. I’d say getting to safari locations, big events where you need multiple seats, and honeymoons, certainly qualify. I’m not saying getting multiple awards seats is always easy, but I’d certainly suggest that a professional has a bird’s eye view into whether or not that’s even possible given your miles/points, destination, and dates. Continue reading

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Reminder: Orange County Travel Meetup at In-N-Out Tustin District (Saturday, April 15 @ 12pm)

Good morning everyone, I hope your weekend is going well.  This is just a reminder that my Orange County Travel Meetup is this afternoon.  If you are free today, I would love to meet you and talk travel, miles and points, MS, and United Airlines anything else.

  • Where: In-N-Out Burger, 2895 Park Ave, Tustin, CA 92782 (Google Maps)
  • When: Saturday, April 15 @ 12-2PM

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I look forward to seeing a few familiar faces and a few new people.  If you cannot make it, don’t worry, I will do another meetup in Orange County around the Fourth of July weekend.  Have a great weekend and happy Easter!