Tag Archives: Chase Ultimate Rewards Points

IHG Rewards Club Unveils Biggest-Ever Redemption Catalog for Holidays (May Explain Into the Nights Promotion)

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IHG Rewards Club Unveils Biggest-Ever Redemption Catalog for Holidays (May Explain Into the Nights Promotion)

[Sarcasm on] Breaking news everyone!  I just received a press release from IHG regarding their new online redemption catalog:

ATLANTA (Nov. 24, 2014) InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) today announces the launch of its new IHG® Rewards Club Global Redemption Catalog. The world’s first, largest and fastest-growing hotel loyalty program is introducing a new and enhanced online catalog, offering thousands of retail redemption choices tailored to more than 200 countries and 20 languages.

IHG is one of the world’s leading hotel companies, with over 4,700 hotels around the world and a family of nine trusted hotel brands to meet a variety of guests’ needs – from a city center Holiday Inn® hotel, to an award winning InterContinental® resort. Its loyalty program offers advantages that no other hotel company can match including; free guest Internet for all IHG® Rewards Club members worldwide across the IHG brand family, value-priced Reward Nights with less restrictions, no blackout dates on Reward Nights, no cancellation penalties – and now, with the wide breadth of offerings in the new redemption catalog, members can truly personalize their rewards to best suit their needs.

The new redemption catalog will also give all 82 million IHG® Rewards Club members worldwide the new ability to add items to a personal wish list and to use their IHG® Rewards Club points to send gifts to friends and family in other countries.

Susanna Freer Epstein, senior vice president, Customer Loyalty Marketing, IHG said: “At IHG® Rewards Club, we are constantly looking to enhance and evolve the program in ways that truly recognize and reward our members’ loyalty – not just by giving them points but by giving them the opportunity for rewarding experiences. Our new redemption catalog makes it even easier for our members to access rewards for whatever they like – from jewelry to electronics, to the trip of a lifetime.”

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Amtrak Pacific Surfliner Day Trip and my Confusion with Orange County Metrolink and San Diego Coaster

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Last month, I shared my experience riding the Amtrak Coast Starlight from Seattle down to Los Angeles (link).  A few weeks ago, I shared my thoughts on taking public transportation (buses and Amtrak) from Orange County to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and San Diego International Airport (SAN) (link).  Today, I will share my experience booking the Amtrak Pacific Surfliner and some of the scheduling roadblocks I ran into.

The first thing you should know is that the Pacific Surfliner is part of Amtrak’s special routes, where it costs only 1,500 Amtrak Points per person each way, regardless of how long or short the ride is.

Amtrak Special Routes

The Pacific Surfliner runs multiple times every day from San Diego to San Luis Obispo, a 5 hour and 45 minute journey if you go end to end.  Along the way, the train passes through 29 stations.  Important: not every Pacific Surfliner train stops at every stop.  This partially screwed me up on my trip from Irvine (IRV) to Carlsbad Village (CBV) to visit a friend on Tuesday afternoon, I’ll explain later.

Pacific Surliner Maps and Stops

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San Francisco Weekend Trip – Part 1: Cable Car Ride and Hyatt Fisherman’s Wharf Hotel Review

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San Francisco Weekend Trip – Part 1: Cable Car Ride and Hyatt Fisherman’s Wharf Hotel Review

Good evening everyone, this is a short trip report from my short weekend trip to San Francisco with my parents.  If you like pictures of cable cars and inside hotel rooms, this post is for you.  In part 2, I will share some of the other activities I did in San Francisco.  First off, I’ve wanted to ride a cable car for as long as I knew what a cable car was.  I finally got the chance to take a ride from the Powell Street BART Station down to Taylor Street, which is a few blocks from the Hyatt Fisherman’s Wharf.  Taking the BART from SFO to Powell Street took about 30 minutes and cost $8.65 per person, each way.  The cable car ride lasted about 20 minutes and cost $6 per person, each way.

Cable Car Route Powell Street to Fisherman's Wharf

When you exit the Powell Street BART Station, you will see a big wooden turntable where the cable cars turn around.  Line up behind everyone else and wait for your turn to ride.  We waited about 25 minutes, but the time went by quickly since there were many street performers entertaining us nearby.  You buy your ticket when you board, $6 cash, no credit cards.

SF Cable Car Turntable1

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Marathon Man: “Manufactured Spending is like Card Counting” and my #WestCoastDo Thoughts

Card Counting Casino

Marathon Man: “Manufactured Spending is like Card Counting” and my #WestCoastDo Thoughts

Don’t worry Marathon Man, your secrets are safe. The one thing you said that I will share is, “manufactured spending is like card counting.” That is such a great analogy that fits perfectly.  Just like card counting, MS is not illegal, but it is definitely frowned upon.  The comparison to MS is wonderful.  After catching up on some sleep, I have a few points I want to share about the #WestCoastDo and the other travel conferences I have attended.

1 – First off, great job to Matt @ Saverocity for putting together and pulling off a great travel conference.  I am sure those in attendance would agree.  The lunch was fabulous and the extended happy hour was much appreciated. Thanks for all the hard work, time, and money you spent on this conference.  You da’ man!

2 – Uber is great in Phoenix/Scottsdale.  I used Uber a few times to get to/from my Holiday Inn Express hotel (please don’t screw me over Into the Nights) as well as to get to the airport.  There are lots of drivers at all hours of the day and night.

Uber in PHX

3 – George @ Travel Blogger Buzz is much nicer in person.  I have been a long time reader and friend of George, but this was the first time meeting him in person.  He is very nice, funny, and just fun to hang out with.  He shared his thought on #WestCoastDo here.

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My Credit Card Affiliate Links will be Removed on Monday, November 10 at 12PM CT

Which Credit Card

My Credit Card Affiliate Links will be Removed on Monday, November 10 at 12PM CT

Good evening everyone, I wish I were here with better news, but unfortunately on the eve of #westcoastdo, I received an email from my credit card affiliate network that my Barclays credit card links will be deactivated Monday, November 10 at 12PM CT.  Shortly after noon, I will remove all Barclays credit card links from my blog.

Over the last year and a half, I have slowly and steadily lost all the great credit card links, from Chase, Citi, American Express, Bank of America, Discover, US Bank, and now Barclays.  With the loss of Barclays, I will only have links for secured credit card, which I wouldn’t recommend to my worst enemy.  The loss of credit card affiliate links is probably a result of very low approval numbers (I am too small for the banks to bother keeping) and the manufactured spending topics I often discuss probably didn’t help either.

It is kind of ironic, really.  When I started my blog in May 2013, I had all the great credit card links and none of the site traffic.  Fast forward to today, the situation has completely swapped.  In a few days, I will have no credit card links and much greater site traffic.  The timing was terrible, but also a blessing.   Continue reading →