Tag Archives: US Bank

(Massive Trip Report) Amsterdam, Berlin, Vienna, and Rome in 2 Weeks

passport-coins-currency

(Massive Trip Report) Amsterdam, Berlin, Vienna, and Rome in 2 Weeks

Good morning everyone!  Thanks to jet lag and time zones, I’m bringing you this massive trip report at 5AM PST.  Are you ready?  Let’s go!

  • US Airways: SFO-PHL-AMS-PHL-LAX (30,000 US Airways miles + taxes)
  • KLM: AMS-TXL, FCO-AMS (paid around $220 for both flights)
  • Air Berlin and Niki: TXL-VIE, VIE-FCO (4,500 Avios + taxes for each flight)

GC Map Euro Trip 2014

Read the entire trip report here.

(Hotel Review) Radisson Blu Rome (44,000 Club Carlson Points/Night)

Radison Blu Front Sign

(Hotel Review) Radisson Blu Rome (44,000 Club Carlson Points/Night)

After a short, windy walk from Hotel De Monti (hotel review), we arrived at the Radisson Blu Rome.  It is right next to Termini Train Station.  I booked 2 nights at this hotel a few weeks ago with my Club Carlson points (planning/booking process).  After my stay last week at the Radisson Blu Amsterdam (hotel review), I didn’t know what to expect.

Radisson Blu Rome Map from Hotel De Monti

In the lobby, you can see the old Roman building that used to exist where the Radisson Blu is currently located.

Radisson Blu Rome Ancient Building

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(Hotel Review) Radisson Blu Amsterdam (50,000 Club Carlson Points/Night)

Radisson Blu AMS Home Page

(Hotel Review) Radisson Blu Amsterdam (50,000 Club Carlson Points/Night)

Good morning/evening (whatever time zone you are in) from Amsterdam!  After a smooth US Airways flight from Philadelphia to Amsterdam, custom/immigration was a breeze.  Apparently everyone who sees two 24-year-olds travel together asks if we are on our honeymoon.  If it leads to free room upgrades or bottles of champagne, I won’t complain.

Anyways, from Amsterdam Airport, Google Maps said it would take about 30 minutes to get to our hotel.  That would be true if we didn’t get lost for a few minutes, but it is really a pretty (short) walk from Amsterdam Centraal Station.

Directions to Radisson Blu AMS

After a few right turns, left turns, and u-turns, we made it to the Radisson Blu Amsterdam!  Continue reading

$40 Radisson Blu Stays and Cheaper Club Carlson Stays

Club-Carlson-Cards

$40 Radisson Blu Stays and Cheaper Club Carlson Stays

Good morning, this might be one of my last posts before my 2 week trip to Europe.  I will be leaving tomorrow night to fly up to SFO and returning home on Super Bowl Sunday (February 2).  I will try to blog while on my trip, but no promises.

Here is a good post to pique your interest.  Everyone is aware that the Club Carlson credit card from US Bank offers “last night free” on award stays.  To maximize the benefit, let’s assume you only stay 2 nights at any Club Carlson property.  Therefore, every stays is BOGO or every stay is half off, however you want to look at it.  Here are the 6 categories of Club Carlson properties:

Club Carlson Award Nights

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What’s on my Mind? CES in Las Vegas, Napa Valley, San Francisco, ABC Gift Cards, 2 Free Movie Screenings, SWA Customer Service, Club Carlson Forex Fees, Citi Dividend, and Staples Easy Rebate Headaches

SF Bridge Sunglasses

If you look closely, you can see a naked guy in the background, hey it is San Francisco!

What’s on my Mind? CES in Las Vegas, Napa Valley, San Francisco, ABC Gift Cards, 2 Free Movie Screenings, SWA Customer Service, Club Carlson Forex Fees, Citi Dividend, and Staples Easy Rebate Headaches

Good evening everyone!  Sorry I have been so quite over the last few days.  I’ve been unbelievably busy with CES, SF, and Ebay.  Here is what is on my mind right now:

1 – Cool things at CES (Consumer Electronics Show) at the Las Vegas Convention Center

Cool iRoad from Toyota:

Cool Audi laser show:

Singapore Airlines in the Panasonic Avionics booth (lovely flight attendants too):  Continue reading