Starwood American Express US Open Cardmember Event

When we think of major travel credit cards, we're usually pretty focused on the concrete benefits of the card -- how many points you earn per dollar spent, how you can redeem those points, etc. And using those metrics the Starwood Preferred Guest® Credit Card from American Express is awesome. It's the first "major" credit card I ever applied for, and I've held onto it since.

What makes the card so great is how flexible the points are. You can redeem them for any Starwood property worldwide with no blackout dates, with some great redemption opportunities. The card offers a fifth night free when redeeming points, and also offers Cash & Points, whereby you can redeem part cash and part points for a hotel stay, which is generally a very good deal.

The post Starwood American Express US Open Cardmember Event appeared first on One Mile at a Time.

from One Mile at a Time http://onemileatatime.boardingarea.com/2014/09/19/starwood-american-express-us-open-cardmember-event/

San Diego is Cracking Down on Cab Drivers Who Smell

The San Diego airport is requiring cab drivers not to smell bad. And the cab drivers are livid. For years, inspectors with the San Diego Regional Airport Authority have run down their checklist for each cabbie — proof of insurance, functioning windshield wipers, adequate tire treads, good brakes. Drivers are graded pass, fail or needs […]

The post San Diego is Cracking Down on Cab Drivers Who Smell appeared first on View from the Wing.

from View from the Wing http://viewfromthewing.boardingarea.com/2014/09/19/san-diego-cracking-cab-drivers-smell/

Frugal Guide to Lake Tahoe

Mark Twain once described Lake Tahoe as “The fairest picture the whole earth affords.” Anyone who has taken Highway 89 and caught a glimpse of Emerald Bay would agree. The Lake itself is on the border of Nevada and California, with most tourist activity centered around the city of South Lake Tahoe (California) and the […]



from Frugal Travel Guy http://www.frugaltravelguy.com/2014/09/frugal-guide-to-lake-tahoe.html

In Transit Blog: The Berlin Wall’s Fall, Commemorated by Light

The 25th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall will be observed in November with miles of light along its former route.

















from NYT > Travel http://rss.nytimes.com/c/34625/f/642561/s/3ea4c09a/sc/10/l/0Lintransit0Bblogs0Bnytimes0N0C20A140C0A90C190Cthe0Eberlin0Ewalls0Efall0Ecommemorated0Eby0Elight0C0Dpartner0Frss0Gemc0Frss/story01.htm

Two Goods Reasons to Visit NoHo

Notable sites on East Fourth Street include No. 29, the Merchant’s House Museum, whose parlor and staircase were copied for the 1949 film “The Heiress,” and the Swift Hibernian Lounge, an Irish pub.

















from NYT > Travel http://rss.nytimes.com/c/34625/f/642561/s/3ea4c09b/sc/38/l/0L0Snytimes0N0C20A140C0A90C210Cnyregion0Ctwo0Egoods0Ereasons0Eto0Evisit0Enoho0Bhtml0Dpartner0Frss0Gemc0Frss/story01.htm

Why millennials are awesome traveler

What sets us apart from other generational groups is that we require our own individual experiences.



from Matador NetworkMatador Network http://matadornetwork.com/bnt/6-reasons-millennials-make-best-travelers/

Why Does Seattle Have To Be So Captivating?

As long time readers may know, about two years ago I made the decision to move from Tampa to Seattle. I had lived in Tampa for far too long, and couldn’t stand it. The only nice thing about it was being close to my parents, who I care more about than anything. Still, I really…

The post Why Does Seattle Have To Be So Captivating? appeared first on One Mile at a Time.

from One Mile at a Time http://onemileatatime.boardingarea.com/2014/09/19/why-does-seattle-have-to-be-so-captivating/

In Transit Blog: Expedia and HomeAway Expand Rental Partnership

A partnership between Expedia and HomeAway will offer more than 100,000 home rentals.

















from NYT > Travel http://rss.nytimes.com/c/34625/f/642561/s/3ea48db4/sc/38/l/0Lintransit0Bblogs0Bnytimes0N0C20A140C0A90C190Cexpedia0Eand0Ehomeaway0Eexpand0Erental0Epartnership0C0Dpartner0Frss0Gemc0Frss/story01.htm

Earning Miles with Debit Cards That Have No PINs, Gaming Argentina’s Currency, and Drinking from a Plastic Bag

News and notes from around the interweb: PIN-less debit transactions. Use your phone to create postcards and then outsource mailing of them American Airlines is apparently limiting ticket sales in Argentina, because Argentina is limiting the amount of foreign currency which can be taken out of the country (they can’t get the money from ticket […]

The post Earning Miles with Debit Cards That Have No PINs, Gaming Argentina’s Currency, and Drinking from a Plastic Bag appeared first on View from the Wing.

from View from the Wing http://viewfromthewing.boardingarea.com/2014/09/19/earning-miles-debit-cards-pins-gaming-argentinas-currency-drinking-plastic-bag/

Norway the Slow Way

On a cruise up the country’s coast, gazing at the big views and looking for the midnight sun.

















from NYT > Travel http://rss.nytimes.com/c/34625/f/642561/s/3ea3e5c0/sc/10/l/0L0Snytimes0N0Cinteractive0C20A140C0A90C190Ctravel0Creif0Elarsen0Enorway0Bhtml0Dpartner0Frss0Gemc0Frss/story01.htm

Las Vegas Taxi Excitement

I have a love/hate relationship with Las Vegas. It's the worst place on earth... which is why I both love and hate it. I don't think there's anywhere in the world more ridiculous, and less than 24 hours into my current trip I'm already reminded why.

I already wrote about my experience tipping at check-in, where I tipped the front desk associate $60 to get an upgrade to a room that would have cost me $40 more. Granted, it's my own fault, but I wouldn't even think to bribe my way into an upgrade anywhere else in world, which just shows how ridiculous this place is.

*Taxi driver scams*

The Vegas taxi mafia is among the most corrupt in the world. Uber isn't allowed in the city, and even though they have a monorail, they elected not to build it to the airport so that the taxi drivers wouldn't be impacted negatively.

The post Las Vegas Taxi Excitement appeared first on One Mile at a Time.

from One Mile at a Time http://onemileatatime.boardingarea.com/2014/09/19/las-vegas-taxi-excitement/

Concur, SAP, data and the pivoting of corporate travel

The rumoured bidding war is over – Germany-based SAP emerged as the victor in the battle to acquire Concur. The deal for ...



from Tnooz http://www.tnooz.com/article/concur-sap-pivot-corporate-travel/#utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=concur-pivoting-corporate-travel

Maximizing Points and Miles on Apple iPhone 6 Purchases

The day has finally arrived! The Apple iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus are finally here. Geeks, I mean technophiles, rejoice! Perhaps you drove past an Apple store over the past few days and mistook it for a campsite as folks stretched out in lines and on the pavement overnight for the chance to be […]



from The Points Guy http://thepointsguy.com/2014/09/maximizing-points-and-miles-on-apple-iphone-6-purchases/

Scotland: Indomitable, Unparalleled

It’s difficult to be entirely dispassionate about something that has been in my family for centuries. So, full disclosure: ​Throughout the do-wo-go, do-we-stay debate on Scottish independence, I've been on the side of staying the course with the U.K. and I am relieved that Scottish pride and the knee-jerk, up-yours attitude that once resulted in moors sodden with ill-spent blood spilled by the English gave way to what the Scottish are born to—a calculating practicality that eventually wins the day.



from Intelligent Travel http://intelligenttravel.nationalgeographic.com/2014/09/19/scotland-indomitable-unparalleled/

On learning not to hate New Jersey

For me, Jersey belonged on my State Hate list, which is composed solely of states I hate because I was forced to drive through them.



from Matador NetworkMatador Network http://matadornetwork.com/life/convinced-okay-move-new-jersey/