Reader Recs: World’s Best Markets

I'm a sucker for a good market. The noise, the food, the smells, and best of all, the shopping. There's nothing quite like it. To celebrate these dynamic cultural hubs, we asked our Nat Geo Travel Facebook fans to share with us their picks for the best markets to visit all over the world.



from Intelligent Travel http://intelligenttravel.nationalgeographic.com/2014/10/10/reader-recs-worlds-best-markets/

I Reached 75 Night Platinum With Starwood… Yay?

In April I started living in hotels full time, and have been primarily staying at Hyatt and Starwood properties. I also mix in a fair number of Hilton and Club Carlson properties when they're more convenient, thanks to the benefits offered by their co-branded credit cards:

-- The Club Carlson Premier Rewards Visa Signature® Card offers a free night when you redeem for two or more award nights, so if you stay in two night increments that's basically buy one get one free.

-- The Citi® Hilton HHonors Reserve Card offers Gold status for as long as you have the card, plus Diamond status when you spend $40,000 on the card in a year. While I don't love Hilton properties in general, they have a massive footprint, unlike Hyatt and Starwood.

The post I Reached 75 Night Platinum With Starwood… Yay? appeared first on One Mile at a Time.

from One Mile at a Time http://onemileatatime.boardingarea.com/2014/10/10/reached-75-nights-starwood-yay/

American Airlines Los Angeles Atlanta Service… Why in the World Would They Do That?

American starts Los Angeles – Atlanta service March 5 (it becomes bookable this Sunday). They’ll offer three flights daily – Los Angeles Departures at 12:15am, 10:30am, and 3:20pm Atlanta departures at 7am, 12:50pm, and 6:55pm But.. why? This could help feed American’s Tokyo and Shanghai flights, and oneworld Pacific partners Qantas, JAL, and Cathay Pacific […]

The post American Airlines Los Angeles Atlanta Service… Why in the World Would They Do That? appeared first on View from the Wing.

from View from the Wing http://viewfromthewing.boardingarea.com/2014/10/10/american-airlines-los-angeles-atlanta-service-world/

Sapphire Preferred vs. EveryDay Preferred – Which Card Wins?

Last week, American Express announced that, starting in 2015, the Premier Rewards Gold card would no longer offer a 15,000-point bonus for spending $30,000 or more in a calendar year. That prompted us to reevaluate Amex’s Membership Rewards cards in a showdown that pitted the Premier Rewards Gold against the Platinum and EveryDay Preferred cards. […]



from The Points Guy http://thepointsguy.com/2014/10/card-comparison-sapphire-preferred-vs-everyday-preferred/

How to piss off a rock climber

Lie about sending a climb and or the style you did it in. Perhaps nothing makes a climber's blood boil like a liar.



from Matador Network » Matador Network http://matadornetwork.com/sports/piss-rock-climber/

How one airport is using technology to overhaul the passenger experience

Think the airport is just a place you go catch a plane? Think again. Though perhaps not quite as important as the ...



from Tnooz http://www.tnooz.com/article/airport-technology-overhaul-passenger-experience/#utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=one-airport-using-technology-overhaul-passenger-experience

How Five Minutes of Meditation Makes Me A Better Traveler

Wandering Earl

Ah, meditation. Legs crossed, hands placed ever so gently on the knees, back straight, baggy cotton clothes flowing perfectly and alas, the look of pure zen on the face. Well, what if I told you that I meditate sitting down … Read more →

from Wandering Earl http://www.wanderingearl.com/five-minutes-meditation-makes-better-traveler/

How Much Does It Cost to Visit Every Country in the World?

I’ve mentioned a few times that going to every country in the world wasn’t as expensive as most people initially think. But how much did it really cost? The short answer is that I’m not 100% sure of the precise figure. I didn’t tally up every expense associated with ten-and-a-half years of travel, and I…



from The Art of Non-Conformity http://chrisguillebeau.com/how-much-does-it-cost-to-visit-every-country-in-the-world/

Story behind the shot: Playa Guiones

One night I caught a glimpse of this father and his baby on a bike. I quickly grabbed my camera and captured this scene.



from Matador Network » Matador Network http://matadornetwork.com/notebook/story-behind-shot-playa-guiones/

Delta SkyMiles Raises MQD Requirements For 2016 Status

In early 2013 Delta SkyMiles announced that they would be adding revenue requirements for earning status starting with the 2014 program year.

Instead of just having to earn 25,000-125,000 Medallion Qualifying Miles for earning status, you'd also have to spend a minimum of 10 cents per mile pre-tax on those flights ($2,500-$12,500).

Ultimately there were two ways to get around these revenue requirements:

-- Spend a minimum of $25,000 on one of Delta's co-branded credit cards

-- Register your SkyMiles account somewhere other than the US

The post Delta SkyMiles Raises MQD Requirements For 2016 Status appeared first on One Mile at a Time.

from One Mile at a Time http://onemileatatime.boardingarea.com/2014/10/10/delta-skymiles-raises-mqd-requirements-2016/

14 things to know about Paraguay

Overshadowed by its bigger, flashier neighbors, Paraguay is a curious country worth a closer look. Learn more here and see what Anthony Bourdain discovered in Paraguay on Sunday at 9 p.m. on CNN.

from CNN.com - Travel http://www.cnn.com/2014/10/09/travel/bourdain-paraguay-13-things/index.html

Ebola comment gets man hazmat escort from plane

Ebola is no laughing matter, especially not at airports or on planes, where screenings have gotten tighter.

from CNN.com - Travel http://www.cnn.com/2014/10/09/travel/dominican-ebola-plane-scare/index.html

100,000 Points Towards a Companion Pass! 50,000 Point Offer Also Available for Southwest Business Card Card

Southwest 50000 business card: Good news for many readers, it should be possible for some folks to get 2 different 50,000 point credit card signup bonuses for the Southwest co-brand credit cards, and be well on your way to a companion pass. Yesterday I wrote that

The post 100,000 Points Towards a Companion Pass! 50,000 Point Offer Also Available for Southwest Business Card Card appeared first on View from the Wing.

from View from the Wing http://viewfromthewing.boardingarea.com/2014/10/10/100000-points-towards-companion-pass-50000-point-offer-also-available-southwest-business-card-card/

America is a beautiful country

After spending a few years abroad, I became somewhat mystified by the American love affair with the automobile.



from Matador Network » Matador Network http://matadornetwork.com/notebook/america-beautiful-country/

The 7 strangest American idioms

“He's going postal!” Ah, America. The only place where massacres are so common in a certain profession that you can make a folksy aphorism out of it.



from Matador Network » Matador Network http://matadornetwork.com/life/7-strangest-american-idioms/