Best Travel Blogs

December 16, 2014

Priceline’s Booking.com eases rate parity after European pressure

After pressure on Booking.com from regulators in Sweden, France and Italy, the OTA has offered to soften the long-maligned rate parity clause ...

from Tnooz http://www.tnooz.com/article/pricelines-booking-com-eases-rate-parity-european-pressure/#utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=pricelines-booking-com-eases-rate-parity-european-pressure

What to do when a product falls short of your expectations

from Elliott http://elliott.org/advice-you-can-take/product-falls-short-expectations/

The people we meet along the way

"His family before him lived in the desert, and he's spent nearly every night of his life out in the desert quiet. I asked if he'd like to see other parts of the world and he said there was nowhere else he'd rather be than next to his fire, with his camels, looking at the stars. I asked if I could take his portrait and he agreed."

from Matador Network » Matador Network http://matadornetwork.com/notebook/people-meet-along-way-rajasthan/

Korean Air Could Be Fined $2 Million Over Nut Lady

On one hand I'd like to think this story has run its course. On the other hand, it just keeps getting better and better.

For those of you that have been living under a rock, see these previous posts:

-- Korean Air Flight Delayed Over Nuts

-- Korean Air Executive Resigns Over Nuts

-- Why Is Korean Air’s #NutGate Causing So Much Controversy?

-- Korean Air Purser Speaks Out About Nut Outrage

I'm almost starting to feel bad for Heather Cho. I mean, it's not her fault she was born into such a rich family, was handed a role as senior vice president for an airline on a silver platter, and has probably been taught to treat "lesser" people poorly from a young age... is it?

The post Korean Air Could Be Fined $2 Million Over Nut Lady appeared first on One Mile at a Time.

from One Mile at a Time http://onemileatatime.boardingarea.com/2014/12/16/korean-air-could-be-fined-2-million-over-nut-lady/

Singapore, Cathay, and Qantas First Class.. Some of the Best Meals of My Life, and a Tour of Hyatts in Bangkok, Singapore, and Sydney

I’m about to head off on another trip, which I’m somewhat ambivalent about because of how much I’ve been on the road lately. But I’ve also done vacation and I’m much happier to share that trip with you in the coming days. It was a return to cities I’ve been to many times, it was […]

The post Singapore, Cathay, and Qantas First Class.. Some of the Best Meals of My Life, and a Tour of Hyatts in Bangkok, Singapore, and Sydney appeared first on View from the Wing.

from View from the Wing http://viewfromthewing.boardingarea.com/2014/12/16/singapore-cathay-qantas-first-class-best-meals-life-tour-hyatts-bangkok-singapore-sydney/

140,000 Point Ritz-Carlton Rewards Visa Sign-Up Bonus

Arguably the most high end hotel credit card is back with an increased sign-up bonus.

The Ritz-Carlton Rewards Visa Signature Card is offering a sign-up bonus of 140,00o points after spending $3,000 within the first three months of card membership.

The card does have a $395 annual fee, which isn't waived the first year. For context, in the past we've sometimes seen a 70,000 point sign-up bonus with the annual fee waived, so whether or not this offer is better depends on whether you value Ritz-Carlton Rewards points at over ~0.56 cents each (since you're basically deciding whether you want to pick up an extra 70,000 points for $395).

This card comes with a ton of benefits, including:

The post 140,000 Point Ritz-Carlton Rewards Visa Sign-Up Bonus appeared first on One Mile at a Time.

from One Mile at a Time http://onemileatatime.boardingarea.com/2014/12/16/140000-point-ritz-carlton-rewards-visa-sign-bonus/

Signs you're from British Columbia

Split firewood like a badass and know Gore-Tex is sexy? Damnnn...you're so BC it's unreal.

from Matador Network » Matador Network http://matadornetwork.com/life/signs-born-raised-british-columbia/

What made Clevelanders proud in 2014

In Cleveland, it's been a year of cycling, LeBron James, Republicans, gay athletes, and an oversized lighting fixture. Some even say it was the year Cleveland came back from the dead. So stoked!

from Matador Network » Matador Network http://matadornetwork.com/pulse/8-things-made-clevelanders-proud-2014/

Delta Elites Now Get Elite Status With Hertz

When United inked a deal with Hertz, giving more bonus miles for Hertz rentals and Hertz status for United elites, Hertz (and its Dollar and Thrifty brands) became United’s exclusive car partner. In other words, the end of United miles for Avis rentals. But United didn’t get the same level of exclusivity from Hertz, it […]

The post Delta Elites Now Get Elite Status With Hertz appeared first on View from the Wing.

from View from the Wing http://viewfromthewing.boardingarea.com/2014/12/16/delta-elites-now-get-elite-status-hertz/

How to understand Mexican humor

Ever scratched your head when confronted with Mexican comedy? Don't worry, writer Rulo Luna is here to help. Here's one reason: "We’re not rude; it’s just that Mexican humor goes hand-in-hand with mockery. But this shouldn’t be taken offensively; it’s just our way of socializing."

from Matador Network » Matador Network http://matadornetwork.com/life/9-things-need-know-understand-mexican-humor/

Startup pitch: StayFaster helps hotels protect the (loyalty) crown jewels

The dual angst of the impact of online travel agencies on hotel companies as well as the challenge of finding suitable vacations ...

from Tnooz http://www.tnooz.com/article/startup-pitch-stayfaster/#utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=startup-pitch-stayfaster

35% Bonus On Purchased Alaska Miles: Last Chance

In early November I wrote about Alaska's Mileage Plan offering up to a 35% bonus on purchased miles. I figured I'd post a reminder about this promo, since it ends on Saturday, December 20, 2014. So this is the last week you can take advantage of the promotion.

If you max out the promotion you can purchase Mileage Plan miles for ~2.19 cents each. I know that doesn't sound all that low, but there are a few things that make Alaska Mileage Plan and their promotions especially lucrative:

-- There's no limit to the number of Mileage Plan miles you can buy per promotion, so this is one of the few promotions where you can really generate as many miles as you'd like

-- There are some amazing uses of Alaska Mileage Plan miles, especially for travel on Cathay Pacific, Emirates, Fiji Airways, LAN, etc.

-- Alaska Mileage Plan allows a stopover on a one way award, which makes them one of the few programs where that's possible

The post 35% Bonus On Purchased Alaska Miles: Last Chance appeared first on One Mile at a Time.

from One Mile at a Time http://onemileatatime.boardingarea.com/2014/12/16/35-bonus-on-purchased-alaska-miles-last-chance/