Travel Tips

Category Archives for Travel Tips.

The Psychology of Getting Someone Started With Miles and Points

by Gary Leff on January 16, 2018

Jan 16 2018

I was e-mailing with Stephen M. about his son’s credit card strategy, credit score, and options. He observed that he’s been focused on getting the most from rewards ‘for at least 8 years’ but “it is kind of funny, I tell people who travel a lot about it, but very few do it seriously.”

When frequent flyer programs began in the U.S. programs would give you 5000 miles if you spent all your points. That’s because they were afraid you would no longer be locked into an airline if you spent all your miles, you’d get off the treadmill and become a free agent. They stopped doing that. And the reason why is telling.

Review: Park Hyatt Hadahaa Maldives – Why It’s My Favorite Resort, and 5 Reasons You May Not Even Like It

by Gary Leff on May 6, 2015

May 06 2015

The Park Hyatt Hadahaa Maldives is my favorite resort, I’ve gone back each of the past four years. Here’s everything you’ll want to know about it, including five reasons why it might not be for you.

Vietnam, Cambodia, Macau and Hong Kong Trip Report: Hyatt Regency Danang Resort & Spa

by Gary Leff on March 18, 2014

Index: Introduction, Positioning Flight to New York, and the Hilton JFK British Airways First Class Lounge, New York JFK Cathay Pacific First Class, New York JFK – Hong Kong The Pier First Class Lounge and Cathay Pacific Business Class, Hong Kong – Ho Chi Minh City Park Hyatt Saigon Lunch at Pho Hoa, Ho Chi Minh City Vietnam Airlines Business Class, Ho Chi Minh City – Danang Hyatt Regency Danang Resort & Spa Vietnam Airlines Economy, Danang – Siem Reap Park Hyatt Siem Reap Angkor Wat and Other Temples Dragonair Business Class, Siem Reap – Hong Kong Turbojet, Hong Kong Airport – Macau and the Sheraton Macao Hotel The Venetian, Fernando’s, and the Ferry to Hong Kong Grand Hyatt Hong Kong Harbor View Suite Bo Innovation, Hong Kong Amber Restaurant, Hong Kong Cathay Pacific The…

A Repository of Information You’ll Find on This Site and Elsewhere

by Gary Leff on May 22, 2005

May 22 2005

QUICK PATHS TO STATUS American Airlines elite challenges, where you can earn status with only a little bit of flying. Delta Silver Status with a Single Flight Instant Hilton Gold status 2 United Red Carpet Club passes and Starwood Gold status for $10 ADVICE Myths and Reality Obtaining Airline Upgrades Upgrading at Hotels (by the way, here’s how to ask for the Presidential Suite). Whose Miles are the Most Valuable? Why you should spend all your miles now, and then earn more Dealing with Jetlag Best Mileage Earning Credit Cards How to find the best airfare deals How to find the best hotel deals Redeem your Priority Club points for the Presidential Suite at various Intercontinental hotels. HUMOR Tips for fighting terrorism You know you think about miles too much when… MILEAGE BONUSES 30 United…

Forced Rental Car Upsells?

by Gary Leff on May 17, 2005

May 17 2005

Christopher Elliott writes in the New York Times about rental car companies claiming to be out of the class of car a customer reserves and attempting to charge an upgrade fee for the next level vehicle. This has never happened to me, and it shouldn’t happen to anyone. After all, that’s the very idea of a reservation, a point hammered home in an episode of Seinfeld Agent: I’m sorry, we have no mid-size available at the moment. Jerry: I don’t understand, I made a reservation, do you have my reservation? Agent: Yes, we do, unfortunately we ran out of cars. Jerry: But the reservation keeps the car here. That’s why you have the reservation. Agent: I know why we have reservations. Jerry: I don’t think you do. If you did, I’d have a car. See,…

Honeymooning on Miles and Points

by Gary Leff on May 10, 2005

May 10 2005

Here’s a story about a husband and wife who took a month for their honeymoon and traveled around the world in business class — all on frequent flyer miles, with most of the hotel nights paid for in Hilton HHonors points. We saw the famed sunset in Key West, sandy black shores around Tahiti, the Opera House and governor’s mansion in Sydney, Bangkok’s ornate Grand Palace, the Ancient Agora in Athens and Sorrento’s Mediterranean Cliffs. We even got a personal marriage blessing from Pope John Paul II at the Vatican five months before he died I’m not making as many stops on my own upcoming honeymoon, but will travel to more than one part of the world over three weeks – in first class, not business, and also all on points.

Editing Your Own Boarding Passes at Home

by Gary Leff on February 7, 2005

Feb 07 2005

Andy Bowers writes that online checkin is a security threat. I always thought it was a great way to meet friends and family at their gate and use airline clubs as a free pub on days I’m not traveling.

So what are these travel

by Gary Leff on June 24, 2002

Jun 24 2002

So what are these travel links at the bottom of the page and better yet who cares? For right now, let me call your attention to (2): Biddingfortravel.com: Checking out this site may be the most important travel tip I can give you. Priceline can be a great resource for saving money on travel, but it’s often too much of a hassle to be useful. Take hotels: not only don’t you know how low Priceline will go, you have no idea where Priceline will put you (as long as it’s within the geographic area promised). What if you knew in advance what hotel you were going to get? What if you knew that you didn’t have only one chance to bid, but that if your bid was rejected you could continue bidding without choosing different…

Fly First Class

by Gary Leff on June 20, 2002

Jun 20 2002

I still remember my first flight in First Class. I remember playing with the seat controls and the massage feature. I still have the menu. I can still taste the shrimp appetizer. Believe me, you never want to go back. But… first class is expensive. Fortunately, I don’t pay for it. You don’t have to either. There are lots of ways to upgrade to first class from coach. First, many airlines offer the ability to upgrade for free if you purchase a “full fare” coach ticket. These are the really expensive tickets that are refundable and don’t have a fee for making changes. Other airlines allow you to upgrade such a ticket for a fee. Still, I don’t buy full fare tickets. My employer won’t shell out that kind of money. After all, a full…

Check back tomorrow… how to

by Gary Leff on June 19, 2002

Jun 19 2002

Check back tomorrow… how to fly first class for the price of coach.