travel

When to let your points expire

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  I once wrote to not let your airline miles expire.  But there are always exceptions, and I am starting to think that there are reasons worth discussing. Sacrilege? No, just simplification and efficiency. … Read More

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How to get Global Entry for 50% off (and zip through customs and security lines)

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  Going through customs can be a drag. You are accosted by a bored-yet-potentially-malevolent customs officer, who volleys questions at you. These questions seem innocuous, but are can be phrased so as to imply subtle accusation (“Why did you leave the … Read More … Read More

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Is it possible to be with more than one … airline?

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  I never realized that when we met, it would last so long. I remember it well. It was 2001, and I was on my way to Burning Man. I was terribly late in getting to the airport, too late, … Read More … Read More

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On financial prudence (or why I’m probably not cut out to be a travel hacker)

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  I love talking about travel hacking, which I define as strategies of acquiring travel experiences creatively, for less than than the usual cost. It’s pretty awesome actually. I’ve utilized some tricks that have allowed me to stay in nice … Read More … Read More

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Can you trust travel hacking blogs?

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  I read travel hacking blogs all the time. Brian, Summer, Gary, and Lucky are my equivalent of The Today Show, blogs I digest with my morning tea. They freely give frankly some invaluable advice and have some engrossing stories, … Read More … Read More

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Why not to travel

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  As I’ve written about on many occasions, I feel like travel is a vitally important practice to add to your life. It can soothe the soul, clear the mind, open the heart (though if you’re not careful, it can … Read More … Read More

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Consider the opportunity cost

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  I’m sitting here waiting to pull the trigger on a short trip to the Caribbean. Just a few days, nothing too fancy. I have some free hotel night awards, one of which I need to use before the end … Read More … Read More

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Why bother to keep your miles from expiring

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  Let’s say you have 3,000 miles with Delta, 5,735 miles with US Airways, and 1,326 miles with Virgin America. Redemptions of frequent flyer miles usually start at the 25,000 mark. At this rate, you’ll have enough for an award … Read More … Read More

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Assume you will return

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  I’ve been helping to plan some travels for someone else recently, a nice change for me given how often people talk about how they aren’t able to travel. We’re going through all the usual decisions, but knowing that there … Read More … Read More

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Why cheap travel isn’t the best

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  I spent the night of my 23rd birthday on the floor of the Greyhound Terminal in San Francisco. … Read More

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