re: Credit Card Rewards and Points Discussion

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Just tried and the trick works. Yall keep this quiet so they don't shut down the loop hole in the next month

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Yep, it worked for me too. Hopefully they don't close the loophole from a bunch of people from here browsing

I just need a few more weeks to get my IHG card and will be booking Bora Bora shortly thereafter. I think I may book the first 2 nights with my wife's points since she will be getting her 80,000 soon and I had bought her 15,000 through a deal a few weeks ago.

Air Tahiti is such a ripoff. 50 minute flight costs $350 RT next April from PPT to BOB. It only costs me $350 each way from Hawaii to Tahiti.

I'm sure the trick will be gone by the time I book next year, but please send it if you don't mind.

Creamertd@gmail

I agree. We have flights, hotel, and ppt-Bora bora flight covered (barclay), and it will still cost us 2 grand at a minimum. We are planning doing a boat rental and shark / ray snorkle trip and one massage. We will try some tricks to minimize food cost, but it's still going to be a significant trip. The plus side is it will be $2,000 for a $20,000 trip.

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It's pretty easy to drop $3k+ for a couple just by doing a couple of excursions, eating out every meal since you have no kitchen, getting a massage at the spa one day. Dining out is very expensive. $150/meal at dinner is not hard to do. Breakfast buffet is $40/person/day.

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Trust me I know , we did the Maldives and had great rates on the room, but the food and excursions were a few grand.

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My RT flights cost right at $1k from Tahiti to Bora Bora before the Euro declined.
Mandatory boat transfers ran us $200 from the airport to the Thalasso.

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For me and the wife, it will be $700 RT for PPT to BOB. From Hawaii to PPT it will be $1,400 RT for the both of us. So not terrible, it just aggravates me a 50 minute flight costs so much. The boat transfers to Thalasso are still $98 per person RT. You can go a cheaper route through taxi and going to the other IC property but that takes hours and I ain't got time for dat!

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Our hotel in Tahiti before we hopped over the Bora Bora another $250.

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Here's where I need some help. Flights from HNL to PPT are on on Saturdays and the arrival is at 9:30pm so my plan is to stay in Tahiti Sat night and thinking even Sun night to enjoy a full Sunday in Tahiti. Unless you have any good suggestions? We're going to do 5 nights at Thalasso which means we'll get to Bora Bora on Monday morning and leave on Sat afternoon and then head back to "mainland" then fly home to HNL that night. How does that sound?

Also, did you hear of a restaurant called Villa Mahana? Only has 6 tables and is supposed to be fantastic.

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'd go to Cabo or something before French Polynesia if I couldn't really afford to enjoy myself.

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Yeah, there's a reason these are on people's wish lists. My goal in life is to hit every place I have ever even thought of going. There's a whole bunch more on my list but I have already done more than most people do in their life.

ETA: didn't mean to come across as bragging to you guys on here, just meant for the regular folk out there

Photo safari as you all know

The Cook Islands or Bora Bora again (it's been a long time)

Argentina and Patagonia in particular - the scenery there is breathtaking

Ultimate bucket list is to visit the Karakoram mountain range and trek to K2 base camp

Sprinkle in my regular trips

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Also, I have read your buy duty free liquor if you want some pregame drinks and save on resort cost.

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Yep. Or just pack them in your checked luggage wrapped up securely. You can always pick up liquor at the grocery store in Tahiti or Bora Bora.

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I also plan on attempting to upgrade to ambassador status at the resort.

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Good idea, but with only 80 rooms it's all about availability. Although signing up for ambassador at the hotel definitely gives you the best chance for an upgrade.

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Greece
Turkey
India
Spain
with Thailand and Cambodia coming up.

High wish list being Africa safari somewhere and Peru. Egypt when it levels itself. I have a thing for ancient sites

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I'm very much the same. The 7 Wonders (new and old) are high on my list as I have done the Great Wall and Angkor Wat recently as you know. Machu Pichu is likely happening this year or next. Just got back from Chichen Itza in December.

I definitely want to do Turkey and Greece. I wouldn't mind going to India to see the Taj Mahal and a couple other sites, but that one isn't as high on my list.

Some how I've never been to Italy yet, even though I've been all over Europe. I keep saving it because I want to go for a month. What I might need to do is break it up into two 2 week trips to see the places I want to go. You'll love Spain, I am considering moving there at some point at least for a year or two.

Chicken Itza was cool. We got offered to come back at night to tour the inside for a cool grand. We declined the offer. The inside has been closed to the public for some time and a trip to a Mexican jail is not on my bucket list.

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The Roulettes are a good option or Le Lotus might be on of the best restaurants/settings in French Polynesia.

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Thanks for the recs. I was asking more about should we stay in Tahiti for a day and a half or would you not? Go to Moorea instead or that gets to be too much with also going to Bora?

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I went with The Sands with a table on the beach, The Reef Buffet the night of the Polynesian dance show, and that dinner only cost about $250 for a Boofay and drinks. . Also Le Corail overlooking the lagoon(only open Mar-Sep) at the IC and Bloody Mary's.

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Will do most of these likely. Although, I'm tired of luaus as I've had my fill in Hawaii