re: An idiot abroad (or locally!) - The travel thread

Its weird how on SW I find flights to price out cheaper out of MSY than DAL to a lot of places (for ex: LAS, LAX, BUR, BNA, BOS, PVD, TPA, MDW etc.)

You'd think these flights would be cheaper out of DAL.

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Those flight sites are good but the problem is they're not specialized for the new orleans/baton rouge area for most of the people on this site. That's pretty much why I do the weekly/bi-weekly thread so people in the area know what a good price is for domestic or international destinations. I'll start browsing international locations more often if I know there's the demand.

In any case if anyone needs help with flights just find me on here and let me know

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Antigua leaving on 12-28-16 and coming back 1-1-17? I live in Birmingham but would travel to Atlanta or Montgomery. Those dates are a little flexible.

Easy. Hyatt Zilara or Ziva Jamaica.
They were running a 50% off promo a few days ago. Will be in your budget if that's still on.

On the lower end, Hyatt Zilara Cancun would be an option.

Then Ziva Los Cabos.

Zilara Jamaica is adults only. Used to be the old Ritz Carlton I believe.

If you go to Mexico (not Cancun) you don't really need an AI since everything is so cheap anyway. You'd be better off paying "full price" at different places wherever you go. Keeping that in mind, I'd stay at the Sheraton Hacienda Del Mar in Cabo. Cabo has a lot of other cheaper options, including chains, but this property is top class and within your budget.

In cabo - another option is to look at AirBnB. They have a lot of luxurious properties with infinity pools and what not at about the same price of a hotel room. If I go with friends, that's probably what I would do.

Hyatt has been killing it recently with its Zilara and Ziva properties and seem to be the best out there currently. Personally, I'm not the biggest fan of AIs. If you definitely want to do this, I would try to get into one of these. Check the Credit card rewards points discussion to stretch your money with points. Ask questions there if you have any regarding that topic.

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We always do the Grand Pineapple AI in Antigua. GF's parents pay for the room, I just have to get myself down there.

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Lucky B. Good for you, you can now get yourself down there for 20K BA points + nominal amount of money (to get to miami) or 35K BA points all in

I just got my (2) free nights from Chase Hyatt card and have about 85K united miles to play with. I'm thinking the wife and I will go to New York and stay at the Park Hyatt for a few nights Labor Day weekend. Any recommendations on things to do over two days around that location?

#1 recommendation is to book the nights ASAP, if they are still available. Which I highly doubt..

Personally, I tend to gravitate toward contemporary chic over finesse (W > St. Regis, Andaz > PH, Conrad > WA)..
So the Andaz Wall Street

Nice (sorry didn't notice your username )

Btw - How does that work exactly? I know they have a room availability guarantee, but do they open up award space for Diamonds too? Have you had first hand experience with this? Whats the success rate?

Just curious. Im a lowly platinum with Hyatt (through card obv.)

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Looking to go to Italy, Switzerland, and Spain next summer. Is going in late July-early August miserable? I've been to Italy in June and don't remember it being any worst than south Louisiana heat wise, is it any different around that time?

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You will be on the back end of the tourist peak season. Whether should be very nice. Check the almanac but I would be shocked if it is outside of a nice, temperate climate that time of the year.

If you go in September, then the tourist season prices should go down.

Be aware: Switzerland is unbelievably expensive even outside of the tourist peak season. I went in May 2013 which is right before tourist season and it was already very expensive. Sandwiches costing $20 and Coke for $5 for 330ml stands out in my mind.

You can score economy saver to NYC out of MSY as late as late July on United.

Exactly. I was trying to keep it relevant to you because I do know you will have ~60K Chase Points.

You have two options like I said: Star Alliance or SkyTeam since OneWorld has no availability.

For Star do flexible dates search on United.com to search which dates have availability. I did a quick check on UA and it looks like there is Y availability on the way out and business on the 2nd on the way back. This will price out to be 47.5K per person. You will be shy a few miles if you are trying to book for 2. I also checked out of Birmingham. So if there are any bigger airports nearby, availability will be better from there. Book this directly on United.com. ANA actually switched to zone based and no longer is favorable in your scenario.

For SkyTeam: Do flexible dates with Miles on Delta.com. See which dates have the lowest (Saver) award. These flights are bookable with Korean air miles, which will cost you 35K Chase points (UR). If you plan to go this route, let me know and I'll assist further.

What you have to keep in mind, though, is that these awards have about $100 in taxes each way that you can't avoid. Caribbean destinations suck like that due to airport taxes (tourist $ are significant for them). So you need to calculate "cents per points" on your redemption. See how many miles you are spending vs buying cash ticket outright. If you are not coming out to be at least 1.8c (hopefully at least 2), you are better off buying it with cash outright.

The conservatives CPP forumla: (Cash Price - Fuel surcharge)/(Miles paid + Miles earned if bought with cash)

Even when I am flying business, I tend to use cash price of a Y ticket because that is my opportunity cost. Since I would never pay for a J/F ticket anyway. So although it is (really) nice to fly premium cabins, it has no incremental value for me objectively speaking.