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Message
re: Credit Card Rewards and Points Discussion
Posted on 2/4/16 at 12:52 pm to txtiger79
Posted on 2/4/16 at 12:52 pm to txtiger79
quote:
If your card IS the MasterCard version that hasn't been upgraded, closing it may trigger the 18-mo rule so be wary of that. The nice thing about the upgrade to world elite is that it's as if the credit card literally vanishes from citi's 18-mo tracker - both the initial app and a subsequent closing.
Yeah, I would open it before closing the other one unless they won't let me?
quote:
Nice redemption by the way!
quote:
Does Lufthansa not fly to from wherever you are leaving Europe from?
Well, here's what we're doing:
AS - HNL-SAN -1st
AA - SAN-PHL -1st
AA - PHL-FCO -Biz
Then we're going to do a few days in Rome and looking to go to either Florence or Venice for just a couple days before heading to visit her family in Latvia. Looking for suggestions on where we should stay the longest. I've heard Rome is nice but Florence is better so we'll probably have a week to spend in 2 cities, any ideas?
Then on the way back we're going to fly to Amsterdam and visit her friend and do some touristy stuff. I haven't been in 15 years and wifey has never been:
Lufthansa - AMS-MUN
UA - MUN-IAD
UA - IAD-HNL
Unfortunately, those are economy the whole way
Shitty UA doesn't seem to offer saver biz awards and it was 160k for Biz each. Instead we spent 35k each.
Is there a better way from AMS you think with partners to maybe skip the MUN part of the trip?
2
Posted on 2/4/16 at 12:58 pm to LSUAfro
quote:
Citi Gold checking account got my $30.00 this month, but still no pernts.
I have $.07 in my Gold checking account, will they draw the $30 from one of my credit cards? I should get mine by the Feb statement (early March) so you guys should get it maybe this month since you did it before me.
Do you have the Prestige, Fro? I have heard some people continue to get the $100 discount on it even if they close the Citi Gold account (probably a glitch I won't get). It would make the decision a lot easier to keep the Prestige. At that point I'm only paying $100 for it. The Prioirty Pass/Lounge access and free golf/free 4th night easily offset the $100.
Posted on 2/4/16 at 1:04 pm to AmeriKop45
quote:
And as we were just talking about ExpertFlyer:
EF just notified me via text of an award seat opening up MXP-MIA direct on AA. Instead of routing through LHR I was able to snag that 1 seat that had opened up. Saved me $100 in taxes right away. Paid for itself for an entire year.
So this is $100 a year and would it be recommended for people who do 2-3 award trips a year? I do get tired of continuing to look for seats, etc so is this immediate to notify you when something you want opens up? I can quit checking daily (once I get into travel mode) and let EF do the rest or do I still need to be heavily involved?
Posted on 2/4/16 at 1:08 pm to Sho Nuff
That's a lot of flying baw, for that amount I hope you are in Europe for awhile.
Posted on 2/4/16 at 1:12 pm to Sho Nuff
quote:
I've heard Rome is nice but Florence is better so we'll probably have a week to spend in 2 cities, any ideas?
There's always Cinque Terre which is beautiful but if it were me and I liked wine and well priced wonderful food I'd get my arse to the Chianti region of Tuscany for a couple of days and hit Greve, Gaiole, Montalcino and Montepulciano. Montalcino and Montepulciano are a little to the south of the Chianti region but they're close enough. I can't wait to get back there next June. Incredible food and drink, people, architecture and scenery.
RE;Rome vs. Florence. Great museums in Florence and you do have access to Tuscany from there.
Here's a picture I took on my phone of the Ponte Vechhio at night.
Grapes in Chianti
An Enoteca. Wine tasting room.
This butcher shop has been in the same spot in Greve since 1729.
All Pecorino. All types of it.
A little Montepulciano at night.
This post was edited on 2/4/16 at 1:41 pm
Posted on 2/4/16 at 1:40 pm to Sho Nuff
quote:
So this is $100 a year and would it be recommended for people who do 2-3 award trips a year? I do get tired of continuing to look for seats, etc so is this immediate to notify you when something you want opens up? I can quit checking daily (once I get into travel mode) and let EF do the rest or do I still need to be heavily involved?
I would say - yes, absolutely. 2-3 award trips does require a significant amount of searching. So I would say yes. Again - like I said, it pays for itself. If I had not had EF, I would probably not have gotten the AA direct flight to avoid London and therefore have paid the extra government fees. This may or may not happen to you. Although, more likely that it will. Text alert as soon as availability opens up? Priceless. It searches all kinds of availability including comp. upgrades. Also you can set alerts on specific seats to get that exit row in coach. Additionally, it also gives you all routes flown by airlines. Obviously, this is an addition to Award Availability search function on pretty much any airline. Is this important to you? Why don't you try to the 5 day free trial? Once you've set up alerts EF will do the legwork.
On our 2 week Italy trip we'll be doing 2 nights in Milan, 1 night in Venice, 3 in Cinque Terre, 1 in Florence, 2 in Tuscany Countryside, 1 in Orvietto and 2 in Rome. Cinque Terre and Tuscany most likely going to be AirBnB. Rest Free Night Certs.
BTW - is everyone on this board going to Italy this summer?
This post was edited on 2/4/16 at 1:53 pm
Posted on 2/4/16 at 1:42 pm to AmeriKop45
If I could make a suggestion I'd only do one night in Milan. It's a mostly industrial city. If I had a place to add that extra night it would be Tuscany or Florence.
This post was edited on 2/4/16 at 1:43 pm
Posted on 2/4/16 at 1:43 pm to VABuckeye
quote:
If I could make a suggestion I'd only do one night in Milan. It's a mostly industrial city. If I had a place to add that extra night it would be Tuscany or Florence.
Will keep that in mind for sure.
What is the best/most economical way of travelling between cities in Italy? Does it have to be Eurail? Costs $358 for 8 rides.
This post was edited on 2/4/16 at 2:07 pm
Posted on 2/4/16 at 2:24 pm to hiltacular
quote:
That's a lot of flying baw, for that amount I hope you are in Europe for awhile.
Not much choice out of HNL. If I lived on the mainland then it would be one-stop. Since i live in Hawaii it's usually 2 stops to Europe. That's the price you pay for living in paradise and I'm ok with it
Korean Air did have a 1 stop by way of ICH but it would cost us about $1,300 to do that.
ETA: We're there for 3 weeks. 1 week in Italy, week and a half with her family in Latvia, and then 3 days in Amsterdam.
This post was edited on 2/4/16 at 2:37 pm
Posted on 2/4/16 at 2:36 pm to VABuckeye
Nice pics, thanks 
We're flying into Rome and I've never been to Italy at all (yes, I'm ashamed) so I certainly want to see Rome. And this won't be the only trip to Italy. This one week stay will be about 2 cities and ease of use to get to Latvia. I'm thinking 3-4 days in Rome and 3-4 days in _______. I've always wanted to go to Florence, Venice, Sicily, Cinque Terre, Milan, Tuscany, etc etc. Flights out of Venice and Milan are easy to Riga. From FLR it can be a little more difficult but doable.
We're flying into Rome and I've never been to Italy at all (yes, I'm ashamed) so I certainly want to see Rome. And this won't be the only trip to Italy. This one week stay will be about 2 cities and ease of use to get to Latvia. I'm thinking 3-4 days in Rome and 3-4 days in _______. I've always wanted to go to Florence, Venice, Sicily, Cinque Terre, Milan, Tuscany, etc etc. Flights out of Venice and Milan are easy to Riga. From FLR it can be a little more difficult but doable.
Posted on 2/4/16 at 2:41 pm to AmeriKop45
We did Venice, Florence, Ravenna, Cinque Terre, Sienna, Pompeii, Naples, Rome on a 17 day trip. I will not do Venice, Ravenna again. Sienna was a nice Italian town with less traffic and great history. Amazing food. Florence was probably our favorite city with Cinque Terre being out favorite landscape. Rome is nice for the history.
For travel, we did all trains. It was cheaper for us to book each trip individually than it was to buy a rail pass. Let me know if you have any other questions. We stayed bed and breakfast (not cheap but definitely charming).
For travel, we did all trains. It was cheaper for us to book each trip individually than it was to buy a rail pass. Let me know if you have any other questions. We stayed bed and breakfast (not cheap but definitely charming).
Posted on 2/4/16 at 2:42 pm to AmeriKop45
quote:
Why don't you try to the 5 day free trial?
Yeah, I probably will just to see what it does with this mess I'm doing now
quote:
Rest Free Night Certs.
Ah shite, that just reminded me wife and I will have 2 free nights from IHG coming in May
Can those be used at any IHG property?
Posted on 2/4/16 at 2:44 pm to GeauxTigers777
quote:
Florence was probably our favorite city with Cinque Terre being out favorite landscape. Rome is nice for the history.
I think Rome and Florence this trip for us will be the way to go. Is 1 week enough to really take in the museums, architecture, food, history, etc in those 2 places?
Posted on 2/4/16 at 2:47 pm to Sho Nuff
quote:
Can those be used at any IHG property?
Yes. Too bad the IC Rome is shutting down in March. I had that in mind. Now idk where I wanna use mine.
GeauxTigers777:
When you booked individual trains - did you do that locally when you were in Italy or online before you left? Were they reserved or unreserved trains? Which website did you use? Where can i see the train schedules? TIA.
Posted on 2/4/16 at 2:52 pm to Sho Nuff
quote:
Do you have the Prestige, Fro?
Sure don't.
quote:
This butcher shop
Looks fantastic.
Posted on 2/4/16 at 2:56 pm to AmeriKop45
quote:
Yes. Too bad the IC Rome is shutting down in March.
of course 
quote:
trains
I checked a flight from ROM to FLR and it's only $85 non-stop. Checking out Eurail is like $189 for a 1 country pass with 3 days. I guess it depends on how fast you want to go and how many cities you're going to. For me, since we're going to 1 other city more than likely it's way cheaper and faster to fly.
Posted on 2/4/16 at 2:59 pm to Sho Nuff
quote:
I checked a flight from ROM to FLR and it's only $85 non-stop.
Check alternate airports too for ULCCs. Some have good baggage policies.
I'd rather do trains personally just to be able to see the countryside. Flying you miss most of it. Travelled quite a bit on trains in India. You see some amazing countryside that you would never otherwise. Made me a fan of trains.
This post was edited on 2/4/16 at 3:00 pm
Posted on 2/4/16 at 3:16 pm to AmeriKop45
quote:
Check alternate airports too for ULCCs. Some have good baggage policies.
Unlimited carry-ons? I don't know all these acronyms
Yeah, the ones I saw definitely charge you for bags and we'll be packing heavier as it's a 3 week trip and we're bringing gifts to her fam.
quote:
I'd rather do trains personally just to be able to see the countryside. Flying you miss most of it. Travelled quite a bit on trains in India. You see some amazing countryside that you would never otherwise. Made me a fan of trains.
I'm a big fan of Eurail. I did the youth flexi-pass when I was 24 and did 2 months through Europe. Best trip of my life. Hostels in Spain, Germany, Paris, Amsterdam, etc. I had a girlfriend and they upgraded us a few times to the hotel cart as we told them it was our honeymoon
Took a 12 hour train from Madrid to Paris and we had a bed and a shower in our cart. Then we met some rich Texas oil tycoon in the dining cart who bought us dinner and lots of wine. So yeah, I'm all about it
But with a short stay I think flying is our best bet. When we come back to do like 2-3 weeks in Italy alone, we'll for sure go by train mostly. ETA: Here's a link on how best to book Eurail LINK
This post was edited on 2/4/16 at 3:19 pm
Posted on 2/4/16 at 3:27 pm to VABuckeye
quote:
This butcher shop has been in the same spot in Greve since 1729.
As Eddie Izzard once said "I don't believe you! No one was alive back then!"
Posted on 2/4/16 at 3:28 pm to Sho Nuff
ULCC is ultra low cost carrier.
I'm assuming the U but that is what LCC stands for in aviation speak.
I'm assuming the U but that is what LCC stands for in aviation speak.
This post was edited on 2/4/16 at 3:29 pm
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