It is Guess the Hotel revealed! We might have selected plenty the rest of LA for our West Coast jaunt this weekend: Downtown LA, West Hollywood, Studio City, or perhaps, when we were feeling reaallly good with ourselves, Beverly Hills. But no, we had to be stubborn about this and pursue beachy, warm Santa Monica. The sun, the sand, the waves, we wanted it all. The only problem was, luck was not on our side, and the climate all weekend remained dark and in the 60s. Harrumph. This gave us a good chance to acquaint ourselves with our room, a huge Ocean View Suite at the Oceana Santa Monica (sea views are typically a thing, but this time it only reminded us exactly how we were passing up on quality sprawled-out-on-the-beach tanning time). In the room, we trapped on work, saw Gladiator on TNT, and actually played a few models of checkers with your friend. (Yup, that's right! The secret flip-top checkers board desk we showed you yesterday is definitely available at the Oceana Santa Monica.) Then, in the same way we were getting ready to check out, we found shadows start to become defined on our wall, and realizedigasp!ithe sunshine was finally coming out! And justiin the nick of time. So we did what any hotel geek would do and scoured the property to simply take photographs of the hotel just how it is supposed to be seen. Click through for our picture gallery of the sun-drenched lobby and swimming courtyard! Although we were completely pleased with our selection, it's as they were the target of a major reconstruction that just finished up many weeks before, the lobby, restaurant, and courtyard that had our real attention. The outcome are impressiveiclassy, beachy, and literally bursting with greenery. In reality, we kept feeling like we had wandered in to a secret garden that just happened to have established itself around a hotel. But hi, that is California for you. The Lobby: Topped off with a sharp glass roof, the lobby is just a simple, relatively small room with a couple of high-backed blue armchairs in one place, and the check-in desk in the other. Like a beautiful beachfront house (that will be what this hotel mainly feels like), the lobby doesn't feel like a lobby, but just a nice, sun-filled room you move across on your way to your room. Our second-floor room, as seen from outside the hotel! Structure 8: Element of the hotel's new version is Tower 8 restaurant, which will be found next to the courtyard (and also includes a few tables set up outside, should you feel like food next to the pool). The inside is blue-and-white inspired, with an outstanding wooden table at one end where breakfast is served each day. A white brick fireplace gives a homey appeal to the whole place. Meanwhile, the menu (we tested a melt-in-your-mouth Hair Straightening Iron meal with caramelized shallots, smoked tomato butter and Yukon Gold potato wedges, $26) is full of local, seasonal fare, and that's all as a result of the newest chef, Josiah Citrin, who's got two Michelin stars under his belt. Citrin gets a lot of his elements immediately at the Santa Monica farmers marketiand, believe us, you can taste it. The swimming and courtyard: Eventually, we were just a little unfortunate that the bulk of our stay didn't permit pool-lounging in sunlight. Regardless, we still liked what we saw: all of the rooms look down upon the cute internal deck, which can be covered with deck chairs, and there's even a small tree growing in one place. When the sun did come out, we found a few kids splashing around in the pool making use of their parents, and everybody just sitting out comforting in the peaceful, peaceful haven. The pool it self is small, however again, this isn't Vegas or anything. Sometimes personal is way better. We paid a press charge of $150/night during our stay at the Oceana Santa Monica, but all views expressed are our personal. [Photos: HotelChatter]
Thursday, April 18, 2013
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
Repeated Miler - Aadvantage eShopping eBags 16X, Sears 8X, Lowes 6X, more…
That week, the Aadvantage eShopping portal is owning a few fascinating reward offers.A To take advantage of these presents, just scan to the Aadvantage eShopping portal and then press right through to the business where you wish to shop.A Purchases will earn American Airlines miles as well as any miles you earn instantly from your own bank card. Letas have a look at all these offersa 16 miles per dollar is a superb return.A The following best option for eBags is 8X at the Ultimate Rewards Mall or 10 percent right back via BankOfAmerica.A Previous viewer studies have shown that double dipping (buying and then using eBags gift cards to obtain double points) does not work with eBags. 2 miles per dollar can be an bad reunite for Kohlas.A Head to the Greatest Rewards Mall rather in order to make 10 points per dollar. 8 miles per dollar at Sears is excellent.A Sure, it was once common to see Sears offer 10X at different portals, but lately theyave topped out at 5X or 6X.A If you prefer cash, another great choice is 10% cash back via ShopDiscover.A With the latter, you do need to own a card to get access to the portal, but previous tests show that you will get cash back even if you pay with a different card. With Sears, you wonat get points for buying e-gift cards, but many new studies and activities have demonstrated that points are awarded for buying actual gift cards.A Points have already been awarded when using gift cards.A So, if you hurry, itas possible to get 16X at Sears by buying and then using gift cards through the AA website (or get 2,000 back via ShopDiscover ).A Disclaimer: the capacity to get points when buying or using gift cards may be removed at any moment, so store at your personal risk! Still another direction worth pursuing would be to buy Sears gift cards and then use them to buy $100 Visa or MasterCard gift cards at Sears when you can discover the the strange gift card rack.A Now that many gift cards have become super easy to liquidate (see aGift card PINsa), this might be a great option for some.A Note, though, that I havenat yet approved that Searsa Visa/MasterCard gift cards work in this way. The above Searsa opportunities can be taken by you even more by beginning with a Improvement gift card (for particulars, see aThe Home Improvement gift carda). Personally, I wouldnat make use of this offer.A TopCashBack offers 35% money back for Restaurant.com and the Ultimate Rewards Mall offers 15X. Seems somewhat late because of this in my experience, but you can perform better anyway.A ShopDiscover offers twenty years back.A The Ultimate Rewards Mall offers 10X. This is a decent return for HP.A You may also go to uPromise for 7% money back.A The simplest way to double dip here is to spend with an Express business card that gives OPEN Savings.A With HP, Amex can credit your account with 5% back if you spend between $200 and $1000 in a season at HP; or ten percent back if you spend more (around $50K in spend). This is marginally much better than several other offers (Ultimate Rewards Mall 5X; ShopDiscover 5%; uPromise 5%), but its still nice to see!A For tips on how to increase this present, see aMaximizing Do-it-yourself Spenda and aMillion Mile Madness: Banking on Loweasa. Follow me on Twitter / Like me on Facebook If you're new to collecting miles, press here for the free newsletterIf you're new to Frequent Miler, start here
Hyatt Expands 1,000-Point Stone Welcome Requirement To International Resorts
Hyatt Diamond elite status (25 stays or 50 days in a season) includes a bunch of precious perks such as a 30 % factors bonus, room-available upgrades, Club bar access, free morning meal, four annual room upgrades, complimentary internet access, a 48-hour space accessibility assurance, late check-out, a dedicated customer service line and a pleasant amenity of either a point bonus or a food and beverage amenity during each stay. Hyatt Diamonds is now able to choose 1,000 points as a welcome amenity offshore. Until now, the possibility of choosing a 1,000-point welcome amenity was restricted to hotels in the US, Canada and the Caribbean, but now, Diamond members will be able to choose it at international properties as well per this story on Milepoint by Hyattas Gold Passport rep. The story states: aAs a Diamond member you may have lately experienced something new with this Diamond pleasant requirement. Whatas new? At Park HyattA, Grand HyattA, HyattA Hyatt RegencyA and AndazA locations outside the U.S., Canada and the Caribbean, Diamond members will have a range of pleasant requirement. Diamond people can select either a food and beverage amenity (domestically influenced amenity at Andaz resorts) or 1,000 Hyatt Gold PassportA bonus points. What remains the exact same? At Park Hyatt, Grand Hyatt, Hyatt and Hyatt Regency spots in the U.S., Canada and the Caribbean, Diamond members could continue to select a food and beverage welcome requirement or 1,000 Hyatt Gold PassportA bonus points. And, at all Hyatt PlaceA and HYATT houseTM areas, Diamond people will continue to enjoy a range of 500 reward points or in-hotel choice (free drink at Hyatt Place or $5 credit in the Guest Market at HYATT house). We sincerely hope you enjoy this new option, and we look forward to welcoming you again soon. Safe travels,Hyatt Silver Passport Client Servicea Though it was wonderful to walk into a overseas and get something like a of soju and persimmons at the Park Hyatt Seoul, in more or less any illustration, Iad choose the 1,000 Hyatt points since I have value them at about 2 cents each, so thatas $20 back there. This also provides Hyatt into line with other resort programsa elite benefits such as for instance Starwoodas A250-500 point welcome amenity wanted to Platinum and Gold people at properties all around the world (125 at Four Points, Element and aloft). I more often than not pick the pleasant stage reward as my elite amenity, so itas nice to understand that from now on I can bank on 1,000 extra points when I remain at a Hyatt overseas in place of negotiating for an arbitrary F&B amenity. Cap tip: One Mile at the same time
Think the Resort With 58 Built-In Pieces Boards
We thought we'd begin the week with a of Guess the Hotelisomething fun and light-hearted to help ease you back in the fascinating world of resort shenanigans after your calm, enjoyable weekend. Recently, we found ourselves within the suite of a whose title is inspired by Our Mother Earth. Inside that selection, one of many first things that caught our attention was this amazing novelty furniture piece: a table with a flippable area that allows it to modify between a board, a backgammon board, or perhaps an ordinary old red table. Being master checkers champions considering that the early age of 5, we chose to leave the table just the way in which it was found by us. Now! It's time for you really to think the hotel. Listed below are your suggestions, including the ones we have already generously provided: A The geography of the area surrounding this hoteli( located in the USA) has a lot related to its name. A This resort is made up of 70 fits and roomsi58 which all support the red-painted checkers board table. A When you're not playing checkers in your room, you are likely to be sitting out by the pool, flipping through e-magazines and news internet sites on the free iPads that are loaned out to visitors. A Alongside the lovely tree-lined inner courtyard (that was recently renovated, and includes a patio children's pool) may be the hotel's good dining restaurant, run by a cook with not merely one but two Michelin stars under his belt. A If having a sea view from your own room or room is not your concept of fun, then this resort is probably not for you personally. Submit your answers here, and make sure to check straight back later in the week for the large reveal! [Photo: HotelChatter]
Mommy Points - Did You Earn Miles for Paying Taxes?
As is true in houses all around the country, this April 15th has not been an overly fun day, so to switch to putting a more positive lens on the money many of us have to part with today, I wanted to get a rough idea of how many families earned miles and points for their tax payments.
This is one of those methods of earning miles and points that is going to cost you one way or another, and can involve more steps than some people are interested in. If you have a mileage earning debit card like the SunTrust card that earns Delta SkyMiles then the cost can be very minimal with a flat fee as low as about $3. However, if you are hoping to put your tax bill on a credit card, then you are looking at fees of at least 1.88%. Some people like to mitigate that fee by purchasing Amex gift cards via a portal that gives them cash back. Some folks also employ the usefulness of BlueBird and Vanilla Reloads. And others just say "to heck with it" and mail in a check the old fashioned way.
I'll be honest and say that this April 15h I skipped worrying about earning miles as it was just getting too complicated for our situation, but we will hopefully be shifting to working on earning miles for our quarterly estimated taxes going forward as it can be a good way to earn some miles for something you were going to do anyway. Even if you just pay it straight up via a credit card with a fee (lowest is 1.88%) it can still be worth it if you are triggering an annual spending bonus perk or hitting a spending requirement that you otherwise would have a hard time meeting.
Coming from someone who isn't earning miles today myself, don't beat yourself up if the fees or hassle sounds like more trouble than it's worth for you and/or your spouse. It might be. However, it is still good to have at least a vague idea of what the options are for the future.
While it may be too late for you this tax year, if you really want to learn the nitty gritty of some different ways to maximize paying taxes going forward head to Frequent Miler's posts here and here.
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
Delta Points - SWAG Saturday from Delta Points – your choice today!
It has been a difficult week for all of us Delta fans. So hard, I've somewhat of a RANT post on your way this week (something I donat often in regards to our beloved airline) do! I know the sky isn't falling, the merchandise and the people continue to be as great as ever, and we can often find ways to agamea the airline so we will get what we want a' it will just take more work! Anyway, up to todayas SWAG giveaway. You obtain a range of goodies today. The success can get to pick from: Often aA AudiosnaxA X1 wireless speaker: or AA Motorola bluetooth keyboard Perhaps you view a concept here with these two choices. They are all about these two. They are both great to make use of in a college accommodation. The speaker, I've found, is quite nice to obtain nice quality noise when sometimes hearing music from my phone (I love SKY.fm the asmooth loungea) or when I watch a video on my laptop. The Keyboard, created for Android, should work fine by having an iPAD as it is std wireless. As always, the rules are HERE if you like to see them. After that, I've a question for you yourself to answer. I want to know very well what can be your favorite resort card? I have two I consistently use. The foremost is the SPG card and the next is the PC card. I'll pay the price for the later permanently as for $49 to get PC Platinum, a free of charge evening and 10% points back, it's a flat out bargain.A So in the remarks below (on the weblog) please pick: #1 SPG Personal card or the SPG Business card #2 The Chase PC Visa card (80k card link is not my link btw) Number 3 Several other resort card Also you'll have to include in your remarks WHY you like the card because the best you picked that one. Any advantage can do but I would like the logic to be seen by readers for keeping some card or using some card to obtain max rewards for resort remains! Have some fun a' RenA PS a' I will be flying today therefore comments will be apendinga for a while! Placed by Delta Points
Monday, April 8, 2013
Hack My Journey - Reminder: RSVP for Portland Dinner on Wednesday Night
Laura and I are arranging a meal at the Bridgeport Brewery in Portlandas Pearl District on Sunday night a' April 7. Iam actually using the train down and spending the night time just to see you guys! But wead like your support. It helps us as planners if we've some sense of exactly how many folks are planning to come, although youare welcome to just arrive if your access changes at the final minute. Please head up to the Meetup Group sometime today and RSVP for the dinner. The address is 1313 NW Marshall Street, and the official start time is 7 PM (Iall show up a little early ).AIf you have objections to making a page with Meetup.com, you also can send a contact to scottrick@hackmytrip.com. I look forward to seeing everybody else tomorrow evening!