Saturday, May 31, 2014

Amazing Deal Alert: NYC to Iguaçu Falls, Brazil: $430 Round trip

There is an incredible deal available now on flights from New York (JFK) to Iguaçu Falls, Brazil (IGU) for $430 round trip with many dates available Oct through Early spring.  Keep in mind that winter in the US is summer in South America.  Search for dates and book via Kayak.  Please don't call the airline regarding this deal.

Friday, May 30, 2014

Best international uses of Chase Hyatt Visa free night certificates

One of the benefits of the Chase Hyatt Visa card is an annual free night at any hyatt hotel category 1-4.  Since the annual fee on this card is 75$, if you value a free night at greater than 75$ it would be worth while to continue to carry this card.  Keep in mind that these free nights expire after one year.  As I mentioned in my prior post on the best domestic redemption options there are several great hotels which you can easily get upwards of 300$ in value from your 75$ annual fee investment.

Obviously, price per night is not the only factor in deciding where to redeem your free night.  The best option for you could easily be a $100/night property in an area where you were already planning on paying out of pocket for a room.  Below is a list of my top international category 4 properties.

The full list of category 4 hotels can be found here.

Best International Free Night Options:


1. Park Hyatt Toronto: Category 4.  While this hotel is in need of an upgrade, it does carry the Park Hyatt label - and that means understated luxury and top notch customer service.  This is number one on my list of international properties because it is so accessible.  Toronto is an easy drive from my home town.  Peak season rates here go for upwards of $300/night



2. Hyatt Regency Paris Etole: Category 4.  Anyone who has been to paris (especially during peak season) knows that accommodations can easily make a huge dent in your travel budget.  While this hotel is a little outside of the main tourist areas it is still fairly easily accessible.  Rates run around $300/night



3. Andaz Peninsula Papagayo Resort, Costa Rica: Category 4.  This hotel is a new addition to the category 4 lineup meaning you can now use your free night certificate here.  From what I have seen of this hotel online it looks amazing and I am very close to booking a trip to Costa Rica just to check it out.  It is fairly close to Liberia Airport but far from San Jose.  Daily rates are close to $400/night for most dates.



4. Park Hyatt, Seoul: Category 4.  This one has been near the top of my dream hotel list thanks in part to the amazing bathrooms and stunning design.  If I ever make it to Seoul, this is where I am staying.  The advance purchase rate here is about $360/night

5. Hyatt on the Bund, Shanghai China: Category 4.  This hotel is endowed with great location and great views over the Shanghai skyline.  Average rates here are in the $250/night range.


Wednesday, May 28, 2014

Best domestic uses of Chase Hyatt Visa free night certificates

One of the many perks of the Chase Hyatt Visa card (aside from 2 free nights at any Hyatt in the world just for signing up) is a free night certificate at a Hyatt category 1-4 property.  Because you only get this free night after renewing your card for a 75$ annual fee, its really only worth it if you plan on getting more than 75$ of value out of it.  I have made 2 top 5 lists.  One for the best domestic options and one for International properties, you can see my international top 5 in an upcoming post.
A full list of hyatt category 4 properties can be found here.

Best Domestic Free Night Options:


1. Hyatt Escala Lodge, Park City Utah: Category 4.  Slope side accommodations at a world class ski resort.  Peak season prices can go for as much as $500/night


2. Hyatt Regency San Francisco or Hyatt Fisherman's Wharf: Category 4.  Summer rates in San Francisco are always steep.  Both of these properties are centrally located and peak season rates can go for as much as $500/night.



3. Hyatt Regency Pier 66, Fort Lauderdale: Category 4.  This waterside hotel is nicely located for snowbirds looking for a quick getaway from the harsh northeast winter.  There is also a very nice pool here.  Peak season rooms go for around $300/night.


4. Hyatt at Olive 8, Seattle Washington: Category 4. This sleek modern hotel located in downtown Seattle near the theatre district has rooms that sell for around $350/night during the summer.



5. Hyatt Regency Tamaya Resort and Spa, Santa Anna Pueblo, New Mexico: Category 4.  Part ranch, part golf resort, part spa this hotel is listed on Conde Nast's Readers' Choice Award list.  Peak season rates are around $200


Please check back for my list of top international redemption options.

Tuesday, May 27, 2014

IHG PointBreaks List Announced

IHG Point breaks are one of the best travel values out there.  Every few months, IHG announces a list of hotels around the world that are available for only 5,000 points per night.  This is a significant discount over regular rates which normally run from 10,000 to 50,000 points per night.  There are only a limited number of rooms available at this rate so its best to book soon.  I have included a list of hotels in the US below, but there are also some great international properties.  The full list of hotels can be found here.  These hotels are valid for bookings through July 31st.

United States


ALABAMA
HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS CLANTON
HOLIDAY INN BIRMINGHAM - HOOVER
HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS AND SUITES MOBILE/SARALAND

ARKANSAS
HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS AND SUITES HARRISON
HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS AND SUITES SEARCY

ARIZONA
HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS PINETOP

CALIFORNIA
HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS AND SUITES CORNING
HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS AND SUITES GOLD MINERS INN
- GRASS VALLEY

STAYBRIDGE SUITES PALMDALE
CROWNE PLAZA SILICON VALLEY N - UNION CITY

COLORADO
STAYBRIDGE SUITES DENVER TECH CENTER
CANDLEWOOD SUITES GRAND JUNCTION NW

DELAWARE
STAYBRIDGE SUITES WILMINGTON-NEWARK

FLORIDA
HOLIDAY INN JACKSONVILLE E 295 BAYMEADOWS
HOLIDAY INN SARASOTA-LAKEWOOD RANCH

GEORGIA
HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS AND SUITES ATLANTA NW
- POWDER SPRINGS

HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS AND SUITES ROME

IOWA
HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS PELLA
HOLIDAY INN HOTEL AND SUITES DES MOINES-NORTHWEST

IDAHO
CANDLEWOOD SUITES BOISE - TOWNE SQUARE

ILLINOIS
HOLIDAY INN HOTEL AND SUITES BOLINGBROOK
HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS HIGHLAND
CANDLEWOOD SUITES BLOOMINGTON-NORMAL
HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS AND SUITES JACKSONVILLE
HOTEL INDIGO CHICAGO-VERNON HILLS

INDIANA
HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS AND SUITES ELKHART-SOUTH
CANDLEWOOD SUITES INDIANAPOLIS - SOUTH
CANDLEWOOD SUITES MERRILLVILLE

KANSAS
CANDLEWOOD SUITES KANSAS CITY

KENTUCKY
HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS CARROLLTON
HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS AND SUITES SHELBYVILLE

LOUISIANA
HOLIDAY INN HOUMA
HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS LEESVILLE-FT. POLK

MASSACHUSETTS
HOLIDAY INN BERKSHIRES
HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS AND SUITES SWANSEA

MARYLAND
HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS AND SUITES SALISBURY - DELMAR
HOLIDAY INN SOLOMONS-CONF CENTER & MARINA

MAINE
HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS AND SUITES FREEPORT - BRUNSWICK AREA

MICHIGAN
HOLIDAY INN BIG RAPIDS

MINNESOTA
STAYBRIDGE SUITES EAGAN ARPT SOUTH - MALL AREA

MISSOURI
HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS FULTON
HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS AND SUITES HANNIBAL

MISSISSIPPI
HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS AND SUITES CLEVELAND
HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS AND SUITES PHILADELPHIA-CHOCTAW

MONTANA
STAYBRIDGE SUITES GREAT FALLS

NORTH CAROLINA
HOLIDAY INN HOTEL AND SUITES RALEIGH-CARY (I-40 @WALNUT ST)
HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS AND SUITES FAYETTEVILLE NW-SPRING LAKE

NEBRASKA
HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS AND SUITES BELLEVUE (OMAHA AREA)
HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS AND SUITES NORFOLK

NEW HAMPSHIRE
HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS DURHAM - UNH








NEW JERSEY
CANDLEWOOD SUITES BORDENTOWN-TRENTON
HOLIDAY INN EAST WINDSOR
HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS AND SUITES MOUNT ARLINGTON
- ROCKAWAY AREA

HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS AND SUITES VINELAND MILLVILLE

NEW MEXICO
STAYBRIDGE SUITES ALBUQUERQUE NORTH
HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS AND SUITES CLOVIS

NEVADA
HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS FALLON
STAYBRIDGE SUITES RENO

NEW YORK
CANDLEWOOD SUITES BUFFALO AMHERST
HOLIDAY INN AUBURN-FINGER LAKES REGION
CANDLEWOOD SUITES WATERTOWN-FORT DRUM
HOLIDAY INN JOHNSTOWN-GLOVERSVILLE
HOLIDAY INN UTICA
HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS ROCHESTER - GREECE

OHIO
HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS CELINA
HOLIDAY INN CLEVELAND-AIRPORT
HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS COLUMBUS - DUBLIN
HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS MIDDLETOWN
HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS AND SUITES NAPOLEON
HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS AND SUITES CLEVELAND
- STREETSBORO

HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS AND SUITES WAUSEON

OKLAHOMA
HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS AND SUITES OKMULGEE
HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS AND SUITES VINITA

OREGON
HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS AND SUITES MEDFORD
- CENTRAL POINT

HOLIDAY INN PORTLAND-GRESHAM
HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS AND SUITES ONTARIO

PENNSYLVANIA
HOLIDAY INN ALLENTOWN CENTER CITY
HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS AND SUITES CHAMBERSBURG
HOLIDAY INN JOHNSTOWN-DOWNTOWN
HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS MT PLEASANT- SCOTTDALE
HOLIDAY INN WARREN (KINZUA DAM-ALLEGHENY)

RHODE ISLAND
HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS AND SUITES SMITHFIELD
- PROVIDENCE


SOUTH CAROLINA
HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS AND SUITES CAMDEN-I20 (HWY 521)
CANDLEWOOD SUITES COLUMBIA-FT. JACKSON

SOUTH DAKOTA
HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS AND SUITES ABERDEEN
HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS AND SUITES STURGIS

TENNESSEE
HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS HURRICANE MILLS (WAVERLY)
HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS AND SUITES MEMPHIS SOUTHWIND
STAYBRIDGE SUITES KNOXVILLE OAK RIDGE

TEXAS
HOLIDAY INN AMARILLO WEST MEDICAL CENTER
STAYBRIDGE SUITES BROWNSVILLE
HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS AND SUITES ENNIS
HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS AND SUITES HEARNE
HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS AND SUITES HOUSTON NW
BELTWAY 8-WEST ROAD

CROWNE PLAZA SAN ANTONIO AIRPORT
HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS AND SUITES AUSTIN SW
- SUNSET VALLEY

HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS AND SUITES VIDOR SOUTH

UTAH
HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS HEBER CITY
HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS AND SUITES TOOELE

VIRGINIA
STAYBRIDGE SUITES CHESAPEAKE - VIRGINIA BEACH
CROWNE PLAZA HAMPTON-MARINA
STAYBRIDGE SUITES QUANTICO-STAFFORD
HOLIDAY INN PATRIOT-WILLIAMSBURG

WASHINGTON
HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS AND SUITES CHENEY
HOLIDAY INN YAKIMA

WISCONSIN
HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS AND SUITES ANTIGO
STAYBRIDGE SUITES MILWAUKEE AIRPORT SOUTH
CANDLEWOOD SUITES MADISON - FITCHBURG
CROWNE PLAZA MILWAUKEE AIRPORT
HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS AND SUITES STEVENS POINT

WEST VIRGINIA
HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS NEWELL-CHESTER WV
HOLIDAY INN WEIRTON

WYOMING
HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS AND SUITES TORRINGTON

Saturday, May 24, 2014

Amazing Deal Alert: USA to Eastern Europe from 391$

American Airlines currently has some great fares to certain cities in eastern Europe including Sofia Bulgaria from $395 and Budapest from $405.  Prices are available from several different US cities and are these prices are available now through at least next march.  This is likely a pricing error, so please don't call the airline if you have questions.

Thursday, May 22, 2014

Amazing Deal Alert: New York to Asia via Europe for $130

There are some amazing one way prices from New York (and LAX) to various cities in Asia with stopovers in Europe.  Please note that these are one way prices and you would have to find your own way back from Asia (using frequent flyer miles, etc).  Some sample itineraries are shown below.  You can book via Priceline.


Tuesday, May 20, 2014

Amazing deal alert: Washington DC to Beijing $650

Delta currently has some great deals on flights to Beijing from Washington DC (DCA) with round trips as low as $650.  You can search for your dates on kayak.com or ITA, then book directly on delta.



Saturday, May 17, 2014

Amazing Deal Alert: Boston to the Azores for $330

SATA airline currently has some amazing fares from Boston to the Azores Islands.  I found a fare for just under $330 round trip, all taxes included.  This could be a good chance to see this little visited part of Portugal. 
Flights can be booked directly on www.sata.pt/en

Monday, May 12, 2014

Cheap flights of the Day

I'm going to try to make this page a semi-regular feature.  Basically these are airfare deals that caught my attention and are flights I would take if I had unlimited vacation time.  Prices are samples only, you will need to check your specific dates.  All prices are round trip with all taxes included.

If you have any specific cities you would like me to be on the lookout for deals to/from, please let me know.

Boston (BOS) to Praia, Cape Verde Islands  (RAI): $693 TACV
Boston (BOS) to Beijing (PEK): $678 Multiple Airlines
Boston (BOS) to Anchorage (ANC): $374 Delta
New York (JFK) to Cotonoum, Benin (COO): $541 Arik Air
Washington, DC (DCA) to Charleston, SC (CHS): $128 Jet Blue/USair



Sunday, May 11, 2014

Great flight deals out of Toronto

Just came across several interesting flight deals out of Toronto Pearson airport.

Toronto (YYZ) to Shanghai (PVG):  $662 round trip on Delta
Toronto (YYZ) to Hong Kong (HKG): $699 on Delta
Toronto (YYZ) to Ponta Delgada (Açores) (PDL) $433 on SATA
Toronto (YYZ) to Madeira (FNC): $539 on SATA.  This route allows you the option of having an overnight layover in the Azores Islands, allowing you to visit 2 remote islands in one trip.



Marriott Plus Points: Earn 2,000 Marriott Points every 30 days

Marriott rewards has just launched a new social media initiative called "Plus Points".  Essentially it is a rewards system that offers bonus points for members performing various actions on different social media outlets.  Each action has a certain number of bonus points attached to it and your points are capped at 2,000 points every 30 days.  The easiest way to earn the points is by liking one of the participating properties on Facebook or following on Twitter.  Each like earns you 250 points.  Like 8 different properties and you have an easy 2,000 points.  You can repeat the process every 30 days.  As a reminder, free nights start at as few as 7,500 points per night for category 1 hotels.

To sign up for the program go here: www.marriottrewardspluspoints.com
More information about the program can be found here: www.marriottrewardspluspoints.com/faq 



You can earn points on Facebook, Twitter, Foursquare and Instagram.   Clearly the easiest way to rack up the points is by liking/following
 on Facebook or Twitter


Wednesday, May 7, 2014

SPG Make a Green Choice: Earn points for cleaning your own room

SPG has a program in place where guests can opt to decline housekeeping services.  In return SPG will give you either 5$ credit or 500 SPG points per night. 



Details can be found here or here (There are different links for Westin and Sheraton)
Four Points properties also appear to participate in the program, however they only offer you a bonus of 250 points or 5$ dining credit.  Details can be found by searching for the name of the specific Four Points property and "make a green choice"

The less water, energy and other resources we use, the more there is to go around. Reward yourself with a $5 voucher at participating food and beverage outlets or 500 Starwood Preferred Guest Starpoints® awarded at check out for each night you decline housekeeping services (except day of departure).
Conservation matters. Make A Green Choice

Thursday, May 1, 2014

SPG Preferred Plus Status free for AAA/CAA members

SPG Preferred Plus status is a seldom publicized status tier which essentially offers members some of the the benefits of gold status including space available upgrades to "enhanced rooms" and 4pm check out.  Unlike Gold status you do not get a welcome gift or a 50% point bonus.  The best part of this status is that it is free to all AAA members and to SPG American Express card holders.  There is very little information about this status level on SPG's website.    

If you are a AAA member you have to sign up for this benefit, and details can be found here.



Call 1-866-782-7737 to join Starwood Preferred Guest® or to upgrade your account today - simply mention enrollment code "AAA/CAA" to start enjoying the benefits now.

Free Kindle book: The world's best street food

The kindle version of the book The world's best street food, where to find it and how to make it is available for free on Amazon for a limited time.  Direct link here

Regular price is $19.99 and it's unclear how long this deal will last for.