This is the Points & Cash Summary for the Punxsutawney TPOL Trip Report. The post is appropriately called Bus-Ted given its semblance of a bus schedule and because of the money and points burned on this trip. See all the other Bus-Ted compilations on my Trip Reports page.
Here is the money and points spent:
Here is the Great Circle Mapper.
Overall
TPOL does it again.
How many countries are in the world? When I am asked that question, I usually refer people to this controversial post: Is Hawaii a Country? Today, I will refer everyone to the best and most overlooked feature of my blog, the zoomable world map:
The map has 240 countries which is 47 more than the UN list of 193 and 90 less than the Travelers’ Century Club list of 330. Per the map, I have been to 114 countries or 47.5% of the world. This leaves me with 126 countries to go, if I go. The good news is that there are still many on the list that pique my interest. The other good news is that I Don’t Want to Visit Every Country. As far as what is or isn’t a country, that debate rages on. This zoomable world map is literally another way to look at it.
TPOl’s Tip: Bookmark Where I’ve Been to stay up-to-date with where I’ve been on all 3 lists.
Disclaimer: I may receive a commission if you click and buy a product listed.
Breaking 90, Week 1 (Delayed) is part of the TPOL to LIV PGA Trip Report (read the Introduction Inspiration).
My quest to break 90 was delayed by an unexpected trip to Detroit and an unexpected bag fee on Spirit (see Scammed! Or Stupid? Spirit Takes Me for $99 (Part 1)). While the hitting net has arrived (The Rukket training net costs $320 and is available here), I have not taken it out of the box. Fortunately, my nemesis choked in his golf tournament. His quest to break 80 looks to be as hopeful as my mission to break 90.
TPOL tried to join TikTok (see The End of Days: TPOL Joins TikTok). And failed. It’s too stupid of a platform for a person of my intellect. Having said that, it is the only way to go if you want to make a name for yourself in this business. Recently, every blog has referenced this traveler’s rant about the overrated Amalfi Coast.
https://www.tiktok.com/@millenniallex/video/7254561358065323310?referer_url=viewfromthewing.com%2Fthe-unvarnished-truth-about-the-amalfi-coast-roundup%2F%3Futm_source%3DBoardingArea%26utm_medium%3DBoardingArea&refer=embed&embed_source=121352282%2C121351166%2C121331973%2C120811592%2C120810756%3Bnull%3Bembed_pause_share&referer_video_id=7254561358065323310
This video clip has received millions of views. While I agree that this place should not be on a ‘must travel’ list, it’s not for the reasons she gave. As I wrote in my post on the Amalfi Coast, the reason to avoid it is because it is an unconscionable tourist trap.
Here’s an excerpt from that post:
I believe the phrase ‘when in Rome’ was coined to make tourists feel fine for the ripoff they experience in Italy. I say this after spending 13 euros on too much Gelato and a double espresso in the town of Amalfi. And also for 6 euros for a double espresso and 7 for a Gelato which included the 1 euro service fee for sitting down at this little table. Amalfi is a bigger tourist trap than Capri. I asked the waiter if he was a millionaire and he said that he just worked there. I guess I’m supposed to shut up and enjoy the moment and do as the Romans do. If only I could duck tourists when they come to the States.
Sadly, no one reads anymore. Sadly, the world takes for granted the creativity and humor that only words can provide.
Hear ye, hear ye, hear ye, hear ye! Now comes forth a bitter Spirit customer number 1,287,878,964
I flew Spirit for the first time en route to Carnival in Jamaica. I didn’t mind it (see Spirit: Thankfully Not Awful Like Frontier). Having to go back to the D, I flew Spirit direct from Puerto Rico for $100. Knowing Spirit charges bag fees, I used my new Amex Business Platinum to pay for a bag, Wi-Fi, and a seat near the front of the plane. That charge would be reimbursed thanks to the yearly $200 airline credit.
Things did not go according to plan. After leaving the Priority Pass SJU Lounge, I went to the gate. The agent scanned my ticket but said I couldn’t bring my carry-on. I told him that I paid for the ‘just for you’ bundle which included a bag. He said, step aside. His colleague took over and immediately went into Ryanair indifference mode (see 100 GBP Carry-On Bags? Scammed by Ryanair & Trips.com).
Jerk: You have no bag on your reservation.
Me: Yes, I do. See here.
Jerk: I have bad vision so I can’t read your phone. I can tell you what I see on my computer.
Me: What?
Jerk: You can either pay or not go on the plane. It will be $99.
Me: You’re a piece of shit bleepity bleepity bleep. Have you no decency! Have you no soul! . . . This is what I wanted to say.
Me: Here’s my Amex.
No Mobile Gym is part of the Punxsutawney TPOL Trip Report.
I used to bring TRX with me when I traveled. I would do it the first two days and feel good about myself. The rest of the time, it would take up valuable space in my carry-on (see What to Pack: Take 1/4 of the Clothes, 1/2 the Money). For a while, I decided that working out at all on vacation was pointless. The problem with no exercise is that I end my trip feeling uncomfortable from seeing all my muscles turn to mush. During this trip, I thought I would give the mobile gym another shot. It was a complete failure. I used the ropes once in the beginning of my trip at the Hyatt Regency Chicago. The rest of the time, the equipment was here:
I can’t work out in the hotel room, and I refuse to work out at hotel gyms. The problem remains: how can I stay relatively healthy while I am gone (see A Holiday of Healthy, Tipsy, & on Budget? Basically Impossible)?
Lufthansa Munich Newark Business Class Flight Review is part of the Punxsutawney TPOL Trip Report.
I booked a flight from Munich to Newark using precisely 62,760 Lifemiles in business on Lufthansa. The last time I flew Lufthansa long-haul was my inaugural business class flight on points in 2012 (see Angle Flat Lufthansa: My First Points Flight Review). Back then I was blown away by ice cream on a plane. Fast forward to 2021, those tricks do not impress me. And neither did this basic flight from Munich to Newark. 
Seating
There’s plenty of space in the business-class cabin, especially when sitting by the window. 
Upright/Lie-Flat
Whether upright or lie-flat, I was comfortable.
Champagne
While it will not make the list for best airline champagne (see Get Ready to Takeoff: The World’s Best Champagne), in the midst of Covid nonsense, it was nice to see that it was served. 
Amenities Kit
It was also nice to see an amenities kit with a mask as the featured item. 
Food
I was impressed by the selection of food. I traded my original order with Ms. TPOL.
Dessert
I take it back. I am still impressed with ice cream on a plane.
Overall
This flight was boring. The question is why it was boring. Have I taken too many business class flights that I require a silent disco to come away impressed (see Emirates A380 Silent Disco!)? Perhaps, Germans do things so well that I take the regimented routine for granted. Or, as I have said before, business class simply can’t compare to first (see Cathay A350 HKG-BKK: I Miss First Already). What I do know is that I found the experience to be basic. Maybe that’s a good thing. I have no idea.
Lufthansa Business Lounge Munich is part of the Punxsutawney TPOL Trip Report.
I can attest that Lufthansa first-class lounge in Frankfurt is awesome. I snuck in by convincing the agent that the roman numeral “I” on my boarding pass meant first. That trick worked in 2012, but I guarantee it won’t work today. Since then I have been to two Lufthansa lounges. Both were in business. Both were in Munich. Both were stale. I wrote the title of this blog post before checking the title of the other. It was called Lufthansa Business Class Lounge Munich: Pretzel & Nap.
Either I’m not creative or I am spot on. Either way, due to my compulsive nature of documenting each part of the trip, I have to share some photos of this lounge. Going forward, I will make a better effort to document the gate location of the lounge, in the event that the pretzels in one are better than the other.
Overall
Lufthansa business class lounges are worse than Delta’s.
Air Malta is part of the Punxsutawney TPOL Trip Report.
Unlike my prospective villa in Castiglione, Italy (see Did TPOL Buy a 1 Euro Italian Villa?), Malta was more connected to the outside world. To catch my flight from Munich to Newark, I flew Air Malta. While it was not in business, who can complain about a 2 hour and 20 minute flight that only costs $50?
