Page 57 – The Points Of Life

What to Pack: Take 1/4 of the Clothes, 1/2 the Money

thepointsoflife

-

June 29, 2022

“Pack 1/2 the clothes, twice the money,” L ee Abbamonte once said (see What to Pack: “Take 1/2 the Clothes, Twice the Money”). After years on the road, I have revised that and am now cutting both in half. Regarding luggage: thanks to embracing my Arabic musk, I have cut my luggage substantially. I am proud to say that on this trip my roller weighed 7lbs and my backpack weighed 4lbs. Regarding money, I am making a more conscientious effort to use points where possible. $100 per night for a hotel and $150 for regional flights add up quickly when I’m going for three weeks at a time. Similarly, I hope that my frugality leads to healthier choices leading to fewer dollars spent (see A Holiday of Healthy, Tipsy, on Budget: Basically Impossible).

Here is my limited packing list:

Essentials

Passport
Old Passport if going to China (see Visa Blunder Part 3: China Visa-Free Transit Disaster (again)).
National ID instead of a driver’s license because losing that would not be as terrible.
Money Bag
Money clip
Debit card + Charles Schwab: I bring my Chase card just in case I lose my Schwab card (see Charles Schwab Debit Card: Use As Instructed )
Eye covers
Pen: no time to waste when getting through customs
Vaccine records: how stupid this is but I keep an electronic record
Keys

Electronics

Blackberry + charger + cord (for blogging on the go)
Samsung + charger + cord
Laptop + case‎ + charger + mouse + case
Garmin + charger
Wireless headphones + case
Wired headphones (for airplanes)
External charger + 1 short USB cord
Wonderboom
Adapter

Clothes

1 pair of loafers
1 pair of gym shoes
1 pair of travel pants
1 pair of shorts with zipper back pockets (see On the Last Day: Losing My Wallet)
1 pair of board shorts
Sandals
Travel jacket (see The World’s Greatest Travel Jacket: A Smuggler’s Tool)
2 V-neck shirts, dark colors
1 short sleeve button up
3 dry-fit shirts
Socks (will never be enough)
Boxers (will never be enough)

Toiletries

Toothbrush
Toothpaste
Aleve
Nexium
Deodorant

The rest I buy along the way as souvenirs for which I have plenty of room in my spillover bag.

TPOL’s Tip: If traveling for short trips e.g., three days, do not make the mistake of packing more because you want options. Stick to this list.

JFK: Too Early to Check-In

thepointsoflife

-

June 28, 2022

0

Too Early to Check In is part of the Iraq Homecoming Trip Report.

I am paranoid when it comes to transport (see “Tickets, Please, Tickets”: Train Anxiety & Boarding Announcement Paranoia). En route to Warsaw, I had to connect in JFK. I flew JetBlue from San Juan to JFK at 11:50AM with a scheduled arrival at 3:45PM. Despite my 10PM flight, I was still paranoid that disaster would strike and harpoon my RTW itinerary (see 25,000 Mile RTW Trip Including Iraq Booked!). The second worst thing happened: I arrived on time and was informed by the LOT agent that check-in was not open until 6:20PM.

I thought I could sneak in with a mobile boarding pass. That did not work. Instead, I paid $3.26 to run on Dunkin’ and am waiting in another terminal for the gate to open.

a white coffee cup with a lid on a table — How much did I spend on coffee this trip?

TPOL’s Tip: If you arrive too early to JFK, head to Terminal One. At least there is proper seating compared to the 2 high school desks at terminal 7.

a room with a blue seat and a white floor — Waiting to go to the principal’s office.

I will add this to my Travel Lesson page as a reminder that coming early is prudent (see Cutting It Close: Will I Make My JFK-HKG Connection?), but too early is just that: too early.

a group of airplanes on a runway — It’s too inconvenient to leave JFK for the city.

Iraqi Homecoming Trip Report: An Introduction

thepointsoflife

-

June 27, 2022

4

The Introduction is part of the Iraq Homecoming Trip Report

When Covid hit, I made adjustments. The most obvious one was not traveling (see The Lost & Found Year(s): COVID Trip Report). Locked down, I became accustomed to my daily lifestyle and even accomplished a few things (see COVID 2020: TPOL’s Most Productive Year). In 2021, I left the basement with my sights set on purchasing an Italian villa (see Did TPOL Buy a 1 Euro Italian Villa?). While that trip was fun, it did not feel natural. Everything was closed or restricted, even wine tasting (see Guns & Butter: Ribera Del Duero, Madrid Travel Guide (Vino Edition)).

Although the Covid hysteria lives on, this trip seems different. I am no longer trying to escape from the basement. Instead, I am reclaiming my life. A big part of my life is travel. It is cliche to say that travel is important, but that statement doesn’t mean the same to the masses as it does to me. For me, travel is oxygen. Without it, I cannot live. Without it, I lose part of my identity. I become another face among the masses, surviving the monotony of the daily routine only to do it over again.

Well, that bullshit is now over. I’m on the road, onto new destinations, and, symbolically, onto Iraq for the first time in an effort to try to understand where I come from and who I am. To romanticize the trip, I arrived in Baghdad on my 40th birthday.

a large white airplane on a runway — Get some livery in your life!

Just Got Home & Now I’m Leaving Again

thepointsoflife

-

June 14, 2022

2

I am supposed to be publishing the Iraq Homecoming Trip Report. Due to the fact that renovations of my villa are still incomplete and despite leaving my place in their care for more than three weeks, I have no choice but to go back on the road. I am resuming the Rum Rum Caribbean Castaway Trip Report, a quest to visit every island in my backyard. The funny thing about my backyard is that everything is close in theory. In reality, the rounding couldn’t be more backward. See below:

I start in San Juan and instead of swimming to Antigua, I fly all the way north to NYC. It will not be a wasted evening in NYC as I am meeting Ms. TPOL there for a night on the town (see Etiquette of Things: Comedy Cellar NY). This justifies the use of my 15,600 JetBlue points. On the way back to where I just left, we are flying business for 22k Avios each on AA. Looking to go from Antigua to St. Kitts? Good luck as there are limited flights. Talented TPOL found a British Airways 777 from ANU to SKB that saved me both money, 11k Avios vs. $169, and the hassle of going back to America.

a yellow background with black text — Fortunately, there was no business class availability, leaving no opportunity to debate if it is worth paying double Avios for a 45-minute flight.

The convenience ends where it began: San Juan.

The direct option for June does not fit into my schedule, and the British trick was not available on United.

Checking Wiki Airports (see Wiki Airports: Finding Flights to the Unbeaten Path), I found that Air Sunshine flies direct but for $325 per person. My time is valuable but not that valuable, especially when it is multiplied by two.

Indirect options included these gems:

Lucky for me, Avios rescued me once again. 11k Avios to MIA is much better than the ridiculous prices above. My luck continued as my 14k JetBlue flight back to SJU leaving from Fort Lauderdale spares me a night in Miami, my favorite city (see Hyatt Regency Miami: You’re Not Staying Here Anyway).

It’s not a trip to Iraq, but it’s damn good for putting it all together the night before departure.

a screenshot of a data — As backwards as my Turkish routing.

CDC Suspends Testing Requirement: Where’s My Refund?

thepointsoflife

-

June 10, 2022

5

TPOL is back to blogging (see Simply The Best: May 2022). A great way to resume is by doing what I do best: complain. The CDC is expected to announce that it will no longer require testing for those entering the country. I have been saying for years that this requirement is stupid and irrational (see COVID Test for Return Travel Is Stupid & COVID Test to Come Home Is S-T-U-). Well, the nonsense is finally ending. I hope the testing schemers made enough money off of this garbage. Personally, I would like to ask for a refund for the tests that I did last week before coming back to the US. I was tempted to fake the results but was scared of losing my Global Entry.

Let there be no doubt. This policy is not being rescinded to help the ailing economy and not because they are ‘following the science’, a phrase that I used to believe meant something.

a person in a blue uniform sitting in a chair in a living room — What will he do now that this money grab is over?

Simply The Best: May 2022

thepointsoflife

-

June 9, 2022

0

TPOL was out of the office (see [OUT OF THE OFFICE]: TPOL’s Going Home to Iraq). But I’m back from Iraq and ready to golf again. Here is the best of May.

1 Euro Italian Villa: Would She Be Mine?

2. “Tickets, Please, Tickets”: Train Anxiety Invalid request error occurred.

3. Guns & Butter: Milan Travel Guide

4. easyJet: The World’s Best Low-Cost Carrier

5. Late Night Bite in Milan

6. Hyatt Centric Milan: Cert Worthy?

7. In Search of the Priority Pass Milan Malpensa Airport

[OUT OF THE OFFICE]: TPOL’s Going Home to Iraq

The Deal Ticker

thepointsoflife

-

May 11, 2022

2

I leave on my trip (see 25,000 Mile RTW Trip Including Iraq Booked!). I will be back in mid-June. Follow me on IG, @thepointsoflife, in the interim as I won’t be posting regularly, if at all.

a man sitting at a table drinking wine — Cheers!

easyJet: The World’s Best Low-Cost Carrier

thepointsoflife

-

May 10, 2022

2

easyJet is part of Punxsutawney TPOL Trip Report.

I have flown many discount carriers in my day. My favorite Asian discount carrier is AirAsia because I was able to see most of SE Asia for next to nothing. My favorite in the US is Southwest, because of the Companion Pass and free checked bags. My favorite in Europe and, after this trip, in the world is easyJet. I first flew easyJet in 2015 and had a decent experience (see easyJet: Know Before You Go). I didn’t know then just how easy it was to fly with them if you pay nominal money to become a speedy boarder.

What are the benefits of being speedy boarder? First, it is priority boarding. This is huge when it comes to discount carriers in Europe because airlines do not post the gate until close to departure time. Once the gate is announced, there’s a long queue of people trying to get into the gate, only to queue again to get on the plane. Speedy boarders don’t have to deal with those lines. Second, speedy boarders receive seats near the front of the plane or in emergency exit rows. The seats on easy aren’t luxurious. It’s worth paying for a more comfortable seat and it’s worth being the first on and the first off. Third, speedy boarders can bring a personal item and carry-on without having to pay big fees at the airport (see 100 GBP Carry-On Bags? Scammed by Ryanair & Trips.com).

an airplane parked at an airport — Always pick easy over Ryan.

TPOL’s Tip: Speedy or not, get to the gate on time. If the masses board before you, they’ll throw their luggage in the first overhead bin, defeating the purpose of having a seat in the front of the plane.

Overall

If you’re going to travel in Europe on discount carrier, avoid Ryanair and book easyjet, just be sure to ‘splurge’ for the VIP benefits of being a speedy boarder.

And now some modeling photos of easy:

In Search of the Priority Pass Milan Malpensa Airport

thepointsoflife

-

May 9, 2022

2

Priority Pass Malpensa Airport is part of Punxsutawney TPOL Trip Report.

We took the train to MXP and spent the next hour wandering the airport searching for a lounge. The first was located in the non-Schengen area. Since we were flying domestically, it was inaccessible. The second was conveniently located near our gate but closed due to Covid. The third was open and in the right terminal but was a twenty minute walk to our gate.

Given the time and energy wasted, we didn’t have much time at the lounge. It was a place to re-hydrate and stock up on food for our late arrival in Catania where, unlike Milan, there would be no restaurants open (see Late Night Bite in Milan).

“Tickets, Please, Tickets”: Train Anxiety

thepointsoflife

-

May 6, 2022

9

“Tickets, Please, Tickets”: Train Anxiety

Train Anxiety is part of Punxsutawney TPOL Trip Report.

The train is my favorite method of transport. Here are some examples of why that is:

I also have great anxiety when riding them because I never know if I purchased the right ticket. I am always worried about being fined by the ticket checker because I booked the wrong fare or worse for not having a ticket at all (see Scammed or Stupid? A Big Fine in Palermo).

On this trip, in Copenhagen, I was worried because I only had one ticket for two passengers. Before boarding the train, I asked the information desk if this covered both people. It did. Sure enough, I was stopped by the inspector who double-checked that my single ticket was for two people. 1/1.

From both Manchester airport to the Hyatt Manchester and from Manchester to Conwy, the conductor announced that this train was only for a certain type of ticket. Again, I was anxious when the ticket man came around. He scanned the ticket and moved along. I was 3/3.

In Milan, I exited the airport train at the wrong station. I boarded the next train marked for the airport and was worried when the inspector came and stared at my tickets. He then started speaking Italian and writing something on my ticket. With the credit card machine in his hand, I was sure that I had done something wrong. He gave me back my tickets and walked away. 4/4.

Overall

Train anxiety is real. And so are the fines if something goes wrong. Beware.