Here is the Picture Preview, the Excel Spreadsheet of all the points redemptions, and my CNN International Business Traveller segment which was filmed in Vegas.
Getting There: Uber picked me up at and took me to the hotel for a nominal fee.
This was my second time going to Cartagena and like the first time, I found myself asking why I did not stay longer. Two nights are not enough to experience all that the city and its surroundings has to offer. Before I get to the Cartagena Travel Guide, here’s a review of a great points options for those traveling to this splendid city.
Radisson CartagenaThe Location
I stayed two nights at the Radisson Cartagena which is conveniently located minutes from the airport, directly on the ocean, and twenty minutes from Cartagena’s best attraction, the old town.
The Hotel
The hotel lobby is beautiful. It is clean and fresh.
The front deskThe lobbyThe lobbyThe lobbyThe lobbyLobby bar areaLobby bar areaLobby bar areaThe Upgrade
The staff was very pleasant. They acknowledged my Club Carlson status and upgraded me to a one bedroom suite overlooking the pool and beach. It’s these upgrades that make it hard for me to cancel my US Bank Club Carlson cards.
Suite upgradeThe Living Room
The colors were a bit different but I thought it was cool that this was not the prototypical hotel room. I especially liked the stools.
To the elevatorsThe atriumThe living roomThe living roomThe best coffeeComplimentary waterI love Juan ValdezThe artLiving roomThe stoolsThe View The pool viewThe pool viewThe ocean viewThe ocean viewThe Bedroom The bedroomTony Montana oceanThe bedroomThe bedroomThe bedroomBedroom chairView from the bedroomView from the bedroomThe Bathrooms
Why have one bathroom when you can have two? I appreciate hotels that offer a toothbrush and real sized toothpaste as part of the amenities. When I jump from one location to the next, stuff gets disorganized and I find myself rummaging through my bag for toothpaste.
Bathroom #1Bathroom #1Bathroom #1Entrance hallwayBathroom #2Bathroom #2Toothpaste!The Pool
I love looking at the ocean more than I like being on the beach. As such, I spent my time at the pool drinking piña coladas. Drinks were around $4, much better than the gazillion dollars they cost at the Marriott Grand Cayman.
Pool areaPool areaPool areaPool areaPool areaPool areaPool areaPool areaTraditionPool areaOverall
As nice as this hotel is, the next time I go to Cartagena, I am going to stay within the walls of the old town. It’s convenient to stay at a hotel directly on the beach but there’s much more to Cartagena than just the ocean.
The 2016 Festivus Airing of Blog Grievances has a new leader. A couple of weeks ago it was United which killed points travel. Today it is Hyatt which decided that my style of loyalty is not good enough for them. Last year, I completed the Hyatt Diamond Challenge which gave me status through February 2017. This year, I’ve been running all over the globe trying to meet the 25 night requirement to requalify for Diamond through February 2018. And what do I and those of my ilk get as reward for our checking in and checkout out of hotels more than we would like? What do we get for planning our gallivants partially based on whether there is a Hyatt there? Nothing come March 2018.
That’s because the only way for us ‘stay’ qualifiers to reach Globalist (the terrible name for Diamond in the new program) is to book 55+ nights or spend $20,000 at Hyatt hotels. That’s not feasible. Where in the world are Hyatt hotels? Not in a lot of places. Unless I become a Hyatt House resident, I’ll never meet this requirement.
I get why Hyatt is doing this in the sense that vagabond customers like myself are not as profitable as the road warrior whose company pays for him and the whole team to stay at a Hyatt over and over. But what about small business owners who can’t use the corporate card to charge their way to status? What about travel enthusiasts who want to explore the world? How are we supposed put our aspirations first and retain status?
We can’t. And more importantly, we no longer should care to do so. Next year, I’m not going to spend hours on Excel trying to figure out how I can tabulate 55 nights at Hyatts while simultaneously finding places in the world that fit my travel schedule. Hyatt can keep its free breakfast. I hate breakfast! Hyatt can keep its suite upgrades. I love my Chungking Mansion in Hong Kong!
This new rewards program will have unintended consequences. Revenue may go up but the intangible asset known as goodwill will suffer because those who love Hyatt for its Hyattness will be replaced by indifferent customers who do not care if they’re staying at Courtyard or a Choice Hotel, so long as the company is paying. That’s not loyalty. That’s short-sighted stupidity.
H/T: MTM, OMAAT, VFTWFrom the high rise to the basement, Hyatt misplayed this hand.
Disclaimer: If you use my affiliate link, I get paid.
Update: Please see my latest post, TPOL The Polyglot: A Better Way to Learn Multiple Languages for the latest resources in learning languages.
你好, مرحبا, Здравствуйте, hola, or simply hello.
Chinese, Arabic, Russian, Spanish, and English are languages that I am currently studying with varying levels of proficiency. I started out with Pablo Pimsleur Audio Courses and have moved on to one-on-one Skype sessions. Here is my progress with each language:
English
I think I speak English good and write it good but, Clifford Barnabus, the virtual version of my 8th grade English teacher, might disagree.
Mandarin
Since 2010, I’ve been trying to become fluent in Mandarin. It started when I lived in Shanghai for my MBA exchange and came home embarrassed because I could not even say beer in Chinese. From there I had the bright idea to try to learn Mandarin in three months and take the oral proficiency test, a prerequisite for graduating. To no one’s surprise, I came up short and had to take it again four months later. Since then I’ve been off and on with my Mandarin studies. Fed up with the lack of progress from studying on my own, I hired a Skype tutor and am scheduled to take the HSK Level IV exam in March 2017. There are six levels in total and I’ll consider it a life achievement if I can get by level IV and subsequently pass five and six.
Update: I now use Yoyo Chinese. It’s the best software I’ve found.
Spanish
In high school and college I took Spanish and lived in Monterrey, Mexico, also part of my MBA. While I’m able to get by, mas o menos style, I realized how deficient my Spanish was when I tried to talk about the election when I was in Colombia last September. Determined to reach fluency, I hired a Skype tutor to assist.
Russian
TPOL readers will know that one of my favorite things to do while traveling is bargaining. (see Bargaining Abroad, I Lost The Battle and TPOL’s Guide to Bargaining Abroad) It’s basically impossible and boring to do without knowing the local language. Before heading to Russia as part of my Quest Around The Globe, I began learning Russian over Skype. Obsessed with the business possibilities that may come from mastering this language, I am still enrolled in the course.
Arabic
When my parents came from Iraq, their goal was to make sure that my sisters and I assimilated into the American culture. As a result, we never learned to speak or read Arabic. All I could do was understand Arabic, including the profanities my mother would unleash on me if I didn’t get perfect marks in school. Traveling to the Middle East, I was, once again, embarrassed that I could not communicate. Many locals were actually insulted that I could not communicate in my parents’ native tongue.
Why So Many Languages?
First and foremost, traveling is more fun and the experiences are more authentic when I can communicate with the locals. Having some grasp of language is a great way to learn about unique ventures while simultaneously avoiding tourist traps. Second, I’m a businessman and the languages on this list are those used by the dominating global powers. (One could argue that Japanese and Portuguese should be on the list but I do not think they are as critical.) Finally, I enjoy the challenge of learning languages and believe that exercising the brain now will prevent early-onset dementia.
How Much Does It Cost?
The lessons are very affordable, ranging from $4 to $10 an hour.
How Often Do You Have Class?
I study each language twice a week for one hour.
What Website Do You Use?
For Spanish, Mandarin, and Russian, I use Preply. Here is my affiliate link for that site.
For Arabic, I use Madinah Arabic. I get a free lesson if you do the following:
Ask your friend to enter in your email address in the referral email box when registering.
If you would like the names of my tutors, feel free to email me. (alexander at thepointsoflife.com)
Overall
Google Translate and other apps may help you find your way around the globe but much like the misdirection of Google Maps, there is no substitute for relying on your own abilities.
再见,وداعا , пока, adios, TPOL out.
TPOL Blending In
Here is the Picture Preview, the Excel Spreadsheet of all the points redemptions, and my CNN International Business Traveller segment which was filmed in Vegas.
Who wants to see more pics of the inside of an airplane? Nobody. This review has nothing to do with the flying machine I took to Cartagena and more to do with taking advantage of flash sales and getting over the stigma of flying coach. Unlike hoarders, I do not have a stash of points that keeps me warm at night. I burn my points while trying to maximize the value. Given the dark days of devaluation and 5/24 rules, this means prioritizing when I will fly peasant and when I will splurge for civilized class. The loose guideline is that a flight has to be longer than ten hours to justify dipping into my savings.
Life altering decisions like this are made easier when airlines like JetBlue have flash sales to actual places I want to go. Sorry Southwest, I don’t want to get away to Spokane from Boise even if it is $29 round trip.
Last August, I booked a flight from Fort Lauderdale to Cartagena for $20.60 and 1,080 points. For that price, the plane could’ve had ducks, goats, and Captain Harris aboard and it would not have made a difference. Without livestock, the ride to Cartagena was pretty boring. Flying outside of the US, JetBlue’s DirecTV service was not available, leaving me to twiddle my thumbs and call out for Proctor.
Cartagena for 1080 points, I’ll ride in cargoPlane seatThe whole emergency row to myself
Here is the Picture Preview, the Excel Spreadsheet of all the points redemptions, and my CNN International Business Traveller segment which was filmed in Vegas.
Getting There: Take the Metrorail direct to Miami International Airport for $2.25.
It’s not all about South Beach when it comes to Miami. There are many great areas of Miami including Brickell, the next most livable city after Scottsdale, Arizona. Brickell is the financial district of Miami which is why it has high-end hotels like the Mandarin Oriental, the Four Seasons, and the Conrad. Besides being a business hub, Brickell is home to many nightclubs, restaurants, and Sunday Funday spots.
Looking for a place to rest my head, spare my wallet, and achieve SPG Platinum for 2017, I switched from the Aloft South Beach to the Aloft Brickell. This time I did not receive a suite upgrade but was satisfied with the great location and prototypical Aloft amenities. Like South Beach, the fun is outside the walls of the hotel. Having said that, there is plenty to like about the Aloft Brickell.
The Location
Let’s start with the location. Exit the hotel and walk two blocks in any direction and you will encounter lively streets and a unique culture. Downtown Brickell is not like FiDi which goes quiet after the closing bell. Instead, there are plenty of outdoor restaurants serving Colombian, Venezuelan, and international cuisine.
aloft BrickellThe Staff Alofts throughout the world are staffed with wonderful people who make the hotel experience more like going to a friend’s house for a sleepover. At the Aloft Brickell, the front desk welcomed me with more drink tickets than I could handle. Nothing says hospitality like a shot of Don Julio on the house.
WXYZ loungeWXYZ LoungeWXYZ LoungeLobby areaLobby areaLobby areaLobby areaThe Room
This may not have been a suite but addition of a balcony, something I have not encountered at other Alofts, gave the hotel a big city feel. Per usual, there was the comfy Aloft king size bed and reviving Aloft soaps (not pictured).
BedroomBigger than the typical aloft but not a suiteBedroomA balcony, something new for my aloft experienceThe Brickell Skyline
Brickell is often overlooked because it is not right on the beach. That is a shame because it has so much to offer. In Brickell, the excitement of the city does not come from the ocean view but from the modern buildings that form the city’s skyline.
Right in the middle of the funBrickellThe Breakfast
It isn’t a breakfast buffet. It’s an ‘on the go’ offering.
Overall
I encourage travelers to visit Brickell, a city that combines the laid back lifestyle of Scottsdale, the money doesn’t sleep persona of Wall Street, and the sexiness of Miami. Furthermore, I encourage travelers to consider staying at the Aloft Brickell, a reasonably priced, well situated hotel in Miami’s other city.
Here is the Picture Preview, the Excel Spreadsheet of all the points redemptions, and my CNN International Business Traveller segment which was filmed in Vegas.
Getting There: Uber or take the affordable Miami Beach Airport Express to South Beach.
Time flies when you’re not blogging. I stayed at the Aloft South Beach in September. Moments after checking out of the hotel, the property changed from SPG to Hilton. The content of this review has now become somewhat obsolete as the perks I received were based on my SPG status. Still, I think it’s worth sharing some pretty pictures of Miami.
South BeachThe Location
Situated across the street from the W South Beach, the Aloft South Beach was a great value for those looking to stay near the beach but not pay a steep price in points or cash.
Aloft South Beach 2360 Collins Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139W nearbyChecking In
I’m going to assume they didn’t fire the entire staff when the hotel became a Hilton. I would be interested in learning about how the staff is retrained as the conversion progresses. Unless otherwise instructed to be cold and rude, the staff should be very friendly and accommodating. When I checked in, my suite was not ready so I was given two free drinks at the WXYZ Bar.
Aloft lobbyAloft lobbyWXYZWXYZThe Pool
Like the Cayman Islands, Miami is all about the beach. The pool is nice for a cocktail or two before hitting the town.
Aloft drinksAloft poolAloft poolAloft futbolAloft jengaAloft cabanaThe Hotel Itself
It’s definitely an Aloft (or it used to be) in its appearance.
Aloft bedThe Room
Alofts rarely have suites and when they do upgrades do not come easy. There must be something special about TPOL + Aloft in Florida since I got a suite setup in both Orlando and in South Beach. The room was Art Deco cool with a separate living room and bedroom.
Classic art deco dudeThe living roomAloft suiteAloft tableAloft roomThe comfy Aloft roomView from AloftView from AloftSpeakerboxxAloft soapAloft sinkOverall
This was a solid hotel choice because of its location and because I needed another SPG stay to requalify for Platinum. Having said that, there are so many other boutique hotels in South Beach that are similarly priced which provide a more authentic 305 experience. When I stop chasing status, I plan on returning to South Beach to check out local landmarks like the Colony Hotel, the Beacon Hotel, and my personal favorite tourist trap, the Clevelander.
Thank you for washing.
ESPN HQ for Dan and Papi
Disclaimer: This article contains a paid affiliate link from CamanaBay.com.
The Grand Cayman Travel Guide is part of the Quest Around The Globe Trip Report which covers the following places:
A trip is composed of two factors: Labor And Lazy.
Anything on the line (Production Possibilities Frontier for my fellow economists) is an efficient use of your time depending on your tastes and preferences.
Anything inside the line is inefficient as should be avoided.
Anything outside is aspirational but may be impossible to do given the constraints of time and resources.
The opportunity cost (what is given up) for relaxing and being Lazy is gained by being adventurous in the form of Labor and vice versa.
This is the easiest Travel Guide I have written. Grand Cayman takes away the hectic lifestyle and replaces it with days and nights doing nothing. Some people go to the Cayman Islands to get away from it all for days, weeks, and months at a time. Some move there to seek shelter, tax or otherwise.
Labor: The Party
Those looking for a party have come to the wrong island. This is especially true if you land there during the off-season in the middle of the week. I arrived on Tuesday and left on Friday. On Tuesday, I went for happy hour at Camana Bay. The prices were surprisingly reasonable. On Wednesday, I went to the Royal Palms Beach Club for a party followed by a local club in a strip mall. The highlight came on Thursday when I went to Lone Star for Name That Tune Bingo. Everyone was cheating, using Shazam to figure out the song names, but it was a great time. After that, I found myself at Calico Jack’s con mi amigo Don Julio. The fun ended promptly at 1AM, last call for most bars on the island.
Royal Palms Beach ClubReally? A foam party? Is this PIKE UMich circa 2000?Lone Star BingoLone Star drinks with localsLabor: A Run on the Beach
Grand Cayman is hot! The scorching sun makes doing anything besides lounging on the beach difficult. While this is tempting, a day on Seven Mile Beach would be wasted if you didn’t at least try to run from one end to the other. Along the way, take a break by jumping into the refreshing ocean.
7 Mile Beach7 Mile BeachWaterproof SamsungLabor: Golf
No trip to the Cayman Islands would be complete without a round of golf. It’s what the rich and infamous do to pass the time and so should you.
A hopeful holeThe best holeLabor-Lazy: Water Sports
The typical water sports are available on the island. If you are looking to dive, the Cayman Islands is a great place to do so. If you are lazy, like me, then snorkeling is readily available.
Snorkel all overLazy: Sunset
After running around, it’s time to enjoy the sunset on Seven Mile Beach.
SunsetHot tub sunsetSunsetLazy: Seven Mile Beach
Yes, the sunset was spectacular but that only lasts for mere moments. A proper day of being lazy is to sit under an umbrella with a bottle of rum and do nothing but admire the ocean.
Pina ColadaNext Time:
Next time I’m in the Cayman Islands, I will take a trip to the other islands, Little Cayman and Cayman Brac for an even slower pace. As far as hotels are concerned, I would skip the Holiday Inn and stay at the Marriott only if the closing on my beachfront condo isn’t finalized.
Holiday Inn Grand CaymanMarriott Grand CaymanTill next time
Imaginary trip planning is my favorite hobby. It starts innocently enough with the question, “Where should we go next?” Inquisitive, I start looking at routing options. From there, I start checking points availability. With plausible points possibilities, the imaginary planning turns into reality when I discover award flights. Not long thereafter, I am ready to book.
This fake trip plan started last February when I was looking for places to burn my DSUs after Hyatt changed its policy. I chose random destinations including Amsterdam, Mt. Kilimanjaro, and Zanzibar. I ended up cancelling all of those reservations but the idea of climbing the mountain remained in the back of my mind. So many people have boasted about doing it that I felt compelled to do it myself. Like when I ran my first marathon in Alaska, spite was a motivator.
Angry TPOL refuses to board the hype train. That’s why I haven’t been to ‘find yourself’ places like Machu Picchu or yoga retreats in the Himalayas. Quotes like, “That mountain changed my life,” or overused words like “amazing” make me nauseous. It’s naive travelers that force me to look elsewhere for places to go. Their kumbaya outlook is downright annoying.
At the same time, I recognize that it’s not the poor mountain’s fault that so many wandering souls use it in a purported effort to achieve enlightenment. The more I read about the physical and mental challenge of climbing the mountain the more I want to do it. That is why I’ve spent this weekend fighting Delta for points flights. Interestingly enough, the path to the mountain goes through AMS for one night and then to Kilimanjaro Airport. After the climb, it’s only fitting to go to Zanzibar to unwind. Clearly, my initial hotel bookings mentioned above were not off base.
The reason I have yet to book is because Delta’s pricing is out of control. The main leg SEA-AMS-JRO is available for a steal at 80,000 Sky Kyats. The price goes absolutely bonkers when I try to get the connection to SEA. Compounding the problem is having my Kyats in two accounts. Amex created a separate account for my Delta SkyMiles Business Gold Card, leaving me short of the miles needed to book right away. It will take 24-48 hours for the accounts to be combined. By then, I’m sure Delta.com will realize what I am up to and change the miles requirement. If not, I’d say paying $18.40 for a 10k flight and a chance to reach complete consciousness is worth it.
Gungagalunga… gunga, gunga-lagunga.
I woke up to this spam subject line: ‘Faster Entry Through The UK Border’. It came from the sender donotreply. Curious, I opened it to find that it was a legitimate email detailing how those who have Global Entry can now apply for the UK equivalent called Registered Traveller. The cost is 70 GBP for the first year and 50 GBP for the second year.
I love Global Entry except when I get stopped for being Arab. Accordingly, this program would be of interest if I traveled to the UK often. Perhaps if British got rid of their fuel surcharges I would consider it. The last time I went to the UK was aboard Virgin Upper Class en route to the Athens Marathon.
Here are all the details:
You are receiving this message because you have been identified by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) as a U.S. citizen or Canadian citizen enrolled in the GE/ NEXUS program. CBP would like to inform you that the United Kingdom now operates an expedited entry program called Registered Traveller and you may be eligible to apply.Registered Traveller was launched by the UK Border Force to give faster and more convenient entry to the UK for eligible nationals from the United States and Canada. Membership of Registered Traveller costs £70 in the first year and £50 per year thereafter.Membership of Registered Traveller includes the following benefits:üAccess to ePassport gatesüUse of the UK / EEA queueüNo requirement to complete a landing card on arrival in the UKüNo routine credibility interview with a Border Force officer.Visitor eligibility criteria have changed and you now may apply to join if you have made at least 4 journeys to the United Kingdom in the previous two years. Complete details of Registered Traveller eligibility and availability can be found online atwww.gov.uk/registered-traveller. Registered Traveller is proving extremely popular with members and to date there have been over 275,000 crossings of the border by members with extremely positive feedback such as,“I think it is fantastic! It has made a major difference to my experience travelling as it gives me a great deal of time back.”“Time saving and improved experience of clearing immigration.”You can apply for Registered Traveller online now at www.gov.uk/registered-traveller. This is an automated email. Please do not reply.Visa
The book of Revelation describes the end of days where good will battle evil once and for all. A glimpse of this fight will take place on November 26, 2016 when the hopefully undefeated Wolverines will take on a hopefully undefeated Buckeyes team in Columbus, Ohio.
I have never been to a Umich OSU game in Ohio because 1) The Horseshoe is a scary place. 2) Michigan has been awful for the last fifteen years. Experiments with an oaf named Hoke and a snake oil peddling, spread option, no defense playing fool in Rodriguez has destroyed a century of football excellence. Of course, this all started with Lloyd Carr who hung on to the job for too long, lost to Appalachian State, and played a role in not allowing Les Miles to come to Ann Arbor.
With Harbuagh at the reins and a defense almost as good as the ’97 championship team, I am finally ready to brave the nutty Columbus crowd and go to the game. Step 1 was to find a points hotel that was affordable. Check. Step 2 was to find a free points flight to Michigan for Thanksgiving. While that was possible, I accepted the generosity of my parents and their GoFundTPOL efforts. Step 3 was to find tickets. This is the worst part of the process.
There are five options when it comes to buying tickets for big games:
The Box Office: Not an option when the game is sold out.
Ticket Scalping on Game Day: For those that do not care if they go to the game or not, this can be the cheapest way to score great tickets. (see Ticket Scalping NYC: Know Before You Go)
The Hookup on Tickets: There’s always that guy or family member who knows someone who knows someone.
SeatGeek: This is a great app for searching for tickets from a variety of vendors.
StubHub: This is the most known reseller of tickets.
With option #1, 2, and 3 unavailable, I began perusing the ticket offerings from SeatGeek and StubHub last week while Ohio State was struggling against Wisconsin. During the game, I was hoping that OSU would lose so the ticket prices would drop. I speculated that a win would cause the prices to go up. Ohio State held on and the prices remained basically the same.
Besides MSU, Michigan does not have any tough opponents left on their schedule. OSU faces a tougher road since they have to play both MSU and Nebraska. Still, I expect that both should be undefeated before the big game. As a result, I do not expect that the prices will go any lower than they are today. Indeed, they could rise exponentially if a spot in the Big Ten Championship game and playoffs is on the line. That is why I decided to pull the trigger by purchasing two upper bowl tickets in row 5 for $695. The face value was $195 so the mark up is not that extraordinary.
As the weeks go by, I will pay close attention to StubHub and SeatGeek to see if I made the right choice. In the mean time, duck the fuckeyes and Go Blue!
TPOL and his offensive line(s)
Overall
I encourage travelers to visit Brickell, a city that combines the laid back lifestyle of Scottsdale, the money doesn’t sleep persona of Wall Street, and the sexiness of Miami. Furthermore, I encourage travelers to consider staying at the Aloft Brickell, a reasonably priced, well situated hotel in Miami’s other city.
This is the easiest 
