Travel Guide - ThePointsOfLife

Iberia MAD-BCN: Some Funny Business

thepointsoflife

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August 30, 2024

Iberia MAD-BCN is part of the Gold Medal Trip Report.

This was a strange flight. I was in ‘business’ but there were 3 seats in the business class row. I’m not sure if this was COVID-inspired but the middle seat was unavailable for passengers.

That came in handy for my tapas and Coke Zero. Inspired by my American neighbor, I ordered a bottle of the Cava. It was warm and tasted like the ‘champagne’ we had in my house growing up. No bueno.

a bottle of wine next to a glass of wine

Overall For 10k points (see Bus-Ted: Gold Medal Trip Report Points & Cash Summary), flying business is worth it.

Repeat Business: Iberia San Juan to Madrid

thepointsoflife

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August 29, 2024

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Iberia San Juan to Madrid Repeat is part of the Gold Medal Trip Report.

Should I keep this one short? I think so. Why? Because my commute from San Juan to Madrid has been documented many times (see Iberia Flight Reviews).

a person's feet on a plane with a screen — Hello again

Amenities Kit I liked the socks. I tossed the rest.

Appetizer Roast beef was an interesting choice but it worked out.

Vino The best part of flying Iberia is the Rioja/Ribera Del Duero stand-off. I also had one glass of Cava as no alcohol was served before take-off.

a plate of food and wine glasses on a table

Dinner I’ll have the chicken! Not very fancy but good enough.

Cheese The wine is starting to hurt my head.

Sleep The lie-flat was serviceable. It beats sitting upright. IFE Bad Boys worked but the TV shows were outdated. The Office Season 1?

a tv screen with a couple of men in sunglasses

Breakfast No bueno.

a plate of food and a glass of juice on a table

Overall It’s 50k points to fly business direct from Puerto Rico to Madrid (see Bus-Ted: Gold Medal Trip Report Points & Cash Summary). I’ll be doing this again.

Simply The Best: July 2024

thepointsoflife

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August 28, 2024

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Here are the best posts from the month of July.

Intro: The Gold Medal Trip Report
While I have seen and done just about everything I want to see and do, I have yet to go to an Olympics. That aspiration will be fulfilled.
They Call Me Mr. Fete: St. Lucia Carnival Intro
This year, I resumed my quest for Trini elation by going to St. Lucia.
Travel Lesson Lisbon: Friend Reunion Led to Missed Flight
If you’re seeing your friend for the first time in 13 years, don’t make plans for the day after.
Manila, Medellin: Too Many Gringos
The influx of gringos is the norm. I can’t blame them. It’s quaint. It’s safe. But why must those people be so annoying?
Tommy’s Resort Haad Rin: Where to Stay in Koh Phangan
This is the place to say if you’re going to the Full Moon Party. If you are going for rest and relaxation and it’s not a full moon, this is a great place to stay.
Gone Till September
For a great time, read the comments of this post.

Bus-Ted: Gold Medal Trip Report Points & Cash Summary

thepointsoflife

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August 27, 2024

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This is the Points & Cash Summary for the Gold Medal Trip Report. (July, August). 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. Admire all the other Bus-Ted compilations here.

Here is the money and points spent:

Here is the Great Circle Mapper:

This trip brings me to 119 UN countries and 154 countries and territories. See where I’ve been here. Overall TPOL does it again.

TPOL Is Back!

Uncategorized

thepointsoflife

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August 26, 2024

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Yes, I am back. And I have so much to say.

Let’s start with this photo:

a man wearing a helmet and climbing a rock

Any guesses where this was taken?

Gone Till September

Uncategorized

thepointsoflife

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July 10, 2024

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What is a blogger to do when trips get in the way of writing? Obviously, take time off. Where will I be? Here first: They Call Me Mr. Fete: St. Lucia Carnival Intro. Here second: Intro: The Gold Medal Trip Report Follow me on Instagram if you are feeling lonely.

a man sitting at a desk — I’ll explain this photo when I return.

They Call Me Mr. Fete: St. Lucia Carnival Intro

thepointsoflife

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July 9, 2024

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St. Lucia Carnival is part of the They Call Me Mr. Fete Trip Report.

Some people say the happiest day of their lives is the birth of their child. I say the happiest day is dancing among strangers in carnival (see Last Minute Trinidad Carnival Guide! Everything You Need to Know And Stuff You Will Figure Out On Your Own!). Indeed there is a song called Happiest Man Alive which revolves around carnival and soca. Last year, I tried to rediscover the carnival magic in Jamaica but came away unimpressed (see TPOL Goes to Candy Land). This year, I resumed my quest for Trini elation by going to St. Lucia. I leave in less than a week and am still sorting out how I can pull it off at the last-minute and be Olympic ready the week after (see Intro: The Gold Medal Trip Report). So far, I have my flight booked and 3/5 hotel nights covered. I’ll figure it out or my name isn’t Mr. Fete.

TPOL’s Tip: Jamaica is best celebrated with my favorite music: Dancehall.

Intro: The Gold Medal Trip Report

thepointsoflife

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July 8, 2024

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Intro is part of The Gold Medal Trip Report.

It’s summer. That can only mean one thing: TPOL is going back on the road and taking another break from blogging. Maybe I’ll post even less than in June (see Simply The Best: June 2024). Where am I going you ask? I am not entirely sure. At this point, I have a flight booked to Europe and a return flight from the Philippines.

a map of the world — It doesn’t constitute a round-the-world ticket as I will fly back in the same direction.

As you can see from the GCM, I will be stopping in Paris. While I have seen and done just about everything I want to see and do, I have yet to go to an Olympics. That aspiration will be fulfilled in addition to adding more countries to my Country Count List.

a group of people on a track — Didn’t get to see Usain live but it will still be great.

Keep vs. Cancel (Proactive Edition): Capital One Venture X

thepointsoflife

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July 5, 2024

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Update: I was right a year ago!

I received my Capital One Venture X card two months ago in June (Capital One Venture X Approved: First Time Ever). So why am I writing a Keep vs. Cancel post already? Because, barring a ‘card enhancement,’ there is no way I’m going to cancel this card. Here’s why: As part of my Still The Best Trip Report, I needed to book a flight from Tenerife to Cabo Verde (see Can You Tell Me How to Get to Cabo Verde?). The cost of the flight the dumb way was $1,445. The cost of the flight the quick way was $434. Booking directly on capitalone.com, I was able to use the $300 travel certificate and keep my out-of-pocket cost down. Another advantage of the card is access to Priority Pass Lounges. For the past few years, my membership with Priority Pass would lapse on account of churning cards. That always created the annoying situation of having to register a new membership, something I would leave until the last minute (Priority Pass Registration: Remember Not to Forget). The next perk is the earning rates on the card. While most cards are only good for the minimum spend, the Venture X offers 5X on flights booked on capitalone.com and 2X on everything else. On top of that, there’s a 10k points retention offer every year. All of this is in addition to the welcome bonus. I only received 75k because I was too impulsive to wait for the 100k offer to return. What’s in your satchel?

Tommy’s Resort Haad Rin: Where to Stay in Koh Phangan

thepointsoflife

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July 4, 2024

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Tommy’s Resort Haad Rin is part of the Reunion Tour Trip Report.

The first time I went to the full moon party I was en route to my study abroad program in Shanghai (see The Pointless Global MBA: Take 2 ). My father offered to pay for me to stay in my own bungalow with hot and cold water, a luxury for a backpacker. As an old lawyer, I came back twelve years later wondering how much these ‘luxury rooms’ right on Haad Rin Beach, home to the full moon party, cost. Randomly, I selected Tommy’s Resort and was shocked to learn that it only cost $197 for four nights. That rate included breakfast. I found it funny that $197 was way beyond my means a few years ago. TPOL’s TIP: I didn’t stay the night of the full moon party. That night is for amateurs (see Full Moon Party: 3 Times Wasn’t Enough. Maybe Once More?). Room The room was a private bungalow. It had great Wi-Fi and crisp AC. It also had a nice patio.

Shower There was hot water but it was not one of the best shower experiences in terms of pressure (see I Need a Shower: The Top 7 Spots to Lather Up). Breakfast I am typically not a fan of breakfast (see Free Breakfast?! The InterContinental Bora Bora Says No). But, wow, this basic breakfast rivaled many of the overpriced, overhyped breakfasts that bloggers overwrite about (see Park Hyatt Paris-Vendome: Overrated Breakfast).

Pool You don’t come to Haad Rin for the pool. Nevertheless, there’s one if you are in need a quick dip.

Location Tommy’s is right on Haad Rin Beach, home to the full moon party and enough bars and restaurants to satisfy your Thai food and Red Bull bucket cravings.

Tommy’s on-site green curry was excellent.

Bar There’s a bar right off the beach. We spent many hours drinking mojitos, daiquiris, and everything in between. Overall This is the place to say if you’re going to the Full Moon Party. If you are going for rest and relaxation and it’s not a full moon, this is a great place to stay.

Peace