Happy Sunday to all of our travel friends, both near and far! Here are some articles we’ve read from other bloggers (and other sources) that we think you may like, as well, so we’re passing them along.
- Procrastinators beware! One Mile at a Time reported that unlike before, when ESTA approvals could happen almost instantly, new ESTA applications for visitors to the United States will now take at least 72 hours to process. No more applying when you get to the airport for your flight (or even when checking in the day before).
- Gary from View from the Wing received a “Year In Review” from his most favorite airline, American. They encouraged him to share it with everyone on social media. It’s a good thing he didn’t because that link from AA would have posted his email address and Advantage account number all across the internet. Oops!
- Nick wrote on The Points Guy website about how Marriott is now clarifying the “No Blackout Date” policy for rewards that allows hotels to exclude themselves from offering this benefit. He also shows that even if hotels aren’t excluded, they can do some shady deals with their hotel inventory making it very difficult to use your points.
- Speaking about Marriott, which seems to be a popular topic of everyone nowadays, Ed from Pizza in Motion wrote about how it appears the new hotel categories will not be introduced for at least another two months. That means a delay for booking hotels in the new Category 8, like the W Verbier in Switzerland, letting you book these hotels for fewer points. I guess it’s the time one of their IT problems went our way, for a change.
- Many bloggers have reported about the apparent theft of Buzzy, the audio-animatronic that had been abandoned in the former Wonders of Life pavilion’s former Cranium Command attraction. Inside The Magic gave an interesting spin on it, with a play by play of what’s been happening.
- One of the unusual benefits of having IHG platinum status through the IHG Select credit card was saving money on gas at Shell stations with the Fuel Rewards program. Deals We Like reports that relationship is going away in 2019.
- Take Me To the Points wrote an early New Year’s Resolution list for collecting more points and miles in the new year. Some of the hints are specific to the UK but the ideas are all the same in regards to making a plan to reach your travel goals.
- Million Miles Secrets wrote a post I can totally identify with. Just because you can book a room with points doesn’t make it a great deal. You need to take other things into consideration as well when choosing a hotel.
- Halloween Horror Nights has been so popular in recent years that, as per their website, Universal Orlando will begin the event earlier than ever in 2019.
- And finally, Loyalty Lobby keeps us updated about the NYC Times Square Doubletree hotel that can’t decide when it’s going to close. I’m interested to see what they’re going to build in its place but I couldn’t imagine having a room booked there and getting conflicting stories if the place will be open or not.
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This post first appeared on Your Mileage May Vary
