Happy Sunday to all 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, so we’re passing them along.
- There’s a whole list of things you can get for free if you’ve been vaccinated against COVID-19. The newest one is from United Airlines who is holding a “Your Shot To Fly” sweepstakes and is giving away 5 grand prizes of free flights for wherever United flies in any class of service. 30 additional winners will get a free round trip wherever United flies. I’m going to enter even though I’m actively avoiding flying with United. I didn’t want to give them any of my money but if it’s a totally free flight on them, then I’d be OK with it.
- One of the fanciest ways to travel around the globe, without having your own private jet, is to take a tour with Four Seasons. Here’s a report on what it’s like to travel around the world in the super exclusive Four Seasons private plane. If that’s not special enough for you, Four Seasons is adding a new itinerary that includes a side trip to Antarctica. It’s definitely a classier way to get to the continent than the rough boat ride from South America that most people have to endure.
- One of the most important things to learn when booking more complicated trips involves understanding airline alliances and partnerships. While you can use miles from US programs to book flights on other international airlines, you’re often able to use those foreign programs to book flights at rates lower than the ones offered by programs in the US. Here’s a list of four programs you should become familiar with. I used one of these programs to book my dad’s amazing award ticket to Bali and Thailand and another one to save a ton of miles getting us home from Germany. Just ignore the part of the post where it says you can transfer Ultimate Rewards to Korean Air SkyPass. You haven’t had the ability to do that since 2018.
- Put this in the “Change that only affects those abusing the system but is hyped as a major devaluation” category. Until now, Marriott had a program where you could book an award stay even if you didn’t have the points in your account. Here’s a fair breakdown of the changes they’ve made that take away some of the ability to use the system not as it was intended. While it’s easy to think every change Marriott makes is terrible, we need to stay away from getting obsessed about being Bonvoyed.
- Once again, our friends at Frequent Miler have taken a deep dive into a program so the rest of us don’t have to. This time, it’s looking for the best IHG hotels to use your 40K free night certificates. They’ve just been extended again until the end of 2021, so if you’re still sitting on some free nights, this list should get your mind working on redeeming them. For me, the best use of an IHG free night certificate is any time I use it. I learned this lesson after sitting on one all year looking for the perfect use that never came.
- The Virgin Hotel Las Vegas has been open for a while now and has apparently found its legs despite a rough, and probably rushed, opening. I’m glad to hear it because I was looking forward to staying there whenever we revisit Vegas. Where else is there a hotel near The Strip that doesn’t charge parking fees, resort fees and has street prices for minibar items? If anything, this proves my point when I say you should avoid going anywhere right after it opens. Leave that for the people who get paid to tell us everything that needs fixing.
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This post first appeared on Your Mileage May Vary
