I get it. Not everyone spends their Friday nights taking epsom salt baths and pondering the workings of various points programs.
Lots of peeps directly asked about the Capital One Venture Rewards card: is it worth getting?
My answer’s always been: yeah, if you don’t want to deal with points programs.
I drew that bull
But the ease of redemption and earning might be worth it if you like the Capital One ecosystem.
(This is the last post about Puerto Vallarta, by the dubs.)
Y’all. I did something I’ve never done at a hotel before: paid out-of-pocket for a fancy spa day. I got a body scrub, body wrap, facial, and full-body massage. It was opulent, decadent, and completely amazing.
Getting ready for my spa day at the Hyatt Ziva Puerto Vallarta
During our stay at the Hyatt Ziva Puerto Vallarta, my friend and I took a stretching class one morning. On the way, we passed by the spa, mostly out of curiosity.
After touring the facility and taking a look at the spa menu, we decided the couples massage was actually a great value. So we set up the appointment to spend 4 hours in heavenly bliss.
Also see:
If you’re paying fees to access your own money, it’s time to dump your stupid bank.
Do it now do it now DO IT NOW. If you pay $10 a month for not carrying a minimum balance, $2 to request a balance, or ATM fees when you need to withdraw money, vote with your feet. Get. Out. NOW.
Nope nope nope
I’ll share bank accounts that are completely FREE to have and use with NO minimum. Oh, and you don’t need a physical branch.
Also see:
WARNING: This post contains graphic language that some may find offensive or triggering. If that’s you, please do NOT continue.
There are places in this world I’ll never visit. Not because I don’t want to see them. But because they don’t want to see me.
Aside from political or economic strife, the entire globe is available to you if you’re a straight, white, cis man. But being a gay traveler, it isn’t possible.
I know I’m not wanted everywhere in this world. And I won’t go to those places. There’s a reason why
In fact, I’m used to watching my back when I visit different neighborhoods in my own town. I know that stopping at the wrong gas station can get me killed. Or that holding a partner’s hand in some countries can get me thrown in jail for obscenity, or executed.
There are a few things I always think about before I decide to take a trip. As a gay traveler, my biggest goal is to make it back home.
To start, the Blue Business Plus Amex is a small business card. But Amex is known to be generous with small business card approvals, so long as you have a for-profit venture, or are aiming to make a profit.
This card got instant “workhorse” classification. And it’s been a stalwart companion in my wallet since the day I got it.
MVP status, this one
When it launched in Summer 2017, there was a brief welcome offer for 20,000 Amex Membership Rewards points. But when that faded, it went to nothing.
Now a welcome offer of 10,000 Amex Membership Rewards points is available. But I think this card is good enough to get even without a bonus!
Also see:
Thanks to readers Frank, Amar, and Ken for sharing experiences with their Citi AT&T Access More cards only earning 1X points for mortgage payments via Plastiq this month.
My statement just closed, too. And I can confirm: I only got 1X for last month’s mortgage payment. 😿
Boo hiss! What’ll we do about you, Citi?
As of now, you can only use MasterCard cards to make mortgage payments through Plastiq. But you can still use any credit card to make rent or HOA payments.
So are there any good options left for paying mortgages through Plastiq? Or is it just… dead?
This is something I’ve wanted to do for a long time. And I finally did it. Here’s Out for Miles. I’ll help you choose which cards to start with, tailored to your travel goals and preferred travel style.
Ring, ring. It’s Out for Miles 🙂
Here’s more about the new service. And how it’s different!
It’s almost here!
In 3 days, this Thursday, 3/15 @ 6pm, please join 14 of us at the Out for Miles – Dallas points & miles/frequent flyer meetup!
So far, there are 54 peeps in the Meetup group. And 14 RSVP’d to the event this week! So it should be a nice crowd.
Grab a beer at this big yet cozy brewery in the Dallas Design District
I went to the venue last week to try a craft brew. And it was delish! The folks there are so welcoming. It should be a fun time to connect and mingle.
Here are the details.
Feel free to add your attendance via the links above. Or simply show up!
This place doesn’t serve food, but they don’t mind if you bring your own or have something delivered. I’ll try to have snacks brought in. There are also plenty of restaurants within a 5-minute drive.
See you in a few days!
How much do you have to spend each year for a Chase Sapphire annual fee to be worth it? The answer depends on:
It depends on your spending habits, but let’s take a looky-loo
I’ll break down spending in 3 scenarios:
Boom!
Saw this offer pop up today on my Drop app. You can get 50,000 Drop points for signing up for Wag and scheduling a free dog walk (20 or 30 minutes).
$50 for treating your dog to a free walk
You have to activate the offer. Then sign up for Wag through the Drop app. Once the walk is done, you’ll get 50,000 Drop points in your account, which is enough for $50 in gift cards to popular stores like Amazon, Starbucks, and Whole Foods. My dog’s walk is tomorrow!
The best part about staying at an all-inclusive is eating your face off. And I didn’t hold back during my 3-night free stay at the Hyatt Ziva Puerto Vallarta last week. (I am currently doing a detox and running 4+ miles a day as penance.)
There are 5 restaurants here – and I ate at most of them twice!
The stunning view from Blaze (this is the only non-food pic in the post btw)
Here’s what you can expect from the food at Hyatt Ziva Puerto Vallarta.
Still reeling about the completely relaxing Hyatt Ziva Puerto Vallarata. Now that I’m back in Dallas, I can start to process it.
The 3 nights I spent here were completely free. I used 60,000 Hyatt points for a stay that retailed for $1,300+ for the dates I was there.
In fact, the whole trip only cost me $90 out-of-pocket. Here’s how I booked it.
View of the Hyatt Ziva Puerto Vallarta from the beach
Back to the hotel!
Hello and welcome to Out and Out! My name is Harlan – I’m a points and miles enthusiast who loves to travel. I am interested in personal finance, the power of positive thinking, and the extraordinary journeys that make life worth living.