Tomorrow, I’m flying AUS-DFW-KEF, with a looong layover in Dallas. Then flying to Iceland in a… coach middle seat on American Airlines. 😩
But it’ll be worth it, because shortly after, I’ll be off to Narsarsuaq, Greenland! I’ve wanted to travel to Greenland for so long. This really is a dream come true for me. And a huge bucket list item. ✔️
This time last year, I was in the Faroe Islands, and I tell ya, nothing compares to experiencing the Summer Solstice in 24 hours of constant sunlight.
Next year, I’d like to visit the Yukon, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut – as I find myself drawn to increasingly far-flung places. And of course, I still need to get to Tierra del Fuego.
But I’m ahead of myself. Next up is Iceland and Greenland. I can’t forking wait!
Soon I’ll have my own collection of images from the shores of Greenland
I also have life updates to share.
Visit to Greenland 2019 + bric a brac
Over the past 6 months, I’ve had personal ups and downs. Breakups, malaise, and a general sense of needing to put myself back together.
While that last part is always a work in progress, I’ve made tremendous headway. So I’m excited to share I’ll be:
- Leaving Austin next month and will be back in Dallas full-time 🌵
- Starting a new job in mid-July, which will bolster my dreams of FIRE big time 🤑
- Thinking a lot more about investments/saving/personal finance 💰
- In a much better place mentally 🧘🏻♂️
I’d also like to move the bi-monthly Out for Miles Dallas travel meetups to once per month. And am working with Texas Points and Travel to get those scheduled.
And for my points news:
- I’m dumping the US Bank Altitude Reserve and downgrading my Chase Sapphire Reserve® to a Chase Freedom Unlimited®
- Because I just upgraded to the Amex Hilton Aspireeee – learn more here
- Will be under 5/24 next month (!) and looking to get a couple new Chase cards
- I’m moving away from Chase Ultimate Rewards points and getting more into Citi ThankYou points, but would still like to have a stash for emergency travel
- Thinking about getting another Citi card
- All airline loyalty programs are trash now
- Be a free agent, eff airline status, collect transferable points
- Hilton is still my #1 hotel program (with a little Hyatt thrown in for good measure)
Aaaand back to CDMX
Remember my (literally, ew) crappy trip to Mexico City back in November?
Getting in MEX Pt. 2 before I start my new job!
Well, I swore I’d go back and so I am. A week after I get back from Iceland/Greenland, I’ll be back in CDMX for Part 2. I couldn’t call what I experienced there a trip – aside from my trip to the pavement that kept me down the entire time.
I’ll be there with a couple of friends for five glorious daze. And honestly, I can’t freaking wait to be back in Mexico! 🇲🇽
Bottom line
The next few weeks will be a fun, busy time with:
- A couple of trips to Iceland/Greenland and Mexico City
- A moving truck or two
- One new card, and two closed ones
- The evolution of my credit card strategy
- Dipping under 5/24 for the first time in forever
- A brand new jobbbb
- My return to Dallas
- More travel meetups (join the Dallas group here!)
- A much-needed reset
I look forward to writing about travels, the new cards I’ll get, personal finance musings, tales from the cubicle, and the next trips I’ll take.
I’m in a good place after a long few months, and feeling optimistic and confident.
Thanks to everyone for sticking with me through this. Ready for many new chapters… finally!
And I wanna know… what’s your next big bucket list trip?
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Why are you moving away from Chase Ultimate Rewards points and getting more into Citi ThankYou points. I would love to hear your perspective. I have CSR and Citi Prestige and would like to focus on one program to avoid both fees. Please share
It’s a convergence of factors. I typically use TY points for flights, and UR points for hotel stays via Hyatt.
But because I just upgraded to the Hilton Aspire, I’m set with Hilton points for a while for hotel stays.
Citi has enough transfer partners now that I can access most award flights with at least one of them.
Plus, the return on my organic spending is just better. 5X with Citi Prestige for travel and dining wins for me. That’s a better return than CSR, even when you use it to book travel (Prestige has a 5% value, CSR has a 4.5% value).
Finally, the Citi TY ecosystem works well with all its cards, and all the benefits stack. So I can get a Citi Premier to book all travel at 1.25 cents each, earn 5X with Prestige, then get 10% of my points back with Rewards+.
I know Chase has 5X/3X/2X categories, but Citi’s setup is just better overall for travel and award flights. Plus, Chase really needs to upgrade the CSR and add more transfer partners. All the good ones are accessible with MR or TY points.
And I just haven’t used my CSR in a while. I’ve LOVED UR points for the longest time but am finding I use and earn them less and less, while the TY points roll into my account like crazy. Might just be me and my patterns, but yeah… Chase needs to step it up. And the Freedom categories next quarter are caca. Gas stations and streaming services? Yawn. They’ve been lackluster for a while now.
I will get the IBP and CSP for their sign-up bonuses, though. And use IBP for 3X on travel not covered by Prestige.
Just my assorted thoughts. I’ll write a more cohesive post soon.
Enjoy your trip to Iceland and Greenland. I think Iceland is like your second home. See you at the meetup in Dallas
Thank you, Rick! See you soon – can’t wait to catch up! 🙂