[Vernon]

I am a travel agent and it’s a beautiful property.

My clients love it.

Platinum status gives you higher quality rooms and amenities, but if you’re spending points, who really cares.

[Vernon]

Google searches are never a good idea for visas.

Go to the country’s embassy website or US State Department website for accurate information.

[Vernon]

I think it comes down to personal benefit and how you think you’ll use the card.

For me Chase Sapphire Reserve gives me a lot of value just between the $300 travel credit, Lyft pink/citibike for NYC, and dash pass.

So that card pays for itself in my mind and I won’t cancel it for the foreseeable future.

I personally just got the VentureX almost exclusively for the sign-up bonus, which I just hit this week.

I’ll keep this card for a year then downgrade for sure.

I find that the Venture X provides little that I can’t get through my other cards.

[Vernon]

Just a reminder, the base price is not the final price.

All Las Vegas hotels have resort fees that will likely double any low rate you find.

[Vernon]

Does VRBO qualify for 3X on Citi Premier as travel?

Otherwise Chase Sapphire Preferred should earn 2x.

[Vernon]

I got it a couple of days after hitting the $5,000 spend.

It was 10 days before my statement closed.

I had only paid the $250 statement balance since the card opened.

[Vernon]

Be careful with Airbnb gift cards.

There are a lot of rules and limitations about redemption like it can’t be used for stays longer than 1 month, rules on how many you can use on 1 transaction etc.

[Vernon]

There is another competitor to Turo called GetAround.

I used that in Portland when we drove to the national parks.

It is less well known, so rates tend to be cheaper than Turo.

getaround.com

Getaround | Rent and Share Cars Easily & Conveniently

Instantly rent nearby cars, trucks, and vans by the hour or day on Getaround®. Simply book, unlock, and drive. Explore the world’s first connected car sharing marketplace. Share your cars to start an instant business.

[Vernon]

If it is a Chase Sapphire card you can transfer points to Southwest partnership 1:1.

Another option is to get a new Hawaiian Airlines credit card.

They give you enough points to get 2 r/t tickets from Oakland/SF.

[Vernon]

If you have other business cards with Chase, just move some credit from other cards you’re not using over to your new INK.

[Vernon]

Rome!

Look into getting tickets at the Vatican for Christmas Eve mass.

[Vernon]

I did JetBlue from JFK to Grand Cayman last year and it was direct and super easy.

I also did Southwest to Fort Lauderdale one year and stayed in Fort Lauderdale and then did another Southwest direct to Caymans.

I’ve also done American but that was from Pittsburgh.

We’ve been a handful of times.

Feel free to message me.

[Vernon]

I got instant online approval.

And my anniversary date was the day of approval, not when they shipped the card in the mail.

The notification email read: “Your new Chase Ink Business Unlimited® credit card (…xxxx) and welcome kit are on the way and should arrive in 5 to 7 business days.”

Which it did, in 8 days.

[Vernon]

Conrad Tokyo.

I’ve been upgraded to a suite each time I’ve stayed there and the lounge and breakfast are fantastic.

Amazing pool and sauna after a hard day of touring.

Easy access to two subway lines, walkable to Ginza, and a couple-minute walk to the Miyazaki clock.

Rooms have terrific views almost no matter which direction you face.

[Vernon]

Regiojet.cz is the CHEAPEST way to travel by train (only 4x/day so order your tickets early.

You can always cancel for free until 15 minutes before departure).

Enjoy!