If you’re not using Points and Miles, you really should be!

By Travelinggump

Ritz-Carlton, Marana Az. (Tucson)

Booked a room for 3 nights using 70,000 Marriott Points and a free night certificate. This place is a bargain at 35k points per night! The value of the Points and free night certificate is ~$945.

I checked the non-Points value to make sure that using points gives the better value…

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Looks Good. ~$945 in Points to get $1249.74 in value. If you have the Amex Spg Luxury Card, you’re automatically Gold with Marriott. If you travel or spend enough, you can become Platinum. Either way, when you check in, you’re eligible for an Upgrade. I checked in and was upgraded.

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~$945 in Points/free night certificate and now $3833.99 in value! Wow!

How did I earn the points? Spg Luxury card with 75,000 point sign up bonus. $450 year fee. WAIT! You get $300 of that back as a credit to pay a Marriott Hotel charge(s) and $250 of it back for airline incidentals (fly Delta and use it for gift cards to help pay for your flight). You also get a free night certificate and Marriott Gold status. Do the Math!

Apply for an American Express Card with this link. We can both get rewarded if you’re approved! http://refer.amex.us/MICHAmOzEI?xl=cp33

 

 

Traveling Zen:::The Paperback Version is now Available!

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Take me to AMAZON! 541E949B-10DF-4C91-810B-E2CFD159074D.jpeg

The Forbidden City of China, a Thought…

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China was a bit of a challenge for me.  It is a serious country filled with very serious people.  I’m standing in front of the Forbidden City surrounded by citizens who looked less than thrilled that we were there.  To say I didn’t blend in would be a huge understatement.  No one said anything or was rude in any way, but I could feel the tension.  Across the street is Tiananmen Square.  Ultimately, we entered the Forbidden City and it was as beautiful and you would imagine.  Video cameras are noticeably everywhere (look over my left shoulder) and uniformed security officers were never out of sight, be it here or the side streets, you were never alone.  I was a stranger in a strange land…and someday, I hope to return to learn more about this amazing country and it’s people as I feel as if I have just scratched the surface.

Travelinggump.com/china