Is Go Bank Better Than American Express Bluebird?

Posted on May 21, 2013 by | 28 Comments

[Disclosure:  Emily and I do NOT get a commission for any of the links in this post as of the post publication date.]

Link:  Go Bank Application

Go Bank is a new checking account alternative which is very similar (and perhaps better?) than American Express Bluebird. 

Go Bank 10

Say Hello to Miles & Points!

You can:

The Go Bank debit card has the potential to turbo charge the way we earn miles and points.  You can pay rent, utilities college tuition, mortgages, and even credit card bills and potentially earn lots of miles and points! Continue reading →

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Posted in Gift Cards, Go Bank, Green Dot, Pre-Paid Debit Cards

How To Get 5X Ultimate Rewards Points or 5% Cash Back on ALL Amazon Purchases!

Posted on May 20, 2013 by | 54 Comments

[Disclosure:  Emily and I get a commission for links to all cards in this post except for the Ink Classic as of the post publication.  We're always very grateful to readers who apply using our link, but you don't have to!]

Link:   Chase Ink Bold
Link:   Chase Ink Plus
Link:  How to Fill Out a Chase Business Card Application

Emily and I buy a lot of items from Amazon.com.  I started using Amazon.com to buy textbooks over a decade ago, but we now buy almost everything on Amazon.com.  It is great to not have to waste time driving to a store, parking, standing in line when we can get the same items delivered to our door!

5X

Buying an Amazon.com Gift Card with the Chase Ink Bold at Office Max for 5 Ultimate Rewards Points or 5% Cash Back per $1!

Amazon.com usually has the best price on most of what we buy online and sometimes it is worth the small premium if Amazon.com has a higher price to save time.  Amazon sells millions of items from books, electronics, DVDs, food, shoes etc.

But what if you want to earn points or cash back on Amazon.com purchases?

How to Earn 5X Ultimate Rewards Points or 5% Off ALL Amazon Purchases! Continue reading →

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Posted in Beginner Tips, Business Credit Cards, Ink Bold, Ink Plus, Shopping

Star MegaDo 5 Tickets on Sale

Posted on May 20, 2013 by | Leave a comment

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Tickets for Star MegaDo 5 go on sale at noon CST today!  Star MegaDo is a chartered Air Canada Airbus A321 flight from Toronto to Tucson, Arizona to San Francisco.  You can find lots more information on the official MegaDo website.

Star MegaDO 5

Star MegaDO 5

Like all Mega DOs (as in big party or get together) there will be lots of socializing and tours of a Rimowa factory, meeting executives from Air Canada and lots more.

The Mega Do is from October 22nd to October 25th and you can find more information on this MilePoint thread.  Million Mile Secrets is helping sponsor the event, but I won’t be able to attend, though I did attend StarMegaDo 3. Continue reading →

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Posted in Uncategorized

Spring Break to Maui: Spa Grande at the Grand Wailea

Posted on May 20, 2013 by | 2 Comments

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Emily:   The Spa Grande is the nicest spa I have been to after the baths in Budapest, Hungary.  The Spa Grande is the largest spa in Hawaii and had a variety of Roman tub, saunas, cascading waterfalls, Swiss jet showers, a Japanese furo and five specialty baths.

Grand Wailea Spa

The Spa Grande is expensive, but you can save 20% by buying Spa Finder gift certificates from Costco online or in the store.   Here’s a link to the treatment menu.

Continue reading →

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Posted in Hilton HHonors, Trip Reports

News You Can Use – Double Points on Southwest, Buying United Miles & More…

Posted on May 19, 2013 by | 9 Comments

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1.   Double Points on Southwest Flights

Via Deals we Like, Southwest if extending the double points offer for booking paid flights AND traveling on those flights up to June 15, 2013.  You can register for the promotion via this page on the Southwest website.

Southwest Double Points

Double Points on Southwest

Continue reading →

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Posted in Aeroplan, American Airlines, Southwest, United Airlines

“Use your points – I hear Charon doesn’t accept them”

Posted on May 17, 2013 by | 56 Comments

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Welcome to the next interview in our interview series where travel bloggers share their insights on having Big Travel with Small Money!

Miles & Points Interview: Free Travel Genius

Dave writes Free Travel Genius to show his wife and family how to travel the world for less.

Free Travel Genius – Interview with Dave

Jerusalem

Continue reading →

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Posted in Interviews

Spring Break to Maui: The Grand Wailea

Posted on May 17, 2013 by | 18 Comments

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Emily:  Daraius surprised me with a stay at the Grand Wailea, a Waldorf Astoria Resort.  I had never stayed in a Waldorf Astoria hotel (part of the Hilton chain), and was looking forward to our visit to see what the fuss was about!

Daraius:  The Rough Guide says that “…minimalism is a dirty word” at the Grand Wailea.   And, boy, were they correct!

The Grand Wailea

Poolside at The Grand Wailea

Continue reading →

→ 18 Comments

Posted in Hilton HHonors, Trip Reports

Why You Should NOT Buy Points Even if You Have The Southwest Companion Pass

Posted on May 16, 2013 by | 17 Comments

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dhammer53 wrote in to say that you can buy Southwest points for 2.5 cents per point and asked if this is a good deal if you have the Southwest Companion Pass.

dfdf

Is it Worth it to Buy Southwest Points?

Buying points usually is not a great deal unless you’re topping-up for an award or if you’ve done the math to see if buying points is cheaper than paying cash for a ticket.

Does Buying Southwest Points Makes Sense

But perhaps it could be different if you’ve got the Southwest Companion Pass? Continue reading →

→ 17 Comments

Posted in Southwest

Vena’s Last 3 Lessons

Posted on May 15, 2013 by | 46 Comments

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Emily’s grandmother, Vena, passed away last week.  She was 89 years old and had a very long and happy life.  Because Vena was a retired teacher, it is appropriate to remember her with three mile-and-points lessons.

Vena's Last Lessons

Vena’s Last Lessons

1)   Use Your Miles How YOU Want

I can’t stress this enough.

Some people always say how you should use your miles and point only for First or Business Class travel.  Or how you’re not really using your miles and points well if you use them to travel within the US instead of visiting some far-away exotic land.  Nonsense! Continue reading →

→ 46 Comments

Posted in Philosophy

75,000 Membership Rewards Points After Spending $10,000 Within 4 Months With The AMEX Business Gold Rewards Card

Posted on May 14, 2013 by | 21 Comments

[Disclosure:  Emily and I do NOT get a referral for the 75,000 point American Express Business Gold card as of the post publication date.]

Via FlyerTalk, American Express is offering 75,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $10,000 within 4 months on the Business Gold Rewards card if you apply by May 17, 2013.

If you want the offer with 75,000 points please click the link above and NOT the ad in the right column which will get you 50,000 points after spending $5,000 within 3 months.

Just a few days ago, American Express was offering 75,000 points after spending $5,000 (half the spending requirement) within 3 months and many Million Mile Secrets readers got in on that offer.

75,000 Membership Rewards Points After Spending $10,000 Within 4 Months

75,000 Membership Rewards Points After Spending $10,000 Within 4 Months

Normally, 75,000 points would be a great offer, but it isn’t really such a great offer when compared to last week’s offer.

HigH Spending Requirement

You have to spend $10,000 within 4 months to get the 75,000 point sign-on bonus.  If you’ve run out of other cards to apply for or have no problem meeting the minimum spending requirement, the 75,000 point Business Gold card may make sense to apply for.  But most folks have only a limited amount of money which they can spend on credit cards and their sign-up bonuses. Continue reading →

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Posted in American Express, Business Credit Cards