The experience at Etihad's First Class Lounge and Spa at the Abu Dhabi International Airport was absolutely superb in every possible way. By far the best lounge experience I have ever experienced--with food, service, and amenities all beating my high expectations! Below, read about the Etihad experience starting with the complimentary chauffeur service from the hotel, the arrival at the first...
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Last week SPG and Marriott merged into one huge hotel company. Although there are plenty of future unknowns regarding the merger and what that will mean specifically for SPG points right now you can merge your SPG and Marriott accounts to increase immediate flexibility and status. Bottom line this means that members of Starwood Preferred Guest, Marriott Rewards, and Ritz-Carlton...
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Two weeks ago I finally got the opportunity to experience the Emirates A380 First Class experience, and it was everything I was hoping it would be--and more! While a first class one-way ticket can normally cost upwards of $8-10K, I redeemed 90,000 Alaska miles and about paid about $37 in taxes and fees for the same ticket! By the way,...
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In January I booked a trip for 2 to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) by using only miles and a very small amount of cash ($37-ish per person each direction). One of my travel goals for the year was to fly Etihad First Class. Read about my other goals here: https://themileaddict.com2016/01/04/my-2016-travel-goals/. Of course, after booking my Etihad flight from Abu Dhabi to...
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Last night I did something admittedly a bit geeky--I went to an event at the airport to check out United's new business class product. I had scored a ticket to the event from a United, but I was honestly not sure if there was going to be much to check out. In the end, I am very glad that I...
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As a frequent Amtrak rider I was excited to see an email from Amtrak this week announcing their next-generation Acela train service. Although I ride the Acela much more infrequently than the (less expensive) Northeast Regional service, I do sometimes opt for the time savings and improved comfort that Acela can offer. (All photos in this article courtesy of Amtrak) ...
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Last week I received a targeted e-mail offer for the Chase United Explorer card offering me a 70,000 mile bonus after spending $3,000 in 3 months on the card. After clicking on the link for more info, I also found that I could earn an additional 5,000 miles just by adding an authorized user who makes a purchase within the...
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This weekend I wanted to book flights to attend a wedding in San Antonio, TX in the fall. I started my search using Google Flights to get an idea of availability and pricing. I was not sure if I wanted to pay cash or use points--but, in the end, I decided to do a little bit of both, maximizing the value...
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I just returned from a two week vacation in Europe with my family for some well-deserved rest and relaxation. The main event of the trip was a cruise on one of Royal Caribbean's newest ships, the Ovation of the Seas. But, we spent 3 nights in London prior to the cruise and 3 nights in Barcelona post-cruise. Planning the...
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Did you know that you could be earning valuable SPG Starwood Starpoints on every Uber ride you take? If not, this post will show you how to sign up and what you need to do to start earning--trust me, it's easy! Why do you want to take advantage of this offer? SPG points are one of the most valuable point currencies...
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