Harlan Vaughn's Blog, page 24

Koks Restaurant Review: Dining Experience of a Lifetime in the Faroe Islands

My first day in the Faroe Islands was packed:

Got to airport in Vagar at 11am
Checkin at Havgrim Hotel shortly after 12pm
New Norse-inspired tattoo at 4pm
And by 6pm, off to Koks for dinner at 6:30pm!

This was also the Summer Solstice in the Land of the Midnight Sun. I didn’t know what to expect from Koks. That I’d be there 4+ hours. And that it wouldn’t just be a (very decadent) meal – but truly the experience of a lifetime.

Koks is in an old turf house on an isolated bay in the Faroe Islands

Here’s my experience (the only word to describe it!) at Koks, complete with #foodporn pics of the 20+ courses served that night.

My Koks restaurant review

Link: Koks restaurant in the Faroe Islands

When I walked through the door of Koks on June 22nd, 2018, they were still surfing the high of a stellar write-up in The New Yorker  a few days before. This is the only restaurant in the Faroes to have a Michelin star.

But let’s back up. Koks recommends you arrive by taxi. When they drop you off, it’s in front of a tiny hut the Faroese use as an outdoor fridge with an expansive bay in the background.

We stepped into the hut. A young lady explained the use and importance of the hut to the Faroese. Then served dried cod, whale, a craft beer from a local brewery, and homemade kombucha.

Dried cod with butter, and fermented whale bites

After the starter, I think we were all kinda wondering what would happen next. No sooner did the thought spark than we were told to get into a Jeep 4X4. We plowed down a narrow dirt road riddled with potholes and drove further into the mountain valley.

Finally, the car stopped in front a long black house with a turf roof. We were at Koks.

The door to Koks

The entire staff, including chef, cooks, and servers, were standing outside to greet us. We were the first seating of the evening.

The host showed us to our table in the corner.

Table and ambiance at Koks

They gave us a little booklet:

Words about the Faroes

Menu choices

The tasting menu was 1,400 Danish kronur (~$219) per person. And you could add wine pairings for 1,000 more (~$172). Or a juice pairing for 500 (~$78).

Both my friend and I got the tasting menu with wine pairings (~$391).

We figured we’d come all that way – why not go for the full experience?

And then the experience really began.

Starters

A server showed us the food they’d sourced for us. They only order as many items as there are diners in an evening. The seafood is caught that same day and delivered straight from the fisherman’s boat to the restaurant.

The lobster was still moving on the plate. To call this farm-to-table is almost insulting. The divide from “farm” (or sea) to table is narrow as you can possibly get.

Our seafood for the night

The first course was a beautiful and perfect scallop. Each course is served on its own custom dish.

Scallop

They also started the wine pairings. Most of the wines were Spanish and from 2016, with many exceptions (see menu above).

My mahogany claim was 265 years old

Next up was a piece of lumpfish, followed by mahogany clam. These clams can live for over 500 years (!). And they told me my clam was somewhere around 265 years old, which is incredible.

Langoustine

Then, we got grilled pine-grilled langoustine. You’re meant to crack it open, eat the meat, then suck out the brains through the head. The meat was delicate and perfectly grilled.

Amazing sake

It was paired with a Japanese sake from 1999. It’s probably the best sake I’ve tasted in my life. I savored it – this was my favorite pairing of the entire evening.

Traditional foods

We got traditional Faroese dishes of wind-dried and air-salted fermented lamb and a sausage made of fermented lamb fat.

Faroese traditional foods

The Faroese love their fermented meats. The lamb was strong and had an almost cheese-like quality, like a Roquefort or some other super strong flavor. It was salty and bitter.

Server presenting a fermented leg of lamb

We paired the lamb with dried and fried sea urchin and a tapenade

To enhance the taste, we wrapped the lamb around a piece of sea urchin with a dab of tapenade. It was crunchy and savory and balanced the strong taste of the fermented lamb.

Savory palete cleansers

After the strong-tasting Faroese foods, we got savory biscuits and aioli sprinkled with dried cod flakes to cleanse and reset.

Mains

This part of the evening was primarily for wild-caught fish from Faroese waters. We started with a small piece of halibut between two pieces of watercress, which we ate like a tiny sandwich (for lack of a better comparison).

Clean tasting watercress and halibut

Following this, shredded crab meat with leeks and potato foam – the server poured the foam on the plate after it was served.

Crab, leek, and potato foam

Blue mussel

It was also time for another white wine pairing.

The servers knew everything about each wine selection

With each dish, the server explained its origin, meaning to the Faroese people, and where the food came from. Same for the wines – they knew everything about the vineyards, grapes, year it was made…

Salad, cod, and cod skin bites

By this time, we were to the core of the meal. There were small sandwiches made from dried cod skin and light as air, cod cheeks and chin, and a salad with local herbs.

More cod

Monkfish

Celeriac leaves cut to look like maple leaves and fried

After the fish, they brought out some garden herbs as a palate refresher before desserts. First up was celeriac leaves, followed by… grass.

Grass and sorrel

At this point I texted, “They just served us pureed GRASS.”

Had to text about this

It was paired with sorrel, a tangy, almost bitter-tasting herb. They actually tasted fantastic together. The shot of bitterness set us up to plunge into the sweetness of desserts.

Desserts

And of course, more wine pairings.

Get $200 Matched for Opening 2 Fidelity Accounts – Including My Fave Checking Account!

Also see:

Fidelity Cash Management Account: Why It’s Great
Need a Checking Account With NO Fees, Minimums, or ATM Charges EVER? Try These.

UPDATE: Dang, this offer is already dead as a doornail! That was fast!

I’ve written about why I love my Fidelity Cash Management account. There are no fees, no minimums, and ATM fees are reimbursed worldwide as soon as the charge posts. I recommend this account to friends. And have had mine for years now.

Here’s an easy win:

Open 2 Fidelity accounts through this link (a Cash Management account and a brokerage account)
Deposit at least $200 into your accounts in any combination
Get $200 more dollars deposited free within 7 days

Easiest checking account bonus I’ve seen

If you’ve never had accounts with Fidelity, now is the perfect time to open a great free checking account and score $200 in the process.

And you can open any brokerage account – I recommend the IRA (it’s the one I use). They’re also free to open. And you don’t have to use them if you don’t want to.

Here’s a closer look at the offer – and one important “gotcha.”

Fidelity checking $200 bonus

Link: Open 2 Fidelity accounts, get $200 when you deposit $200

Thanks to the wonderful Doctor of Credit for posting about this deal (there’s a ton of useful information in the comments there).

As far as bonuses go, it doesn’t get simpler than this.

But there are a few things you should know about these Fidelity accounts.

For one, they impose low limits on new checking accounts for the first 30 days to reduce fraud. So whereas your mobile deposit limit might normally be in the $1,000s – it might be as low as $200 to $500 the first 30 days.

Also, when they show your account number, be sure to store it somewhere. They have a weird naming convention otherwise and it’s tricky to find that number again!

Finally, while ATM withdrawals are always free, you will have a 1% foreign transaction fee on purchases abroad. This shouldn’t matter because you should have a credit card without this fee and use that abroad to earn points. It comes to $1 per $100 spent, which isn’t much. However, lots of peeps get stuck on this as a “deal breaker.”

It’s there, and if it matters to you that much, don’t use it internationally. I hardly ever withdraw cash when I travel these daze and certainly don’t use debit card for purchases, so I couldn’t care less about this minor fee.

The big hitch

This is confusingly worded but… Fidelity wants you to keep a balance of at least $200 in your combined accounts for at least 9 months or they’ll claw back the bonus.

You need to keep funds in the account for 9 months!

If you open an IRA and put $200 in there, this shouldn’t matter… because you should leave that money in there for years and years. But for checking accounts, it might be best to mark your calendar for the 9-month mark before you withdraw your bonus. Or, if you use it for everyday checking, make sure to keep at least $200 in there at all times.

Easy peezy

The upshot is… open 2 accounts, add $200, get $200 within 7 days. Keep $200 in them for 9 months and you’re good to go.

It’s also a fantastic regular checking account. And a great place to start if you want to dump your bank.

What about the brokerage accounts?

Link: Best IRA Accounts: 8 Companies Compared (Self-Directed, Apps, & Roboadvisors)

To start, you don’t have to use the brokerage account. And it’s free to open.

But. If you do want to use it, know the regular brokerage account for everyday trading is fine. The fee is ~$5 per trade. And they have several no commission funds. I don’t trade stocks in this way, but you might. There are so many options out there, like Robinhood, which has free trades (including crypto). And so many others.

Many of Fidelity’s best funds have high minimums to invest

I believe nearly everyone should have an IRA account – and wrote about lots of options, including Fidelity. Lots of their funds have high minimums. Their Total Market index fund has a reasonable expense ratio of .09%, but a minimum of $2,500 to start investing.

Acorns, Stash, and even TD Ameritrade let you start investing with $1 to $5, depending on which you choose. If you really want to open an IRA, you can always open one of these in addition to Fidelity’s IRA, then roll it over once you reach Fidelity’s minimum.

Just something to note. And again, you do NOT have to use the account to get the $200 bonus, but simply need to open it.

Bottom line

Link: Fidelity $200 bonus offer

Even better, there’s only a soft pull to open these accounts.

I’m deep in the Fidelity ecosystem with the checking, IRA, and 2% cashback credit card products. They work great together – it’s easy to transfer money around your accounts once you have them open. And I’ve loved being a customer for years.

At any rate, this bonus is a great reminder that if you’re paying fees to access your money in a checking account, you should get a new one immediately.

This $200 deal is super simple – but the “gotcha” is you need to maintain a minimum balance for 9 months. I would 100% jump on this if I didn’t already have and use Fidelity products.

Will this new promotion be the kicker to get you over to Fidelity? 

OUT AND OUT - Investing. Positivity. Oh, and travel.

Visit to the Faroe Islands: Rugged Cliffs, Endless Waterfalls, & Modern Refinement

I crossed off a huge bucket list item. Last week, I spent 4 days in the wild and rugged Faroe Islands.

The country is made of 18 islands. Of those, I got to visit 3. What I saw reminded me of the ruggedness of Iceland and the brilliant green cliffs of Ireland.

But the Faroe Islands are a unique place in the world. And, it’s challenging to get there.

Based on my short time, I can already say it’s one of my favorite places on earth. And can’t wait to go back.

The Faroe Islands were unlike any place I’ve been, and crazy gorgeous

Here’s more about my visit to the Faroe Islands. And photos of the stunning landscapes that make this place so deeply special.

Visit Faroe Islands – My experience

I went to the Faroe Islands on Summer Solstice this year (June 22nd) – and it was beyond magical. The Faroe Islands are in the North Atlantic ocean, equidistant to Scotland and Norway, and a ~1-hour flight from Iceland.

The Vagar airport is tiny, with only 2 gates. And right away, you get the sense the Faroes are a very special place in the world.

Even the terrain surrounding the airport is gorgeous.

We picked up our Hertz rental car and drove to Torshavn – the biggest city in the Faroes on the neighboring island of Streymoy.

Torshavn

Our base. The city proper has only 13,000 residents.

It’s an old shipping town, settled in the 9th century by Irish monks and occupied by Vikings in 825. The islands are currently under Danish rule. So when you’re here, you’re technically in Denmark.

It’s a charming fishing village with twisty roads, a large harbor, tons of cute shops, and excellent restaurants. From the airport, it’s only ~30 minutes in a car. And because it’s the biggest town, it’s easy to get back here from nearly all the other islands, either by tunnel or ferry.

Despite its size, there’s plenty to do.

The Faroese love their bronze statues – old harbor in Toshavn

Loved seeing the old buildings and ships around the harbor

Turf houses are a part of the Faroese culture still in use today

Torshavn is a mash-up of ancient sites and modern buildings

For one, there are several world-class restaurants right downtown, like Raest (with traditional fermented food) and Barbara (which was voted best seafood restaurant in Denmark!). I tried both and was blown away by how sophisticated and cosmopolitan they were.

Loved the ambience in the restaurants downtown and around the harbor (at The Tarv)

I also dined at The Tarv along the harbor and had a fantastic – wait for it – Argentinian steak.

*Goes to Faroes, orders steak* (nah but for real I had so much fish you wouldn’t believe it)

There are lots of parks and green spaces – and ancient churches. Also plenty of shops where you can buy hand-knit wool creations, jewelry, and Faroese souvenirs.

View of Torshavn from downtown

The shops in Torshavn have unique Nordic designs

I picked up a few gifts at Ostrom, near the harbor.

I also spent long moments wandering the serpentine streets, old government buildings, and looking at ships and vessels in the water.

The Faroe Islands have the cleanest air on earth, so I made sure to fill my lungs with so much fresh air – and my tummy with some of the freshest wild salmon you can find. Being in Torshavn was a real treat. And I wasn’t expecting to be as charmed as I was by this old fishing settlement.

Streymoy and Saksun

All the islands in the Faroes are stunning. You should definitely visit Saksun, about 45 minutes from Torshavn, when you’re there.

How to describe it?

There’s an old church that was reassembled at the site in 1858. It stands next to a 17th century farming village, still preserved with turf roofs and tar-coated buildings. In the background, you’ll see an absolutely gorgeous bridal veil waterfall. And all around are steep mountains that form a deep bay and long inlet to the sea, into which the waterfalls empty.

When I was there, it was foggy and misty, which added mystery and depth of color to the green in the mountains. The steep drops of the cliffs, waterfalls, and mountains are incredible. And you’ll have to drive a narrow one-lane road 9 kilometers to reach the old site.

There are also sheep and horses near the beautiful old church and gravestones. An amazing stop on its own or as part of a day trip around Streymoy – we went to Vestmanna afterward for a little dinner and more waterfall chasing.

18th century turf houses at Saksun

Amazing cascading waterfalls

The old church, reassembled in 1858, and the graveyard

Panoramic views of the bay, waterfalls, church, and mountains

The 17th century farm village, surrounded by waterfalls

Sheep are everywhere

Gorgeous views of cliffs and fjords all around Streymoy

The whole island is beautiful top to bottom. Many times, we’d round a corner or switchback and I’d gasp all over again at how stunning the views were, even from the car. This land is wild and rugged.

View of a dozen waterfalls from the road in Streymoy

I was glad the Faroese people have delicately preserved the land and their customs as much as possible. And surprised at how modern the towns are. A wonderful marriage of the ancient practices and current comforts.

Through the church window in Kirkjubour, Faroe Islands

Vagar

The airport is on Vagar island, on the west side of the Faroes.

The town of Sadavagur (Sandy Bay) is so cute, and only 9 kilometers from the airport. Or you can turn the other way and head to the tiny – and I mean tiny with a population of only 18! – town of Gasadalur.

There, you’ll find a jaw-dropping view of a waterfall emptying into the sea, a grotto, a mountain range, and the entire tiny town:

The breathtaking view of Gasadalur’s waterfall

Alt view of the entire town and mountain behind it

This vista is only 20 minutes from the airport. And the town has a small cafe and a souvenir shop. We enjoyed a salmon bite for lunch at the cafe.

Salmon, coffee, and a beer in a town of 18 people

My $2 agate treasure

In the souvenir shop, I found a smooth piece of Faroese agate for only 10 Danish kronur – about ~$2! I was happy to pay a small amount for a stone from this beautiful place.

If you’re looking for some time to kill before returning to the airport, or just want to snap some photos of beautiful vistas, a drive to Gasadalur is worth it.

Sandoy

Most of the islands are connected with a series of through-mountain and sub-sea tunnels. But in certain cases, you have to go the old-fashioned way: by boat. Er, ferry. The island of Sandoy is currently only connected via ferry – although that’s supposed to change with a new tunnel planned by 2022.

We took a ferry from Streymoy to Sandoy – a small island with only 6 villages and 1,200 people.

Though small, the stories and culture here are rich. We visited every village and learned their stories. It’s a collection of tales woven through with witches, salmon, visits from the Queen of Denmark, and a stronghold from the Lutheran church. Pretty wild when you think about it.

The old church and graveyard in Sandoy. They ring the bell 200 times at 11am each Sunday

Gorgeous painting in the church

Sandoy’s low cliffs are evidence of erosion caused by some of the worst winter storms in the Faroes

The legend of the witch and troll baby from Sandoy are insane and immortalized in – what else in the Faroes? – knitting on a giant rock

My stay at Havgrim

Link: Havgrim Seaside Hotel 1948

During my time in the Faroes, I based out at Havgrim Hotel, in Torshavn.

Outside Havgrim

The hotel and views were incredible.

View from the restaurant at Havgrim

Panoramic views outside the hotel

The hard-won Faroese flag. They are very proud of it

I’ll have a full review of this hotel up soon. It’s only ~1 minute to drive to the main drag in Torshavn. I loved the location with its own little parking lot (parking is actually kind of tough in Torshavn).

The hotel was only 2 months old as of June 2018, so I was lucky to be one of the first people to stay there. We even met the head chef and owner. The breakfast has fresh Faroese salmon, fresh juices, and local produce and herbs – one of the best hotel breakfasts I’ve had. I found it easy to get into – and out of – town from here.

If you wanna go

They don’t make it easy to visit the Faroes – you have to really want it.

I flew Dallas to Reykjavik, Iceland (KEF). And then from Reykjavik’s domestic airport (RKV) to the Faroe Islands (FAE) on Atlantic Airways, their national airline. The flights are limited. Only 3 times per week. And the flight times don’t really match any flights into Iceland.

Atlantic Airways is the Faroese national airline

Even if they did, you’d have to switch airports and hope all the flights are on time. To play it safe, you’d need to overnight in Reykjavik, which adds time and cost to an already long trip. I was in Iceland for a few days and wrapped the visit to the Faroes inside a trip to Iceland – which ended up being perfect.

Flights to the Faroe Islands are limited to say the least

A few gateway cities to the Faroe Islands include:

Barcelona (seasonal)
Copenhagen – your best bet
Edinburgh (seasonal)
Lisbon
Reykjavik

This time around, I made up my mind I wanted to visit and made it happen via Reykjavik. The easiest way, if you can find agreeable flight times, would be to connect in Copenhagen (flying on SAS), then fly to the Faroes.

Another interesting option would be to fly to Lisbon on TAP, then onward to the Faroes – now that would be an awesome trip!

You’re definitely gonna wanna visit between April and October. Winter is fierce in the Faroes. Not because it’s cold, but because winter storms bring howling winds that prevent most aircraft from landing safely.

June through September is ideal for a first-time visit. The weather is great, sunshine is plentiful (nearly 24 full hours of daylight in June!), and storms aren’t as powerful. Though is still has a maritime climate with wind, fog, mist, and cool air year-round.

Bottom line

Within 24 hours of visiting the Faroe Islands for the first time, I decided it was one of my favorite places on earth and already wanted to visit again.

The island chain in the North Atlantic has elements of Iceland and Ireland – but are very much their own thing. The entire population is only ~50,000 people. And only 13,000 live in the biggest town of Torshavn. But the islands have modern comforts among the stunning and rugged wilderness just beyond the villages.

Admittedly, it ain’t easy to get here. But it was a bucket list destination for me, and I really wanted to visit. As someone who loves Iceland, I can easily see adding another side trip to the Faroes in the future. It would also be (relatively) easy to get here from Copenhagen or Lisbon, which could also be super fun.

If you’re interested or on the fence about a visit, I really can’t recommend it enough. Especially if you’re drawn to it like I was.

My new Nordic tatty back home in Dallas

The trip touched me so deeply, I got a tattoo of Norse runes in Torshavn to commemorate and remember it by.

Hopefully this is a good primer on the Faroe Islands – there is so much more to uncover and explore. I already can’t wait to go back again to this special and beautiful place on earth.

I look forward to posting more about this trip, so stay tuned!

OUT AND OUT - Investing. Positivity. Oh, and travel.

Review: Icelandair Saga Lounge, Keflavik (KEF)

Hello from Iceland! Specifically, the Icelandair Saga Lounge in the center of Keflavik Airport.

One reason I wanted to fly in Business Class home (instead of inbound) was access to this lounge. It’s Icelandair’s single lounge – and the only lounge in Keflavik airport.

Entrance to the Icelandair Saga Lounge in Keflavik

Sitting here now, it’s one of the most spacious and calm airport lounges I’ve ever been to.

You can’t buy day passes to this lounge. But I’ll share how you can get in!

My Icelandair Saga Lounge Review

Link: Icelandair Saga Lounge in KEF

Icelandair expanded like crazy through North America. This summer, they started flights from Dallas – so I flew here nonstop in coach. And am flying back in Business (Saga) Class.

Icelandair’s expansion is aggressive

In fact, you can fly to Iceland from Dallas with:

American
Icelandair
WOW (Iceland’s budget airline)

You can also fly to Iceland via Delta from Minneapolis or New York.

At the lounge, I see Icelandair departures to Boston, Dallas, Montreal, New York, and Seattle.

Peeps in dozens of North American cities have direct access to Iceland

And that’s just a portion of where Icelandair flies.

Despite the boom in routes flown, they still have a lone lounge at home base in Keflavik. It’s a big, light-filled lounge with nice amenities.

You’ll find fast wifi, tons of outlets, full meals, and lots and lots of open seating.

The space

At nearly 15,000 square feet, the size is generous. It’s a wide open room, broken into sections with carpeting, chair positions, and other design/visual cues.

Icelandair Saga Lounge layout

There are wood and earth tones, splashes of blue, and floor-to-ceiling windows that let in light and provide expansive views of the tarmac and planes outside.

View of WOW birds from the Icelandair Saga Lounge

You’ll find solo and social seating, tables for meals, recliners to lay back, and high tops to sit up and get some work done.

View upon entering, after the reception desk

Loungers spread around hearthstones

Table/meal seating

Work areas and social tables around the elfstone

Throne seats with chargers AT EVERY ONE

I love love love the availability of outlets. There’s a long row of seats with outlet access at the base of each. And throughout the space, there are outlets in the walls, or on the tabletops. It’s extremely easy to plug-in and recharge devices.

View from my seat next to the restaurant and across from the fireplace

I’m at a circle table because I wanted soup and didn’t want to hold it in a lounger seat. From where I’m sitting, I can see the whole lounge – the fireplace is in front of me, the social areas are in the foreground, and the more private seats are beyond.

Comfy couches

Cute comfy seats

It’s a quiet, calming space. I have a couple more hours here and am definitely not mad about it.

Amenities

There’s a row of bathrooms (men’s, women’s, and a family room) and 2 shower rooms stocked with Blue Lagoon toiletries and towels.

There’s no check-in or reservation needed – you can simply walk in and start showering. That’s a nice perk if you’re coming off a long drive or flight. Nothing like squeezing in a quick shower to reset.

Shower rooms in the lounge

While there’s free wifi in the airport, you’ll also find fast, free wifi here.

Nice speeds

And of course you can enjoy it in a recliner seat with a free drink in your hand next to a huge window or a blazing fireplace.

6 Ways to Save Big on Dining: Find Faves, Get Points + Cashback With Every Visit

Eating out is probably my biggest weakness. I give myself a couple of things to spend relentlessly on. And beyond that, I save like a madman.

My 2 things are: eating out and travel. I do well stocking up at Costco and cooking at home most nights. But my god if a good happy hour deal doesn’t get me.

I pay pennies on the dollar when I travel. Dining is easy, too. By enrolling my cards once and having a few go-to places, I get discounts close to 20% off in the form of points, miles, and cashback – and the savings add up!

I love happy hours at this cantina. Plus, I get points, miles, and cashback every time I visit

It’s not hard. Here’s how to do it.

Dining programs + cashback app + points card = big dining discounts

There are 3 main pieces of this delicious puzzle.

1. Mileage dining rewards

If you haven’t already enrolled in a dining rewards program to earn miles when you eat at participating restaurants, what are you waiting for? They’re completely free to join.

Get 1,000 Alaska miles when you join their dining program and eat out this month

You can choose to earn miles with the most popular airlines. And they usually have one-time bonuses when you sign up:

Alaska Air Mileage Plan
American AAdvantage
Delta SkyMiles
Southwest Rapid Rewards
United MileagePlus

All you have to do is enter your cards and frequent flyer number. And when you eat at a restaurant in the network, you’ll get bonus miles sent to your loyalty account.

I eat at all of these places

There are lots of popular restaurants on the list for my area. Places I already go to anyway.

Plus, I love earning bonus miles for eating at a place I didn’t even know was on the list. That happens a lot when I travel.

You earn 3 miles per $1 when you join. And when you dine more than 10 times in a year, you’re a “VIP” and earn 5 miles per $1. There is no minimum you have to spend. So if you go to a bar and order 3 drinks and close out each time, that counts as 3 visits.

And when you have a $100 dinner, you’ll earn 500 miles. I value my miles at 2 cents each, so 500 miles is worth $10 to me – or a 10% discount toward future travel.

Regardless of how you value your miles, these programs are free to join. And you only have to plug in your cards one time.

2. Dosh

Link: Download Dosh

Even cooler, you can double dip with cashback! Many of the same restaurants also earn rewards when you plug the same cards into the Dosh app.

Many of the same places are on the Dosh app and earn cashback

So if a restaurant is part of dining rewards AND on the Dosh app, you can earn 5 miles per $1, and also get cashback – usually 5%, but sometimes more or less.

Again, you just have to add your cards one time. You can withdraw the cash to your bank or PayPal account once you reach the $25 mark. So it’s literally free cash in your wallet. Plus, you get $5 when you sign-up with my link and add your first card.

Why I’m Switching Spend to SPG Cards the Next 2 Months (And a Useful Tip!)

Welp, the Marriott-Starwood merger looms nigh. On August 1st, 2018, we’ll all wake up and have a new program – with excellent deals through the end of 2018.

Also on that day is an event I’ve dubbed in my mind as “The Triplin’” – because everyone’s Starwood balance will increase by 3X!

So now’s the time to earn as much as possible to take advantage of redemption opportunities later this year.

Marriott’s award chart as of August 1st

In 2019, the new program will be dead to me. I’ve never liked Marriott hotels, and occasionally stay with Starwood. At that point, I’ll go back into my Hilton/Hyatt hole for as long as the water’s nice.

Ah, to be a fairweather traveler free agent.

5 months of great deals – under 2 months to earn with SPG card spending!

Link: SPG program changes

I’m now done with the full spending requirement to earn 100,000 British Airways Avios points. And toyed with the idea of getting the Citi American Airlines small business card, which has an incredible sign-up bonus of 70,000 American Airlines miles after spending only $4,000 in the first 4 months from account opening.

This card isn’t impacted by Citi’s application rules if you’ve only opened AA personal cards.

Mighty tempting

But then I’m like… I should rack up the Starwood points while I can. If the Citi AA small biz offer is still around next month, I will 100% pull the trigger on it.

Starting now, I’m using my Starwood cards for all my spending.

Every $1 you spend in non-bonus categories will turn into 3 points on August 1st, 2018. I currently have 40,000 Starwood points. And typically spend ~$10,000 per month on credit cards.

With the 40,000 points I have, plus 20,000 more points I could earn, I’d have 180,000 Marriott points on the first day of August. That’s enough for 3 free award nights at a Category 7 Marriott hotel – the highest category – for the remainder of 2018 (60,000 X 3 = 180,000).

Wonder what category the Sheraton Kauai will be

Or, with the 5th night free on award stays, I could pay for 4 nights at a Category 5 hotel, and get 5 nights for 140,000 points and still have some left over. We don’t yet know how the categories will shake out, but Marriott gave a preview for hotels in Bali, Dubai, the Caribbean, New York, and Paris.

There will be some great deals with fall and winter – and now is prime time to scoop up as many Starwood points as you can before The Triplin’ in August!

Change your closing date!

It would suck to spend big bucks on a card to find it closes mid-month and you’ve missed The Triplin’. So here’s what I recommend: change your closing date to the 26th or 27th of the month. Because it takes a few days for Amex to send the points to your Starwood account. Not the due date – the closing date. That’s the day a new billing cycle begins.

I switched my closing date to the 26th of the month to be on the safe side

My closing date was the 15th. But I changed it to the 26th. That’ll give me 11 more days to make purchases and pay bills – and have points post in time to get The Triplin’.

I couldn’t find where to do this online. So I called the number on the back of my card and the phone agent updated it instantly.

If your due date is at the beginning or middle of the month, it would give you more time to spend next month.

And if it’s beyond the 26th or 27th, you might want to move it up a couple days to make sure your points post in time (there are 31 days in July).

Bottom line

I’m hedging bets on the upcoming Marriott-Starwood cards and switching all my spending to Starwood Amex cards for the next couple of months.

And, to maximize the window of opportunity, I recommend changing your closing date to the 26th or 27th of the month to account for the few days it takes for Amex to send points to Starwood.

On August 1st, 2018, whatever’s in your Starwood account will triple – so right now you’re earning 3X points per $1 spent in anticipation of that date, and 5 solid months of excellent award redemptions.

But, as of 2019, Marriott will be a relic in my eyes. Everyone hates on Hilton, but it works for me. And as long as Hyatt’s chart stays the same, I’ll continue to transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points to stay free at their hotels. This is my last-ditch effort to stay at some nice Starwood hotels. Do or die, now or never.

Here’s hoping for a good Category 5 hotel for a 5-night stay (with the 5th night free!) later this year.

OUT AND OUT - Investing. Positivity. Oh, and travel.

This Month: Save 10+% on Shell & Exxon Gas With These Cards

There are a couple of good offers to save at the pump these next few weeks. I’ve been using them to fill up – and found it’s cheaper than buying gas at Costco, where I usually get gas in conjunction with a shopping trip.

You can get 5X Chase Ultimate Rewards points with Chase Pay with the Chase Freedom card (compare it here) on up to $1,500 in spending through June 30th, 2018 – and Shell is a Chase Pay merchant. Chase Freedom cardholders also get free Gold Status with Shell Fuel Rewards, which saves 6 cents per gallon through the end of 2018.

And Amex has an offer to get 10% cashback at Exxon through the end of November. Plus, when you pay through their Speedpass app, you can save 10 cents a gallon. And when you add your Amex card in the Dosh app, you’ll get another 2% cashback through July 10th, 2018.

Combine apps and offers to save on Shell and Exxon gas

Either offer also gets you savings for most of 2018. And for the next few weeks, you can combine offers to save over 10% at Shell or Exxon.

Here’s how they work!

Stack credit card offers to save on gas
1. Chase Freedom + Chase Pay at Shell

Link: Chase Freedom – compare it here
Link: Fuel Rewards gold status for Freedom cardholders

This quarter, Chase Pay mobile payments earn 5X Chase Ultimate Rewards points when you activate the bonus and pay with Chase Freedom (on up to $1,500 in spending in the combined bonus categories through June 30, 2018).

I value Chase Ultimate Rewards points at 2 cents each. So that’s like getting a 10% return just for paying with the right card.

You need to download the Chase Pay app to get the bonus points. And use it to pay at the Shell pump.

Save more with Fuel Rewards Gold status

You can activate more savings by joining Fuel Rewards. Chase Freedom cardholders get 6 cents off per gallon for the rest of 2018. You can use your phone number as your ID. Within the Chase Pay app, click “Wallet,” then “Loyalty cards” to add your Fuel Rewards.

When you’re ready to fill up, open the Chase Pay app, select your Shell station, and follow the prompts. You don’t even need to have your card on you – just be sure Chase Freedom is set to the default payment method.

Super easy way to combine 5X and 6 cents off!

2. Amex Offer + Speedpass App + Dosh at Exxon

Link: Sign up for Dosh

Another win at Exxon starts with Amex. Check your small business card accounts to see if you have this offer:

10% back through the end of November

I had it on my Blue Business Plus Amex and my Starwood Biz Amex card.

10% back is a nice discount. But a couple other apps sweeten the deal.

Exxon has their own mobile pay app called Speedpass. You can add any card as a payment method – and it stacks with the Amex Offer.

Save 10 cents per gallon through July 10, 2018 or when the promotion runs out

When you pay with Speedpass, you get another 10 cents off per gallon.

And when you add the same Amex card to Dosh (the card with the Amex Offer for 10% back), you get another 2% back just for linking it with the Dosh app.

Add your Amex card to Dosh for another 2% back

The terms & conditions specifically say you can stack it with Speedpass:

Offer good through July 10, 2018

So you can get:

10% back with the Amex Offer
2% back with Dosh
10 cents off per gallon paying with Speedpass
Plus whatever points you’ll earn from the Amex card

That’s a nice stack for gasoline – I’d value this as a 15% discount easily.

Yeah, but are these good deals?

Link: Gasbuddy

It’s pointless to save 15% on gas that’s 15% more than other places. They also aren’t worth a long drive because you’ll have to pay for the gas there and back (a problem I have with fueling up at Costco, but there’s neither here nor there).

I recommend looking at gas prices in your area on Gasbuddy. In Dallas, prices are all over the place.

My local Shell and Exxon stations are fairly priced

That said, Shell and Exxon pumps have competitive prices for my area – and all these are within a mile of me. So yes, it’s totally worth it to hit up a Shell or Exxon to fuel up and get discounts and bonus points.

If you can do better at another chain, or somewhere closer, do that instead! In my case, it’s worth it to save a few bucks as the pumps aren’t out of the way.

Plus, the per gallon savings (6 cents with Shell Fuel Rewards and the 10% back Amex offer) are good through most of 2018. So it’s just a matter of which one is cheapest when the ol’ tank gets low.

Bottom line

Chase Freedom – compare it here
Fuel Rewards gold status for Freedom cardholders
Sign up for Dosh

These offers represent saving a few bucks every time you fill up. That’s not a lot – but if a Shell or Exxon station is easy for you to get to (or if you go there anyway!), don’t say no to easy discounts!

With Shell, you can stack the Chase Freedom quarterly 5X categories and free Fuel Rewards Gold status for Freedom cardholders to get 10+% back.

And with Exxon, combine a 10% Amex Offer, paying through Speedpass, and linking the card through Dosh for what I value as a 15% savings.

Be sure to check Gasbuddy to make sure prices are competitive before you begin. I love easy wins like this. Especially for things I have to buy anyway, like gas in the car.

OUT AND OUT - Investing. Positivity. Oh, and travel.

5 of My Favorite Blogs Are Run by Awesome #GirlBosses

Recently, an Out and Out reader left a kind comment asking who my favorite bloggers are. I started typing up a response then realized… my favorite bloggers are women. Which is awesome!

I decided to make a proper post about it.

Here are 5 blogs I have as “Favorites” in my Feedly. When I see they’ve posted, I make a note to read in the way I’ve grown used to – which is different for each one. They cover topics from travel to financial freedom to mental and physical health. And I’ve learned so much from all of them in the years since I discovered their fantastic blogs.

5 of my favorite bloggers!

They are true hustlers, hard workers, deeply knowledgable about their areas of interest, and all incredible women. Add them to your reading list!

5 Fave Bloggers to Read

Truly in no particular order.

1. Caroline – Not Your Average Gal

Link: Not Your Average Gal

I don’t remember how I discovered Caroline’s blog. But I was immediately struck by her one-of-a-kind voice.

Since I found her blog, it’s one I always look forward to reading. I’ve followed along on several of her trips and life changes – all told from her totally refreshing perspective.

Her voice is so honest. It’s a rawness made of only the best pieces. And she lays it all out: the highs and the lows. Her views, stories, and photos are thoughtful and relatable. I cheer her travels and successes and ponder along as she writes through roughness.

I’m grateful for her perspective and that she shares so much of herself. A true gem.

2. Paula – Afford Anything

Link: Afford Anything

Paula certainly doesn’t need a small potato like me to recommend her expansive blog. But every time she posts, I know it’s time to slow down and grab a glass of wine. Because her posts are deep meditations into the inner workings of her financial world, all reasoned and examined with her completely inimitable wit. She is so so charming and you can feel her thinking as you read along. I can hear her speaking in my mind when I read her words.

Which is another thing. Paula has an amazing podcast, too. I’ll admit – I wasn’t expecting it to be as good as her blog. But wow – Paula speaks as eloquently as she writes. She is a master communicator. Not only that, but she takes multi-faceted concepts and lays them down so simply – a skill unto itself.

Hearing Paula speak was a FinCon highlight

She’s always posting amazing thoughts and quotes on Instagram. This woman was born to communicate.

Not only that, but she reveals exact numbers of time, money, and results with creating a network of rental properties. I followed her move from Atlanta to Las Vegas. Throughout it all, she’s always found creative ways to explain her reasoning.

In addition to being a financially independent landlord, she’s built a successful blog and podcast series. I deeply savor her crisp, intelligent words. Paula is an infinite source of inspiration for me personally.

Reading her blog and studying her formats is a master class in effective blogging and communication. She deserves all the success that comes her way.

3. Chonce – My Debt Epiphany

Link: My Debt Epiphany

When I met Chonce at FinCon last year, I had no idea how deeply I would soon fall into her words.

Not only is her personal blog a deep dive into her thoughts and strategies, but she writes for a ton of other personal finance blogs on the side. “How does she find the time?” I’ve wondered many times since discovering her detailed work.

Following her journey out of debt and toward financial independence is empowering. And that she writes clearly, so deeply about her subjects, and so often is a huge encouragement.

Oh, and on top of everything else, she’s also a mom! Amazing.

4. Summer – Mommy Points

Link: Mommy Points

I’ve had the luck to talk with Summer a time or two. Always nice to meet a fellow Texan!

While her blog is called “Mommy Points,” there’s actually tons of useful information for everyone. She consistently posts the most thorough and even-handed content in the points & miles community. She also focuses on great deals. I’ve discovered lots of ways to save thanks to Summer.

Beyond that, there’s a great sensitivity in her writing. I love her honesty and writing style. It’s easy to follow and always on point.

She covers topics no other blogger talks about. If I see multiple articles about the same event, I always pick Summer’s because I know it’s going to be full of great analysis in an easy-to-understand way. I like hearing her tips on making a good deal into a great one.

Her blog is a go-to resource and complement to all the other travel blogs out there. It’s not just for moms – there’s tons of great stuff here.

5. Jenny – Healthy Crush

 Link: Healthy Crush

I’ve read Jenny’s blog the longest – since we both lived in Brooklyn in 2011. Her blog has opened my eyes to so many new ideas over the past 7 years.

Not only that, but her words I swear literally radiate with warmth and positivity. She has one of those writing styles that’s so gosh-darn readable you just can’t stop. Before you know it, you’ve read 2,000+ of her words, are now an expert on a topic, and have much more to think about afterward. I can’t even tell you how many of her posts I’ve saved to read again and again.

I love following her travels, her newest food obsessions, and her ever-evolving thoughts on health and wellness. Reading her is like catching up with an old friend. She tells you what she’s listening to and what something made her think of. It’s all the little touches that make her posts so compelling.

I love her longer-form posts so much. Her intelligence combined with her down-to-earth writing style makes for excellent #longreads.

How I Got Started With Points & Miles 6 Years Ago

TL;DR: Had crappy credit. Used points cards as motivation to improve my credit score. Hooked ever since.

I’ve taken a server job a few nights a week to get out of the house, stay active, and be social. I see people using credit cards more than ever. I’m shocked by how many people still throw down debit cards. Most of them are millennials.

Google has the tea on millennials and CCs

My generation is a complicated story of student loan debt, job-hopping, delaying children, unable to afford or save to buy homes, living longer than ever – and definitely NOT wanting to get sucked into credit cards.

I see cool metal cards here and there – but most millennials are using well-worn debit cards from local banks.

If you can use credit responsibly and pay the balance in full every month, then you’re leaving money on the table by using debit cards. Even a 2% cashback card with no annual fee is free to use and earns literally free money.

I started college in rural Vermont – and promptly got into credit card debt

I remember the sting of credit cards: opened a student credit card when I was 18, charged textbooks I couldn’t afford, and fell into the soul-crushing cycle of debt. Such a slippery slope.

Then I did the unthinkable: defaulted on a student loan. I was so poor, making $120 a week working overtime at retail jobs. And they wanted $500 a month? I ripped up the bills and threw them in the trash. I didn’t have extra money. How was I going to come up with $500 more every month? And that was the “financially burdened” plan.

This Thursday (5/17): Dallas Frequent Flyer Meetup for Sushi & Sake!

Y’all ready? I’m excited for the next Out for Miles frequent flyer meetup – this Thursday in Dallas! 

The events have been popular, so I’m aiming to host one around the middle of every month. We have a great group of peeps so far. Next one’s near the Dallas/Richardson border (in North Dallas off 75), easier for those heading south.

This Thursday – a great happy hour and talking points & miles

It’ll be at Sushi Sake Grill on Walnut Hill Lane. And there’s a Happy Hour until 6:30pm – come for sushi and sake, stay for the good times.