Harlan Vaughn's Blog, page 52

Works in Practice: Free International Cash Advances With Fidelity Cash Management Account

Also see: 

Fidelity Cash Management Account: Why It’s Great

Wanted to shed some light on this topic because I’ve gotten a lot of questions about it since my original post on the Fidelity Cash Management Account from July 2015.

Despite what the Fidelity website says, despite what any phone agent will tell you, Fidelity does NOT charge a 1% conversion fee on international cash advances.

Why don’t they make it official?

Link: Fidelity Cash Management account

Couple of things came together at the right moment.

I spoke with a Fidelity agent who seemed to really know his stuff. I asked specifically about the 1% conversion fee when withdrawing from foreign ATMs. He knew exactly what I was talking about.

“It’s an unofficial benefit,” he explained.

“But why don’t they make it official?”

“I think soon, they will.”

Then, I got back from Japan, where I used ATMs for cash withdrawals a few times (Japan is surprisingly cashy!).

No fees!

Three times, I withdrew 10,000 yen (~$93) from ATMs. What showed up on Fidelity’s side, as posted transactions, are direct currency conversions. There were no fees added.

Ditto for Ireland

This was also true in Ireland.

I’ve also withdrawn cash in Canada, England, and Italy over the past year or so. I’ve never once had a fee assessed.

In practice, the Fidelity Cash Management Account has completely free cash withdrawals from any ATM world-wide.

Why the hangup?

I’m curious as to why it’s set up this way. Obviously, the experience is different than advertised – in the customer’s favor.

But, if you ever are assessed a 1% fee, you’ll have no recourse because of the official policy – which is in writing.

I don’t “do” fees to access my cash, even in Japan

On the other hand, a 1% fee on a $100 withdrawal is $1. It’s not enough to inspire any real passion one way or the other – yet people get really fired up about this sticking point.

I’m always just happy it’s so easy to access funds when I need them wherever I happen to be – and a 1% fee seems more than fair.

Although again, in practice, I’ve never paid a dime for the privilege my own money. Which is one of the many reasons I love my Fidelity Cash Management account.

However, I’ve never used the card for purchases abroad. And I never will.

I’d rather earn points with a credit card if Visas are accepted. And I’d fully expect to pay a 1% fee on a purchase with the Fidelity Cash Management account anyway.

Bottom line

Wanted to share my many experiences with withdrawing funds globally via the Fidelity Cash Management account. It’s a must for any world traveler.

It’s free to open and keep. No fees, minimum balances, or ATM fees to think about. In fact, you can use any ATM in the world without a fee.

In writing, Fidelity says you’ll pay a 1% fee for international cash advances. But in practice, no. A Fidelity rep confirmed this “unofficial benefit” and I used it thrice this past week in Japan.

Even if a 1% fee was assessed, that’s only $1 per $100 withdrawn.

I’m also curious to hear experiences or opinions one way or the other, because this seems to be a hot topic and a deal-breaker for lots of peeps.

Finally, if you don’t have a Fidelity Cash Management account and aren’t married to any particular bank, sign-up immediately! Best bank account out there for daily use.

For short-term savings with a great interest rate, check out the Aspiration Summit account. Between these two, there’s no reason to ever pay a fee for basic banking.

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

Must-Haves of Travel: Portable Travel Tubes

Also see: 

Must-Haves of Travel: Coconut Oil
Must-Haves of Travel: Apple Cider Vinegar
M ust-Haves of Travel: Activated Charcoal
Must-Haves of Travel: Calcium Bentonite Clay
Must-Haves of Travel: Affordable Razors!

Announcing the newest entry of the ever-popular “Must-Haves of Travel” series lol. Stefan remarked he’d run out of room if he took them all each time he took a trip.

But this one goes part-n-parcel with the others because it offers a storage solution. And a quite ingenious one!

Introducing: game-changers

It’s one of those things that’s “duh” in retrospect – I should’ve looked on Amazon for these little guys ages ago: portable, squeezable travel tubes. But now that I have them, there’s no going back.

Hitherto, I’d been using little tubs or plastic sandwich bags. But travel tubes are a step beyond.

What’s a travel tube?

Link: GoToobs

A friend gifted me GoToobs recently. I was struck by their simplicity.

They’re 2 oz or 3 oz tubes made of soft silicone. They’re food grade, which means you can store food (or food you smear all over yourself, like coconut oil) safely.

Baes

Because of their size, they’re TSA compliant.

So you can fill ’em up and travel with your fave shampoo, sunscreen (useful for Caribbean islands where sunscreen is very expensive), lotion, dipping sauce, whatever. I even put my activated charcoal and calcium bentonite clay into them. The former because they’re sturdier than a plastic bag, and the latter because they prevent spillage.

“Packed” with features

They are super easy to refill. The top screws off and there’s quite a wide neck so you can pour directly into it – no funnel necessary.

Mad easy to fill up

And, they have a little suction cup that’s also ingenious. Because when you push the depression on the front, you are both squeezing out your contents, and reaffixing the suction cup at the same time. #design

Labels so you remember what’s what

There are labels on the end of the tube. In case your lotion and sunscreen (or whatever) are the same color, you won’t mix them up. You can choose from:

Lotion
Soap
Sunscreen
Shampoo
Conditioner

It’s a start. If you put something else into them, just remember what color tube you chose for it.

Once your contents are inside, they won’t leak out thanks to the no-drip valve.

It’s hard to explain how it works, so here’s a video:

2016-04-15 19.13.52

It seals itself after every squeeze. Plus, there’s a cap that closes over it.

Other handy uses

I’m loving these little things because they’re soft, have a nice shape, come in lots of colors, and can store much more than toiletries.

For example, they’re a fantastic way to travel with coconut oil. Because you can keep refilling them. And you can run hot or cold water over the tube to get it to a good consistency before you use it.

And because they’re food grade, you could theoretically carry things like condiments, or I dunno, a shot of tequila, with you. You get the idea. And yes, #alkie.

But for real though, these things are a game-changer. And I love the suction cups for taking them into the shower!

If you’re traveling to a place where you need to supply your own toiletries, like an Airbnb, you can fill them at home. That saves you money on the road (no more travel-sized toiletries to buy) and you get to have your favorite products.

There really isn’t a down side to having them that I can think of.

I prefer the 2 oz over the 3 oz version, just because of their size. I find 2 oz of most liquids is plenty for a weekend trip. And they come in lots of colors.

To clean them, just put in a little dish soap and water, shake, and rinse.

I’m gushing because this is the thing I never knew I needed until I got them.

Bottom line

This is probably one of my favorite gifts I’ve ever received. I love my GoToobs!

So much so, it deserves an entry in the “Must-Haves of Travel” series.

They’re a great solution for carrying travel sizes when you buy in bulk or want a particular product with you.

They beat the pants off tubs that can leak if the top pops off, or plastic bags that don’t have much structure. And more economical than buying travel sizes of toiletries each time you travel.

I like how they’re food grade because a few of my must-haves actually are food (like coconut oil and apple cider vinegar).

Passing the mic. What’s improved your travels – something you always travel with? Wanna hear about your must-haves when you travel!

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

Bye to RadPad, Hello to Plastiq for 2% Bill Payment Fees With MasterCard (Including Mortgages and Utilities)

Also see: 

Confirmed: RadPad Earns 3X ThankYou Points With Citi AT&T Access More Card

RadPad has been a sweet deal these past few months thanks to their 1.99% fee for paying with a MasterCard.

You could earn 3X Citi ThankYou points by paying with the Citi AT&T Access More card (and still can until June 1st, 2016). Because I have 3 Airbnbs, it’s been a points-generating machine for me.

Even better, when you pair it with Citi Prestige, the 3X points are worth nearly 5% back when you redeem for American Airlines flights. Even with the fee considered, you still come out ahead.

Another one bites the dust-ah

RadPad increases to 3.49%

So many deals are dying these days. When I got the email about the increase to a 3.49% fee, I didn’t feel anything. Just another one gone. Add it to the list (as of June 1st, 2016).

Their consolation seems to be “always free on debit!” (which still gets you 1% cash back). But with the Citi AT&T Access More/Citi Prestige combo, I was doing better than 1%. I was getting nearly 3% back.

Obvi, the rate increase eats into that margin.

I tweeted my displeasure, and got fed the line about debit being free as a reply.

@harlanvaughn Bummed to see you go! Don’t forget, debit’s always free!

— RadPad (@radpad) April 13, 2016

Hoookay. And also like, byeeee.

Enter Plastiq

Link: Plastiq
Link: Citi AT&T Access More card

I’ve always been trepidatious about Plastiq. But via Reddit, they’re now charging 2% fees for MasterCard bill payments, clearly in response to the RadPad move.

I’m ready to jump ship. And even better, you can pay not only rent, but also your mortgage, utility bills, and student loans.

According to FlyerTalk, you’ll get 3X Citi ThankYou points on mortgage payments with the Citi AT&T Access More card. I just joined the ranks of mortgage-payers, so this is excellent news!

When combined with Citi Prestige, that’s like 2.8% back when redeeming for American Airlines flights even after Plastiq’s fee (3X Citi ThankYou points X 1.6 cents with Citi Prestige – 2% Plastiq fee).

By the same logic, it should also work for rent payments, as they’re coded the same way.

But before you jump ship…

I was ready to be like RadPad who? until I plugged in my mortgage into. I was able to get the 2% rate to show with certain merchants, but not others. Here’s what I mean.

2% shows up fine for this club payment

I found a completely random merchant and set up a test payment. The 2% rate shows up with a MasterCard set for payment.

Great!, I thought. It works!

Jigga wha? 2.5%?

I was easily able to find my mortgage company, Colonial Savings, via the search tool. They’re available for ACH payments. But the fee was 2.5%, which isn’t as good as 2%. I have no idea why.

2% when added manually

But, a manual add yielded a 2% fee with a MasterCard.

As you can see, the difference for a $1,000 payment is $5, which isn’t a lot of points OR cash.

But the crucial difference in this case is the ACH payment has a 2.5% fee and it’s delivered in 3 to 6 business days. And the mailed check payment has a 2% fee and is delivered in 5 to 7 business days.

For $5 more, I’d rather spring for the ACH payment because I don’t want a late fee assessed to my mortgage.

And, even still, I’m coming out ahead with the Citi AT&T Access More/Citi Prestige combo.

All this to say, YMMV and do what’s best for you.

I have a mortgage payment due May 1st, and I’m gonna try this out and watch it like a hawk to see how fast Plastiq pays and how it codes with the Citi AT&T Access More card. I expect it to go smoothly.

By the numbers

Per $1,000 you’ll:

Pay $1,020 with a 2% fee and earn 3,060 Citi ThankYou points worth ~$31 at 1 cent each or ~$49 on American Airlines with Citi Prestige
Pay $1,025 with a 2.5% fee and earn 3,075 Citi ThankYou points worth ~$31 at 1 cent each or ~$49 on American Airlines with Citi Prestige

The difference is marginal. And either way, you’re basically doubling your return on the fee payment. Even with the 2.5% example, you pay $25 but get back $49. That’s an extra $288 per year and your mortgage gets paid with a credit card.

Not to mention you can also use this for rent, utilities, student loans, etc. So with the Citi AT&T Access More and Citi Prestige card, you can pair them and score a nice haul – again, assuming they code correctly. Start small and see how it codes and what posts.

Of course, you could also transfer your Citi ThankYou points to travel partners and get outsized value, too. That’s an extra ~37,000 Citi ThankYou points per year per $1,000 in Plastiq payments at the 2% rate. 

Bottom line

Interesting stuff. I’m glad I found a way to effectively replace RadPad AND pay my mortgage and still come out ahead.

I’m not sure if the 2% fee on MasterCard payments with Plastiq is being rolled out slowly or is just glitchy at the moment. Either way, it seems you’ll come out ahead when you use the Citi AT&T Access More card for 3X Citi ThankYou points. And then pair it with Citi Prestige (or even Citi ThankYou Premier) for more redemption options. Here’s my link if you decide to apply for either one.

My utility company charges 3% for credit card payments, so payments via Plastiq are actually cheaper anyway. And in most scenarios, you’re more than recovering the fee thanks to the 3X category of online purchases on the Citi AT&T Access More card.

I love geeky stuff like this, so I’m gonna try it for my next mortgage payment and see how it goes.

Also, I love how the same day RadPad announced an increase, Plastiq matches their old rate. If anything, it’s made me want to try it and see how it goes.

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

Update: Denied for Chase Freedom Unlimited – DIAF!

Also see: 

My Last Chase Card: Just Applied for Chase Freedom Unlimited
Loving Citi More Than Ever – Time to Cancel Other Cards?

Well, I got the letter today that I was straight-up denied for the new Chase Freedom Unlimited card (which is now open for online applications).

It was to be my last Chase card.

I kept trying to call the automated line for info (888-338-2586), but even now it still says to look for a letter in the mail. I presume this one:

So ugly

The reason?

“Too many credit cards opened in the last 2 years.”

Wowwww. It’s interesting that’s listed as the only reason.

It seems this rule will now cover ALL Chase cards, including small business and co-branded cards.

DIAF – Die in a fire

Definition: To be in a fire, and die within it.

 Usage: I hate you, DIAF.

Why I applied for Chase Freedom Unlimited

Link: Chase Freedom Unlimited

I heard that other peeps had luck getting this card even with the 5/24 rule considered.

So, I threw my hat in, hoping for the best.

I thought I had a decent shot because:

I’ve been banking with Chase for the past 10 years
I’ve had a Chase credit card for 14 years
I’ve never missed a payment
My credit score is well over 700
The Chase Freedom cards usually have more lenient approvals

But, no dice.

I’ll have to run the numbers, but I can probably product change to the Chase Freedom Unlimited if I really wanted to. I thought the card would be useful for ongoing benefits because it earns a flat 1.5 Chase Ultimate Rewards points per $1 spent, with no cap – or crap.

But I’ll have to see if I get more “mileage” from the Chase Freedom, or if I’d be better off with the “Unlimited” version.

Bottom line

I haven’t been flat-out denied for a credit card in years. Gotta say, I’m pretty disappointed.

Who knows when, or if, I’ll get another Chase card again.

Wonder what their co-brand partners will say about all this.

Oh well, at least there are other good offers out there from AMEX and Citi… for now.

Earning points and miles is getting more difficult by the day!

A nice send-off from Chase though, with this “FU” card. You too, Chase!

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

Reflecting on 3 Years of Blogging on Out and Out

Also see: 

Every Single Out and Out Post

Three years, eh? I can hardly believe it.

When I started Out and Out, I was floating through life, working at a public relations firm in Manhattan. Yeah, your typical rat race 9 to 5 that was actually 8 to 6ish. I was tired most of the time, and didn’t travel nearly as much as I wanted. Most of my travel was to and from a cubicle.

On a whim, I bought a domain, OutAndOut.net (it still works btw), and used it as a journal for all the points and miles stuff I was reading as my daily dose of escapism under the fluorescent office lights.

Yup, that included The Points Guy, View From the Wing, and Million Mile Secrets. Those blogs have all changed in the past 3 years. And so has this one.

400 posts

On March 1, 2013, I put up my first post, the not terribly original or thorough “Chase Sapphire Preferred 7% Annual Points Dividend Posted.”

I kept at it. I blogged about trips to Hawaii, Madrid, and Santiago. I was so excited when I got 7 page views in a day. When I got my first comment on a post. The beginnings were humble (they’re the best!).

Designing the Out and Out logo

Somewhere along the line, I switched jobs a few more times. I worked in New York real estate – yep, a total shark, working in Manhattan.

I kept writing. Those first posts were brief, shaky little capsules shot into the black hole of the internet. The titles weren’t particularly imaginative.

Randy Petersen invited me to join BoardingArea while I was Club Carlson-ing through Europe in October 2014.

In January 2015, I finally joined, officially, which spurred blog growth tremendously.

That feels like yesterday.  And now, here I am, working toward Year 4.

To celebrate, I made a page of Every Single Out and Out Post.

You can see all the fixations, trends, periods, etc. In case you feel like poking around.

So far, there are 400 posts. Some of them still hold up well. Others are obviously outdated. It felt like a good time to catalog everything properly.

400 more?

The blog’s tagline has always been “Investing. Positivity. Oh, and travel.”

I feel like I’m finally getting to the “investing” part of it. That might mean for personal finance posts. Positivity catches ideas about health, philosophy, and my best advice.  Oh, and travel? That’s everything else.

I’ve never tried to hit a quota, with number of posts or word count.

Some months, I’ve had dozens of posts. Other months, none. Some posts are 30 words. Others climb over 2,000.

There’s never been a particular direction. Whatever’s interesting is the topic.

Points and miles stuff is getting harder, that’s for sure. But there’s still a lot left to talk about. The next 400 posts might veer in a different direction after I finally move to Dallas. I’m surely looking forward to it.

New chapters, new beginning. All that good stuff.

Bottom line

I’ve met a lot of peeps in the past 3 years. Some stuck around, others didn’t. That’s how it goes. It’s all been a blast.

My writing has changed a lot. For starters, I’m better at titling and formatting posts. I’m also focused on different things now as opposed to 3 years ago. Interested in new topics. Open to changing my opinions over time.

It’s been an exciting journey so far. I still feel like Out and Out is my little baby lol. And I hope the original spirit it had when it was started still translates.

I didn’t set out to nurture a blog for 3+ years when I put the first post. God, no.

It’s happened very naturally. If I let it go at its own pace, it’ll continue to be something fun. I’d never want to approach this space negatively. I’d like to keep it it for the long-haul.

What that means and looks like is anyone’s guess. What with the strong economy, rampant mergers, tougher rules, and closed loopholes, topics have to accommodate those changes. I feel, overall, a shift in the overall points and miles landscape has started. (Do you, too?)

Out and Out started as a kind of journal to record my adventures with points and miles, and travel-related ideas (and some not related to anything at all!). As long as that quality stays, I’m on board. Whatever that looks like is fine by me, even it’s a slightly re-tooled direction.

Now, you can see every single post, which I’ll continue to update with whatever pops out. You can always find it in the top menu under “About.”

Thank you for all the comments, introductions, encouragement, questions, likes, clicks, follows, and all the rest. It means the world.

Cheers, indeed!

* If you liked this post, consider signing up to receive free blog posts via email (only 1 per day!) or in an RSS reader and you’ll never miss an update! And thanks for using my link to apply for new card offers!

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

Last Chance for AMEX SPG 35,000 Point Offers (and Why I Got Both Cards)

Also see: 

I Got the SPG AMEX with 35,000 SPG Points – Here’s Why

OMG, cringe. Did I just write that headline? Me, Mr. “I Don’t Care About Starpoints?”

I did. A lot has changed since that proclamation nearly 3 years ago. Devaluations, tougher approval rules, and a vastly different landscape for points and miles.

In particular, you can only get an AMEX sign-up bonus once per lifetime on all their cards.

This is the highest bonus there’s ever been – and likely will ever be – on the AMEX SPG cards. I took the bait.

Last days to lock in the bonus

Link: AMEX SPG personal card
Link: AMEX SPG biz card

I pulled the trigger on the small business version of the card. I had no plans to get the personal version.

But then I figured, between the 2 of them, that’s a lot of free nights at Starwood – worth well over $1,000 for each card.

Two’s a party

Or, between the 2 cards, that’s equal to 100,000 airline miles, including Alaska and American.

The annual fee is waived for both cards the first year.

If you haven’t had either card, this is your best chance to get the sign-up bonus. The offer ends tomorrow, March 30th, 2016.

With all of that in mind, I applied for the personal version, too.

My experience getting the 2nd card

I actually applied last week.

THAT FEELING

There’s no feeling quite like waiting for a card decision. Heart goes ba-bump ba-bump.

Awwww man

And then this hideousness:

Whyyyy

Thinking I could hurry along a decision, I called AMEX. They told me the application was flagged – they wanted to make sure someone hadn’t used my information without my permission.

I assured them that, nope, that was me – I want both cards. But the rep told me my best bet was to let it go through the right departments.

Crap.

“What about the sign-up offer? Will I still get the 35,000 points?”

Yes, she told me. The bonus is hard-coded into the application. As long as you apply before the offer ends, you’ll still get 35,000 points as long as you meet the minimum spending requirement – even if you’re approved after the offer is over.

The key is to apply before March 30th, 2016.

It worked!

That was honestly my biggest reservation about getting both cards.

Bottom line

Keeping it short and sweet today. If you’ve never had an SPG card with AMEX, today and tomorrow (through March 30th, 2016) are your last days to lock in the 35,000 SPG point offer on the personal and small business versions of the card.

Note: Min spend on personal is $3,000 / min spend on small biz is $5,000 – both within first 3 months of account opening.

That adds up to, obvi, to 70,000 SPG points (closer to 80,000 when you factor in minimum spending). That’s well enough for many award nights at Starwood hotels. It’s also enough for 100,000 airline miles of your choice (you get 5,000 bonus miles for every 20,000 you transfer).

There’s no reason why you can’t make that be worth $2,000 – or more – depending on how you redeem them.

My biggest reservation was applying for both cards within a short timeframe. While the 2nd app got shot over to pending review status immediately, I was ultimately approved for both. The key to lock in the 35K bonus is to apply before tomorrow.

Looking forward to putting these points to good use. Adventures in Starwood and Hilton this year.

A far cry from the Hyatt/IHG/Club Carlson concoction I was on a year or so ago. My, my at the changes.

Oh, and feel free to leave your referrals for either card on this referral page!

* If you liked this post, consider signing up to receive free blog posts via email (only 1 per day!) or in an RSS reader and you’ll never miss an update! And thanks for using my link to apply for new card offers!

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

Is AMEX Hilton Surpass Card Increasing to 100K Offer Soon?

File this under #hypothesis and #gumshoe. But I wouldn’t be surprised if this happened soon.

Redditors are claiming they’ve seen offers to earn 100,000 Hilton points on the AMEX Hilton Surpass card. 

AYFKM? Photo source: Reddit

If the offer is indeed real, if will run through May 4th, 2016. And you’ll earn 100,000 Hilton points after spending $3,000 within the first 3 months of account opening. Like previous offers, the $75 annual fee probably won’t be waived. And you’ll get Hilton Gold status just for having the card.

If you have a few breakfasts at Hilton in a year, that covers the annual fee.

This week?

Because this offer expires in early May, I’d assume they’d leave the door open on this offer for at least a month, which means we could expect to see it live… well, any day now.

If that happens, it’ll match highest-ever targeted offers from 2010 and 2015. I don’t know if the new offered will be targeted or not. My guess is probably not, though.

Also, if that happens, you won’t be able to get this offer if you’ve ever had this card before. And, AMEX will only allow you have 4 credit cards in total.

I’m currently at 2, with the AMEX EveryDay Preferred and newly opened AMEX SPG biz card.

So I’d be hot to trot on this offer.

I just hope I hear back about my Chase Freedom Unlimited decision before (when/if) this offer pops up.

Best use of Hilton points

Yes, Hilton points are notoriously “devalued” but you can still do well at lower category hotels if you like to stretch out your points.

You get the 5th night free on award stays with elite status (which you’ll have with this card), and Hilton Category 2 hotels are still only 10,000 Hilton points per night.

So you could get 12 free nights at my favorite Hilton Category 2 hotels (10 nights x 10K points = 100,000, add 2 more nights because of 5th night free).

With Points & Money rates, you can stretch the points even farther.

I pegged the value of 75,000 Hilton points as high as $1,000. 100,00 Hilton points is even better – there’s no reason why you couldn’t do even better. Because each of your redemptions only needs to cover ~$83 for each of 12 nights to hit that target ($83 X 12 = $1,000).

Or ~$167 for 6 nights at Category 4 hotels (5 nights x 20K points = 100,000, add 1 night because of 5th night free) – which is also doable.

Bottom line

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: when banks compete, you win.

I think this is a response from AMEX about the recent 75,000 Hilton points offer on the no annual fee Citi Hilton Visa, which is still kicking until April 1st, 2016.

You can apply for that offer here:

Hotel Credit Cards

In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if this new AMEX offer popped up a day or 2 before the Citi offer ended.

Considering its expiration date, it seems likely.

Will I apply? Hell yeah. You can only get highest-ever offers on AMEX cards once per lifetime now, so why not?

I’ll probably cancel it soon after, get the AMEX no annual fee version of the card later and hope to be targeted to upgrade to the AMEX Hilton Surpass card again in the future. Because I would’ve already gotten this bonus, it’ll be a moot point if that happens, and I might even wring some more Hilton points out of the whole deal.

Hilton is vilified within the points/miles community, but I’ve found Hilton points are incredibly easy to earn. And they’ve been quiet generous to me so far this year.

In fact, I’ll hope to score another “suite” upgrade in Tokyo in a couple of weeks – and hopefully 100,000 Hilton points richer.

Have I finally flown the coop? Will you pull the trigger on the AMEX Hilton Surpass offer if it’s publicly available at 100,000 Hilton points? 

* If you liked this post, consider signing up to receive free blog posts via email (only 1 per day!) or in an RSS reader and you’ll never miss an update! And thanks for using my link to apply for new card offers!

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

Imagining a New Premium Chase Card

Also see: 

My Last Chase Card: Just Applied for Chase Freedom Unlimited
4 Things Holding Back Citi ThankYou From Being the Best Points Program

There were rumors on Reddit that Chase is putting together a new premium credit card with a high annual fee a la AMEX Platinum and Citi Prestige.

Moreover, on that same link, there’s another rumor that Chase is planning an overhaul to its Ultimate Rewards program to make it less lucrative.

While I don’t believe Chase would mess with Ultimate Rewards any time soon (because they need to compete with AMEX and Citi’s transferable points programs), I do think Chase is ripe for a new ultra-premium credit card offering.

I thought it’d be fun to imagine what that card might look like. And what features it would need to have for Chase to remain a viable competitor in the premium credit card space.

A new Chase card?

I’d love to see Chase put together a card with premium perks and benefits.

They pioneered transferable points programs with the Sapphire Preferred card and Ultimate Rewards. Because they were first to offer bonus points on travel and dining, they were able to set the benchmark.

But with regard to a premium card – they are tardy to the party. And to beat the competition, a card like that would have to be seriously amazing.

It would need:

A $450 annual fee

That’s the fee on AMEX Platinum and Citi Prestige. They could probably get away with $500 if the card is seriously kick-ass.

United Club lounge access

AMEX has Delta, Citi has American. Chase has United, but has yet to add United Club access to a card not directly affiliated with United.

Required

Now that there are only 3 legacy airlines left, it makes sense.

$200 or $250 airline fee credits

And not just for United. Even Citi, who’s loyal to American, gives you $250 per year to use on any airline as you wish. And not just for incidentals – you can buy a ticket and get it reimbursed.

3X, 4X, or 5X bonus categories

Citi Prestige offers 3X on airfare and hotel stays. AMEX Platinum has annoyingly never offered more than 1 AMEX Membership Rewards point per $1 spent.

Try 3X, at least

Chase has to top Sapphire Preferred, otherwise what’s the point? 3X makes the most sense – for travel purchases at the very least.

At least 1 seriously amazing perk

Preferably 2. Citi Prestige gives you the 4th night free on ANY paid hotel stay booked through Citi Travel. You can use this perk an unlimited amount of times.

I got my 4th night free in a Suite in Barcelona from Citi Prestige

I’ve used this perk several times and expect to get well over $2,000 in credits from this feature alone!

I don’t think that’s sustainable for the long-haul. But AMEX Fine Hotels & Resorts has dependably given $100 spa/dining/property credit on hotel stays for a while now.

Primary car rental insurance world-wide

Sapphire Preferred has it. The new card should have it, too.

Several ancillary bennies

3 free rounds of golf per year, anyone? Citi Prestige has a few fun perks to enjoy. I’m not a golfer, but if you are, this is a fantastic benefit.

Citi also has Citi Price Rewind and AMEX has high purchase protection limits. A new Chase card should have several built-in features like this to encourage all types of spending – especially big-ticket items.

Airline and/or hotel elite status

AMEX Platinum gets you SPG Gold and Hilton Gold elite status.

Hilton Gold status gets you free breakfast. So does Marriott Gold status. And Hyatt Diamond status. (IHG is hopeless.)

I just want free breakfast lol

Chase might get Starwood hotels soon. Having a mid-tier – or even top-tier – hotel status perk for free breakfast would be amazing.

Chase also has United and Southwest. Maybe mid-tier status on United? That may be reaching too far, but they’d need to sweeten the deal – and that would help a lot.

Premium Ultimate Rewards points

Make them worth more toward booking travel through Chase. Instead of 1.25 cents each, how about 1.5? Like Chase Freedom Unlimited.

A great sign-up bonus

More, more, more!

I’m thinking 60,000 Ultimate Rewards points – at least.

Priority Pass, Global Entry, No forex fees, great phone service

Simply because AMEX Platinum and Citi Prestige have all of these. Gotta have these standard perks!

Bottom line

These are just rumors for now, but I believe there’s a kernel of truth in there. It makes sense and it’s logical – an ultra-premium credit card is missing from the Chase lineup of cards.

So these are my wishes for such a card. As long as it has a $200 – $300 annual fee fee after credits, I’d seriously have to consider it. But with the 5/24 rule, it’s anyone’s guess who would even qualify for the card. Maybe we’ll get lucky and get an early crack at it like the Chase Freedom Unlimited card.

Your turn! What would you want to see on a Chase premium card with a $450 annual fee? What would be the dealmaker (or breaker)?

* If you liked this post, consider signing up to receive free blog posts via email (only 1 per day!) or in an RSS reader and you’ll never miss an update! And thanks for using my link to apply for new card offers!

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

Vipassana Part 2: My Experience on the Path of Dhamma

Also see: 

Vipassana Part 1: Getting There and About the Course
Next Week: Heading to Vipassana to Meditate for Ten Days

OR,

Learning Through My Legs

OR,

Busting Through Samkaras

OR,

Vipassana: A Magic Cushion Ride

Note: This post is text-heavy and has nothing to do with points and miles. I’m writing about it here for the same reason I write Trip Reports – to share a new experience. That’s what travel is really about anyway!

In you haven’t yet, be sure to read Vipassana Part 1 to get some background info on an experience like this.

During my time at the Dhamma Siri Meditation Center in Kaufman, TX, the weather actually perfectly mirrored the entire experience. It was uncanny how perfect it was.

Days begin at 4am:

Vipassana Timetable

You’ll hear the loud gong of a bell at 4am. Then again at 4:20am – your signal to head to the Meditation Hall.

At the Center I attended, they have the light switch next to the bed. That first morning, I flicked the switch – and had no idea what I was really in for.

I got up, one foot in front of the other, and shortly before 4:30am, headed to the Meditation Hall for the first time.

Days 1-3: Going Inward (Rainy AF)

I’m lucky I even made it into DFW. Many flights were canceled because of the weather.

A few days before the course began, there was terrible flooding and high winds. So the area was already damp. It was the kind of weather that made you want to stay inside – and perfect for an inward-looking journey.

I made my way to the Meditation Hall in the cold pre-dawn rain, and huddled silently with a group of strangers at 4:30am. We were waiting to be called in for the first Vipassana sitting.

The handsome Meditation Hall

And the whole time I was thinking, “WHAT have I got myself into now?”

The biggest thing to note is that the teacher, S. N. Goenka, has passed away. They use audio and video recordings to continue his teachings.

Inside the Meditation Hall, the teachers sat on a stage, dressed in white robes.

We took our spots on our assigned cushions. And then the teacher pressed the play button on some device.

Goenka’s voice boomed out from the speakers above.

Nondescript nature or life teeming sensationally, rising and passing away?

After you get used to it, it’s fine. But that first time was kind of jarring, to gather and listen to these audio recordings.

Anyhoozers, Day 1 is all about watching the breath. That’s it. “Pure breath.”

There are breaks for breakfast, lunch, and tea scattered throughout the day.

And you can, at times, meditate in your room or in the Pagoda (more on that in a bit).

But for the most part, you sit on a cushion in the Meditation Hall.

All day, I sat on my cushion and watched my breath.

Day 2 is about breathing in and out. Watching the breath go in – observing the breath go out.

Patiently and persistently. With perfect equanimity, perfect equanimity.

Day 3 is about feeling the “touch” of your breath inside your nose and above your top lip. Isolating the area of concentration sharpens the mind. And prepares you to dedicate that level of attention to the rest of your body.

My legs were killing me. Sitting up was fine. Back was fine. It was the legs.

I couldn’t get them comfortable. I crossed and uncrossed, thunderbolted, stretched out, huddled around my knees, added and took away cushions – anything and everything I could think of! Nothing helped.

Teacher summoned me to the front and asked if I wanted a chair.

I said no, that it was steadily getting better. He said give it one more day. Because Vipassana would require me to soon sit completely still.

Day 4: Vipassana Day (Winds of Change / Windy AF)

The rain finally broke. And we were left with weather scraping itself over the earth.

I saw they’d changed the skedge for that day. It was “Vipassana Day.”

This day is the centerpiece of the whole experience, where you learn the technique for the first time.

The videos they played at the end of each day had an uncanny ability to relate to the day’s events, btw. Goenka was a character.

This day, we were instructed to simply feel all our bodily sensations.

To watch them:

Patiently
Persistently
Diligently
Vigilantly
Smilingly
Impersonally
Objectively
Yes, that’s a lot of adverbs!

The previous 3 days, I struggled to quiet the loud thoughts in my mind.

Slowly, the fully-formed thoughts broke down into phrases. Then words.

I couldn’t stop words from popping into my mind. It drove me insane!

Instead of focusing on how badly I was massacring my legs, I focused on getting these words out of my mind.

Morning and afternoon were filled with this. I still shifted my legs a bit, though much less than the previous days.

Then during the afternoon session, something happened.

My mind went completely blank!

I thought, “Whoa dude, you have no thoughts.” And then, “Well, by thinking you have no thoughts – that is a thought.”

“Oh right, I’ll stop thinking that.”

It felt like I was flying!

I was able to separate my mind’s focus from the thoughts I was thinking. I silently observed my body impersonally – as if it were not mine – and enjoyed the complete stillness. I have never had an experience or feeling like this before in my life.

I had to open my eyes for a few seconds to make sure I was still in the room, and on the cushions.

I felt like I’d blasted off into space! Sensations began popping up all over:

Itching
Pulsing
Vibrating
Near-sneezes
Legs about to freaking fall off

The mind-body link is just incredible. Incredible how your mind tricks you and can control you.

The mind is like a disobedient puppy that must be trained.

By not reacting to sensations – at all – I sent the message to my mind that it could no longer control me in this way. And just when I thought I’d found the trick, finally, my mind would find ever-increasingly cunning ways to deceive me.

Like I said, it was just incredible. I couldn’t believe how many sensations came and went.

These sensations, and their passing, means the release of samkaras.

Samkaras are things you tell yourself that form your reality and self-concept. There are 3 types of samkara lines you draw:

Lines in the water (fade immediately)
Lines in the sand (fade within a day)
Lines in the rock (have to be buffed out over time)

You can guess which ones we were starting to face.

Days 5-7: The clouds break (Sunny AF)

Beginning Day 5, we had 3 hours per day of “Strong Determination.”

That meant staying COMPLETELY still for an entire hour.

No fidgeting, no adjusting, nothing.

My mind screamed and hissed.

On the plus side, I found out what happens when your legs fall asleep and you don’t move them: they wake up again after a while.

Goenka began describing the experience as a “surgical operation” and “battle.”

I started thinking again. “This is medically unsafe. I’ll get a Deep Vein Thrombosis. The blood can’t reach. I’m damaging my nerves.”

I looked down occasionally, and saw my legs beneath me, open enough to be comfortable.

Then I scolded myself. “The legs are fine. But why does it hurt so bad?”

We were instructed to ignore “gross sensations.”

Instead, to focus on ever-increasing subtle sensations.

And to go down and down and down in ever-increasing layers of subtlety.

This “hurt” me to no end!

Days 4, 5, and 6 were the exact same. It was kind of a bummer because we had a new task at hand for Days 1, 2, and 3. My mind craved newness!

Instead, we were instructed to scan our bodies over and over. All day. Days and days of this.

I was an expert at isolating every sensation by the end of Day 5.

Instead, I focused on enjoying the delicate quiet in my mind. So quiet. But not to crave it!

By the end of Day 6, I could sit completely still for an hour without much pain. I was still progressing.

When it was time for a break, I sprung right up. I took every chance to take short walks, to stay active. I found that even while I was walking around with my eyes open, my mind was still quiet!

If a thought entered my mind, I could send it away. I could shut my eyes and snap my mind blank.

I felt supernatural.

To be honest, it was the other people that were distracting. I’ll sound like a bitch saying this, but the constant burping, farting, throat-clearing, coughing, shifting, sneezing, walking around, yawning, groaning, etc. was starting to get to me.

 

Every sneeze and cough

Each sneeze felt like it slammed into my little force field like an asteroid destroying the atmosphere.

I was experiencing all these new sensations and all these other people were making so much noise. But that’s part of being in the present moment – it presented yet another way to focus. It was an external thing to focus on instead of something internal.

But then, on Day 7, I got a “promotion.”

The Pagoda

I was given a private meditation cell in the Pagoda.

From what I understand, you are only assigned a cell if teacher thinks you can handle it.

A cell is a small room big enough for a cushion, painted white, with nothing inside but a light switch.

Pagoda entrance

Hallways of the Pagoda

My “cell”

View from the Pagoda

It was quiet inside. So quiet.

I could hear the sound of my own breathing inside my head. Instead of others distracting me, I distracted myself. I itched my head. I popped my knuckles. I shifted my legs because I could – with no watchful eyes around.

I realized I’d shifted external distractions for internal ones. I became my own asteroid. This was another level of learning to be in the present.

Around this time, Goenka warned up our time was drawing to an end, and to focus as seriously as possible for the time we had left.

I’d scanned my body thousands of times by that point. I began to think of my past and future.

Of everything I’ve hated, or destroyed, or fucked up.

Of things I want to do before I die.

If things were worth it. If I should just say fuck it all and travel as much as possible, all the rest of it be damned.

I thought of my non-existent relationship with my father. Of exes I’d been cruel to. Of my travels.

I flashed back to Maui, and Sydney, and Frankfurt, and Montreal, and Santiago. I thought of new tattoos I wanted to get. Of happy things, too.

My mind was flushing itself out – but I just wanted it to be calm.

To make this happen, I had to let all of it go and be there, presently. That day, Day 7, was perhaps my hardest day at the Dhamma Siri Vipassana Center.

Days 8-10

Everything became much easier. The pain in my legs faded.

My mind felt clear: razor-sharp. I felt almost euphoric. I wanted to burst into laughter every moment.

Day 9 was boring for me. I was tired of scanning my own body. My sensations had mostly faded by that point. I sat patiently and waited for an itch to pop up. The sensations got more and more subtle.

But I knew it would be over soon. But what was I so eager to return to anyway?

My phone? My computer? Please. The things I was “missing?” As far as I was concerned, I didn’t want to miss my own private revolution! I resolved to get over it and press ahead.

Of course, the time did draw to an end.

On Day 10, when we were allowed to talk, I didn’t want to. I enjoyed the silence too much to start prodding people or fielding random questions from strangers. I wasn’t ready to get back to that world. It would come all too quickly.

And it did. Like it began, it was all over – with the flick of a switch.

I cleaned my room according to their specifications, packed my things, which felt humbling, and got back on the shuttle bus to Dallas.

I gave myself a day to catch up.

And you know what I missed while I was away? Nothing. Absolutely nothing. 

And what I gained? The key to my own thoughts.

Should you consider a Vipassana course?

Yes, you should consider it. But actually going through with it isn’t for everyone.

People disappeared while I was there. I don’t know what happened to them – family emergency, or just couldn’t take it or what – but I noticed cushions cleared away, a few more each day.

And the end, I felt like one of the stragglers.

All through the experience, I heard peeps leaving to go burst into tears. I heard sobbing at night. The guy behind me started sniffling. I realized he was choking back tears.

Was it the mental anguish, the drudging up of past memories? The euphoria of the experience? Or the bodily pain? I’ll never really know. Perhaps all of them. Memories are painful. And it’s hard to let them go. But also such an intense relief.

When we were able to talk, peeps spoke of how antagonizing the experience was. And I realized it wasn’t quite as hard for me. Guess I didn’t have as many samkaras as I thought I did.

When I described the experience to one friend, she replied, “So… like prison?”

I lol’d. But yes, it is a bit like voluntary prison.

But it will help you. There will be some benefit: mind, body, or both.

It is hard, hard work. Even though you’re “just” sitting on a cushion for 10 days. It’s physically, mentally, and emotionally draining. Things will surface. And you should be prepared for that.

If you sign up, clear your skedge, fly or drive in, get all the way there – and then leave – you’re doing yourself a great disservice. Not to mention going through a lot of trouble. So think on it long and hard before you apply.

Plus, it’s only 10 days. Is that a long time? Yes and no. In some ways, it is. But it’s not a long time to spend with yourself. Penetrating the deepest levels of the mind isn’t something you want to do in a weekend, you know?

I recommend reading as many accounts as you can. You know yourself better than anyone. Don’t waste your time – or risk disturbing others who wish to seriously study – by signing up on a lark.

Bottom line

Whew! What a time.

Vipassana is a meditation technique that will affect you biochemically. Though it has a simple premise – mental purification through self-observation – it was still extremely challenging.

Looking back now, I think the course could’ve been 8 or 9 days instead of 10. But I understand why it’s set up the way it is: to work for as many people as possible. The centers are all over the world.

Vipassana means “seeing things as they really are.” Here’s a video of Mr. Goenka himself explaining it:

I recommend clicking through and reading the comments on the video – they’re very insightful!

Right now, I’m having trouble incorporating Vipassana into my other philosophies. For example, is it possible to plan for the future while simultaneously being in the present moment?

You’re also supposed to continue meditating 2 hours each day – 1 hour in the morning and another at night. I know, I know – I’m supposed to make time for it and if I cared about it, I would.

2 hours a day though? I’m not sure I’ll ever get there. But you can reap benefits with as little as 10 minutes a day. Maybe that’s a better place to begin.

I’m not critical of the course. On the contrary, I think it is as good as it can possibly be. If you want peace, love, joy, and gratitude – you should consider this technique.

This path is universal and will work for everyone on some level – sometimes in very big ways. But doing the actual work is up to you – no one else can do it for you.

I’m looking for ways to incorporate it into my everyday life. I want to solve this.

I learned that:

Everything is impermanent, including myself and all the sensations I will ever feel
It’s much easier to live with joy than anger, pain, or resentment
My mind tricks my body into doing things because it’s craving or avoiding
I can be silent if I want to be – mentally and physically
I don’t need a phone, computer, or the internet to live
The surest way to misery is holding on to the past or fantasizing about the future
The present is the only thing we can ever be sure of
I’m a naturally happy person, and I am thankful for much more than I ever imagined

Please feel free to share your experiences with Vipassana. And please ask me anything.

May all beings be happy.

* If you liked this post, consider signing up to receive free blog posts via email (only 1 per day!) or in an RSS reader and you’ll never miss an update! And thanks for using my link to apply for new card offers!

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

Review: Sala VIP Miro Lounge @ BCN Terminal 1

Also see: 

10 Fun Things to Do in Barcelona
10 (More) Cool Things To Do in Barcelona
Hotel Review: Alexandra Doubletree Barcelona, Dream Suite

“Yo, dude, Harlan. Haven’t you been back from Barcelona for like, 2 months? When you gonna wrap up the Barcelona posts?”

“I knowww. This is it. Last one, I promise!”

But for real. As I get ready to head to Tokyo, I figured I should finally put the lid on the Barcelona series. For now at least. :p

Before flying back to New York in American Airlines Business Class, I made sure to put my Priority Pass (that came with my Citi Prestige card) to good use by making a visit to the Sala VIP Miro lounge @ BCN.

Sala VIP Miro lounge

I was able to access it with a guest for free. I added this visit to the Citi Prestige by the Numbers page.

The Sala VIP Miro lounge

Link: Sala VIP Miro lounge @ BCN

I went in the morning, around breakfast time.

There weren’t many peeps in the lounge, and getting in was quick and easy. The desk agent scanned my Priority Pass card – and the gate was under 5 minutes away. Perfect.

We set down our luggage and checked it out.

This particular lounge is only accessible if you’re flying “intercontinental non-Schengen Terminal 1 flights”. BCN-JFK fit that description.

Seating

Seating. View from rear of lounge

Separate seating in a different room

Overall, the lounge was bright and had lots of outlets.

The wifi was fast (possibly because the place wasn’t crowded, as you can tell from the pics). Whatever the reason, that’s always a plus.

Nap room

There was even a place to PTFO!

Magazines

They also had magazines and newspapers set out.

The food

The place was fully stocked with juices, pastries, chips, yogurt, fruits, and other snacks.

There’s a Nespresso machine for coffee or lattes.

And beneath it, there’s a fridge stocked with beer, sodas, and the like.

Beyond the Nespresso machine, but in the same area, we found the wine and champagne (useful if you want to mix up a mimosa – which we did). I assume this is also where they set out self-serve liquors in the afternoon and evening.

Pastries and sandwiches

Water, yogurt, fruits

Chips, bread, juice

Nespresso coffee machine

Milk (regular and flavored), water, various kinds of juice

Cereal

Wine and champagne

Pastries, sweets, and breads

There was a nice selection of things to choose from. We each had a sandwich and a pastry, along with a coffee and mimosa, which was more than enough to get the day going and hold us over until the flight.

I was impressed with the overall ambiance of the lounge. The attendants did well to make sure dishes were picked up, and that food and drinks were replaced or restocked.

Bottom line

I kinda wish my visit was during the afternoon or evening – I would’ve liked to try their hot food offerings and partake in the self-serve drinks. But considering the early hour, there was a level of calm here that was much appreciated.

There are 3 lounges in Terminal 1 @ BCN. One is for BCN-MAD shuttle flights, another is for domestic and Schengen flights.

Then there’s this one. If you’re flying most anywhere else from T1, you can visit this lounge with your Priority Pass card.

Depending on which version of the card you have, you’ll pay $27 for each guest (up to 2, or your immediate family), or $0 if you have it through Citi Prestige (same rules).

It’s bright, and calm enough to actually get some pre-flight work done.

The food and drinks are more than sufficient, and there were plenty of outlets.

They also have a separate nap room, and a shower room in case you need to refresh.

I wish I could’ve stayed here a little longer. It’s worth showing up a little early to get some time here, especially if you’re flying coach and want to eat and drink a bit (and get in one last dose of internet) before your flight.

If you’ve been to this lounge, how does your experience compare? 

* If you liked this post, consider signing up to receive free blog posts via email (only 1 per day!) or in an RSS reader and you’ll never miss an update! And thanks for using my link to apply for new card offers!

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