Second Visit to Kyoto: One Meal Took Four Hours! Park Hyatt Kyoto, Kiyomizu-dera, Cherry Blossoms, and the Ultimate Udon
Morning on Ninenzaka and Sannenzaka I kept seeing posts through cherry-blossom season showing how crowded Sannenzaka was, with lines so thick people couldn’t walk through. It was a...
A Second Visit to Kyoto: A Rainy Day During Cherry Blossom Season (Roku Kyoto, Finding Calm at Sanzen-in, the Philosopher’s Path, and a Yakiniku Restaurant)
Picking up from the previous post, after enjoying a wonderful kaiseki meal, we took a taxi back to the hotel to officially check in....
British Airways Avios Guide (1): Major Devaluation for AA and Alaska Awards
Recently, Avios award redemptions for Alaska and AA have taken another major hit. Economy awards saw increases of up to 45% in the miles required, so these redemptions can basicall...
Accor ALL and Qatar Airways: Earn Rewards, Bonus Points, Status Match, and Point Transfers
If you link your Accor ALL account with your Qatar Airways Privilege Club account, you can earn rewards in both programs, transfer points between them, and receive a status match....
Second Trip to Kyoto: Roku Kyoto, the Best Cherry Blossom Spots, and a Surprisingly Great Kaiseki Meal
Last year, I only stayed in Kyoto for two days, so there were still many places I didn’t get to visit and I was left wanting more. This year, I went all in and stayed for five nigh...
Synchrony Verizon Credit Card Review: Up to 4% Cash Back, $150 Welcome Bonus
The cash-back rates on this card are about to change. Dining and takeout will increase to 4% back, up from 3%, and Verizon device and accessory purchases will increase to 4%, up fr...
Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach Review
On the way back from San Diego, we decided to make a stop to rest, so we booked a one-night stay at the Waldorf in Monarch Beach....
Best Credit Cards for Amazon Purchases
Amazon’s biggest event in July, Prime Day, is almost here. Here’s a roundup of the best credit cards for shopping on Amazon.com....
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Chase Southwest Premier Business Credit Card [60,000-Point Sign-Up Bonus]
Chase Southwest Premier Business Credit Card Overview “Note” If this is your first time applying for a business credit card, please read “Introduction to Business Credit Cards” fir...
Finally Made It to Machu Picchu—and It Cost Less Than Expected
Machu Picchu Another term from my middle-school geography textbook, finally unlocked. In the faint light of dawn, looking out over the full panorama of Machu Picchu—the "Lost City...
From Cusco to Machu Picchu
Body At six in the morning, the old city of Cusco was still fast asleep in the gray haze of dawn. I hopped onto a minibus by Plaza San Francisco, squeezed among equally bleary-eyed...