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Thu. Aug 5th, 2021
Daddy Travels Now - Life with Miles & Points
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Our travels
Asia
Japan
How we booked 12 FREE tickets to Japan
The mad rush to get ready for Japan
Tokyo AirBNB for 17 guests? No problem!
One day in Tokyo
Flying via ANA + our first few hours in Japan
A symphony of food at Matsusaka Yakiniku M in Dotonbori, Osaka
All things Osaka – delicious and colorful
AirBNB in Kyoto for 19? No problem!
Visiting Nara – a perfect day trip from Kyoto
Embracing Kyoto: Fushimi Inari Shrine
Kyoto Days: Walking through historical Ninenzaka
All things Kyoto
Japanese Efficiency: Two Lost and Found Tales
Singapore
How to access airport lounges for free
How we scored a $300 mistake fare to Singapore
Singapore – The longest day ever
Malaysia
From Marina Bay Sands to Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur All the Way
Got sick during vacation
Takeaways from Singapore & Malaysia
Australia
LA to Sydney
Visa for Australia?
Unprepared Oz ever
Eating our hearts out in Oz
France, Thailand, China, Philippines = Melbourne
Once a year, go some place you’ve never been before – Dalai Lama
The mountains are calling & I must go – John Muir
These are the place I’ll remember
I haven’t been everywhere, but it’s on my list – The Takeaways from Oz – Part One
Take aways and Thanksgiving
Canada
Toronto
Europe
London, Budapest, Prague (Fall 2015)
Day One: Flying across the pond
Day Two: Keep the dream alive
Day Three: Putting the puzzle pieces together
Day Four: From Notting Hill to Saigon
Day 5; Harry Potter, Beatlemania, Tower Bridge to Sheena’s Flat
Day 6: Thank you, London! Hello, Budapest!
Day 7: Budapest is BeautyPest – the most underrated city in Europe
Day 8: All Things Budapest – Cafes and Opera
Day 9: Thermal Bath. Outdoors. Snow. Seriously.
Day 10: Czech list: Prague! Check!
Day 11: Prague-tically perfect day in Czech Republic
Day 12: Imagine (Lennon) – Never in my wildest dreams that I’d be in Prague
Day 13: Wolfgang. Amadeus. Mozart.
Day 14: The Journey Back Home
The Takeaway: Keep on Traveling
Milan, Florence, Pisa, Venice, Lake Como, Paris (Spring 2015)
2015: No resolutions…just decisions
From NYC to Milan, Italy
Destination: Firenze and Pisa
Venezia: Every turn a surprise
All things Paris
Milan -> Lake Como -> Louis Vuitton
Back in the concrete jungle and “the takeaway”
Lisbon, Barcelona, Madrid, Paris (Summer 2016)
Lisbon
Back to Europe Summer 2016
Finally, Lisbon
Lisbon: You’re Growing On Me
Lisbon: Walked Our Hearts Out
Lisbon: We Had To Make A Choice
Barcelona
Lisbon, obrigado!!! ¿Barcelona, estás listo para nosotros?
Let’s go to a hospital in Barcelona #SaidNoOneEver
Barcelona: Take A Break
Barcelona: Sit Back and Relax (City Tour, La Boqueria Mercat, Sagrada Familia, Montjuic)
Barcelona: A Day Trip to Sitges & Unforgettable Tapas at Ciudad Condal
Madrid
Madrid: The Adventures Continue with Marcia Cross
Madrid: You’re So Walkable
Paris 2016
For Paris is a Moveable Feast – Ernest Hemingway
Paris: Flâner – To Walk In The City In Order to Experience It
Paris: The Wrap-up (Days 3 and 4)
From NYC to Milan, Italy
The Takeaways Europe 2016
That’s a wrap…the takeaways #FranciscosGoneEurope4
Iceland & Sweden (Winter 2016)
$99 one-way to Europe? Here’s how we booked it
The Road to Iceland and flying WOW Air
The Blue Lagoon is errethang!!!
Chasing The Northern Lights & Golden Circle Tour
Travel far enough, you meet yourself – Iceland’s South Coast
When in doubt, travel….exploring Reykjavik
Why are travel protection benefits important
Last night in Sweden – from Greasy Spoon to Obama
The Takeaways from Iceland and Sweden
Europe 2018 – Porto, Rome, Naples, Manchester, London
Porto
What we did with over 8 hours in New York City
From NYC to Porto, Portugal
How we spent our first few hours in Porto
Exploring the coastal city of Porto
How to spend a day in Guimarães (outside of Porto)
How we only paid $7 at the AC Hotel Marriott in Porto (valued over $550 USD)
Rome & Naples
How to see a lot of Rome in a day
A day in Naples + a visit to L’Antica Pizzeria da Michele
Trastevere is not to be missed in Rome
Manchester & London
Amsterdam and Barcelona
Amsterdam
Two Free Roundtrip tickets to Europe. Check.
What to do during a layover in Amsterdam
Barcelona 2018
Get out of Barcelona – a day trip to Girona, Spain
A day trip to Tarragona, Spain
Things to know about a day trip to Montserrat, Spain
South America
Peru
How we booked 2 Business Class seats to Peru $0 out of pocket
Finally, Peru!!!
How we experienced Machu Picchu
Central Restaurante – the 5th Best Restaurant in the World
All things Cusco & beyond
Maido – Ranked #8 in The World’s 50 Best Restaurants
American Reps handled our itinerary from Lima to Machu Picchu
My 8 Takeaways from our trip to Peru
Astrid y Gaston – Ranked #33 in The World’s 50 Best Restaurants
New York City
NYC 2014
NYC Spring 2017
NYC Winter 2017/2018
Hawaii
Maui
Maui 2014
Day One: We’re getting Maui’d
Day Two: Maui’d with children
Day Three: Road to Hana Long & Winding Road
Day Four: Low-key Kihei
Day Five: Broke da Mouth
Day Six: Wild, Wild West
Day Seven: Huli-huli chicken & ALS Ice Bucket Challenge
Day Eight: Back to Hana?
Day Nine: Maui No Ka Oi & Takeaways
Maui 2016
$11 per person to Maui 2016
Here today, gone to Maui
So food to see you
To Hana and beyond
Standed! Maui brush fire
Kihei is home, cooking lessons
Wailea daze and Hamilton moment
Wailea R&R all day
2016 Maui Takeaways
Kauai
Kauai 2015
No DIY, we’re going to Kauai
Lazy day in paradise – Kauai Day 2
Kids, clean mommy is coming! Day 3 Kauai
AirBNBeliever Day 4 Kauai
Poipu beach and shrimp cravings Day 5 Kauai
Finally the six of us- Day 6
Pies – Beach – Sunset – Connect Four – Kauai Day Seven
It’s all about the North Shore – Kauai Day Eight
From the End of the Road to “Caitlin’s Beach” – Kauai Day Nine
Hike, Jump, Swim, Eat – Kauai Day Ten
We Let Hawaii Happen (plus the takeaways) – Kauai Day Eleven
Kauai 2017
$6,000 4th of July trip for $11 per person
Day One: A vacation from all our vacations
Day Two: Let Kauai happen
Day Three: From Poipu to Urgent Care
Day Four: To Princeville & Beyond
Day Five: From North Shore to South Shore
Big Island
Big Island 2018
$11 per person to the Big Island with points
Choosing Hawaii over Cancun
What we did on the first few hours on the Big Island
Once on this Big Island
Hilo Daze
Hapuna Beach, Waikoloa, a cop, lost backpack
Big Island of Hawaii Bucket List: Volcano and Rainbow (check)
From Hilo to Hamakua Coast
Ranking the 4 Hawaiian Islands & my vacation takeaways
9 FREE tickets to Japan roundtrip
Media
How I got The Wall Street Journal Interview – Apr 2018
My Wall Street Journal Interview – Apr 2018
My Reader Success Story featured by The Points Guy
How I landed the Million Miles Secrets Interview
How to save on car rentals without even trying
My Digital Nomad YouTube Interview
Credit Cards
Reader Tales
The Yamaguchi’s European Christmas Holiday – Reader Success Tales
Stephen & Fiona’s Trip to Japan
$80 Trip for 2 to Costa Rica – Vanessa’s Tales
$11 trip to Hawaii – Iza’s Tales
Last-minute anniversary trip to Maui – Bryan & Emily’s Tales
The Smith Sisters conquer NYC
Reader Success Tales: Seeing the world through my children’s eyes
Tips
Miscellaneous Tips
Access airport lounges for FREE
Getting around NYC on a budget
How to eat at LAX’s PF Chang’s for free (up to $90 value)
Broadway tips
FREE ticket upgrades to Frozen on Broadway
5x of watching Hamilton in NYC, San Francisco, Los Angeles, & London
3rd Row Orchestra seats to Hamilton Broadway
Discounted Broadway tickets in NYC
Airfare tips
Fly to New York for $5.60/person
$11 per person to Big Island Hawaii
$99 one-way to Europe
Father & daughter trip to Europe for $245 (using points)
How we travel for FREE or nearly FREE
6 FREE Roundtrip tickets to the East Coast (valued up to $9,000)
Two FREE Business Class seats to Peru using points
4 FREE Roundtrip Tickets to the Philippines
Hotel Tips
We paid $7 at the AC Hotel Marriott in Porto (valued over $550 USD)
FREE hotels NYC, Niagara Falls, and Toronto for FREE (worth nearly $5,000)
About me
The Takeaways Europe 2016
You missed
French Polynesia
Hilton Moorea
Moorea
Travelzoo
Trip Report
Trip Report: Danny’s visit to French Polynesia – Hilton Moorea
Jul 2, 2021
Jason
American Airllnes
American Express Membership Rewards
first class
How I booked American Airlines Flagship First using American Express Membership Rewards +$15 fees
Jun 28, 2021
Jason
car rental
Travel Tips
Turo
What happens when Turo car rental hosts cancel your reservations – Meghan’s nightmare
Jun 3, 2021
Jason
chase sapphire preferred
chase sapphire reserve
Chase Ultimate Rewards
Chatflights
Tips
Redeeming Chase Ultimate Rewards for Flights: How to Get the Best Value (shared by Chatflights)
Jun 2, 2021
Jason