Kathy Kristof » Travel

10 weird but wonderful frequent flyer rewards

kkristof — Sun, 08 Apr 2012 15:13:08 +0000

Want more than a free ticket? 10 weird & wonderful frequent flier awards

(MoneyWatch) Everybody knows that frequent flyer programs can land you better seats, free trips, and the ability to board the plane before the unwashed masses. But did you know that Air Baltic frequent flyer miles will pay for a dog-sled ride in Latvia? Or that Hawaiian Air will help you tee off at the championship Coral Creek golf course in Ewa Beach, Hawaii?

As an increasing number of credit card companies offer points that can be used on any airline, single-airline frequent flyer programs have had to step up with better alternatives, says Jay Sorensen, president of IdeaWorks, a company that does research and brand development for the airline industry.

“Reward-oriented credit cards that are not affiliated with a particular airline have forced airlines to make their offers richer, release more seats for frequent flyer programs, and offer more extravagant sign-up bonuses,” says Sorensen. They’ve also spurred an escalation in weird and wonderful reward options, like having the opportunity to pet Artic wolves in Sweden or sup on an in-flight “happy marriage cake.”

One caution: the point-based prices for these oddball rewards aren’t always a bargain. In a world where reward points are usually worth 1 to 3 cents each, the number of points you’d have to use to buy some of these off-kilter purchases might indicate that your reward points are worth a fraction of that value. For instance, Lufthansa will let you buy onboard wireless service for $15 in cash, but would deduct 3,500 miles from your account if you paid with points. At a penny per mile, that costs you the equivalent of $35. Not such a great deal.

And yet, some premium-price purchases may still be worth your while, says Sorensen, particularly for those spending “orphaned” miles on an airline they’re no longer flying. If you’ve switched favorite airlines, why not buy something with the rejected airlines miles, which are never going to amount to a free ticket?

Moreover, some of these offbeat rewards just can’t be replicated. For instance, Air Canada sold a leather vest autographed by George Clooney for 177,000 Aeroplan miles. That’s hard to value and, as an added bonus, Air Canada pledged to give the value of the rewards to charity.

Intrigued? Click here for a sampling of 10 other offbeat frequent flyer rewards that Sorensen uncovered.

6 Things You Should Never Reveal on Facebook

kkristof — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 22:40:08 +0000

On vacation? What you should never reveal on Facebook

The whole social networking phenomenon has millions of Americans sharing their photos, favorite songs and details about their class reunions on Facebook, MySpace, Twitter and dozens of similar sites. But there are a handful of personal details that you should never say if you don’t want criminals — cyber or otherwise — to rob you blind, according to Beth Givens, executive director of the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse.

The folks at Insure.com also say that ill-advised Facebook postings increasingly can get your insurance cancelled or cause you to pay dramatically more for everything from auto to life insurance coverage. By now almost everybody knows that those drunken party photos could cost you a job. And experts now say that debt collectors are throwing away their phone books in favor of trolling social networking sites to find deadbeats, too.

You can certainly enjoy networking and sharing photos, but you should know that sharing some information puts you at risk. What should you never say on Facebook, Twitter or any other social networking site?

Best & Worst Cities for Quality of Life

kkristof — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 22:19:32 +0000

European cities rank highest in quality of life

Europe may be in the throes of an economic crisis, but when it comes to quality of life, it’s the hands-down world leader, according to the latest quality of life survey by Mercer, a global human resource consulting firm.

Mercer conducts the annual survey to help corporate clients determine whether they need to provide hardship pay for employees who get stationed in the world’s worst cities – this year that would be Baghdad and Bangui in the Central African Republic. But in the process, it also compiles a list of the best places in the world to live, based on a variety of factors including personal safety, political stability, schools, public services, recreation, housing and climate. Here’s where the quality of life is the best and worst.

International Travel: 5 Ways to Save When Calling Home

kkristof — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 20:16:55 +0000

How to save on international calls

Did you hear about the woman with the $201,000 telephone bill? It wasn’t a mistake. It was because her brothers, accustomed to unlimited texting and data, stepped over the U.S. border and into Canada and used their phones like they always had. International roaming charges — even with an international plan — can be an economic nightmare.It doesn’t have to be. Here are five ways you can make international calls cheaply or free.

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Best & Worst Travel Rewards Cards

kkristof — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 16:42:27 +0000

Do you travel a lot? If so, you might want to check out the latest analysis of travel rewards cards done by NextAdvisor. The site has ranked 8 big credit card rewards programs, including the massive programs offered by Hilton, Marriott, American and United, on the basis of the dollar value of every point you earn. Check out their conclusions here.

Weekend Getaway? Where the Bedbugs Are

tdunlap — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 00:38:11 +0000

Traveling: Don't bring bed bugs back with you

Bed bugs are an itchy scourge on the earth and it can take months to get rid of them. What’s the best way to deal with an infestation? Stop it before it starts.

Head over to Moneywatch to read my preventative tips every traveler should know.

Also see our related post on ways to save on international calling.