Plastc and the Uncertain Future of All-in-One Smart Cards

ContentsWhat is Plastc?All-in-One SmartcardsFinal Thoughts What is Plastc? Plastc (not to be confused with Plastiq, a 3rd party payment processor) was a highly anticipated smart card that many customers have been eagerly awaiting for over a year. This card promised to consolidate all your credit cards into one electronic device, eliminating bulky wallets and looking stylish in the process. Unfortunately, the company…
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How to get and redeem Free Nights Certificates in different brands hotels

This is a free night summary, mainly focusing on how to get and redeem free night with the different hotel brands. If there is a mistake, please help correct me. Contents1. Introduction2. IHG2.1. Ways to earn2.2. Ways to redeem3. Hyatt3.1. Ways to earn3.2. Ways to redeem4. Marriott4.1. Ways to earn4.2. Ways to redeem (Including Marriott Travel Packages and Ritz-Carlton)5. Hilton5.1. Ways to earn5.2….
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Dancing with fugu: dinner at Usuki Fugu Yamadaya, a Michelin 3-Star restaurant

Japanese culture is renowned for its fine craftsmanship and the pursuit of perfection. The same spirit extends to food, too. Even a non-connoisseur of food would recognize Japan as one of the best places in the world to enjoy delicacies. Indeed, as of 2017 Tokyo alone has 12 Michelin 3-Star restaurant, surpassing even Paris. In Japan, there are 296 1-star restaurants, 98 2-stars, and 25 3-stars. Most…
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Barclaycard CashForward Credit Card Review (Discontinued)

Barclaycard CashForward World MasterCard Review ContentsApplication LinkBenefitsDisadvantagesRecommended Application TimeSummaryAfter ApplyingHistorical Offers ChartApplication Link Application Link This card no longer accepts new applications. If you are lucky to have this legacy credit card, you can still enjoy its original benefits. Benefits Earn $200 after spending $1,000 in first 90 days. This is the best offer for the card. Earn 1.5% cash back on all…
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A Complete Guide to the Marriott Travel Packages — The best way to redeem your SPG/Marriott points!

Marriott Travel Packages is the best way to redeem your SPG/Marriott points. In this post, I will introduce how to make the best out of SPG/Marriott through Marriott Travel Packages. ContentsWhy choose the Marriott Travel Packages?What are Marriott Travel Packages?How to Redeem1. Conversion ratio2. Cancel the hotel portion and get some point back3. Which airline I should select4. Step-by-step guide of…
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A Beginner’s Guide to United Airlines (UA) MileagePlus Miles

Contents1. Introduction2. United MileagePlus Elite Status3. How do I earn miles?3.1. Paid flights on United or one of their partners3.2. Credit CardsUnited Credit CardsChase Credit CardsWhich card should I choose?3.3. Shopping3.4. Dining3.5. MileagePlus X (MPX)4. How to book award flights4.1. Award Chart4.2. Booking4.3. Saver Awards vs Standard Awards4.4. Booking Tips5. Miscellaneous5.1. No fuel surcharges5.2. Mileage expiration 1. Introduction United Airlines…
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Hacking the Cost of an Engagement Ring

ContentsIntroductionBackgroundAMEX OffersMerchant Gift Card DealsStacking Deals Introduction With good timing and a little bit of planning, I was able to stack multiple deals to get 33% in savings off retail for the custom engagement ring of my fiance’s dreams. Keep reading if you want to learn how! Background In late 2016, I started shopping for an engagement ring. It took…
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Delta Sky Club Seattle (Terminal A) – Review

In October 2016, Delta opened a new Sky Club in Terminal A of SeaTac International Airport to complement the existing, smaller Sky Club at the South Satellite terminal. Though normally an Alaska loyalist, I took advantage of a recent opportunity to fly Delta with the sole purpose of checking out the new SkyLounge. In short, Delta spent $24 million to construct one of the nicest domestic…
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A Guide to the Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG) Program

Hey all, Today I’m going to write about the Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG) Program. We’ll go through the ins and outs of the program. Buckle up and enjoy the ride! Contents1. Overview2. SPG Status Levels3. Additional Tiers“Normal” Platinum (25 stays, 50 nights)50-night Platinum (25 stays, 50 nights)75-night Platinum100-night Platinum (Ambassador level)4. Hotel Properties5. PartnershipsDeltaEmiratesChina EasternAirline PartnersAmexMarriott6. Conclusion 1. Overview First…
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Major changes to the AmEx Platinum cards, and why you should apply for the Schwab Platinum now (Update: You can request metal card now!)

Mar 30th Update: Changes should be in effect today. $15 Uber Credit is now available in your Uber account. And you can request the metal card now. Simply login in to your online account, click ‘Account Services’, then ‘Card Management’, and you should be able to see a card replacement option. Any newly issued or replacement card after Mar 30th will automatically…
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