Six Terrible Reasons Why My Husband Opened the Wrong Credit Card

Do not pass Go. Do not collect $200I’ve been married almost 20 years but my husband never fails to surprise me.

Today we were coming home from the 4th of July picnic at my Mom’s nursing home when he mentioned something about a Kohl’s charge card.

You have got to be kidding!   Store-branded credit cards are almost always a bad idea:

  • the rewards are limited to the store at hand
  • the opening bonus is insubstantial
  • you are taking a hit on your credit score for a very limited benefit

If you have a good to excellent credit score, and you pay your bills on time and in full every month, there are far better offers out there.

This is the same guy that has been refusing for months to consider applying for a travel rewards credit card — one that would provide a sign-up bonus worth hundreds of dollars and put us not the path to our next vacation.

 Travel Rewards Credit Cards and the Noncompliant Spouse

Kohl's Credit Card
Honey, you shrunk the credit card bonus.

Okay, so this is my hobby, not my his.  After 20 years, I’ve learned to live and let live.

But lordy, lordy, a Kohl’s charge card?

There are a million and one better options that provide flexible rewards that can be redeemed for travel.

My husband is an independent thinker who has his own opinions about things.  He has told me he didn’t want to keep track of another credit card and that is that.

The Six Worst Reasons, Ever, to Open a Kohl’s Charge Card

Here are the reasons my husband offered for opening the Kohl’s Charge Card.

  1. the 20 percent discount on that day’s purchase
  2. a 15 percent discount for a future purchase
  3. cardholders get special coupons
  4. he shops at Kohl’s four or five times a year
  5. the card is a nice color
  6. the checkout girl was cute

Do the Math, Folks

We probably spend $500 to $600 per year at Kohl’s, if that.  Generously assuming a 20 percent discount on all purchases, we would be saving $120 per year at most.

Contrast that with the $400 bonus and cash back savings on the Barclaycard Arrival Plus™ World Elite MasterCard®.  This card pays 2x points on all purchases!  

Plus you get 10 percent of your redemptions credited back to your account.

Say we charge $10,000 of purchases in a year.  That would be $200 cash back when redeemed for travel expenses.

So, in the first year, when the annual fee is waived, we’re looking at $400 plus $200, plus $60 for a total $660 in rewards toward travel expenses.  You can read my full review of the pros and cons of the Barclaycard Arrival Plus™ World Elite MasterCard® here. 

There are numerous other bonus offers that may be even more lucrative, and other credit cards like the Amex Blue Cash Preferred that offer 3x bonus points on all department store purchases, including Kohl’s.

 

Foreign Visitors Can Fly Anywhere in Japan for $100

Experience Japan Fare
Experience Japan Fare: Fly Anywhere for $106

Japan is a nation of islands with great geographic diversity — from the snow capped peaks of Hokkaido to the tropical beaches of Okinawa.

While much of the country is connected via high speed rail, if you are short on time or want to visit more far-flung regions, you may be interested in one of the many discount airfares available to foreign visitors.

Increased competition by discount airlines in Japan have led to an array of discount offers on domestic routes:

  1. Experience Japan Fare
  2. One World Yokoso Visit Japan Fare
  3. Japan Airlines Welcome to Japan Fare
  4. Star Alliance Japan Airpass
  5. ANA Visit Japan Fare

The most flexible of these is the Experience Japan Fare.  You can purchase tickets while in Japan allowing for more spontaneity, and there are no blackout dates.

The major downsides of the Experience Japan Fare are that tickets must be purchased 3 days in advance and are non-changeable and nonrefundable.

The Experience Japan Fare:  Up to 75% off Domestic Airfares

All Nippon Airlines (ANA) offers the Experience Japan Fare to international visitors to Japan.  You can fly anywhere in Japan for 10,800 Japanese Yen, including taxes and fees.  At today’s exchange rate (June 24, 2014) that’s $106 US dollars.

This is a gigantic bargain!  For instance, the regular one-way fare between Tokyo and Okinawa is 46,000 Yen.  The Experience Japan Fare at 10,800 Yen is more than 75 percent off!

Eligibility for the Experience Japan Fare

Experience Japan Fare
Experience Japan Fare

The Experience Japan Fare   is meant for visitors to the country.  There are  three conditions to be eligible for the fare:  You must:

  • reside outside of Japan;
  • hold a passport issued by a country other than Japan; and
  • have an international ticket from any airline to and from Japan.

How to Fly Anywhere Within Japan for $100

The Experience Japan Fare of 10,800 JPY per flight (this includes the 800 JPY tax) is good for tickets issued from April 1, 2014 until October 25, 2014.

There are some rules to keep in mind:

  • Reservations must be made at least 3 days prior to the departure date.
  • Tickets can be purchased up to 14 days before departure.
  • There is no limit on the number of segments you may fly.
  • Seats are limited and may not be available on all days or on all flights.
  • You will accrual frequent flyer miles.
  • One checked bag is included in the fare.
  • No changes and no refunds allowed.

Please note this important caution:  There may be instances where it may cost less to include all Japan domestic flights within your international flight discount fare if you are connecting to/from an ANA international flight.

Further information on fare conditions is available online.

Other Airlines Offer Special Fares for Foreign Visitors to Japan

There are several other discount fares with comparable prices.

One World Yokoso Visit Japan Fare

To be eligible for the One World Yokoso Visit Japan Fare, travel to Japan must be a carrier in the One World Alliance and tickets must be purchased before arrival in Japan.

oneworld Yokoso/Visit Japan Fare.
One World Yokoso Visit Japan Fare

One World includes JAL, American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Finnair, Qantas and several other airlines.

Tickets cost 10,800 Yen and are valid for two months.

Blackout periods apply:

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IHG Froze My Rewards Club Account

IGH Rewards Club Account Frozen
IGH Rewards Club Account Frozen

Have you seen the movie Frozen?  Well, that’s exactly what happened to my IHG Rewards Club account.

A couple of weeks ago, I was researching hotels for an upcoming  summer trip.

I noticed that I could not pull up the IHG web page on my computer.  A notice popped up that the site was down.  When this continued for more than a week, I finally realized that something was wrong.

IHG Froze My Rewards Club Account

I called IHG and was told that the website was not down.

However, my access to the website had been terminated for — dare I say — fraudulent activity.

Don’t Believe Everything You Read on the Internet, Duh

IHG Rewards Club (formerly known as Priority Club) allows you to stack more than one promo code on to a reservation.

These promo codes allow you to earn extra points for your stay, sometimes a lot of extra points!

I had found a list of IHG promo codes on a blog somewhere and had attempted to enter as many as possible on to my account.  About half the codes I tried were accepted.

Don’t Enroll in Random IHG Promos

The customer service rep told me that my IHG Rewards Club account had been frozen because I had applied promo codes to my account that I found on the internet.

She warned me to use only promo codes that had been emailed specifically to me.

Using random promo codes would result in IHG confiscating all my points and permanently terminating my account.

Some of the travel hacks you read about on the internet can backfire.  This hack had apparently been working for quite some time.  About the time I discovered it, in June 2014, IHG had pulled the plug.  Consider yourself warned.

Have any travel hacks backfired on you?  Please share in the comments.

Fabulous Deal on Price’s Seafood Restaurant

Save at Price's Seafood in Harve de Grace, MD
Save at Price’s Seafood in Harve de Grace, MD

Update:  Deal Extended.  $16 for $40 of crabs with coupon code:  Save 20% off sitewide with code SUMMERSTART. Valid 6/19/14 12:00 am ET through 6/21/14 11:59 pm PT. Restrictions apply.

I’ve raved about the sweet crabs at Price’s Seafood Restaurant in Harve de Grace, Maryland before.

This bayside restaurant serves up bushels of crabs and other seafood specials.  It’s not fancy, just a genuine crab shack by the Chesapeake Bay.

Price’s Seafood restaurant is a great midway stop if your driving between New York and Washington.

LivingSocial Deal on Price’s Seafood

LivingSocial is running a fabulous deal where you can get a voucher for $40 worth of seafood for $20.  (Please note that the terms of the offer exclude Fridays and Saturdays.)

But you can do better than that!

Price's Seafood on the Chesapeake Bay
Price’s Seafood on the Chesapeake Bay

If you collect United Mileage Plus points, you can get 6x points by going to LivingSocial via the United Shopping Portal, and an additional 15 percent off with coupon code UNITED15.  

You must act quickly because this offer expires today, June 16, 2014!  You’ll get the voucher for $17, plus earn 102 Mileage Plus points in the bargain!

100 points isn’t worth much, but can be useful if you need a transaction on your account to keep your miles from expiring.

Alternately, if you go through the cash back shopping portal at FatWallet, you can get 10 percent cash back.  I have had very good experience with FatWallet.  They track all your purchases and the cash back posts fairly promptly.  With this route, you’ll get $2.00 cash back on your purchase.

Hat tip to Just Another Points Traveler.

This post contains affiliate links.  Thanks if you choose to use them.

Free Tour of the Historic Woolrich Mill

Woolrich Factory Tour
Woolrich Factory Tour

As soon as I opened the email from my husband (see picture to left), I knew a road trip to central Pennsylvania was in my future.

Factory tours are de rigueur on our family vacations.  I’ve been to an aluminum smelter, a silk tie factory, a newspaper printing operation, an airplane factory, a ski-doo factory, a cheese factory and a toothpaste factory.  If we ever make it to Japan, we’ll probably go to the Toto toilet factory, the Ramen noodle factory and the Toyota factory.

We are members of the Society of Industrial Archeology which often arranges small group tours to industrial sites.

2014 Woolrich Woolen Mill Tour Dates

Woolrich Woolen Mill in Woolrich, Pennsylvania has been in operation since 1830.  It is the oldest continuously operating mill in the United States.

Several times a year, Woolrich offers tours of the mill to members of the public.  The tour shows how wool is spun into yarn and woven into fabric and blankets.Woolrich Factory Tour

The 2014 factory tour dates are:

  • Saturday, June 21, 2014
  • Saturday, August 16
  • Saturday, September 13
  • Saturday, October 18, 2014

There will be four tours offered on each date, at 12:30, 1:00, 1:30, and 2:00 p.m.

You must register early, and in advance, by calling 570-769-7401.

On the day of the tour, you’ll receive a $10 gift card to use at the Woolrich Outlet Store.  The best values are found in the Back Room, where Woolrich fabric is sold by the bolt, yard or pound.

Photographer Christoper Paine has chronicled a few of the remaining textile mills (as well as some of the closed mills) in a photo essay for the New York Times, entitled “Fruits of the Loom.”

Here are links to a video and blog post about the Woolrich Mill Tour.

Meet a Spy: Tony and Jonna Mendez at the Spy Museum

Meet a Spy
Meet a Spy — Tony and Jonna Mendez

Did you see the Argo?  Now you can meet the spy that inspired the movie at one of three free events sponsored by the International Spy Museum!

International Spy Museum Briefing

Meet the Tony and Jonna Mendez.  Both are former CIA Chiefs of Disguise, responsible for changing the identity and appearance of thousands of clandestine operatives around the world.

Tony is most famous for his rescue of American diplomats from Tehran during the Iranian Hostage Crisis as depicted in the award-winning film Argo.

Rendezvous Info

The rendezvous takes place in the book store at the International Spy Museum in Washington, DC.  Admission is free, and no pre-registration is required.

There are three dates scheduled:

  • Friday, June 27, 2014; 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
  • Friday, July 25, 2014; 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
  • Friday, August 22, 2014; 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm

 

Ann Arbor, Michigan on Miles and Points

Ann Arbor Street Art Fair 2014
Ann Arbor Street Art Fair 2014 Poster

I graduated from the University of Michigan, and haven’t been back to Ann Arbor in years.  The winters there could be pretty harsh, but the summers were beautiful.

When I heard about the Ann Arbor Art Fair Do, I thought it would be a good opportunity to check out my old stomping grounds, see some good friends, take in the art fair, and hang with miles and points enthusiasts.

What is a Do?

When frequent flyers get together for an informal gathering, they call it a “do.”   The Ann Arbor do is a relatively small gathering that features several guest speakers.

Who is Drew?

The guest speakers at the 2014 Ann Arbor Art Fair Do will be Drew who blogs at Travel is Free and his wife Carrie whose blog is Freakin Flyers.  Drew and Carrie have been traveling long-term for practically nothing, and should have a lot of stories to share.  Tahsir Ahsan, aka the Bengali Miles Guru, writes for Hack My Trip and will be speaking on rental cars and how to manufacture points and miles.

The “do” is an annual event organized by a guy who calls himself “Bikeguy” on the Flyertalk forum.  As a relative newcomer to this hobby, I hope to pick up some tips and tricks from the veterans coming from around the Midwest and elsewhere.

What to Do in Ann Arbor

The big event of the week will be the Ann Arbor Art Fair, which is a street fair of juried artists and craftspeople near the campus of the University of Michigan.  The event has grown in recent years to encompass four concurrent art fairs all over town.  There will be entertainment as well as fine arts and crafts.

Robert Own Coop
Robert Owen Coop
Photo by Inter-Cooperative Council

Since this trip is a “reunion” of sorts, I want to visit some of my favorite places on and off campus like the Dana building and the Inter-cooperative Council houses where I lived.  I hear Lenny Bruce coop is long gone, but Robert Owen coop is still going strong.  I also want to stop by Dominick’s Italian cafe, where I waitressed one summer.

I’ll be on the lookout for urban fairy doors in the downtown area, something that I find very intriguing.  I’m looking forward to spending a day with my friends at Pickerel Lake, a small undeveloped lake about 20 miles from Ann Arbor.

Where to Stay in Ann Arbor

This is a miles and points conference and I am using points to get to Michigan.  I have reservations on Southwest, where my nonstop flights price out at 6,500 Rapid Rewards points each way.  Curiously, the nonstop flights on this route require fewer points than tickets involving plane changes.

I earned these points through a combination of flying Southwest, and making purchases on my Chase Southwest credit card.  There is currently a promotion for the card which offers a 50,000 point bonus after spending $2,000 in the first three months, with an annual fee of $69.  The Southwest credit card is an outstanding deal for budget domestic travelers, and award seat availability on Southwest is very good.

The Ann Arbor Art Fair draws several hundred thousand visitors so hotel rooms are at a premium.  I used Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG) points to book a room at the Sheraton Ann Arbor for the points and cash rate of 3,500 points and $55 per night.  This hotel is located several miles from campus in hotel row near the Briarwood mall.  There is an indoor/outdoor swimming pool, and they offer a shuttle for local transportation.

The Palmer House Designed by Frank Lloyd Wright
The Palmer House Designed by Frank Lloyd Wright

By using the points, I am saving about $100 per night.  I earned these points by opening the Amex SPG credit card and making purchases on the card.  Through the end of June, this card has a sign-up bonus of 30,000 points, after spending $5,000 in a six month period.  The annual fee of $65 is waived the first year.  If a friend refers you for the card, they will earn a 5,000 point bounty.  (Let me know if you would like a referral.)  

Frank Lloyd Wright House on VRBO

In looking for a place to stay for the weekend, I came across the Palmer House, a beautifully preserved house designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, complete with all the original Wright furniture.  The house sits on two acres overlooking the University of Michigan Arboretum.

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Welcoming Air China to Washington, DC in Style

Welcoming Air China!
Welcoming Air China!

I was on hand yesterday for the arrival of Air China’s inaugural flight from Beijing into Dulles International Airport (IAD).

The Metropolitan Washington Airport Authority (MWAA) invited some local people to participate in the gala welcoming ceremony as part of their “Discover Dulles” program.

The airport authority sure knows how to throw a party.

The 25 Discover Dulles participants, along with about 50 journalists, were transported to the airfield via IAD’s infamous mobile lounges for a close up view of landing.

It was an exciting moment when the plane touched down.

We were rushed back onto the mobile lounge and whisked closer to the terminal so we could view the aircraft run the gauntlet through the ceremonial water arch.

Air China Lands at IAD
Air China Lands at IAD

Two fire trucks were dispatched to pump a stream of water over the airplane to celebrate the arrival of the inaugural flight.  This is aviation’s equivalent of christening a new ship.

After the plane landed, the Ambassador of China and Virginia Governor McAuliffe were feted by Chinese lion dancers.

Several traditional Chinese musicians played at the reception.

Water Cannon Salute
Water Cannon Salute

 

The speeches heralded the 7,000 mile avionic bridge that had been established between Washington and Beijing, and the cultural, diplomatic, and economic exchanges that would ensue.

Oh, and the swag!  Each participant received a goodie bag with a propellor paperweight, a model of the airplane, and other “stuff.”

Traditional Chinese Musicians
Traditional Chinese Musicians

This was a fun event:   I got to meet some Chinese journalists, airport personnel, and aviation geeks.

Keep  your eyes peeled for other opportunities like this on the Discover Dulles webpage.

Earn More, Burn Less  

In honor of the new service, Air China’s frequent flyer program, Phoenix Miles, is running a promotion on travel between Beijing and Washington, DC.  

You can earn fifty percent more than the regular miles on flights, and award travel will be discounted.  

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Family Travel for Real Life: The Do

Family Travel for Real Life
August 23, 2014 in Sterling, Virginia

Is it a seminar or is it a movement?  The Deal Mommy is organizing a “do” for deal mongers with a passion for family travel.

Family Travel for Real Life will be held August 23, 2014 at the Hyatt House Dulles Airport in the Washington, D.C. suburb of Sterling, Virginia, right near IAD.

This hotel has reasonable weekend prices, so why not plan to stay the weekend and take in the sites.  If you’d rather not go downtown, the Smithsonian Air & Space Museum’s Udvar-Hazy Center is just down the street.

Family Travel for Real Life Will Cover These Topics

  • Scheduling around a school calendar
  • Saving money without relying only on credit card bonuses
  • Condo rentals and hotel rooms for families traveling overseas
  • Booking award tickets when you need more than two
  • Destination planning for families
  • Camp Mom:  traveling with your kids for less than the cost of camp
  • How to save on theme park vacations

Several top notch speakers are already lined up, with more to be added:

  • Carolina Travel Girl:  Where to stay when a hotel room won’t cut it
  • Jason Steele:  Booking award travel for families
  • Shawn of Miles to Memories:  Booking loo00ong summer vacations

Follow this hashtag on Twitter to stay in the loop:  #FT4RL

Registration will begin at 9 a.m. and sessions will run from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (possibly 5:00).  Lunch and an afternoon snack break are included in admission.

Sign up early because the first 25 registrants can get tickets for $49.  After that, tickets are going for $59.  Here’s the link to register!

Two “Free” Tickets to Hershey Park for “Neighbors”

Two Free Tickets to Hershey Park
Two Free Tickets to Hershey Park for Residents of PA, VA, MD, & DE

If you consume any of the beverages pictured above, here’s a nice opportunity to get two free tickets to Hershey Park!

We visited Hershey, Pennsylvania last spring and had a great time, even though we did not go to the amusement park.

“Free” Tickets to Hershey Park

To qualify for the free amusement park tickets, you need to purchase twenty single Pepsi products at Giant or Martin’s grocery stores.

Participating products include:

  • 20 oz. Pepsi-Cola® products (any flavor of Pepsi®, Mtn Dew®, Sierra Mist® and Mug®)
  • 20 oz. Aquafina® products (any variety)
  • 18.5 oz. Pure Leaf® products
  • 11 oz. Starbucks® Iced Coffee drink bottles

But hurry.  Purchases must be made by June 12, 2014, and certificates must be postmarked by June 30, 2014.

The offer is only open to residents of Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.

Discounted Tickets to Hershey Park at Giant Food Stores in VA, WV, PA, & MD
Discounted Tickets to Hershey Park at Giant Food Stores in VA, WV, PA, & MD

You will need to mail in your original receipts along with a certificate to receive a free ticket to Hershey Park.  There is a limit of two tickets per household.

The regular price of tickets to Hershey Park $59.95 for ages 9-54, and $37.95 for kids 3-8, and seniors 55-69.  If you can find a good price on these beverages, this deal can save you a lot of money!

Discounted Tickets to Hershey Park

What if you need more than two tickets, or don’t like Pepsi?

Select Giant Food Stores in Pennsylvania, Virginia, Maryland and West Virginia sell discounted tickets to Hershey Park.

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