Rapid Travel Chai

On my mind: it is expiring hotel certificate use-up season. From our Chase Fairmont credit cards we have combined 4 $25 dining or spa certificates expiring 2/28 so it is time for a dinner date. We’ve also got a spare Chase Marriott category 1-5 certificate expiring that will come in handy next week . We use them for those small town US stays where Marriotts are abundant. I don’t think I have stayed in a TownePlace Suites, should I try it over Residence Inn? I confess I am partial to the Residence Inn evening reception if there is a jackpot like boiled hot dogs. One time it was a cupcake buffet that didn’t pair well with the beer.

Hacks:

• Timeshare presentations: 4 common sales tactics.
• Asian hoteliers join forces on loyalty programs.
• Why you should join Norwegian’s loyalty program.

Travels:

• Darjeeling’s new Himalayan cycle trail.
• Nomadic Matt is leading some group tours, think of it more as an extended reader meetup.
• Greenland is melting away.

Events:

• Why Asian breads are softer than European breads.
• The Secret Service of the skies.
• How ‘Weird Al’ eclipsed (almost) every star he ever parodied.

Ideas:

• #BreakingtheSilence.
• The India-Bangladesh wall: lessons for Trump.
• The Pinterest version of suburbia grows outside Atlanta.