SitInFirst.com

There has been a lot of chatter about Citibank sending 1099 forms to people who participated in their checking account sign up initiative last year. In one offer, if you signed up for a new Checking account and used it to their satisfaction, Citi awarded you 23,500 miles. People are now getting 1099s for the [...]

I don’t usually post humor, but in light of the title of this blog, this short video warrants an exception… Penny flies economy    

I wrote earlier this autumn about Seattle’s fairly new light rail system.  At the other end of the spectrum in airport rail-based mass transit is the Heathrow Express.  Whereas Seattle’s service is highly subsidized, and also used for local transit, the Heathrow Express (HEX) is a for-profit rail connection which operates non-stop to London’s CBD [...]

W Hotel Ft Lauderdale (FLL) – Another Visit Overview: A decent beachfront hotel – good for a quick holiday or a business stay Strengths: Dining (Steak 954), pool options, location Drawbacks: Parking service, corridor cleanliness   Earlier this fall, I decided it would be good to give my wife a reverse get-away.  So, over Veterans [...]

Seattle’s Fairmont Olympic Hotel Overview: A classic old-style in-city (truly) luxury hotel Strengths: Service, food, location, lobby Drawbacks: Rooms close to being dated   “Grande Dame,” French for “Great Lady,” typically refers to a slightly eccentric, flamboyant woman.  In a slightly different application of the phrase, it also refers to older hotels – typically established [...]

  Prince Edward Island.  Many have heard of it.  Few Americans could quickly identify it on a map. Fewer have ever been there.  It’s worth a visit. Overview: A wonderful spot for an outdoor-oriented family vacation. Strengths: Reasonably priced, comfortable climate, many outdoor activities, abundant golf Drawbacks: Getting to and from, dining (somewhat)   Background [...]

Here’s an easy promotion to sign up for. American has launched a new contest for 500,000 miles, a credit for a 5-star hotel, private ground transportation to your hotel plus Five Star Service at your destination to the winner. The Five Star is nice, but the real value is the 500,000 miles, which is enough [...]

Earlier this month, I had a quick (one night) business trip to Toronto.  I had seen the new Ritz Carlton under construction during prior visits and, knowing that it had just opened, decided to give it a try. I made my booking through American Express Fine Hotels and Resorts (FHR) on their website.  Booking online [...]

If you are an American Express Platinum or Centurion cardmember, you probably know you get access to American’s, Delta’s and USAir’s airport club rooms.  Continental access is included through September 2011. When Amex announced that Continental was leaving the family, they introduced the Priority Pass Plus program as a free benefit to cardmembers.  My initial [...]

At about 830am local time (430am NY time), KEF airport was closed to both arrivals and departures due to volcanic activity. Domestic flights within Iceland operate from a different airfield, the Reykjavik Domestic Airport (RKV). While RKV is open at present, many domestic flights have also been cancelled. RKV has very short runways, the longest [...]