JFK to Hong Kong thru Toronto/Vancouver for $330.84USD return!

Dates for the flight that I've checked are in November, for example,  Nov. 6-14.  I couldn't find flights in the summer that were even close to that price, but if you can get off work in November, go for it!  If you book it through Orbitz, you'll have 'til 11pm the next business day, to cancel.  Go through Ebates and get 8.1% cashback through Orbitz too, making this trip cost $29.61 less--$330.84! With Priceline, you'll have 'til tomorrow night 'til 11:29pm to cancel, BUT because the itinerary is mixed with more than one airline, there will be a non-refundable booking fee of $6.99USD per ticket. Booking through Orbitz or Priceline will give you time to try and find a good hotel deal. 
Though there is a long connection time, whether in Toronto or Vancouver, if you can snag a ticket coming back through Toronto and you don't wish to continue to NY, you can just take your bags and abandon that flight, or have a vacation in NY and fly back on the return at your convenience (one way will take you there or you can fly with AirCanada.com directly from Toronto for $600+).
Major hotel chains are all there, and it's filled with a rich culture.  Those who keep kosher have several options as well as a few synagogues that function there, including Chabad of Hong Kong, that will help set you up for meals.
Get them before they go!

IHG Point Breaks are OUT!

Every 3 months, the IHG hotel chain releases its hotels around the world that they are giving point breaks on–for only 5K IHG points (instead of 10K +, sometimes as high as 40K+), you can stay at any of the properties on this list up until July 31st for up to 2 reservations per hotel for unlimited periods of time!  They allow for up to 200 reservations per hotel with Point Breaks.

To get IHG points, you can transfer points from Chase (in the US) or buy/trade points through points.com.  In the US, a Chase IHG M/C–which gives at least 60K welcome points when you sign up.  In Canada, now that Capital One dropped its IHG card, it's much harder to find a way to get IHG points without staying on one of their properties.  Once you have 5K points with them, see below as to what you can do to get more points! BTW, for my American readers, here's a link for 80K but you have to have a US address and a Social Security Number usually to qualify with Chase USA, BUT...

Once you have 5K points through one of the above ways, you can also do a trick to get points on IHG’s website, which involves getting a room at one of the hotels that is part of the 5K point break deal.  You can choose to pay for it instead for $70.  Get the room.  It’s non-refundable, BUT they’ll give you point in lieu of the cancelled room.  That way, a room will cost you, with Point Breaks, about $30USD a night!

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Why The AMEX Membership Rewards Family Of Cards Is Vital In One's Vacation Plans

Read the story below the pics that have the links embedded to apply.

25,000 Membership Rewards with the link above after hitting the spending threshold (only $500 in 3 months)

Limited Time Offer: 75,000 Membership Rewards (instead of 50,000) ONLY with the link above after hitting the spending threshold (ONLY $1K in 3 months)

 

40,000 not 30,000 Membership Rewards with the link above after spending $5K in 3 months.

Limited Time Offer: 75,000 instead of 40,0000 Membership Rewards ONLY with the link above after spending $5K in 3 months.

During a conversation with an AMEX rep, I learned some interesting inside information about changes coming to AMEX Canada.  Anyone who travels in the US or online to US websites can see that AMEX is accepted pretty much everywhere in the States, but everyone here in Canada knows it’s a washout.  After losing 8% of their profits when Costco divorced AMEX when Capital One offered them a better deal, not charging a per transaction fee, only the regular 2% (or so)  Mastercard charges.

Well, in the States, AMEX will now be accepted at Sam’s Club Warehouses–not exclusively like they had with Costco, but nonetheless, it will help them stay competitive, but what about here in Canada?

Apparently, over the next few months, AMEX will be changing how it offers the card to its merchants.  Somehow, they will offer merchants something that amounts to a lower percentage so that small businesses can afford to offer the AMEX card at about the same levels of charges as Mastercard and Visa, without compromising on its profit like it.  As it was explained to me, it will allow merchants to be non-official merchants, so that they can offer AMEX without the higher fees that AMEX normally charges merchants.  It’s confusing and unclear but these changes are coming over the next few months.

What that means for us is a more competitive card!  Whether it’s the AMEX Gold or Platinum Rewards Personal or Business card, they will be accepted at a LOT more places–and with AMEX Membership Rewards points, you’re much better off at switching the points to Aeroplan (instantly) or to Avios (within about 2 days).  That way, you can decide, based on availability and where the routing will cost you the least in fuel surcharges, which point system you wish to switch your points into.  Back in March, AMEX was offering a 25% bonus when switching your points to British Airways Avios, part of the One World Alliance, which includes many different airlines around the world, with lower taxes on tickets (if not actually flying on British Airways but on an Alliance member flight such as US Airways), cancellation fees that are more flexible than Aeroplan (24 hours notice as opposed to 33 days).

Now just might be the time to get an AMEX card!  If you have a business card with AMEX, you can put pressure on AMEX to truly bring these changes to fruition.  By cancelling your AMEX Business Gold and telling them why (not accepted at Costco and too many other merchants), they may offer you 7K Membership Rewards (MR) points or more to stay and pay the annual fee when it comes up, but you’d be better off cancelling the card, and if the changes go through, reapplying using the link above, and getting the welcome bonus of 40K Membership Rewards points after spending $5K in 3 months.  That can be transferred into 40K Aeroplan points or Avios points–and if you have MR points, don't be surprised if AMEX once again offers a conversion to Avios deal, likely again to be a 25% bonus when switching your points from MR to Avios.

They’ll also waive the annual fee the first year.  A little known fact is that the welcome bonus is STILL available but only for the AMEX Business cards and a personal gold or platinum if you've never gotten the welcome bonus before.  Remember, you can apply for the card if you have ANY business–self-proprietors without a tax number are accepted, even if you have a business that is on the side–you include ALL your income when answering the question about your business.

Go over the  benefits carefully.  Remember, the Platinum Business has a $399 annual fee while the personal version has a $699 fee, but the benefits, especially for the personal card, are what you’re paying for, especially if you travel a lot.  And the $699 is cushioned by a $200 travel credit that you get each year, so for the first year of your AMEX Platinum person account, you'll get $400 cashback on travel, making the cost for 75K points (this limited time deal) costing you only $299, plus all the lounge access and concierge treatment you'll get with the card.  For example, access to lounges including free lounge access to the AMEX Centurion lounges, including the one at Pearson.

Get the card for yourself and your spouse and you'll get 75K, you can refer him/her and get 25K for the referral and s/he will get 75K as well--that's 175K AMEX points which will take you and your spouse far--80K Aeroplan x 2 to go to Israel, 7 return trip tickets across the US/Canada are two examples of what these points will give you!

For more info, search through the search box on my website for more info on the different cards!

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Why I Recommend The AMEX SPG Business/Personal Card

I’ve written before about the power of SPG points–how you can transfer the points to over 30 airlines, and do so at a premium ratio (for most airlines) when you transfer in increments of 20K SPG points (for 25K airline points).

Now how will you get the points?  If you click on either the business or personal link above, you’ll have to spend $1500 in 3 months (used to be $500 :(   ) to get 20K SPG points.  Get your significant other to apply, and you can either use it to transfer to an airline point system that will take you BOTH, for example, to Seattle/L.A (long haul flight across North America).  Cheapest way is with Aeroplan as the conversion is 1:1 + 5K bonus Aeroplan points when converting 20K SPG points or to United points,–while they have a LOT of availability for Air Canada flights without the high taxes–unfortunately, with SPG, they only transfer to United at a 50% conversion (1:2).  It’s unfortunately the only way I know of in Canada to earn United miles (other than RocketMiles, a website that gives you points for booking hotel stays that you can transfer to United, many other airlines, and even Amazon for gift cards--oh, and of course, by FLYING and PAYING for a United flight--what a concept).

A GREAT idea to do with them is switch them to your Marriott account at TRIPLE the value.  If you have not linked your Marriott account to your SPG account yet, what are you waiting for? You can switch your points back and forth as often as you need.  You can also get your spouse to do so, and with Marriott, you can use your spouse's points if you don't have enough in your Marriott account to cover the stay in points.  DON'T be shy to call/email the GM (get the GM's email from the front desk person) at the location you've booked at and explain why you'd like an upgrade (e.g., standard room won't fit your family, your birthday/anniversary, etc.).  I love the Residence Inn and TownePlace Suites chains as they have full kitchens in every suite as well as 1 and 2 bedroom suites.  Some managers will upgrade you months in advance if it's during low season, and the rare one even at busy times.

United miles are amazing in some cases.  For example, YYZ-LAX for next to nothing in taxes with lots of availability.  YYZ-TLV on Air Canada, for NO fuel surcharges!  If you have a Social Security Number, you’d definitely want to get the Chase United Mileage Visa, that offers terrific features, along with a 50K welcome bonus (at certain times or if you already have a chunk of miles in your account–how many, I’m not sure about).  If you sign up for a United Mileage card and then attempt to book a flight, you’ll see the offer going from a 30K welcome bonus + $30 statement credit to a 50K + $50 +5K more for a secondary cardholder.  Ahhh, America–you gotta love their credit card offers!

HOT! $298CDN Return YYZ to St. Maarten!

Air Canada Vacations is selling off seats to St. Maarten (SXM airport code when searching) on Air Canada Rouge for only $298.37 CDN return for April 17-24!  Be sure to choose the Flights Tab, and the correct number of  passengers, as it defaults to 2. Click here to check it out and to book!
For those last minute vacationers, it's a steal at that price!  Cheaper accommodations are available through Air B&B or VRBO for under $120CDN per night.  I found 18 availabilites right now for that period, between $28-$120CDN per night for rentals--click here to see.

Save $10 Off Your Tire Change, Oil, Interior Detailing or many other options!

I recently got my winter tires off and had it all done in my driveway by a qualified insured mechanic that is employed by Fiix--the Uber version of mechanics--they'll send you a pic of the guy, give you his rating with other customers, give you a 50 point road inspection, and leave you with time on your hands that could be better used for other things than driving to a mechanic to have such relatively simple things done.  Best part is that YOU pick the time, 24/7, that you would like the mechanic to come to your home/work to get the job done!

If you click on the pic above, you will receive a $10 discount!  So, for example, my $60 tire change cost me only $50--totally worth it for the convenience!

The discount won't show when you click on the link--it will simply be $10 cheaper than if you go through their website without using my link.

BananaRepublic.CA HUGE Sale!

An unusual sale--Banana Republic.CA is having a sale that is on EVERYTHING.  This includes their higher end options including their Monogram Collection.  For example, a pair of wool dress pants, regular $240--on sale for $191, less 40% at checkout, LESS 15% if you sign up for their mailing list MINUS cashback of 2% through EBates.CA or EBates.com--that puts that $240 pair of wool dress pants at under $100!
Not signed up yet for EBates.com or .CA?  Click here first, read all about and then sign up for EBates.com or EBates.ca.  Put Banana Republic.ca in the search parameter bar and have EBates take you there.  I recommend EBates.com, as they pay you in USD in cashback, and who can't use USD?
While supplies last.  Act fast!