By Len Penzo
I’ve known for a long time that online travel agencies aren’t created equal, partly because I’ve conducted experiments that compared Expedia, Orbitz, Hotwire, Priceline, Kayak and Travelocity prices.
Now comes news that Mac users who visit online travel agency Orbitz may end up seeing more expensive options than folks who use a Windows operating system. I know.
How much more? Well, in an unscientific survey, the Wall Street Journal found that the
Continue reading Mac Users See Pricier Hotels When Using Orbitz … So?
By Len Penzo
No matter what that slick salesman tells you, vacation timeshares aren’t a good deal. Surprised? Don’t be. Many timeshares owners lose the freedom to vacation wherever and whenever they choose — or even skip one, considering annual maintenance fees currently average $731. Timeshares are also notoriously overpriced to cover sales commissions approaching 35 percent and marketing expenses for prizes used to lure potential buyers suckers. Maybe that’s why timeshares depreciate
Continue reading 100 Words On: Why You Should Never Buy a Timeshare
By Len Penzo
I recently received an urgent email from US Airways imploring me to join their frequent flier program. The friendly prod occurred not too long after I purchased four round trip tickets to Hawaii for this year’s family summer vacation.
The curiously brief message didn’t bother with the usual marketing hype. Instead, it simply got right to the point:
Thanks for buying a ticket with US. We owe each person on your itinerary
Continue reading Why Frequent Flier Programs Aren’t Worth It (for Most People)
By Len Penzo
Summer is just around the corner and people are eagerly gearing up for another vacation season full of fabulous food and frolicking fun in the sun with friends and family.
With that in mind, I thought it would be a kick to relive the worst vacation of my entire life. It’s certainly a vacation I’ll never forget.
In fact, even though it was 20 long years ago, I still remember it like
Continue reading What I Learned from the Worst Vacation of My Life
By Len Penzo
Whether you’re traveling for business or pleasure, flight delays are the bane of every commuter. Government statistics consistently show that morning flights departing between six and seven have the best on-time records, with a steady decay in punctuality as the day progresses; it’s worst between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. That’s because flight delays due to air-traffic congestion, maintenance, crew issues, and late-arriving airplanes cascade throughout the day — and
Continue reading 100 Words On: How to Increase the Odds of Booking an On-Time Flight
By Len Penzo
Sometimes things aren’t always what they seem. Especially upon first glance.
This past summer I was examining my Marriott rewards account when I noticed that I had finally — finally! — accrued enough points to score a 6-night stay on Maui at their beautiful Wailea Beach property.
Within seconds my head was filled with visions of the Honeybee and me enjoying a few days of romantic bliss — sans kids, of course
Continue reading Why the Dirty Details Matter When Planning Your Vacation
By Len Penzo
As I mentioned here the other day, I recently spent a fun weekend at one of those fancy pancy resort hotels in Scottsdale, Arizona.
You know the kind. This place has every amenity a Kardashian girl could ever want including a spa, the obligatory trendy bar, gourmet restaurants, a beautiful swimming pool, and, of course, spacious multi-room suites that are almost as big as my home’s entire second floor. It
Continue reading Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader? Guess this Room Service Bill …
By Len Penzo
Last weekend I took my entire family — including my folks and the in-laws — to Scottsdale, Arizona for a little summer fun at a very posh desert resort.
Okay, perhaps I’m exaggerating just a tiny bit. Let’s call it fairly posh. Regardless, one thing is certain: the resort is still fancier than a Holiday Inn Express. For example, it has honest-to-goodness living, breathing valets. They even greeted us warmly
Continue reading How the Fancy Resort Hotels Giveth … and Then Taketh Away
By Len Penzo
You know, some guy named Ripley once showed me that things aren’t always what they seem. For example, a banana tree is not a really a tree at all, but a massive herb that can grow as tall as a four story building.
If you think that’s something, koala bears aren’t really bears — they’re marsupials.
And next time you visit New York City, keep in mind that an egg cream contains
Continue reading The Grand Illusion: How Cheaper Gas Ultimately Costs You More
By Len Penzo
My family and I just got back from a whirlwind two-week vacation to the East Coast to see the Honeybee’s family in Connecticut and do some sightseeing. We also managed to set aside a little time to visit some of my tax money in our nation’s capital.
Boy is it good to be back! I hope you all missed me as much as I missed all of you!
Here are
Continue reading Dear Diary: What I Did On My Summer Vacation
|
|
Disclaimer This site is for informational and entertainment purposes only, and the content herein should not be mistaken for professional financial advice. Ultimately, you and you alone are responsible for the decisions you make in life, so please contact an independent financial professional for advice regarding your particular situation.
|
Loading ...
via Email 