This points guru is bragging about a $141 Bucharest hotel stay? Let me guess, you're still paying for it.
The Humblebrag Olympics
Okay, so this points "guru" is patting himself on the back for scoring a four-night stay at some fancy Bucharest hotel for a measly $141. Color me unimpressed. The article drips with that special brand of travel-blogger smugness that makes you want to chuck your laptop out the window.
He "stacked" Amex and IHG perks, blah, blah, blah. He used a free night certificate, a third-night-free promo, and a hotel statement credit. Big deal. Let's be real: this ain't some revolutionary hack, it's just…using the damn credit cards he’s probably shilling in the first place.
And the constant reminders of how "valuable" these perks are? Give me a break. It's like they're trying to justify the insane annual fees these cards charge. $895 for the Amex Platinum? Are you kidding me? You could buy a decent used car for that kind of money. Or, you know, like, fund a real vacation.
The Illusion of Savings
The guy claims he got $618 worth of value from this stay. Right. Let's break that down, shall we? A "free" third night, valued at $147? A "free" fourth night, also $147? That's not free, buddy. You paid for that "free" night with your annual fee. It's just pre-paying in the most convoluted way possible. It's like those "buy one get one free" deals where you have to buy the first one at twice the price.
And don't even get me started on the "daily breakfast for two" valued at $180. I'd rather grab a pastry from a local bakery and experience the actual culture than sit in some sterile hotel restaurant choking down overpriced eggs.
This whole thing feels like a meticulously crafted advertisement disguised as a travel tip. The points game, as they call it, is just a way to get you hooked on credit cards and annual fees. It's a hamster wheel of spending and "rewards" that ultimately benefits the banks more than the consumer.
But hey, he got a room upgrade (maybe) and a late checkout. Living the dream, I guess.
Oh, and offcourse, he earned 2,205 Amex points, worth a whopping $44! I can almost hear the champagne corks popping. Maybe he can use those points to buy a single cup of coffee at the airport.
The Real Cost
The article conveniently glosses over the opportunity cost. All the time spent researching deals, tracking points, and navigating complicated booking systems… that's time you could have spent doing something actually enjoyable. Like, I don't know, learning a new language, volunteering, or just chilling with friends without having to dissect every single penny spent.
I'm not saying travel rewards are inherently evil. But this level of obsessive penny-pinching just seems… sad. Is a slightly cheaper hotel stay really worth sacrificing your time, your mental energy, and your financial freedom?
The guy even admits he pays $49 for the IHG Select Card. It's no longer available to new applicants, but he felt the need to include that little tidbit anyway. Probably because he gets a kickback if you sign up for one of their other cards.
So, What's the Point (Pun Intended)?
This isn't about saving money. It's about chasing an illusion of savings while lining the pockets of credit card companies. It's about turning travel into a spreadsheet exercise. And frankly, it's a little depressing. I’d rather pay full price and not have to think about "optimizing" my vacation like it's some kind of corporate budget report.
