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What is the value of a Marriott Bonvoy point?
When you sign up for the Marriott Bonvoy hotel chain’s loyalty program, you accumulate points for every euro spent. There are other ways to earn points. For me, I convert my American Express Rewards points. These Marriott points will then allow you to pay for all or part of a stay. But what is the value of a Marriott Bonvoy point? I did some calculations by simulating a one-night stay in Koh Samui, Thailand on July 21, 2022. Here’s what it looks like. If you pull out the calculator, here’s the result. Hotel Price in € Price in Marriott points Value of 100 Marriott points Vana Belle 364 73 000…
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How to convert American Express rewards points into Marriott points?
Every time you spend with your American Express card, you earn rewards points with a very simple formula: €1 spent = 1 rewards point. Once you’ve accumulated enough points, you can use them to reimburse expenses at a rate of 1,000 rewards points = €5. It’s also possible to convert your rewards points to transfer them to other loyalty programs. For my part, I convert my rewards points into Marriott Bonvoy points (at a rate of 1 Amex point = 1 Marriott point). Marriott has magnificent hotels all over the world. This way, I can treat myself to a night or two a year in sumptuous establishments where I would…
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Rosalie: 2009 – 2022
Rosalie, my love, has just passed away. Thank you, my baby, for coming into our lives. For all the love you brought us, for all those moments of tenderness, purrs, laughter, fights with dad for some white sauce, or little thefts of carpaccio from my plate. I remember and will remember all those little moments that define your character. Like the time you rushed to join me running up the stairs in Bourville, just to be with me, while you were sleeping peacefully on the ground floor. You were a bit ashamed of that display of love but you know, it remains the best memory I have of us, and…
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What visa do you need for a holiday in Bali (Indonesia) and how to extend it?
Are you planning a trip to Bali? – Plan to buy a SIM card to have internet access – Book your activities in advance with Civitatis – Protect yourself with insurance that offers good coverage. For example, with Heymondo (5% discount by using this link) We can’t say it enough, how lucky we are to have a French passport! It allows us to arrive in 112 countries without any prior visa procedures. Indonesia (and therefore Bali) is one of those countries; there’s no need to apply for a visa at the Indonesian embassy before you go, at least for stays of less than 60 days. Upon arriving in Indonesia, you’ll…
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Review of the Fortuneo Fosfo card (+ referral offer)
Looking for a referral code for Fortuneo? You can use this one: 13021400 It’s valid for the Fosfo card (€50 offered), the Gold CB card (€130 offered), the Bourse (€130 offered), and the Assurance Vie (€130 offered) When you travel for a long time, the question of which payment methods to bring along comes up. For me, ideally you should leave with 3 different bank cards: A Visa bank card A Mastercard bank card A ‘real’ credit card (required to rent a car in some countries) And for each of these cards, if possible choose one that is free and doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees. Fortuneo is rarely mentioned in…
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How to withdraw money without fees in Indonesia?
Planning a trip to Indonesia? – Plan to buy a SIM card for internet access – Book your activities in advance with Civitatis – Protect yourself with insurance offering good coverage. For example, with Heymondo (5% discount by using this link) If you have a bank card that doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees for withdrawals outside the eurozone, you can hope to withdraw money without any fees at ATMs in Indonesia. I recommend the following free cards: You just need to find the right banks, as some charge fixed fees. Here’s a summary table of withdrawal fees and limits. This data was collected in Bali in June and July 2022. Note that…
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Gojek: Indonesia’s equivalent of Uber
You’ve probably heard of the Uber app, which lets you hail a driver, get food delivered, or have groceries brought to your door. Uber doesn’t operate in Southeast Asia; after years of fierce competition, Uber stepped aside for its rival Grab in exchange for a 27.5% stake. Grab is well established in many Southeast Asian countries. In Indonesia, however, it faces competition from a local company: Gojek. Gojek and Grab are virtually identical. You can book a car or scooter ride, have food or groceries delivered, or use a courier service… With Gojek, you can even order medication or pay your electricity, water, or gas bills. A handy feature is…
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The Puy du Fou Grand Tour: prices and reviews
Like many travelers, I have a certain fascination with train travel. Taking the Orient Express or the Trans-Siberian are both dreams. The former would probably require a big lottery win 😀 The latter is more affordable, but we’ll have to wait a few years for the geopolitical situation with Russia to warm up. In any case, long and luxurious train journeys are back in vogue. A reflection of the environmental awareness that encourages avoiding planes? An ode to slowness in an era when everything moves at breakneck speed? Projects are multiplying. The latest: Le Grand Tour, a 4,000-kilometer tour of France in 6 days and 5 nights. This grand tour…
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Mixed First Impressions of Bali (Indonesia): Canggu, Ubud
I chose to write about Bali first, and I’ll catch up on the Vietnam travel journals later. Even though we’ve been traveling for 6 years, this is our first time in Bali. For us, Bali is synonymous with mass tourism and is the “clichéd” destination of the digital nomad. That’s why we’ve always carefully avoided this place. It’s only after 3 months in Vietnam, and while the number of open Asian countries is still limited, that we go there, with a rather negative preconception. In mid-June 2022, the PCR test is a bad memory; only a vaccination certificate (two doses) is required to arrive in Indonesia. From the plane, I…
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My Current Favorites [May 2022]: Jade Bracelet and Small Leather Goods
Since we’ve been back in Vietnam, I’ve been spending more time eating and shopping than reading, so unfortunately my current favorites don’t include any books. We’ll just talk about the talent of Vietnamese artisans. Type A Jadeite Bracelet at Duong Ha Gemstones & Jade 139 Hang Bac Street, Hanoi I found this jeweler by chance. He’s the only one offering this type of bracelet, made of jade beads. While others only sell jade bangles, which I find not only old-fashioned but also fragile (easily breakable). I also don’t like the green color, “imperial jade” style either, so finding this slightly bluer shade was a real feat. He didn’t have the…
