Winos of the world rejoice! If you’re looking for a lovely getaway where there are more kinds of wine than there are people that live there, I’ve got quite a treat to tell you about. Just about 75 miles from both San Antonio and Austin sits the Fredericksburg and Gillespie County area of the Texas Hill Country that just so happens to also be home to over 50 wineries and tasting rooms. This area is well known in Texas with some absolutely fantastic wines coming from the area. It’s the second most visited wine region in the country, behind (you guessed it) Napa Valley. However, most of its visitors come from Texas. I just went on a tour in the area with about five or six other people and they were all from different parts of Texas.
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The war on credit cards is ramping up thanks to what several major retail chains just announced. They want to be able to keep you from using certain credit cards. Specifically, the ones that offer the biggest rewards. According to the Wall Street Journal, companies like Amazon, Target, and Home Depot want to end a rule that requires merchants that accept a Mastercard- or Visa-branded card to accept all the cards branded that way. “If merchants could pick and choose among Visa or Mastercard credit cards, those with the highest merchant fees—and most generous rewards—likely would be on the chopping block,” wrote the Wall Street Journal. The 300-acre Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort and Spa in San Antonio has been in business for over a quarter century. But the land that it sits on, which is now home to 500 guest rooms, a full-service spa (when it’s not closed (more on that in a minute)), 27 holes of golf, and a five-acre water park, has a history that goes back much further than that. A brief history of the Hyatt Hill Country There are a lot of people out there that don’t like credit cards. I don’t know if “scared” is the right word, but it seems to fit. They’re scared that all the perks you may get by signing up for a credit card is too good to be true. They’re scared that they may start to use a credit card for what banks hope you use it for: living today on tomorrow’s (possible) income. Indeed, if you use credit cards like that, you’ll be up a creek… and it won’t smell anything like flowers.
Why the hostility towards credit cards? After the ring, the big day itself, and all the events surrounding it, oftentimes there’s not much left in the coffers for a dream honeymoon. However, there’s no need to run away and pout! There are plenty of destinations out there that’ll check all the right boxes when it comes to a romantic getaway for a newlywed couple without breaking the bank.
Halfway around the world Palawan, Philippines So far this year, I’ve spent way more than should be legal on my wedding. But it’s not all bad! I’ve put most of that on credit cards trying to maximize my earning potential when it comes to points and miles. You see, I’ve figured out first hand that expenses can add up quickly when planning a wedding, but using the right credit cards for wedding and honeymoon purchases can pay off big time for future travel. Including bonuses, I’ve earned: The Platinum Card by American Express is one of those cards that exudes a bit of clout in the credit card community. That clout seems to have dissipated somewhat as of late, due to stiffer competition like the Chase Sapphire Reserve and the Citi Prestige, but it’s still there. And the Amex Platinum also has quite a few perks up its sleeve that may make the fact that it has a $550 annual fee worth it. Ultimately, though, that’s up to you. This is a charge card First and foremost, I think it’s important to point out that this is a charge card, not a credit card. What’s the difference, you ask? The biggest difference is the fact that a charge card needs to get paid off in full every month. A credit card can carry a balance. But because of that, you will typically have more spending power with a charge card because you won’t have a set limit that you can put on them. Not paying off a charge card will come with severe consequences. Those consequences can include suspending your line of credit entirely. So if you decide to get one, it's best to pay it off. Main card benefits NOTE: If you are depressed and are having thoughts of suicide, please call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-8255.
On June 8th, the world-renowned travel writer, chef, and television host Anthony Bourdain committed suicide at the age of 61. There’s no doubt, Bourdain was a lot of things. Before I started travel writing, I thought of him more as a chef and television host. But shortly after I began my little trek into the world of travel writing, I found out that Bourdain was a fantastic writer. Much like his career as a chef, as a writer, he seemed to know what ingredients (words) belonged and he knew where to sprinkle them in. Below are just a few of his quotes that may inspire you to travel, cook, or live life to the fullest every single day: On travel Podcasts. They’re a fantastic way to kill time. Whether it’s on your next long drive or long layover/flight, there’s a binge-able podcast for everyone.
The choices are seemingly endless. That’s because basically anyone with a smartphone can make a podcast. Many say we’re in the golden age of podcasting. And it’s hard to argue with that. But while having so many choices at your fingertips is a good thing, there’s at least one unintended consequence: you have to sift through a lot of crap in order to find the good stuff! Now, if you had all week, you could theoretically do a deep dive into that list and find your favorites. But who has that kind of time? I do. Trying to figure out where you’re going on that much-deserved post wedding trip? Whether you’re looking for someplace romantic, exotic, budget friendly, or someplace where breathtaking beaches are plentiful, there are nearly an endless amount of options when figuring out where to go on your honeymoon. Tequila is a drink with a rich history. Yes, contrary to popular belief, it has more of a history than making your clothes fall off.
A Brief History of Tequila Tequila is a type of mezcal (which, if you haven’t tried you should). Tequila, however, has to be made with at least 51% blue agave, unlike mezcal (yes, there are several different varieties of agave). And just like Champagne, tequila can only be made (legally, for it to be called “tequila”) in a few specific regions of Mexico. Within one of those regions is where the drink we now call tequila was born: in the town of Tequila. Not too long after the city’s founding, the drink was commercialized with the help of a man that went by a name that’s still known today: Jose Cuervo. Traditionally, there are five different kinds of tequila:
Having said that, you should know this: there is now a new category added to that list. The Tequila Regulatory Council has added a category called cristalino. Cristalino is aged (like añejo) tequila that is filtered to strip the caramel color out of it. The New Kid On The Block Berlin is quite the place to visit. What stood out to me is its unique mix of old and new. From its modern skyscrapers to the relics of generations past, the old vs. new mix certainly made the city stand out to me. This week, in Picture This, a semi-regular series on The Keith King Report, is a picture blog of Berlin. If you're interested in more on this series, you can find the others in the series here.
They’re mysterious to those who’ve never been in one, yet unforgettable to anyone who has. Before I was lucky enough to visit an airport lounge, I’d walk by those doors that say “Admirals Club” or “Sky Club” slowly, just so I could maybe get a peak inside, wondering what it was like.
Still, they’re unheralded, often forgotten parts of every airport (certainly by the majority of people who travel). If you fly on a regular basis, a lounge can potentially save you, not only your sanity, but a ton of cash. If you don’t fly a lot, buying a day pass may turn your trip to the airport into something you look forward to, rather than a chore.
It’s the question that many couples enjoy figuring out between the engagement and the wedding.
As of late, I’ve been trying to figure out the answer too. You see, I’m in the middle of finalizing where Crystal and I will go for our honeymoon. And while I was narrowing down the list of contenders for us, I figured out the answer to the question, "where’s the best place to go on your honeymoon?" The short answer: it depends.
It’s true. Taking trains around Europe is almost like a right of passage. ‘Everyone’ does it, it’s fun, unique, and can get you pretty much anywhere. A Eurail Pass also allows you to play loose and fast with your plans. Want to stay an extra day in a particular city? Not a problem. The pass will still be good the next day. There is a lot of good to say about a rail pass when touring Europe.
But (and this is a big one) they can be very expensive. A three country Eurail Pass that’s good for five travel days over the span of two months will set you back at least $406. If you break that down by travel days, it comes out to just over $81 per day. Not bad, but you could do better. |
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