The Milenomics Podcast Network

Milenomics² Episode 183: Getting Going on 2023 and a Kauai Trip Report

Added 2023-01-12 14:33:48 +0000 UTC

0:41 Q1 2023 5x Categories

06:10 Plastiq 1% on MCGCs

08:02 Incidental Liquidation

15:58 BofA Elite Updates

19:30 Fluz Update

21:06 Keep or Cancel: Schwab Platinum

28:05 Dell Price Match Experience

Policy
Only matches certain retailers
Doesn’t match flash sales or limited quantity deals
Before and after purchase (supposedly)
Robert’s experience
Isn’t it funny how Dell doesn’t list any specs whatsoever on things they sell? It’s like they know people are going to go to Amazon if they want any real info on the item.

32:35 Kauai Trip Report

34:00 Delta Sky Club

Sky Club access for a family of 4
Added cards to each kids' profile and the kiosk didn't automatically see their access
I pressed for an agent to look for their access and the redcoat was able to see the cards attached. 'oh wow they have cards!?'
New Lounge in T3 at LAX. Nice, but I wouldn’t go out of my way to get to it. Pretty standard Delta Skyclub “feel.”

04:18 Delta Outbound

Main cabin
Flight felt long but we waited over an hour onboard for a fuel issue
Lucky given the issues with southwest that week. Horror stories all over the island.

41:45 Rental Car

Rental car pickup: last minute booking with budget via a discount shared on slack by iheartpoints saved me $100.
Kept both reservations and decided to check the line to pickup at both. I always walk to the car rental in Kauai and zero lines at either place.
Cancelled the national once picked up the budget. Friend had 2hr wait for a car a few days later.

45:27 United Fare Drop

$470 per person one way (home). Thought it would drop, but it actually kept going up. At one point $700!(in economy!
Google flight alert NEVER helped.
Manually checking and found the price down to $311.
Coincided with the winter storm in Dec – free change waiver. I think this helped as a few weeks earlier I couldn’t change to the same flight.
Of course the refund…didn’t show up.
So now I’ll have to chase it down. Probably will end up with $700 in flight credits (vs. travel bank)

Hilton Garden Inn

Went in with low expectations
Booked with 4 certs. Last minute check saw no rooms available.
Reviewed the hotel back in episode 32 and I think my review still holds up.
Maintenance on the property seemed better than last time we were here.
Further digging showed why: there are two buildings, one is much better than the other
Try to make sure you end up in the Pikake Wing where rooms are bigger with pull out sofa. The Maile Wing seemed older and smaller. I would prefer no view in the Pikake over Ocean View in the Maile.

Working Vacation

Overall I'd say it was a success
Not fun for the working party however. Need to be aware that they're not on vacation fully. Can't book day time events.
Tiring! Two kids plus me all day. Glad the hotel's location has so much to do.
The hardest part of the day was actually Breakfast–Work needed to start and we are used to having breakfast together.

51:17 Vacasa: Strong on the Island

Direct management means speaking to decision-makers.
Well stocked with attention to detail. Example: vacasa hawaii branded toiletries.
Early check in text/email. If the cleaners are done prepping the unit Vacasa automatically emails/texts to tell you that you’re ok to check in early. I like this, and I did get a text about 2 hours early.
Damage waiver included. Nice for little kids. Must call the damage out before you leave.
No reviews of patrons. One direction only.
No real incentive for vacasa to solve review complaints
We stayed here: https://www.vacasa.com/unit/71806 judging by 50% empty parking lot and quiet there weren’t a lot of people here.
But a great option (if bookable) in the same complex is this https://www.vacasa.com/unit/76797 as a 1 bedroom + loft it would be half the points.

53:54 Time of Year

We all agree anytime is better than not going
Winter fruits more limited. Still found soursop, papaya, pineapple but no passion fruit (never buy mangos in Kauai).
Closed stores, family business and it makes sense
Not as busy as I expected it. Maybe because last time we went was insane (episode ______)
South shore super packed beaches. Everywhere else really empty.
Weather was cooler by about 5-10 degrees over summer. High 70s/low 80s daytime high 60s at night.
North shore better than ever. Supposed to be the rainy season but only one day of rain.

55:10 Food

Food costs are up, but not bad. Most of these places are either 1.5 meals per person or a great option to share plate lunches between two people.
Costco if you have a good size family, Target is on the island now too.
Many, many places closed or had reduced hours due to the holidays. Call whenever you’re driving a good distance to make sure they’re still open.
Kilauea market and cafe
Ama
Japanese Grandma (twice, fantastic)
Wailua drive in
Waipolui Deli & Restaurant (fantastic)
Kenji Burger (3 locations)
Koloa food trucks (almost never open, but close to other options in Koloa)
Tropical taco
Wake up delicious (formerly trucking delicious)
Poke: konohiki (not as good: Fish Express, Pono Fish market0
Country Market in Coconuts Plaza
Food land Princeville
Restaurants closing for the holidays

59:09 LIH-LAX Return Flight

Diversion to HNL
3 hours on the ground
Arrival in LAX at 2am.
Brutal with the kids but at least we were home. Many people rebooked on early morning connections with a hotel near LAX
Before we Even landed an apology email was in all 4 of our inboxes with $150 flight credit.
I also reached out with a complaint about the 3 hours on the ground without being able to deplane. Everything else was out of UAs control.
This flight, like most UA bookings is a complete mess. I’m still waiting on the fare difference from 12/21 rebooking. $150 flight credit name locked and whatever else comes my way. Super fragmented UA travel ‘banks.’ Almost easier to use as the name locked amounts get bigger