Checking in Episode 4: Mallorca, the Amalfi Coast, and Rome Trip Report with Garth Grawburg

Today I chat with Garth Grawburg about his anniversary trip with his wife to Mallorca, the Amalfi Coast, and Rome.

4:00 How I booked flights✈

Outbound

MSP -> ORD: United Travel Bank

ORD -> PMI (via MAD): 60k Iberia Avois pp (from 40% MR transfer bonus in Q3 2019)

We could talk about how this was my first time using a positioning flight. We folks with home tier-2 airports may do more of this. It really gave me an appreciation for direct to Europe. Also, first biz class flight to Europe, and first time in Europe since I was 18.

Return

FCO -> MSP (via CDG): 53k Flying Blue miles pp (from 30% recent MR transfer bonus)

We can also discuss silent cancellation of return flight two weeks prior to departure. Originally booked SWISS using lifemiles, first leg cancelled

14:27 Mallorca

L'Avenida Hotel in Soller: hotels .com GCs (some discounted, some from SYW redemptions) + some cash

A wonderful small boutique hotel in a quiet, charming town. The breakfast was excellent, and our room had a really cool lofted bedroom. Thanks for the recommendation @BlueCat and @ukinny

Activities: Catamaran cruise, beaches, road trips, walking through mountain towns, strolling around soller

Can’t wait to bring the kids here, could see Mallorca as a place to return again and again

19:00 Getting to the Amalfi Coast

23:55 Amalfi Coast

Hotel Margherita in Praiano: Booked a discounted cash rate on website. The rate terms were a bit unclear, and there was something lost in translation. Gave me a appreciation for OTAs where booking terms are presented consistently.

This 4-star property lived up to high expectations from a 4.8 rating on Google and 9.8 on hotels .com. Fantastic breakfast and service that punches well above the 4-star level.

Crowds were very noticeable, but everyone we spoke to mentioned how they were lighter than normal. Composition was mostly Western European, we heard a lot of French spoken.

Activities: Walking through Praiano and Positano, Cruise to Capri, Time at the beach in Praiano, lots of eating

30:50 Rome

Hotel Dei Mellini: Expedia points @ old VIP rate

@Robert has discussed this one on the podcast and written about it on the blog, and my experience is similar to his. Great hotel.

We were Roman tourists.

https://milenomics.com/2019/04/chase-ultimate-rewards-hotels/

35:40 COVID

• Restrictions really were not a problem
• There were a bunch of people handling our vaccine cards, so as long as this is how vaccination status is proven, a card holder is a good idea
• The only snag was testing to get back into the US.
• Upshot: Monitor for the big restrictions like border closures or mandatory quarantines, otherwise I wouldn’t worry about it until your a few weeks away from your trip.

44:35 Final Thoughts

• It was great to get out of the US and feel international travel. I’m not certain when we’ll go back to Europe, but we have 2 trips upcoming to the Caribbean and Central America with our kids and the excitement for those really blossomed.
• We really had great service everywhere we went in Europe, restaurants, hotels, everything is running like normal, except people are wearing masks. The prognosis for immediate travel to Europe isn’t great but I wouldn’t hesitate to book if you’re comfortable speculating.
• On that note, I’m considering more speculative/redundant bookings, dispersed across a couple regions. Then when it’s time to travel I’ll increase the likelihood one of the destinations is safe and open.

Thanks to Garth for sharing his experience on the show