Well guys, it’s time for the ol’ annual holiday hibernation. I’ll be back refreshed January 2nd to start talking about the deals of 2017. I still think it’s good for everyone to get a week or two away from this stuff. Maybe it’s just me but I find it really reignites the excitement.
Years here at MileNerd can end with some long posts and this sucker ain’t short! I wanted to post a few questions I received over the last few months. I decided to pick out 5 that might be interesting to expand on. Here we go:
My man. Millions of miles in the bank. Looking for trip ideas. Any faves? Thanks. Love the site!!
(from reader Sonny)
I definitely haven’t been a good international traveler recently. My weird schedule doesn’t leave much room for trips longer than a few days. So these answers are still focused in the US…
This year, my favorite was New York City. Yeah, I get all the criticisms of it. No, I don’t think I could live there (unless I had a ton of money). But man, it sure is a hell of a place to visit. I stay at the Andaz on 5th where Hyatt Diamonds get treated VERY well. The upgrades and room service breakfasts helped make both of my trips there spectacular. As far as the city…what else can be said, there’s just a very unique magic to it. (New York haters are thinking that sounds crazy and New York lovers know exactly what I’m talking about). Hey, I hear the criticisms…it’s dirty, loud, and crowded…very true. But as a city, it can also feel more alive than anywhere in America. No relaxation for me in NYC. I get up, put on my sneakers, and start having adventures all day long. Honestly, I don’t think I’ve ever walked less than 5 miles in a day there. (Weirdly enough, I still manage to put on weight). Another city I have similar affection for? The just-as-polarizing New Orleans. Where I experience similar weight gains. Who knows, maybe that has something to do with my Word documents tracking where to eat. Yeah, I’m a fat ass. If you’re ever looking for restaurant ideas in either place, let me know.
Another destination I love is North Lake Tahoe. Very different kind of vacation. I find some of the nicest people in the United States in that part of Nevada and the surrounding areas. Nearby Truckee is right up there as one of favorite small towns in the country. Special vacations are a form of magic, right? Then Tahoe is a sorcerer. I DON’T CARE HOW CORNY THAT SOUNDS! THE SPELL HAS BEEN CAST ALREADY!
Here in Los Angeles, my girlfriend regularly calls me “an L.A. hater.” Hard to deny there’s some truth to that. But, other than L.A., southern California is tough to beat. My non-New York favorites of 2016 were a pair of long weekends just north of San Diego. Specifically, at the Park Hyatt Aviara in Carlsbad and the Fairmont Del Mar. That region holds all the California benefits without those pesky L.A. negatives. One night on the latest trip, we met a local who kept talking (and buying Tequila shots for everyone). After the 4th or 5th shot, it became clear he had the means to live anywhere. He’d spent years jumping around from paradise to paradise. After living in some of the most expensive cities and islands in the world, he settled down right there in Encinitas. I totally see why. The beach cities outside of San Diego make for a perfect getaway. Orange County beaches like Dana Point are right in the same league.
(Personally, I put Hawaii in a higher category)
We all know I’m a quirky guy, right? Pretty obvious at this point. So, as far as the most random place that surprised me in 2016?
It was a specific part of Arkansas.
Yes, I said Arkansas. Hmm…you’re looking at me funny. Hey, I would have bet a million bucks that my trip there was going to suck. But surprises kept popping up. Somehow…defying all logic…downtown Bentonville was one of the most charming little areas I’ve ever seen. Even more shocking…2 of my best meals of the year were in Bentonville Freaking Arkansas! They were neighboring restaurants on consecutive nights (Tavola, then Tusk and Trotter). I probably wouldn’t pay to go back to Arkansas, but that specific part of that specific city was my travel surprise of 2016.
States I avoid? I’ve never been crazy about Georgia or Florida. Other than Miami, I probably wouldn’t recommend a visit to either.
Yes, I know I have a bunch of readers from there. I’m sure there are nice parts of your state…this is just one opinion. Please stop crying. If it helps, I grew up in West Virginia (which I love) and have never gotten through a year without being teased about it. No, we didn’t have an outhouse. And, yes, we wore shoes (usually).
One other place on my not-recommended list is Los Angeles (clearly). I shed a single tear every time I see a family of tourists on Hollywood Blvd and think of them actually spending money to take that trip. Really? You fly to California and you’re spending the day on Hollywood Blvd? Not ideal vacation planning.
Of course, like you, I’ll never see most of the world. That’s part of the fun of all this. Coming up soon, I’m most excited to explore more of Wyoming, Montana, and Colorado. Internationally, I’m going to make Europe more of a priority over the next few years – Greece, Spain, Italy, Switzerland, and Croatia are all reader favorites that are on my “A-List.” Hopefully that helps a little!
Nerdo not to be racist but I’m going to India. Do you have any tips? LOL
(from reader Aaron)
Who’s Nerdo? And, wait, is it racist to ask an Indian dude about India? I hope not since I think I get some form of this question every month. All I can say is this…I suck at going there. In fact, “suck” is an understatement. The truth is, I might be the worst Indian you could ever talk to about India. But here it is…
I went for the first time after my freshman year of college. Then my family took me back twice more before I graduated. You might be wondering, in those 3 trips, how many times did MileNerd get hit with malaria? The answer, my friend, is 3. Yeah, that’s right – I went 3 for 3. Each case of malaria was different, but they all felt like a new, creative version of dying.
Post-college, I waited a couple of years to go back. As you might expect, there was a good amount of fear involved. But I picked myself up, got on the plane (flying coach in those days), and gave it another shot. There was no precaution too extreme for me…I was literally boiling the bottled water among other neurotic things. I rarely went out, ate no curries, and never even looked at a glass that had ice in it.
Magic.
It worked.
After two weeks, I made it safely to my final night in India. It was time to celebrate! That evening was full of delicious curries, mixed drinks, and an overall sense of merriment…
Then I woke up a few hours later.
Not to an alarm clock. Not to a rooster. But to the worst case of food poisoning I’ve ever experienced. The next 24 hours was a blur of bathroom floors and faces in toilets (actually just one face). That was 15 years ago. And I haven’t set foot in India since.
Now, is this the average India experience? Of course not.
Am I an idiot who should have taken better precautions? Of course.
Again, that’s why I’m probably the last person who should be your personal guide to India. But I will say you should check out the beaches in Goa if you have a chance. I also loved staying in a converted palace in Jaipur. And one of my favorite things in the world is haggling at a stall, trying to get a deal on some crap I’ll never use.
Small victories.
Anyway, I really just have one tip for you…
DO NOT GET ON THAT PLANE!!!
Just kidding! You’re going to have a blast!
But seriously, don’t get on that plane.
Love the blog!!! I’m planning to start one myself!!! Are there other websites you recommend??? Any advice will help!!! Thank you!!!
(from reader Ruchika)
Wow, I can tell your blog will be very enthusiastic. Hmm…what would it be like if I wrote that way. THANKS FOR THE EMAIL!!!!!! GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR BLOG!!!!!! I’M SURE IT WILL BE AWESOME!!!!
Nah, it doesn’t work as well for me. I just come across as a crackhead. Anyway, thank you. I’m always around if you need any help. Assuming it’s about miles and points, I’m not sure what you already know. Let me try to give you a general understanding of this thing. Hopefully some of it will help…
5 or 6 years ago, I was trying to send my mom a link for something like this. Not easy to find at the time. There weren’t many blogs on this subject…the ones that did exist weren’t really blogs. They seemed more like sales brochures from aggressive advertisers. Was it The Points Guy or The Profits Guy? Where were all the real people? And why the hell couldn’t I find something so simple? Basically, it felt like entering an alternate universe that was treated as normal. Those readers were like nerdbots who actually believed the bloggers salesmen were looking out for them. There was even a strange type of hero worship going on. They honestly looked at a person like bowtie and saw a rock star? Very strange.
I didn’t get it. Why did the nerdbots act so blind? I was finding better credit card bonuses at airports than the offers online. Didn’t these readers realize they were seen as revenue and not much else? Maybe it just didn’t matter to them. Crazy as it sounds, the salesmen kept selling and the nerdbots kept bowing down in response. It started to weird me out.
Damn, I just wanted to send my mom to a website where she could find all the deals and rack up miles and points. I tried checking out Flyertalk but no way she’d be able to navigate through that mess. Not to mention, the people there were pretty rough on newbies – probably not the best place to send your mom. Ok…what options were left?
At that time? None.
So I started this blog and decided to figure it out as I went along. Somehow, readers kept showing up (I’m still not exactly sure how that happened). Years later, there are a lot of people reading these words every day and some of them (like you) have had a desire to write. Because my situation is unique, I don’t know how helpful this example will be. But here’s the way I do things…
At this point, every deal I post comes from relationships built with MileNerd readers over the years. I don’t go to any blogs except when people think I should see something. It’s pretty simple now…you guys send me stuff…then I try to pick out the highlights of the material and give my thoughts. I focus on:
- Sharing the best mile/point deals in an easy-to-read way. I try to avoid clutter and fluff. The emphasis is on earning miles, not burning them. Simplicity is what people find here and I always try to provide that.
- Posts are 5 days a week and everything is on the blog…there is no social media (more on that later).
- If someone wants to talk, the contact link is on the top of the page. Once I respond (usually within 24 hours), they’ve got my email address and can reach me whenever.
- The voice here is 100% mine. No affiliates or advertisers influence what I say. Am I cranky sometimes? Of course. Do I swear occasionally? Hell yes! But you get the real me. I never lie about anything on this blog. The credit card links are the best I can find and I’ve never made a penny from any of them.
- Why isn’t there a comment section? Here’s the best way I can explain it…
Ever notice how some people freak out in big city traffic? Screaming and fingers flying and horns honking. Crazy stuff, right? Well, most of them don’t act that way after they park their cars and walk into work. Something about hiding behind a steering wheel brings out a different animal. It’s the same animal that shows up in internet comment sections. Almost like (for certain types of people) there’s an unspoken permission to behave badly.By now, everyone knows I’m not a fan of assholes. Staying out of comment sections is one way to limit my contact with them. I prefer talking to friendly human beings directly. It feels less weird for me. This intimacy has built real friendships because we’re just two people having a conversation. Definitely more my style. - The long posts. Yeah, it happens every few months when something feels bottled up. They aren’t planned. And I’ll talk about anything…never limited to miles and points. Why start a blog if you won’t share your opinions? Be your own quirky self. Just never for a response. The day you start changing your writing based on what people want you to be…that’s the day you should quit. Readers have a strong radar for fakes. Figure out what you want to say and really talk TO them. Never at them. And it ain’t the Washington Post…you’re on your couch with a laptop so have a little fun!
- Any negatives from having thousands of readers?
You’ll probably start out with a dozen, if that. Who cares? If you’re interesting, people will find you. Shit, they’ll probably find you even if you’re not. 10,000 people aren’t any better than 10. Just talk to a single person. No, there aren’t a ton of negatives to having a bigger audience, but there are a few…For one example, look no further than manufactured spending (MS). That area has been slaughtered for the last 2 to 3 years. Many times, they weren’t just regular deals that died naturally…they were loopholes that weren’t supposed to be exploited. So it’s obvious why they died, right? They got talked about too much online. The attention shined a light. It’s a legitimate problem that happens over and over. It has been confirmed to me by multiple people working in banking/financial services. Here’s how it can impact what we do…A reader will send me a link where MS is discussed…a blog or maybe a conversation on Reddit/Flyertalk. It’s usually a basic level of knowledge compared to what other readers are doing. The tip of the iceberg for a better deal. So how do I respond? Normally, I’d just type up a post. But, now with an MS loophole, do I quickly kill the deal for everyone? Will that actually help anyone?Of course not.Remember as you start to have an audience…the purpose of your blog is to help. There’s a responsibility to not be a douche. Sure, you’ll find some bloggers making posts to kill fragile loopholes and giving interviews to reveal them because of the attention. They don’t mind killing deals if it leads to more hits (which leads to more money). Do better than that.
To answer your question about other websites…
Things have changed a lot in these last 5 years. As you might already know, there are hundreds of blog choices in this niche hobby now (if not more). Many are shady as ever, but there are some honest ones out there. If presented with the same challenge today, it’s nice to know I’d have a few options to send my mom. Having more choices has helped. Positive options didn’t exist before. Now they do.
Hopefully you enjoy the writing part of this. There still aren’t many “real writers” in the world of miles and points, so that’s definitely an opportunity for you to stand out. This game tends to be much more about the deal than the writing (which is totally understandable). But if you can be a great writer and also share deals in an interesting way, you’ll find an audience. Speaking of which, who am I to say anything about your crazy punctuation? That might end up being something unique that works for you.
The other blogs I recommend most can be found on the sidebar (Doctor of Credit, Travel Blogger Buzz, and Free Frequent Flyer Miles). They are all people who have reached out to me through the years with kind words, I know them a little, and I believe they write about the best deals they can find…not just what puts money in their pockets. Those are my top picks. The Flight Deal should be a daily read, as always. There are a few others popular with readers – I think PointsCentric and Saverocity got mentioned last year – so read a bunch of them and decide for yourself. Keep an open mind. A lot of these guys work hard and deserve a chance. Don’t get caught up in the comment section nonsense. It won’t help you as a writer. But if you can’t help yourself, make sure you ignore anything that starts with “all bloggers.” Obviously, many blogs are bad…but it doesn’t change the fact that some good ones now exist. Try not spend too much time in the mud.
My list of blogs to avoid hasn’t changed much. I’ve had plenty to say on the subject. A lot of people found MileNerd because they were looking for something different from The Points Guy, Boarding Area, or bowtie (at least I assume so). My real issue is with readers who whine about the selling and affiliate links while continuing to read those blogs. It’s simple…if you don’t like the problem, then stop supporting it. That goes for you too. At some point, you’ll need to make a decision about what you want your blog to be. Will integrity matter? Or will you blur the line if the price is right?
I won’t be writing forever, so I’m looking forward to seeing what the next generation of this will become. Let me know when it’s ready and I’ll take a look. Good luck!
Paul – How much was that offer for Mile Nerd and why didn’t you take it?
(from reader David)
A surprising amount.
But anything would have been a surprise. Obviously, I had no clue anyone would send me an offer. When I read it, I laughed out loud. This makes zero money and is the least “bloggy,” most ambitionless blog I’ve ever seen. It’s pretty clear there aren’t any attempts to turn a profit being made here. So, yeah, I had a good laugh. But here’s the thing,…I’ve actually gotten another offer since that post. And it shocked me enough that I decided to start asking some questions.
We can agree that our society is in unchartered territory, right? It’s a strange time. Even though this modern world is more constantly connected than ever…we’ve lost some of the more meaningful connections that bound us together. When did our lives speed up to a pace that transformed each day into a blur of information?
“I have to see these new tweets I haven’t checked in the last 10 minutes!”
“Man, I really need to read this text (even though I’m walking in a crosswalk)!”
“Wait, is that a real Facebook article or is it fake??”
“Who cares! I have to read it!”
Depth takes time and we don’t have it to give anymore. The blur has reprogrammed the way we live. And that’s ok. We have so much incredible technology…all of these tools to communicate. We don’t ever need to be alone anymore.
That’s the idea, right?
So why is it that we’re seeing more loneliness than we’ve ever seen? With so many ways to connect, why do we feel less connected than ever before?
I think many of us have felt changes (even if we didn’t know what they were).
Did we turn our tools into our lifestyle? What if someone clicking “like” isn’t a substitute for actually being liked? Am I trading some humanity away for a non-stop blur of information?
I see more and more people desperate to regain what they’ve lost. We’re starving for more real…for more meaning. Maybe sitting in this dark movie theater will force me turn off my phone and safely feel something? Hey, maybe this vacation will reignite adventure in my life?
Maybe.
But as soon as that trip is over…as soon as the 2 hours in the dark comes to an end…we immediately dive right back into the protective cocoon of this unsatisfying blur.
We can’t stop ourselves.
At this point, it doesn’t matter what the information is. Truth…lies…interesting…uninteresting? We don’t give a shit. All that matters is that we have it to wash over us. The blur of information. We need it, day and night.
So, why did I get offers to sell this blog?
After all, in this age…if you can’t measure social media likes, how do you even know you exist?
In a sentence, here’s what I was told…
People trust you.
I got credit (rightfully or not) for being the first of this type in this niche hobby. People come here every day and know they won’t be lied to. Everyone who reads my words knows that I’m not trying to sell them anything.
Apparently that still matters.
In the blur, speed is a priority. Putting out words as fast as possible. Measurement is incredibly critical. A sales brochure blogger with a million Facebook likes is “a big deal.”
On the other hand, if a blog like that ended today, nobody would feel like they lost a friend. There’s nothing particularly unique or genuine there.
Now, I’m not saying that blog isn’t worth millions of dollars.
Of course it is.
What I am saying is this…
There’s still value in operating in a different way.
You don’t need to frantically race to put out words, get attention, and collect likes.
Focus on what matters.
I’m not saying this is anything exceptional.
But it’s less caught in the blur than most.
The reason I got 2 offers for MileNerd is because of the depth of the relationships that have been made here. To some, the name stands for something. Being honest matters to me and it resonated with some other people. That’s all.
Oh, just one more thing. Be open to one possibility…
That measuring your dick by the number of Twitter followers you have is an inaccurate measurement.
Come on Paul you have to have some thoughts on Trump!!
(from reader Sanjay)
I sure do. Happy holidays, guys! I wish you and your loved ones nothing but success and happiness in 2017. Thank you so much for all the support and kindness you’ve shared with me. This has always been a team effort. I’ll see you January 2nd!