Alright, so Romania... Bucharest. Sounds fancy, right? Like I'm suddenly some jet-setting influencer. Nope. Just me, Nate Ryder, trying to squeeze every last drop of "value" out of these damn credit card companies before they change the rules again.
This whole thing hinges on stacking Amex Platinum and IHG perks. The InterContinental Athenee Palace Bucharest, huh? Top-rated on TripAdvisor? Color me skeptical. TripAdvisor's about as reliable as a politician's promise. But whatever, let's play along.
Three nights booked through Amex Fine Hotels + Resorts, snagging that third-night-free promo. Okay, not bad. $441 down to $141 after the Amex statement credit? Fine, I'll bite. Plus, they're throwing in noon check-in (if available—big "if" there), a room upgrade (again, "if"), guaranteed 4 p.m. late checkout, daily breakfast, and a $100 food and beverage credit. Sounds like a decent deal on paper.
But let's be real—how often do those "upgrades" actually materialize? You usually end up in a slightly bigger room facing the parking lot. And that $100 food credit? Probably covers one overpriced cocktail and an appetizer. Still, $141 for three nights at a supposedly "luxury" hotel ain't terrible.
Oh, and I almost forgot, they're patting themselves on the back for earning 2,205 Amex points, worth about $44. Give me a break. They want you to think you're winning.
Then comes the IHG free night certificate. Redeemed for another night at the InterContinental—36,000 points. Perfect use, apparently. This is where I start to question the sanity of this whole "points and miles" game. All this jumping through hoops for a free night that's probably worth, what, 150 bucks? Is it really worth the mental gymnastics?
So, the estimated total value received is $618. Not bad, I guess. But here's the kicker: an $895 annual fee for the Amex Platinum and $49 for the IHG Select Card. Suddenly, that "cheap" Bucharest getaway doesn't seem so cheap anymore.
They try to justify it by saying the value they receive from both cards far exceeds what they pay each year. Do you know what I call that? Marketing BS. They're banking on you not actually using all those "perks" or forgetting about them entirely. It's like a gym membership—you sign up with the best intentions, then end up paying for something you never use.
And what about the time spent researching, booking, and tracking all these damn points and perks? Time is money, people. Are we really valuing our time at zero dollars an hour?
Then again, maybe I'm just getting old and grumpy. Maybe some people actually enjoy this whole "travel hacking" thing. Maybe they get a genuine thrill out of saving a few bucks on a hotel room. Good for them, I guess.
Oh, and speaking of Bucharest... There's also some FIBA 3x3 World Tour thing happening there around the same time. Basketball. Okay, I guess. I mean, who cares? It's not like I'm suddenly going to become a 3x3 basketball fan just because I'm in Bucharest.
They're hyping up the Skyliners (GER), Ub (SRB), Miami (USA), and Liman (SRB). All these teams with names that sound like rejected Transformer characters. And apparently Strahinja Stojacic is the guy to watch. "Doctor Strange," they call him. Seriously? Are we running out of nicknames? I just don't get it.
