As you may know Carrie’s blog TheTravelVenture.com shows all our spends. We publish every dime. If we sign up for a card, we’ll publish it. I figure it will show that I don’t push things I don’t believe in.
Anyways, I figured every quarter I’ll give my analysis of the data (she does this monthly, which you can find here). First I’ll talk about hotel spends and miles and points math (boring stuff). If you scroll all the way down you can read a little about where we went.
Hotels Spending, Earning, and Burning
- Aug 1 = $0 (BRG) at InterContinental Dusseldorf
- Aug 2 – 6 = $0 with CouchSurfing in Zakynthos
- Aug 6 – 10 = 20,000 IHG points (PointBreaks) at InterContinental Athens
- Aug 10 = $0 (BRG) DoubleTree Bucharest
- Aug 11 – 18 = 35,000 IHG points (PointBreaks) at InterContinental Bucharest
- Aug 18 = $71 CourtYard Budapest
- Aug 19 – 21 = 9,000 Club Carlson points at Radisson Blu Budapest
- Aug 21 = $0 (BRG) at InterContinental Budapest
- Aug 22 – 28 = $27 (mistake-fare) at Leonardo Hotel Berlin
- Aug 28 – 30 = 15,000 Club Carlson points at Park Plaza Berlin
- Aug 30 = Hyatt Certificate at the Park Hyatt Hamburg
- Aug 31 = $5 (mistake fare) at Leonardo Hotel Hamburg
- Sept 1 – 3 = 28,000 Club Carlson points at Radisson Blu Salzburg
- Sept 3 = $147 at the Crowne Plaza Salzburg
- Sept 4 – 8 = 54,000 Club Carlson points at Radisson Blu Sazlburg
- Sept 8 = 35,000 IHG Rewards points at InterContinental Berchtesgaden
- Sept 9 = $161 at Hilton Innsbruck
- Sept 10 – 17 = $0 Staying with friends in Eschenlohe
- Sept 18 = $148 at Holiday Inn Salzburg
- Sept 19 = $0 (BRG) at InterContinental Vienna
- Sept 20 – 22 = 50,000 Club Carlson points at the Radisson Blu Vienna Styles
- Sept 22 – 24 = 9,000 Club Carlson points at the Park Inn Bratislava
- Sept 24 – 26 = 9,000 Club Carlson points at Radisson Blu Budapest
- Sept 26 – Oct 13 = 85,000 IHG Rewards points at InterContinental Kiev
- Oct 13 = $73 at Crowne Plaza Vilnius
- Oct 14 – 16 = 10,000 IHG Rewards points at Crowne Plaza Vilnius
- Oct 16 – 18 = 28,000 Club Carlson points at Radisson Blu Warsaw
- Oct 18 – 21 = $96.66/night at InterContinental Warsaw
- Oct 21 – 25 = 100,000 Club Carlson points at Plaza on the River London
- Oct 25 – 27 = $108/night at Holiday Inn Swindon
- Oct 27 – 28 = 5,000 Hilton HHonors points at Hampton Inn Corby
- Oct 28 – 29 = 10,000 IHG Rewards points at Holiday Inn Glasgow City Center Riverside
- Oct 29 – 31 = 17,500 IHG Rewards points at Holiday Inn Edinburgh City West
- Oct 31 – Nov 1 = Marriott Cat 5 cert at London Heathrow Renaissance
Total it up!
- $1,106 on hotels (1 Hilton, 1 Marriott, & 8 IHG) = 10 nights
- 212,500 IHG Rewards points = 34 nights
- + 21,250 IHG points from 10% back credit card perk
- So it’s really like 191,250 IHG Rewards points on 34 nights
- 302,000 Club Carlson points = 22 nights
- 4 free BRGs = 4 nights
- 11 nights in homes
- 8 mistake fare nights (although we booked 5 weeks)
- 1 Hyatt Certificate = 1 night
Earnings from Paid Stays:
- 30,593 IHG points in Drew’s account
- 51,613 IHG points in Carrie’s account
- 22,664 IHG points in Mom’s account
- 5,000 Hilton points
- 1 Marriott Category 5
The above bonuses do not yet include points from the Big Win promotion. That will be another 206,000 IHG points. So it may look a little odd to see that we’ve earned over 200,000 next quarter with fewer stays.
[Nerdy Math Rant]
Right now we’re looking at 104,870 points at 8 IHG paid stays for $874. Plus, we got back 21,250. But without that, 104,870 points for $874 is .8 cents per point. Which I would not be happy with, but if you add the eventual 206,000 points from the Big Win… that’s a much better ROI. On the other hand, I have a few more paid stays to get that 206k.
But if you consider the percentage of completion I’ve made toward the Big Win, I’m basically 57% through (4/6, 3/4, 1/4). But considering the bonuses, 106,760 points (56,760, 37,500, 12,500) completed of these Big Wins. Add that to the 104,870 already earned, I’m at 211,630 for 8 stays.
All this is needless math that basically says that I’ve earned at .4 cents per point so far. And that’s paying for hotels in Europe, a few with the 3rd person extra charge. So from here, hopefully I can increase profit. Still, it’s $20 per 5,000 points. And since I have the 10% back with the credit card it’s a little better still. I’m happy with $20 per 5,000 points and hope to do better outside of Europe.
I fully expect(ed) to be earning at a ratio of $16 for every 5,000 points – or .33 cents. Which is made better by two things.
1) My average redemption this quarter for IHG was 5,625 points (after the 10% back) a night. I was lucky, but with the earning of .33 cents, that’s a cost of $18.50 a night. However, since my Big Win isn’t complete yet, we’ll save some of these figures for next quarter or a final post of some kind.
2) We don’t just stay in hotels to earn points, we need to make stays.
If you take what I said about the percentage of the Big Win I’ve completed or points earned (211,630 points), then consider our average redemption (5,625 points), and finally the number of paid nights…
[/Nerdy Math Rant]
Well, it’s an estimated return of 37.5 nights from points. And then 8 paid nights. That’s 45.5 nights from $874. Really, already I’ve been getting $19 a night. If you look at the hotels we redeem at, it’s not bad.
Hotels with Food
- 9 nights came with just breakfast
- 32 days came with lounge access
So that’s basically 32 days with breakfast and dinner and 9 days with breakfast included in our rates. 41 days of 92 with food included. Also, our 4 nights in London we had a suite with a kitchen. This was nice since there were three of us and we had our own rooms and the ability to cook.
Although some people probably would have gone elsewhere for dinner in some of the lounges. The IC Warsaw, IC Dusseldorf, etc… was a serious actual dinner. The Radisson Blu Salzburg was a joke. Like little sandwiches but we loaded up anyways.
Flights
This quarter we spent more on flights than we spent on flights last year… and we flew a lot last year. $991.29 spent on flights since July 31st this year vs. about $400 or $500 total last year (an estimate as we didn’t track spends then as we do now.) But my miles account has run too low and my strategy has changed a bit. Maybe I’ve flown too many friends around the world in business class, or maybe I should do some manufactured spending when I go to Texas in a few weeks.
Food
Our food and beverage total so far since July 31st has been $1610.83. Again, see the “Hotels with Food” section, we’ve had many stays that include food. We also stayed with the owner of the best restaurant in Greece (it has to be true) who wouldn’t let us pay for food. And with my mom we got groceries and with some friends we stayed with we had groceries too.
Yet, with free food and groceries well over half the time, we still spend well over $500 a month on food.
I know this is an area we could greatly cut back in… if I wanted to. But honestly, I love trying foods from all over. I wanted to try fondue in the alps, I wanted to try the best fish in Greece (we did pay for that). For me, this is part of the experience. If you don’t care about that, I’m sure you could save some serious money.
Still, it could be worse. And the fact that it averages out at $17.5 a day blows my mind. We eat out so often it’s insane. I think the fact we save money on food so often justifies our eating out so much. At least in my mind it does.
Overall
By month
- August =$2,092.90
- September =$1,930.54
- October =$2,103.93
Category
- Hotels=$1251.16
- Food=$1610.83
- Flights=$991.29
- Ground Transport=$1549.31
Each month has gone a little above the goal of $1,666/month. It was actually kind of planned. We kind of budget $65 a day (instead of $55) for Europe, Australia, Tokyo, and maybe a resorty island. So why am I okay with being over budget?
First of all, Europe is more expensive. Period.
Second, my mom joined us and we toured around the United Kingdom.
We were totally under budget for the month when she joined us. She really really wanted to rent a car, and honestly, doing her genealogy hunt/tour thing would have been difficult without it. We went to a “village” that some of her family was from many years ago, and it’s really a street out in the middle of nowhere. It was surely a highlight to her.
Plus, it’s my mother. As I said to her, “don’t worry, you paid for me for 18 years.” To which she quickly said, “even more than that!” And really, $2,000 is not bad.
Now we’re all in Paris and sticking under budget. And the third thing is, I’m going to her house next, which will be an unfair way to be under budget not paying for housing. So it all comes even. We’ll be under budget visiting my family for my sister’s wedding and then for Thanksgiving. And then again visiting Carrie’s family for Christmas.
Spend Conclusions
We’re over budget… in Europe with 3 people for the last couple weeks.
We could have done it cheaper too… but honestly, we bought flights when I shouldn’t have. It was one of those, “I don’t feel like taking a bus/train” moments where I should have sucked up my ego and prepared for a long train ride. $1,000 on flights in Europe is too much. You live you learn.
Travel Conclusions
I didn’t share that we did some hitchhiking around Austria/Germany area. It was fun and tiring at the same time. We really didn’t save money as we showed up really late and stayed at the Innsbruck Hilton. But still hitchhiking from the entrance of the InterContinental Berchtesgaden to the Hilton Innsbruck is just funny. I love it.
So really we did it for adventure. I realized that I’ve hitched in Asia, Oceania islands, South America, North America and well… this was the time to knock Europe off that list.
The people we met were super. Some owned major businesses, some were swedish filmmakers, some didn’t speak english. But honestly, this took up 3 or 4 days and isn’t a “strategy” but a way of wandering when bored.
Favorite places this trip
We were definately having a good time in the alps and in Austria in general. I love Austria and love Vienna. In fact we’re going back to Vienna next week. (And I just wrote about how I love Budapest).
We’re at the InterContinental Paris right now with the President of South Korea. It’s still weird. Every day while we wait at the elevators men in black suits hover behind me.
Anyways, the thing I really discovered this trip is Greek islands! The food, the culture, the water. Wow. Get to Zakynthos now.
Seriously I can’t stress this enough, but go to Zakynthos and go to Malanos restaurant. It is the best food I ever had and one of the best islands I ever stepped foot on.
Favorite hotels: The InterContinental Dusseldorf, InterContinental Budapest, The InterContinental Vienna (mainly because of the lounge), The Radisson Blu Vienna Styles, The InterContinental Warsaw, the Plaza On The River (Club Carlson) is a great hotel for more than 3 people and is right in London.
That’s it: Zakynthos, Vienna & Budapest, the Alps. Those are my highlights.
How do you manage to average $17.5/day for 2 people? Especially when it comes to France, Austria? I have traveled Europe extensively and even if you get most (but not all ) of your breakfast and dinner covered at the hotel, you are still restricted roughly to 6.5EUR/person/day. For that much money you really can’t eat out much. Out of all cities, the least expensive of course is Budapest. You could probably get one decent meal there for 6.5 EUR there but not Western Europe. The reason I ask is because that’s the biggest expense in my book and other than going to supermarkets or stocking up for lunch during breakfast I can’t see how you manage to do this.
AS always, love the blow….
Well, despite the fact we eat out a lot, it’s still probably less than most people do on vacation.
So 1) Nearly half our meals are free from a hotel or included or something. And at all InterContinentals we get free minibar (not a lot but helps) and sometimes big welcome gifts. So it’s probably more like $35/day.
Like in Kiev, we didn’t by food for weeks. The lounge at the IC is not a joke, it’s like a full restaurant. Amazing.
2) So kinda like I was saying, we may only eat out big once a day. The first meal might be little and in a Deli or something. Out of some kind of bad habit we end up eating two main meals. And we do get groceries sometimes. So those few cheap experiences go a long way.
Anyways, In Austria, it’s expensive but one meal groceries and the other for $30, is probably more likely. Or like $5 in a deli in the morning and $30 in the evening.
Three years ago we took a trip to 5 Greek islands: Sifnos, Folegandros, Naxos, Paros and Santorini. Rode the ferries in between, and had a wonderful time! We were blown away at the water, air, food, culture. Couldn’t get over the scenery and can’t wait to go back. I think that Zakynthos will be on the list when we do return, even if only for the Malanos restaurant. Although, the island looks rather spectacular, too!
Always love your posts!
Would love to just island hop. Do you have any thoughts on how the islands compare? All I hear is Santorini, Santorini, Santorini.
But seriously, the other day I was thinking “man, one day I’m going to really want some of his traditional lunch specials and book a ticket on a craving!” :-p
Hey Drew, I live in Vienna. If you all are back here some time, let me know and we’ll meet up. By the way, I used to live around the corner from where you stayed in Berlin. We were just back in Berlin last weekend, as a matter of fact, and it’s a great area. Last: you seem to be working hard to avoid Prague, the most beautiful city in Europe. What gives? It’s not as cheap as it once was — I lived there from 1990-2000, but it’s got a ton to offer. A ton.
Again, if you guys are back in VIE some time, let me know. Happy to provide tips on 25 years of living and travelling in Europe, particularly CEE.
Looking forward to meeting you tomorrow.
Drew
Hey Drew! I could use some advice, if you would be so kind. My family of four will be visiting many of the same destinations this spring. We have an apartment in Prague for our central base (my husband was raised in Prague and his family still owns property). Other cities on our itinerary include: Berlin, Vienna, and Budapest.
My question is this, my husband applied for the IHG card (80k bonus) and now I am undecided whether I should also apply for the IHG or diversify and get the Club Carlson 85k offer. Is one more preferable than the other when trying to book 4 ppl/room on awards? TIA
Love the blog and find your ‘out-of-the-box’ lifestyle inspiring 🙂
Boy, I better get well versed in this, my only experience with more than 2 people in a room is now my mom is traveling with us. Other times we just get two rooms.
But my understanding is this: it depends on the hotel.
The good news is that “extra person fees” (which are some dumb btw, a room is a room (in my opinion)) don’t apply to award stays.
So when I look at Budapest I see that 2 adults + 2 children are allowed at the Radisson Blu in their business rooms, which are 13,500 instead of 9,000 (or two nights with the cc card).
Then I see that the Crowne Plaza in Berlin and Holiday Inn Vienna allow the same on points – 25,000 points each. And Club Carlson allows either.
So may depend on what you have, how long you want to go. Hope that helps some.
Hi Drew,
How do you get some of these hotels for so few points? Are these specials? Seems like most the Radisson properties I’ve seen in Europe require a lot more points.
Yea, so I was lucky enough to have many PointBreaks on my route this time. Like we fly into Zakynthos and the IC Athens was on Point Breaks. So point breaks or any other IHG sale is something we actively look for as we travel and see how it fits in.
With Radisson, we end up booking lower categories most of the time. I mean, that’s kind of our strategy all around: look at all the award hotel prices in a city and pick the lowest. In budapest, the lowest option is the Radisson. In Berlin, it was the same thing.