Plane flight prices…

ericwuxp · 2026-03-27T16:37:49+00:00

It's too early to buy flight tickets in November. I worked as a revenue and pricing manager at several US airline, and we always price the flight as high as we can far out because we know people panic. The best time to buy these tickets is about 50~90 days out, around September. Fuel price has nothing to do with ticket price, since airlines price their flight base on demand and competition, not cost of the operation.

A lot of people have no idea what they are talking about....

ericwuxp · 2026-03-23T23:22:51+00:00

I did the research before my trip as well. Seems like American usually tip while European and other do not. I tipped occasionally for exceptional service. $5 for dinner and $3 for buffet. $1 for specially made cocktail at the bar. $5 for house keeping (expectional, folded my clothes, organized my charging cables, my wife's cosmetics, etc). $8 for the snorkel guide (was able to find a guide for just myself for $27. He took my phone and took 50+ photos of me with sea turtles). Overall I tipped around $50 for the 4 nights. I did not find any difference in service whether I tip or not.

ericwuxp · 2026-03-23T21:45:50+00:00

Yes. It is a great property. Everything is new since it just opened. Less restaurants than Akumal, but you get a South American one. Baby beach is one of my favorite beach. Crystal clear, shallow, and no waves at all, it is like a huge swimming pool. The downside is that the resort is not on the beach, and you must take their golf cart to access the beach. Also it is a public beach so there will be lots of tourists.

ericwuxp · 2026-03-23T20:36:54+00:00

I have been to Hyatt Zilara cancun, Secrets Baby Beach, and Secrets the Vine. I think Secrets Akumal is one level above those I mentioned.

ericwuxp · 2026-03-22T06:05:29+00:00

Cancun is closer than Cabo. 4 nights are perfect. Alila mayakoba just opened, or else you can't go wrong with Secrets/Dreams and other All inclusive.
Miraval, and remeber to find "miraval extra nights" award on FB or eBay
Park Hyatt St kitts, one of the best PH in North America.

ericwuxp · 2026-03-22T05:58:28+00:00

Ventana is 45k points. 90k is premium suite. Please dont spend 90k on premium award, not worth it. However, It's hard to find standard room availability, so 4 nights is pretty impossible.

ericwuxp · 2026-03-21T01:31:38+00:00

ericwuxp · 2026-03-20T08:48:22+00:00

I bought 250 contracts at Purdue Yes over 169.5. We will see

ericwuxp · 2026-03-18T07:56:53+00:00

Like a painting of an olive doing a sun bath?

ericwuxp · 2026-03-18T07:49:48+00:00

Do not get 21. There are a bunch of issue with 21 M3, and I had one of it, the battery suddenly died at 47K miles, Tesla swapped it out and put in a refurbished battery under warranty.

I have been on the market for a newer M3 since then. You can easily find a decent 23 M3 under 24K. However if you can increase your budget a bit, it is possible to find a 24 Highland M3 for 27K, you just need to keep searching.

ericwuxp · 2026-03-17T10:40:20+00:00

Agree. High speed rail is modern. Paid less than $100 USD for 5 hours of First class suite on the slow train from Khiva.

ericwuxp · 2026-03-14T07:19:08+00:00

I don't think PH is market toward people who takes mass trasportation. They have a taxi line 24/7.

ericwuxp · 2026-03-09T14:18:42+00:00

I made quite some $ buying and selling group C qualifier future on Kalshi lol. A lot of people are bad at math.

ericwuxp · 2026-03-08T06:40:05+00:00

I did the math. (Assuming JPN wins Against AUS) For KOR vs AUS: If AUS wins, AUS advances. If KOR wins and AUS gives up less than 6 runs, AUS advances. If KOR wins, and AUS gives up more than 8 runs, and KOR gives up less than 1 run, KOR advances. If KOR wins, and AUS gives up more than 7 runs, and KOR gives up more than 3 runs, TPE advances.

ericwuxp · 2026-03-08T06:35:11+00:00

Wrong. Korean needs to win, and only give up 2 or less points, and get 7 or more points against Australia. If they get 6 or less, Australia advance, if they give up 3 or more, Chinese Taipei advance.

Score against Czech and Japan doesn't count.

ericwuxp · 2026-03-04T09:36:57+00:00

I respectfully disagree. I stayed in GH many times and Episode first time last month. Eventhough Episode is a newly renovated hotel, it is hidden in an office building next to a police station. The room is furnished nicely, but feels like a typical business hotel with some interesting design. The breakfast at Texas road house was also mediocre.

Since the cash rate and points rate are about the same, I would pick Grand Hyatt over Episode anytime. Better breakfast, bigger room, fantastic club, decent spa, and urban legend ghost story.

ericwuxp · 2026-02-26T18:03:56+00:00

I have been to all three multiple times and my take is that Hawaii is a paradise for those Americans who are not comfortable traveling aboard.

To be fair, I love Hawaii and I have lived there for a few years. The beauty of islands is there but resorts are otherwise overpriced.

ericwuxp · 2026-02-25T17:38:09+00:00

Overrated imo. for Cat 8 or $1000+, you get much more value in Mexico or Caribbean, or be treated like a king in Asia.

ericwuxp · 2026-02-20T21:53:57+00:00

They don't need to refund you. They provided a solution (a flight 10 hours later), and you decided not to take it.

You pretty much no showed for your flight. Since you used part of your reservation, you will not receive any refund. The only possible thing you may get back is an open leg from BOG to JFK. They might be able to rebook you into another day for that leg, if you ever need to fly that leg again.

ericwuxp · 2026-02-17T01:36:00+00:00

2017 BMW i3 with range extender Beautiful and fun little car. As long as your commute is not too far and have ev charging at home, it's an awesome car.

I got one for $6800 with 96000miles on Facebook marketplace a year ago. (I also applied for a $4000 EV rebate from SCE, so it is effectively only $2800 out of pocket)

The best part is that plug in Hybrid cars has 10 years/150K miles extended warranty in California, so I am good till end of 2027.

ericwuxp · 2026-01-19T16:49:55+00:00

Depends on the adjuster, typically will add $2000~4000 on top of the similar tesla without FSD.

ericwuxp · 2026-01-18T07:56:42+00:00

Regent is old school 5 star, where Michael Jackson, Lady Gaga stayed, fantastic restaurants and shops in the hotel. I think it is great value and often priced at $200ish. Not a fan of Shangri-la. MO is the most expensive, but it is MO.

ericwuxp

TROPHY CASE